In the Field: Plein Air Painting Adventures

Old Truck and Sign

2012-01-01T11:31:00.000-08:00

"Harvest Classic"

9 x 12

I found this truck right outside of Fredericksburg, Tx. and fell in love. There was a motorcycle event going on in a nearby field and hundreds of bikers flooded the streets. Looked like fun and it could have made for some interesting paintings, but I felt a little safer close to the road. ;?)

Happy New Year! I'm hopeful that 2012 will be a great year for my paintings. I have my eye on a few shows and also on finding some full time gallery representation. I have put this off, but feel like I'm ready.

Reason #214: Why plein air painting is tough.

2011-12-21T18:14:00.000-08:00

"Depot"

9 x 12

Painted this late in the day and was surrounded by photographers taking family photos. Grapevine is a very photographic town and I'm lucky to live here, but nothing is as annoying as listening to a photographer shout baby talk to get the little ones attention...over and over and over. I tried to immerse myself in my work, but it was tough.

Christmas Painting Exchange

2011-12-15T17:10:00.000-08:00

"All the Live-Long Day"

8 x 10

This is the painting I selected for the Outdoor Painters Society Christmas gift exchange. We wrap our paintings in brown paper, pile them up and play a white elephant Christmas game. It gets pretty heated, because you can steal paintings from other people and everyone gets pretty attached real fast. This will be my fifth party and I have really enjoyed the paintings I received in the past. I got an Ann Hardy, a couple from Cecy Turner and a David Moreland Bates. All are signature members of our group...not too shabby.

I hope I don't disappoint someone that gets this one.

Patriotic Tractor

2011-12-11T19:52:00.000-08:00

"Patriotic Tractor"

12" x 16"

I tried this one larger than my usual 9 x 12 size. The increased size made it more difficult to finish in my normal time frame and also made the drawing tougher, because it's hard to hide any drawing errors. Some things worked and some didn't, but it's always fun.

I don't need any extra reasons to paint a tractor, but I loved the little flag on the front.

Livery Stable

2011-12-05T20:42:00.000-08:00

"The Livery Stable"

8" x 16" oil

This is a plein air painting from my recent trip to Winberley, TX with the Outdoor Painters Society. This was my view from my hotel room, no lie! We meet some colorful characters that worked in the area too. A great local old timer that told me some tall tales while he repeatedly broke wind...all without missing a beat. ;?)

I painted several paintings around the river that didn't quite work out. Not my cup of tea, but I'm trying. I'm much more comfortable painting architecture and form.

My painting buddy, Rick Eakins and I made our way to the grand opening of the new RS Hanna Gallery in Fredericksburg. I was blown away by the gallery, the owners and especially the gallery artists which includes my good friend Rusty Jones. He was grinning ear to ear and had some of the best work there. That's saying a lot considering some of my personal favorite artist, Frank Gardner, Hodges Soileau and Marc Hanson ( see my fav. blogs at right ) all hang in the same gallery. I missed out on opportunity to paint with some of these guys too. I had to return home and they were all going out together the next day.

I probably would have slowed them all down and drooled on their paintings anyway. I won't miss another opportunity...I promise!

Sorry 2 My Family

2011-11-08T18:54:00.000-08:00

"Parade Tractor"

I found this tractor, immediately took my family home, squeezed out a call to a painting buddy and went to work. ( Sorry 2 my family )

I laid the darks in very dry and applied the paint with thick deliberate strokes. I approached it a little looser and personally like the results. I'm real curious what you guys think.

We Have a Winner!

2011-11-01T19:00:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyone that posted to my Blog in support of my 100th post. I am happy to say "Doug Clark's" name was drawn as the winner of my painting giveaway. I am also happy to say I know Doug in the real world, not just the cyber world and have painted beside him several times. Doug is also a great sculptor. and I encourage you to check out his Blog. I am proud to be in his collection.

Thanks Doug and everyone else for all the support and kind words.

Photo by Jim Rodgers

Waiting for You

2011-10-12T17:57:00.000-07:00

"Waiting for You"

8" x 16"

This is not my normal subject matter, but I fell in love with the photo my friend Lee Brown took in a restaurant in Paris and I lucked out that he posted it in another one of his now famous painting challenges. Click here to see Lee's photo. Using Photoshop, I cropped the figure tighter and removed the shadowed figure in the right foreground and added a chair in his place. The chair back points up to the figure and helps direct the viewers eye back up to the girl and also also adds weight and depth to the bottom of the painting. I also use a filter in Photoshop called "Median" that blurs the details without losing the shapes. When I'm plein air painting the only way to achieve similar results is to squint at my subject.

I painted my painting only looking at my Photoshop image on my computer screen. I have to admit I was surprised when I finished it and looked back at the original picture because it had tons of details I had lost, but hopefully I did Lee's beautiful photography proud. Thanks for another fun challenge. Make sure you visit Lee's "A Day Not Wasted" blog and see the other entries and tell him "Hi" for me.

Behind the Barn

2011-10-05T19:43:00.000-07:00

"Behind the Barn"

9 x 12

“I was so naive as a kid

I used to sneak behind the barn

and do nothing.”

- Johnny Carson

Free Painting!

2011-10-02T14:02:00.000-07:00

This is my 100th Blog post and to celebrate I will give a painting away. All you have to do is leave me a comment on my Blog this month. I will then use a random generator to pick a name from everyone that posted and that person will be able to choose from one of the paintings shown above. The paintings range from 8 x 10 to 9 x12 and are all plein air works from random Texas locations. Each painting was featured on a previous Blog post, so you can read more about them and see where they were painted.

Thank you to everyone that follows my Blog and supports me as a painter.
Here's to another 100 posts!

Work Truck

2011-09-11T10:09:00.000-07:00

"Old Green Work Truck"

9" x 12"

I found this great truck parked at Nash farm by my house. I had my twenty year old son stand with the door open in the pose shown and used my painters creative license and magically transformed him into a elderly gentleman complete with red hat and suspenders. You can't beat plein air painting and actually being on location, but I will always change what I see if it makes my painting better.

Rusted Junk Heaven

2011-09-06T18:34:00.000-07:00

"Red Tractor"

9" x 12"

I saw this great red tractor in the same area of Fredericksburgh, Tx as my painting "Rusted Work Truck". It was a rusted junk plein air painters heaven. I could have painted a dozen more just like this one, just spinning in place.

Hummingbird Feeder Glow

2011-08-29T13:33:00.000-07:00

"Hummingbird Feeder"

5" X 7"

I hoped to capture the hummingbirds quick movements, but what I was most excited to paint was the light hitting the right side and all the secondary reflected light. This was painted very quickly in around 30 minutes.

The light around the bird is the toned board showing through. My most successful paintings seem to be the ones that the natural glow of the board still shows in places. Once that glow is gone, it is difficult to paint back in.

Not Much, But It's Home

2011-08-22T20:20:00.000-07:00

"Not Much, But It's Home"

8" x 16"

I 'm happy with this one and I have plans on painting it twice as big. This is not a small painting, but a lot of the scratched in branches and foliage tricks I did won't work on the larger size. The trick will be painting more detail, but keep all the looseness.

Wish me luck!

Rescue Me

2011-08-10T19:13:00.000-07:00

"Rescue Me"

5"x 7"

This was a real quick sketch from my recent Ouray, Colorado trip. I saw this tucked away up next to a mountain waiting for a call. Thankfully nobody needed it's help.

Rest in Peace, Tractor

2011-08-04T19:57:00.000-07:00

"Ready for Work"

8" x 10"

Sometimes, a painting sits around for a few days and you find something you are not totally satisfied so you grab the brushes and go about reworking the places that bothered you and hopefully improve the painting. Sometimes you grab those brushes and no matter what you do things just get worse and worse. I tried to rework the foreground and background on this painting and I'm sad to say, completely wrecked it. The photo above was prior to the new work. Seeing it again at this size, things don't look so bad and I wish I had left it alone. After three attempts this painting is dark, dead and near lifeless. A hard lesson learned.

I won't give up because it had promise and is oil. I should be able to cover anything up, but I think it's best to put it aside and let us both rest for awhile.

