Twilight

"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

"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

"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?

"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.

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Garden Path

"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

 

"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

"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

"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

"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

"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

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

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