Live Oak Allee - Graphite Study

Graphite Study for Live Oak Allee

Back to in the studio & it feels good.  Above is a sketch for 'Live Oak Allee', a commissioned painting.  It was a bit of a struggle getting the composition balanced or to a place where I felt it was interesting.  I think I struggled because my paintings typically focus on the tree as subject and this is more about the path.  A fun challenge I must say.  Paint on.

Seaside Pier

"Seaside Pier", 10.5x10.5", oil on board

Revisiting the pier as the light, movement and contrast continues to inspire me to paint.  Done on wood board with black gesso, which I think helps the color pop.

Pier Fishers

"Pier Fishers", 6x6", oil on board

Walking the beach past Avon Pier in NC this year, we witnessed a group of fishermen catching and pulling up a large red drum in a net.  This one was too large to keep, but an impressive beauty.  The colors and action of these guys and the fish with the turning sea below was fun to paint; a nice start back to painting.  This year has been a busy one and unfortunately my painting practice has been limited.  Fresh from a much needed break on the Outer Banks, I have new material and renewed inspiration.  Paint on.

2013 Calendar

Happy New Year!  It's time for a new calendar...

Over this last year, I had gotten some inquires about calendars.  So, I spent some time researching good options for self publication.  I couldn't seem to find a perfect fit.  I gave up the search for while then came across Magcloud on Carol Marine's Painting a Day blog.  Magcloud is an HP website offering publishing on demand so there is no minimal order required.  Also a plus, no deposit or down payment is required so your only investment are hours spent on layout and design (by all means, I don't mean to diminish the value of that).  

So I am proud to announce my 2013 Calendars for sale via the link below.  This calendar has selected pieces from my Trees series.  It is a perfect way to get affordable small prints of these paintings.  I hope you enjoy.
Trees: 2013 Calendar

Stars and Stripes

'Stars and Stripes', 8x10", oil on canvas

A piece from our stay on the Outer Banks.  Our fifteen year old lab, Samantha sunning herself on the deck next to drying starfish.  We were on the island during hurricane Sandy, a slow moving storm which blew for three days.  In the days following, quite a bit of starfish and conch shells were washed on the beach, which unfortunately was the least of post storm happenings.  Fishing was good and no person injured, but a lot of island infrastructure was damaged.  Highway 12, the only way on and off the island was washed away just south of Oregon Inlet.  The folks down there or our state as a whole rather, is faced with rebuilding and searching for solutions to what had become an annual problem.  I painted this post storm.  Seeing Samantha, resting in the sun next to the stars with the shadows from the railing draped across the deck, gave me a sense of peace.

48 by 60 Sycamore: Completed

Completed commission piece

Here it is: 48 by 60 inch Sycamore is complete and I am scheduled to deliver it to it's new home this week.  I am celebrating by starting a new piece and will post what's on my easel before week's end.  Happy painting!

48 By 60 Sycamore Process: Layering Sky & Shadows

Layering the Sky with Ultramarine Blue, Ultramarine Violet and Titanium White

Process Detail 1

Process Detail 2

Process Detail 3

Layering the sky trying to capture a smooth value change of deep blue on top to pale blue below.  Also, I have started working in shadows among the branches using Cobalt Blue and Phthalo Green Blue, which I think is a nice push of color on top of the Van Dyke Brown wash.  My medium is not quite half & half linseed oil:stand oil as I have a little more linseed cut into the mix.  It's starting to come together and I am heading into my favorite part of the process; detailing.

48 by 60 Sycamore Process: Under Painting

Tonal under layer

Detail of tonal under layer

Tree and sky under painting

Starting with Burnt Sienna, Van dyke Brown & Raw Umber on my palette, I worked over the graphite sketch creating a tonal layer.  At this point I am using straight refined linseed oil as my medium.  I have used straight Turpinoid as a medium for this primary layer in the past, but after reading Sadie Valeri's blog it seems it's better used for cleaning brushes than as a straight medium.  By the way, I've never met Sadie, I found her painting school/studio site while surfing for techniques.  Ah, the magic of the internet.  The sky is Ultramarine Blue.  Not really tonal, maybe a little Pop Art like.  Chalk it up to "artist license".

I can't say that this is how I approach all paintings.  I seem hardwired to what a former professor called a "global thinker".  Reading between the lines; I'm messy and often take different routes to get the same means.  Takes all kinds to make the world go around.  Paint on.

Process for 48 by 60 inch Sycamore Painting

48x60 inch gallery wrapped canvas crafted by Gary Grubbs, Black Mountain, NC

1:50 scale drawing for 48x60 inch Sycamore painting

Using a grid; free hand graphite sketch onto canvas

 Currently on my easel is a 48 by 60 inch canvas, my largest piece to date.   I have fallen in love with the sketch, thrilled to be working large again and trucking along with this commissioned piece.  I will be posting more process images in the coming days, so stay tuned... 

I want to plug the work of craftsman and neighbor Gary Grubbs, maker of custom art canvasses.  He crafted this canvas and a few other sizes for me last week.  The frames are kiln dried to %5 (preventing warping), gallery wrapped fine tooth canvasses with a triple gesso application.  I found Gary going through the archives of Ursula Gullow's blog 'Art Seen Asheville' here.  Gary is kind, does quality work (at affordable prices) and is happy to share a bear story or two.  He can be reached at (828) 669-5562. 

Sketch for Water Series

Sketch for Little Falls on Glenn Creek, graphite on paper

I have been busy with a new series focused on water.  I am working with smaller pieces on board, layering colors, building thin to fat.  Previously, I worked oils solely with linseed oil or way back with only turpinoid.  Now using a thin base layer cut with turpinoid and subsequent layers cut with turpinoid/linseed or linseed.  This means starting a number of pieces together to allow a bit of drying time.  The change in approach keeps me moving with sketching and planning.  A good discipline.

Fall Leaves on Flat Creek

Fall Leaves on Flat Creek, 16x20" acrylic on canvas

Every so often I return to test the waters of acrylic medium.  I struggle with acrylics, it's the plastic texture I think.  Perhaps I'm using old paints that are separating and stringy.  Whatever the case, there are elements I love about this piece: the light reflecting on the water surface and the bold colors of the leaves which are what inspired this piece.  It will be nice to revisit this with oils for more fun.  Happy painting.

This painting is currently available at Atelier Gallery Asheville.