KEEP OUT

2011-08-01T18:58:00.000-07:00

"Hay Stacks"

9' x 12"

Went out with a couple of my painting buddies for some more punishment. You can just feel the heat radiating out of these photos and it was only 9 am! I did get some nice shadows and despite the heat had a lot of fun. We meet a man named Mannie that was working for real that day driving a forklift. He spoke only broken English, but was very excited to see our paintings. We found out Mannie was an artist himself after he showed us a large rock that he had decorated with a sharpie drawing various cowboy related doodles. I encouraged him to drop the sharpie and pick up some brushes. Hopefully Mannie will be starting his own Blog soon.

Glimpse of my palette

Wow, I'm dedicated!

Painting Challenge: Train

2011-07-27T19:34:00.000-07:00

"Train Crossing"

11" x 14"

This painting was done for an online painting challenge from my good buddy Lee Brown over at
A Day Not Wasted. Lee has a great site that features his beautiful photography from his world travels.
I dare you to visit and not get inspired.

This train passes close too Lee's home in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Follow the link to see the challenge photo, the other artist interpretations and to possibly join in the painting challenge fun. Thanks Lee!

This is my second challenge I participated in. Here is my first one.

When I saw the photo I knew it would be a challenge. All the detail caught my eye first, but what I really wanted to paint was the light on the left side and the depth of the distant background. I tried laying down a monochromatic underpainting, but this time I didn't wait for it to dry before applying the color. At first it caused me some grief because the color kept picking up the grey beneath, but in the end all it took was a second round of good clean saturated highlights to not have it too washed out.

How does it look?

Mountain Studio Painting

2011-07-23T21:31:00.000-07:00

"Purple Mountains Majesty"

10" x 20"

This was painted from a photo I took in Colorado somewhere between Rico and Delores. If anyone recognizes this location by name, please let me know. It was an unbelievably gorgeous spot.

This was my first attempt using a monochromatic block-in. I let it dry for three days before adding color. I really dropped the ball by not taking progress photos, but I was totally absorbed and fascinated by the technique. I have seen other painter use this method, but to tell the truth it sounded kinda tedious to me. Why paint everything, just to repaint it again with more color? Now I understand and have become very intrigued to try it again. It was much easier establishing my values by using only a dark and middle tone and letting the board show though for my lightest light, than using all the colors on my palette, especially on a much larger than my normal size painting. After I had my values clearly established it was so easy to put on the color. I was able to add color very quickly and it came to life before my eyes. The speed of the coloring process made this studio painting feel closer to my plein air work.

Painting is so fascinating to me. There are so many different methods to apply paint to canvas.

Colorado Red Mountains

2011-07-20T21:08:00.000-07:00

"Colorado Red Mountains"

10 x 10

This was my first plein air painting from my recent trip to Colorado. I packed the basics only and encountered problems when the Titanium White I brought was extremely gummy. I had never used this tube and it acted like it was 100 years old. I'm not sure where I bought this paint, but it's the first time I have ever had this problem. I lucked out and found a new tube in Ouray.

With that said I'm happy with the final product.

Plein Air Artist video

2011-07-12T18:43:00.000-07:00

I was one of the chosen artist to be featured in this video promoting Plein Air Artists.ning.com. Considering they have 1,900 members around the world, I'm proud to be showcased. ( I appear at 5:17 ) Video produced by Don Maier.

If you haven't visited this site, please do. I am proud to be included with so many great artist from around the world.

Downtown Ouray Colorado

2011-07-11T18:38:00.000-07:00

"Mount Abrams from Downtown Ouray"

6" x 12"

I just got back from spending a week in Colorado with my family. Colorado is beautiful and we saw countless waterfalls and mountain peaks. I didn't want to shortchange my family, so I woke up extra early each day to get in some painting time and let them take their time getting up. You don't have to go far to find a great view, so I just set up my easel downtown and had 360 degrees of paintable mountains. Texas is not known for giant mountains, so I was jumping at a chance to paint some. Even a quick rain shower didn't ruin the moment. One thing I learned was the light changes and shadows come and go quickly this high up.

Nash Farm Barn

2011-07-03T20:33:00.000-07:00

"Nash Farm Barn" 9 x 12

Sometimes I go out and I don't know what I want to paint and this was one of those days. After moving my easel around two or three times, I settled on this scene. It felt good getting outside because my brush was a little rusty.

I have been on vacation in Colorado for the past week and have several new paintings that I will post this week. The Colorado scenery was breathtaking and very inspiring.

Twilight

2011-06-21T18:03:00.000-07:00

"Twilight" 12" x 24"

This is a studio painting based on some photos I took in Fredericksburg, TX. My wife and I left our boys at the hotel and went off for an adventure. The sun was disappearing right before my eyes, but I managed to snap a couple photos before it was gone. I don't have a lot of experience painting this large or painting from photographs, so this was a challenge. My camera was set on "night photo" and I realized this brightened my pictures and almost made them look like they were taken during the day, so the biggest challenge I had was working from photos without any accurate color. I am also accustomed to painting fast, so I tried very hard to take this slowly. I have mixed feelings about the final work. I'm not sure how much better this version is than the night I first blocked it all in. I think this painting has less paint than my plein air work, even though I painted on it on several different occasions. I think I became cautious and didn't want to cover up all of my previous work. Is this common for all studio painters?

I'm very happy with the method I painted my sun. I simply painted it solid white and after it dried completely I dry brushed yellow on top of the white. I think this made a brighter sun than any solid yellow I could have mixed.

Don't get me wrong, I like the final product. It just feels different working in the studio.
What do you think? I need some input.

Rusted Work Truck

2011-06-16T17:34:00.000-07:00

"Rusted Work Truck" 9" x 12"

This truck sits in a field off W. Main St. in Fredericksburg Texas. Don't feel sorry for it because it had a several old rusted friends that I hope to paint in the near future.

Checking the stats on my Blog, I found that my truck paintings pull in the most views. That works out for me because I always have fun doing them.

Blast From the Past

2011-06-01T20:11:00.000-07:00

"The Crossing" 9" x 12"

I'm currently busy working on a large studio painting that I hope to share soon. Until then, I wanted to share one of my favorite paintings from a few years ago. The Waxahachie Paint Out is currently in progress and I was unable to attend this year, so I am missing all of my friends. This was painted during the event. What you don't see in my painting are all of my fellow painters to my left and right also enjoying the day.
Great times!

Roadtrip Anyone?

2011-05-17T17:37:00.000-07:00

"Hill Country Roadside" 9" x 12"

Painted this on a recent road trip to the Texas hill country around the Marble Falls area. The sun was setting and I found some beautiful blues hidden in the shadows.

Click to purchase. $100 w/ Free Shipping

Garden Path

2011-05-11T16:40:00.002-07:00

"Garden Path" 8" x 10"

I was asked to do a demo at a local event celebrating National Garden Day last Friday. I wasn't real excited to do this, but I gave it a go. I paint outside in front of everyone all the time, but a demo is different. What if the painting doesn't work? I quickly realized I shouldn't worry because NOBODY was there to watch me! LOL
It was a shame, because the painting turned out okay.

$80.00 w/ free ship

Addie May's Iris

2011-05-06T19:41:00.000-07:00

"Purple Iris" 5" x 7"

This Iris is from my wife's grandmothers house. She remembers they filled her yard with purple. My wife and her two sisters took the bulbs after their grandmother's passing twenty-seven years ago. They planted them and have moved them from house to house, but they never bloomed over all those years! Last year they bloomed for the first time for all the sisters and they have come back this year too. Her grandma passed away two months before I started dating my wife and I really wish I had met her. She is still loved greatly today and I know she helped shape the woman I love today.

Happy Mothers Day Sweetie!

Walking to Texas 2

2011-05-04T17:00:00.000-07:00

"Walking to Texas 2" 8" x 10"

Walking to Texas, by Michael Cunningham, was Grapevine's first piece of public art, dedicated in 1996. This sculpture and fountain is a tribute to the pioneer families who came to the Grape Vine prairie seeking a bright future and new life. Located in Liberty Park on Main Street.

I painted this very quickly as the sun was setting and my wife was shopping! ;?)

