Nice Beard

This young man grew up around me. During a recent visit home I took a few photos with a painting in mind. I liked his beard. Its still in that stage where I may go back in to make some corrections maybe.

Natural Dryer 1

When I was growing up my Mother used a clothes line. She would do the laundry at night and go outside to hang it. I would be with her outside under the Commerce night sky. That probably contributed to me now being a night owl. I loved the smell of the clothes after they had dried. My sister likes to use her clothes line now. This is her collecting the wash.

The initial sketch.

Tree Ballet

When Pam was in town we spent time outdoors with me painting and her reading and enjoying the outdoors. I do a lot of plein air work when she is home. Otherwise I hide indoors during these summer months. This is a painting from a little area that I parked us in on Redbud Isle here in Westlake Hills.

Low Heat Flowers 2

On August 2, 2014 we had a rare cold front come through. These flowers only bloom in the morning when the temps are right. I got my gear and painted them. It was pleasant to be able to do some plein air work in my own yard. I was able to paint three different versions; this is the second painting.

Guardians Along The Road

A painting of the sunflower guardians that are planted to protect the tender crops. These were along Highway 34 on my way home. I found a spot with enough shoulder and stopped to take a few photos. It would have been better to do some quick sketches but cars come whipping through a lot and its not safe.

Cold Blast

Another painting in my snow series. This is my hometown during a winter storm. I love walking around with my camera and taking photos during this weather. Of course, I don't get too far from shelter and a heater. The silence is amazing and at times all I hear are my footsteps in the snow. As a child I played in these woods.

Pond Painting 1

I am probably going to break one of my rules with this painting because I want to go back and clean up some areas. Part of me says stay with the energy that I got on site. The other is wanting to tame it a bit. I will keep you posted. This is the painting that I did in direct sunlight over at the gardens. My shirt was drenched with sweat when I stopped.

Aggressive Floral

The second painting from last Sunday's visit to the gardens. I was painting while this lady told Pam and I her story. I know for sure that I can talk while painting. Maybe that is evident in the painting and I just don't see it yet. We were sitting in the shade because I had to cool off from a painting that was done in an hour of full on sunlight. I actually drenched my shirt completely. Luckily it was made of tinsel which drys fast and breathes.

I'm starting another sketchbook.

Swim Hole

This painting was done on my second outing on a very hot day last week. We spent the morning in the botanical gardens and the afternoon at McKinney Falls State Park. I didn't include the swimmers and sunbathers. The surface I worked on was Masa covered with gesso. I will do a painting with the swimmers. That will be a fun series.

Just Off The Path

This past week I painted over at Red Bud Isle here in Westlake Hills. We settled on this spot because it was shady and by the water. This was my second painting of the morning and I had it sitting face up and taped to a board. A young dog ran up and stepped on this painting, my pastels and the sketch. If you look close enough you might be able to see the paw print. The owner apologized and complemented my paintings. This was my first time visiting this area. When I visit again I will be prepared for four legged visitors.

The practice sketch.

SEE Music

We were walking back from dinner and I saw this band with this lady in front of them. I took a quick photo. This is a rather tight painting I must admit. Maybe I will do a looser version of this image later. I think pastel would also do wonders for this scene. Another Charleston, South Carolina painting. That place has a certain magic to it. I really do need to get there just for the painting experience. I think this place was a gallery getting ready for an opening. I love the body language of the people in the scene.

Pond Painting 2

I painted this painting in the botanical gardens on Monday. I had shade for the entire painting session and I didn't get run over by cars. I used a silk surface that I purchased many year ago. The pond was amazing with blooms and shadows for me to play with on a very different surface than watercolor paper. I hope you like these ventures out of my norm.

Photo Arch/Seminar Sketch 4

Pam and I were hanging out in the botanical gardens on Sunday, I was able to paint the painting shown above in about twenty minutes plus 52 years. This is an arch that many photographers use. A lady stopped to talk to us while I was painting. She seemed lonely. Pam and I invited her to sit with us. While I painted and Pam read she told us her story.

A sketch from the "Baby Prosecutors" course.

Drive By Barn

This painting is called drive by barn because its sits somewhere along interstate highway 35. I take photos from a car and get pretty good photos to paint with. I read recently that its best to paint from inferior photos because it allows you to take liberties with the actual painting. The resulting photos will have the blur that an artist utilizes to simplify shapes.

I tend towards abstraction in some of my photography. I have always liked the concept and practice of multiple exposures. With today's digital camera technology we tend to take photos rather than explore and get to know an area. Multiple exposure photography forces you to slow down and contemplate the image and place.

Once again construction is booming in Austin. This construction site is the view outside my office window.

City At Dusk

This is a small study of an old photo of Austin at sunset. I want to work it up to a larger painting to see if it reads well. I worked on a piece of 5 by 7 inch Shizen watercolor paper with a rough surface. Don't Look Back Itching to get back into the dark room. I just need to get the key and some refresher lessons and its on. I'm going to even give my old large format cameras a spin. This model was one of my favorites. Its a silver print hand processed by me.