Landscapes & Floral Gallery

 In this gallery, consisting of landscapes and flowers, you will find  pieces created by artist Brad Parrish over the past four decades. Brad has painted landscapes and flowers as far back as four years old.  You will view works that will be noted as "Plein Air" a French word that means "Open Air", to paint in the open air verses in an artists studio. Brad more, often then not, has painted his floras & landscapes outside, on location, where he feels no substitute will suffice for the color, immediacy and feeling he gets when painting his subject(s) live verses in his studio. Brad has photographed flowers and landscapes since the late 70's. He then uses these photographs for reference  when he  works on  pieces that he conceptually works out in his mind.  He incorporates different elements from different photos to build his piece. A good example are Brads wildlife pieces, his wolf pieces for example. While Brad has spent hundreds of hours studying and sketching the Eastern Timber Wolf, he still photographed them as they are almost always moving and making it impossible to paint them live. There are many pluses to painting outdoors and live, but just as many minuses. The light, as any Plein Air painter will attest, is the biggest problem; an ever moving sun,  results in changing colors and shadows. The key here is to paint extremity fast with deadly accuracy, battling the outdoor elements  such as the wind, the rain, the cold, the heat. ( don't forget the gnats, fly's, bees and mosquitoes!). Finally, capturing that awe inspiring moment. Brad says, "It is all worth it when you come across one of God's creations in a beautiful and moving composition already for you to paint.  All you have to do is soak it all in and paint what is before you. When  all the necessary elements come together and everything works on a piece, it truly is heaven here on earth".

The Gardner's Old Friend

Medium: Oil on Linen  /  Date completed: 2016  /  Canvas Size: 11 h x 14 w Inches  

One of Brad's favorite places and subject to paint when participating and painting in the annual Cedarburg Artist's Guild Plein Air Competition event held in June in Cedarburg Wisconsin just about 30 minutes from his home.  The gardeners Old Friend is so titled by the old wheelbarrow that is parked on the sidewalk. This piece painted in 2016 took the Juror's Choice Award at the show.

Brad Roughing Out His Painting

Photo of Brad's Framed Painting at The Show

Colors of Home

(Plein Air Painting)

Painted in 1989  /  Medium: Oil on Canvas  /  Image Size: 10" x 14"

Cedarburg Flower Garden

(Plein Air Painting)

Painted in 2010  /  Medium: Oil on Canvas  /  Image Size: 16"h x 20"w

CEDAR IN SILHOUETTE

(Plein Air Painting)

Painted in 2014  /  Medium: Oil on Canvas  /  Image Size: 16"h x 20"w

Photo: 1 of 3

CEDAR IN SILHOUETTE

Here Brad took a photo of the work in progress. Brad's window opening to capture the right light that he wanted was for just a fleeting moment, something that requires the artist to paint with lighting speed and deadly acracy. The light Brad said was ever changing the mood and colors, something that drives 'Plein Air' artist' crazy.

Photo: 2 of 3

CEDAR IN SILHOUETTE

This is what Brad was up against painting this piece most of the time he worked on this painting. It rained on and off the whole time he was working.

Photo: 3 of 3

EVENINGS LAST LIGHT

(Plein Air Painting)

Painted in 2014  /  Medium: Oil on Canvas  /  Image Size: 9"w x 12"h

Right after Brad finished painting this piece titled 'Cedar in Silhouette' he put the painting aside and began this one titled 'Evenings Last Light' with the little bit of light that was still left.

St. Croix River

(Plein Air Painting)

Painted in 1987  /  Medium: Pastel on Paper  /  Image Size: 19"h x 23"w

Rose Bush In Front Of Windows

(Plein Air Painting)

Painted in 2013  /  Medium: Oil on Canvas  /  Image Size: 24"w x 30"h

Copper Bird Bath

(Plein Air Painting)

Painted in 2008  /  Medium: Oil on Canvas  /  Image Size: 8"w x 10"h

Iris

Painted in 1989  /  Medium: Pastel on Paper  /  Image Size: 17"w x 23"h

Day Lillie's Along The River

(Plein Air Painting)

Painted in 2006  /  Medium: Oil on Canvas  /  Image Size: 24"h x 30"w

Front Door To America

(Plein Air Painting)

Painted in 2006  /  Medium: Oil on Canvas  /  Image Size: 8"w x 10"h

Blooming Water Lilly

Painted in 2007  /  Medium: Oil on Canvas  /  Image Size: 5"h x 7"w

Ancient Shadows

Painted bin 1990  /  Medium: Pastel on Paper  /  Image Size: 18" x 24"h

Shaded Fuchsia

(Plein Air Painting)

Painted in 1986  /  Medium: Pastel on Paper  /  Image Size: 18"h x 24"w

Smokey Mountain Morning

Painted in 1991  /  Medium: Oil on Canvas  /  Image Size: 20"h x 24"w

Sunset Over Milwaukee

(Plein Air Painting).

