Thursday, January 26, 2017

An Impression of the Grand Canyon

An Impression of the Grand Canyon
4X8, Oil on Panel
Available

I started this little plein air close to sunset over the summer vacation to the Grand Canyon after a couple of other failed attempts at larger sizes.  The Grand Canyon is an imposing, intimidating place to paint.  Not only is the vista unimaginably huge, the sky and colors so profound but there is also always the presence of humans and potential watchers making it even harder to work.

This one was completed in 2016 so it does not count towards my 50 in 2017.

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Across the Distance

Across the Distance
9X12, Oil on Panel
SOLD

This is another plein air from New Year's Eve outside of Waco, Texas.

2 of 50!

Thursday, January 19, 2017

A Split Second of Divinity

A Split Second of Divinity
6X8, Oil on Panel
SOLD

This a plein air from near Waco, Texas done just before the end of 2016.  If you've ever tried to do a sunrise or sunset in plein air, you know how hard they are, how quickly the sky changes it's character and intensity.  The entire palette can shift on you in a minute or so, going from vibrant yellows to reds and pinks.  So it is a tall order to think that I might have finished this one as is on-site.  It had some pretty extensive studio work done and is therefore my first completed piece in 2017!

1/50

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Bigelow Barn

Bigelow Barn
16X20, Oil on Panel
Available

I have been doing the "7 Day Artist Challenge" on Facebook and I decided that I would refresh people's memories of some older work.  This one was completed several years ago and somehow escaped being posted anywhere except a small, fairly low res image on my main website.  I had no other good photos of this painting so I reshot it and now have it properly cataloged.  It was intended to be a commission for a friend of my late wife whose husband built this barn outside the small Perry County town of Bigelow.  When it came time to deliver, they just never replied.  I think it was their loss as this has been one of my favorite pieces since the time I finished it.

Sunday, January 15, 2017

Swept Away

Swept Away
8X10, Oil on Panel
Available

This is studio finished plein air from Cadron Creek in Cleburne County, Arkansas just north of Quitman.  This was from November when I took some more paintings to Ellen Hobgood Gallery in Heber Springs.

This one was still finished in 2016 so it doesn't count towards my 50 in 2017.  I have finished 3 so far so with a couple more I'll be on schedule to make the goal.  I'll be getting pictures of those pretty soon.

Sunday, January 8, 2017

Gold on New Home Road

Gold on New Home Road
6X8, Oil on Panel
SOLD

A little plein air from November in Faulkner County.  I took a new bunch of paintings up to Ellen Hobgood Gallery in Heber Springs that day and got in a little painting along the way.

Completed in 2016 so this also does not count towards the 50 in 2017.

Thursday, January 5, 2017

Palo Duro

Palo Duro
6X8, Oil on Panel
Available

A little plein air from Palo Duro Canyon in Texas that I m finally pleased with.  Palo Duro was meant to be a warm up for the Grand Canyon during summer vacation of 2016.  But I would up not doing very much while at the Grand Canyon.

This was completed during 2016 so it does not count towards my 50 in 2017.

It's Time for "That Post" Again

Usually around the first of the year I will do up a little post that sets myself up for disappointment in the coming year.  Goals, resolutions, expectations, call them what you will.  I have long had a bizarre relationship to them when it comes to my painting.  In other areas of my life, I don't seem to have nearly as much of an issue with this.  But for some reason, when I set a goal in painting, I promptly ignore it.  Last year, I avoided doing this setting of goals post, opting instead to make a post of a very personal nature towards the end of February.  That post contained a "not goal" of going into my studio almost every day during the month of March.  I did well enough with that.

Make no mistake, 2016 was a struggle.  There were times I was ready to give up the fight and just quit painting.  My show at Cantrell Gallery was a large factor in me continuing.  The encouragement of some fellow artists on DeviantArt also played no small part in my ability to keep trudging forward.  One person in particular has been instrumental in helping to lift some of the veil of darkness.  Someone who I feel provides some of the enthusiasm for my work I had been so missing, that helps me say, "yes, I am on the right track here!"  This person has also helped me to regain some of my focus in other areas of my life.  Dare I say that I can dream again somewhat.  Now, I know that time and tide have certainly helped to carry me away from that farthest shore of death but I can most definitely trace the feeling of some creeping tendrils of life and joy to the past month and half or so.

So here I am daring to dream a little bit again.  And with that comes the notion that painting must play a large part in whatever future I have.  I have two or three rather disparate notions of what my future might look like but in all of them, painting must form the focal point in order to make them achievable.  Therefore, I embark once again upon the creation of some "goals." (Yes, I will use that dirty word.) And as always, I try to make sure my goals are things which I am in control of and not something like number of sales or anything like that.

1.  Get into another gallery!  (Am I really in control of this?? A little bit at least.  If I never submit, I will never get in....)
2.  Make 60 blog posts!!  This would be an annual record for me.
3.  Complete 50 paintings!
4.  Hang in 2 national shows (this will become much harder now that the Diamond National Show in Hot Springs is defunct.)  I guess if the show is online that will count as hanging but if you know me, I'm not much for online shows so they must be seriously reputable, like OPA or OPS shows.
5.  Hang in 4 local or regional shows (This will probably require me to get re-engaged with Arkansas League of Artists as well as some other local organizations.)

Lots of energy is required for these and I am still very much constrained by life so I will be plenty happy with any 3 of these.