RJ Stromswold

2007-07-16T12:40:00.000-07:00

"Last Voyage"

16" x 20" oil on board

$5800 SOLD

Available as Giclee' prints in any size

The last voyage of the Mary Louise is a poingnant image of an old vessel's final sail into a purple sunset. The battered and worn hull is carried along by the tattered, time worn sails as the old ship sets sail one last time.

2007-07-16T12:23:00.000-07:00

"Enfolded"

11" x 14" oil on board

$750

Strong, loving arms enfold a soft black cat. The deep black of the cat's fur against the rich red of the shirt makes a strong yet comforting composition. This painting is more about the arms than the cat. It tells the viewer that the animal is loved, even cherished by the owner.

My cat, Isabella, posed for this painting. She is a patient and sweet tempered Bombay. Her inky black fur is difficult to paint but, it is also a wonderful backdrop for those golden, jewel like eyes of hers. I have used her in many of the paintings in the "Feline - Studies In Grace" series.

2007-07-10T12:01:00.000-07:00

"Nesting Hen"

8" x 10" oil on board

SOLD

She rests contentedly aware on a bed of soft straw. This Rhode Island Red hen has been a popular favorite of my collectors. The vibrant red is applied thickly and liberally giving the piece a solid dimensional quality.

2007-07-10T11:53:00.000-07:00

"Evening Shadows"

16" x 20" oil on board

SOLD

The majestic and impressive Sawtooth mountain range in Stanley, Idaho dwarfs this small cabin nestled in a field of sage. While visitiing Stanley, I was struck by the rugged beauty of the landscape.

The large gold frame is one that I often use for my paintings. It is a broken gold leaf with red undertones.

2007-07-10T11:40:00.000-07:00

"Morning In Brittany"

11" x 14" oil on board

SOLD

A sunlit morning in Brittany is graced by the lone figure of a woman walking on a cobbled street. This is another painting in the "Woman Alone" series. The play of light on the old buildings was a gratifying challenge to paint. Cool blues were used to create distance and a washed out atmosphere while rich reds and greens give depth and strength to the shadows in the foreground. This peice took a realtively short time to paint. Sometimes the artist is rewarded by a painting the just comes together without a struggle! The best work takes the least amount of time to execute. The worst pieces require the most effort.

Prints of this piece are available upon request.

2007-07-10T10:54:00.000-07:00

"Twisting Lane"

5" x 7" oil on board

SOLD

A twisting lane is always an inviting element in a composition. The winding road easily draws the viewer into the scene, involving them in the landscape and making them become a part of the painting. This seeminlgy insignifigant little lane is one that I return to often for a subject. It never seems to loose its appeal for my collectors.

2007-07-10T10:44:00.000-07:00

"Summer Grazing"

12" x 24" oil on board

SOLD

I pass this lovely pasture each day on my way to the studio. It never ceases to bring a sense of calm to the soul. The unkempt grove of trees provides rich shadows for the herd as they graze on the alfalfa field. This scene changes daily as the weather and atmosphere dictate, providing me with endless compositional possibilities.

2007-07-10T10:33:00.000-07:00

"Homeward"

12" x 24" oil on board

$1250

The romance and power of the sea is portrayed in this vertical seascape as the wind fills the sails of a homeward bound schooner. Painting the deep tones of the sea is always challenging due to the warm tones that hide in the foreground. A rich mixture of Prussian Blue, Van Dyke Brown, Indian Red and a bit of Yellow Ochre all contribute to make the wave plausible.

2007-07-09T19:26:00.000-07:00

"Backlit Cat"

8" x 8" oil on limestone tile

$325

Caught in a shaft of sunlight, this wary little cat is lit from behind, casting a stong shadow. Black cats are exciting and mysteious to paint. To achieve just the right black tone takes some real thought!

2007-07-09T19:21:00.000-07:00

"Road to La Mancha"

11" x 14" oil on board

SOLD

Another in the windmill series. A winding road past a row of quaint, bleached windmills leads the viewer into the landscape tto discover two travelers along the road.

2007-07-09T19:14:00.000-07:00

"Windmills of La Mancha"

16" x 20" oil on board

SOLD

The windmills of La Mancha are like none other. Their unique design and location make them wonderful subjects. the romance of windmills is always appealing to collectors.

