Raymart Competition for June

So I've signed up to participate in the Raymart Art Online Competition's.
This was June's submission. I decided to post my still life "Not for Burning"
as posted here before.  Here's a peak to help you remember.
It's also posted on the Gallery Tab.

Take a look here...raymarartcontest.com

More Old Colonial Work

So here's the recent progress I've made on the 

Colonial Building I've been working on.
More to come!

You can see the progression of photos here.

Illustration Friday "Beard"

My submission for this week...

Illustration Friday Submission

So..I decided to submit my painting  "American Summer" 

for this week's Illustration Friday. Perfect for the "Summer" topic. 

Fun Illustrations from my Art Journal

I've always loved to doodle from my imagination, apart from painting.

Here's some recent images....

Beauty around you

 I thought I'd share a few inspiring jems with you.
I love the beauty of the colors of nature.

The Storms of Summer

The storms of Summer are bringing some amazing views to the 

lake recently. I thought I'd share. I pray you are having a 

summer full of blessings!

Getting Out!

So I finally got my paints together and pushed myself out the door to paint today! 

I made it short and sweet. I chose a simple landscape 

and painted for about an hour straight once I got set up. 

Here's my results. Not bad I think for not doing this in a while. 

It can be cumbersome to take some colored goo (aka paint) and 

mush it around and make it look like anything in such a short span. 

So, I'll give myself a gold star for today. It helped that I listened 

to my favorite inspirational station while I painted, Z88.7, so it felt good.  

Although this was a quick painting on a 4x4 panel,
 the sky was constantly changing 

due to storm that moved in while I was on location.
Even the cloud colors changed from a warm grey to
a cool grey. Needless to say I ended in a downpour!

Inspiration to Paint

As an artist, I naturally drew as soon as I could pick up a pencil.

Painting, however, for me was intimidating.,Especially oil painting. Inspiration struck,
on an unplanned trip to Ottawa, Canada, where a Tom Thompson exhibit was on display.
I was amazed by the colors, the brush stokes. His plein air work had a feeling of presence and being in nature that I loved. Once I got home, I started to paint and haven't turned back since.
Here's a glimpse of this inspiring individual!

Morning's Quick Study

Revving up for more plein air work, I decided to do a quick study in 

watercolor of my bird, Scooby, on the back porch.

Workshops for growth...

In all things, we must constantly strive to grow.
Art is no different.
Aside from school, local sketch clubs, art schools,
I think that workshops help you grow and learn skills
 from successful artist in the field. Of course cost can
be a factor, but I believe in getting the best bang for my buck.
So I try to focus on workshops given by those I most respect
and also try to attend workshops of local artists I admire as well.
Even better when an artist you love comes for a workshop locally
like Mary Whyte did last year here in Florida.

Here's a few of the workshops I've been fortunate
to have gone to in recent years.

Scott Christensen Workshop in Wyoming...

An amazing trip and experience.

one of the quick plein air paintings done in Wyoming...

Scott Burdick workshop in NC, 

I've been fortunate to take a landscape class

and a portrait class with Scott.

Mary Whyte workshop in North Florida

 one of my studies in the workshop...

I've also taken a workshop with Scott Wadell who held a class locally.


However...this year... a workshop in Ga with
a local favorite artist of mine, Larry Moore.

Moving forward in life and learning is a necessity, less you die, or feel dead!

New Studies

Plein air painting is optimal to really capture a landscape,

but time and conditions are not always optimal.

Sometimes I just photograph things that speak to me...

Here's some potentials that I recent worked out

in pen and ink recently, including the red colonial

that I just started.  It's study is on the top, left side.

I hope something that I share here, inspires you

to just go draw, doodle or paint!!!

New Starts: A Red Colonial

here's the painting as it evolves...

Almost Home

final touches...and details..

I love the sereneness of this image...

I found this horse at Montpelier in Virginia.

I tried to get his attention, but he refused to leave 

his serenity of chomping on that grass.

The field was a mixture of the remnants of summer and 

the transformation of fall all in a strong light.

It made the painting a challenge, but I love the warmth of his color, 

and the strong values the direct light created. 

Another Great Artistic Genius: Joaquin Sorolla

Another great artist, Joaquin Sorolla.
He was a master of light and lived during the
same era, and shared a similar style, as John Singer Sargent.

Here's a quote that every artist should take to heart....

"The older I become, the more I realize that drawing is the most

important of all the problems of picture-making."

Here's a few of his gems.

New Work for 2014 Started

Thought I'd start a painting that I've had in mind for a while

a horse that I photographed on a trip to Virginia..

Here's the start...

 

 

 

horse details...

 

 

The Red Barn was Sold today!

I'm so thankful for folks who buy my art!

I'm feeling very blessed.

"Not For Burning" still life...details

I think this is finished....

While the oil can is cool...

I'm ready to move on!

 

 

 

Here's some of the details up close...

 

 

 

 

Why the name you may wonder? Well the old book I found was titled,

"The Lady is not for burning", but Not for burning is all you see..therefore..

the title. How could I argue with fate?