Slowing it Down, Hwy 65 Northbound

Slowing it Down, Hwy 65 North

8X10, Oil on Panel

SOLD

Right before winding into Searcy County, Highway 65 plunges down into the Little Red River Valley.  It's a potentially treacherous descent for semi trucks, especially in the rain.

Bank of Carthage, Dallas County

Bank of Carthage

8X10, Oil on Panel

Available

This old building is on the National Register of Historic Places despite being about to fall in on itself.  It was amazing to me but the town of Carthage seemed more remote to me than many places even in the Ozark Highlands.   Quite a few people who were driving by while I was taking the references picture waved in a friendly manner.  Unlike the dogs living in the house that's  right beside this place.

I'm currently working on a larger version of this for an upcoming show.

I went out plein air painting in Saline County yesterday.  It was one of those days that challenged my resolve to try to paint in plein air...

New Gallery Representation

I am very pleased to announce that this afternoon, I will be delivering more pieces to the Cantrell Gallery in Little Rock.  I really like the way the fine folks at Cantrell operate and I think this is an excellent fit for me.  I look forward to hanging many pieces of art on their walls during the coming years!

Cantrell Gallery is located at 8206 Cantrell Road in Little Rock.  If you are ever in the area, please stop by and take a look.

Ola, Yell County

Ola

9X12, Oil on Panel

SOLD

Ola is a tiny town the sits between the Arkansas River Valley and the Ouachita Mountains.  This is not the most memorable view in Ola but I felt like doing some rural decay.

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.

Searcy County Barn, Study

Searcy County Barn Study

9X12, Oil on Oak Panel

SOLD

I painted most of this one during last month's Argenta Art Walk.  It is based on a barn between Snowball and Witts Springs in Searcy County.  The actual barn is considerably more dilapidated than I'm showing it.  I'm seriously considering doing this on an 18X24.   There are at least 2 errors here that need to be corrected...anyone?

Jefferson County Courthouse, Pine Bluff, Jefferson Co

Jefferson County Courthouse

11X14, Oil on Birch Panel

SOLD

Last weekend I went down to Pine Bluff to paint what I think may be the most striking courthouse in Arkansas.    The Jefferson County courthouse is this marvelous white with a glowing golden painted dome.   While not the most ornate courthouse in the state, it certainly does stand out.  It was built in 1856 and partially burned in the '70's.  I had never been to Pine Bluff before last Saturday.  It is a small town with big city problems and the reputation of the town is well known.  I found a downtown deserted on a Saturday morning.  Almost no business was open and the traffic count on Barraque Street, what should be a fairly major street in downtown, was probably no more than 30 cars the whole time I was there.  Several passed by me more than once.  Only one person came by to talk to me and I only saw one other person on foot.

I set up in the shadow of a building across the street from the courthouse, knowing the blazing hot sun would soon rear up over the top of the roofline and bath me.  I had been hoping to catch the building fully backlit so I could explore some more color in the sky but by the time I got there, the sun was already high enough that no cool sky colors were to be found.  You might could call this a modified Sargent palette.  I used Cobalt blue, yellow ochre, and transparent red oxide which I consider to be in essence the same as what Sargent used for a lot of his architectural work.  He probably used ivory black which can appear very blue when tinted and used alongside warmer colors. 

I struggled mightily with size and perspective in this one.  The color of the shadowed white building also gave me fits.  I should have done it from the eastern side so as to avoid that problem but it's always good to take on a challenge.  There were several moments when I almost gave up on it.

After I had had enough of this one, I wandered about the streets for a while, taking photos.  It was enough to rend the preservationist soul of me.  I could clearly see what the town of Pine Bluff had been and what it still could be.  But the fact I could stand in the middle of Main Street for minutes on end trying to find the best vantage point possible on a Saturday morning spoke volumes for how far this town has fallen. 

As is all too often the case with me, I fell in love with what I could see the town becoming.  I know I'll be back.

