between the workshop, driving back, and then a day trip painting at bald head island (and doing a demo that night) whew!
thats why there havent been many posts or pics of paintings. i'll try hard to get a bunch up once the holiday is over. i painted one this morning i like alot and i'll put it up for sure. thanks for coming by!
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Day Two-Hazy and Cloudy- Booo
Sorry. no pics today. forgot to bring the digital camera to class.
it was not a good day for plein air painting today. it was cloudy and looked like it was going to rain most of the day. so this is what we did:
i taught how to make a color wheel for a color, say magenta.
you draw four circles. in the first circle, put the magenta. in the second, put one of the colors on your palette, say ultramarine blue. in the third put a 1/2 magenta, 1/2 blue mixture. in the fourth mix white with number 3 for the tint.
everybody was amazed at all the wonderful colors they saw they could make just fooling around in this way.
later in the day we painted a cloudy day scene with 7 shapes or less, putting into practice what we've been learning. the last excercise of the day, one of the students modeled sitting in a chair and we painted her.
the remnants of tropical storm faye will be right on top of us tomorrow so we'll be painting in the painting studios of washington lee university. theyre forecasting several inches of rain and possible flooding so that'll be nice to be inside somewhere.
it was not a good day for plein air painting today. it was cloudy and looked like it was going to rain most of the day. so this is what we did:
i taught how to make a color wheel for a color, say magenta.
you draw four circles. in the first circle, put the magenta. in the second, put one of the colors on your palette, say ultramarine blue. in the third put a 1/2 magenta, 1/2 blue mixture. in the fourth mix white with number 3 for the tint.
everybody was amazed at all the wonderful colors they saw they could make just fooling around in this way.
later in the day we painted a cloudy day scene with 7 shapes or less, putting into practice what we've been learning. the last excercise of the day, one of the students modeled sitting in a chair and we painted her.
the remnants of tropical storm faye will be right on top of us tomorrow so we'll be painting in the painting studios of washington lee university. theyre forecasting several inches of rain and possible flooding so that'll be nice to be inside somewhere.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Shenandoah Workshop First Day
Well now, what in the world are those blue shapes off in the distance? i think they call them mountains up here in the shenandoah valley in virginia. a small charming town called lexington. home of Va. Military Institute (VMI) and Washington and Lee University.
coming here sunday, i was driving the old toyota straight up a couple thousand foot mountain and i had to drop it down a gear or two just to go 4o mph. i wasnt paying attention and i thought i was having truck problems until i realized what was going on! shows you how many mountain ranges i've driven through lately.
today was the first day of our three day class. heres what i covered:
how to boil down a complex scene into no more than 7 shapes and 5 values.
how to keep from mixing white into colors which makes the color very chalky
how to make dark colorful colors without using black
how to tone down shapes of color without adding that colors complement
what gear to take when painting plein air
and how to simplify and mass in color shapes instead of seeing a branch, or an ear, or other objects.
there are nearly a dozen very stoked painters here, that didnt mutter complaint one on their first day of plein air boot camp. they were exhausted but stoked at the end of the day, where we painted from a mountaintop vista, looking into several mountain ranges. breathtaking for this beach-billy!
more tomorrow, with hopefully some shots of the class at work!
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Blog Award- the Artey Pico
this is too cool! i was recently chosen by fellow blogger Robin Cheers, in Austin, Texas to recieve the Artey Pico award. this is kind of an impromptu kudos thing that circulates around the blogging community. sort of like the awards actors give other actors. i've heard it means more to them than the oscars because its their peers that are giving it to them. i feel the same way. it means alot when an artist of Robins talent and blog-presence likes what you do. she's been at it since 2006. i started in the fall of 2007. she probably has thousands a week checking out her blog and me far less. so its very cool and is a reward for posting on days i didnt feel like it, experiencing stage fright for putting up works in progress, and the shame of posting paintings i knew werent my best. but its not about that. its about showing the frailties as well as the successes! so thanks Robin.
FYI...The Origin of The Arte y Pico Award and Rules if you choose to accept.
