Three and a half stars

Ruschman Gallery.

Al Pounders paints rural landscapes — not your Indiana farm fields, but the undulating farmlands of Northern Italy. Pounders resides in Italy half the year, then returns to West Lafayette where he is professor emeritus at Purdue University. His oil on canvas works — tied together with distinctly orange, almost terracotta hues — interpret the Umbrian terrain near his Italian home. Works are painted as if viewed from a raised central perch. Jagged planes of land dotted with crops, villas and farmhouses are abstractly depicted in a Post-Impressionistic-inspired style. Patterned fields in hot colors are delineated by marks of cool tones and layered plateaus. In conversation with gallery owner Mark Ruschman, I learned Pounders quickly paints or sketches small studies à la plein air approach. Ask to see the studies — unframed gems made with watercolor or oil stick on paper. You’ll be charmed by their freshness. Through March 24; 317-634-3114.