2007-07-09T19:06:00.000-07:00

"Lilacs and Silver"

8" x 8" oil on limestone tile

$325

One of the first paintings on tile, this still life of lilacs in a silver vase is a favorite subect because of the lilacs. Their heady scent is such an intoxicating fragrance each spring. The large conical blossoms are always the showiest part of any composition.

2007-07-09T10:40:00.000-07:00

"Balmy Evening"

8" x 10" oil on board

SOLD

The Yakima valley affords an artist a wealth of subject matter to paint, especially grazing cattle. This pastoral scene of resting cattle was particularly interesting to paint because of the grayed landscape in the distance. It contributes to the quiet and peaceful atmosphere of the lanscape.

2007-07-09T10:29:00.000-07:00

"Sageland"

18" x 24" oil on board

SOLD

I view this scene from my back yard. Badger Mountain never fails to inspire me. The soft curves of the mountain and the cool blue and green tones of the sage are a wonderful compliment to each other.

2007-07-07T09:52:00.000-07:00

"Evening Grazing"

12" x 12" oil on board

$650

Sheep are a favorite subject of mine. Their soft shapes and quiet dispositions never fail draw viewers in.

This mother and lamb are finding some chioice grasses to munch on in this early evening scene. The lamb is aware of the viewer and regards us with curiosity.

2007-07-07T09:41:00.000-07:00

"Shaded Lane"

8" x 16" oil on limestone tile

$425

A rural country road leads the viewer into this bucolic landscape. The cool green tone of the painting is balanced by the warmth of the earth tones that I used for the road.

2007-07-07T09:34:00.000-07:00

"Hillside Sillhouettes"

24" x 48" oil on canvas

$5300

Backlit cattle on a grassy hillside. This scene is one that I often see in the evenings. Living in a rural area allows me to witness striking compositions of strong light that are perfect for landscape paintings. This painting has received lots of attention because of it's simple yet strong light.

2007-07-06T11:46:00.000-07:00

"Sienna Shadows"

"11 x 14" oil on board

$2100

A quiet street in Sienna on a summer evening. The warm ochres and sienna's that I used in this painting contributed to the general atmosphere of the Italian scene. The light in Italy is a pure, warm and glowing light and it can be wonderfully gratifying to produce this kind of inviting scene. This is yet another in the"Woman Alone" series.

2007-07-06T11:43:00.001-07:00

"Woodland Violets"

24" x 30" oil on canvas

$3550

The first in the Woodland series, this large painting was inspired by the great forests of the Northwest. Walking through these dense and quiet woodlands, observing both the great redwoods and the abundant undergrowth feeds the soul of any artist.

2007-07-06T11:42:00.001-07:00

"Morning Grazing"

12" x 12" oil on canvas

$450

A backlit cow on the ridge of hill caught my attention one summer evening during a drive through the Eastern Washington grasslands. The sun had just dipped behind the hill and the sillhouette of the cow was striking.

2007-07-05T19:56:00.000-07:00

"Scarborough Afternoon'

"12 x 16" oil on board

$1700

A winding street in England on a sunny afternoon. The warm palette was used to emphasize the strong sunlit street. Another in the "Woman Alone" series. Can you find her?

2007-07-05T19:48:00.000-07:00

"Woodland Fawn"

12" x 12" oil on board

$750

Another in the Woodland series. If you look very closely, you can see a wary fawn emerging from the forest background. The large, gnarled tree in the foreground gives the painting a solid and mysterious atmosphere. Viewers hold thier breath so the fawn will not be frightened away.

2007-07-05T19:36:00.000-07:00

"Duet"

12" x 16" oil on board

$750

An elegant pair of regal siamese cats pose quietly as the viewer looks on. This was painted with a thinned mixture of Van Dyke brown and linseed oil. It was originally laid in as the basic drawing with the full intention of adding color in the following layers. I was quite pleased with the "sepia" tone and decided it was just the look that the piece required.

2007-07-05T19:26:00.000-07:00

"Curving Lane"

5" x 7" oil on board

$325

A gently cuving dirt road begged to be painted in the Palouse region of Eastern Washington. This lonely tree gave a small amount of shade to the sunlit landscape. The mountain in the distance was a lovely backdrop for the warm tone of the dirt road.

2007-07-05T13:33:00.000-07:00