Limestone Christmas

Here's a pic of me by the easel so you can see the size of the painting. Also a pic of the painting. Not the best, will try to get a better picture later. A little over 3 hours painting time.

Limestone Christmas
30" x 40", oil, plein air

 

Languid Morning for Bovine

Started this one on site then finished up in the studio.

Languid Morning for Bovine
24" x 24", oil on wood

Winter Blues

Painted in the rain today, and did this one in under an hour. Rain makes me more impressionistic. :)

Winter Blues
16" x 20", oil, plein air

Dutch Creek

Can't believe it's December 1st! The weather in south central Kentucky was beautiful this morning. I painted outside starting about 8:30 or 9:00 am. No jacket, just a long sleeve shirt, and I was plenty warm. I passed this house the other day, noticed the sun hitting it, and told myself that I'd come back on Saturday if the sun was out. I'm glad I did. All you folks that passed by and waved or honked your horn, stop and talk to me sometime. I don't mind a bit.

Dutch Creek
16" x 20", oil, stretched linen

Village

Did this small knife painting for the December Virtual Paintout.

Village
5" x 7", oil, palette knife

Self Portrait 11-29-12 - Zorn Palette

Did this quick self portrait this morning before work. About an hour painting time. Used a Zorn type palette of Ivory Black, Golden Ochre, Quinacridone Red, and Titanium White. I like working with this limited palette. Very rich looking colors.

Self Portrait 11-29-12 ~ Zorn Palette
12" x 9", oil

Guthrie study

I think this is the final on this study of Old Willie, A Village Worthy (1886) by James Guthrie. Guthrie was a member of a group of painters from Scotland known as the Glasgow Boys.

This is charcoal on paper approximately life size.

Self Portrait 11-4-12

Today's quick one.

14" x 11", oil, alla prima

Queen Square South

Here's a small knife painting for next month's Virtual Paintout.

Queen Square South
5" x 7", oil, palette knife

Autumn View from the Park

I love this time of year. Painted this quick one at the local park.

Autumn View from the Park
16" x 20", oil, plein air

Iron

Painted this iron from life this afternoon. I had it set up to teach my kid's class how to use there paint brush to measure and get the correct angles. The class went well, but I just had to come back and see if I could capture it in paint.

Iron
12" x 9", oil, still life

Pumpkins and Scarecrow

Painted some pumpkins today. What more can I say. ;)

Pumpkins and Scarecrow
16" x 20", oil, alla prima

Turner Barn

Finally finished this one. I started it on location this summer, and finished it in the studio today. Love working in my new space.

Turner Barn
16" x 20", oil

Morning Wakes

Did this one over an old painting. I went over the old one with a thin coat of raw umber and let it dry for a while. I could still see some of the darks in the previous work so I turned it upside down and started laying in my lights. I decided to be very conservative with my brushwork using a minimum of strokes. Different for me, and man! it felt great!

Morning Wakes
20" x 24", oil

Guitar and Pumpkin

I took my painting gear to the Cumberland River Bluegrass Festival on Saturday to attempt to paint a still life I set up using my daughter's guitar and the pumpkin, mums, and straw bales that were already in place at the park. Not only did I put pressure on myself with the composition and trying to get it done in a reasonable amount of time in one sitting, but I also put myself in the most conspicuous spot, dead center in the park. When I started painting there weren't that many people around, but by the time I finished I was surrounded by folks with folding chairs there to enjoy the Bluegrass music.

Here are some shots taken by friends William Norris, Liza Turner and a couple that I took.

Guitar and Pumpkin
20" x 24", oil, plein air, still life

 

Barns and Silo....Painting with Ralph Parker

Had the joy of painting with Ralph Parker today. WE also had a great time hanging out with Ralph and his wife, Nell, and my wife and daughter. Ralph and I painted on the Riddle Farm just across the Cumberland River from Burkesville. Then we all went for ice cream. Temperature about 80 degrees, light breeze, good company, and ice cream. Can't get much better than that.

My painting below...

Barns and Silo
16" x 20", oil, plein air

 Ralph Parker and me.

 Me and Ralph.

 Ralph hard at work.

Group shot with Nell Parker, Kelly (my wife), Bill (me), and Ralph Parker.

