About

After several years of part-time painting, I am now able to devote full time to my art. Most of my work has been done in oils, but recently I've been working extensively in pastel, and experimenting with watercolor and acrylic. My primary interest is landscape painting. I believe in working from life, and the vast majority of my paintings have been completed in one sitting on site, or "en plein air". Now that I have more time, I am planning to develop some larger studio paintings based on my plein air studies.

Plein air painting allows me to combine my two passions for art and nature. I can't think of a better way to spend a day than being out amongst the elements, trying to capture that special "something" about a place or time. I'm particularly drawn to wide open vistas with dramatic skies, fortunately very common in this area. Hazy summer mornings with lots of atmosphere are another favorite, as are the cold, quiet days after a fresh snow. There's something good about every season, every time of day, every weather condition, and I hope to convey some of that in my paintings. Beauty can be found in a tangle of old branches, a muddy field, rusting farm equipment...pretty much anywhere you look.

I am "self taught" in the sense that I did not attend art school. However, I have taken a couple of art classes along the way, as well as a workshop or two. I would say that my biggest influences would be the French and Russian "Impressionists", particularly Claude Monet, Alfred Sisley, Nikolai Fechin and Sergei Bongart. Contemporary artists I admire include Richard Schmid, Albert Handell, Trevor Chamberlain, Jim Coe, Marc Hanson, and Kenn Backhaus, among others.

I am a member of the Suburban Rochester Art Group (SRAG) and the Genesee Valley Plein Air Painters, Inc (GVPAP), and show regularly with both groups in and around the Rochester area. I also participate in the annual "Artists Row" festival at the Rochester Public Market, where I received a "2nd place in painting" award in September 2009, and "Best of Show" in September 2010.

I hope you enjoy browsing through the artwork on these pages. Clicking on any of the images will bring up a larger view of the particular painting. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at cohli@yahoo.com. Also,check out my blog, where I am able to post more information about the paintings, my painting process, etc.

RECENT AWARDS

I received "Best of Show" at the 6th Annual Artist Row Festival at the
Rochester Public Market, September 19, 2010. Check my blog for details!

Painting	Show	Date	Award

Streamside	GVPAP	Jan 2012	Judge's Award
Salmon Creek Spring	SRAG	Nov 2011	Best of Show
Purple Loosestrife	SRAG	Nov 2011	1st Place, Oil/Landscape
Finger Lakes Morning	GVPAP	Jan 2011	Judge's Award
Ramshackle	SRAG	July 2010	Best of Show
January Thaw	SRAG	July 2010	3rd Place, Oil/Landscape
Quiet Evening Near LeRoy	GVPAP	Jan 2010	Judge's Award
Additions 2	SRAG	Nov 2009	Best of Show
Desolation	SRAG	Nov 2009	1st Place, Pastel
Pittsford Roses	GVPAP	Jan 2009	Merit Award
Conesus Lake Morning	SRAG	Nov 2008	1st Place, Oil/Landscape
Pines Over Rocks	SRAG	Nov 2008	2nd Place, Pastel
Path to the Barn	SRAG	Jul 2008	Best of Show
The Hamilton House	GVPAP	May 2008	Judge's Award
High Falls, Summer Morning	GVPAP	May 2008	Merit Award
Wyoming County Vista	GVPAP	Jan 2008	Judge's Award
Hubbel Road Farm, Evening	SRAG	Oct 2007	Best of Show
Salmon Creek Under Snow	SRAG	Oct 2007	1st Place, Oil/Landscape
Goldenrod, Cloudy Morning	GVPAP	Jan 2007	Judges Award
Burger Park, Fall Morning	GVPAP	Jan 2007	Merit Award
Marsh Morning	GVPAP	Jan 2007	Merit Award
Kirbys Market	SRAG	Oct 2006	1st Place, Pastel
Late Snow, Frisbee Hill	SRAG	Jul 2006	Best of Show
Summer Sky, Burger Park	SRAG	Jul 2006	2nd Place, Oil/Landscape
The Cefare	GVPAP	Jan 2006	Merit Award
Ford Street Bridge	SRAG	Oct 2005	2nd Place, Oil/Landscape
Through the Trees	SRAG	Apr 2005	2nd Place, Oil/Landscape