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 - SOLD

10" x 8" oil on canvas covered hardboard - painted en plein air, alla prima - SOLD -
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

Who Will See Us?

10" x 8" oil on canvas covered hardboard, painted en plein air, alla prima - $65 including shipping -
It was about 10am on August 22nd and Sandra and I had been painting for about 2 hours. The sun was rising quickly - and so was the temperature. We were just about to pack up when I spotted this patch of dead grasses hidden in the woods. The sun was breaking through the foliage and spotlighted the area with flaming orange and yellow. I worked quickly to get the scene on canvas. It was breathtaking - I was glad that Sandra was able to see it, too.
Contact me at beejw@charter.net

An Old Irish Poem

Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there... I do not sleep.
I am the thousand winds that blow...
I am the diamond glints on snow...
I am the sunlight on ripened grain...
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you waken in the morning's hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of gentle birds in circling flight...
I am the soft star that shines at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry—
I am not there... I did not die...

I found this Irish poem while searching for the words to another Irish blessing.

While painting these past two weeks at the Tunnel Hill Civil War Battlefield, I've been thinking about all the American soldiers who fought and died during that war. The land is peaceful now, strewn with sweet-smelling hay bales drying in the Autumn sun. If you care to look back at the past few posts, you'll see some of these paintings. There are still 5 more to be posted. The titles are "Country Store with Caboose", "Who Will See Us?", "The Colors of Early", "Just Saying 'Good Morning'", and "May the Road Rise to Meet You".

The Civil War Reenactment - Battle of Tunnel Hill - will be held on September 8th and 9th this year. Remember the boys in grey and blue.

Bright Meadow from Fort Keys

This image was dropped from the post on 8-23-07. Please click on the image for a high resolution view.

Conversations

8" x 10" oil on canvas covered hardboard, painted en plein air, alla prima - $85 including shipping -
Looking WSW from Fort Keys on the Clisby Austin property, these trees seemed to be conversing early on September 21st. The hay bales also seemed to be whispering to each other. I was listening to the buzz of insects and smelling the sweet hay drying in the sun as I painted the morning away.
Contact me at beejw@charter.net

Chetoogeta Hillside - SOLD

8" x 10" oil on canvas covered hardboard - painted en plein air - $85 including shipping - SOLD, thanks Dr. Tom !
This scene was painted in 3 stages. Beginning in April the general layout was done; then twice the site was revisited with additions and corrections made to include the seasonal changes. The final touches were done in studio on August 20th.

There are actually two tunnels through Chetoogeta Mountain. The one on the right is famous for being part of the Great Locomotive Chase during the Civil War, and is now part of the historical park in Tunnel Hill. The tunnel to the left was opened in 1928 to accommodate the larger locomotive engines of modern times.
Contact me at beejw@charter.net

Meadowlawn Hayfield

10" x 20" oil on stretched canvas, painted en plein air - $185 including shipping -
The August heat made the sweet smell of Summer hay fill the air. The meadow is quiet now but on September 8th and 9th, the annual Civil War reenactment will be held on these grounds in Tunnel Hill, GA.
Contact me at beejw@charter.net

Wisdom Oak

10" x 8" oil painted en plein air on canvas covered hardboard - $85 -
The old oak has seen possibly a century of modern development around town, but its feet are still firmly planted in the N Georgia clay. It has become a landmark for those who love the simple pleasures of the earth.
Contact me at beejw@charter.net

painting en plein air in the summer heat

Painting en plein air in August in 95+ degree heat is a challenge. I started out early on Monday, the 13th, and parked beside the covered bridge in Tunnel Hill. The little creek was murmuring its way south, and I was pleased that there were enough trees to give shade for a few hours. The painting of the old oak still needs a few tweeks here and there and will be posted soon. When I'm out painting, I'm thinking of those other plein air painters who love the challenge of capturing nature on canvas or paper.

To quote Tiny Tim, "God bless us, everyone!"

Plein Air Painter Dressed in Pink

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

Contact me at beejw@charter.net

Ode to a Plein Air Painter


Oh, plein air painter dressed in pink,
Are you as crazy as we think??

Outside painting in August heat…
Wouldn’t some iced tea be neat?