This is not the first time I painted this statue. Here is the first painting from last year.

http://randysaffle.blogspot.com/2010/02/walking-to-texas.html

Fish Market

2011-04-24T14:20:00.000-07:00

"Fish Market" 9 x 12 Oil

A few weeks back I had the opportunity to paint inside the Central Market grocery store as part of a Grapevine Art Project outing to create awareness for our group. It was a great opportunity to paint live inside for a change. With a projected potential audience of over 5,000 people, it was a challenge to interact AND paint and most of all, not embarrass myself. I think it turned out nice. The store managers were great to us and treated us like stars. I even stopped down and created several small paintings with some of the kids watching me too. Hopefully helped create some future painters!

Old Sunbleached Truck

2011-04-17T19:55:00.000-07:00

"Sunbleached Truck" 9" x 12" Oil

I did something I shouldn't have done and painted this from a photo that wasn't mine. I found it some time ago and don't know where from. I was wanting to paint and had this picture saved. Loved the composition and subject. I didn't intend for it to turn into a full fledge work of art, but it took on a life of it's own.

Have you ever done this? Should this not be for sale. How much could I have changed this and still used the photo?

I haven't had to worry about this before, but I would love to know other artists opinions.

DPW Painting Challenge

2011-04-11T20:08:00.000-07:00

"The New Chicks" 8 x 10 Oil on board

This is my first entry for a very fun painting challenge put on by the Daily Paintworks website. This is a great site that encourages artists to post their take on each weeks new challenge. This weeks challenge is aptly called the Chicken Challenge.

This may be your only chance to pry this from my wifes hands!

$150.00 w/ free shipping

Quick Draw event at the Dallas Arboretum April 9th

2011-04-10T10:52:00.000-07:00

I got help getting my quick draw painting done within the 2 1/2 hour limit

My Quick Draw Entry "Young Faun" 9 x 12 Oil

Beverly Boren paints another masterpiece

Debob Jacobs, with onlookers

Charles Pruitt and Chuck Rawle

Fran Ellisor

The beautiful Ann Hardy

John Cook at work

Quit telling me the time! I'm working as fast as I can!

Plein Air Southwest Artists Dinner

2011-04-10T10:17:00.000-07:00

We had a great time at the artists dinner the night before the reception. I couldn't have been prouder than looking around at these great artists and being privileged enough to sit with them and call them friends!

Back row standing; Charles Pruitt, Judy Crowe, Bob Rohm, Dina Gregory, Beverly Boren, Kaye Franklin, Debob Jacobs, John Cook, Darnell Jones, Chase Almond, Richard Prather, Me and Rusty Jones.

Sitting; Nancy Boren, Peggy Kingsbury, Tina Bohlman, Fran Ellisor, Diane Frossard and Quiang Huang.

Southwest Gallery Show artwork

"Hooked" 5"x7"

2011-03-31T19:37:00.000-07:00

"Hooked" 5" x 7" Oil

My second attempt at a fishing lure. They are fun to paint!

For sale - $80 w/ Free Shipping

"Go Fish"

2011-03-28T18:28:00.000-07:00

"Go Fish" 5" x 7" Oil on panel

What could be more fun to paint than a good buddies fishing lures? The have great colors, interesting shapes and sharp fishhooks...as I quickley found out.

For Sale... $80 w/ free shipping

Plein Air Southwest Paintings

2011-03-20T16:16:00.000-07:00

"I am Iron Man" 9" x 12"

"Going Grey" 8" x 10"

"Old Whistler" 9" x 12"

Above are the three paintings that I will be putting in the Plein Air Southwest exhibition. They'll be available to view and purchase at Southwest Gallery starting April 8th. Earlier that day a Quick Draw Event will be held at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens starting at 9:30 till noon.
I will be attending the opening reception & the Quick Draw, so if you are in the Dallas area, I hope you stop by.

Here are details on the show:

April 8-30, 2011
Opening Reception April 9, 6-9 pm
Southwest Gallery, 4500 Sigma Road, Dallas TX 75244
http://www.swgallery.com

"Chasing After the Sun"

2011-02-25T16:17:00.000-08:00

"Chasing After the Sun" 9"x 12"

I painted this a few nights ago and the next morning I found out my best friend's Grandmother had passed away. We have been friends almost all of my life and his Nanny had welcomed me into the family since day one. She was a very special person and will be missed, but thought of often. She called me her "black eyed boy". .

Love you Nanny!.

2011-02-22T20:22:00.000-08:00

"A Good Book" 9" x 12"

This was my first attempt at painting from a live model and to add to that pressure, the model was my wife. I helped organize a "paint in" a few weeks ago and we had a wonderful turn out with around thirty artists painting inside and out. Along with setting up a few still lifes, I somehow convinced my wife to pose for us. I tried to make it as easy for her as possible, so I brought her favorite chair and book with us and posed her exactly the way she looks most nights. She did a great job. ( Thanks again Sweetie! )

I had no idea how my painting would turn out. In retrospect, I jumped in too fast and should have done more pre drawing. Seeing the photo I took side by side reveals my drawing errors, but I do think it looks like her, so that's good enough for me.

This was fun challenge and I hope to do it again.

My beautiful wife!

A portion of our group at work

Plein Air Demo Detail

2011-02-12T10:51:00.000-08:00

"A Day of Rest"

12" x 16"

Here is the promised picture of my recent plein air demo.

My Process Demo

2011-02-04T21:49:00.000-08:00

After choosing my subject I ask myself why I wanted to paint this particular scene; What drew me to this scene or subject. In this case, it was the tractors disappearing into shadow and the light from the other side. This will be my paintings center of interest and I will remind myself over and over that everything else is just there to support this. I will put the most detail and the lightest light and darkest dark within this area.

I applied an initial wash to the canvas with Transparent Earth Red thinned down with mineral spirits. I coated the entire board, then wiped it down with a cotton rag, leaving the surface as dry as possible. I don’t always tone my board prior to starting, but I felt the red tone shining through would help unify the overall color tone present on this overcast day.

Still using the Transparent Earth Red, I began laying in my subject. The shape of my board forced me to adjust the building proportions. I felt I only needed to show the corner of the barn to establish it, so I removed much of the width. I wanted to show what was behind the barn to help establish my subject, but used the shape of the tree at left and the roof edge as a natural barrier to keep the viewers eye from leaving the painting and forcing your eye back to my center of interest.

I began blocking in my masses and establishing the darks. As stated above, this was a very overcast day, so I knew I wanted to "grey" out my colors. At this stage there is nothing I can't change, so I play around with my color looking for the right tone.

After everything is blocked in and established you get a sense of what the final painting will look like. At this point I make sure my darkest dark and lightest light is still in my center of interest.

I laid in my background and brought it up to near completion, so I could begin putting in more of the tractor details. This area is starting to receive some of the the final finishing strokes.

With the tractor area basically finished, I turn my attention to painting in my secondary subjects. I now know the level of detail I can paint within those areas. These areas should not exceed the level of detail within my center of interest.

This stage I am fine tuning everything while trying real hard not to overwork any one thing. I used brush stroke direction and slight color shifts to help indicate the wall slats, letting the paint create the sense that there is more detail than I actually painted. I had hesitated putting in the bright orange caution symbol on the back of the tractor because it was a fluorescent orange color in real life and I didn't know if the colors on my palette could duplicate it. I ended up happy that I went for it and succeeded in creating the illusion of this "bright" color, because I had "grayed" all of the other colors.

I will post a better photo of this painting after it is finished drying.

"Go Big Train"

2011-01-11T18:57:00.000-08:00

"Go Big Train" 9" x 12"

You meet many people when you are painting outside. Most people are great and very encouraging, but a select few can be very strange and even puzzling. I discovered a few of the "strange" ones the day I painted this train.

A couple walked past me not noticing or commenting on my progress. After reaching their car about twenty feet behind me, the woman carrying a half full plastic cup of water, asks me if I want her water. I turned and told her "No thanks, I have my own". She walked toward me anyway holding the glass straight out and looked me straight in the eyes and asked, "What should I do with it?". I paused and said "You could pour it out on the street" and she did. Then looking at me holding the cup straight out asks, "What should I do with this?" I looked around seeing a couple different trash cans well within walking distance, paused and told her "I can take it from you". She seemed satisfied with my answer and turned and walked off.

