Hay Bales at Dickie Brothers Orchard

Hay Bales at Dickie Brothers Orchard

12" x 12" oil on board

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This is a scene from Dickie Brothers orchard down in Nelson County, VA. As a kid, my family made the drive over the mountain on route 56 from Staunton, VA each fall to Dickie Brothers for apple picking. Route 56 crosses the Blue Ridge Parkway in Shenandoah National Park and passes Crab Tree Falls on the way. The road is extremely windy and my mom always used to get car sick. Even so, apple picking was one of my favorite days of the year - picnicking by the Tye River and all the apples I could eat.  Sarah and I still make it to Dickie Brothers on occasion, usually for anniversary trips, and not a day passes that I don't eat my mid-morning apple...this painting looks great in a thick, gold plein air frame.  Let me know if you want it!

Apple Tree Copy

I'm embarrassed to post this now that I see the paintings side by side, but I copied this painting from a painter named, Kurt Moyer, who is my favorite painter these days.  The top one is mine. I think it's ok to copy as long as you give the other artist credit.  It's a little like playing someone else's song. You have to learn the other's chords and techniques as you go.  It is easier than trying to paint the subject in the outdoors, but it's still very difficult.  It's amazing how the slightest variation completely changes the tone/feeling/meaning of the painting.  Copying it really makes me appreciate what a master Kurt Moyer is, especially to be able to paint this from life. What surprised me most is the importance of the design of the branches and the composition.  Even if the color and value were spot on, which they definitely are not, balance of design is the greatest factor separating these paintings, in my opinion.  To my credit, the camera DID do a terrible job of capturing my painting... 😃