Spring Fields

Had a good time painting next to the park today. Remember to check for ticks. They're like Savoir Faire, they're everywhere.

Spring Fields
18" x 24", oil, plein air

City of David

This small one was very fun to do. Tried to catch the light and vary brushwork.

City of David
9" x 11.5", oil

Why do I do this again? or The Year of the Tick

I painted again this evening, just before the sun went down. The light changed dramatically while painting. The bright sun hid behind the clouds and peaked out once or twice before it finally gave up the ghost.

My initial drawing was okay. It didn't have me excited, but I really wanted to get something down on the canvas. And apparently, so did the bugs. I plucked many out of the paint and finally decided to let them lay where they landed. Although the little gnats were getting in my ears, eyes, and I'm sure my mouth if I had dared to open it. Luckily I had left my iPod in the studio or I would have been doing my usual wonderful mouth-wide-open singing job to either the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Radiohead, Beck, or The Band.

By the way, the ticks are horrible this year. They are looking for me everywhere I go. That's why I go incognito and hide behind a cloud of deet.

I gave a valiant effort for about an hour and a half before finally dipping my rag in the turps and wiping the entire canvas off. EXCEPT for one small little rectangle in the lower left of the 16" x 20" linen panel. In that one little area I liked something. Not sure what, as it wouldn't win an award in any competition. Maybe it's the 2 tiny bugs that, to me anyway, look like a couple of buzzards circling the trees looking for something to eat. Maybe they smelled my painting. ;)

So, I saved that little rectangle.

Afternoon Solitude

Painted up a little hollow in Cumberland County, Kentucky this afternoon called Norris Branch. This was from the property of Up The Creek Winery looking back down the road.

Afternoon Solitude
16" x 20", oil, plein air

Waterview House and Barn

I painted under the awning of the Kountry Kitchen Store in Waterview, Kentucky today. The folks that run and work at the store are extremely nice and I appreciate them letting me set up just outside their front door. Especially since this was their Grand Opening after having moved locations. It also didn't hurt that I got a free donut. Man! Those things are good!

I'm including some detail shots.

Waterview House and Barn
22" x 28", oil, plein air

State Park painting book

Here's a link to a PDF booklet I made featuring plein air paintings I've done at Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park in Cumberland County, Kentucky. Hope you enjoy it!

http://cl.ly/0e0o3J0b1F3C3M2S2g06

Click here to download

This Weeks Auction

The painting at auction on my blog this week has been hanging in my studio for some time. Auction ends on Sunday night. Low opening bid. Click the link below or top right in the sidebar of the blog.

LINK

Eagles Point

Had a busy weekend. My wife and I repaired a deck yesterday, then stained it. During the repair portion I stuck my left index finger into a spot it wasn't supposed to go and then hit the GO! button on the jigsaw. For a second I wasn't sure what I had actually accomplished, but it just mashed the fingernail really good. It was one of those moments when you don't want to look, ya know? Stained another, larger deck today. Then I went painting.

This view is from Eagles Point at Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park in south central Kentucky. So, me, being my usual creative self have named it...

Eagles Point
18" x 24", oil, plein air

More Than Friends

Painted these oak trees today. Loving this gorgeous spring weather.

More Than Friends
18" x 24", oil, plein air

Old Friend

Visited an old friend of a tree today. Can a tree be a friend? This is one I've painted 4 or 5 times now. I know some of my painting heroes, including Willard Metcalf and Emile Gruppe, went back many times to the same locations to create paintings. I have a few locations like that.

Old Friend
16" x 20", oil, plein air