Painting with a friend

Painted today with artist friend, Ralph Parker. Ralph and his wife Nell have been traveling for months in an RV and seem to be having a great time. They've spent a few days here and it's been wonderful meeting them in person. Ralph and I have been online friends for years. Here's a pic of Ralph...

And here is my painting for the day.

Yellow House
16" x 20", oil, plein air

Country Afternoon

This farm is one of my favorite places to paint. Been there many times, and appreciate them allowing me access. Did this one there this afternoon, and it's in the country. Hence the name...

Country Afternoon
18" x 24", oil, plein air

White Oak

Painted at the local state park today. Lucked out and only caught a couple of sprinkles, with no serious rain until I headed home.

White Oak
16" x 20", oil, plein air

Courtyard

Little knife painting done today for next month's Virtual Paintout.

Courtyard
5" x 7", oil, palette knife

Delta Dozer

Painted this cable laying dozer this afternoon.

Delta Dozer
16" x 20", oil, plein air

Farmhouse and Hay

Painted this one this afternoon with temps in the 90's again. Looking forward to Fall.

Farmhouse and Hay
18" x 24", oil, plein air

Roadside Farmhouse

Painted this one on the side of the road in Waterview, Kentucky this afternoon. My favorite moment was when I looked up at a passing car to see the passenger giver me the Bullwinkle hands to the ears and sticking their tongue out.

Here's a pic of the painting still on the easel on location. I'll get a better pic of it in the studio later.

Roadside Farmhouse
18" x 24", oil, plein air

House and Garage

A small, quick palette knife painting.

House and Garage
5" x 7", oil, palette knife

Lake and Tree Landscape

I try to keep pushing past my comfort zone to keep me on my toes. This one is more abstract than a lot of my others, even the small ones done in a similar style. I didn't tighten up at all and left a lot to the viewer's eye. I know it's not to many people's taste, those that like the traditional landscape, but I like it. And it felt gooood.

Lake and Tree Landscape
5" x 7", oil, palette knife

Downriver (with setup shots)

I set up my easel on a large gravel-bar in the Cumberland River today. When I walked to the painting spot I was on dry ground, but they started letting water out from the dam upriver, probably before I got there, and by the time I left I had to walk through water about 15 feet wide and a couple of feet deep. I ended up moving my easel a few times also, because of the rising water, and ended up about 25 feet from where I started.

I'm including some setup/in progress shots here.

I think it was artist Scott Moore who said that if God wanted us to paint verticals He would have put our eyes on top of each other...

Downriver
24" x 18", oil, plein air

Two Ugly Sisters

I did this one in Lexington today for the plein air paint out hosted by Gallery B. This is not a good pic of this painting, but it's the only one I've got. Took it at an angle while it was hanging on the wall at the gallery. Didn't win anything, but that's okay. Had fun and met a lot of artists, collectors, and business people.

Two Ugly Sisters
(There's actually another house next to these. They call them the Three Ugly Sisters. Don't know why. I think they're beautiful.)
18" x 24", oil, plein air

Little Aqua-Dance

Can I hire someone to name my paintings for me please?

Did this quick one at the lake today.

Little Aqua-Dance
20" x 16", oil, plein air

Fill 'er Up (Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park Marina)

I started this one on Saturday, but got rained out twice, with only a few lines on the canvas to show for it. I went back Sunday and had much better weather, although very hot and humid. This one was a challenge to me. Not an easy drawing subject. I'm debating whether to leave it as is, or spend some more time on it, tightening a few things up.

Fill 'er Up (Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park Marina)
16" x 20", oil, plein air

Summer Trees

Painted after work today. This one was really quick. About an hour painting time.

Summer Trees
16" x 20", oil, plein air

Island in the Lake

Today was supposed to be the last really hot day around here for a while. So I thought I'd take advantage of the heat (said sarcastically) and paint outside again. I ended up on the deck of the state park lodge, where I have painted many times before. I'm never bored painting the same view, as I think I learn something new each time. I saw that my spot would be in the shade the entire painting time so I set up, and painted the island in the deck view again. I changed it up a little by adding a sunlight building to the composition.

Island in the Lake
18" x 24", oil, plein air