Beyond the Studio

That's texture talking.

2012-01-16T06:59:00.000-08:00

"Drop," 2012. 16x20", ink, watercolor and crayon on acid free illustration board.

Winter walks are brisk and sharp and so is the landscape. Dried grasses, gnarled branches, brush, stone, brick. They all overlap and mingle like characters in a novel. When you get back home you can warm up while trying to figure out what the story was all about.

Standing around is better in the summer.

2012-01-11T08:23:00.000-08:00

We've had very mild weather so far this winter. Despite that, what was a hot day six months ago is looking pretty good right now. I stood around waiting in the rainy cold this morning waiting for a very long train to rumble through town so I could cross the street. That was more than enough time to reconsider the value of very warm weather.

I'm sure in the summer there will be a day when I begin to think the opposite. Until then, a little heat and sun seems like a nice idea.

House on a hill.

2011-12-05T07:43:00.000-08:00

"House on a Hill," 6x9", acrylic, 2011

A bit breezy for painting but lots of sunshine. The title pretty much tells the rest of the story.

Hmm. That reminds me of something.

2011-12-01T07:03:00.000-08:00

"Friends from the soil". Ink, graphite, colored pencil, tea, on paper, 6x8"

The general idea is to create drawings influenced by events in real life but once in a while it works the other way. After the big rain Monday night our driveway was populated by earthworms (which I escorted back to the flower bed). That reminded me of a this drawing from earlier in the year.

It didn't have a title until today.

There's more going on.

2011-11-22T05:51:00.000-08:00

"Another day on the inside," Ink, crayon and watercolor, 6x8"

Doctor's generally prefer that we be an easily explained regimented system on the inside. My own feeling is that chaos theory is a little closer to the mark. At least it's more entertaining to think of it that way.

Seriously, but not too seriously.

2011-11-15T06:02:00.000-08:00

A "who knows what" from one of my sketchbooks. Ink.

Every blank piece of paper can feel like a challenge—to create something perfect—more perfect than the clean white sheet you're starting with. Notebooks can be particularly difficult. It' not easy to avoid trying to turn them into one giant work of genius. That can be a good thing in that you force all your skill and intellect to pay attention and pour them into the task of proving to yourself that it can be done.

On the other hand, if that's all you ever do, it can really stifle your creativity. The quality of your work will suffer from the weight of your determination or fear that you will make mistakes which will destroy all your hard work. The imagination needs to breath and laugh now and then, too. A little happiness, a bit of silliness, it adds balance to the thought process and I believe it will improve the overall quality of your work. And relaxing a bit will certainly improve your long-term mental health in the bargain.

So if something goofy comes to mind, go ahead and scribble it down. And I do mean scribble. Your work will probably be better for it in the end.

Ideas come from the sky.

2011-11-11T05:59:00.000-08:00

"Lilac," 6x8", ink and watercolor on paper.

Looking east in the evening earlier this week offered a fantastic sky of streaky orange and purple clouds against an intense blue. All of that hanging over the golds and rusts of trees in early November.

Then, upon turning around and facing west, the view was strikingly different and much more unusual. A lovely lilac hue fading towards the horizon that emphasized cool but richly colored rough pines and shrubs.

It looked a bit like what Led Zepplin vs. Handel would sound like.

Seaweed in my sketchbook

2011-11-09T06:41:00.000-08:00

From the summer sketchbooks, "Seaweed," 6x8", Ink, graphite and watercolor on paper.

It would have been nice to get to the beach this year but even if that didn't happen, it doesn't mean I wasn't still thinking about it. All I have to do is look at this like image and I can feel the heat of the sun, smell the saltwater and fell like there are seagulls and terns flying overhead.

You have to love drawing.

Don't let ideas go by.

2011-11-09T06:24:00.000-08:00

A quick sketch made to capture an ideas that popped into my head while reading a magazine article. It only took a few seconds to reach into my bag for a pen and notepad, draw it out, then go back to reading. I was happy to find it a few weeks later.

There's no harm in offering this reminder: If you don't jot down an idea when you first think of it, it may also be the last time you think of it.

Jotting down an image is no harder than scribbling down a note—and no more complicated. Capture enough of what you are thinking now and it will likely trigger the majority of the details when you look at it later. Possibly it will also bring back the original feeling of inspiration, too.

So go ahead, scribble it down. Is it that hard to carry around something to write with and something to write on?

