Quercus Terra Firma

Another part of the "Trees" series.  This one I prepped with a neutral wash over a sketch drawn directly on canvas.  I am liking where this is going and will likely try this method again, perhaps with other colors.  'Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars"... Ha! I couldn't resist.

Pining away up

The scrub pine is native to our area and it's texture is so intense when the sun hits it, it 'smacks' it.  It truly is a feast for the eyes.  This is another I am working on to include in the January show.  I will be adding some more shadow for depth.  Look for the final piece on my website later this winter.

Magnolia, working on light

This piece is one I am developing for a show in January.  It has been a tough one.  I keep chasing the light that I was my inspiration.  The Big Leaf Magnolia is quite exquisite and I hope to do her justice.

Magnolia fraseri study

This sketch was done a month or so ago and I have already started painting this one.  Studying these guys is a real treat, especially since they are out our back door.  Lovely.

Large Sycamore

Here it is, the final sycamore painting.  I have this posted on my website as well.
Painting onward...

Rainy Days and Mondays

It's a lovely raining Memorial Monday with two sleeping dogs made for a great sketching opportunity.  Our 12 year old labrador, Samantha and 8 month old Boston Terrier and ? mix, Posey.

I'm still working away on a series of trees and will be posting some sketches for those soon.

In the mean time, I have been learning about the work of Betty Edwards (artist and author of "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain") and her passion for teaching the language of drawing.  If you have a chance, take a listen to the interview with her on New Demensions website: www.newdimensions.org.  I believe the show is #1973.  It had me thinking: teaching someone how to draw is equally as important as teaching someone how to read.  Perhaps this is mankind's current evolution; opening new areas of the brain we have not accessed previously or activating areas that which have been dormant.

Road to Sedona

8x10" Oil on board

This past January I took a trip to Arizona.  The warm desert temperatures and bright sun were energizing as I was fleeing from one of our coldest and snowiest winters in memory here in WNC.  The dramatic colors and light splattered across the landscape was like watching an impromptu dance ensemble.   I couldn't get enough of it and found my self turned into a swivel-headed gawker.  Everywhere I turned I saw a painting.  Simply inspirational.

Prepretory Sketch

In preparation for a new painting I snapped some images of sycamores around Asheville.  This is one of many, many, many. 

I did several sketches from photos like this one to work out the composition and tonal balances.  Then I placed a 2" grid over the sketch with blue pencil.

From there,  I placed an 8" grid on a 48x48" canvas and started with a sepia outline.  More to come as it progresses.

Michigan Yucca

8x10" oil on masonite

I was captured by the repeditive arrangement and the blooms of the yuccas along the path to lake Michigan on a recent trip to Port Shelton.  I painted started and finished this one over a few hours.  I am feeling the need to start and finish work quickly these days.  I am aiming to learn by doing and doing a lot.

Surfside

I had fun painting this one.  I think it is the texture of the oil paint on smooth masonite that made it fun.  It did not turn out the detail I was originally going for but, I am really liking the forground on this.  However, I'm not convinced that the sky working well in the rest of the painting.  There seems to be something off balance and disjunct between the foreground and the background.  I may try and tone the sky back to add depth.  Check back and see if it works!

I am currently working on painting of the ocean and pulled this drawing from my files.  I completed this this past spring/early summer.  I drew this from an imagined scene but, think it would have been better if drawn from life.  Perhaps the lighting would have been sharper, lines crisper and perspective less dream like.  I like the subject matter (the interesting swim cap and bright sunlight).  So I would like to use it and am brainstorming on a different perspective for an oil painting.