2nd Street Cotter Nocturne, Baxter County

2nd Street Cotter Nocturne

8X10, Oil on Panel

Available

 

 

This was the third painting I turned in for the White River Plein Air contest.  I painted it during the night when all of the other contest attendees were attending some kind of social thing.  I hate to say it but I really did not bother to meet or talk to any of the other artists during this event.  As soon as I had my panels marked, I was off and away and I did not really see any other artists until I turned my pieces in.

 

This piece won the First Timers Award.  Looking around at the work of painters who won other awards, I have my work cut out for me if I want to have a chance at winning anything in the years to come.  Lots of really great painters attend this event.

Keesee Church, Monarch, Marion County

Keesee Church

8X10, Oil on Panel

SOLD

At the beginning of May, I attended my first ever plein air competition, Plein Air on the White River in the northern part of the state.  This area is close to where I grew up so I know it well.  The competition is centered around the town of Cotter.  The White River has been dammed up in several places, forming Beaver, Bull Shoals, and Table Rock Lakes.  The water that pours out of Bull Shoals Dam is cold and provides a great habitat for trout, making Cotter a haven for fly fishermen.  Most attendees spent a lot of time around the river near Cotter painting the typical scenes.  I, however, in typical contrarian fashion, struck out far and wide and found things no one else would have looked for.  This little church is tucked down a long valley about 20 miles from Cotter near Monarch.  Monarch isn't really a town anymore even though a lot of people still refer to it almost as if it is.  I used to pass by this church often.

Rainbow Bridge, Cotter, Baxter County

Rainbow Bridge, Cotter

6X8, Oil on Oak Panel

SOLD

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.

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.