Suzanne Shelden

Route 4

Route 4 is: a series of paintings featuring the best known barns and landscapes along Route 4 in Southern Maryland.

These days we often find inspiration in the scenes we see from our cars. There are so many views and places of interest along a road we often travel. It says a great deal about the road and the people who live there.

I started recording Route 4 imagery in 2005. There just aren't that many roads out there in Maryland with as many barns and farm views as this one has.

I liked Calvert County's vision for this road, in an excerpt from their 1992 Vision Document, one I looked up on their website in 2010, it says "Vision 1: Route 2 and 4 look like parkways with limited access and landscaping along the sides except through Dunkirk and Prince Frederick. There are still areas of real farmland and forest visible, and all new development is clustered and buffered from Routes 2 and 4." This i has kept true for many years and implies a strong vision for the road that is also called Solomons Island Road. For those traveling down to Solomons Island, this road makes it a beautiful drive to a great place.

For those that commute, this road and the way Calvert County has been for so many years, makes it worth the commute. Slow down and glance about. Drive carefully and respectfully. Take care of this road and support the Calvert Farmland Trust and organizations like it. We who live here are all in this together.

My original inspiration for this series comes from the the '80s when I would drive down to Calvert Cliffs in order to hike to the beach and hunt for shark's teeth. Since that time I have moved down to Calvert County and I think one of the things that has drawn me down here is the road itself. During the course of the years Route 4 has seen much development, but it seems that consideration is being given to the preservation of certain open spaces and structures along the way. As I travel up and down the road, these sights remain, and change only with the seasons.

It is a pleasure to see the plowed fields, the new crops planted, and then growing, the corn, getting higher and higher until it seems to reach the roof of the barn behind it, then to see it cut, and with that the texture of the stubble, the neat rows of growing and then harvested rows fanning out as I drive by. There are certain trees I look for, champions who have survived into this decade, and landmarks that frame the landscape given to open fields, backed by trees, and ever changing skies above. There are special houses, with their driveways and mailboxes coming right up to the road, that say they were around when life moved along a little bit slower than we do now.

Many thanks to all those people who work so hard to preserve the land around us.

Thank you!

click here to see a larger version of some of the painting's locations.

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Suzanne Shelden Home Page

Southern Maryland Series

Jefferson Patterson Park

Beach Town Series

The Birds

Raining Cats and Dogs

A Gala for Cat Lovers

Nature

The Spirit of the Horse

Galleries:

Artworks@7th
in North Beach

North End Gallery
in Leonardtown

The Arts Center
of Montross

Online:

Fine Art America
Suzanne Shelden

Shows and Events:

Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Arts Center
Artsfest 2024: September 20-21

Memberships
and Affiliations:

Maryland State Arts Council

Maryland Federation of Art

National Association of Acrylic Painters-NOAPS

The Art League

Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Arts Center

The Calvert Artists' Guild

St. Mary's Arts Council

Appalachian Mountain Club

The artwork found on this website is available directly from
SheldenStudios
@
comcast dot net

Media:

Acrylic Painting

Oils

Drawing

Collage and Mixed Media

Watercolor

Photography

Computer Digital

thank you
for your
patronage

The Route 4 Paintings:

Route 4 Scenes, as seen, from the passenger seat of the car, at 55mph.
Dear Calvert County, this is, or was, your commute, your drive, your daily scene,
your home.

Reproductions are available on Fine Art America.

Red Barn at 5pm

Sorghum Mornin'
acrylic on canvas
24 x 72"
currently available at Artworks@7th - North Beach, MD
$5,184

December Morning

The Old Jones Store
acrylic on canvas
18 x 24"
$1,296

December Morning

December Afternoon
acrylic on canvas
22x40"
$2,640

The Home and Barn North of Broomes Island

The Home and Barn North of Broomes Island
acrylic on canvas 12 x 36"
$1,296

Route 4 - 2014 View Driving North into Calvert

Route 4 - 2014 View Driving North into Calvert
acrylic on canvas 12 x 36
$1,296

Miocene

Miocene
Approaching Talbott Road
acrylic on canvas 14 x 30"
$1,260

Nouveaux Provence

Nouveaux Provence
Approaching Talbott Road, in 2008
acrylic on canvas 8 x 24"
$576

rt4- younme again

you n me
Talbott Road, the V tree and the Pumpkin Barn in 2008
acrylic on canvas 8 x 24"
$576