What was that?

A very large truck was sitting and just idling behind me. After a while the truck pulls right up beside me and stops. A man behind the wheel and his two kids sitting beside him start waving and telling me how great I was doing. I thanked them and smiled. After watching me paint for a few minutes the large truck pulled forward towards the train and stopped, almost completely blocking my subject. They 100% knew what I had been painting. Surely they would move? No reason to stop right there? During this time a man walked up and asked me what I was doing. I guess it looked kind of weird for me to be standing in a parking lot painting an unseen train while looking at the side of a diesel truck. Around fifteen minutes later the truck pulled away while the kids waved at me.

Not every outing is that weird, but it is almost always a challenge. At least I like the painting.

Going Grey

2010-12-15T19:24:00.000-08:00

"Going Grey" 8" x 10"

I have been working on adding more greys into my paintings. I have four tube greys that I put on my palette prior to star, mostly to remind myself to use them. Portland grey light, medium and deep, plus Holbeins "Grey of Greys". The first three are colors that Kevin Macpearson uses frequently and the Grey of Greys is a color that I picked up from a Kaye Franklin workshop earlier this year. I try to subtly bend these shades warmer and cooler. The more grey I add, the brighter my main color will appear.

Port Aransas Shrimp Boat 2

2010-12-08T20:50:00.000-08:00

"Old Whistler" 9" x 12"

I braved very high winds and rough weather to get this one. I was camped out to the left of a little boat shop, trying to get some kind of protection from the wind. The whole time I was painting, I heard a very loud whistle in the background. It was driving me crazy. The pitch was moving up and down like a bad song and it wouldn't stop. Near the end of my session I discovered the sound was coming from the wind blowing through the boats rigging and nets.

Sometimes, late at night I still hear the whistling while I try to sleep.( Fake & added for drama)

Port Aransas Shrimp Boat

2010-11-30T20:42:00.000-08:00

"Shrimp Boat on Break" 9" x 12"

I have fallen in love with painting Shrimp Boats! They have so many cool angles. I love the weathered paint jobs, but painting the rigging is the funnest part.

I have more of these on their way.

Port Aransas Paint Out

2010-11-14T20:42:00.000-08:00

"Shrimp Boat" 9" x 12"

I went to a paint out with the Outdoor Painters Society at Port Aransas, Tx.

This was the first time for me to go to Port Aransas and my first time to paint Shrimp boats and palm trees. I was pumped to go and ended up making several new friends, but the weather tried it's best to ruin my trip.

The wind was so strong that I used bungee straps to tie my waist to my easel and my legs to the tripod! It was pretty ridiculous feeling and I bet looking. No photos available, thank goodness!

I had mixed results painting in those conditions, but I absolutely love painting shrimp boats. They have cool angles, tons of ropes and masts and really look worn. I had to remind myself that they are the equivalent of a work truck and not made to cruise around in.

Quicker is Sometimes Better

2010-11-01T12:12:00.000-07:00

"End of Day Glow" 9" x 12"

I wanted to squeeze out another painting before dark. This time of year it gets dark around seven so I knew I was going to have to get moving. I went straight to my default location, Nash Farms and began setting up. I realized I only had 9" x 12" panels with me. This is my standard size, but being in a giant hurry, I thought I should have done something a little smaller. The sun was setting quick, so after sketching in the tractor shape, I went straight into the background and then established the long ground shadows. That turned out to be the right choice, because the light disappeared right before my eyes. I finished the tractor as it got dark and fought to remember what it looked like just minutes before. I used only one 3/4" wide painters brush for the entire painting.It's amazing what you can do with the right brush.

My wife had gone with me and walked around the farm land. When she approached me she was surprised to find me finishing up. She then pointed out that from set up to take down, I had done this painting in forty-five minutes!

I am going on a four day paint out with several other painters to Port Aransas, Tx. as part of my Plein Air Southwest show I am a part of. So I hope to come back with tons of new work!

Another very hot day!

2010-09-27T18:27:00.000-07:00

"Blacksmith at Work" 9" x 12"

Finding this scene was part luck and part magic. Grapevine has a local Blacksmith that I have been dying to paint, but I had never seen the doors open, let alone someone inside. I was lucky to finally have this happen, but why did it have to be 105 degrees outside when it did? I think you can see the heat in the painting!

There where two men inside, but nobody was as stupid as me to stand outside directly in the sun, so I had to move them there in my minds eye. So the "magic" came from my imagination.

Do me a favor and don't tell anybody.

Stockyard #2

2010-09-21T18:58:00.000-07:00

"Leddy's Boots" 9" X 12"

Here is another painting from the Ft. Worth Stockyards. I haven't done many street scenes, so it was a challenge. Like always, there are things I like about it and things I don't. I was drawn to the sign. You would think twenty-five years of designing signs like this one, would make me find a different subject. Well, you don't see many of these on my Blog do you. :?)

Large Plein Air

2010-09-16T16:18:00.000-07:00

"Things Are Always Brighter" 12" X16"

I painted this at my default stomping ground, Nash farm that is blocks from my house. This is a little larger than my normal size, but I had no problems finishing it. I think I will try this painting again. I would like to loosen up the barn wall and add more color shifts. I did luck into some interesting "junk" on the left side that is not normally there. This was a very strange looking tractor that doesn't have the normal large radiator up front. I think it would have helped me render the form and make it more recognizable if it had. Next time I may magically place it in there. That is one of the perks painting has over photography.

Painting at the Ft. Worth Stockyards

2010-09-11T15:16:00.000-07:00

"Texas Caddy" 8" x 10"

I was invited to go paint the historic Ft. Worth Stockyards with a group of painters the last couple of weeks. This car was sitting on Exchange Blvd. right in front of the Stockyards. I get asked all the time how I choose my subject. I was drawn to paint this just because I wanted to paint the horns on the front grill. Sometimes a complicated scene like this gets painted for the tiniest reasons.

A very hot day!

2010-09-06T10:36:00.000-07:00

"Burned Out" 9" x 12"

I've been wanting to paint this old firetruck for some time now and finally did. To make it more of a challenge I waited for the temperature to be 105 degrees. If I hadn't managed to find some shade, I may not have been here to share this post. The siren on top was reflecting right into my eyes and I hope I was able to capture that.

2010-08-14T10:10:00.000-07:00

"Getting Married" 11"x 14"

After completing an oil painting of the this same subject a few months ago, I was approached to do a watercolor version. The difficult part was the oil painting and reference photo were in a cool blue palette and the lady commissioning me wanted more warm colors and less blues to go with her home decor. Unfortunately, the church is too far away for me to paint it plein air, so I was forced to paint from photos.

I was not able to locate any other photo references that helped me out, it seems the church is always in shadows. I ended up working from the same cool photo as before and just changed it in my head as I went along. I was confused on what to do with the sky so I ended up just de-emphasizing it. You would think painting from your mind would be easier, but for me it is very difficult and I realize why I prefer to paint on location.

In the end she was pleased and that was my top priority.

Clouds & More Clouds!

2010-07-29T19:16:00.000-07:00

"Cloudy Day" 9" x 12"

Texas has been blessed with some great big fluffy clouds lately, so I knew it was only a matter of time before I painted some. The top painting was finished in a little over an hour, then I simply rotated my paint box 180 degrees, looking out across Grapevine Lake. What did I see? You guessed it...more clouds. I squeezed out the bottom painting in about 30 minutes.

I hope our big cloud luck continues so I can paint some more!

"Smells Like Rain" 8" x 10"

2010-07-25T13:39:00.000-07:00

Big news! I've been juried into the 2010/2011 Plein Air Southwest event. Sponsored by the Outdoor Painters Society, this event spans several months and has events at the Grand Canyon, Ouray (CO), Prescott (AZ), the Texas coast and Dallas. I have been a member of the Outdoor Painters Society for 2 1/2 years now and this will be the first time I will hang in one of their shows, so I'm very excited!

