Paul Buckhurst

"Residing in Columbia County provides welcome opportunities to visit and enjoy New York State’s many rural areas and scenic landscapes, in particular park areas both within Columbia County and within the greater New York City area. Through sketching and painting of some favorite features of these natural landscapes, I have chosen to focus on “tree portraits,” with the aim of capturing some of the key characteristics of both focused woodland areas as well as selected tree specimens. A particular tree favorite is the London Plane; whose multi-colored bark often results in a camouflage pattern and effect that to me suggests a benign militia, designed to overlook and protect surrounding landscapes."

Having retired after a career of over fifty five years as a practicing architect, I am now able to renew my earlier passion for sketching and painting. This interest was initially prompted by my architectural training as a student at the Canterbury College of Art in England. Many years later, when time permitted, I participated in painting classes at the Parsons School of Design after I moved to live and work in New York City. My home now in Columbia County gives me the chance to visit and illustrate selected landscape features within the Hudson Valley region.