Oh the Joy of Painting - of Living - and of seeing the light! Welcome to my blog.
Jan 15th - An 18x24 painting for the NIGHT OF ARTISTS show in San Antonio - Nocturnal Companions:
Jan 1st - I had a great couple of weeks with the family and I'm doing a contruction project that has taken me away from the easel. But here is one I did for fun ... it's a 48x36 inch painting thick and juicy - large brushes... because I love it! that's why!
December 10th - found these cutie pies in Lancaster PA in their mini horse and cart driving down the highway. there was a 5th child in the oldest's lap.... hence the name "two seater"
December 7th - I stumbled across these two farms in Gettysburg on the battlefield this past Fall. I added snow to one .... just because I could!
December 4th - a moment away - "Together" 10x8
Nov 12th - I've bee creating some special pieces for your enjoyment. It seems God is blessing me with more understanding of light - or color - of everything! Thank YOU. Below is a special piece to me. Most of the time, my paintings kind of "fall of the brush" (not the bush) happening quickly and spontaneously. This one, however, was not that way, and after many "close calls" this painting emerged from the mind. Created from a mix of photos with different light, I "forced" the light into a narrow band of late evening glow to bring out the subject and minimize the landscape. Love it!
Legends of the West
November 1st - just a sneak peak at something coming your way in limited editions giclee in February !
Valley of Shadows:
October 12th - Preparing for the Show in Atlanta and Gatlinburg the next two weekends ... Hope to see you there.
Cades Cove Buck 8x10
Grandpa's Place 9x12
follow me 8x10
My Place 8x10
Oct 5, 2011 - Wow!!! a whole month went by. I have been working on a new painting that I will reveal in December called "Legends of the West".... Totally goofed it...and started over. Had to try twice to get it right.
In the mean time, I'm working on some more "ideas" for future works in the form of small study paintings. These will go to various shows in October. I'd love to see you again, if you are inclinded to come to Gatlinburg TN or Cummings GA this month. You can see these in "block in" stage a few pictures down as they are lined up on my easel waiting for their turn to be finished. Blocking In is what I call it when I "draw" with paint the gesture of what I want using photos as reference.
friendly gesture
on the cheyenne
August 26th
I just finished one of the studies below... taking it further in developement. I don't know ... did I ruin it?
August 25th - I just returned from a wonderful photo shoot in South Dakota with 15,000 pictures. I went thru 800 $5 bills (tipping the models) and ran like a chicken after grasshoppers all three days because there was so much going on you just can't get it all. Here are some beginning stage study paintings (just the block in) and one completed ... Katie Wolff is the wonderful pioneer model and great photographer as well.
August 4th.... whenever you have a cloudy day photo I like to take it and turn it into something more dramatic.
August 3 - I just couldn't help myself - - stayed up all night painting a beautiful scape from England
August 2 - Yummy paint... beautiful light ... nice contrast..... great angles and overlapping shapes... I call these "painters" when I come across a spot like this:
August 1, 2011 - My how time flies! I've had to let some time lag so that the paintings I've been working on have time to be published so I don't spoil the surprise. Here is what I did back in June ...Twilight Moon .. from photos at Cape May NJ
July 6th - I'm in Myrtle Beach signing and sketching on prints purchased by some great people in the Carolina's and Virginia. Thanks for coming out.
July 3rd - I thought I'd show you what lengths we artist's go to to find good subject matter! This is the 2nd largest colony of free tailed bats in the world just west of San Antonio. What a great experience to have the cute little creatures flying all around you. Better than fireworks!
OK - so they aren't that CUTE ! But it was exciting.
June 25th - Still preparing for the Myrtle Beach show and another show in Cape May NJ - here are some that I shipped to those galleries for the summer shows.
Piggly & Wiggly
quiet cove
June 8th - I'm headed to a show in Myrtle Beach SC on the 6th of July, and am taking a few small paintings with me. Here is a sneak preview of some that will be offered for sale at that event (Noah's Art Gallery) and not before.