The list of participating artists includes names like fellow O.P.S. members John Cook, Bob Rohm, Ann Hardy, Jill Carver, William Kalwick, Jr., and several juried in like Steve Atkinson and Michael Chesley Johnson among many others. ( check out the photo for all participating artists )

All paintings will be Plein Air work from mid-August up until the Quick Draw at the Dallas Arboretum next April. I will have 3-4 pieces on exhibit. This is a huge step for me and I can't wait to see my work hanging with this talented group of artists. It's time to get to work!!!

The show opens April 8 at Southwest Gallery in Dallas.

Here's a link to the show page: http://www.pleinairsouthwest.com/Index.html

Miniature Painting

2010-07-25T11:34:00.000-07:00

"Bird w/ Flowers" 4" x 6"

This was a miniature painting that I painted for my wife for her office desk. I bought a small frame, took the glass out and sanded it and then applied several coats of white Gesso. This made for a surprisingly slick surface that I had problems painting on with my normal Hog hair brushes. It turned into a fun exercise that forced me to lay the paint down and leave it alone, otherwise it scratched right off. It turned out kind of pretty, especially in the heavy dark wood frame, but I don't think I will be in a hurry to paint on glass again.

Blacksmith Wagon

2010-07-15T20:23:00.000-07:00

"Blacksmith Wagon" 9"x12"

I think I made a rookie mistake.

I changed the brand of my oil paints from Gamblin to Le Franc and my paintings have suffered. I don’t think anything is wrong with Le Franc paints. I know several great painters that predominantly use them. My mistake was to change all of them out and add two new colors to my palette at the same time! I have since read recommendations about adding new brands or new colors to your palette, one at a time. I didn’t think it mattered so much, but I found out it does. Plein air painting is difficult enough, so anything that slows you down or makes you unsure will really cause you problems. I have been struggling with my darks, never feeling they are dark enough. I tried adding Sap Green or Viridian to darken my basic Ultramarine Blue / Alizarin mixture to no avail. Le Franc paint also feels too light and whipped compared to what I’m used to. All of this resulting in wasting paint trying to get my mixes right. Recently, just adding Gamblin U.B. back has improved my work. I think I will go back to Gamblin as my primary brand for now and try using the other brands only one or two at a time.

Anybody else experience anything like this?

"Plein Air Artist" web site informed me they are featuring my painting "Porch light" on their front page. It's always nice to get recognition, especially from so many great artists. Thanks Donald! Go visit and join in.

Colorado Blue

2010-06-26T09:01:00.000-07:00

"Colorado Blue" 8" x10"

A sketch from a Colorado trip last year. My family had so much fun that I wish we could return this year.Instead, we are leaving for vacation in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. It is another favorite destination for my crew. I'm taking my paints!

Porch Light

2010-06-04T19:36:00.000-07:00

"Porch Light" 8" x 10"

I spotted this house while driving around with my wife. I quickly turned the car around and took her home to grab my brushes. ( She's very understanding. )

I loved the color of the roof and the cottage garden look of the yard. The home owner seemed surprised that I wanted to paint her house, but after a reassuring her I wasn't trying to sell her something, she made me feel welcome.

Normally I try to establish my center of interest first, but I received a little surprise myself when her porch light came on towards the end of my painting. All of a sudden I had a new focus. This is part of the fun of plein air painting and something you don't get from painting photos.

Honeysuckles

2010-05-30T10:10:00.000-07:00

"Honeysuckles with Blue Bird" 9"x 12"

This is a still life I did with a few of my wife's favorite items. She loves her Honeysuckles and these were picked straight from her garden. The little ceramic bird is great. The glaze is all cracked and it has places on it that make it look rusty.

I have realized I can't paint outside all the time in Texas, so I started improving my home studio. I now have an area with better lighting, an area to set up still lives and I can see my computer monitor easily. ( plus a TV :?O )

Colorado Landscape

2010-05-27T19:44:00.000-07:00

"Gold Rush" 12" x 16"

This is a painting I did during a recent workshop with Kaye Franklin. She is a wonderful painter and teacher that has taught all over the world. It was the perfect class for me because Kaye uses the same basic color palette as I do with the addition of Yellow Ochre and Sap Green. Kaye acted a little surprised I had never used the Ochre, but I told her I have used a basic three color palette for some time now. I do feel it's time to start adding some colors, especially ones that will make the plein air work easier and faster. I have always loved Kaye's greys in her paintings and I learned one of her tricks was to premix a few greys that she then adds to her mixes as she works. I think this practice will help me to get more greys into my plein air work.

Mothers Day Reject

2010-05-17T19:45:00.000-07:00

"Flowers & Oranges" 12" x 16"

I knew Mothers Day was approaching, so like the good son I am, I decided to paint my mother something she has been asking for for some time now...flowers. I don't have a ton of experience painting these, but what the heck, I love her. I went all out by painting larger than normal. She arrived at my house where I had real roses and several fancy desserts wrapped in bows waiting for her. After giving her those, I walked her to a different room, where I had this painting framed on a wall. I asked her what she thought about her new gift and after about a minute delay she said, "Can I have that one on the other wall instead?"

She left my house with two paintings that day and neither one had flowers in them.

Love you Mom!

More Watercolors?

2010-05-04T20:01:00.000-07:00

"Pikes Peak" 8" x 12" watercolor

Here is another watercolor of Pikes Peak. I took some advice from a watercolor artist friend and worked more "wet in wet" with this attempt. I can see my progress. I retained more translucency and loosened up. I figured out what colors I have that are transparent, semi-transparent and opaque by looking at the box they came in. I'm so clever! I painted about 90% using the transparent colors and then finished up the details with the rest. The original has a glow and softness to it that doesn't show up as much in this scan. Original art always looks better in person no matter what the medium is. This is what makes it special.

I have a couple more watercolors to do soon, but I promise to post new oil paintings next time.

These water colors also represent the first time I have attempted commission work. I have always hesitated when approached, mainly because I like painting what I like painting. I have to admit that I have enjoyed these and a large reason for this is how great and appreciative their new owner has been to me.

Colorado Watercolor 8" x 12"

2010-04-26T18:13:00.000-07:00

I was recently approached to do some watercolors of various locations in Colorado. It has been several years since I have attempted this, but I gave it a shot. This was my second attempt after a very non-transparent first attempt. Non-transparency is something you definitely don't want a watercolor to be. I feel much happier with this one and actually find myself looking forward to the next one. It's weird to go from painting dark to light with oils and do the opposite by going from light to dark with w/c.

Painting is painting and that's something I enjoy.

" Boadmoor Church" 9" x 12"

2010-03-26T20:24:00.000-07:00

"Boadmoor Church" 9" x 12"

Sorry about being gone for awhile. I've been battling a severe sinus infection and a hurt back. Even after my second round of antibiotics I'm only about 83.3% back. Texas weather is always a challenge. I'm wearing shorts one day & snows falling the next. I'm gearing up for several paint outs and even a workshop, so I will have plenty of work to post soon.

This painting was done for an online painting challenge from my good buddy Lee Brown over at A Day Not Wasted. Lee provided a photo of a pretty church that he says is near the Boadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colorado. As an artist, photographer and world traveler, Lee's web site will definitely inspire you. It got my brushes moving again. One of the best things about plein air painting in groups is seeing everyone's interpretation of the same scene. This provided the same opportunity and also introduced me to several great artists. Thanks again Lee. I look forward to the next one.

Make sure to check out his site and see the other submissions, the photo I worked from or to join in the fun.

Apple Preserves Starter Kit

2010-02-08T16:17:00.000-08:00

"Apple Preserves Starter Kit" 8" x 10"

The weather kept me indoors so I set up another still life. I had received a program from the Greenhouse Gallery and it had several paintings of "jars" by Dianne Massey Dunbar. So it inspired me to give it a shot. I worked from my own setup and approached it the same as if I was outside by painted it Alla prima style in around two hours.

I think I'm starting to like painting still lifes.

Alla prima is a style of painting where, instead of building colors up with layers or glazing over an underpainting, the painting is completed while the paint is still wet. Strictly defined, an alla prima painting would be started and finished in one painting session, but the term is also more loosely applied to any painting done in a direct, expressive style, with minimal preparation.

Alla prima comes from Italian, literally meaning "at once". The French term is premier coup.