What to do during commercials.

2011-11-07T14:20:00.000-08:00

Derwent watercolor pencils on Sennelier Carte d'Art

On a recent trip out of town, my wife stopped off in a local arts store and picked me out a little present, Derwent watercolor pencils and a small Sennelier Carte d' Art pad. When things have been a little dull during football on the tube—and during commericals—I've been trying them out, using them to keep myself entertained.

The pencils have proved to be quite rich in color (dry or wet), smooth, and easy to sharpen with a standard sharpener. Also, they seem to hold up to some extra pressure.The paper has proved excellent for light or rough treatment and splashy applications of water gives nice effect.

I also have some Derwent Inktense pencils and you could certainly mix and match with there watercolor pencils for a bit of different effect if you wished.

With days like this?

2011-11-07T13:51:00.000-08:00

Waiting for a New Future (study), 2011, acrylic on canvas, 9x12"

It's hard not to ignore the project list when there isn't a cloud in the sky and the temperature is hovering around 70. So, as usual, I sneaked out with my easel to a spot I noticed the other day. It's a simple composition but the light changes pretty dramatically throughout the day so I'm sure I'll stop there again.

The owner was driving by on a road below and spotted me. She was a very nice lady who seemed to be pleased I was showing interest in, what really is, a nice spot. After a good chat she let me left me to it.

Suddenly I felt a bit of pressure to take my painting outing a bit more seriously.

Any paper will do.

2011-11-04T09:04:00.000-07:00

Ballpoint pen on datebook paper, 2011

Nobody said sketches should be confined to sketchbooks. If you have an idea, a tool that makes marks, and a surface to write on, don't wait until later—odds are you'll forget about it.

Along the fence

2011-11-03T13:33:00.000-07:00

A Grassy Patch. Ink, graphite and watercolor.

It's always great to see what's attempting to hide out and grow along old farm fencing. Grasses, weeds, small trees, etc. I find myself often doing variations on this theme. Here's one from August.

A Battle Between Dark and Light.

2011-11-01T15:51:00.000-07:00

A sketch in ink on paper.

Nothing religious—it's mostly a matter of composition and mark making. Read into it what you like.

The Eyes have it.

2011-10-31T06:05:00.000-07:00

Another friend found in a sketchbook. Ink and colored pencil, 4x4"

Happy Halloween, everyone!

When the Bubble Burst.

2011-10-28T16:04:00.000-07:00

When the Bubble Burst, 2011, Acrylic on Masonite, 36x36"

Beware of what can happen when you go to the studio, forgetting to take the image you plan on working from. I decided I had a good idea of what it looked like so didn't feel it was all that necessary. I went back to the studio today to take a quick photo of the results and compare it to my original sketch (see post from earlier this week).

It proved to be not nearly as close as my imagination lead me to believe. Reminds me of a before and after kind of thing. That's more fun anyway.

Today's weather forecast.

2011-10-28T07:21:00.000-07:00

Recent sketchbook entries, ink, crayon and watercolor on paper.

Cooler with a chance of rain which I'm afraid may be with us a while. Then again, I'm still wishing that we could keep that nice warm and sunny weather a little longer (even if November is not known for that):

Can paintings be as fresh as the first drawings?

2011-10-27T06:03:00.000-07:00

From the summer sketchbooks, ink and watercolor on paper.

That's the hard part, isn't it? Flipping through some pages I spotted the little drawing in the lower left corner of this page. It seems about right the way it is—but who doesn't like a challenge?

Anyone for a swim in the Atlantic?

2011-10-26T06:39:00.000-07:00

Perhaps this is a summer sketchbook flashback to my days as a teenager in Florida. Sand, surf, seaweed and some mysterious (if not questionable) ocean saltwater.

How does your garden grow?

2011-10-25T06:06:00.000-07:00

This time of year it's hard to resist the urge to slip out in the afternoon for an hour or two to pull some weeds, stick in a handful of bulbs or prune up a bit of this and that. This seemed like an appropriate drawing to illustrate the moment at hand.

One downside is that there are thousands of reflective particles in the mineral pigment watercolors which didn't show up in the scan. So keep an eye out for the original showing up on a wall somewhere soon.

Idea for today's work.

2011-10-24T06:26:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I don't have any specific plan when I pick up a pen but start swishing it around a bit solely to entertain myself. These little sketches often turn out to be the most fresh and fun. The one shown here feels a bit like an Edwardian balloon, cloud and tree—what with all the extra fancy bits attached to everything.