Or come inside instead
Of being outside…frying your head.

We know your hat keeps off the sun,
But isn’t your brain just about done?

So come inside and take a rest
Before someone must do compressions…
Upon your chest.

The plein air painter says with a smile,
“No thanks, I’ll stay outside for awhile.

“I’ll mix my paints…yellow, blue and red.
And, no, I’m not touched in the head.

“Nature’s palette sings to me –
To be outside is to be free…

“Free to paint to my heart’s content…
Not inside where I feel pent.

“I’ll come inside when I feel the pain…
Or if it should begin to rain.”

Now mark these words for they are true…
Only plein air painters understand you.


Written by BJ Wright on August 14, 2007
Inspired by my friend Sandra Babb

Chetoogeta Hillside in progress

8" x 10" oil on canvas covered hardboard - being painted en plein air - $85 including shipping when completed - SOLD

This painting was started on April 27th (see April 29th post) but has been sitting in my studio. Several days ago I returned to the hillside and worked some more. Keep in mind that April and August have widely differing weather, lighting, vegetation, etc. It still isn't completed so I will return to the site once more to complete this painting. It seems to be an imaginary landscape - but it's just a combination of different times. Contact me at beejw@charter.net.

As It Flows

10" x 8" oil on canvas covered hardboard - painted en plein air - $85 including shipping -
This painting was originally painted on 4-25-07 but I just wasn't quite satisfied with the results.
---please click on image for an enlarged view---

Painted on an overcast day, it just didn't have that contrast - that 'ump' that makes a statement. I revisited the scene in Tunnel Hill on Saturday, painting in hand, and captured the August sunlight filtering through the foliage and into the underbrush. There was an amazing amount of purple - so I included it, too. Contact me at beejw@charter.net

Which Way to Lookout Mountain?

8" x 10" oil on canvas covered hardboard - painted en plein air -
Sandra and I set up our easels in a cow pasture - complete with cows - in the August morning heat. Trying to catch the shadows before they disappeared was quite a challenge. This will be a study used for a larger painting. I'm not really happy with the tree on the right. He'll probably be cut out - not cut down - for the final painting. Too many trees are being cut down in the name of progress. Nuff said.
Contact me at beejw@charter.net

A Sweet William Morning

8" x 10" oil painted en plein air, alla prima, on canvas covered hardboard - shown in a temporary frame - $85 including shipping (not including frame) -
This lovely patch of Sweet Williams grows beside Sandra's house. The tree trunks were still wet from an earlier rain so they were showing dark. An altogether lovely morning was spent with Sandra and her dog Ellie.
Contact me at beejw@charter.net

Doing the Morning Dance

8" x 10" oil on canvas covered hardboard, painted en plein air, alla prima - $85 including shipping -
This row of trees lines the end of our driveway. As the morning sun rises, the light strikes them in animation. This is my narrative of the dance.

The couple on the left - she's not sure of him, he's a little pushy, and besides his hair is too long.
He doesn't know it, but the chaperone is looking over his shoulder.

Meanwhile the couple in the middle - seem to be getting along just fine and making time.

The lone fellow on the right is the wallflower. He let too much grass grow under his feet. He won't have a date at this dance.

Contact me at beejw@charter.net

my plein air setup

At the plein air blog Southern Plein Air Painters, we're sharing our ideas concerning our painting set-up. The little folding stool was $5 at the Dollar Store. I am using a Winsor-Newton watercolor easel because that's the one I mistakenly picked up - but I like it because of the tilt factor. My husband, who can make anything out of metal, made the tray which holds my palette, used brushes and the clip on tuna can for turp. Office Depot was the source of the roll around studio which holds everything - cost was around $20. Various kids' pencil boxes hold brushes, paint, mediums, etc. I ordered some cardboard wet panel carriers from Dick Blick - couldn't afford the $80 for the nicer wooden one. They hold several wet panels or stretched canvas. I've also used pizza boxes; they protect the wet painting and can be stacked. A bungee cord strapped across the top holds everything securely and I'm off to paint again.

Click on the image for a close-up view.
Contact me at beejw@charter.net. I'd love to hear from other plein air painters. :o)