Painted in 2011  /  Medium: Oil on Canvas  /  Image Size: 20"h x 30"w

Moss Roses

(Plein Air Painting)

Painted in 2000  /  Medium: Oil on Canvas  /  Image Size: 20"h x 24"w

What Else Can I Say

Painted in 2005  /  Medium: Oil on Canvas  /  Image Size: 18"w x 24"h

White Rose

Painted in 2003  /  Medium: Oil on Linen/  Image Size: 8"h x 16"w

*This original is available for sale. For more information on this piece, please see the "Available Originals" gallery.

Joesph's Coat Rose

Painted in 2002  /  Medium: Oil on Canvas  /  Image Size: 6"w x 9"h

Bridge Over The Fox River

(Plein Air Painting)

Painted in 2002  /  Medium: Oil on Canvas  /  Image Size: 11"h x 14"w

Making A Wish

Painted in 2005  /  Medium: Oil on Canvas  /  Image Size: 24"h x 36"w

Peonies

Painted in 2009  /  Medium: Oil on Canvas  /  Image Size: 11"h x 14"w

The Falls at Cedar Creek

(Plein Air Painting)

Painted in 2013  /  Medium: Oil on Canvas  /  Image Size: 8"h x 10"w

*This original is available for sale. For more information on this piece, please see the "Available Originals" gallery.

Embracing The Moment

Painted in 2004  /  Medium: Oil on Canvas  /  Image Size: 24"h x 36"w

Garden Rail

(Plein Air Painting)

Painted in 2006  /  Medium: Oil on Canvas  /  Image Size: 5"w x 7"h

Hawaiian Waterfall

Painted in 1987  /  Medium: Pastel on Paper  /  Image Size: 18"w x 24"h

Orchids

Painted in 2004  /  Medium: Oil on Canvas  /  Image Size: 9"h x 12"w

Reflections

Painted in 1987  /  Medium: Pastel on Paper  /  Image Size: 32"h x 48"w

Edge of The Woods

(Plein Air Painting)

Painted in 2002  /  Medium: Oil on Canvas  /  Image Size: 20"w x 30"h

Grand Canyon

Painted in 1988  /  Medium: Pastel on Paper  /  Image Size: 18"h x 24"w

Crab Apple Trees In The Spring

Painted in 1986  /  Medium: Oil on Canvas  /  Image Size: 30"h x 48"w

Early Morning on The St. Croix River

Painted in 1986  /  Medium: Oil on Canvas  /  Image Size: 20"h x 24"w

Peach Colored Rose

(Plein Air Painting)

Painted in 2003  /  Medium: Oil on Canvas  /  Image Size: 11"h x 14"w

Cedarburg Winery

(Plein Air Painting)

Painted in 2008  /  Medium: Oil on Canvas  /  Image Size: 20"w x 24"h

Haley's Rose

Painted in 2006  /  Medium: Oil on Canvas  /  Image Size: 4"w x 5"h

Creation of Heaven & Earth

Painted in 1996  /  Medium: Oil on Canvas  /  Image Size 30"h x 40"w

In The Beginning

Dated 2011  /  Medium: Oil on Canvas  /  Measures: 60"h x 72"w.

Creation

Painted in 2012  /  Medium: Oil on Canvas  /  Image Size: 20"h x 30"w

Sunrise In South Dakota

Painted in 1989  /  Medium: Pastel on Paper  /   Image Size: 11"h x 14"w

Inside The Hawaiian Cave

Painted in 1988  /  Medium: Pastel on Paper  /  Image Size: 18"h x 24"w

Afternoon Reflections

(Plein Air Painting)

Painted in 2009  /  Medium: Oil on Canvas  /  Image Size: 9"w 12"h