Tuesday, December 31, 2013

The Most Gorgeous Mouthwatering (MGM) Studio of the Year Award

I just found out I won The Most Gorgeous Mouthwatering (MGM) Studio of the Year Award in the Making A Mark Art Blog Awards for 2013. These awards, of which there are many different categories, are given each year by Katherine Tyrrell, the owner and publisher of the Making A Mark website, along with many others.

I am very honored to have been chosen for this award. My studio and gallery is a labor of love that, though far from finished, gives me the space to display my paintings, have a dedicated studio space, and has an area large enough for classes to be held.

Thank you Katherine for this award!

Here's a link to her blog post revealing the winners in different categories.

http://makingamark.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/making-mark-art-blog-awards-2013-home-front.html

And here is a link to my photo page of the studio, showing where it came from and where it is now.

http://billguffey.blogspot.com/p/studiogallery.html


Willen House

Finished this one up a couple of days ago. This is the Willen House that sits on top of Bear Creek Hill in Cumberland County, Kentucky.

Willen House
16" x 20", oil


Marsh

Here's another one for the January Virtual Paintout.

Marsh
16" x 20", oil


Room at the Inn

Here's one for the January Virtual Paintout.

Room at the Inn
16" x 20", oil


Hittin' the Big One!

Did this painting of an oil well blowing off excess oil after hitting a large reservoir. Did this as a commission for Christmas. This well produced over 30,000 barrels before being capped.

Oil Well
16" x 20", oil


Thursday, December 26, 2013

Sewell's Store

Painted this one as a Christmas commission, so it's safe to post a pic of it now. This is of the store that operated in Waterview, Kentucky for many years.

Sewell's Store
16" x 20", oil


Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Christmas Creek 2013

I have a habit of painting in creeks on Christmas Day. This year's painting is a 24" x 48", painted at Salem Park in Cumberland County, KY.

Christmas Creek 2013
24" x 48", oil, plein air


Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Zimmerman, Cheating Artists and the Pursuit of Success

George Zimmerman has painted a picture that is up to $110,000+ on eBay at present. The only reason it has garnered ANY bids is because he shot and killed a young man. If the sale goes through hopefully he will donate the proceedings to the family of the victim.

It's frustrating as an artist to see this sort of thing. It's always been said that there are no shortcuts in life. I'm not too sure of that.

Last Christmas Day I stood in a creek and painted a 30" x 40" canvas in about 4 hours. Even with the waterproof boots and wool socks, my feet still got cold. My fingers stiffened and hurt and my nose ran. After about 3 hours of painting, a man approached me and started to tell the story of his father. He said his father, who used to be a professional photographer, moved to Nashville, Tennessee and became a highly paid portrait artist. Even though he hadn't painted much before.

The man told me that his father takes photographs of his clients and then prints the chosen picture onto canvas, which he then stretches. He then proceeds to paint ON TOP of the photograph. He said his father gets a great likeness of the client that way. Huh? Wait a minute. What?

I'm glad I was near the end of my painting session when this conversation occurred, because my attitude changed pretty quickly. Here I stood, freezing my ass off in a creek, trying to create something from observation.

That painting still hangs on my studio wall. I like it. I think it's a good painting. I wonder how many portrait "paintings" the old dude has sold in Nashville during the past year.

Does it make me want to cheat? Nope. Just the opposite. The Nashville portrait artist, along with George Zimmerman, and all the others that get to skip many rungs on the ladder, only push me to work harder.

Now, I need to get to the studio to get some painting time in before going to my daily job.

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Tastee Freeze

 local institution. The Tastee Freeze.

Tastee Freeze
16" x 20", oil


Saturday, November 30, 2013

Little Blue

A very quick and messy painting of a small, old camper.

Little Blue
16" x 20", oil, plein air


Sunday, November 24, 2013

November Barns

I love painting outside on crisp fall days! The light is so nice. I did this one just north of town today. Since this new section of road opened up I see lots of new views I hadn't seen before.

November Barns
16" x 20", oil, plein air


Saturday, November 23, 2013

Cedar Roots at Winter Pool

Painted at the lake today.

Cedar Roots at Winter Pool
16" x 20", oil, plein air



Friday, November 22, 2013

All Kentucky Juried Exhibition

I had two paintings juried into this exhibition this year. Lots of great artwork chosen. Tonight was the reception and awards ceremony, and I'm proud to have walked away with an Honorable Mention.

L&N Depot, 16" x 20", oil, plein air


Cabin in the Woods

This painting is of a cabin I lived in for a while outside Breckenridge, Colorado in the mid-1980's. No electricity or running water made for a tough winter at over 10,000 ft. elevation.

Cabin in the Woods
16" x 20", oil, stretched canvas


Saturday, November 16, 2013

County Truck

Painted a county work truck outside their garage this afternoon.

County Truck
16" x 20", oil, plein air



Rockhouse Bottom

Here's another version of the Rockhouse, a natural bridge located in south central Kentucky. I've worked on this one all week and finished up this morning. This one was done with sable brushes instead of my normal bristles. The sable gives it a much softer appearance.

Rockhouse Bottom
Oil


Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Rockhouse

I think this one is finished. Started on site and finished in the studio, this piece depicts the natural bridge next to the Cumberland River in rural Russell County, Kentucky.

Rockhouse
16" x 20", oil


Friday, November 1, 2013

Iceland

This month's Virtual Paintout location is Iceland. I think the folks that participate in my little project will have fun traveling over the island country finding interesting things to draw and paint. If you've never heard of the Virtual Paintout go to the site and check it out. Thousands of pieces of art created by people from all across the world.