Fairview Hill

Fairview Hill
acrylic on canvas 24x30"
$2,160

Owings Field

Sunderland Noon
acrylic on canvas 24 x 36"
currently available
$2,592

Red Barn 6pm

Red Barn 6pm
acrylic on canvas
16 x 20"
currently available
$960

November Pond

November Pond
acrylic on canvas
16x20"
currently available
$960

Trott's Sunset

Trott's Sunset
acrylic on canvas 20 x 40"
currently available
$2,400

Two White Roofs

Two White Roofs
acrylic on canvas
24 x 40"
currently available
$2,880

Loooking North Toward Chaneyville Road - Route 4

Looking North Toward Chaneyville Road - Route 4
acrylic on canvas 20 x 40"
currently available
$2,400

Morgan Russell Plowing Route 4 around 1958

Morgan Russell Plowing Route 4 around 1958
acrylic on canvas
30 x 60"
private collection

Mrs. Weems Christmas Tree

Mrs. Weems Christmas Tree
acrylic on canvas 14 x 58"
Sold! on Christmas Eve!

Red Barn at 5pm

Red Barn - Golden Evening
acrylic on canvas
24 x 72"
Private Collection in Maryland

The Norfolk Farm in Winter

The Norfolk Farm in Winter
acrylic on canvas 12 x 36"
Private Collection

The Jones Store in the 1950's

The Jones Store in the 1950's
acrylic on canvas 18 x 24"
private collection

The Barn at Broomes Island Road

The Barn at Broomes Island Road
acrylic on canvas 18 x 18"
private collection - overseas

Red Barn — Grey Day

Red Barn — Grey Day
acrylic on canvas 24 x 30"
Private Collection in Maryland

Morgan Russell Plowing Route 4 around 1958

Prettiest Little House on Route 4 2019 - again
acrylic on canvas
9 x 12 "
private collections in Chicago

Morgan Russell Plowing Route 4 around 1958

Prettiest Little House on Route 4 2019
acrylic on canvas
9 x 12 "
private collections in Maryland

The House Across from Kmart

The House Across from Kmart
acrylic on canvas 8 x 24"
Private Collection in Maryland

Fall Fallow

Fall Fallow
acrylic on canvas 24 x 30"
Private Collection in Maryland

BUMP

BUMP
acrylic on canvas 16 x 20"
Private Collection in Maryland

Flag Barn in Winter

Flag Barn in Winter
acrylic on canvas 12 x 12"
Private Collection in Maryland

Fall Favorite

Fall Favorite
acrylic on canvas 4 x 5"
Private Collection in Maryland

White house north of Sixes Road

White house north of Sixes Road
acrylic on canvas 4 x 5"
Private Collection in Maryland

Route 4 Christmas Traffic

Route 4 Christmas Traffic
acrylic on canvas 30 x 30"
Private Collection in Maryland

Prettiest House on Route 4 - 2016

Prettiest House on Route 4 - 2016
acrylic on canvas 11 x 14"
Private Collection in Maryland

Route 4 Flag Barn In Winter

Route 4 Flag Barn In Winter
acrylic on canvas 11 x 14"
Private Collection in Delaware

Bridge to Nowhere

Bridge to Nowhere
acrylic on canvas 16 x 20
Private Collection

you n me Talbott Road, the (half-a) V tree and the Pumpkin Barn in 2012

you n me
Talbott Road, the (half-a) V tree and the Pumpkin Barn in 2012
acrylic on canvas 9 x 12"
Private Collection in Prince Frederick

route 4 - Corn God Fall

The Corn God - Fall
acrylic on canvas
18 x 18"
Private Collection

rt4 church

Route 4 Church
acrylic on canvas 4x5"
Private Collection

Fairview

Fairview
acrylic on canvas 24 x 36"
Private Collection

Red Barn at 7pm on Solomons

Red Barn at 7pm on Solomons
acrylic on canvas 24 x 72"
Private Collection

This image was captured the same date, time and place as 'View Driving North into Calvert' which is shown below..from on top of the bridge, just look right.

Buy reproductions on Fine Art America

Red Barn in Winter

Red Barn in Winter 2010
acrylic on canvas 20 x 40
Private Collection in Maryland

old route 4

Old Route 4
acrylic on canvas 24 x 72"
Private Collection in Maryland

Route 4 back in the 60's. Looking north toward Chaneyville Road.

