Hal Long's portfolio

Work samples

January 6th

Watercolor depicting the angry crowd ascending upon the US Capital. 12x9. 2024.
Extraction from the Rock Pile, Vietnam.

Watercolor of soldiers in my platoon being extracted by helicopter. Painted from one of my original VN photographs. 18x12. 2023.
Angry Young Boy

Portrait of a boy in watercolor. Painted from my original photograph. 20x15. 2023.
War Tanks Rolling Through the City

Watercolor of unstoppable war machines. Draw from images of conflicts. 20x15. 2023.

About Hal

Harford County

With my retirement and relocation from Chicago to Maryland, I have time to seriously pursue a life-long interest in art and art history. As I develop/refine my skills in pen/ink, graphite/colored pencil, and oil/watercolor painting, I am creating life studies, portraits, and plein air paintings. My subject matter is wide, as I continue to explore my new avocation. Recently, I am reflecting on my tour of duty in Vietnam War and have started a series of watercolors about that experience. I… more

Vietnam Series

Paintings from my experience in the Vietnam War. Painted recently using my original photographs as reference material.

On the Move, Vietnam

Watercolor showing three soldiers of my platoon moving through the mountains of Vietnam. Painted from my original photographs. 12x18. 2023.
Morning Light on the Firebase

Watercolor based on one of my original photographs from VN. Soldiers on a firebase at first light, getting a measure of the day ahead. 18x12. 2023.
Letter from Home, VN

Watercolor painting from one of my original VN photographs, showing me reading a letter from home. 18x12. 2023
Extraction from the Rock Pile, VN

Watercolor. 18x12. Painted from one of my original VN photographs. 2023.
Coming through the Elephant Grass, VN

Watercolor. Painted from one of my original VN photographs. 2023. 10x14
Machine Gun Guard Post

Watercolor painting. 20x25. 2023. Painted with reference to my original photographs of the VN War.

Conflict and War

Reflections on current political and world conflicts and war. Scenes and personalities.

January 6

Watercolor. 13x9. Painted on the second anniversary of the US Captial insurrection. Using news photographs as reference. 2024
War Tanks Rolling Through the City

Watercolor painting. 18x12. War - Battles Tanks Moving Out of the City
Ukraine I
Ukraine II
Vladimir Putin
Volodymyr Zelensky
Zelensky after 40 Days
Anti Vaxxer

Drawn from the News

I like doing portraits, and recent news events offer plenty interesting faces to draw or paint. I used print media and internet images as my starting point.

Joe Biden US President

Portrait of Joe Biden, drawn in pencil on Bristol paper. For reference, I used current news media images. 14x11. 2024.
Lauren Boebert - US Representative

Watercolor portrait of Lauren Boebert. 15x11. 2023.
Ron DeSantis - Governor

Pencil drawing of Ron DeSantis. From available news sources. 11x14. 2023.
George Santos - Ex- US Representative

Pencil portrait of George Santos. Drawn from news sources. 11x14. 2023.
Donald Trump's Mug Shot

Pencil and charcoal portrait of Donald Trump drawn from his mug shot. 11x15. 2023
Rupert Murdock - News Outlet Owner

Portrait in pencil on paper. 14x11. 2023.
Marjorie Taylor Greene - US Representative

Watercolor portrait using news sources as reference. 9x12. 2023
Rudy Giuliani

Rudy Giuliani is a constant presence in the news cycle. I tried to capture his dark deep-set eyes and large mouth. Pencil drawing 11x14. 2022.
Steve Bannon

Pencil drawing of Steve Bannon, Trump Advisor, 11x14, 2022.
Liz Cheney, Ex US Representative

Pencil drawing. Using news media as reference. 11x14. 2022

Figurative Work

Mostly paintings and drawings from live sessions. Some inspired by images of holidays and celebrations.

Portrait of Mike - Vietnam Veteran

Watercolor of Mike painted during a live session at Gallery 220, Havre de Grace, MD. 11x15. 2023.
Screaming Woman

Watercolor of a woman screaming at someone. 9x13. 2023.
Darcy Gesturing

Watercolor. 13x9. Painting from one of my photographs of a granddaughter. 2023.
Portrait of Craig - Vietnam Veteran

Pencil portrait of an artist friend. Drawn from his image on his podcast. 11x14. 2023
Harley Quinn

Watercolor. Painted from news and publicity photographs of Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn. 9x13. 2023
Santa - Recovering after the big day

Watercolor. Draw from various Santa Claus internet reference photos. 9x12. 2023.
An Angry Young Boy

Watercolor painting.11x15. From a photograph I took several years ago. 2023
Dani in a Sargent Pose

Painted in a studio session. Watercolor. 11x15. 2023
Tammy in a Pink

Painting started in a live model session at Artist Emporium, Havre de Grace, and finished in the studio. Tammy was wearing a wonderfully pink jacket and was looking very serious. I tried to capture her mood and to do justice to the pink jacket. Oil on canvas. 30x36
Portrait of Kaitlyn Brown

Pencil drawing during a live studio session. 11x14. 2022

Jesters

The jesters, loosely patterned after medieval court jesters, are of my own creation, and I used them in various posings and grouping to illustrate themes or ideas.

