November

8x10, oil on canvas panel

Well, Thanksgiving is over and it's back to painting.  We had one daughter, one son, one daughter-in-law, one son-in-law, 3 grandchildren and 2 dogs.  A good time was had by all!  This seems like a good opportunity to sneak in a photo of 2 of the grandchildren. 

Emma and Ethan, 9 and 7.

Matthews Shed

8x10, oil on canvas panel

I've been out of town, but did manage a little painting.  I finished this one and started another landscape.

I began this as a plein air study in Matthews, NC, a small town close to me.  This shed belonged to quite an imposing house, but I preferred the humble shed. which meant I would have to set up in the yard.  I knocked on the door to ask permission, but no answer, so I set up anyway, prepared to apologize.  I suppose they were at work because no one ever appeared.  Some people are delighted to have someone paint and show great interest.  A few people are not quite as gracious.  Oh well--all's well that ends well!

Into the Woods

10x10, oil on canvas panel

This path does not lead to the woods.  It parallels Park Road here in Charlotte.  Sometimes

thinking up a name for a painting is a head scratcher, but this one just popped into my head and I liked it.

The rocks were really huge and the sun was hitting them just right.  It was a perfect spot.

The Creek at Willow Wisp Farm

8x10, oil on canvas panel (on eBay)

Several years ago I took a workshop from Camille Prezwodek at Willow Wisp Farm in North Carolina.  Camille is a colorist from California.  As you can see, it didn't take completely.  I do love color and am

working on pushing it more.  However, I think I am a

tonalist at heart.  I think all that drawing I did made me  much aware of value and tone.

Shrimp Boat

12x12, oil on canvas panel

This is another version of Sea Horse which I published earlier.  I am working on 2 other

paintings of shrimp boats, also in a square format.  I blurred the line between the water and land

in this one. making it slightly abstract.

Field and Stream (sold)

9x11, oil on canvas panel

I painted this in preparation for painting a larger one.  Trying to solve the

problems early!  I find I am using a painting knife more and more

and really like it.  It's easier than a brush to pop in some

pure color.

I put this on auction on Daily Paintworks today.

The Orange Roof

5x7, oil on canvas panel

Noda Garden Shed, Charlotte, NC (sold)

8x10, oil on canvas panel

Noda stands for north of Davidson, an idea probably borrowed from Soho in NYC.  Noda is Charlotte's art district.  The houses are wonderful-old and full of character, but the light was not good for them, so I chose to paint a backyard shed.l

Sea Horse

11x14, oil on canvas panel

This is a study for a larger painting.  I pushed the color a little, flattened the yellow space, and used a painting knife for some areas to give some extra texture.  It's named Sea Horse because that's the name of the boat.  I just chose not to paint it, although I may change my mind.

Across the Street, Weddington, NC

'8x10, oil on canvas panel

I painted this en plein air, carefully positioning my canvas, palette, and easel in the shade, all the time trying for the best angle for a strong composition.

As I painted the sun moved and I was no longer in the shade, but didn't realize it.  Oh my, my painting was gorgeous--I created a masterpiece!!!  And then I took it inside.  It was

dead in the water, dull and lifeless.  Painting in the sun makes your colors look bright, so the artist tends to mix duller colors without knowing it.

So I brought it home and repainted many of the passages in brighter colors.  It does look so much better, but the spontaneity has been lost.  Most of the time reworking a painting works for me

and sometimes it does not.  Hey, there's always tomorrow.

Sunday Afternoon at Reedy Park (sold)

12x12, oil on canvas panel

I was thinking of Seurat's Sunday Afternoon at la Grand Jatte when I named this painting.  This was

painted last week, and I forgot to post it.  I think I have

let my life get too busy.

I painted this morning in a friend's garden.  It is a cloudy day so not the best

weather, but good practice.  The good thing is is will rain tomorrow, so I came home

and limed and reseeded the yard. (yawn)..time for a nap!

Fallen Tree, Reedy Park, NC (sold)

10x10, oil on canvas panel

Reedy Park was a hubbub of activity while I was painting.  There were

people fishing, hiking, and even a group from

a horticulture class identifying native plants.

I thought this painting might work well with a couple of figures, and since there

were plenty to look at I added two.

Dirt

detail,  oil

I'm back from the wedding and festivities.  It was a joyous time and great fun.  An added bonus was

that I got to spend a few days after the wedding with

some high school friends.  I enjoyed each and every moment.

