Return to the Junction

Return to the Junction
6" x 6" oil on board

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Back to the junction of the Bullpasture and Cowpasture Rivers for this one.  Just upstream from the location of my last Junction painting in Highland County, VA. I had to wade across the river to get to a rock ledge where I stood to do the painting.  The rocks are SUPER slippery so it took all my skill to make it across without dumping myself and all of my painting supplies in the river. Sarah and the kids were downstream floating around and hunting for crayfish - my dog Rainey was laying in the shade beside me. 

Super tough to capture sufficient detail without over doing it, especially when your kids are calling for you to help them catch crayfish.  Regardless, this was one of the best days in recent memory. The more time I spend painting beside a river or sitting neck deep with a beer in my hand while my kids look for creatures, the better. Hey look - there I am!

Hills of Chiapas

 

Hills of Chiapas

16" x 20" oil on canvas

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Most of the paintings I've completed this year have been painted outdoors. But, it was raining today and the kids were away on a playdate so I decided to work from a photo. 

The image is from a 2014 road trip through Mexico that started in Mexico City and ended in Tulum. We explored six different cities and drove well over 1200 miles.  The photo that I referenced was taken somewhere between San Cristobal De Las Casas and Palenque in the State of Chiapas. The Sierra Madre reach over 13000 feet in this stretch, and I'd guess that we were close to that altitude. 

I often wonder if I'd have the guts (or stupidity) to complete the trip again. It was the greatest adventure of my life, but that's because it was my first road trip outside of the US and I was naive and awestruck.  I didn't even speak Spanish at the time.  I made a list during the trip of all the crazy things we saw and experienced, but it's too long to include here.  

One thing is for sure - if I did do the trip again, I'd add a stop between San Cristobal De Las Casas and Merida.  That leg is 14 hours WITHOUT the pretty serious earthquake that knocked out power and caused mudslides, rock slides, and road and bridge collapses.  Add to those setbacks a non-functioning cigarette lighter that was supposed to be charging our GPS, and a serious case of Montezuma's revenge and...you get the picture.  It is a literal miracle that we found our hotel in Merida.  The GPS had been dead for 400 miles.  The paper map we had did not even show the street that our hotel was located on.  Yet, we arrived.  We arrived without even searching...I honestly can't explain how it happened. 

I've been thinking about this painting ever since. I just didn't think I had the skill to make it turn out the way I wanted it to. I'm still not sure, but that's the reason I keep painting and documenting in this blog.  Year fifteen starts in four days.  I do have a lot of paint leftover after this one - maybe I'll squeeze in one more.  Pretty sure I'd do the trip again. 

Fern

 

Fern

8" x 8" oil on board

My brain reacts to stress by blocking out everything but what's in front of my face and shutting down any tasks not essential to survival.  That includes painting. And for the last 5 months, I've been stressed. The longest I've gone without painting in twelve years. But it's summer vacation, and I found a little space today.  These aren't great, but at least I tried. The top one has been wiped...

Linville Gorge Revisited

 

Linville Gorge Revisited 

8" x 10" oil on board

SOLD

For me, there is no greater feeling of peace than the one I get from staring into an endless range of mountains. Just like a wide ocean view, staring into the mountains or any open vista (as opposed to staring at a phone or computer screen or being trapped in a city) expands your field of vision, which is supposed to reduce stress. I can confirm that it works. There's also something about the contrast between the ground-level, zoomed in, view that you get from hiking through a gorge (as in Linville Gorge), hemmed in by rhododendron and the noise of tumbling rapids and then scrambling to the top of the ridge to view not only where you just were, but as far as the atmosphere will let you in any direction. 

This is the second time I've attempted this painting and while I think it's better than the first, it still has a ways to go. Still working on that sense of peace. 

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.

Windowsill Apples

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...

Bowl of Sardines

Bowl of Sardines
6" x 6" oil on board
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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.

Dickie Brother's Orchard II

Dickie Brother's Orchard II
6" x 6" oil on board
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Cayucos

Cayucos
8" x 10" oil on board
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Traditional fishing boats of Lake Atitlan, Guatemala.

