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

Spanish Point - County Clare

Here's one I finished up tonight.

24" x 36", oil on canvas, with detail shot

 

All Tied Up

The state of my beard was due to my 9 year old daughter's sense of humor. Including a detail shot of th eyes and nose.

"All Tied Up"
12" x 9", oil on masonite

Fall Pasture

Here's one I painted outside today. Might take it a bit farther, not sure yet.

20" x 24", oil on linen panel

Blues Singer

24" x 12", oil on linen

November 15, 2010

9" x 12", oil

Autumn Farm

Today's plein air effort.

"Autumn Farm", 9 x 12, oil

Blues Harp

"Blues Harp"
5 x 7", oil

November 11, 2010 - Self Portrait

Quick study. I like the direction.

12" x 9", oil

Going Dormant

This is a little apple tree in my backyard. The light was just too good on it this morning to pass it up.

"Going Dormant"
12" x 9", oil on canvas panel

Animatronic Carny

I posted the sketch of this guy a few days ago. I took the reference pic while in Gatlinburg, TN outside a mini-golf/mirror maze business. This was one of the animatronic characters hawking the place.

"Carny"
9" x 12", oil

Autumn Fields (plein air)

Here's today's outdoor painting effort. This is a larger one for my outdoor work at 20" x 24". About 2 and a half hours painting time. Oil on linen panel.

"Autumn Fields"

Carny Sketch

November 2, 2010 Sketch - 2nd Pass

Here's after another 30 minutes. I think it's getting somewhere, just not sure of where.

November 2, 2010 Sketch

Here's a quick 30 minute sketch I might add color to later on.

12" x 9", oil