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

Big Red

A special honor for me to use the photograph of one of my students, Mitchell Jones, as inspiration for this painting. Mitchell, now a Senior in high school, was a junior when he took a picture of the semi up the road from his house. The first time I saw it, I knew I had to paint it. Mitchell was kind enough to let me use it, and I have to say, I really like it. If this one goes over well, it may become a 48"x60" piece. That was my initial thought, but after much debate, I decided to start a bit smaller and work from there.  I usually take pictures at stages of the larger work in case something really cool happens and I can't remember what it is. Thanks, Mitchell!

Big Red, 30"x40", oil on 3" museum wrap, available at my one man show, Progression,
Nov. 12 at the Dogwood Gallery in Tyrone, GA

underpainting

toned canvas and value drawing in burnt sienna

Stand of Pines 294

Stand of Pines, 24"X20", oil on 3" museum wrapped canvas, available at my one man show in November

When I want to play and get used to slinging a LOT of paint around, I paint one of these. This one is on very aggressive 3" museum wrap. I fought with this one a bit, but the outcome makes me smile. The colors in the photo are AWFUL, I'll have to get another shot tomorrow when the sun is up.

Lookout

Lookout, 24"x20", oil on museum wrap

Another one of my favorite snacks, made in the south with a great old logo. Graphics back in the day were so much better than what we see now.

Join or Die

Join or Die, 20"x24", oil on gallery wrapped linen, available at my show on November 12th

Paying homage to the first political cartoon ever run in an American newspaper by one of my favorite Americans, Ben Franklin... and man of many talents. You may or may not know that I am an editorial cartoonist and the son of a man who ran a printing business for 30 years so he could syndicate his own cartoons. We have been working together on this endeavor since 2004, Dad started in 1969. I have deep respect for me who speak their minds in front of many.

Best Painting Blog... EVER

I have been so busy reading the blog of New England artist, Stapleton Kearns, that I have neglected my own blog. I have never found a blog and read it from the first post to the last... until now.

Stapleton Kearns has been a full time painter for over 40 years and has all kinds of tips and advice on everything from the making of panels to the chemical make-up of oil paints. He discusses other painters at length, including one of my favorites, Emil Gruppe.

He is a no frills, straight up kinda guy and a painters painter. His work is beautiful and he is so kind to share his wealth of knowledge with us. I am incredibly grateful!

Gadsden Flag

Gadsden Flag, 18"x24", oil on linen gallery wrap, available at my one man show in November

Always been a huge fan of this flag and what it stands for.

Arches

UGA Arches, 11"x14", oil on RyaMar panel, SOLD

Painted this commission for a client who wanted this for her daughter who is currently enrolled at UGA. I had this image from a shoot I did for another client several years ago when I was doing a lot of photography.

Decoy

Decoy, 11"x14", oil on museum wrap, available at my one man show in November

Found this little gem in a junk/antique store in downtown Newnan, which is rapidly becoming the antique and junk store capital of the tri-county area.

Shhh... I'm Hunting Wabbits

Hunting Cap, 8"x8", oil on gallery wrap, available at my show in November

I have no idea why, but my parents let me get this hunting hat for my grandfather on his birthday when I was about 4 or 5... he graciously gave let me wear and keep it. I suppose it was because it was way too small for him. However, on the bright side, it fits my smallish tater just right these days. Julie made it perfectly clear that just because it fits, doesn't mean I get to wear it. Kinda like my overalls. What she doesn't know won't hurt her.

Rawlings

Rawlings, 8"x8", oil on gallery wrap

Sorry, still on this sports, man-cave thing at the moment.

Daily Painter Originals

Just in case you don't already follow me dailypainters.com or dailypaintworks.com, you can now follow me through dailypainteroriginals.com. I have loved daily painter and daily paintworks, but daily painter originals is a MUCH smaller group. At the moment, they have around 30 member as opposed to the 150 or so on daily painters and the 300 or more on daily paintworks. Daily paintworks does have a small core group of amaZing painters like Carol Marine, Michael Naples, Laurel Daniel, and the like... but I have yet to get my invite from them:) Honestly, if you are here, there is nowhere else you need to go!

Everlasting

Everlasting, 11"x14", oil on museum wrap, available at my one man show in November

Got some boxing gloves... obviously. The composition of this one needs a little work, but a great place to start. I love the fluffiness of the glove, but at the same time it has it's hard edge areas as well.

Big Pink Brandywine

Large Pink Brandywine, 16"x16", oil on RayMar panel, SOLD

Did a larger version of Pink Brandywine for a client's wife's birthday.

Seventh Inning

Seventh Inning, 12"x16", oil on museum wrap, available at my one man show in november

Sorry for the AWFUL image... I think I have found the prefect spot to take pictures of the paintings in black... but this wasn't it. I will put a better image up when I get home form work. One of my best pals and fellow teacher, J. Jeffrey Stuart brought this jewel to me when I put an APB out for old school baseball mitts. This one really fit the bill, a Wilson infielders glove from the 1930's. Beautiful and one of my favorite pieces of all time.

Life and Death in Black and White

Life and Death in White, 8"x8", oil on gallery wrap, available at my One Man Show in November

Another study out of the shadow box. This one is small, but I have a 24"x24" canvas ready for the big daddy version of it.

Mini Fake Rooster

Little Fake Rooster, 8"x8", available at my show in November

I had the paint left over from the big rooster and i didn't quite like his posture, still didn't get the posture quite right, but it was interesting going from large to small...

Pink Brandywine

Pink Brandywine, 8"x8", oil on gallery wrap, available at my show in November

Well, the $200 tomato just became a $100 tomato. We were lucky enough to harvest another one and I think we will have more.

Once again, this image just doesn't look right.. the blacks aren't quite black enough and it really washes the color out... I'll keep working to find a solution.

Pretend Rooster

Pretend Rooster, 16"x20", oil on raymar panel, available at my One Man Show in November

My mother was glad we moved from the country, closer to the fam... but sad we had to get rid of our roosters and chickens, so she got us this little charmer. He doesn't poop as much or make as much noise. I enjoy him more than Julie. BTW,  the chickens were a wedding present, if that says anything about the wonderful community we left!

For some reason, the dark background is not reading black like it should, no matter where I put these paintings the pick up reflected light from everywhere!

FairHope Farm

FairHope Farm, 11"x14", oil on RayMar panel

Found this picture while going through reference materials I was collecting for the next show. Thought I would play around with it. Pained this with an earthtone palette and a palette knife.