Making a Mark 2010 Award!

I'm proud to announce that my blog, the Virtual Paintout, has been awarded The Best Art Blog Project Virtual Challenge Cup for 2010. According to Katherine Tyrrell, an artist from Great Britain, and the owner/operator of the Making a Mark blog (which is the #3 Art Blog in the UK, and #27 Art Blog worldwide), the explanation of the award is defined as...

Art can be quite a lonely activity and it's noticeable that people often like to have some sort of involvement in groups and projects related to art! This award is for:

• EITHER a major and reputable new project which adds value and involves a large number of bloggers
• OR a project which has grown over the course of the year in question or otherwise had some significant impact during the course of the year

I am very honored to have been chosen for this award for 2010. Especially by such a well respected, well read, artist and author. Thanks Katherine!

Washington & School

Here's one I did for next month's Virtual Paintout. I can't let anyone know the location until January 1, 2011, but the name of this one is a hint (for those willing to search).

"Washington & School"
9" x 12", oil

Christmas Creek

Stood in the creek today until the snow started coming down a bit too hard. I like the abstract quality in this.

"Christmas Creek"
16" x 20, oil

Graves Branch

Did this one today. A little cold out, about 30 degrees, but not too bad. I named it after my sister since I can't find the real name of the little stream that empties into Little Renox Creek, and it's on her property.

I used the style Stapleton Kearns calls "colored rice" on this one. I'm liking it more and more. Including a close-up of one area of the painting to show the varied brushstrokes.

"Graves Branch"
16" x 20", oil on linen panel

Little Renox Creek - December 2010

Here's one I started on location this morning and worked on some after I got it home.

"Lillte Renox Creek - December 2010"
16" x 20", oil

Pinckney National Historic Site

Here's a painting I completed to about 90% on location during a recent Stapleton Kearns workshop in Charleston, South Carolina. I finagled (is that a word? and if so, is it spelled correctly?) it a bit at home. Stape calls this approach "colored rice", in which each individual color is laid down separately from the others until the canvas is filled and eventually finessed. I'll write much more on the workshop soon. Met some wonderful people and enjoyed the company and good food.

Pinckney
16" x 20", oil