Looking for an idea to expand onto a 36x36" panel that I'd recently reclaimed, from a painting I didn't care too much for, this sketch seems to fit the bill. The trick, as always, will be to keep the same feeling that comes across in the drawing. It seems like that would be easy enough do but I've been fooled before. Many, many times.

A little drama never hurt anyone.

2011-10-21T18:30:00.000-07:00

From the summer sketchbook, a little more flash then usual—ink, graphite and watercolor on paper.

I spent a good part of this week looking for my current small sketchbook which seemed to have vanished during our move to our current home. Found it a little while ago almost right in front of me on the desk under a postcard reminder for a grant deadline. Maybe that's a reminder that I'd better pay more attention to that other kind of paperwork. . .

2011-10-20T05:52:00.000-07:00

From a summer sketchbook, ink and watercolor on paper.

A lot of dancing lines in this one. I don't actually remember working on it but I'm thinking it must have been a good and cheerful day.

As time goes by.

2011-10-19T08:20:00.000-07:00

From this summer's sketches. Ink, colored pencil, watercolor and graphite on paper.

My wife and I have lived in the Roanoke Valley now since the mid '80s. One town in the area we we've always been drawn to is Fincastle. It's historic, eclectic, quirky and for me, full of inspiration.

Last fall we decided there was no longer any reason it wasn't practical for us to live there so we put a plan into action to make the move. We'll it took almost a year but as of two weeks ago, here we are.

As time consuming, some might say all consuming (my wife), as the process was, I did my best to keep putting ideas into my sketchbooks and looking forward to the day when I could throw myself into a pile of art supplies and get back to work.

Now that things are beginning to return to normal, I've started scanning through those sketchbooks to see what projects I'll be working on this winter. Looks like I'll have lots of choices.

I'm going to post many of them here over the next few weeks. If you have any thoughts about which ones you'd like to see developed further, please let me know.

Somewhere in between, little paintings fall.

2011-07-06T16:45:00.000-07:00

Mr. Toothy, acrylic on rag mat board, 5x5"

A bit of fun, a bit of line and a bit of color. I've been doing these in batches as much to entertain myself as anything. Not that I really need another artistic distraction but what the heck.

If you'd like, you can enjoy this one or choose from others I've selected for t-shirts or mugs.

Who needs to think of ideas when we have the news?

2011-06-10T09:01:00.000-07:00

Bear, or Lies Are the New Black. Ink, tea and watercolor on paper, 10.5x13.5"

There really isn't a lot to I want to say about this—Representative Anthony Weiner is only the latest producer, of a never ending stream, of obvious lies from delusional politicians.

As much as I try to avoid creating work with a negative or cynical slant, sometimes it's best to get it out of my system, and move on, getting back to exploring the more positive side of mind and emotion.

Drawing Day should be as simple as drawing itself.

2011-06-08T08:18:00.000-07:00

A demo for Drawing Day 2011

Drawing Day 2011, June 4th was, as drawingday.org put it, "a world-wide event encouraging everyone to drop everything and draw on one day." Excited to find an event that put such a great deal of effort into promoting the act of drawing, I did my part in spreading the word and encouraging everyone I came in contact with to participate.

On the day itself, and the following day, as I participated in the Taubman Sidewalk Art Show in Roanoke, VA, where I was displaying, appropriately enough, drawings. Doing demo drawings for submission felt like a nice fit and I enjoyed doing the work and having conversations with visitors to my tent that fit the spirit of the event.

Grateful as I am for all drawingday.org's efforts to encourage everyone to draw on the day, my experience once I started to submit my drawings proved to be a bit of a let-down. Part of this is based on when drawings were collected, some before the actual day. In fact, you still have until midnight tonight, June 8, to submit.

In addition, their use of various sponsor and social media outlets to collect the drawings meant drawings are not centrally located for viewing. On the plus side, this did made it possible to submit videos and create drawings directly online which was a nice touch. Unfortunately, If works were submitted directly to the Drawing Day site, which seemed the quickest and easiest way to join in, there were some minor issues.

First, you are required to submit all your information with each drawing uploaded. They are also collecting drawings for possible use in a book, but to have a drawing considered, with each drawing, you also needed to log into Facebook which proved a little annoying.