You might be interested in the origin of the "Arte y Pico Award" The designer of the award puts it like this..."The Arte y Pico Award has arisen from the daily visits that I make to many blogs which nourish and enrich me with creativity. In them, I see dedication, creativity, care, comradeship, but mainly, ART, much art. I want to share this prize with all those bloggers that entertain and enrich me day to day. Doubtlessly, there are many and it will be hard to pick just a few."
The Rules:
1. You have to pick 5 blogs that you consider deserve this award through creativity, design, interesting material, and also contributes to the blogger community, no matter of language.
2. Each award should have the name of the author with a link to their blog.
3. Award winners have to post the award with the name and link to the blog of the person who gave them the award.
4. Show these rules and the paragraph (above) explaining the awards origination.
You might be interested in the origin of the "Arte y Pico Award" The designer of the award puts it like this..."The Arte y Pico Award has arisen from the daily visits that I make to many blogs which nourish and enrich me with creativity. In them, I see dedication, creativity, care, comradeship, but mainly, ART, much art. I want to share this prize with all those bloggers that entertain and enrich me day to day. Doubtlessly, there are many and it will be hard to pick just a few."
The Rules:
1. You have to pick 5 blogs that you consider deserve this award through creativity, design, interesting material, and also contributes to the blogger community, no matter of language.
2. Each award should have the name of the author with a link to their blog.
3. Award winners have to post the award with the name and link to the blog of the person who gave them the award.
4. Show these rules and the paragraph (above) explaining the awards origination.
So here are my nominees! drum rolllllll pleassssse
Chris GrecoDavid Lobenberg
Ann McMillan
Bernie Rosage Jr.- who got me into this whole blogging, Ebay, cyberspace art community. not to mention he's an NC homeboy! thanks dude!
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
A Short Rest-man i needed it
no images to show from yesterday because i painted them and delivered to my gallery in atlantic beach and forgot to shoot pics of them. i was too far away before i realized my mistake. oh well.
then today i totally goofed off. i mean i didnt do squat. the liberating feeling was intensified even further by the fact that the light was perfect for painting. i resisted the urge.
just having this one goof off day was just what the doctor ordered.
this whole issue came up after realizing that i was headed towards professional burnout. thanks frank for the slap upside the head (see post below if you dont know what i'm talking about) in a nutshell.... allow some decompress time in the schedule or suffer the emotional and physical effects. gotta quit saying, "i'll rest when i'm dead" or i will be. so i decompressed all day!
leaving this weekend to teach a plein air workshop in the shenandoah mountains of virginia. the sponsor said the sold out class was stoked and eager to paint outside and learn new stuff. i'm stoked to get a change of scenery and get out of the sauna we call august in n.c.
then today i totally goofed off. i mean i didnt do squat. the liberating feeling was intensified even further by the fact that the light was perfect for painting. i resisted the urge.
just having this one goof off day was just what the doctor ordered.
this whole issue came up after realizing that i was headed towards professional burnout. thanks frank for the slap upside the head (see post below if you dont know what i'm talking about) in a nutshell.... allow some decompress time in the schedule or suffer the emotional and physical effects. gotta quit saying, "i'll rest when i'm dead" or i will be. so i decompressed all day!
leaving this weekend to teach a plein air workshop in the shenandoah mountains of virginia. the sponsor said the sold out class was stoked and eager to paint outside and learn new stuff. i'm stoked to get a change of scenery and get out of the sauna we call august in n.c.
Monday, August 18, 2008
From Capt Stacys Dock-8x10-SOLD
I'm off on a tangent on todays post, but i feel compelled to write it. after all this is the place i can editorialize, rant or bore and if you dont like it, you can click to another on your favorites icon, no worse for wear, right? stick with me tho'. you'll be glad you did.....
so here goes.....
i was cruiseing my favorite artists who blog this afternoon and i went to frank gardners. i really got a slap upside of the head!! he's a painter down in mexico and i love his work ethic and down to earth philosophies about life and his art. he's very grounded and one heck of a painter. anyway...... i go there today and he's got all these pics of his summer vacation when he came to the states in july. i'm scrolling down and here's his kid at the beach, at disney etc. he has a saying that ive adopted and if i was the tattoo type i'd have it tattooed on the backs of both hands. he says....."life sometimes gets in the way of painting"
when i first heard it, it was an epiphany (you didnt think this old paint-slinger knew words like that, did you?)
