The Aged (that would be me)

Tomorrow's my birthday. 46. Did this quick self-portrait today. Started before work, worked a little on it at lunch, and played with it tonight some.

"The Aged"
9" x 12", oil

NOLA - Lower 9th Ward Series - #1

I've been thinking for some time about starting a series of small knife paintings based on the views I find through Google Street View in the area of New Orleans called the Lower 9th Ward. As most people know, this was one area hit devastatingly hard during Hurricane Katrina, and the resulting flooding caused by broken levees.

I've picked ten views on which to base the paintings. I seriously doubt that anyone will look at any of these paintings and proclaim their beauty. That's okay.

"NOLA - Lower 9th Ward Series - #1"
5" x 7", oil on canvas panel, palette knife

Oncoming Storm

...or, Orchard in Peril ;)

Here's today's painting. 24" x 30", oil on canvas. Thanks for looking. Adding a couple of detail pics.

Dr. Gachet's Lemon Tree

I went in search of Van Gogh. Traveling, through Google Street View, the roads and neighborhoods he walked and painted. I came upon this small street in Auvers, France, with old houses, gateways and staircases; named Rue Dr. Gachet. Not far from it is the Rue Van Gogh. I have no idea if the good doctor actually lived on this short street, or if maybe Van Gogh had walked these steps. But in my mind he was there, trying to talk the doctor into sitting for him.

This painting felt so good. From the simple toning of the canvas, to the initial sketch and lay in of colors. You know, the feeling of excitement with each brushstroke. And not a feeling of creating something good, but just a feeling of creating.

Thanks for looking and listening to the short ramble.

24" x 30", o/c

Lakeside

Here's today's effort. Did this one from a plein air study and a photograph of the scene, from Dale Hollow Lake a few weeks back. The PA was horrible. Including a pic of me painting the PA.

24" x 30", oil on canvas

Barcelona Villa

Here's my latest effort. I'm including a couple of shots as the painting was in progress, and a detail shot of the villa itself. The initial sketch was about 30 minutes. Then a 30 minute lunch break update, along with 30 minutes after work before going to a friend's house for supper. Finishing with a 2 hour session to end it.

24" x 30", oil on gallery wrapped canvas

15 minute field study

Here's a very quick, 15 minute field study I did this morning. Messy and fast, just the way I like it.

5" x 7", oil

Diners

Okay. One more small painting for the day. Another backlit scene with diners at a window table. Simplify. Simplify. Simplify. If I keep saying it, maybe I can get there one day.

9" x 12", oil on mounted canvas

Field and Church

Okay. Here's the finished product of the one I started last night. I'm pretty happy with the results. You can see, by scrolling down, the backward progression, or is that regression, of the painting.

24" x 30", oil on gallery wrapped canvas

Morning Tracks

A few months ago I did a series of paintings from Google Street View that I called the State Series. One small 5" x 7" in oils from each state. I ended up with quite a few that I thought would make good BIG paintings. Here's the first. It was originally Suffolk, Virginia.

Including a pic of both together so you can see the size difference. The little one sitting on top of the big one.

30" x 40", oil on canvas

Loafers

Here's tonight's painting. It's an oil, 24" x 30", on gallery wrapped canvas. Used a couple of new brushes on this one. Including two detail shots, as it was difficult to get a good pic of the whole thing.

Ship's Store

The building is called the Ship's Store, though it is sitting on a large lake for this area, there are hardly any ships here. Mostly houseboats and ski boats. Including a couple of pics of my set-up with the darks laid in on toned canvas.

9" x 12", oil on canvas mounted on masonite, palette knife

Riddle Farm - Pond #2

I call this Pond #2, but it's really the same pond. The thing is more like a small lake. Overcast when I painted this one. Sprinkled on me a couple of times. Let me know what you think.

9" x 12", o/c, palette knife, plein air

Riddle Farm - Pond #1

I finally asked a local farmer if I could paint on his land. He said yes. Here is the first painting of the pond. There's a hundred great paintings on that farm.

9" x 12", o/c, palette knife

Bear Creek

This is the largest plein air painting I've done. It measures 18" x 24" and is oil on canvas, mounted to birch, painted with a palette knife. I gessoed a few times, sanding between each coat. Then applied a wash of red and yellow ochre with turps, letting it dry before applying paint.

Not only was the size a challenge for me, but the wind kicked up a lot towards the end of the session, forcing me to hold onto the panel with both hands. I meant to take a lot of in-progress pics, but you know how that goes, I forgot after the first one.

18" x 24", o/c, palette knife

Morning Light

Did this one early Saturday morning. I've included a pic of my set-up and location. I've also included a pic of my bloody finger. ewww! Sorry about that. I was just laying in my sky when I went to wipe the palette knife off on a paper towel I was holding in my left hand. Well...I missed. I gripped with the finger and thumb and pulled the knife across the bend in my index finger. Looks a lot worse than it actually is.

You can see the painting might have suffered from the accident also. :) Total of about 45 minutes painting time on this one. Notice how I changed the blacktop road to dirt to keep the organic feel, and dropped the drive altogether.

9" x 12", o/c, palette knife

Spring Afternoon

Did this plein air painting down in Cedar Creek, looking toward a small spring that usually has no water in it. Thought I should try to paint it before it dries up for the summer.

9" x 12", o/c, palette knife

Cad Red

Today's quick exercise. 5" x 7", oil on canvas

Little Falls

Did this plein air this afternoon in just over an hour. Abstracted some of the nonessential parts. Tried to keep the focus on the water. This creek is mainly flat limestone, with the walls of the creek very steep in rock also. Tans and grays dominate. The only red was the dark red underpainting, then I used cobalt blue, cad yellow medium, burnt umber, yellow ochre and white.

Thanks for looking. Comments always welcome.

9" x 12", oil on mounted canvas, palette knife

Liberty United Methodist Church, Burkesville, Kentucky

This is the start of what I hope to be an extensive series of the churches in Cumberland County, Kentucky.

This is 9" x 12", oil on mounted canvas, painted with a palette knife.

"Liberty United Methodist Church"