Backlit Snake Country

Did this one down in a familiar creek today. Bright sun coming through. Can't believe I haven't seen a snake in this creek yet this year. I started the painting, didn't like the composition after about 10 minutes work, so I wiped it and tried again. I like this one better.

9" x 12", oil on mounted linen, plein air, mostly knife

Farmhouse

I painted this plein air piece in full sun this afternoon after work. Standing in a cow pasture, I had one rather large cow that got pretty interested in what I was doing. She actually made me a bit nervous at one point, sneaking up behind me. Full grown cow, probably 1000 - 1200 lbs or so. I finally had to run her off.

I knew this one would be darker than what I was seeing in the field, so tried to compensate a little while painting. Not much going on colorwise.

"Farmhouse"
14" x 24", oil on linen

Roots

Here's one I did today at Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park. I used the board I wiped from yesterday afternoon's effort. This one took about an hour. As you can see, I simplified A LOT. A little study I'm happy with for the time being. Also including a couple of action shots and my set-up.

"Roots"
9" x 12", oil on linen, plein air

Doc's House and Garmon Farm

This first painting is by my seven year old daughter. We had a rough time finding something to paint. We drove for over an hour, walked in the rain, and then ended up on my parents porch. I tried to paint her as she painted the house. Her's is much better than mine. Mine...you'll never see. Gone. Wiped. Nevermore...


The two pics above are Rylea Beth in action. The one below is her 5" x 7" acrylic plein air of my parents next door neighbor's house.

"Doc's House"


Below is my earlier effort of the day. Got out before 7 o'clock this morning. The pic below that is of my fan club. They were so big they blocked my view.

"Garmon Farm"
12" x 16", oil on linen, plein air

Richard Schmid Fine Art Auction

Just letting everyone know that I have a painting that's been accepted into the Richard Schmid Fine Art Auction to be held on September 6, 2009 in Rist Canyon, Colorado. The auction benefits the Rist Canyon Volunteer Fire Department.

Here's a link to the auction website...

Richard Schmid Fine Art Auction

Lawson Bottom House

Here's today's effort. It was my birthday today. Had a great one. With some good news I'll share soon.

"Lawson Bottom House"
9" x 12", plein air, oil on linen

Riddle Farm - Barn #1

Here's this evenings effort at plein air. What a beautiful afternoon to be outside painting. Including an early on pic to show the set-up and sketch.

"Riddle Farm - Barn #1"

9" x 12", oil on linen, palette knife, plein air

Salem Creek #2

Here's a plein air piece I did this afternoon at Salem Park in Cumberland County, Kentucky. We've had so much rain lately that this normally calm creek is rolling.

9" x 12", oil on canvas, palette knife, plein air

Avenue

Here's tonight's effort. Really trying to capture light in my last few. Comments are always welcome.

9" x 12", oil on linen mounted to masonite

Courtyard Reference

Here's a LINK to the ref of the courtyard painting found in the post below. Clicking on it will open Google Street View in the painting location.

The Courtyard - A Demonstration

Here's a short demonstration of a painting I did tonight. I painted on linen mounted to masonite. The size if 9" x 12". I used both brushes and palette knife with this one. Above, you can see my toned support.

Above, is my laying in of the darks with a palette knife.

At this step I wanted establish the light of the painting. To me the focal point (can light be a focal point?), and the most important element of the painting.

Starting to lay in the backlit leaves and cooler areas.

Working from back to front, building up each element along the way.

Above, I tried to refine what needed it, and abstract what needed it. ;)


Above you have the final painting. I wish I had taken pics of the building and fence as I was doing them, but I got too wrapped up in the process and forgot. Again...

Thanks for taking this short little detour with me. I had fun, and hope you did also.

Jonesport, Maine

Did this one from Street View tonight. While working from a photo ref, I did try to give the feeling of being there. Hope my light came across as I intended.

10" x 22", oil on birch

Nicolas and the Three Balustrades

Here's one I did for the Virtual Paintout for May. It didn't photograph well at all. Top's not in focus, and the man looks washed out. He has more color in his face IRL, I promise. But here it is anyway. I did this one with mostly brushes, but did use the knife a little.

20" x 24", oil on linen mounted to birch

* I re-uploaded these pics after painting the sign on the building.

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

Google approves using Street View as reference!

As many of you know I've been using Google Street View as a resource for paintings for some time now. Every so often before the recent State Series. But painting 50 works of art in just over two months gave me a real appreciation for Street View, and the possibilities that lay within it and art combined as a vehicle for painting the world.

After speaking with Google's Maps Team, it has been determined that artists can use images from Google Street View as reference for creating paintings and drawings, and the artists can sell these works.

One thing that needs to be made clear. If the artist shows an original view on which a painting is based, the artist must make sure to keep the Google logo and copyright visible on the reference. The piece of art needs nothing of the sort, of course.

The team is very excited about the concept! As am I.

While this news is wonderful, I have a feeling I'll be letting you know about other very exciting things in the near future. One I'm hoping will emerge is the use of Street View by disabled artists and those confined to their homes/facilities, or mobility challenged.