its so true!
i want to paint everyday. i want to get better at superhuman speed, want to paint over all my crappy paintings so no one will see them! i have a thousand underpainting techniques i want to try... on and on. nothing wrong with this in and of itself but ive become one dimensional. i dont want to be with people long because it takes me away from what i want to do. i dont want to wear a watch because it impedes the carefree, go where i want to go blah blah blah
this guy has a life AND he paints. He has a family AND he paints.
my point? if you read this blog and youre a writer you know what i'm talking about. if youre a salesman, you know what i'm talking about. this post is about life not just art and painting.
Let us not become so obsessed with our craft (whatever it might be) that we become slaves to it. we are to be balanced, whole and happy. i cant help believe that that is every bit as important as how you treat the edges in your painting or how your color harmonies relate.
do i hear an amen, people? LOL
thanks frank for posting pictures of an artist that has a life AND paints with passion when its time to paint.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
A Hazy Day
i'm not especially fond of painting on a day that is hazy. the shadows are very soft, there is not much contrast, and there seems to be a lot of atmosphere in the air.
but when i saw these umbrellas on the beach i HAD to paint it! and i'm glad i ventured out.
this really reminds me of an Edward Potthast and is Sorrolla-esque. like the umbrellas. the part that is in shadow on the white one is very warm and only half a value difference. Sorrolla had a cool way of barely dropping the value but the temperature difference showed the form instead of darker values.
my favorite part of this painting is the shadows of the white umbrellas. weird to really love about 1/30th of a painting but all you artists out there know what i'm talking about!
Hazy Umbrellas-6x8- oil on canvas board
but when i saw these umbrellas on the beach i HAD to paint it! and i'm glad i ventured out.
this really reminds me of an Edward Potthast and is Sorrolla-esque. like the umbrellas. the part that is in shadow on the white one is very warm and only half a value difference. Sorrolla had a cool way of barely dropping the value but the temperature difference showed the form instead of darker values.
my favorite part of this painting is the shadows of the white umbrellas. weird to really love about 1/30th of a painting but all you artists out there know what i'm talking about!
Hazy Umbrellas-6x8- oil on canvas boardSOLD
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Knife Paintings Galore
i'm back on my knife kick and it feels so good! theres something raw and pure about steel and pure pigment. no thinners dirtying up the color mixtures. you have to look at the shape and figure out how to scoop in the color, and which direction you want the marbleizing to go, and you get all these unexpected marks. some you dont like, scrape out and redo. and some are absolutely brilliant in their randomness and you do everything in your power to keep from messing them up. this is why i paint! the completed painting is just the byproduct and has no importance to me after the creative process is finished.
Crashing In- 6x8 oil on canvas board
SOLD
Crashing In- 6x8 oil on canvas boardSOLD
Magenta Sunset- 6x8 oil on canvas board
Sold
Yellow Mustard- 8x8 oil on w/c paper-
SOLD
If you must have one of these i'll give you a deal. i want to sell these before i put them for sale on EBay. the marsh scene might go to Woods Gallery on Bald Head Island if it doesnt sell here on the blog.
email me if you want one.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Another One From Today....
just reworked this piece. sometimes standing in the blazing sun in the middle of a busy beach parking lot keeps you from doing your best work. today because of where i was i couldnt pitch my umbrella to shade the palette and the painting like i do 99% of the time. then on top of that i must have had 25 curious people asking questions and telling me about everybody in their family that draws and/or paints. verrrry interesting stuff when youre trying to concentrate! one lady was offering me all these places i SHOULD paint. when i kinda ignored her she said, " well, its your loss if you dont!" i was like HUH?
anyway needless to say it was hard to concentrate, and i had a truck where the trailers are on the back row to the right. then i had this crappy rain cloud that was awful gray, didnt look real and was too busy.
whenever you have a busy section in a painting you should have another area very devoid of details or form to counterbalance the detailed section and to let the eyes rest. what was i thinking. so i came home, scraped the truck and sky and repainted. heres what i ended up with. i like it much better. probably going to paint this 18x24.