Free
whoops... I spoke to soon, "Free" was just "relieved" from my easel and hung in my house. I'll have to see if I can come up with another one as good. (my wife has pretty good taste)
Memories
Busy
June 4th - Kick your shoes off and get ready for a memorable experience. It's "your time" to be ! I hope you find the stillness you long for in my two newest paintings "Morngin Glories" and "Evening Glories". A play on words as I am really referring to the light and not the morning glory vines, growing in the sand. "I made this just for you!" - God
May 11th ... Here they are... the images I've been working on for some time. This first one is a 30x40 and is the sequal to "Seasons of life".... Spring's Renewal. The ones below it are the study paintings I did during April for my show in Gatlinburg last weekend. What a fun time! thanks for coming and or tuning in to the live "telethon" show online.
this painting above is called "Welcom" and is a study painting for a series to come called the "Welcome Series" where I will paint this cabin in four seasons. To be released in 2011 and 2012
May 3rd - OK OK OK ... next week I will post many new studies and studio paintings. I'm off to Gatlinburg for the show. Here is a sample of what will be there. Lazy Boy
April 20th - Don't worry! Be happy! I'm still working and producing some of my best work ever. I'm currently painting a few 9x12's for my show in Gatlinburg TN - May 5-6th... So if you want one.... come see me at the show. I'll post them after the show.
February 35th - or someday there abouts... I finally finished thunder river and it is off to the CM Russel show in Greatfalls MT.
February 19th - I'm really trying to keep this painting "buttery" and painterly... beautiful paint, if you will.
February 13th - OK I got started early Friday Morning and have a good start on "Thunder River" after 10 hours saturday and 9 hours sunday... it is taking shape ! What an exciting subject... I have never done anything quite like this.
February11th - I started this painting a couple of months ago and had it "developing" in my mind ... like meet hanging in a cooler... waiting till it was "ripe" ... Tooker down and sliced into this week. Oh was it good.
February 8th - I had a great show in Mt Dora, Florida - yes, Florida has a mountain... sort of ... and a lovely art town on this "mountain" overlooking the lake. Thanks Jimmy and Jason for hosting a wonderful event and treating us so nicely. Many blessings to come from our venture together! I've included a few more "study" paintings I've created in the past two weeks - below.
January 26, 2011 - Here are a couple more 8x10 "study" paintings for future studio works. I love experimenting with shapes and design... textures (like the snow) light reflections, etc. Pinch me!
January 23, 2011 - from the deep woods of the smoky mountains up in the hills behind Gatlinburg TN are a dozen or so cabins from the "olden days" - Go there and dream a little. "Colors of Yesterday" 8x10
January 17th - drawing on some cloudy day mountain pictures... I'm "sprucing them up" with a moody night scene. the little white specks are sun glares on the shiny paint .... tough to get a good photo of these things. I'm calling this one "Watchful Moon"
January 13th - A fun challenge to capture the cool of the shadows in the deep and narrow valleys in the smoky mountains and contrast that with the warmth of Autumn sunlight. One of a thousand spots somewhere near Gatlinburg TN.
January 7th - It is my wifes Birthday, and while she is having some "special time" with her folks, I'm finishing up some study paintings that I've had itching my paint brushes for a couple of weeks. Often I'll scrub them in really fast, trying to surprise myself with a mood and a "look" ... and then come back later and try to improve it in my thicker strokes and better applied paint. This one is called "moonlight serenade" - wouldn't it be great to be on that ridge just humming a tune?!
January 4th - A switch back to the project I've been working on for some time... here is the finished painting of the Chincoteague pony swim that we were fortunate to get to experience last August. Thanks Dan and Anne!
January 3rd - I had to pause on the Chincoteague painting for a bit to paint a couple of studies for next years "National Wild Turkey Federation" print submission. Here is one that I am focusing on bears, with Turkeys in the background.
