5" x 7" oil on board
Could not get a good photo of this one. It looks less terrible in person.
Saturday, May 29, 2021
Tuesday, March 30, 2021
Lake Fairfax Oak Tree II
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6" x 6" oil on board
My five year old daughter, Camlin, joined me for today's plein air excursion. We hiked in (1/2 mile), carrying our supplies. Camlin toting my portable paint storage bin, stopping several times to rest...
Let's just say that my expectations are too high, both for a five year old on a plein air excursion and for myself with a five year old on a plein air excursion.
She was very patient with me, though 😊 and somehow I scratched out what I think is the best of the three paintings I've done of this tree. A great day.
Sunday, January 24, 2021
Blue Chairs II
Blue Chairs II
9" x 12" oil on board
Post one, year twelve. The urge to paint has been strong lately, but the time has not been there. I bought my daughter a cheap table top easel that she allows me to use. It's handy for setting up on the sun porch and painting the views in my backyard. There should be a swing set in the top right, but I left it out because the light was changing so fast. My portable French easel is beyond repair, and I'm trying to justify the expense of a fancy new travel easel...Should I do it?
Tuesday, December 22, 2020
Blue Chairs
Blue Chairs
4" x 6" oil on board
I know a lot of people would look at this painting and assume it was done by a five year old. But it's actually of my favorite paintings of the year. And in contrast to yesterday's painting, it was much more enjoyable to make.
When I'm starting a painting, I tell myself I'm going to put down a stroke and leave it. I'm going to use thick paint and I'm going to quit while I'm ahead. I rarely ever do what I tell myself to do. With this one, however, I did.
The purpose of painting, in my mind, is to pass along a particular moment in time and the feelings I felt in that moment. When painting from photos, I feel like that job is much more difficult for a number of reasons, including the fact that you're compensating for the camera's deficiencies, the least of which is its inability to accurately capture light and shadow. As a result, I have come to dislike painting from photos.
This painting was done in the moment. It took less than 30 minutes. I used thick paint, put down a stroke, left it, and quit before I screwed it up. I wish all paintings were this enjoyable!
Sunday, December 20, 2020
Sky Meadows
Sky Meadows
8" x 10" oil on board
It's getting harder and harder to find a few hours to paint. And I feel more and more guilty for sticking my wife with the kids while I do it. This might have been better, but it was rushed and I was distracted.
Monday, July 27, 2020
Redbud II
6" x 6" oil on board
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I've been on a painting SPREE lately! I did this one from the sun porch with some leftover paint from yesterday. 95 degrees in the shade, but at least there aren't mosquitos on the porch, and I was able to turn on the ceiling fan...
Sunday, July 26, 2020
Peach
6" x 6" oil on board
Sold
It's probably not a coincidence that some of my best paintings happen when my kids are away at Nana and Papa's...my only goal was to not overdo it. That might be why the plate is not a perfect shape. I was just trying not to screw it up...
I like this one. It tasted good, too.
Clearing
10"x 20" oil on canvas
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I've painted this scene near Bryce Canyon, Utah, once before. Still trying to get it right...is it better than the original, below? The original sold at the Marriott Craft Show a few years back. I like how I used a little more red in the trunks of the trees in the original...maybe I need to try it one more time.
Saturday, July 11, 2020
Cowpasture River
Cowpasture River
5" x 7" oil on board
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Just downstream from the confluence of the Bullpasture River and Cowpasture River in Highland County, VA, near the "town" of Williamsville. Town is in quotation marks because there is one stop sign and a trout hatchery in Williamsville...there used to be a nice country store there, but it closed down years ago. Still, the Bullpasture River Valley is one of my favorite places on earth.
I struggled with this one and almost wiped it. Then, I debated whether or not to post it.
Friday, July 10, 2020
Black, White, and Brown
Black, White, and Brown
6" x 6" oil on board
Sent to Farmer Robin
It's tough to muster the creative energy to paint when you've been wrangling a two and five year old, but I made it happen today. This is an image from our trip to McDowell, Va this July. I'm happy with my cows.
Tuesday, February 25, 2020
Windowsill Apples
8" x 16" oil on canvas
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I've been getting a lot of page views the past few days. Russian hackers or legitimate viewers? I'd love to know...
Wednesday, January 22, 2020
Abstract II
Abstract II
Oil on canvas (large)
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I had some ideas for how I wanted this to look, but of course it turned out differently and a little more representational than I had planned - I had no scene in mind when I started....it was fun trying to balance it out, and I like it.
Also, 2019 was the10th year of this blog. Anyone still looking?
Saturday, December 21, 2019
Apples in a Bowl with Brown Bag
Apples in a Bowl with Brown Bag
5" x 7" oil on panel
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As usual, I had a hard time getting a good photo. Upgrading to the new iPhone any day now...
Wednesday, November 27, 2019
Corner Pothos
Corner Pothos
11" x 14" oil on board
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Haven't painted in a while. I went back to a limited palette of Venetian Red, cobalt blue, cadmium yellow light, and burnt umber.
Friday, August 16, 2019
Monday, June 17, 2019
Pothos
Pothos
8" x 8" oil on board
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This was really tough to paint. I eventually had to go back in the studio and quit looking at it because the light was totally different from when I started.
I've also been calling this plant a philodendron. However, I think it's actually a pothos. Someone, please correct me.
Saturday, June 15, 2019
Friday, June 14, 2019
Sunday, June 9, 2019
Sunday, February 10, 2019
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