I'M BACK! ~ Vintage Model T Plein Air

 

"Model T" 

10"x10" 

Sorry for the delay in new posts, but I've been having a computer problem that prevented me from posting photos. I ended up changing web browsers and that put me back in business.  I will try and catch up.

I was thrilled to see that my neighbor bought this old truck and leaves it outside in front of his home. It had my name all over it. I met the owner and he was very welcoming and has even commissioned me to do another painting of his home. Here is the commission painting in progress below. Unlike the truck painting, I am working on this one inside my studio from my photo resources.

"Work in Progress" 

 

Bed of Cactus

 

"Bed of Cactus"

9 x 12 oil

 

A friend of mine spotted this truck and sent it to me knowing I would love it! It's funny that I have so many people that think of me when they see something like this. I've been sent photos from all over, but this one just screams Texas.

A painters note...I alternated with very dry strokes and then would switch brushes to a very turp filled brush that would even drip and run to try and get varied textures going. It was interesting. I used to paint stuff and leave it alone, afraid I would mess it up and now that I have more confidence and experience I try different things. If I don't like it, I just take it off or paint over it.

Feel free to scrape and wipe, but don't try and get everything off. What you leave can look interesting and add unexpected textures when you go back into it.

Fall Weather and Time to get Working!

 

"Weathered"

9 x 12 oil

  The weather is cooling off in Texas and it's time to get some plein air work done. This is my favorite time of the year. I have to admit that I have done less plein air painting this year than when I started painting about seven years ago, but that doesn't mean I haven't been painting.I have ramped up my studio work and have been painting larger too.

  I am finally in a place in my mind where I want to find more representation. I have been putting this off to get my work up to a consistent level and I think I'm ready. I definitely have been my biggest collector so far and that's not a good thing. Wish me luck! 

This painting is available at a special price from my Etsy Shop... https://www.etsy.com/listing/166268897/weathered-oil-painting-9-x-12?




 

Finding Beauty Where It's Not

"Boom Truck" 

10" x 20"

I have spent the last twenty-eight years or so designing signs for a living. The truck pictured above has become a very familiar view. I took a picture of this install truck while I walked into work one early morning and I thought it would be a fun to try and simplify all the details and to try and create something pretty out of a subject most people wouldn't find that way. I took my time drawing this out because any drawing issues would be very obvious. I started painting in my darks and linking them together to give weight to my subject. The truck was back lit, so I tried to paint a lot of the reflected light and to soften up the edges in my darks because I didn't want them to overpower the color and become a distraction. I saved the hardest edges and the brightest colors for the areas I wanted you to look. This painting became about the implied details and when viewed up close becomes more abstract in appearance.

Truck & Tractor Guy strikes again!

 

"First Snow"

10" x 10"

A fellow painter, Tony Hilscher, sent me this photo reference and said it reminded him of me. Tony lives in Minnesota and is really used to painting snow, but this was my first real attempt and I'm happy with the results. The interesting thing for me is all of my social media attempts seem to be working and that I'm starting to hear from people referring to me as the "Truck & Tractor Guy".
 A few years ago, I would have never thought of myself as that guy, but I have to admit I keep going back to those subjects. Looking for more gallery representation, I talked to several gallery owners and the common response was gallery's want to know what to expect out of the artist, quality wise and subject. I decided these subjects are what I paint best at this time and hence the "Truck & Tractor" guy was born.  I'll wear the title with a proud smile and see where it takes me.

Video Demonstration "Off Road"

 

"Off Road" Video Demonstration

 

This is my first attempt at filming myself creating a studio oil painting and it's shown in very quick time. The painting took 80 minutes and I've speed it up to 4 1/2 minutes. I've watched many of these types of things, so it was very interesting to see myself. I also figured out some things to make my next one even better.

 

Hope you enjoy it!

Shady Character

"Shady Character"

9 x 12

I found this great truck sitting under a tree all by itself. The owner offered to sell it to me,

but I found a better way to take it home.  

Truck Black & White

"Vintage Memories"

10 x 20 Oil

I found this great image from the 1930's that I fell in love with. I kept looking at it and it left me wondering what the man was thinking. What was going on? Who was waiting inside the cab for him? The car has so much personality too. I started out thinking I was going to colorize the black & white image, but I quickly changed gears and did it all in shades of grey and Chromatic Black. I even pulled out the palette knife for some finishing details, heavily applying the whitish highlights and the mans shirt. I added a touch of yellow to help warm up the white tint and emphasize the glow.

I may do a series of vintage images all in monochromatic tints. What do you guys think?

Old Truck and Sign

"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.

Work Truck

"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.

Not Much, But It's Home

"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!