Pie.

Pie.
6" x 6" oil on board
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Sweet potato.

Tree - Potomac River

Tree - Potomac River
6" x 6" oil on board
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I took one day off from moving/unpacking this summer to paint outside.  My easel broke after carrying it 1/4 mile down the Billygoat Trail on the Potomac River, and I nearly gave up. This one makes me happy, though.

Beach Reader

8" x 10" oil on board
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This is my Aunt, Diane, reading on the beach at Pawleys Island, SC. My hope is that it could be any beach reader

Still Life with Bananas, Fruit Basket and Wine.
9" x 12" oil on board


As usual, I've been experimenting with paint palettes and approaches. I painted over a pre-existing painting for this one, so there are some nice textures, and I didn't draw it out beforehand. I just picked up my brush and started painting. That could be why it's a little more centered than I'd like it to be. However, it's interesting, and I like the colors.

Afternoon in January

Afternoon in January
8" x 10" oil on canvas panel


I know this painting is weird and abstract and most likely no one will buy it, but it was satisfying to paint. First, I painted over another painting that I didn't really like, which is always satisfying. I like the textures that it creates, and it's always interesting to let spots of the old painting poke through. Secondly, I was home alone during a snow day with no distractions. Thirdly, I didn't let myself get caught up in details. My goal for the painting was to paint shapes, not chairs and shadows. This approach was so much more enjoyable than trying to capture every tiny detail, and I plan to paint like this more often.

Blue Teapot with Lemon II

Blue Teapot with Lemon II
8" x 10" oil on board
Sold

Sometimes I wonder what difference it would make if I had an actual studio with adequate space and lighting and painting supplies at the ready. My setup for this painting involved balancing the blue teapot and lemon on a wooden box, perched on top of a crab pot, yes a crab pot, sitting on top of our guest bed.  This was the only way I could get the lighting and angle that I wanted for the painting. The surface that the box is sitting on in the painting did not actually exist...I did my best to imagine what it would look like if the box was sitting on a table by the window.

I like the colors and the values, but it's a little too symmetrical or something. Any thoughts?

Passing Storm

Passing Storm
8" x 10" oil on board
Commissioned - sold

This is the second version of this painting that I've done; the first is hanging in my bathroom.  My brother requested the painting, something with water and boats, for a coworker who's moving to the northern neck of Virginia.  I had already emailed a photo of the painting to my brother when I realized that I'd made a mistake. The horizon on the right was much lower than the horizon on the left...not physically possible.  So I scraped it off, got rid of a dock and boathouse and added a new horizon. The painting's called "Passing Storm," and I feel like the revised version does a better job of creating that effect.  Here's the original:

Here's the first one that's hanging in my bathroom:

Casey

Casey
8" x 10" oil on board
Not for Sale

For Dave and Sherry Herr: you've been an inspiration in my life and in my career, and I think of you as family. I hope this painting brings you some joy.

Jams and Jellies

Jams and Jellies
8" x 10" oil on board
Sold

My wife stole these jams and jellies from her mom in a dirty santa gift exchange at my aunt Alice's house. The jars were so pretty, sitting on our kitchen table, that I had to paint them. I don't have an actual studio, so I just set up wherever I find space. I painted these under the track lighting in my kitchen, and when I set the painting up to take the photograph, it looked completely different than it did under the track lighting; much warmer than it appeared during the painting process.  I need a painting studio with good lighting...

Paulownia II

Paulownia II
8" x 10" Oil on board
Not for sale

Today is not the day to write about the fact that I'll never visit or paint the river again; that'll happen when the time is right - possibly when I post my final river painting. I was fortunate to spend several beautiful weekends at the river this summer and this was one such weekend in mid September.  I didn't quite capture the warmth of this scene as I had hoped, but I like the way it turned out.  I also learned through trying to remember the name of the tree on the left that the Japanese used to plant Paulownia trees when a baby girl was born. When the girl married, the tree was turned into a dresser and given to her as a wedding present. If I owned the river property and the Paulownia trees that line the road leading in to the house, I would certainly build Camlin, who first visited the river when she was two months old, a dresser.