Tuesday, May 12, 2009
A Stream Emerges From The Wood 8x10oil
This is the same stream I was beside on May 7 when I painted "Beside a Stream" (clever title...not). I followed the stream and found the spot where it exits the woods. I like the word "Emerge" better than "Exit", hence this title. In my small world and imagination, this was like discovering the source of the Nile. For me that is half the fun of my painting. I love the searching for new locations. I feel like an explorer even when I am in my own backyard because you never know when you will see something for the first time, something that you may have never taken notice of before...its magic, when that happens.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Spring, into the Studio 8x8 oil
I always surround my vegetable garden with Marigolds. Being away from home for work again, means another spring and summer without a garden. Fortunately, I can bring a little bit of "Spring into the Studio"
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Preparation Of Lunch 10x10 oil
There is hardly a meal that in my opinion, isn't improved by these ingredients. My kids won't go anywhere near anchovies. If, they only knew how many of their favorite "Dad" meals, include anchovy in them.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
A Table For Two 12x9 oil
A Geranium a dish of strawberries and loads of straight lines! It looks as if the flower and the berries are on a date. I was drawn to the composition, light and the subtlety of color and value but, I like the hint of a story too.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Beside a Stream 9x12 oil - SOLD
The springtime weather here in Alabama has been violent in its extremes. Thunderstorms and tornado's interrupted by a beautiful warm day every now and then. The weather cleared yesterday afternoon...so I rushed out to paint.I discovered this quiet shady spot, perfect for an afternoon of painting... the mosquito's liked it to.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Companions 10x10 oil - SOLD
I found a clump of these very pale pink flowers by the roadside. I have no idea what kind they are but they are beautiful. I paired them with a plate of blackberries in front of the blinds. This painting was done with a very limited palette. Alizarin Crimson and Thalo Green. There are a few little additions of Cerulean Blue and Yellow Ochre.
I also re-photographed and re-posted yesterdays painting (Tall and Short) under natural light, the color of the first photo was too far off and it bugged me.
I also re-photographed and re-posted yesterdays painting (Tall and Short) under natural light, the color of the first photo was too far off and it bugged me.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
The Tall And Short Of It 9x12 oil
Last night I received notification that one of my paintings has been accepted for the 73rd Mid-Year Exhibition at The Butler Institute of American Art. The painting is "A Boyfriends Car" and can be viewed below. I am really thrilled with this very unexpected news.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Daisy Pool 8x8 oil
One of the flowers had a broken stem. I didn't want to throw it away, so I put it in a tuna can with some water. I keep several left over tuna fish cans in the studio. When I need a new brush cleaner, I wrap one with galvanized wire mesh or screen and drop it into a tomato can and add mineral spirits. The sediment falls through into the tuna can. I have several store bought turp cans but none work as well as this method and the cost is a tiny fraction of the commercial cans.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Well Rusted in Retirement 16x20 oil
I am drawn to old cars and trucks that have been left to rust in a field, it seems such a waste.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Friday, May 1, 2009
The Color of a Sunrise 7x9 oil
Painting at sunrise is one of my favorite things to do. The light changes so quickly that you have no choice but to simplify. I prepare for painting the night before. My brushes are clean, palette is clean and fresh paint is squeezed out. I hate rooting through my back pack trying to find a specific tube in the dark or low light and it eats up valuable painting time. Sunrise and sunset seem to be the easiest to paint. I find mid-day the most difficult. The color of the light, lack of good shadows, everything seems flattened out...much harder decision making process.
Best of all, before most people have even thought about their first sip of coffee, I've completed a painting!
Best of all, before most people have even thought about their first sip of coffee, I've completed a painting!
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Tulips Silhouette 10x14 oil - SOLD
I found the spider like arrangement of the flowers against the horizontal blinds interesting. There is something about back lit objects that always attracts me. I think because the objects are silhouetted, the shapes are somewhat simplified and more graphic. Simplify, something I try to remember but too often its only after I have finished my painting that I recall.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Artist and Model 12x12 oil
Another attempt at painting a subject that I don't usually paint. It is always frustrating but well worth the effort if I can learn from the experience. I was trying to paint in a looser, more free way but found myself getting to caught up in some of the details. Finally I ended in that very awkward spot of to much detail and not not enough detail. I am trying to eliminate or at least minimize "rendering".
