Painted over the last twenty years, watercolors by Thomas Loring are on view through November 15 at the Shattuck Visitor Center, 125 The Fenway. They are drawn from Frederick Law Olmsted’s parks and reflect the natural and man-made elements of the landscape that Olmsted created over 150 years ago with his colleagues: John C. Olmsted, H.H. Richardson, and Richardson’s successors, Shepley, Rutan, and Coolidge. This collaboration was instrumental in realizing his far-reaching vision for the parks.

Olmsted’s parks are a remarkable orchestration of organic forms in harmony with built structures. The design of the landscape is highlighted by contrasts of earth and water, light and dark, movement and repose. One’s eye is drawn to the sinuous forms, reflections in water and arrays of color at the interface of the natural and man-made. These watercolors were inspired by these splendid parks, and the artist is delighted to have the opportunity to show them at the Shattuck Visitor Center.

Thomas Loring was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. He graduated from Harvard University where he developed a lifelong interest in art and drawing. After beginning a course of study at the Boston Architectural Center, he went on to Carnegie Mellon University where he received a Master of Architecture degree. He started his career with Woollen Associates Architects in Cincinnati and Indianapolis before joining ARC/Architectural Resources Cambridge, becoming a Principal at ARC, specializing in educational and scientific buildings. Painting in watercolor and drawing by hand has been complementary to his work in architecture for more than thirty years. He paints on site and in a studio in Boston and while traveling. For complete schedule of exhibit hours visit http://www.emeraldnecklace.org/about-us/shattuck-visitor-center/current-exhibit/