Once a drawing is uploaded, a link is provided for later viewing. However, there is no warning that if you don't write down the link you are given at the time, there seems no way to find the drawings again. Or, for that matter, to see the work of others as the site provides no search function. Perhaps they will be posting these for all to view at a later time? The "Browse Gallery" page is curiously unhelpful.

Still, I want to thank drawingday.org the work they're doing. Let's hope, for Drawing Day 2012, they can streamline the process so the day will have as much impact as the drawings themselves.

Farming Days

2011-04-07T07:53:00.000-07:00

Commission sketches, 2011

Sometimes you have the chance to start on a project immediately, and other times, by circumstances and schedules, you're forced to wait. But if it's something you really want to do, frustrating though the wait may be, that wait can really build up the excitement (perhaps the trepidation, too, but let's not dwell on that, please).

A nice little project came my way, while the snow was still flapping around in the wind, to paint a midwestern farm—surrounded by corn fields reaching full glory, all under a warm, early summer evening sky. Having grown up in Indiana with a farm of this description only a few hundred feet away from our front door, I didn't have much trouble envisioning it and doing the preliminary sketches allowed me to wallow in a bit of childhood nostalgia. What could be better? One little sketch when first thinking about the project. Then, after a bit of waiting, one with color to consider the light at that time of day. Finally flushing it out a bit more. More waiting had to follow, unfortunately.

Now the time has finally arrived, along with the inspiration of newly green grass and leafy trees. By this time next week, with good fortune, the painting will be headed to it's new home.

The Drawing never stops.

2011-03-16T07:53:00.000-07:00

Circle of, 11x14", ink, graphite and tea on paper, 2011

Don't be confused by all the back and forth. That's my job. I may be spending more and more time outdoors, but that doesn't mean there isn't paper always nearby for when I'm thinking inside thoughts (which is most of the time, apparently).

Another fool on the hill.

2011-03-16T07:42:00.000-07:00

It may not be the best idea to always stop and think about what your doing — sometimes better to get on with it and enjoy the moment. Circumstances keep me away from the easel, and for the most part, the computer, for more than a week. This, maybe unfortunately, gave me plenty of time to dwell on a well trodden path that so many artists like to follow.

There really isn't anything much else I can think of to match being outside on a beautiful day, painting whatever strikes me as being interesting at that particular moment. The guilty pleasure of doing something outside that doesn't involve mowing the lawn or washing the deck. A relaxed atmosphere that seems to pool around any easel once it's set up. Plus, there is the challenge ahead—is it possible to capture the light, mood and spirit of the moment on to a little piece of canvas or board?

To try and go beyond that, seeking out something undiscovered in Plein Air painting, may, however, be asking too much. An uncountable numbers of artists have already trampled this way, uncovering the most amazing things. It's truly hard to imagine there is anything left to find. The names alone are enough to scare you to death: Eugene Boudin, Alfred Sisley, Gustave Courbet, John Constable, JW Turner, George Inness (definitely check this link—Hazy Morning, Montclair, New Jersey, 1893), Fairfiled Porter, Andrew Wyeth, Wolf Kahn. That's not even close to scratching the surface. In fact, if you spend much time around art you probably immediately started thinking, "but what about. . ." conjuring up the names of twenty other examples that are more appropriate.

To be honest, a little 6 x 8" inch study from Constable should be enough to satisfy anyone for a lifetime (much more potent then the finished studio works, at least to my mind). Simple, yet within it is so much to see and so much hinted at. But, over and over the ground we continue to go. What's still to find? Nobody knows, which is why there are a lot of us still looking for it. Foolish though that may be. But we at least get a little breeze and sunshine as we trod along.

C'mon. Loosen up.

2011-02-23T16:32:00.000-08:00

Grazing, Oil Pastel, Approximately 7x10", 2011

As much as I enjoy the experience of setting up easel, paints, brushes, etc., drawing often provides more of a feeling of intimacy with the subject matter. Over the last year, despite an initial impulse to use brands of oil pastel that offers a lot of detail and control, I've discovered, at least for myself, that less control, and a rougher, more direct approach highlights the true beauty of oil pastel as a medium. As a result, I'm currently enjoying using a selection from Holbein. The colors are really quite beautiful. A good source for them is Cheap Joe's Art Supply although there are readily available elsewhere, too.