This was fun and frustrating!
This was fun and frustrating!
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Below The Hills 12x12 oil SOLD
This is the second view of the barn. I liked that it was nestled into the small valley below the hills. The structure of the barn was interesting, mostly open with a shallow pitched roof line. The metal roof with the light reflecting off of it gave me fits. I just couldn't get it to feel right.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Overflow 9x12 oil
I found this farm on route 50, near Lynchburg. It was a beautiful location. It would be a simple, straight forward deal to paint this barn or so I thought. After all, this is right in the middle of my "comfort" zone. I've painted hundreds and hundreds of landscapes...a piece of cake, NOT. I painted 2 views of this barn and struggled every inch of the way. Painting seems to do that every now and then, just when you think you're in the "groove", the paints and brushes rise up and kick you in the ass just to remind you how little you control. I will post the other barn painting tomorrow.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Field Road 10x10 oil - SOLD
I was heading to a different location to paint but, when I got there I found that real estate developers had beaten me to it. I continued my search for a subject and found a small dirt road turn off. I must have driven 1 1/2 miles around and between fields when I saw this scene. It was a nice quiet spot to spend a few hours painting. I am very pleased with the results and hope the developers never find this spot.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Kitchen Yard 10x10 oil - SOLD
While painting this house I was treated to a Blue Grass concert going on across the street. It was fun having music to paint by. I may have to finally get an ipod. I have received 2 of them as gifts but re-gifted them when I found out they didn't automatically come with my favorite music and that I would have to "download" it...that didn't sound like something I would enjoy doing. I've since learned that its not so bad or hard to do.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Spring Puddles 9x12 oil - SOLD
This is the same location as "Winter Wheat". I got there after work, turned to my right (east, I think) and began painting. Now that I have met the "crop consultant" and he told me the name of the owner, I may move off the roadside and into the fields.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Yellow Tulips 8x10 oil
I don't often paint flowers. My goal this year has been to paint subjects outside of my comfort zone, ie; still life,plastic bags, meat etc.. This was harder than I expected and I am looking forward to doing more. Apologies for the "glare" on the painting, I always seem to struggle trying to photograph "dark, wet" paintings.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Winter Wheat 8x10 oil
This field of winter wheat is directly across the road from the pond I painted yesterday. The tire tracks are what attracted me to paint this. They show you where you are and in what direction you are headed and hold the promise of the future at the end or around the next corner. I really wanted to drive through this field but, I didn't know who owned it and in my experience farmers can get pretty annoyed at strangers tramping through their fields. In fact just as I was finishing up a truck pulled up with what turned out to be the crop consultant to the owner. He was there to check on a report of someone suspiciously standing near one of Mr. Shaw's fields...just me, paintin'
Monday, April 20, 2009
Sunday, April 19, 2009
The Path That Follows The River 10x10 oil
In the afternoon I found this path through the woods along side a river. I really enjoyed painting the moss covered tree trunks. It is always fun to paint in the woods. One of the perks of painting in the woods is the solitude and that other than the birds and chipmunks you aren't going to have to deal with an audience. I recently read an article about painting in the city and all of the difficulties involved. The most obvious one being all of the people that stop to watch and talk. The author came up with a great remedy to that particular problem...put out a cup and sign asking for donations! Nothing gets a crowd to move on faster than asking for a donation.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Friday, April 17, 2009
Scattered Color 16x16 oil - SOLD
In my studio is a small formica table with various tubes of old paint. I thought this would be a simple painting that I could complete in the evening after work. I was wrong. A tube of paint is not a difficult thing to paint but, 25 tubes scattered over a table top with pliers was sort of like doing a jigsaw puzzle, only fun.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)