I welcome CDs with imagery of Historic Route 4 and Calvert County.

rt4 sentinel

The Sentinel
2010
acrylic on canvas 20 x 42"
Private Collection

Route 4 - 2005 View of Flag Barn

Route 4 - 2005 View of Flag Barn
just south of Chaneyville Road
acrylic on canvas 12 x 36
Private Collection

NOTE: The barn on the right has been pulled down since 2005.
After 2015, the tobacco barn on left was dismantled, the wood was auction off,
the barn torn down, and a new structure built in its place.

The Promise

The Promise
Acrylic on canvas 24 x 30"
Private Collection

These trees, which I believe to be a row of sugar maples, strike a surprising, delicate balance, a dialogue between the trees and the traffic. I put no cars or trucks on the road, but in actuality, we rarely see 30 seconds with out traffic at this time of the day. I call this one The Promise because these trees stand like a contract between the farm and progress.

Broomes Island Oak

Broomes Island Oak
acrylic on canvas 40 x 40"
framed size 48 x 48"
Private Collection

Blue Highway

Blue Highway
acrylic on canvas 40 x 40"
Private Collection

The view is of Route 4 Southbound, just past the billboard sign out of Dunkirk.
Returning home after a day trip around DC.

Route 4 - 2008 View Down Into Solomons

Route 4 - 2008 View Down Into Solomons
acrylic on canvas 12 x 36
Private Collection

Primary Colors

Primary Colors
acrylic on canvas 20 x 42"
Private Collection

Just south from Broomes Island Road, looking left, you will find this barn.

small works

A collection of Small Works ready for the holiday show

Red Barn at 6pm

Red Barn at 6pm
acrylic on canvas 8 x 24"
Private Collection

route 4 - Bowen Barn

Bowen's Barn - Foggy Dawn
acrylic on canvas miniature
4 x 6"
Private Collection

rt4 sorghum morning

Sorghum Morning
acrylic on canvas 8 x 24"
Private Collection

rt4 norfolk dairy

Norfolk Dairy Farm
acrylic on canvas 8 x 24"
Private Collection

the white road

After the Rain
acrylic on canvas 24 x 24"
Private Collection

rt4 fox headquarters

Fox Headquarters
acrylic on canvas 6 x 12"
Private Collection

chaneyville house

Chaneyville Farmhouse
acrylic on canvas 4 x 5"
Private Collection

Corn God

The Corn God
acrylic on canvas 18 x 18"
Private Collection

This one greets you at the intersection of Route 4 and Broomes Island Road. The head has gone, but the body remains, and the corn is really, really good, as are the tomatoes.

Spring Favorite

Spring Favorite
acrylic on canvas 4 x 5"
Private Collection

rt4 redbarn 8am

Red Barn 8am
acrylic on canvas 4 x 5"
Private Collection

route 4 flag barn

The Flag Barn
acrylic on canvas 4 x 5"
Private Collection

rt4_red barn

The Red Barn
acrylic on canvas 8 x 24"
Private Collection

Just North of Sixes Road

Just North of Sixes Road
acrylic on canvas 24 x 30"
Private Collection

This farm can be seen just north of sixes road on the Northbound side of Route 4.

rt4_redbarn september

Red Barn in Corn
acrylic on canvas 12 x 36"
Private Collection

Dunkirk view - Yellow Bank Road

Yellow Bank Road, Dunkirk
acrylic on canvas 30 x 60"
Private Collection

You see this view driving south on Route 4 just north of Dunkirk.
Bean fields at noon.

the pumpkin barn at talbott road

The Pumpkin Barn
acrylic on canvas 24 x 72"
Private Collection

This WAS the barn at Talbott Road, Route 4 north.

January 30th, Winter Drive

January 30th, Winter Drive
acrylic on canvas 19 x 40"
Private Collection

This is a winter view of the "Support Our Troops" Barn in Owings.

Red Barn at 6pm 2010

Red Barn at 6pm in 2010
acrylic on canvas 24 x 36"
Private Collection

The Red Barn is situated just north of the Route 2 intersection on the right.

talbott dawn

Talbott Dawn
acrylic on canvas 24 x 36"
Private Collection

Headed North on Route 4, just past Talbott Road. A glance back.

Annapolis, junction 1 mile

Annapolis, Junction 1 Mile
acrylic on canvas 12 x 36"
Private Collection

One thing I personally love about Route 4 are the ups and downs.
This is a first attempt at showing this characteristic of the road.

