Paintings by Christopher O'Handley


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ABOUT ME


I am a part-time painter living in the Rochester, NY area. Most of my work has been done in oils, but recently I've been working extensively in pastel. Currently, 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".

Plein air painting allows me to combine my two passions for art and nature. I can't think of a much 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, and Marc Hanson, 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 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...I'm still catching up but hope to have things up-to-date before too long.



RECENT AWARDS


Painting Show Date Award/Group

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
Goldenrod, Sunny Evening SRAG Oct 2006 Honorable Mention, Oil/Landscape
Goldenrod, Cloudy Morning SRAG Oct 2006 Honorable Mention, Oil/Landscape
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
The Cefare SRAG Oct 2005 Honorable Mention, Oil/Landscape
Through the Trees SRAG Apr 2005 2nd Place, Oil/Landscape
Linwood Hay Bales SRAG Apr 2005 Honorable Mention, Oil/Landscape


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If you have any questions or comments, contact me at cohli@yahoo.com