Vanderbilt Vignettes: Watercolors by the Cross River Fine Artists, 2021

Cross River Fine Art is an artist’s guild, representing watercolorists of varied backgrounds and experience who have joined together to display their diverse painting styles. The artists live and work in the Hudson River Valley and many of their paintings, from botanicals to landscapes, reflect the beauty and sensibility of the region.

The group was originally formed under the auspices of the Betsy Jacaruso Studio and Gallery in Rhinebeck, New York where the artists have studied and displayed their work. Cross River artists have also participated in group and solo shows at venues on both sides of the Hudson River.

Please note that the copyright for all art included here is retained by the individual artists. Reproduction of these paintings in any form is prohibited without the written permission of the artist, except for non-commercial “fair use” for educational and interpretive purposes. Please contact the artists directly for information regarding the availability of their work. Information about Cross River Fine Art and member artists is available at www.crossriverfineart.com.

Vanderbilt Exit, Sunset

Denise Jalbert

Inspired by the light driving past the Vanderbilt property one day, I wondered what it must have been like living there in the olden days.

An Old Historian

Setsuko Ellsworth

A visit to the Vanderbilt Mansion is never complete unless I stop by the awesome pine standing across from the mansion and ever so quietly observing the history. Often wonder if it could only talk…

Vanderbilt in Snow

Joanne Cuttler

This painting expresses my interest in architectural subjects, along with the almost abstract forms of snow on pine trees. Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site is truly a magical place to paint.

Bard Rock

Barbara Bergen

Bard Rock is one of my favorite Vanderbilt spots because of its serenity and peacefulness.

Boy/Dolphin Fountain

Margaret Moebius

The Boy/Dolphin fountain was installed in the Vanderbilt Garden by Frederick Vanderbilt between 1906 and 1908, and refurbished in 2002. I painted this watercolor because as a volunteer with the Vanderbilt Garden Association, I enjoy hearing the sound of the water splashing in the fountain when I work in the upper tier of the garden where the fountain is located.

New Dawn

Ellen Crimmins

A trip to the Vanderbilt Mansion would not be complete without visiting their gardens. The rose garden is wonderful, and features a large variety of specimens including Climbing New Dawn roses.

Chlorophyll Mirror

Kate Kester

I was inspired by the saturation of greens in the overgrowth, contrasted by the stark white of the bridge. I approached the painting by wetting the paper first, and dipping the pigment onto the page to capture the disorienting mirror reflections in the water.

Vanderbilt Autumn

Hana Gordon

The bridge is one of my favorite Vanderbilt views. It is lovely from any angle, at any time of the day and in every season.

Vanderbilt Mansion

Claudia Engel

I felt the older mansion needed a historical reference to do it justice.

Vanderbilt Overlook

Betsy Jacaruso

Misty Overlook

Carol Kohan

This is my atmospheric interpretation of the iconic view of the Hudson River from the Vanderbilt Overlook. On this December day, I was inspired by the light peeking through the clouds as they draped the distant Catskill Mountains.

Winter Magic

Krista Morris

When I was young, we would visit Vanderbilt Mansion when we had company from out of town. The mansion made me feel like I was in a fairy tale. Its magic is timeless and spans all seasons.

Vanderbilt Pond

Francoise Ursat

I love walking in the Vanderbilt Mansion’s garden. The statue nestled in the alcove above the pond is so graceful that I could not resist to paint it. It reminds me of Europe.

Daydreaming from the Mansion to Illinois Mountain

Deborah DeWan

It is a view of the Hudson from the Vanderbilt Mansion where I spent a lovely spring afternoon amidst lush greenery and grandeur. The painting is from a photograph I took that day. I was struck by the gentleman sitting on the bench at water’s edge and the arching foliage from the bushes framing him, the river and Illinois Mountain with the radio tower.

Ironically, Illinois Mountain was part of a court case to protect the view brought by Scenic Hudson (where I worked in the late 90’s and early 2000.) Though the case against the tower was unsuccessful, Scenic Hudson went on to create a stunning park on over 240 acres of Illinois Mountain in the Town of Lloyd.