Lusby

Lusby
acrylic on canvas 46 x 46"
Private Collection

All the Route 4 images are taken from the front passenger seat at the speed limit. It's so that the views I am capturing are those we see every day as we drive up ad down this road. On this day, we drove by this lounge chair set up right by the road. Our guess is that it fell off of someone's truck, and that some one else came along and got it off the road and set it up with a good view. It is located just at Coster Road going north, and ahead is the blue sign for Lusby, the stop light, and the PBP tower.

45 MPH

45 MPH
acrylic on canvas 30 x 60"
Private Collection

The light ahead is Stoakley Road at Calvert Memorial Hospital.
This is a rainy, wet morning. but in the distance, the blue sky of day peaks through.

The White Barn at Lord Baltimore Drive

The White Barn
acrylic on canvas 24 x 30"
Private Collection

Located across from Lord Baltimore Drive, this is one of the first paintings I made in the series. I consider it one of the most significant views visible from Route 4.

The Barn next to Trotts

The Barns next to Trotts
acrylic on canvas 24 x 24"
Private Collection

I like Trotts and I love this barn and the way the rows of crops line up in front of it. Mums?

metamorphosis

Metamorphosis
acrylic on canvas 24 x 42"
Private Collection

As you drive north in the morning this scene catches your eye on the right just after you leave Prince Frederick. This painting is a faithful reproduction of a row of old trees that have been overtaken by vines and underbrush. And no, it's not a marching band of stuffed animals, no sharks, no dogs, no hairy people, just stumps and vines and tendrils, right?

Red Barn at Six PM

Red Barn at Six PM
acrylic on canvas 24 x 84"
Private Collection

The red barn shows up on the right just north of the Route 2 intersection. This barn has a number of faces depending on what time of year you see it. I enjoy watching the progress of the crops in the field. The corn got high enough in this image to obscure the barn door. This was a tough view to catch, taken from the passenger side of the car, moving with traffic, going south.

Red White and Blue

Red, White and Blue
acrylic on canvas 24 x 40"
Private Collection

This barn can be seen just behind a line of trees along Route 4 just south of Broomes Island Road. Like a constellation, it is only visible from November through April. I should name it Orion.

bowens

Bowens
acrylic on canvas 24 x 42"
Private Collection

I am not sure the Bowens own this property, but it is the field situated right behind Bowen's Florist just north of Prince Frederick. The barn and the little house speak to one another, they are connected, and it is very difficult to picture one without the other. It is also easier to see this scene as you drive south. Catch a glimpse of it just before you enter town.

Dawn Impression

Dawn Impression
acrylic on canvas 8 x 60"
Private Collection

This view can be found just north of Bowen's Florist. The fruit stand has been taken away.

chaneyville

Chaneyville
Private Collection
acrylic on canvas 24 x 84"

These trees are just south of Chaneyville Road. They have a special place in this series because of their proximity to the road and the intimacy with Route 4. Here is a peaceful scene, sometimes with a field of wheat behind, sometimes with corn growing high. A pastoral scene, right up against the trucks and cars and traffic. It's a delicate relationship, which, at the moment, is quite balanced.

field of curiosities

Field of Curiosities
acrylic on canvas 24 x 60"
Residing at Calvert Pines Senior Center

We call this one the field of curiosities because there are several objects in this scene that do not seem to belong, for instance, load palettes, huge wooden spools for cables, big wooden? boxes, hay bales and objects like that. At first we thought, well it could be a target or archery field. Well, we were close. Turns out it's a paintball field. Sign of the times and what is fun in life, right? It hasn't altered much in five or so years at least. It is on the right as you travel south on Route 4. It is a great field, I have another version of this taken in the summer, which I plan to paint as well.

at talbott road

Talbot Road
acrylic on canvas 24 x 60"
Private Collection

Talbot Road intersects Route 4 just where the road divides north
of the Calvert County line. I also call the painting the V tree. V for victory, V for peace. The tree just fell apart this fall, and is now part of the past. It was an unusual tree and I am very glad I caught it before it fell away. Note: the final half of the V tree fell in the snowstorm of 2016, so the tree is no longer there.

Morgan Russell Plowing Route 4 around 1958

Little Weems Tree
acrylic on canvas 2 x 3"

a detail from the comment board
currently seeking a new spot
Acrylic on canvas

The artwork found on this website is available directly from
Shelden Studios AT comcast DOT net