The Red Earth

Painting the idea of heat and cold is sometimes difficult. I did this small oil on sanded board last year in the middle of July around 11:00am. I tried to capture the heat but also the cool undergrowth in the background.
This painting has sold.

framing for an exhibit

I've spent most of today in my studio...but I wasn't painting. There were several paintings to be framed, re-framed, backed, wired, etc. I know it's a necessity but it isn't nearly as much fun as putting brush to canvas with the smell of oil paint in the air. I've often dreamed that I'd love to just paint, then hand over the wet canvas to someone else who would do the framing, etc. Oh, and while they were at it, maybe they'd set up the shows, exhibits, art fairs, galleries, etc.

Provost HQ

12"x6" oil on stretched canvas, painted en plein air on May 15, 2009, at the Battle of Resaca(GA)...$80 including shipping...This Confederate tent was set up under a clump of trees on a hill's crest overlooking the battlefield.

They Fought Bravely

12"x6" oil over acrylic on stretched canvas, painted en plein air on May 5, 2008, at the Confederate Cemetary in West Hill Cemetary in Dalton, GA. This painting is $80 including shipping.

Sunny September Morning

8"x10", oil on RayMar panel, painted en plein air, alla prima, on September 8, '09...$85 including shipping...I realized that this late morning painting of a Tunnel Hill (GA) meadow had not been posted here. I've painted this scene dozens of times and each time it's fresh and different.

July Afternoon Late

12"x9" oil on RayMar panel, painted en plein air, alla prima, on July 4 (completed at 8:10pm)...$135 including shipping...Since I'm usually painting outdoors during morning hours, the idea of painting in the afternoon took a bit of adjustment. The light and shadows play differently and I could quickly run out of daylight...just in time for a nocturnal painting.

North from Snodgrass Hill

6"x12" oil on stretched canvas, painted en plein air, alla prima, on May 22, 2009...$80 including shipping...Last Spring I painted at Chickamauga (GA) Civil War Battlefield. It was around noon when this was completed, so the shadows are short beneath the treeline. I prefer painting in early morning, but it's good to paint outside my comfort zone.

July Afternoon Late

12"X9" oil, plein air painting in progress...I got a call to meet an artist friend around 6:00pm at the Tunnel Hill Civil War battlefield this afternoon. Since I'm accustomed to painting during morning hours, I thought it would be great to catch the setting sun on the hay bales scattered about.

Away from Everyday

5"x7" oil on RayMar panel...$40 including shipping...This one was posted earlier in June, but I tweaked the water a bit, making it darker.

finishing touches...

I've been putting some finishing touches on several "almost done" paintings. This 12"x6" oil over acrylic was started en plein air last year at the Confederate Cemetery in Dalton GA. Here it's getting a 5% touch-up.

Last Summer's Hay

This is one from the 'vault'. I painted it (shown here in process) early last Summer after the first hay cutting. Allergies have kept me away from the hayfield this year, so I'm reminiscing and hoping to get out there again soon.

Hopin' and Dreamin'

8"x10" oil on RayMar panel, painted en plein air, alla prima, on Saturday June 19th (completed at 10:40am)...$85 including shipping...This was my first time at the Dalton Saturday Market, so I didn't know what to expect. I found friendly folks selling produce, plants, and various hand-made (well made) items. The gazebo caught my eye as I set up my easel. Light always changes quickly, so it's a challenge to get shadows in their proper places. The gentleman wearing a hat and red shirt seemed oblivious to the mill of people and sounds of the childrens' zylophone. He was "hopin' and dreamin'".

Liberty Tree in process

14"x11" mixed media painting progressing...The subject is a Liberty Tree planted in Dalton GA. It's one of 14 trees grown from seeds of an original Liberty Tree. I've worked on the ghostly image of the original Liberty Tree, using acrylic paints and sepia ink. There are still more small branches to be added. I've started over-laying the trunk and a few limbs of the Dalton Liberty Tree. My idea is to show our tree as it grows today echoed by an original Liberty Tree.

