Clouds & More Clouds!

"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"

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

"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

"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

"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

"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

"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

"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

"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?

"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"

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"

"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.