Iceland
16" x 20", oil on stretched canvas


Monday, October 28, 2013

Barns - revisited

I had painted the original Barns back in early August. It was a very quick, 45 minute effort, that afternoon. I recently got the painting out and put it on my easel to see what adjustments I could make to it. I had liked the previous composition, and thought I might be able to take it to the next level. This is the result.

Barns (revisited)
16" x 20", oil


Saturday, October 26, 2013

Autumn Breath

Painted in a beautiful location today. Wind kicked up a few times, and the air was brisk. I love this time of year.

Autumn Breath
16" x 20", oil, plein air


Sunday, October 20, 2013

Courthouse Square

Painted most of this large canvas outside over the last couple of days, and worked on it in the studio some. I have signed it but will do a few more small adjustments.

This one will be auctioned off at the Esther House Evening of Hope event coming up on November 2 at Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park.

Courthouse Square
24" x 36", oil


Friday, October 18, 2013

A Study of Newby's Truck

Here's a very quick study I did of Johnie Newby's truck.

Newby's Truck
16" x 20", oil


Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Otter Creek Bridge

I've worked on this one off and on for a couple of years now. I like this latest version...I think.

Otter Creek Bridge
18" x 24", oil


Tuesday, October 15, 2013

At Ease

Lots of road construction around here this year. I painted these two pieces of machinery at rest this weekend.

At Ease
16" x 20", oil, plein air


Friday, October 11, 2013

Grist Mill

Painted at Sgt. York Park in Tennessee today. Love this old grist mill.

Grist Mill
16" x 20", oil, plein air


Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Airstream

Painted this airstream today. A wonderful fall day.

Airstream
16" x 20", oil, plein air


Monday, October 7, 2013

Pioneer Village

I took part in the 2nd annual Plein Air Paint Out in Owensboro, Kentucky this past weekend and painted four pieces, submitted two, but fired a blank this time. No winner, no chicken dinner. That's okay, though. I had a great time staying with family, catching up with artists friends, and meeting new ones.

Pioneer Village
16" x 20", oil, plein air

Riverfront Park

I took part in the 2nd annual Plein Air Paint Out in Owensboro, Kentucky this past weekend and painted four pieces, submitted two, but fired a blank this time. No winner, no chicken dinner. That's okay, though. I had a great time staying with family, catching up with artists friends, and meeting new ones.

Riverfront Park
16" x 20", oil, plein air

Cottage

I took part in the 2nd annual Plein Air Paint Out in Owensboro, Kentucky this past weekend and painted four pieces, submitted two, but fired a blank this time. No winner, no chicken dinner. That's okay, though. I had a great time staying with family, catching up with artists friends, and meeting new ones.

Cottage
16" x 20", oil, plein air

Yellow Creek Caboose

I took part in the 2nd annual Plein Air Paint Out in Owensboro, Kentucky this past weekend and painted four pieces, submitted two, but fired a blank this time. No winner, no chicken dinner. That's okay, though. I had a great time staying with family, catching up with artists friends, and meeting new ones.

Yellow Creek Caboose
16" x 20", oil, plein air


Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Monday, September 30, 2013

Miliken, Colorado

Miliken, Colorado
5" x 7", oil, palette knife


Polleria Chifa

Tomorrow begins another month, so it is time once again to choose another location for the Virtual Paintout. As usual, I won't be announcing the location until the 1st day of the month, but I think you can figure out by the title and the painting itself that we will be visiting a Spanish speaking country in October.

Polleria Chifa
5" x 7", oil, palette knife


Sunday, September 29, 2013

Friday, September 27, 2013

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Greeley, Colorado

After watching some of the footage from the devastating floods in Colorado I decided to do a short series of small palette knife paintings from some of the areas that were affected.

Greeley, Colorado
5" x 7", oil, palette knife


Sunday, September 22, 2013

Alpine Motel

Painted on top of the big hill in Burkesville, Kentucky today. The Alpine Motel is under new ownership and has undergone a big renovation. They still have more work to do, but it's coming along nicely.

Alpine Motel
16" x 20", oil, plein air  


Saturday, September 21, 2013

Bluegrass Stage

Painted at the Cumberland River Bluegrass Festival today. Don't know why I decided to try to paint the stage. There were easier things I could have chosen. Had fun though. Talked to many old friends and new ones.

Bluegrass Stage
16" x 20", oil, plein air


Friday, September 20, 2013

Backhoe

Started this outdoors the other day, got the drawing in, but the sun went down. It has a nasty habit of doing that to me. Finished this up in the studio.

Looking forward to the Cumberland River Bluegrass Festival this weekend. I'll be painting around there somewhere, stop by and say hello.

Backhoe
20" x 24", oil on stretched linen


Sunday, September 15, 2013

Rolled Hay and Pond

Another beautiful day in the neighborhood today. Painted outside in another lovely location.

Rolled Hay and Pond
16" x 20", oil, plein air


Saturday, September 14, 2013

Sycamore

Painted in a very beautiful spot today. Way down in a creek in Adair County, Kentucky. I want to thank the land owners and fellow painter, Jennifer, for the opportunity to paint there, and for the purchase.

Sycamore
16" x 20", oil, plein air, sold


Thursday, September 12, 2013

57 Chevy

Started this en plein air and finished in the studio.

57 Chevy
16" x 20", oil


Saturday, September 7, 2013

Farmyard

This was my second outdoor painting attempt of the day.

Farmyard
16" x 20", oil, plein air


57 Chevy - In Progress

I went to a benefit car show today, late, and started painting this 57 Chevy. This is after about an hour. I had measured, wiped, measured again, wiped again, and again, and again, and finally had the initial drawing where I wanted it. And the owner drove away. I took some photos before they left and hope to finish this car up at some point.

57 Chevy - In Progress
16" x 20", oil, plein air