If you would like to give them a try, I have found one important drawback to keep in mind—they have no paper sleeve and when they get warm, they can get quite soft which can potentially make a real mess out of your hands. I've found that using a cheap disposable latex glove is very helpful. On a hot day, though, I would suggest working under the shade of a tree, or simply using a different variety. Less expensive varieties often have less oil and a harder composition, holding up better in the heat.

Grazing (above), is one of 12 small oil pastels that will accompany 30 plus acrylic paintings on canvas that will hang in Roanoke's Shenandoah Club from March 4 to May 27, 2011. The oil pastels will all be grouped on one wall into a large block. I'm looking forward to seeing how they'll all hang together as a group.

Ready for another day?

2011-02-03T06:35:00.000-08:00

Starting The Day, 2011,18x36", Acrylic on Canvas

My current neighborhood at one time belonged to one family. And of the numerous log structures that still existed when we moved here 14 years ago, only the family home remains. The house was still in use up until about 2003. A simple ranch house was built on the property at that time which I'm certain makes much more sense in practical terms.

Despite that, while out strolling the dog on a recent foggy morning it wasn't difficult to imagine the husband and wife, still in residence, getting up and ready for another day. The husband getting dressed while considering plowing over his southern facing property (which now has our house sitting on it) to prepare it for planting potatoes—once spring begins to make itself known.

Grrrrrr. Or something like it.

2011-02-02T08:57:00.000-08:00

Prehistoric, 2010, 5x7.5", ink and watercolor on paper.

Flipping through a sketchbook, looking for a particular drawing, I came across this one which made me laugh. Not sure of the thinking at the time but perhaps it was in reference to our dog which has a great fondness for bark and bluster.

One reason to start thinking of Spring.

2011-01-21T08:01:00.000-08:00

Memory Bank, 13.5x10.5" unframed, 2010, ink, watercolor and tea on paper

As if anyone other than die-hard ski fanatics need a reason to think of warmer weather. This year I've been invited as a guest artist for Open Studios of Roanoke . Celebrating its 11th year of the tour. And one of Spring's biggest art events. The dates for this years tour are April 30 and May 1st, 2011. I'll be set up at Mary Boxley Bullington's house in the Grandin area.

It feels like ages away today, but I know it will be here before we know it. So I'm already starting to consider what to present. The focus will be on drawings but you never know what might turn up on my display panels.

Avoiding "White Paper Syndrome."

2011-01-09T06:57:00.000-08:00

Dream Chain, 2010, 10.5 x 13.5, ink, watercolor and tea on paper

So you go to a lot of effort picking out a really nice paper to work on and there it is on the table in front of you. All nice and white, clean and perfect. Sure you want a put on picture on there but at the same time you don't want to mess it up.

Oh, why not? That's what the paper company made it for! If you think you have to put down the perfect line or mark to start you never will. Now if you were to accidentally spill something on it then that paper wouldn't be perfect anymore would it? Then you could move right ahead, couldn't you?After all, it's messed up anyway. A few more marks isn't going to make it any worse.

Drinking coffee right now? Look at that—you've just splashed some all over that lovely white sheet. Wet tea bag in that cup? Uh, oh. You've dragged it across the entire pristine page. Looks pretty interesting suddenly, doesn't it? Nice random color and texture. Now that paper only needs a few marks on top to finish it up. See, you've already almost done.

Happy Holidays. My 1987(?) gift to you.

2010-12-23T14:08:00.000-08:00

Waiting for Santa, 1987ish, approx. 4x6", colored pencil on illustration board.

An oddball item from the archives (re-purposed old Kodak film box). I was experimenting with Prismacolor® colored pencils at the time and distinctly remember laying color down very heavy and then pulling some of it back up with masking tape to get texture. Effect was a little more interesting than the drawing. But it is seasonal.

Everybody have a terrific, fun and safe Holiday.

Welcome one and all, more or less.

2010-12-20T06:50:00.000-08:00

Grumpy Mr. Jefferson, Approx. 8.5x11", ink on illustration board, late 1980's — today's bit of personal drawing history.

Despite living on top of a mountain, President Thomas Jefferson spent his time almost constantly in the company of others. Some were invited to Monticello to discuss the politics of the day. Others were random strangers wanting the see the Sage of Monticello. Then there were the guests that were definitely not invited — Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton being probably the best example. History indicates that for the most part he seems to have been a friendly host.