Falling Water Falls, Pope County

Falling Water Falls

11X14, Oil on Birch Panel

SOLD

A few weeks ago, I took my son waterfall hunting in the Ozarks.  We've had a phenomenally long waterfall season in this year.  Usually by this time of year, they are starting to trickle.  the downside to the long waterfall season is flooding and severe weather.  I started this one en plein air with a value sketch and then colored it in the studio.  Falling Water Falls is one of the easiest falls in the state to get to and as a result is a favorite target of photographers.  I've never seen a painting of it before though.  It lies at the extreme northern end of Pope County just a bit before crossing into Searcy County on Falling Water Creek in the Ozark National Forest.  On this same day, we saw Six Finger Falls and Keefe Falls.  I packed my 13 lb pochade the .5 mile bushwhack into Keefe Falls and did a value sketch there as well as the rain fell.

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.

Big Springs Smoked Meats and Restaurant

Yesterday, we went up to Searcy County to hang some paintings at Big Springs Smoked Meats and Restaurant in St. Joe on Hwy 65.    It would be pretty hard to miss the place, it's on one of the few straight stretches of road between Western Grove and Leslie.  I can personally testify that the brisket sandwich is extremely tasty and worth the stop if you happen to be traveling 65 through the heart of the Ozarks.  Of course, I think my paintings are worth a stop too but I'm a bit biased in that.  And if my paintings are no longer there, then you will probably be able to see some by Harrison artist Tara Carey.  Great food, great art,...it's a no lose situation.

I also used this trip to get more reference photos from the Gilbert area.  Gilbert is a small town (population 33) right on the Buffalo River.  It is very typical for Gilbert to record the coldest temperatures in the state during the winter and the sign coming into town proudly claims it to be the "coolest town in Arkansas."  There's one shot I got of a church which I think will be excellent material.  I almost got a face full of barbed wire fence when I slipped in some mud coming back across a small creek from getting the picture.  That actually makes me fairly certain it will turn out to be an exceptional piece, no pain no gain after all.

Bill Garrison Workshop and an Award

Earlier this week, I spent 3 days up the Arkansas River in Russellville for a workshop with one of the best painters in the state, Mr. Bill Garrison.  This was Bill's first workshop in quite a few years so I was thrilled to have the opportunity to participate.  The workshop was held at an Arkansas Tech University facility called Lake Pointe.  It was a beautiful location with nice views of Mt. Nebo across Lake Dardanelle.  The campus had many mature trees for shade and to provide balance for the big but distant views.  The first day was a bit damp and cold so it was spent inside with Bill doing demos.  The second day was very seasonable and after a short morning demo, we hit the easels.  I got a nice underpainting and another "finished" piece on the first day.  The second day was much warmer, with highs probably in the mid 80's, with bright sun.  It was windy on the lake side of the point upon which the facility was located.  However, I had my sights set on a low train bridge on the cove side which was sheltered from the wind.  It was an old rusty thing but still strong and in use.  The dull, rusty red made a wonderful counterpoint against the bright green of the trees busting open.  I "finished" that one by around 2 or so and then went in for the rest of the day.

Here's one of them from the first day.  I'm going to make some tweaks to the other two.

Mt. Nebo #1

8X10, Oil on linen panel

SOLD

Buckstaff Baths won a merit award at the Hot Springs Fine Arts Center Regional Show!

Hot Springs Fine Arts Center Spring Regional Competition

I have 2 pieces juried into the 2011 Hot Springs Fine Arts Center's Spring Regional Competition.  The opening for the show is this Friday night, April 1st, 2011 from 5 to 8PM at the Fine Arts Center at 626 Central Avenue. This corresponds with the city's monthly art walk.  I should be there for most of that time so anyone in the local area, please feel free to come by and say hi!

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.

Augusta House Boats, Augusta, Woodruff County

Augusta House Boats

11X14, Oil on Birch Panel

Available

This was from my recent trip up to Jacksonport and through 4 Delta counties.  Downtown Augusta was deserted when I was there.  It has an intriguing old downtown area but being as deserted as it was, it was forlorn feeling.  Especially forlorn given the overcast nature of the afternoon.  I walked down the middle of the street taking pictures, my only accompaniment a set of windchimes tuned in a minor key.  There is a theater in downtown that must have been beautiful in it's heyday.  Sad state of repair today though, I'm afraid.  I may revisit Augusta to paint that theater.

The town is poised on the eastern bank of the White River.  From about Batesville south to the Arkansas River, the White is navigable by steam ship.  Like Jacksonport, the fortunes of Augusta probably rose and fell in time with transportation.  It was probably a major hub of activity until the advent of trains.