“Walking To Texas”

2010-02-06T09:19:00.000-08:00

“Walking To Texas” 9" x12"

This sculpture and fountain is a tribute to the pioneer families who came to the Grape Vine prairie seeking a bright future and new life.

A real photo of this statue and more info can be found at "ilovegrapevinetexas.com"

This is my first painting using Lefranc brand paints. My first thoughts were how buttery they are. The white was very soft and easily mixed. They definitely have a different feel and they seem to take longer to dry. This was also my first attempt on an Oil Primed Linen board so it is hard to pin down the paints exact nature. I did fall in love with the board!

Off for more experimentation.

Troublesome Wind

2010-01-31T15:00:00.000-08:00

"Party Wagon" 9" x 12"

A farm next to my house was giving free rides with a tractor and wagon. This farm is always my default painting location when I don't feel like going very far. The wind was very troublesome that day and my pochade and painting ended up taking a nose dive face down into the dirt. Broke my tripod and sent turp all over me and my car. I was mad for a minute and then realized a bad day painting is better than a good day at my 8 to 5.

I plan on trying out a new brand of paints I just bought..."LeFranc". I have heard many people rave about them, especially their White. They are very affordable. I also added Viridian Green and Yellow Ochre to my palette. Common on many peoples palette but new to me. I will let you know.

Granny's Biscuits

2010-01-20T16:35:00.000-08:00

"Granny's Biscuits" 6 x 8

My wife was very excited to find this flour sifter at a yard sale that was identical to the one her Granny used. It filled her with so many memories that she had to have it. Her Granny is responsible for teaching her to cook. They were making cream gravy and biscuits together by age three. I never got to meet her Granny before she left us, but I would love to thank her for making my wife a wonderful cook.

Botanical Garden Gazebo

2010-01-12T20:28:00.000-08:00

"Botanical Garden Gazebo" 9 x 12

I recently spent a fun day at the Fort Worth Kimball Art Museum with several painter friends. I was able to see paintings by artists like Guercino, Rembrandt, Gainsborough, Monet, and Renoir, among others. They even had Michelangelo’s first known painting, The Torment of Saint Anthony on display. After a few hours a couple of us actually pulled ourselves away to do some painting. This was a little Gazebo at the Botanical Garden. The light left me quickly and I was pretty beat up from the cold and windy conditions, but I was very happy to be outside!

I am also happy to report I am now a featured artist on "I love Grapevine Texas" web site. I am proud to help represent Grapevine and too have this opportunity. Please visit the site and learn more about our great city and see more of my fellow artists.

Season's Greetings

2009-12-26T10:15:00.000-08:00

"Tractor at Nash Farm" 8 x 10

Attended the Outdoor Painters Society Christmas Party a few weeks ago. The highlight is the white elephant painting exchange. Everyone brings an 8"x10" painting wrapped in plain brown paper. You pick a painting, unwrap it and sit back and watch the wolves steal it from you. It can change hands four times. I stole a Rusty Jones painting from someone else, just to have it taken from me. Next, I opened a John Cook that was then stolen by the next four people in line. I ended up with an awesome David Moreland Bates painting. ( click on his name to see the studio painting produced from my plein air painting I received that day )

How's that for a lineup. Not to shabby!

"Tractor at Nash Farm" was my exchange painting and I'm happy to report it changed hands a couple times.

"MERRY CHRISTMAS"! Thank you to everyone that follows my Blog and everyone that takes the time to create a Blog to share. I'm looking forward to a great 2010.

Don't chase the Light

2009-11-25T17:26:00.000-08:00

Subject at 3:00 late afternoon

Subject at 5:00 same day

Here is an example of how much the lighting can change on a subject while you're out painting. Comparing the photos its easy to see the drastic differences, but on site it is harder to see. The changes kind of sneak up on you.

I began this painting trying to anticipate what the light would do. I locked in my darks and then laid in my large shapes with a general color and saved the bright yellow orange colors for last.

If I had tried to paint in the light areas first, they were changing so fast, I would have been adjusting all the colors the whole time. You hear plein air painters instruct "don't chase the light" and this is what they are talking about. You can see in my finished painting that the lighting is somewhere in between the two photos.

"Chasing the Light" 8x10

2009-11-21T11:07:00.000-08:00

"Ready to Work" 8"x 10"

The overcast weather was giving me fits during this painting and it resulted in a different palette of colors than my usual work. The light was constantly in a flux. I don't think this one scanned in very good. It looks better in real life.

Dads Old Truck Revisited

2009-11-21T10:55:00.000-08:00

"Dad's Old Truck" revisited 9" x 12"

I wasn't happy with this painting when I posted it a few weeks ago, so I picked it up and went at it again. I added a glaze with Ultramarine Blue and Liquin to most of the shadow areas and applied a thicker and cleaner highlight to the front fender. I don't normally paint on my plein air work after it's dry, but I think this improved it and I'm happier with the final product.

Get Off My Lawn!

2009-11-21T10:16:00.000-08:00

"The Tree Swing" 12" x 16"

I have wanted to paint this house for some time and I found my chance when I saw the owners out front doing some yard work. I walked up to the lady of the house and she seemed delighted that I wanted to paint on her land. So I set up my easel right off the sidewalk on the corner of their property and got to painting. I selected a 12" x 16" canvas which is larger than my typical size so right then I knew I was in for some work. About twenty minutes in the man of the house sees me and makes a bee line towards me looking very confused and not very happy that I was in his yard. I explained who I was and that I had asked permission from his wife because he was on a riding lawn mower at the time. After what seemed like much hesitation he told me I could continue. For the next two hours I was stared at and given the evil eye. My wife came out to check on me and quickly noticed the way I was being looked at. The man wanted no part of me being on his land or cared about looking at what I was doing. Then he walked over and told me I was done because he wanted to mow the grass I was standing on even though he had just done it when I walked up. Very confusing. The lady of the house had asked me to show it to her when I finished but I felt like I needed to leave. The painting was officially done.

Weird day, but hopefully worth it.

Evening Sky

2009-10-24T15:05:00.000-07:00

"Evening Sky" Unfinished 9" x 12"

I don't normally show unfinished work because most of it is finished on site. I tried a different approach with this one by using softer brushes and Liquin as my medium. I was able to paint in most of the colors and then decided to let it dry. I'm thinking that building up the colors in layers of glazes will give it a softer glow. It was difficult not to slap on that fat, juicy thick paint I normally go for. I will post it again when I return to it.

Dad's Old Truck

2009-10-22T15:56:00.000-07:00

"Dad's Old Truck" 9" x 12"

Recently I was out painting with several other painters. Three of us started painting the same identical scene. ( See previous post ) I was excited because I really respect the other two artists that were around me and I figured it was going to be a good learning experience to compare my painting to both of theirs. After I had finished I started to walk over to view the other painters at work. To my amusement one of the other painters started to hurriedly pack his painting away from sight. With a smile on my face, I asked him if I could see it and he quickly refused. After everyone stopped down for some lunch, I asked if he was going to let anyone see his painting and I received the same answer as before. This guy is a world class portrait painter and his studio work is jaw dropping to me. He has admitted that he is relatively new to plein air painting, but I seriously doubt his painting was anything to be embarrassed about. This showed me how tough plein air painting is, even for an expert level painter.

Maybe I’m not the only guy in the world that is guarded about his work.

I heard another very successful painter state that only one out of ten plein air paintings he does is worth displaying in a gallery. I also was able to visit his studio and see literally thousands of plein air paintings he has boxed and laying around. I learned that not every painting you do will be successful, let alone a masterpiece. Lately I find myself making less negative comments towards my own work and gaining more confidence.
Being hard on myself has always plagued me. I know posting my work online is helping me to open up. Art can be very personal.

Maybe I won’t be so hard on myself the next time my painting is not turning out.

It’s Great to Have Friends!

