Roses and Wine

Here's a modern looking piece for an exhibition at a winery.

Roses and Wine, 11.5 x 14.5, pastel

Morning On The Davidson

Morning in Pisgah National Forest is special. This piece comes from the Davidson River one morning while checking out the river. Sun was breaking through the trees and made for a nice scene as the river meets a bend.

Morning On The Davidson, 15 x 15, pastel

Crooked Limbs

Another Graveyard Fields piece just outside of Brevard, NC.

Crooked Limbs, 12 x 12, pastel

Creeks Access

Found this little scene outside Brevard, NC near Graveyard Fields.

Creeks Access, 12 x 12, pastel

Lightning Bug

Here's something a little different. Was sketching recently and came up with the idea of this lightning bug with a more aggressive look. I plan some future fantasy pieces so stay tuned.

Lightning Bug, 13 x 18, pastel

Dinner Bell

Here's a piece done locally from some friends who own a bunch of peacocks. More on the peacocks later. This old bell stood outside the back door and with the tree shadows, made for an interesting piece.

Dinner Bell, 10.5 x 13.5, pastel

Creeks Crossing

This is a piece from a recent trip to Pisgah's Graveyard Fields area. Water was just low enough to cross without getting too wet.

Creeks Crossing, 10.5 x 13.5,  pastel

Three Rocks (Workshop Demo)

Another scene from Pisgah National Forest, this was a landscape demo from a recent 3 day pastel workshop in Concord, NC. Thanks to Jessica and Keith for composition points!

Three Rocks, 10.5 x 13.5, pastel

Floral demo in pastel

Finished a floral that was done for a workshop in Salisbury, NC. Really wanted to punch the color a bit and have fun. Enjoy.

Mountain Floral, pastel, 11 x 14, $250

Mills River

Here is the new Pisgah piece referenced earlier in pretty much a completed state. Enjoy.

Mills River, oil, 24 x 24 canvas

Two Aspens And A Pine

Here's a small 16 x 16 oil on canvas. You can see how I block in the image with the transparent red oxide using Gamosol and a rag to wipe away pigment and then finished painting. This comes from a photo I took in Wyoming a while back. I happened to meet Scott Christensen on this trip.

16 x 16, oil

Beginning stages

New Pisgah piece

This piece is from the Pisgah National Forest outside Brevard, NC and it comes from a hike near what's called the Pink Beds. There's a slow moving piece of water in this area that is almost swamp-like. I'm exploring color in the beginning stages and will post as progress allows.

24 x 24, oil on canvas

Goldfinch

Really enjoying birds this year, here's another.

Goldfinch, pastel,  SOLD

Travelers Falls

This piece represents a beginning for me.  It is a Richard Schmid painting technique I learned from a Salisbury artist, James Taylor (no, not the singer). I've been looking for a way to work that is similar to how I work in pastels and I think I found it. Though this piece is on canvas, Schmid's technique is great for painting on board. I'm presently building it up from an underpainting of Transparent Red Oxide. Progress shown below.

Mid tones, color added, more to come

Travelers Falls,  oil,  24 x 48, initial phases

The Way To Damascus

Here's the finished piece I referenced earlier in the studio on easel. Have not photographed it yet so this is best shot. Enjoy.

Rooster

I've spent a great deal of time this year in oil, but had a chance to do a pastel piece in a live demo at the local art walk. Had a great time with this piece. Execution was pretty simple with limited detail and I thought it turned out nice. Enjoy.

Rooster portrait, pastel on paper

Also working on a sparrow as seen below. You can see the magenta background I start with. Usually I work on a smoother board, but you can see the grain on this one coming up from behind. Finished piece turned out nicely, I thought.

Pisgah Plein Air

Here's a Plein Air piece I did while in Pisgah National Forest not far from the fish hatchery. I painted it in acrylic. Capturing the beauty of the water was the greatest challenge. The white water required bold strokes while studying how the currents moved.

Landscape studies

Here's a couple of landscape studies in acrylic. My purpose was to let the reference be a point of departure while at the same time simplifying things a bit. They're not quite as detailed, but the color and composition hold them well. Enjoy.

Divided Fields, 11 x 14, acrylic

Yellow Fields, 11 x 14, acrylic

Waterworks Exhibition

Here's a few images from my recent Waterworks Arts Center show which ended February 12. It moves to High Point in July 2011. The subject of the show was Century Farms and began from a regional artists project grant in 2009. To learn more, visit my Century Farm page on this blog.

Damascus (in progress)

While biking the Damascus bike trail in VA, I came across this scene. It is presently "in progress" and you can see how I've blocked things in and how detail is being added. Water is usually the dominant element in many of my paintings, but this piece allowed for more trees. The sunlight is what makes this scene come alive and how I catch it in the painting will be important.

Pastel sketch

The sketch above was created in pastel. It is roughly 12 x 15. The waters edge is a bit higher here and I lowered it for the larger painting to avoid a line across the middle of the painting.

Untitled, 48 x 24, oil

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Linville Gorge

Acrylic is a great medium for contrast and painting rocks. I used to fear this medium for the quick drying times, but now use it to my advantage. Wiseman's View in Linville Gorge was my subject and the bright sunlight provided great color on these rocks. The photo does not do this piece justice.

Cliffs Of Age, 24 x 30, acrylic SOLD

Monteagle, TN

While traveling around Chattanooga, TN, I visited a favorite place of mine called the Cumberland Rec area around Monteagle, TN. The painting below came from one of the many hikes there. What's nice about this piece are the many things going on within it. It was misting this day, almost raining and we had little time here before the bottom dropped out. I enjoy painting rocks and water and this scene offers a lot.

Cumberland Splendor, 24 x 30, oil, SOLD