Recently, the only working steamboat on the White River was declared unsalvable.  The Mary Woods 2 was moored at Jacksonport State Park.  It sank in 2010.  RIP.

Diamond Drive-In, Clarksville, Johnson County

Diamond Drive-In

9X12, Oil on Oak Panel

SOLD

Clarksville is on I-40 and is at the intersection of the Ozarks and Arkansas River Valley.  Just north of town, the hills rise up.  I actually found this place by "driving" around in Google Maps!  The actual photo reference though was taken first hand a few months ago.  It is still in business but was closed the day we were there.  This was difficult architecture to paint!  There are quite a few interesting subjects in Clarksville that I hope I may get to paint one day and definitely some beautiful places in the Ozarks just to the north of town.

I'm trying to work on some larger pieces right now and I hope I can carry this rough yet painterly style over to those sizes.  It has been an achilles heel of mine that my larger pieces do not have quite the same handling as my smaller pieces.  I think they still look like "me" but just do not have what these small intimate pieces have.  I'm also going to try to have 22 counties complete by the end of this month.  Stay tuned and see how I do!

Jacksonport Courthouse, Jackson County

Jacksonport Courthouse

8X8, Oil on Oak Panel

The weather last weekend here in central Arkansas was fantastic!  We had highs on Saturday in the 70's!  Sunday was pretty decent too so I took a trip up to the Delta in northeast Arkansas to paint and take pictures.  I stopped first at Jacksonport State Park in Jackson County.  The town of Jacksonport is at the confluence of the White and Black Rivers.  Back in the day of steam boats, this was a bustling hub of commerce and the Jackson County courthouse here was a focal point of early pioneer life.  When rail became the transport mode of choice, Jacksonport was supplanted by nearby Newport in terms of both commerce and legal power.  The county seat was moved from Jacksonport to Newport and a new courthouse constructed.  This once marvelous example of Mansord Architecture fell into disuse for many years before being bought in the 1960's by a conservation group and a lengthy restoration begun.  I did two paintings here.  This was my favorite because of the play of light across the highly pitched roofline.  The other I guess I'll do some studio work and maybe post it later.  It's a small 5X7.

After leaving Jacksonport, I explored Newport as the temperature began to drop.  Then I headed east to Poinsett County and the anomolous landform of Crowley's Ridge where I did another small painting which I'll definitely finish out in the studio.  After that, I rolled through Cross county and Woodruff County as clouds rolled in and I rushed to finish picture taking and get home.

I can already tell that painting in the Delta is going to be very different and possibly quite difficult for me.  The sky is very dominant in the flat land of the Delta.  Pure landscapes will be very much skyscapes.  The easy way would be do a bunch of almost identical looking, non-descript fields with distant treelines or grain silos.  But I'm never one to take the easy route. 

Train Yard Nocturne, Perry County

Perry Train Yard

8X10, Oil on Oak Panel

NFS

I love a good nocturne and I think I may have finally done one that meets my expectations.  This is a train yard in Perry, AR in Perry County.  We often drive by here after visiting family and it's often at night or early evening.  

Gurdon Station, Clarke County

Gurdon Station

Oil on Prepared Oak Panel, 8X10

Available

The little town of Gurdon in Clarke County is home to the (in)famous Gurdon Light and the Concatenated Order of Hoo Hoo. I want to be the Snark of the Universe but I would settle for being the Arcanoper or the Jabberwock.  Click the link if you want to know what I'm talking about.  There is a monument erected by the Order of Hoo Hoo not far from the train station.  I think they must be a very interesting bunch!

Cameron Bluff #2, Mt. Magazine, Logan County

Cameron Bluff #2

11X14, Oil on Canvas

I hope everyone had a happy holiday season and the upcoming new year brings happiness and health!  I've been on the East Coast so I have some new material to paint.  Those will eventually be shown on my other blog.  

This is a larger version of the plein air painting I did of Cameron Bluff on Mt. Magazine a few months ago.  I was working to emphasize colors I liked in the original while adding more dimensionality.  I see some possibilities for even larger compositions here but that will have to wait.

My New Year's resolution artwise will be to paint 2 paintings per week in the coming year.  Any size counts and I will also take occasional vacation weeks.  I also hope to try to have this project half done by the end of 2011.  I think that is totally feasible but just difficult enough to make it a challenge.