Now I'm sure that's true but at times even the best of hosts can grow weary of their guests. Perhaps that's what was on my mind when I took a 00 Rapidograh in hand—my drawing tool of preference all through the eighties and early nineties—and drew this out. I seem to have spent a bit of time on it but to what eventual purpose, if any, I haven't a clue.

Colored pencil moment of boredom

2010-12-10T15:31:00.000-08:00

Gift of a Snowman, 1990's, colored pencil on illustration board, approx. 7 x 7"

Once computers came in, ad agencys mostly gave up on makers, ink pens, pencils, etc.—where I was working most of them ended up in my cubicle. For when work was a little slow, I kept scrap illustration board in a desk drawer and would pull out pencils or whatever and experiment a bit. Best guess (duh) is that this was done close to Christmas. Once finished it went into another desk drawer. I eventually brought it home with other similar items and threw them into yet another drawer. Then a box.

Don't look for lost things, it only causes trouble.

2010-12-03T12:41:00.000-08:00


A lazy and sunny Spring Saturday in the late 90's.

You never know how much stuff you have until you're trying to find something. As much as I hate to admit that I am woefully behind on both my book projects, it is in fact the case.

In an effort to get back on track for I swear I was listening (a doodle book), today's objective has been gathering up notes and notepads from various meetings over the years and scanning a selection of the doodles scribbled here and there.The downside of doing that is that they are tucked everywhere around my studio and our house. It's a fact that if you like to draw, you draw a lot—and before you know it drawings can be be found sticking out of boxes and folders, piled on cabinets and stuffed into drawers.

During the search I was forced to ransack through everything and rediscovered all the drawings that I never knew what to do with, or didn't get around to doing anything with before the next project or idea came along. I still don't know what to do with them as stylistically they're all over the map, on scrap paper, mat board, old stationery, etc. and go back some 30 years.

As a few of the drawings are holiday oriented, for the holidays I thought it would be fun to post some here. Laugh. Boo. Hold your nose. Even offer money for them so I'll have room in my sock drawer again. You're choice. Mostly I hope you enjoy seeing some of these castaways still hoping to get off the island.

I did almost an entire sketchbook of these last year. I've used a few so far. Now what?

Drawing "old school."

2010-11-18T16:05:00.000-08:00

Frostbite, Copperpoint, 5x7", acrylic and gesso on hardboard.

Using any tool of the masters (Da Vinci, Durer, etc.) in the same way they used them is always a nice exercise. Applying those same tools to today's art atmosphere—whatever that might be—can be an adventure.

For those not familiar with metalpoints, before the pencil came into being, metalpoints—literally rods of metal sharpened into points—of silver, bronze or copper, were often used. A special gritty formulation of gesso is put down as a base on to a substrate such as a heavy paper. As you draw with the point, held in a stylus much like today's mechanical pencil, tiny bits of metal are worn off and left behind leaving soft, flowing lines. Over time these lines tarnish in ways unique to each type of metal and the images also become somewhat darker.

One thing I personally find hard to come to terms with is that unlike a standard graphite pencil, putting additional pressure on the point does not make the resulting lines darker. It only tears the paper. But since a little physicality in a drawing never hurt anyone (personal opinion only), by using a harder substrate such as hardboard, I can have my drawing both light and heavy by drawing with one point and—let's be honest—gouging with another. Because of the risk of damage or early dulling by using extra pressure on the points, in Frostbite I used a nail to do the gouging. This was done at the very end so as not to interfere with the initial drawing.

What do drawings say about us?

2010-11-08T08:55:00.000-08:00

Blowing Away, 12.5 x 10.5, Ink on paper, 2010

Whether trying to capture an idea before forgetting, documenting an image by careful analysis, or keeping your hands busy while talking on the phone, drawing is as much about you as it is about the image created. The interesting question is: what exactly are those drawings saying?

Are your drawings filled with dimensions? Sharp edges? Abstract ideas? Do they wander about the page in some random fashion? Drawings seem to be a pretty clear indicator of both our relationship to the world we live in, and what that relationship is at any given moment.

The clearest example may be doodling during a phone call. If you're drawing lightning bolts, jagged lines or making a work of art out of words you might not say in front of your mother, you're likely somewhat distressed by the views expressed on the other end of the call. Drawing big puffy clouds or stick people on a beach probably means you'd rather be doing something else (maybe ANYTHING else). An endless flowing line or complicated decorative motif is a good sign you're using drawing as to way to help concentrate. Taking notes is always a good sign too but I'm not sure. My personal experience is limited in that area.