If you read this blog regularly, you may remember that I dropped a painting,

wet side down, while returning to the car after a painting trip.  Above is a detailed photo of some

of the grit, dirt, and pebbles that stuck to the painting  It's dry now, so tomorrow

I'll try to get it off and repair the painting.  Hope to post it tomorrow night.

The Garden Shed (sold)

11x9, oil on canvas panel

Most landscape painters lament the fact that everything is so GREEN .  While this is hardly an epiphany,

it is difficult to paint so many greens and not have your painting all

look the same.  That's why I prefer to have a building in the landscape to introduce

another color.  So finding the garden shed was quite fortunate.

I will put this on the Daily Paintworks site tonight.  You can find it by clicking on the icon on the

right hand side.  There is some stellar painting on this site.

Yesterday I painted in Reedy Park--a lake scene.  When walking back my painting fell, on the painted side , or course, and all the grit, dirt, and tiny pebbles stuck to it.  When it dries I'll brush it off, repair any places that need it, and post.  I must say, it certainly does look like authentic

plein air work!

I'll be involved in a family wedding and the attending festivities for a few days.  Please check back on the 29th.

The Quiet Street

5x7, oil on canvas panel

What's not to love about a yellow house?

Water's Edge and Fallen Logs (sold)

5x7, oil on canvas panel

I was looking down into a creek when I painted this.

Reflections, Butler Park, Matthews, NC

8x10, oil on canvas panel

Now that the weather is so delightful, I will be painting plein air more.  It's perfectly ok to paint from photographs.  I do it all the time.  But there is nothing comparable to getting

outside where you have ALL the information right in front of you.

Then there's the problem of what to leave out.  It's an excellent exercise for

the serious, and not so serious, painter.

Butler Park is just a few miles from my house, and it has so many painting possibilities.

There is a horse farm as you leave the park, and I am hoping to

get permission to paint there.

September Farm



9x11, oil on canvas panel

I am loving this wonderful cooler weather with low humidity. It makes me want to paint outside again. This is one of my favorite farm scenes to paint. The white building suckers me in everytime.

 
 
 
 
 




Storm Clouds

9x11, oil on canvas panel, damar varnich

Garlic

    5x7, oil on canvas panel

I've been out of town for quite some time, but I'm back for Labor Day and

some serious painting!  I have certainly missed my paints.

Since most of us will be cooking out for Labor Day, I decided to paint some cloves of garlic.  And just to top it off here's a 5 star recipe from Allrecipes for barbecue ribs with garlic.

                          http://allrecipes.com/recipe/barbecue-ribs/detail.aspx

8x10, oil on raymar panel

Several years ago I made a painting trip to St. Andrews, Canada.  This painting is partly made up, partly from memory, and partly from a photo.

I guess I'm just "partly" today.  Hope you have a good one!

A Small Town

11x14, oil on canvas panel

I grew up in a smaller town, probably around 30,000 at the time, but my hometown looks like the Big City compared to this little town,  Yes, that's it!  I don't remember any more buildings.

I have grown accustomed to painting mostly small canvases, so even 11x14 is bigger for me.  I think I missed the mark on this and may do another one.  I am happy

with some of the passages in this painting, but the overall look is not quite

what I wanted.  Also, I believe the drawing is a little off.

Painting is a learning experience.  Rarely does an artist do as well as he wants to do.  One reason is that our critiquing skills are always ahead of our painting skills.  I think

of each painting I do as an exercise and a practice session.  That keeps it worthwhile

for me, so rather than feel dejected, I know that every time I paint I improve a little!

Lonely House (sold)

9x11, oil on canvas panel

Whenever I paint one of those solumn, lonely looking buildings, I always think

of Edward Hopper.

Arrangement of Greens (sold)

11x14, oil on canvas panel, damar varnish

Summer Tree, Bay St. Louis, MS

8x10, oil on canvas panel, damar varnish

I've been out of town for the last week--just in case you missed me!  For once, I did not take my paints with me.  I knew there would be little time to paint and that I would just be disappointed.

I did visit a few galleries which made me want to paint even more.  My favorite is Anne Irwin (800 Miami Circle, Atlanta).  Anne Irvin has stellar painters in her stable, and if you live near, visit it.  There are also some wonderful antique stores on that short little road.  Take your purse!