A Sparkle on Bear Creek

A Sparkle on Bear Creek

12X16, Oil on Panel

There is a little swinging bridge right next to where you would stand to see this location.  That might make a really nice painting some day as well.  There are quite a few Bear Creeks in Arkansas.  This one is right outside of Harrison before turning north to run into Bull Shoals Lake.

#10 of 50

Deshields Creek Floodplain, Old Town Lead Hill, Boone County

Deshields Creek Floodplain, Old Town Lead Hill

9X12, Oil on Panel

Available

 

 

The White River Plein Air contest has a geographic limitation of a 30 mile radius from the town of Cotter.  I used almost all of that to get this scene from my home town.

Diamond Rio - July Afternoon, Diamond City, Boone County

Diamond Rio - July Afternoon

12X16, Oil on Panel

SOLD

This sign and a concrete pad is all that's left of the Diamond Rio Motor Hotel in Diamond City, AR.

Cotter Train Bridge #2, Baxter County

Cotter Train Bridge #2

12X16, Oil on Birch Panel

SOLD

 

Well folks, I promised myself when I started this blog that I would try to post something often enough that I never felt the need to offer an apology for not posting "in forever."  But here I am, sorry for not posting in forever!  I've been working on several pieces simultaneously and waiting until several were done before posting. I must confess, that with gas prices going up, my progress on this project is probably going to take a major hit this summer.  I plan on trying to pick off a few nearby counties in central Arkansas but will probably not be going very far afield.  I'm going to be working on a portfolio for a submission to a very specific gallery this summer.  I don't plan on posting many of those as I go along.  I might change my mind though.  There may be more action over at my other blog The Art of John D. Wooldridge.

You may remember a few weeks ago, I posted a 6X8 version of this painting.  I liked it enough that I wanted to do a larger version.  While there were many good qualities to the smaller one which did not get translated over into this one, I feel the overall drama of the piece is vastly enhanced.

Interestingly, Bill Garrison told me at his workshop I attended last month that he also did a painting of this bridge at one point in time.  He told me this bridge was designed to rotate on the central pier to accommodate river boat traffic.  After the bridge was finished, the rotation function was tested and then rotated back into place .  It hasn't moved since.  He titled his painting, "Old Once Around."  I wonder what it looks like.

White Hole - Downstream, Marion County

White Hole - Downstream

6X8, Oil on Oak Panel

SOLD

White Hole is a public access area on the White River just a couple of bends downstream from Bull Shoals Lock and Dam.  This is a very popular area with the fly fishers and really anyone looking to hook a trout or two. There are quite a few resorts on this stretch of the river including Gaston's and the White Hole Resort.  At the top of the bluff shown here is the White River Inn.  I chose to leave it out.

Marion County, I'm not done with you yet.  I know way too many of your secrets!

Train Bridge - Cotter, Baxter County

Train Bridge - Cotter

6X8, Oil on Oak Panel

Available

The town of Cotter sits on the banks of the White River.  This train bridge is just upstream from a vehicular bridge of historical note.  The White River in this area is renown for it's trout fishing.  Cotter has been bypassed by a new stretch of 4 lane divided US 412/62.  I wonder what the future holds for this town?  Often times, when small towns like this get bypassed they just fade away.  Cotter at least has a good deal of tourist trade and maybe it will hang on or possibly even thrive with the better access a 4 lane divided highway can bring.

Bull Shoals Lake at Diamond City

Bull Shoals Lake at Diamond City

11X14, Oil on Birch Panel

SOLD

I guess sailing is becoming more popular on Bull Shoals.

Diamond Rio Motel, Diamond City, Boone County

Diamond Rio Motel

8X10 Oil on Board

SOLD

Diamond City, Arkansas sits on beautiful Bull Shoals Lake in the north central portion of the state. It is at the extreme northern end of scenic Highway 7. In fact, Highway 7 pretty much runs right into the lake. It is mostly a retirement community and many of the residents moved there from out of state. I grew up not very far from here and have many memories of evenings swimming at the lake. It was especially nice after a day of hauling hay.

The Diamond Rio Motel was a prominent location in town but it is no more. All that remains is this sign and an old flower bed. I don't when the motel was actually torn down.

I decided to make the lake visible in this painting even though in real life it cannot be seen from this location, at least not in the summer. It's conveyed as a tiny little swatch of yellow just above the treeline on the right hand side of the painting. Missouri is on the opposite shore.

We went back up that way last year for the 4th of July and this is when I captured the reference photos for this piece. I don't know if we'll make it back up there this year but I hope so. I especially want to hit Marion County, which borders Boone to the east.

On tap for tomorrow... a trip down I-40 to Pope County!