Past the Tree

Playing around with some extra paint on my palette from the days outdoor adventures...

Thompson Farm

Thompson farm, 10"x16", oil on RayMar panel

Work from Peggy Root Workshop

From the Barn, oil on raymar panel, 12"x16"

I have been very bad and have not posted in quite sometime. Before the Peggy Root workshop in early October I got a stress fracture in my foot while running (barefoot, begin the ridicule now). I had worked my way out of running shoes because of a 5 year battle with IT band issues. So, no riding and no running for me. Shortly after I injured my wrist and could do nothing! I hobbled around the workshop and struggled with my inability to exercise in the same manner until now... it is weird what an impact exercise had on my mental health. We were also at a destination wedding on St. Simon's Island off the coast of Georgia. So, I am just now beginning to get back to the blog.

This first painting was done under a barn looking out into the woods and a field. It was wet and rainy, and I almost threw this one away after the first day. I believe it is very important to try to rescue a piece as much as I feel it is a good idea to scrap some as well.

Rulon Electrical

Rulon Electrical, Houston, TX, 30"x40", oil on 3"museum wrap
Available at my one man show, Progression, Nov. 12th at the Dogwood Gallery

Had to big back in the archives to find this gem. This was from our trip to Houston in the summer of 2010. I knew it would become a painting sooner or later, guess I just needed to do a show.

I am always excited to find out little tidbits about a sign as I paint it, a bit of it's history if you will. For example, I did not notice that the top panel with "RULON" on it had been replaced. You can see that the white border that is on the "ELECTRICAL" part of the sign does not continue up, not to mention the difference in serif and san serif fonts used on the 2 names. I wonder what it was called before Rulon??

Peggy Root

Spent some time with the painting gang here in Newnan. Peggy Root came down for 3 days to work with us. The weather left a bit to be desired, a bit wet and rainy, but I like to paint in that type of weather. The food and camaraderie made up for any shortfall in the weather.

Check out Peggy's work here. She is the real deal. No small plein air "studies" for her. She lugs her gear through creeks and hills in eastern Tennessee, working on one larger piece a couple of hours at a time,  several days at a time in the same location. She actually stretches her own linen canvases on location! She puts me to shame. Peggy and her artist husband, Tom, also run an art school in their hometown. Check out her work here.

There was a good bit of "porch" artwork going on for the first few days... Peggy is in the trench coat on the right.

Hard to keep me away from a fire, but I was always a sucker for going out to get cold and
then coming back in for a warm up session.

We actually got out to a favorite local of our group, the Thompson Farm, on the last day.  Brenda Sumter is on the right, she was part of the Georgia Gang that went to Scott Christensen last summer. Peggy helps Pam Giles on the left.

Linda Mann shows the painting who's boss.

Sandy parker mixes and Val Cranford prepares to go big, or go home!

Special thanks to Val Cranford who brought Peggy to us and Elsa Sibley, who despite some latent surgical foot issues, hosted us at her wonderfully coZy country retreat.

Wyoming Waiting

Wyoming Waiting, 48"x60", oil on 3" museum wrap

Dedicated this week to doing a large canvas, 48"x60". Haven't done one this big in over a year and it is time. I actually think I have more fun and enjoy painting larger than smaller, but who has room for one of these monstrosities. Luckily, I have never had trouble finding a home for one. This painting will be the key piece for my show next month. I also recorded the whole thing and hope to make a time lapse video of it. I have over 30 hrs in it, so I hope I can shrink it down to about 5 minutes.

Alta Tractor

Alta Tractor, 20"x24", oil on gallery wrapped linen, available at my show, Progression,
on November 12th at the Dogwood Gallery in Tyrone, GA