Dalton’s Liberty Tree, a tulip poplar, was grown from the last of the original Liberty Trees, which American rebels met beneath while planning their revolt against Great Britain. Fourteen trees, one for each of the original 13 colonies and another for George Washington’s home Mount Vernon, were grown from seeds taken from the Maryland Liberty Tree before it died in 1991.

Afternoon Storm...Maybe

8"x10" oil on RayMar panel, painted en plein air on May 31st (completed at 2:00pm)...$85 including shipping...Instead of painting the seashore scenes I'd planned, I painted this hazy, lazy afternoon looking across a wildlife sanctuary in Nags Head, NC. Each afternoon it looked like rain clouds would roll in, but rain came only once briefly.

Nag's Head Sunset

5"x7" oil on RayMar panel...$40 including shipping...Sunsets were wonderful as seen from the top deck of our rented vacation house in Nags Head, North Carolina. In this painting, I had neglected to bring any yellow paints! But luckily my small panel had been pre-toned in yellow, red and blue patches.

Luxury Air Conditioning

9"x12" acrylic multi-media painting...As a base, I used a sky study painted in acrylic on paper-backed canvas. I then attached sections cut from two experimental paper compositions; one was a futuristic aquarium, the other was a funky windmill. If you look closely, you can see portions of a metalic frog, a water lily and double bubbles. The flag (attached only at the right side) in this piece has a patch defining the word 'windy'. The signature paw print indicates this is my cat's favorite bird watching place.

At Day's End

10"x8" oil on gallery wrap canvas...$85 including shipping...After painting en plein air at Chickamauga (GA) battlefield last Summer, I snapped a few parting photos before packing up. It was late and the clouds foretold a coming shower. There is a bit of glare on the lower left corner.

Equine Red Tape

10"x10" acrylic multi-media painting...Sometimes a painting is just a jumble of colors, lines, and nondescript designs. Then something magical happens. In this case, tracing with red paint, I followed what I thought were haphazard lines. The resulting image popped and there was a horse's head...complete with ears, eye, mane, and bridle. The 'red tape' phrase comes from the patch of words taken from an old dictionary. Click...then click again...for a closer look.

Of Things Past

12"x10" acrylic multi-media painting...The thesaurus block represents the word "junction". Click on the image - then click again - for a detail view. We've all had junctions in our lives and, looking back upon them, they are "Of Things Past".

Cat Bird's Seat

...11 1/4"x10 1/4" acrylic mixed media painting...It's interesting how two failed compositions, which I had worked on for hours, can be sliced up with a paper cutter and used as pieces in another painting. The bird's body contains bits of a dictionary page showing the meaning of "window dressing". I think the bird makes excellent window dressing. Click on the image, then click again, to see the words.

Keeping the Faith

...portion of a 12"x12" acrylic mixed media painting...There are a lot of hidden designs in this painting. I used a small hand carved rubber stamp featuring 3 flying doves to apply the darker green on either side of the cross. The intersection in the upper left features a Celtic cross printed in golden irridescent paint.

Tracery of Shadow

...portion of a 12"x12" acrylic mixed media painting...I'm not sure exactly what the gold symbol is. It was part of a sheet of stencils from a mandala book. If anyone knows, please let me know.

Everything Went Swimmingly

...portion of a 12"x12" acrylic multimedia painting...Everytime I look at this painting I see a big fish, which kind of explains the title. Although fish swim, the word 'swimmingly' actually means "...with great ease of success". I'd like for all my endeavors to go swimmingly.

Much to Whisper

...portion of a 12"x12" acrylic multimedia painting...This one is done on clothing pattern tissue and, if you look closely, you can see some of the markings peeking through (which are part of the design).

Back to Forever

...a portion closeup...

...clicking on the image will show more detail...

...12"x12" acrylic mixed media painting...I left a few areas dimentional in this piece. The flag containing the quote (which reflects the sentiments of the subject) and the small orange extention in the left/center cast small shadows. The entire piece hasn't yet been trimmed, so unfinished edges still show.