At Oceana Pier- 9x12 oil on canvas board
anyway needless to say it was hard to concentrate, and i had a truck where the trailers are on the back row to the right. then i had this crappy rain cloud that was awful gray, didnt look real and was too busy.
whenever you have a busy section in a painting you should have another area very devoid of details or form to counterbalance the detailed section and to let the eyes rest. what was i thinking. so i came home, scraped the truck and sky and repainted. heres what i ended up with. i like it much better. probably going to paint this 18x24.
At Oceana Pier- 9x12 oil on canvas boardSOLD
Commission Piece
finally got this commission done and i hope she'll think the wait was worth it. scheduling was difficult with the family and my schedules been very hectic lately.
you can see a few little tricks i use to point viewers to the center of interest or the "bullseye". the edges are hardest, colors the richest, and the most contrast is around the flowers and foliage by the front part of the deck. then i used the sandy spots in the grass and the phone pole in the background to also lead the eye to that area. thats what makes this painting have a nice center of interest. then played up the orange/ blue compliment color scheme. subtle tho'.
Kinston and Davis- 12x16- SOLD commission
If you'd like me to paint your house, beach cottage/trailer, boat or whatever.... shoot me an email and we'll discuss it. they are very, very affordable and make great gifts to others or to yourself. go ahead... you deserve it!!
you can see a few little tricks i use to point viewers to the center of interest or the "bullseye". the edges are hardest, colors the richest, and the most contrast is around the flowers and foliage by the front part of the deck. then i used the sandy spots in the grass and the phone pole in the background to also lead the eye to that area. thats what makes this painting have a nice center of interest. then played up the orange/ blue compliment color scheme. subtle tho'.
Kinston and Davis- 12x16- SOLD commission If you'd like me to paint your house, beach cottage/trailer, boat or whatever.... shoot me an email and we'll discuss it. they are very, very affordable and make great gifts to others or to yourself. go ahead... you deserve it!!
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Beautiful day to paint today!
did this one right at the end of the day after working on an 18x24 that i didnt quite finish this morning. hopefully i'll finish it in the next day or two and post it.
what i'm working on in this one is only four/five values and a very unified look even tho' the scene is extremely complicated. i know that if i work on these difficult ones with perseverance then my painting will surely get better. thats my hope anyway.
come to think of it... like the title of this painting...... this painting career of mine is a Widow Maker too! ask my wife!
Widow Maker- 6x8- oil on canvas board
what i'm working on in this one is only four/five values and a very unified look even tho' the scene is extremely complicated. i know that if i work on these difficult ones with perseverance then my painting will surely get better. thats my hope anyway.
come to think of it... like the title of this painting...... this painting career of mine is a Widow Maker too! ask my wife!
Widow Maker- 6x8- oil on canvas boardSOLD
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
First come first served
A Few of My Favorite Things- 6x8 -on canvas boardSOLD
I wanted to offer my blog watchers first go at this before i put it on Ebay for the masses. many of you that know me know that i believe that on the 8th day God created these two things. LOL. thus the title.
Marsh Evening-6x8
SOLDthis knife painting was a blast to do. you wait till just before the sun sets and try to get the thing done before it does.
its very exhilirating because at this time of day the color is changing every 15 minutes, the shadows are moving at breakneck speed and when i finished this painting the reflection was way off the right hand side of the painting and the color was completely different. when this happens you have to go strictly by memory.
i guess thats 'real' impressionism huh?
Monday, August 11, 2008
Bodie Island View on EBay
Bodie Island View- 6x8-oil on canvas boardSOLD
this painting really depicts the time of day to me. it was very close to noon and the shadows straight under the objects and the color temperature give it away. the sky is a very light value and there are more light family shapes than shadow family shapes.
this is painted very near the bodie island lighthouse on the Outer Banks.
this painting really depicts the time of day to me. it was very close to noon and the shadows straight under the objects and the color temperature give it away. the sky is a very light value and there are more light family shapes than shadow family shapes.
this is painted very near the bodie island lighthouse on the Outer Banks.
Friday, August 8, 2008
RBC Centura Bank commission finished PTL!
