Rural Rhythm

Working on an 11"x14" oil on a gorgeous November day...

artistic license

At the Rock Spring (GA) "Show & Sell" arts/crafts festival on Saturday, I decided to paint something that shouted "Autumn!" Luckily I was near the most colorful booth on the grounds. It was a fun day so I punched up the colors and let them be happy. Of course, it was my privilege to take some artistic license with the scene...omitting here, moving there, adding bits from another booth.

Tunnel Hill paint out

Each year the Art Alliance of North Georgia participates in a paint out during the "Battle of Tunnel Hill" Civil War reenactment. We have a tent for artwork display and another as an artists' base of operations. Several wet paintings...done right on site...were sold (much to the delight of the artists).

A Song Singing - repost

10"x8" oil on RayMar panel, painted en plein air, alla prima...$85 including shipping...This was painted at Prater's Mill, near Varnell (GA) exactly one year ago today. I've never seen this water blue, even under the bluest sky. The sound of water rushing over the dam sings a melody of the coming Fall.
Prater's Mill Country Fair will be on October 9th & 10th this year. Ya'll come on out to see us there.

Like Last Year

7"x5" oil on RayMar panel, painted en plein air...This little archway trellis leans - so that's the way I painted it. My friend said she had taken it down, straightened it and re-set it. But it still leans. I think it has a charm all its own there amongst the flowers and grasses. This painting can be seen at Ringgold Frame Shop in Ringgold GA.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Meadow Memories

11"x14" oil, painted alla prima, during a TV interview on March 8th...$160 including shipping. Ron Arnold, the Charter Media reporter, had asked me if I'd feel comfortable painting while we did the interview. Since I often talk to people while painting en plein air, I agreed to set up my easel and 'paint away' while we chatted.

This meadow scene is a composite of several places I love to paint. And I hope the weather warms very soon so that I can get back out to these meadows and see Nature's wonderful colors.

blues, yellows, reds

7"x5" oil done while playing around with blues, yellows and reds. The morning sunlight was absolutely orange when it hit the hay bales and crib corner. Beyond the distant misty field, the mountain was blue/purple. The tree bark was shining almost red. This was a fun little piddly, cartoony way to spend time listening to the birds.

Morning Shadows

7"x5" oil on RayMar panel, painted en plein air, alla prima, on June 25th (completed at 8:15am)...$30 including shipping...The early morning sunlight cast a wonderful yellow/orange glow...but it was gone in a flash. Just enough time for a small one.

Exploring What's There

10"x8" oil on RayMar panel, painted en plein air, alla prima, on Tuesday June 30th (completed at 9:55am)...$85 including shipping...Sandra and I explored Crown Gardens and Archives in Dalton (GA) and found a painting in every direction. This small addition to the main structure was set deep in shadows and as the sun crept in, I began painting using only yellow ochre, alizarin crimson and ultramarine blue (and of course white). I had challenged myself to use a very limited palette. Next time I think the mixing will go faster.