May paintings

I promise that I have been painting. These were done earlier this month. Right now they're in drying racks waiting to be photographed and posted. I hope to post each one separately very soon.

being in the right place at the right time.....

While painting in Red Clay Park last week, I was interviewed by a reporter from the Chattanooga News Freepress. Pictures taken, questions asked - the whole thing done impromptu.

Being in the right place at the right time does occasionally happen. I was glad I had business cards with me. If you'd care to read the story, I've included the link. There is no photo here, but that's ok. I was dressed for painting - not having my picture taken.

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/may/06/cleveland-red-clay-spotlight/

Springhouse at Meadowlawn

This is still "cooking". I've tweaked the big tree on the left, making the trunk larger and adding some limbs. There are also adjustments needed in the background. Tomorrow's weather should be the same as today's, so I'll complete the adjustments onsite in the morning. I simply ran out of time (and shade). Maybe Sandra can join me and we can have a small paint-out.

Eternal Flame at Red Clay

Today was windy at Red Clay State Park. I had to tape my canvas to the easel so it didn't fly away! This painting isn't quite finished yet - needs some tweaking here and there. The painting on my easel is standing in the shade, so it appears darker than the trees. The subject is the eternal flame located on a knoll overlooking the council house. I may return in a few days, painting in hand, to finish.

Red Clay is a wonderful place to visit. It's quiet - a great place to get away from the rest of the world.

...In the Wildwood...

24"x12" oil on stretched canvas, painted en plein air, alla prima, on April 23rd around 9:30am. --- $175 NOT including shipping ---
This little church is in Tunnel Hill, GA. There are buildings around the church but I chose to leave them out of the painting. The church has been there for probably 100 years or more.
Contact me for purchase.

Casa de Bandini - progressing

I'm still working on this painting for the Creative Arts Guild's "Celebracion" Hispanic/Latino gallery show. I must deliver it no later than Sunday, April 27th. That's painted, dry, framed and ready to hang in about 8 days. I'm using a drying medium to speed the process. I know I'm cutting it awfully close, but I've been away from the easel for awhile - won't bore you with the details. There's still lots to do here. It's far from being ready.

South from Fort Keys

10"x8" oil on canvas covered hardboard painted en plein air, alla prima - $85 including shipping -
As we were painting at the Tunnel Hill battlefield on March 22nd, I saw this lovely patch of purple at the meadow's edge. As I painted, the dark colors under the trees on the left kept changing. Even though my initial intent was to feature the purple flowers, I loved working on the darks as well.
Contact me for purchase.

Those Bloomin' Pear Trees

10"x8" oil on canvas covered hardboard - $85 including shipping -
Sandra, Sherry, Tim and I met at the Tunnel Hill battlefield on Saturday, March 22nd, and had a great plein air painting day.
This small building is directly across the street from the Heritage Center. The pear trees are in full bloom and are amazing in all their colors of white.
Contact me at beejw@charter.net for purchase.

Casa de Bandini

This is a 28"x22" oil on canvas work in progress.

The smallest image is a 4x6 photo taken in 1997 while I was in San Diego, CA. The slightly larger image is the 8x10 enlargment I'm using as reference.
I've encountered a slight perspective problem because the photo was made using a wide angle lens which distorts verticals, causing them to curve. I've straightend those lines in the canvas layout. Something else to consider has been all the diagonals of the roof shingles, the upper railing, and the rafters. I'm seeing that I need to rework some of the angles before I paint farther.

This will be a companion piece to another work painted in 2003. My style and techniques have evolved since then and I'm somewhat anxious about matching the earlier work.
I'd be happy to receive comments at beejw@charter.net.

Tree Line Vigil

8" x 10" oil painted en plein air, alla prima, on canvas covered hardboard - $85 including shipping -
The Southwest corner of the meadow meets a tree line at the site of the annual Battle of Tunnel Hill. Here the Yankee soldiers emerge, guns drawn and cannons blazing. It was quiet when I painted this but within an hour the site showed hundreds of Civil War reenactors.
Contact me at beejw@charter.net

Fall at Fort Keys

8" x 10" oil on canvas covered hardboard painted en plein air, alla prima - $85 including shipping -

It seems like ages since I've been outside painting. This is the same scene - "Camp at Fort Keys" - that I painted in September at the Tunnel Hill battlefield. The foliage is changing so fast I'm glad I finally captured it on canvas. The shadows are appearing so blue and the leaves are so firey red, it's just an explosion of color.
Contact me at beejw@charter.net

"Starving Artists" ????