It's important to keep in mind that the best drawing can be about the enjoyment of the mental exercise—like playing a tune on the piano that you've played numerous times before. Not only can it prove relaxing and fun but random drawing may trigger a memory that takes you down a path you haven't visited in a while (or a path you've never seen before). And the more traveling you do, the more experiences you have to apply to everything else you do in life. That makes this aspect of drawing one it's best features.

Paths discovered through don't have to lead anywhere in particular to be useful. Paths that do lead somewhere, though, can be pretty exciting. The example shown above began in my sketchbook between poses during a group figure drawing session. When the next pose began I moved on and forgot about it. Flipping through the sketchbook a few days later I rediscovered, felt I'd been in the middle of expressing something of value and began working on it again. This was directly after the mid-term election so I'm pretty sure that's what this drawing is all about.

What I'd most like to emphasize is that drawing isn't limited to artists and architects, or special pens or paper. It isn't about the tools being used—anything that makes a mark and any scrap of surface will do—think cave drawings—it's about the opportunity of expressing yourself, with simple tools, to make you smile, relax, think or explore your own take on the world you live in.

The flying leaves of Tuggles Gap

2010-10-19T16:32:00.000-07:00

Demo at Tuggles Gap, 11x14", Acrylic on Canvas Panel, 2010, $125

My request for sunshine was met, and then some. It might have been good if I had requested a slight breeze as well. Setting up proved a challenge for many of us but as the day went on, the wind died down, and it was a beautiful day for being on top of a mountain.

My 1:00 demo seemed a bit anti-climatic, stress-wise, to the mornings breezy set up so I was able to relax and have a good time. Sometimes it's fun to use only a limited range of Plein Air colors: Alizarin Crimson, Ultramarine Blue, Yellow Ochre and Titanium White. It always offers a nice result, too. If you haven't tried it—you really should.

But the highlight of the demo came from fellow artist Ann Hale who tried to auction off my extremely well used paint rag (I still have it). Thanks Ann—very amusing—it was good to see you there this weekend.

And thanks to the Floyd Artists Association for putting on a nice event and being so helpful to everyone.

Hard to resist painting one more.

2010-10-15T15:14:00.000-07:00

Evening Shoreline, 7x5", Acrylic on Rag Mat, 2010

The car is packed and I'm ready to head up to the Blue Ridge Parkway. But I might have run a bit behind because I thought I could squeeze in the time for a couple more small studies and get them framed up for Art on the Parkway at Tuggles Gap this Saturday. I don't know why I always like to have work that I've just finished but maybe it's because it makes every event feel fresh? Now the only thing left is to make sure I have snacks for tomorrow. Always best if those are new. . .

Art on the Parkway at Tuggles Gap

2010-10-13T07:59:00.000-07:00

Road Above, 9x6", Acrylic on Rag Mat, 2010

Another nice (but cooler) day is predicted for my last outdoor event this year. I'll be one of 30+ artists mixing in with the beautiful leaves of Fall along the Blue Ridge Parkway, this Saturday at Tuggles Gap. I'll also be doing a quick demo (one of many demos done throughout the day) at 1:00 in the Events tent. Last week abstract drawings. This week landscape paintings. Isn't variety wonderful?

Art on the Parkway at Tuggles Gap. Saturday, October 16, 10am-5pm, Free. 30+ regional fine artists, art demos all day, live music and seating area, wine and beer garden--all at the peak of this gorgeous foliage season. Tuggles Gap Restaurant and Motel, Floyd County. Intersection of Rt. 8 and the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 165.2

Fall Foliage Festival Fun

2010-10-08T10:51:00.000-07:00

Circus, Ink, watercolor and wax on paper, 2010

It's beautiful weather, a nice town, I have lots of new work in tow. I'm headed off now to set up my tent for this weekend's Fall Foliage Festival in Waynesboro, VA. October 9, 10-5 and October 10, noon to 5. Lots of new people to meet and other artists to admire. I'm excited!