December 9th - This is from a photo of a friend from 1965 where her husband had snuck off to the park to spend some time with his two girls. Daddy's Girls
November 22nd - sometimes the business of life and family crowds in on my work and I let go the things that can be let go ... like updating this page. This painting will be going to the CM Russel Museum Auction in Great Falls MT. I'm calling it "Spring Will Come" because of the hope that gives us courage to make it through trying times.
November 14th - I met some great folks in Evansville Indiana this weekend at a signing and sketching event. We sold all five of the original paintings that I brought with me as well as. (I forgot to photograph them for this page - sorry)
October 27th - I had a wonderful time meeting so many of you in Gatlinburg TN last weekend. It was an amazing show! I sketched on more than 200 canvases for the kind folks that bought one of my giclee prints. I snuck off Friday and Sunday mornings with my friend Marvin to get some pictures in the area and here are a couple of the study paintings that I came up with from those photos.
Bed Time Stories Bend in the River
October 13th- finishing with the details... I've tried to maintain the reality of the "mess" of the terrain, the vividness of the color of the willows, and the mood of the people that lived there. "Among the Red Willows" is 24x36 and headed to Scottsdale AZ for the CA show this month.
October 7th- someone has already told me I should sign it before I ruin it.
October 5th - I added a "crowd" of faces around the celebration using family members and friends
October 1st... I'm getting close to finishing this painting. It has been very challenging, because I put family members (including myself) in it, and I didn't stop until they were right. On most paintings, I quit just past the point they stop looking like aliens and look human, since no one will know who they are anyway. I'm planning to add two more figures behind and to the left of Jesus.
September 14th - My Favorite Photographer came by today to encourage me in my newest project and snapped a few photos. He can't help himself! Thanks Marvin.
September 15th and beyond - I'm working on a special project, and I'm kind of nervous because I want to paint it better than anything I've ever done... how's that for pressure. I'm asking God to "give it to me!" -- like only He can.
It is a 30x40 painting I'm calling "Dance of Grace" and I'm just a couple of days into it.
September 4th - I finished up a couple 8x10's that I started a while back (below). I'm always tring to "push" the colors and light as far as possible and this requires "experimenting" on some "study paintings" to work on the issues. Then when I get the guts to try a larger one, I can focus on the "brushwork" more than the color issues because they were worked out before hand. I called these "Coming Home" and "Run to the light".
Sept 2nd - I'm beginning a new study painting for a larger published work down the road. I've blocked in the whole painting, then blurred it all away with a larger brush to create a softer atmosphere. I will detail some today while it is wet .... then let it dry and come back and paint other details to "bring them forward". The blurry stuff will stay "in the back" while the detailed stuff will come forward into focus.
I've worked several more hours ... focusing on som of the mid ground area mainly on the left. Calling it a day!
September 3rd I'm thrilled with how this painting turned out... adding some warm sunlight in the back ground made for a dramatic and moody setting.
August 30th - (below) I finished up a painting that I started a couple weeks ago today. I usually block in a painting... then use a fan brush to blend and soften all the edges. If I have time, while it is wet, I will continue painting, but often I let it dry and then come back into it -wet on dry- so I can further blend with my finger by smudging. I was "taken" with the snow covered tree... and the contrast of color in this setting.
August 28th - this small 9x12 study on a panel (below) was an attempt at changing a day time photo of the pigeon river to a night time scene. It is a fun challenge to picture the colors as they might be in the moonlight. I realize that it is still too colorful than reality, but oh well. It makes for a prettier painting!
August 28th - I've been playing in the paints again. It is amazing how many songs can come out of the same few notes on the scale.... and how many paintings can come from the same 6-8 colors on the pallette. Variety is wonderful. I ran across a beautiful church from some photos from a friend in England. I painted it with two subjects... just playing around with the possibilities. The first one is "English Church" 8x10 and the second one is "Come Unto Me" 9x12... both are oil on panels. I painted them one day very quickly and loosely.... then came back after they dried and painted them a second time with more detail. this lets me leave some of the looseness in areas and focus in on others.
