Rapidan River Cornfield

Rapidan River Cornfield, Summer— This is a series of about 8 plein air paintings of a massive corn field along the Rapidan River. The land along the river is totally flat and has been a cornfield during my entire life. The ever changing status of the cornfield from various stages of plowing to harvesting, and from the intense summer heat through the cold bleakness of winter was a challenge to my plein air painting abilities. I would paint the cornfield after working a week in the hospital. The beauty and the solitude would restore my strength and composure. In this summer painting, the corn is already about eight feet tall and beginning to tassel. The heat and humidity was unbearable and I found a grove of trees to paint under that provided me shade.