WELCOME

I’ve been a painter working mostly in and around Western Pennsylvania for most of my life. My main focus is capturing how the landscape feels – at different times of the day and in different seasons. I paint every single day so you’ll see many different subjects, but they are unified by a single theme: truthful observation.

After painting for 30 years, I’ve come to appreciate what my first painting instructor said: paint what you know. I do not seek postcard scenes; I seek an intensity of feeling that comes only from being in a particular place at a particular time. So many things in the landscape are interesting, especially here in Western Pennsylvania: steel mills, city skylines, snow-filled parks, twisting side streets, and even back yards. For me, it is a painter’s paradise.

Watch this video to see how an outdoor painter spends his “day at the office.”

Some of the paintings featured on this site can be found at my Pittsburgh studio. Others, however, may be hanging in juried exhibitions, in galleries, or in museum shows – and some may have been sold. I chose to include a few images that are not currently available because they represent work that I am particularly proud of. To purchase artwork, please visit my Gallery Store, which features paintings that are priced and available for sale. Feel free to contact me directly and I can tell you more about availability and options.

I open my studio to visitors by appointment. I especially enjoy showing my most recent work. The studio, located on the second floor of a Victorian-era building in the interesting neighborhood of Lawrenceville, is chock-full of my work. I’m told that my studio space itself is something of a work of art. One thing is for sure—they don’t build buildings like this anymore.

For art lovers on social media, I’m currently using Instagram to showcase my weekly new work. I invite you to follow along if you’d like to see my process.

What Is Plein Air Painting?
Simply stated, it is painting directly from life. It comes from the French phrase, “en plein aire” – meaning in the open air. Something happens when an artist is confronted directly with the subject. I think it has something to do with the spirit of a place. I believe that spirit can makes its way into the artist and the work itself.

NEWS & EVENTS

Open Studio! Dec 2, 3, 4

Happy to share my Open Studio with Josh Hoffman and Tyler Gedman. I've worked with each and they are quickly becoming accomplished landscape painters. They are following the tradition of plein air painting, while also [...]

Brownsville to Braddock

My project Brownsville to Braddock will be released as a 135 page hardback book on March, 2021. Thanks to the University of Pittsburgh Press for publishing and promoting it. Read about in the Pittsburgh Post [...]

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

FACEBOOK:  My Facebook page is updated frequently with additional news and events. Like Ron’s Facebook Page to stay up to date.

INSTAGRAM:  I’ve been using Instagram more often, especially while I’m painting. Ron’s Instagram Page.