Ode to Spring

Come on warm weather!

"Ode to Spring"
18" x 24", oil

Shem Creek

Finally finished this one today. Visited Charleston, SC back in early December and stayed across the bridge at the Shem Creek Inn. This was the view from their deck one morning.

Shem Creek
22" x 28", oil

One Month Artist Residency in Colorado!

I got offered an artist residency in Breckenridge, Colorado today! It will last for a month in the late Spring.  The town of Breckenridge (where I lived from 1985 - 1995) is at an elevation of 9600 feet in the Rocky Mountains. The Arts District there has a building called the Tin Shop with studio space on the ground floor and living quarters upstairs.

Here's a link

Salem Park

I've done many paintings in the creek at Salem Park. It really is a beautiful place. Here's yesterday's effort there, with a link to a sped up video of the painting during progress.

Salem Park Video

Salem Park
16" x 20", oil

2010 Outdoor Paintings Video

Here's a video/slideshow of my outdoor painting efforts from last year.

2010 Paintings

Crossing

Did this one today. Not nearly as cold as it has been. Although snow still lingers in many places.

"How cold was it?"

"It was so cold today!"

"How cold was it?"

"It was so cold my drink froze."
"It was so cold my fingers hurt almost as soon I took the gloves off."
"It was so cold my beard froze."

Yes. Another enjoyable day painting outside. The wind was the only problem. I seemed to have a constant breeze coming from up the field, straight into my face. My guess is the wind chill was easily down in the teens. I didn't realize how cold it actually was until I reached for my drink and found thick slush. That was probably about an hour into the painting.

"Cold Day on the Creek"
16" x 20", oil

New Years Day Painting Demo (in the rain)

I thought I'd share some in progress shots of this painting I did today. Painted about 3 1/2 to 4 hours on location and touched up a bit in the studio. It rained for most of the outdoor session, so I used my umbrella to protect the palette and painting. I got a little wet and was mired in the mud by the time I left. Overall a rather enjoyable experience.

Happy New Year!

"Rainy New Years Day"
16" x 20", oil

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