2009-10-08T18:04:00.000-07:00

"Spreading Out" 9" x 12"

If you don’t belong to an art group or you don’t have painting partners, I strongly recommend it. Followers of my Blog can see that I haven’t been able to post as regular as I started. My full time job has really demanded a lot from me the past few months and it still hasn’t let up. I know this is not a totally bad thing in today’s economy, but it really puts a damper on my painting time. Some of my recent chances to paint have been spoiled by this famous random Texas weather. Not sure if there is a harder place to paint outside. This is where having painting partners provides a lift. My friends keep me in the loop and let me know what’s going on in the local plein air scene. Those friendships enable me to join in their outings and even sap some of their enthusiasm when I’m down. Recently I joined around thirty other artists on a great one day paint outing in Granbury Texas. We were unleashed on a 300 acre private ranch. Even though my paint skills were a little rusty, I had a great time! How can you not love painting in a group? Every person truly wanted to be there and you can tell they all treasure their time together.

I appreciate my friends Doug and Cecilia for including me in their “Reindeer games”!

Red Mountain Ghost Town revisited

2009-08-19T17:25:00.000-07:00

"Red Mountain Ghost Town"

About a year ago I was lucky enough to take a Rusty Jones painting workshop. The first day, we stayed inside and painted from photographs Rusty brought with him. It should be no surprise that I went straight for an old paint flaking white house surrounded by trees. After first painting a value study, I proceeded to paint what turned out to be a pretty nice little painting. Rusty told me the photo was taken in Colorado while he himself was watching a demo by William Kalwick Jr. On my recent vacation to Colorado, I almost jumped out of my car when I spotted the real house from this painting. I wasn't searching for it, but just turned a corner and it was there. You would have thought I was seeing the ocean for the first time from my reaction. It was weird to see one of my painting subjects for the first time after painting it.

Now I have several photos of my own to work from.

( What you can't see is the hundreds of mosquitos swarming me )

How to enjoy a rainy day

2009-08-01T19:23:00.000-07:00

"100 Degrees in the Shade" 9 x 12

"Forgotten Train Tracks" 8 x 10

"Secret Garden" 9 x 12

"In Bloom" 9 x 12

I received a call inviting me to go paint at the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens today so I jumped at the chance and took off. Before I arrived it started raining cats and dogs. After it stopped raining I squeezed out a painting in less than an hour in order to join my painter friends for a lunch at the Kimball Art Museum. What a great day this turned into. We hung around talking art for hours and then headed back to sit in the garden of one of their homes for more of the same. I tried to squeeze out another painting as we talked, but it started raining again. Today wasn’t going to be about my next masterpiece. Today was about hanging out with a great group of people that I’m proud to call my friends. Even with all the bad weather, steamy heat and my mediocre work, its days like this that make plein air painting worth all the effort.

I finally picked up my paintings from the Waxahachie Plein Air event. I promised to post them when I did so here they are.

Twice the Fun

2009-07-28T17:05:00.000-07:00

"Above the Tree Tops" 5" x 7"

"Close to Heaven" 5" x 7"

Here are a couple more paintings from my recent trip to Colorado. These are much smaller than most of my paintings. I tried this smaller size out for two reasons. First, I knew I would be painting fast so I wouldn't be forcing my family to sit around while I worked. Second, because of the ease of finding a frame.

Colorado plein air was a fun challenge. I have experience painting outdoors with fast moving shadows changing my view, but I found out in Colorado entire mountains change value and color temperature within moments. Clouds pass overhead and cover very large areas. It was hard not to chase the ever changing views, but "wow" was the beauty worth the attempt.

These small paintings and the thousand or so photos I took will keep me inspired for some time.

My Colorado Vacation

2009-07-18T18:28:00.000-07:00

"Overlooking Ouray" 9 x 12

Wow, is all I can say about my vacation in Ouray, Colorado. My family and I had a great time. I took hundreds of pictures and soaked in so much beauty. I plan on pouring over the photos and turn many of them into paintings. I know it will be a challenge to capture the large scale & beauty of the mountains. That is something I know I wouldn't have had any chance of doing if I hadn't been there and took them myself.

The above painting was done roadside, looking down on the town of Ouray. The weather was a wonderful 72 degrees. I heard Texas was around 104 at the same time, so I wasn't missing it very much right then. I would like to say that I had people from all over the world pulling over just to watch me work, but I'm sure at least a few of them only stopped to take in the view.
I will post more of my plein air attempts and share some of my photos in the following days.

95% Plein Air Painter

2009-07-10T16:23:00.000-07:00

"Sonjia's Red Bowl" 8 x 10

This is my first post in a while. A family problem and the Texas hot weather combined to keep my recent painting outings sparse. I am presently about a 95% plein air painter. Very few of my attempts come from studio or indoor work. That is something I know I have to change about myself. I have become comfortable painting outside and now I need to learn to be comfortable inside which is probably the exact opposite from most painters. I decided a few nights ago to set up a still life and get some painting in. The funny thing about the way I work is I paint inside the exact way I paint outside. I have done work as large as 2’ x 3’ but still finished in about three hours time. I need to learn to slow down and not sling the paint. I don't like painting on dry work.

Next week I am going to Ouray, Colorado for a combined family vacation and paint out event with the OPS. I have never painted in the mountains before so I am very excited!
I promise to post many photos and hopefully many paintings.

Two new Challenges

2009-06-16T11:54:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple images from recent outings. The first one is a little 6 x 8 painting of some trees. I tried something different with this one. Instead of my usual wash in, I started by painting the whole background very dark and building up to the light. I lifted my main trees out of the background with a little turp and a stiff brush. It actually took form very fast, coming in at about thirty minutes and it definitely gave the final piece a different feel.

The second painting is a restored 1880's farm house. This painting gave me a challenge in that the home is a very unusual chalky green color. This house is owned by the city of Grapevine and they took donations to help restore this home and the surrounding property. I heard everyone was kind of down when they found out what color this had to be to restore it back to it's original form. Not sure if I actually pulled it off.

Waxahachie Paint Out Merit Award

2009-06-07T19:36:00.000-07:00

Here are the four Plein air paintings I had on display & sale in the Paint Historic Waxahachie, Tx. 4th Annual Paint Out. This was a ten-day event with over 50 artists participating. The event judge was Bruce Peil. I'm happy to report that I received one of the seven awards given out and was very proud to be mentioned along side other winners like Ted Clemens, Tina Bohlman, Ann Hardy, Chase Almond & Olivette Hubler.

This was no easy task considering the 250+ paintings entered into judging. I was lucky enough to receive a similar award at last years event.

I will post better photos of my entries as soon as possible.

This was one of my entries. I wanted to attempt more flowers in hopes that I could expand my audience. As you can see in my photo I was set up a little further away than I would have preferred. The home owner wasn't home so I didn't venture closer than the sidewalk. This may have worked to my advantage by forcing me to not over detail my painting. It's hard to over detail something you can't see.

"In Bloom" 9"x 12"

My view

( My apologies for the low resolution camera phone pictures. I was not able to pick up my paintings after the show. I wish I didn't have anything left to pick up. )

Train Depot 9 x 12

2009-06-04T18:45:00.000-07:00

Here is another of my paintings from the OPS Grapevine paint out. This was my early morning effort. I thought I had something good going on, but I found myself a little distracted surrounded by all my friends and fellow artists. After visiting a while I realized not only had the light changed, but so did my view. I think every car in Grapevine was suddenly parked in front of me! I had been looking forward to painting the little green cart at the base of the train, but it was no longer in site so I finished it up from memory. This painting still brings me a smile because it reminds me of that very fun day.

I'll have to revisit this spot again and give it another try.

The Pink Anteater 8x10

2009-05-28T17:37:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was a blast. I was hosting my painting group in my home town of Grapevine, Tx. We had a real good attendance that included several new members and several signature members showing up to get their paint on. I was a little nervous and prayed the outing would go fine. We had a forty percent chance of rain in the forecast, but we made it through the day with only one ten minute downpour that didn't stop anyone. Several really nice paintings where done and even with all the talking and direction giving I managed to paint three paintings. I'll show some pictures of the outing in some upcoming posts.

The "Pink Anteater" is a painting of some vintage farming equipment on a farm only one block from my house. My family drives by it all the time and my boys always remark how much the old bailing machine looks like an some kind of strange animal, compete with green eyes and weird smile. I've wanted to paint this scene for some time. I was in luck that day because a red tractor was left right next to the bailer. In my eyes painting both of these together not only tells the viewer what this machine is used for but also just how large it is. This was very fun to paint and my boys got a kick out of it too.