Tossing Complements

A painting of complementary colors and single point perspective. Using my artist mannequin as a model and jesters from my imagination. 20x16. 2023.
Self-Portrait as a Jester

Watercolor. Self-portrait with a made-up jester's hat. 2021. 5x8.
Juggling Jesters Balancing

The two jesters are doing balancing and juggling feats for us. Showing perhaps the many (too many) things we have to balance in our lives. Their stage is a barren land with a road leading off into the far unknown distance.
Reaching for the Sun

Three jesters on balls holding a ball from which a jester is jumping to reach the sun. Impossible maybe. But we still try to reach challenging (perhaps unreachable) goals. And we have help from others.
Jesters Waiting for the Way to Open

The jesters are not playing. They are waiting with some uncertainty/apprehension for the way to clear. It is unclear if the way will again be safe.
Longing at a Distant Ancestor

The two jesters are looking at long distant ancestor and wondering about their past and journey. The ancestor seems so different - strange and a bit intimidating.
Priorities

A solo jester balancing and juggling. Balancing all the things we have to do, and keeping all the balls in air. Life is a bit like this sometimes.

Scenes of Bel Air

Paintings and drawings from the town and neighborhood where I live. Oil on canvas, water color, or pen and ink. Some plein air, some started as plein air and finished in the studio. Others painted from my reference photographs.

The Golden Years

A painting of an old house along Tollgate Road, Bel Air. I have taken many photographs of this abandoned house, which I used for reference. The large sign advertising a golden-oldie radio station is really there. The house seems a bit melancholy, as it sits out its golden years. Oil on canvas. 24x18
Sheriff's Office - Bel Air

Watercolor. Started on site and finished in the studio. 11x14. 2022.
Motorcycle at the Cleaners

Watercolor started on site and finished in the studio. 11x14. 2022.
Irish Pub - Bel Air

Pen and ink. Draw on site. 8x10. 2022.

Scenes from greater Harford County

The greater Harford County region offers plenty of scenes to paint, and I am only just getting started in exploring the possibilities. Most of these paintings are the end result of plein air painting outings with fellow artists. Some were finished on site, but others completed later in the studio.

Cool Beans in Port Deposit

On an outing with a plein air group from Lancaster, PA, we converged on Port Deposit, along the Susquehanna River. It was a bright, sunny day in early Autumn. The town center was very quiet and peaceful, and the small coffee shop (Cool Beans) with a few patrons was my focal point. Oil on canvas. 20x16
Jerusalem Mill Farmhouse

Watercolor from the Jerusalem Mill Historic Park. Started on-site and finished in the studio. 13x9. 2022.
Shed at the Tudor (Booth) House

Watercolor painted on location at Tudor House Park in Bel Air. 13x9. 2022.
Harford Glen - Autumn I

Watercolor painted on location at the Harford Glen Park (Bel Air). 13x9. 2022.
Jerusalem Mill Field

Watercolor painted on location at the field near the Jerusalem Mill Park. 13x9. 2022.

Flowers

Flower arrangements and flowers from around the house and photo references. All in watercolor.

Poppies for Veterans Day 2023

Watercolor of poppies, painted from web reference images. 15x11. 2023
Flowers in a clear vase with reflection

Watercolor painting with pencil under drawing. 11x15. 2023
Iris in a Ball Jar

Watercolor painted in a loose, quick manner. 9x15, 2023
Red Poppies with Others

Watercolor. 9x13. 2022.
Jonathan's Flowers I

Watercolor painted in homage to a fellow artist's flower series. 9x13. 2022.
Liriodendron Flowers I

Watercolor painted onsite of a flower arrangement at the Liriodendron. 9x13. 2022.
Liriodendron Flowers II

Watercolor painted onsite of a flower arrangement at the Liriodendron. 9x13. 2022
Poppies II

Watercolor of poppies painted for 2022 Veterans Day. 13x9. 2022.

Animals (Pets and other)

Animals and family pets (cats) I have painted/drawn recently.

Pardoned White House Turkey 2023

Painting of one of the President's pardoned turkeys. 11x15. 2023.
Punxsutawney Phil

Watercolor of Punxsutawny Phil for Ground Hog Day. Used for reference various photographs of ground hogs. 15x11. 2023.
Emmeline, a family cat.

Watercolor with colored pencil of a family cat, a Ragdoll. 9x13. 2023.
Keira

Painting (watercolor and colored pencil) of our family pet - Keira - a Persian Calico cat. 8x10. 2021.
The Raven

Watercolor study of a raven done as part of a Patriot Art session. 11x15. 2023.
The Crow Knows

Watercolor of a crow landing on his shadow, done for a series on crows. From reference photographs. 15x11. 2023.
Regal Alaura

Our house cat, Alaura, looking very regal. In colored pencil and a light blue-green watercolor background wash. 9x13. 2022.
Young Alaura

Drawn with colored pencils, very quickly. Our house cat, Alaura, a Maine Coon, relaxing on some pillows. 8x10. 2021.
Alaura at the Window

Colored pencil drawing. 5x7. 2022.