Nature Giveth and She Taketh Away

This stump of a once grand tree sat in a clearing in Blackwater Falls State Park in West Virginia. It was a snowy, overcast day. This stump, a shadow of its former grandeur, was quickly being reclaimed by the land and might very well crumble into nothing by spring. The woods in the background were dark and almost eerie. And the stump had such character and beautiful colors that it deserved to be preserved forever. And so I did my best to do just that.

The original image is an acrylic painting on canvas, 9 by 12 inches.

This print also is 9 by 12 inches, done in archival inks on 13 by 19 inch archival watercolor finish paper, printed by me and pencil signed.

If you'd like to consider purchase, it's available through my Etsy.com site by clicking here.

Other prints, made to various sizes -- some much larger and some even on canvas -- are available through Fine Arts America's online service by clicking on this gallery.

Image copyright 2007 Virginia McLaren.

Cape Cod Dunes and Fence

Cape Cod has the best beaches and some of the most interesting dunes, too. This picture is of one of those walks through the dunes to the ocean…falling down fence, grass blowing in the breeze and all those footprints of people who got there before you. I usually include the ocean but not this time. This time the dunes were enough.

The original image is a watercolor, approximately 10 by 7 inches.

This print is 11.8 by 8 inches, done in archival inks on 19 by 13 inch archival watercolor finish paper, printed by me and pencil signed.

If you'd like to consider purchase, it's available through my Etsy.com site by clicking here.

Prints made to various sizes, some much larger -- and some even on canvas -- are available through Fine Art America's online service at this online gallery.

Image copyright 1991 Virginia McLaren.

Sonoma County Vineyard

I lived in Sonoma County, California for many years and loved visiting the vineyards and painting them. This pretty place is located outside Healdsburg in Dry Creek Valley.

It’s been more than 20 years since I painted the scene and unfortunately the name of the vineyard eludes me. If you happen to live in the area and recognize the view perhaps you could let me know.

Even if the barn is gone now the combination of the twin trees and the building could jog someone’s memory. I would appreciate hearing from you via the email associated with this website.

The original is 17 by 11 inches, done in watercolor and gouache.

The print is an image 14 by 9 ¼ inches in archival inks on 19 by 13 inch archival watercolor-finish paper, printed and signed by me. If you’d like to order one it is available through my Etsy.com site by clicking here.

Other prints, done to various sizes -- some even on canvas --are available by clicking on this gallery.

Image copyright 1989 Virginia McLaren.

The Farm

This lovely old farmhouse, located in Charlottesville, VA, was my mother’s childhood home. When I was a kid vacations meant going to visit relatives and for me that was this wonderful place. To escape from the suburbs of New York and all its heat to Charlottesville was divine. Yes, it was still hot but there were chickens and turkeys and calves and Black Angus cattle to take your mind off the heat. It wasn’t a grand old southern plantation, it was a working farm and I loved it.

My aunt survived my uncle and stayed on at the farm until she was 93. That year she fell and ended up in a nursing home. She died a few months later and on Easter Sunday of that year, the farm burned to the ground.

The property now goes by the name Argylle Estates, a luxury home development. My aunt and uncle wouldn’t recognize it.

This picture is the memory I’ll keep of that time, those people and that place.

If you'd like to order this print, made in my studio and signed by me, it's available at my Etsy.com shop by clicking here.

Additional prints done to various sizes -- some even on canvas -- are available by clicking on this gallery.

Image copyright 2010 Virginia McLaren.

Two Wee Sheep

Little lambs are irresistibly cute, aren’t they? I spin and weave and knit so I’ve attended lots of fiber festivals….Maryland Sheep and Wool and the Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair, to name two. I’ve taken hundreds of photos of lambs being shown, resting and posing for the crowd. This painting is one of a series I’ll be adding to this website as they are completed. It is an acrylic on canvas. I’ve been asked why I paint in acrylics instead of oils and the answer is simple. I can control the time it takes for them to dry by the addition or subtraction of water. And, clean up is so easy…just water, no turpentine which was always my most unfavorite part of a painting day.

Keep checking back and you’ll see more lambs and sheep

This print is available from the artist as an image approximately 10 by 8 inches, in archival pigments on 11 by 8 1/2 inch archival paper with a white border for framing.

If you’d like to order one see my Etsy.com shop by clicking here.

Additional prints, done to various sizes -- some even canvas -- are available by clicking on this gallery.

Image copyright 2009 Virginia McLaren

Rhododendron and ferns

The Rhododendron is the state flower of West Virginia and it grows beautifully all over the state. I spotted this one in the spring at Blackwater Falls State Park. You have to imagine the color but the lines of the leaves and flowers seemed all that was necessary to capture their beauty.

I hate to give away a well kept secret but if you have never visited West Virginia or one of its amazing state parks, you are missing something special. You can stay in a well appointed cabin or go rustic and camp out but wherever you stay you’ll be blown away by the beauty of the place.

This print is part of a series of limited edition wildlife, floral, and scenic lithographs numbered and signed by the artist. It features an image approximated 9 by 12 inches on a sheet of 11 by 14 heavy paper.

It can be purchased through my Etsy.com shop by clicking here.

Additional prints done to various sizes -- some even on canvas -- are available by clicking on this gallery.

Image copyright 1986 Virginia McLaren.

The Wild Horses of Assateague Island

I don’t particularly like to ride horses but I do find their beauty inspiring. These lovely horses live on Assateague Island, a barrier island off the coast of Maryland and Virginia.. They spend their time in a protected area and can roam whenever they want. They aren’t afraid of people and didn’t mind having their pictures taken and being sketched. What a sight…the ocean, the beach and these amazing horses!



If you wish to purchase a print made in my studio on 19 by 13 inch archival watercolor finish paper, using archival inks, and signed by me, click here.

Additional prints done to various sizes -- some even on canvas -- are available by clicking on this gallery.

Image copyright 1999 Virginia McLaren