Dinner with Friends

2009-05-12T19:13:00.000-07:00

I recently went to dinner with several of my Outdoor Painters Society buddies. If they sat us together by talent, I wouldn't have been at this table. From left to right is Dave Bates, Me (with the big stupid grin), Andrew Wages, John Cook and Kaye Franklin. If you are not familiar with any of these people, do yourself a favor and check out their work! So much talent.

Rusted Tin Roof 11 x 14

2009-05-04T11:47:00.000-07:00

I'm not totally happy with the way this painting turned out even though I do like parts of it. I think some of my feelings are based on what I edited out because of time restraints and maybe poor layout. I ended up removing a tree from the right side and a tractor plow from the left foreground. While I was laying it out it never seemed to come together. I should have know from the start if the layout doesn’t feel right to correct it then, but I was in a hurry for the fun part. This painting also made me doubt not using canvas on my board. The texture is nice, but it seems to become dry looking reel fast. I don’t add a lot of medium to my paint. With this one I only added some Alkyd to speed up drying time. Maybe I should try something else before I totally give up on my gesso only wood boards. Also, I have a few scratches along the fence from my carrier that I haven't cleaned up yet.

Any opinions about the painting or texture?

Rainy Day Painting

2009-05-01T15:26:00.000-07:00

"The Hill Country" 11" x 14"

As soon as it stopped raining on our drive home, Andrew Wages & I looked at each other and knew it was another chance to paint. We turned off onto a dirt road and found this interesting hill. I had to park my van at our backs to shield us from the high winds. It was challenging conditions, but so much fun! I wish I had taken a picture of Andrew's painting, but the wind wouldn't allow me to leave my setup.

A look at my palette and painting in progress

This photo doesn't show the clouds that filled the sky

More Plein Air Lessons Learned

2009-05-01T14:46:00.001-07:00

My friend Andrew Wages creates another master piece.

"Goat Farm" 9" x 12"

A farm we discovered on a back road. It was covered in goats.

We were lost at this time & I doubt I could ever find

this location again.

Photo from site

I had a great time visiting the Texas Hill country. I was lucky enough to paint with over thirty members of the Outdoor Painters Society and make many new friends. I partnered up with Andrew Wages who has been painting for over forty years. Andrew has seen it and done it all. We had a great time.
Andrew is no nonsense lets get painting type of guy that can paint from sun up to sundown. We woke up early and packed lunches. If you have painted in Texas you won't be shocked to hear that we painted in 90+ degree heat one moment and cold high winds and rain the next. A local farmer found us on a dirt road and asked if were "working hard", I think he was joking, but honestly we were! I won’t be the first person to say Plein Air painting is hard work!
I returned from my trip in time to paint in a local wildflower festival. Good news is I sold both paintings I created. Bad news is they had two silent auction times going and I turned my paintings in five minutes before the first auction time. They quickly sold for the minimum bids, because nobody had time to see them. I should have turned them in after the first auction.

Lesson learned.

I did have a lot of fun and even let some fifteen or so kids actually help me paint on my paintings. The kids were all excited and easy to coach and I saw a lot of surprise on their parents faces. I figured I could repair anything that didn't look quite right. Everything was going fine until a woman who told me she was also an oil painter walked up. I told her I needed a break and wanted her to paint something for me. She picked up the brush I was using to paint grass with and stuck it into a combination of Prussion blue and Viridian Green and proceeded to paint in my sky for me. Ouch! Neither color was being used in this particular painting. After cleaning up that mess I now know I can clean up anything.

Lesson learned.

Lazy Tree 9 x 12

2009-04-20T17:49:00.000-07:00

This painting is from my secret location. It appears to be this grand forest and in reality it is a patch of land between some buildings and an apartment complex. I have never seen anyone else within my secret forest and I plan on keeping this area to myself.

This week brings some excitement for me as I get to leave town for three days with fellow Outdoor Painters Society members on a painting trip to the Texas hill country. We will be in the Fredericksburg area as part of the Plein Air Southwest 2009 event. We are expecting a great turnout. Also this weekend I will be participating in the 4th Annual Fort Worth Prairie Fest. I will be painting all day with my work and several other artists work being sold during a silent auction.
Because of my day job, this will be the first time ever that I will be able to paint for four days in a row sun up to sun down. Just imagine the possibilities. Of course, I will share everything when I get back.

If you are in Fort Worth area please come out and say “Hi”.

http://www.tandyhills.org/prairiefest.htm

Grapevine Train Station 9x12

2009-04-12T16:54:00.000-07:00

I recently had my five seconds of fame as a local TV station doing a segment on Grapevine, Tx. included me in their shot. While that news would only bring a smile to my mother's face that painting outing also marked another first for me. Right after the news crew left it started pouring down rain. I decided to put away most of my supplies and keep painting. I had a huge smile on my face and knew I looked like an idiot to everyone driving by, but I didn't want to stop.

In reflection, I'm not sure if I would do it again.

Signature Stamp

2009-04-12T16:25:00.000-07:00

I had this idea to create a signature stamp for myself after designing this logo for my web site. I predominantly use birch panels for my painting supports and sign the backsides. Now that will also contain this official, one of a kind, get it only here logo stamp.

It's so cool! :?)

Evening Glow 9 x 12

2009-04-09T07:09:00.000-07:00

There are so many elements that come into play when you are painting outside. Sometimes you start with a plan of attack but once you're in the flow of painting, it just becomes what it wants. I became a spectator of my own work, as any other viewer would be. This painting started out as a simple tree study and quickly turned into a painting about the setting sunlight even though you don't even see the sun. This is the reason people paint outside. Unlike studio paintings where you have controlled lighting and all the time in the world, painting outside is all about connecting with the environment and learning to roll with what life gives you.
Painting outside is exciting for the artist and I feel that comes through in the finished work.

Morning Light on Shed 9 x 12

2009-04-05T17:02:00.000-07:00

I squeezed in some painting time during my recent spring break family vacation. I accomplish this by waking up before the chickens crow so my family won't even miss me. I was in such a hurry to get painting that the car windows where still fogged up as I drove away. We spent the night in Fredericksburg Texas and it is so picturesque I didn't have to go far to find a subject.

I am drawn to weathered buildings and it is always a bonus when they are bright red. I started painting without setting up my umbrella and as the early morning sun blasted out I found it hard to judge my values. Once you're into your work and covered in paint you never want to stop long enough to make some shade. I seem to always situate myself in the open. The photo shows how shadowed everything was at the beginning of my painting. Compare it to the photo with my palette and you get an example of how much the light changes from beginning to the end. As a painter you have to pick a moment in time and stick with it as the shadows and light change around you. I like parts of this painting a lot but feel the foreground shadow & fence line could have been executed better. I try real hard not to paint on my plein air paintings after they are dry so I'm not sure if I should rework the foreground.

What do you think?

Valentines Day Gift

2009-04-04T17:59:00.001-07:00

I took the cheap route this year and whipped up
a rose for my wife. Sometimes being an artist is
a good thing.

Outdoor Painters Video

2009-04-04T09:11:00.000-07:00

Here is a link to a video that my friend Rusty Jones put together showing various members of the Outdoor Painters Society painting plein air in Big Bend National Park as part of the Plein Air Southwest competition. If you haven't visited the "OPS" or Rusty Jones web site you can find both links on this blog. If this video doesn't make you want to get out and paint I don't know what will. Great job Rusty!

http://video.yahoo.com/watch/4664735?fr=yvmtf

Celebrate the Day - 6" x 8"

2009-04-02T20:13:00.000-07:00

I went out to the local Marina for a little painting time and ended up painting a "little painting". I set myself up in a location that I didn't think I would have much of an audience. To my surprise I attracted quite the on lookers. Everyone was very pleasant and encouraging to me. When you have an audience and you're painting something you enjoy, it is an awesome feeling. It is very nerve racking when you have that same audience and the painting is not working.

Luck was on my side. Not only did I end up liking this painting, but I was able to sell it to a very nice couple right off my easel. They said buying this painting would help them celebrate their purchase of their first home, so right then I knew the name of this work was "Celebrate the Day"