OK. here are the final pieces of the five that ive been working all week on. i am so worn out doing 24x30's plein air in this heatwave, but i made my deadline (even finished a week earlier than the deadline!)
so ready to do some fun little 8x10's again.
The Miss Charlotte- 24x30- sold commissionpainted near cedar point
so ready to do some fun little 8x10's again.
The Miss Charlotte- 24x30- sold commission
Updraft- 24x30- sold commission
this is the seaview pier on topsail island
Urban Sprawl- 24x30- sold commission
this is coming into downtown raleigh on cabarrus st. from a very old rundown neighborhood. loved the shadow on the street and the big skyscrapers in the background.
gotta get off sidewalks and out of the smog of busses etc. get my toes back in the sand and hearing the cry of seagulls. i'm a beachguy and i gotta get back there ASAP.
just signed up to a do a free demo at jerrys in late august. check out the right hand sidebar for the date in a couple of days.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Irish Pub on Ebay
i painted this little irish pub in downtown goldsboro this past spring.
these little paintings on EBay are a great way to start collecting original paintings for about the cost of a print. they cheer up and add color to any intimate spot like a mantle, nook, or shelf. or you can frame them and hang in groups.
The Flying Shamrock- 6x8 - oil on canvas board
SOLD
these little paintings on EBay are a great way to start collecting original paintings for about the cost of a print. they cheer up and add color to any intimate spot like a mantle, nook, or shelf. or you can frame them and hang in groups.
The Flying Shamrock- 6x8 - oil on canvas boardSOLD
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Progress on RBC Centura
Finally! time to post some pics.
three down two to go. here's number two and three.
dont think it was as hot as everybody said it would be. at least it didnt feel like it was. some little pakistani dude hassled me about being on the Fast Fare property painting the hayes barton pharmacy in five points. i mean if i was panhandling or something i could see somebody saying something, but painting. c'mon. he was the mgr. or something. jeez give a hard working plein air painter a break, it's nearly a hundred degrees out here! then he runs inside to the a/c leaving me to sweat my *^^&(*) off making a buck.
Tomorrow night is the opening of my City Art Show in Greenville. i'll be doing a demo during the reception so come and check it out. both James Kerr and Kevin LePrince will be there to but come support the NC homeboy....me!
Afternoon in Five Points- 24x30-oil on stretched canvas
Grand Entrance- 24x30- oil on stretched canvas
three down two to go. here's number two and three.
dont think it was as hot as everybody said it would be. at least it didnt feel like it was. some little pakistani dude hassled me about being on the Fast Fare property painting the hayes barton pharmacy in five points. i mean if i was panhandling or something i could see somebody saying something, but painting. c'mon. he was the mgr. or something. jeez give a hard working plein air painter a break, it's nearly a hundred degrees out here! then he runs inside to the a/c leaving me to sweat my *^^&(*) off making a buck.
Tomorrow night is the opening of my City Art Show in Greenville. i'll be doing a demo during the reception so come and check it out. both James Kerr and Kevin LePrince will be there to but come support the NC homeboy....me!
Afternoon in Five Points- 24x30-oil on stretched canvasNFS- SOLD commission
Grand Entrance- 24x30- oil on stretched canvasNFS- SOLD commission
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
This bloody schedule
i'm sorry that i havent been posting alot of images lately.
with this RBC Centura Bank commission and all the traveling to bald head island i havent been able to shoot pics and upload at night. maybe if it rains one day...no! what am i saying....that might make me miss my deadline for the bank. one of the five 24x30's is done, three are blocked in and i'm going to hopefully finish two of the urban raleigh plein airs tomorrow. they say it'll be close to a hundred and five with the heat index tomorrow.
oh well as my good friend is fond of telling me,
"plein air painting aint for sissies!"
with this RBC Centura Bank commission and all the traveling to bald head island i havent been able to shoot pics and upload at night. maybe if it rains one day...no! what am i saying....that might make me miss my deadline for the bank. one of the five 24x30's is done, three are blocked in and i'm going to hopefully finish two of the urban raleigh plein airs tomorrow. they say it'll be close to a hundred and five with the heat index tomorrow.
oh well as my good friend is fond of telling me,
"plein air painting aint for sissies!"