August 20th - I've been working overtime on a new painting to be published in October - below. I wasn't sure what I'd call it until today when I painted a family in the picture. I was wanting to depict a "heavenly light" in this painting, causing what would feel like a very cold world to glow with radiant light. Then I found a photo of our friends the Kneips that I took many years ago, and the meaning became clear - the Light we long to see is the joy on the face of those looking at us. It truly is Heavenly light and we have the privelege of reflecting it to those around us. Here is the finished work - Heavenly light with a close up just below.
12x16 Early light
9x12 Heavenly Light
July 19th I'm gearing up of a photo event in Virginia - the Chincoteague Pony Swim and have done some different studies, so I might anticipate what I want to paint when I get there with my camera next week. 
June 30th - I'm preparing for a show in Myrtle Beach SC next week and have completed a few smaller images (below) for the event.
Romantic Moonlight - 9x12 I've sketched this scene a hundred times on the back of canvases at signing events, and every time I think, "I need to paint this"... well I'm excited to have a satisfactory study and can't wait to do a larger painting for publishing in the future.
June -- After attending an amazing show in Gatlinburg, I just had to come home and paint a scene that I have had sketched out for quite a while. So many friends and customers have been wanting me to paint something like this... a peaceful retreat. I saw a sky like this while I was fishing one evening with Colter. the sun had already gone down, but there was enough of a glow to cast some light on the clouds in front of the rising full moon, so they appeared three dimensional, rather than just backlit by the moon.
I spent more time that usual adding little touches and details that go beyond your first glance at this painting. There are hidden creatures everywhere, as the moon's lesser light keeps them feeling safe. Leaves flicker and the ripples shimmer in what has become one of my most popular images
May 15th -- Below is a new painting I'm starting called "Jewel of the Rockies" (50x60). It is a commission for the Wurt Hotel in Jackson WY, and will be hanging in their lobby. This first stage directly below is is in acrylic paints and was done in about 3 hours. I will make some adjustments today and then proceed with Oil paint in the steps below this first pic.
April 2010
I'm after a very contrasty "eye catching" look from across the room, because this painting will hopefully be in the CM Russel "Masters in Miniature" show this fall. The dark brown frame and dark subject will pop against the blues of the cold light I am seeing in my mind.
Nice Coat
Lift Off 11x14 - after "landing" the Turkey Federation deal, I'm after a Ducks Unlimited spot as well!!! keeping my fingers crossed...
Miss Texas 20x24 ... I have another day or two to spend on this Central Texas winner.
March 2010
English village 11x14
English Countryside II 11x14
I'm almost finished with Peaceful Evening... I have high hopes for this painting. It is fun when you start out with a great subject... captured beautifully by a professional photographer. Thanks Stephen Lau.
February 2010
Jerimiah 10x8
Below are a couple of small study paintings that my wife snatched up - excited to see this delicious paint.... (rooster and pigs-- delicious in the paint... not necessarily in the ham and chicken)
three little pigs 11x14
Rooster 11x14
Evening in Paris 9x12
In the Sun (Venice) 11x14
A Perfect Day 9x12
sledding 9x12
Pigs in the Garden 9x12
Passing too Close 6x8
Aware of what is coming 6x8
January 2010 :
In my quest for "more juice!" in my paintings... more bravado! More yummy! I felt I needed to paint another while I was on a role. I want something looser than I attained in Beach Bums... So I started a little portrait below: Kaely!
Here I have established lights, darks, color key, on top of a fairly dynamic under painting wash of green, yellow orange and brown. I can tell already I want to noodle this to death! Hold me back! Hide my little brushes!
much more establishing of shape and form. I didn't allow my self enough time to paint this painting, so I will be doing some wet on dry paint to get the "juice" flowing again today.
I've "expressed" or "interpretted" what I see in the photo with large strokes and soft edges. I'm almost finished. I want to zero in on the chicken and work of a few edges. Hope I don't lose it
I love painting this way! I hope you aren't too nervous about that idea. To accomplish the same look and yet have all the yummy paint makes a painting .... well.... a painting!