I'm sure Durinda Cheek will appreciate you visiting her artist blog and reading her thoughts concerning "starving artists".
http://artisttravels.blogspot.com/2007/10/starving-artists-sale.html

Alannah Michelle Lasher

This is my new little granddaughter - Alannah Michelle Lasher.

Born on October 8th, she is a most precious gift. If you'd like to see more pictures and read her story, please visit her blog - www.thelashers.blogspot.com.

****posted by her Gram, BJ***

Transitions

8" x 10" oil on canvas covered hardboard - painted en plein air on 9/21/07 -
This will be used as a study for a larger studio painting. The morning was unsettled and windy with patchy clouds skipping across the sky. It was as though Fall couldn't decide whether to encroach into Summer - or wait a few more weeks. There was a rustling of leaves signaling the transition of seasons. Patches of red foliage have begun peeking through the Summer green.

This scene is in the same meadow where I painted "Wisdom Oak" and "Just Saying Good Morning". I love this property located near my home in NW Georgia.

Contact me at beejw@charter.net

out of town for new granddaughter :o)

I will be out of town for about 2 - 3 weeks visiting my daughter in Virginia. She's expecting her first child, Alannah, early next week. I'll be away from the easel - but with camera in hand to shoot scenes in and around Richmond.

Please check in again soon. And be sure to visit our plein air painters blog at www.southernpleinairpainters.blogspot.com to see paintings featuring the scenery in Georgia, Tennessee, the Carolinas, and Florida. Our artists are capturing the changing of the seasons in some wonderful paintings. You won't be disappointed.

September Full Moon on the easel

8" x 10" original on gallery wrap canvas - mixed media in progress - should be finished very soon.

In working on my series of Full Moon paintings, I've researced science and historical information. Many people refer to the full moon in October as the Harvest Moon. However, the Harvest Moon is actually the full moon nearest the September equinox which was September 23rd this year. This fact puts the September full moon, on September 26th, as the Harvest Moon.

The October full moon will be on October 26th and is referred to as the Hunter's Moon, Blood Moon or Sanguine Moon.

Contact me at beejw@charter.net

Camp at Fort Keys - SOLD

8" x 10" oil on canvas covered hardboard - painted en plein air, alla prima on Saturday, September 8th at the Battle of Tunnel Hill - $85 including shipping - SOLD
It was early on the first day of battle. Tents were set up at Fort Keys and campfires were smouldering. Reenactors were beginning to stir, packing away night equipment, getting ready for the afternoon battle.
Contact me at beejw@charter.net

Fort Keys to Taylors Ridge

8" x 10" oil on canvas covered hardboard - painted en plein air, alla prima on 9-6-07 - $85 including shipping -
It was overcast on Thursday before the Battle of Tunnel Hill. I was set up at Fort Keys to paint the old shed and cornfield which play a big role in the reenactment. Several folks from Mississippi had just put up their tent in preparation for the battle to come. The meadow was peaceful under the early September sky; the trees showed signs of Autumn colors soon to come.
Contact me at beejw@charter.net

Art festival this weekend

I've been getting ready for the Creative Arts Guild Festival this weekend, September 15th & 16th. Painting, painting, painting is what I've been doing lately.

Then I realized, "Hey, all those paintings need framing for the arts festival". Well, duh!! So framing has been my main focus for several days. And it's not my favorite thing to do - but I'd rather do it myself than have it done. I think it adds a bit more of 'me' to the finished painting.

I have 3 paintings waiting to be posted. I just haven't photographed them yet. I hope to start getting them posted Monday - then it's back to the fields to paint some more.