Monday, August 4, 2008
Upcoming Show this Thursday
Here's your invitation to my upcoming show at City Art Gallery with James Kerr (Florida) and Kevin LePrince (Charleston) !
click here to go to the online gallery and see a little preview of the show
http://city-art-gallery.com/feature.htm
I'll be doing a live demo and hope to complete the painting before the reception is over. if i drink enough Red Bull i can do it LOL!
It's this Thursday
City Art Gallery
511 Red Banks Rd.
Greenville NC 27858
252.353.7000
www.City-Art-Gallery.com
click here to go to the online gallery and see a little preview of the show
http://city-art-gallery.com/feature.htm
I'll be doing a live demo and hope to complete the painting before the reception is over. if i drink enough Red Bull i can do it LOL!
It's this Thursday
City Art Gallery
511 Red Banks Rd.
Greenville NC 27858
252.353.7000
www.City-Art-Gallery.com
New Workshop Date added in November
because a lot of people were telling me they wished i'd have some weekend workshops (they couldnt get off work), i added one in Nov.
it'll be Sat. Nov. 1 and Sun. Nov. 2nd in Morehead City from 9am- 4pm
cost will be $160 for both days and $100 for one day.
you must send a deposit for half no less than seven days before the class to hold the space.
you can email me for a suggested materials list or more info.
hope you'll sign up!
it'll be Sat. Nov. 1 and Sun. Nov. 2nd in Morehead City from 9am- 4pm
cost will be $160 for both days and $100 for one day.
you must send a deposit for half no less than seven days before the class to hold the space.
you can email me for a suggested materials list or more info.
hope you'll sign up!
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Two on EBay tonite
Riverfront Twin Towers-8x6-oil on canvas board
SOLD
these were done plein air in wilmington, nc a few weeks ago when it was so rainy. loved the way the street gets real shiny and everything takes on a lavender hue.
Reflective Cafe- 8x6-oil on canvas board SOLD
WIP- The Miss Charlotte
no i'm not dead. just felt like it once or twice this long, long week in near 100 temps.
went to paint on bald head island for two days, but i made the drive daily and back home. its an hour drive down then 1/2 an hour ferry trip. then you have to ride golf carts at 10 mph all over the island, then ferry, one hour drive again. so needless to say those 9 am- 1o pm days didnt leave me time to blog.
then i got some great news. RBC Centura Bank commissioned me to paint five 24x30's for their new bank complex in downtown raleigh, nc.
thing is, ive got 10 days to complete the project for their gala event. so i'm under the gun to have that done on time and make them awesome. we're talking fortune 5oo company material here. i dont want any junk in that place with my name on it.
wow. i'm honored to have my stuff in such a high profile collection.
now i keep telling myself:
"Youre not going to pass out from the heat, keep working sissy" and "this all may be a dream but enjoy it none the less"
they want two coastal pieces and three local raleigh scenes from me. i've decided to do all five with painting knives
heres the first one
went to paint on bald head island for two days, but i made the drive daily and back home. its an hour drive down then 1/2 an hour ferry trip. then you have to ride golf carts at 10 mph all over the island, then ferry, one hour drive again. so needless to say those 9 am- 1o pm days didnt leave me time to blog.
then i got some great news. RBC Centura Bank commissioned me to paint five 24x30's for their new bank complex in downtown raleigh, nc.
thing is, ive got 10 days to complete the project for their gala event. so i'm under the gun to have that done on time and make them awesome. we're talking fortune 5oo company material here. i dont want any junk in that place with my name on it.
wow. i'm honored to have my stuff in such a high profile collection.
now i keep telling myself:
"Youre not going to pass out from the heat, keep working sissy" and "this all may be a dream but enjoy it none the less"
they want two coastal pieces and three local raleigh scenes from me. i've decided to do all five with painting knives
heres the first one
WIP- The Miss Charlotte- 24x30
today all i did was block in the big shapes and try to get some complementary color and nice color harmonies going. tomorrow i'll return and really throw the thick, luscious paint at it with lots of the impasto medium mixed in so its really textural in places. i've got the boring hard part out of the way and will return to cedar point tomorrow to have the fun! what a life! now i have to go hydrate so i dont get heat stroke finishing this outside tomorrow.
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