I’m headed to South Carolina this weekend to help the Cheryl Newby Gallery celebrate their 3oth anniversary. I’m bringing two new egg tempera paintings.
Appalachian Spring and Early Snow, Chickadee. Both paintings were in Crossnore Gallery in North Carolina last year. When I went up there this past summer to deliver new work, I brought these two back home.
While they were sitting around my studio, I took them out of their frames to inspect them. Next thing I knew I had brush and paint in hand and was once again immersed in their mini worlds. Mostly, I was adding more layering of depth and subtle nuances of tonal color. And I fluffed up the chickadee a bit.

Appalachian Spring, egg tempera painting by Daniel Ambrose
I painted this rhododendron tempera from a plein air study I made on the Blue Ridge Parkway outside of Linville a few years ago. It tickled me to imagine I was an ant crawling around this flower’s landscape — in and out of the hills and hollows.

Early Snow, Chickadee, egg tempera painting by Ambrose
Well I heard that I should see the leaves change color in the fall in North Carolina. October was the best month to go. So I was there in 2008 when the mountains of western North Carolina got their earliest snow on record since 1952.
I wonder if this chickadee was as surprised as me.
I ended up going over the paintings a lot, and I completed Appalachian Spring with oil glazes. So, I reckon I was only partially fibbing. In the spirit of American merchandisers, they are the new improved models. Much better —really — did I mention they come with a lifetime guarantee?
Details about the exhibit are on my events page. If you are in the area we would love to see you at Cheryl Newby Gallery.
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