The Road In

10" x 8" oil on canvas covered hardboard - painted en plein air, alla prima on 9-4-07 - $85 including shipping -
This little gravel road runs south at the foot of Chetoogeta Mountain from the old general store, past Fort Keys then exits back into the 21st century on US Highway 41. It is the 'road in' when the Civil War reenactors arrive for the Battle of Tunnel Hill.
Contact me at beejw@charter.net

Battlefield at Tunnel Hill

This is the site of the previously posted painting "Dew on the Meadow, Sun on the Rise". The usually peaceful meadow is transformed into a Civil War battlefield at the Battle of Tunnel Hill held annually on the weekend after Labor Day.

As I write this, I can hear the booming cannons - really! - because I live less than 2 miles away. After cleanup tomorrow, Meadowlawn will once again become the peaceful meadow I love to visit.

I have 4 recent paintings done at the site which will be posted very soon. The titles are "The Road In", "From Fort Keys to Taylors Ridge", "Fort Keys Camp" and "Yankee (or Union) Cannons Away".

I met a family of reenactors who set up camp at Fort Keys on Thursday the 6th. They had traveled from Mississippi to take part in this part of living history. "Hey" to Mike, Becky, Savannah and Shiloh. I hope to see you again sometime. :o)

Contact me at beejw@charter.net

Dew on the Meadow and Sun on the Rise

8" x 10" oil on canvas covered hardboard - painted en plein air, alla prima - $85 including shipping -
It was just before 8am on Tuesday, September 4th - a heavy dew had settled on the meadow. Trees were still in deep shadow, and mist hugged the distance. As the sun struck the grass, countless sparkles skipped across the scene. It was an early morning wonderland.
Contact me at beejw@charter.net

May the Road Rise to Meet You

10" x 8" oil on canvas covered hardboard - painted en plein air, alla prima - $85 including shipping -
It was Saturday morning, August 25th, and I was set up at Fort Keys to paint a scene at the Tunnel Hill battlefield. Running immediately in front of Fort Keys is Hunt Road, graveled and showing bright in the morning sun. I remembered an old Irish blessing which is:

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Contact me at beejw@charter.net

Just Saying Good Morning

8" x 10" oil on canvas covered hardboard - painted en plein air, alla prima - $85 including shipping -

Painted August 24th, this scene is quite similar to my painting titled "Early Before the Rain". This week had seen clear bright mornings, with colors fairly singing. I love to see the way different atmospheric conditions affect a scene. The previous painting ("Early...Rain" - July 20th) was done on an overcast morning - this one done with almost no atmospheric interference - except for the brilliant sun.
Contact me at beejw@charter.net

Battle of Tunnel Hill coming up !!

The Battle of Tunnel Hill Civil War reenactment will be held at the Clisby Austin house and adjacent property on Saturday and Sunday, September 8th and 9th. Please check the photo slide show on the right (below) to view the property. >>>>>>>>>>>>>

Grain Moon the Full Moon in August

8" x 8" x 1/2" original oil on gallery wrap stretched canvas (NO FRAME REQUIRED) - $70 including shipping -
September's full moon rose early on the 28th; the sun had hardly set so the sky was still bright. Trees have slowly begun to show premature fall coloring because of the hard drought this summer. This scene is from my imagination with a little help from observing the moonrise on Saturday the 25th. Contact me at beejw@charter.net

The Colors of Early

10" x 8" oil on canvas covered hardboard - painted en plein air, alla prima - $85 including shipping -
Painted on August 23rd, an especially clear day, this painting bursts with colors of what might be called a late late Summer/early early Fall palette. The shadows were dark and the light was crisp and bold - just a wonderful day for painting en plein air. Contact me at beejw@charter.net

Country Store with Caboose and Ghost

8" x 10" oil on canvas covered hardboard - painted en plein air, alla prima - $85 including shipping -
This country store located on the Clisby Austin property in Tunnel Hill, GA, houses many Civil War relics. It is open during the annual Battle of Tunnel Hill reenactment set for September 8th and 9th. Several weeks ago Sandra and I were set up painting on the porch, avoiding the slight rain showers. There is an old pay phone, disconnected for years, beside the front door. I had just finished telling Sandra about some of the ghost stories I've heard connected with the property. Then the phone rang - twice! Disconnected for years, no outside wiring - but the phone rang twice. We both heard it.
Contact me at beejw@charter.net