Nelson Gallery's 3rd Annual Paint Lexington Paint Out

2010-10-01T17:02:00.000-07:00

Hopkins Green, 6x9", Acrylic on Rag Mat board

Nelson Gallery's 3rd Annual Paint Lexington paint out happens tomorrow and the weather is scheduled to be an amazing, sunny, 70 degrees. 18 Artists will be running around Lexington looking for the right spot and then they'll set up and do their thing. Meanwhile I know where I'll be—Hopkins Green, two blocks from the Gallery, doing a plein air demo at 1:00pm. For fun I decided to do one ahead of time for practice (shown above). Then after we're all done slinging paint around, we'll hang everyone's work up at the Gallery and from 5-7pm we'll have a reception. Good time for all. 27 W. Washington Street, Lexington VA.

Dismembering a Friend

2010-09-24T17:52:00.000-07:00

This band won't be getting back together. Not in this sketchbook, anyway.

When you grab a sketchbook off the shelf, it's a few handfuls of paper between two covers. Two months later, you've formed a very close relationship. You go everywhere together. Share a lot of ideas. Soon you're inseparable. But before you know it, it's over. Finished. The only thing left is the dismemberment.

It's a mix of sadness, accomplishment, and the opportunity of being given a clean slate when completing a sketchbook so you can begin another. But this latest 6x9" sketchbook has been more fun than most for some reason. The result was is unusually large number of finished drawings that will be moving on into mats and frames. At the same time, I hate the idea of breaking it up. My planned solution is to keep them together by putting them into a book while the actual drawings go their separate ways. I'm beginning the design now and hope to have it available by the end of November. Updates to follow on that.

In the meantime, once this batch of drawings have been soaked, pressed, waxed and framed—and If there is enough time—I'm planning on having 25-30 of them attending the Fall Foliage Festival with me in Waynesboro, VA on October 9th and 10th. This will be my first year at this popular annual event and I'm looking forward to it.

If every week was like last week.

2010-09-20T07:59:00.000-07:00

More to do than I had time to do. Sunshine. Hearing from lots of friends and finding a little extra time to knock out a small painting of the hill at the end of the road. Enjoyed a beautiful day Saturday at the Lynchburg Art Festival where Hill spent the afternoon on the judge's fence.

If every week was like last week it would be a lot easier to keep everything crazy about the world in perspective. Viva la busy!

Hill, 6x9" acrylic

On a sort of totally unrelated note, I'm listening this morning to Art & Music: Da Vinci - Music of His Time on Naxos. Highly recommended if you like early music.

The Summer is over but the Heat lives on

2010-09-09T06:36:00.000-07:00

Front Yard: 3 PM, 6x9", 2010, Ink and watercolor on paper.

Okay, Summer may not quite over yet but it's at least a little cooler. But in my sketchbook the intensity of heat and light seems to be lingering.

Morning Glory Detour

2010-09-01T16:34:00.000-07:00

Morning Glories, 12x16", acrylic, 2010

Once again, I had a notepad with numbered tasks in my hand and put them on hold because of a distraction between the house and my studio. Earlier in the spring I found what I thought was a moon flower growing out by the compost pile and moved it to the arbor by the corner of the house. The leaves were moon flower huge, but the flowers were morning glory pink.

The light on the morning glory flowers looked so good this morning and the weather so nice (Which was not the case by the time I finished), that I caved in and allowed myself two hours of painting. Of course I spent a little longer on it but it was worth it. Really peaceful. It might still need a few touches but I think it was time well spent. The bonus? I was painting plein air but was right outside my studio so I was able to leave the door open and listen to BBC4 comedy (from my computer) while I worked.

Drawing Jags

2010-08-25T06:00:00.000-07:00

Painting jags are often followed by intense drawing jags which means no piece of paper is safe. I try to keep it under control but it doesn't always work out. For those of you at the steering committee meeting last night, I was paying attention—honest! I even wrote all the important stuff down, in between a few other things. . .

Does anyone else out there have this problem?

A little painting, a little travel and a lot of fun.

2010-08-23T08:40:00.000-07:00

Soapweed and Sunflowers, 5"x5", acrylic on rag mat board, 2010

When we arrived in Colorado last week, my paint box was waiting for me (I'd mailed it ahead to family) as was the "master plan." Painting was, of course, also part of that plan. The mornings proved to be the best time—I seemed to be alone in the early riser department so was able to have my coffee, do some reading (Nathaniel Philbrick's Last Stand—highly recommended and very hard to put down), head out to paint and still be back before family activities commenced for the day.

Most of the time was spent adjusting my eyes and palette to shapes not ordinarily see in Virginia Landscpaes and to a very different color scheme. I may have not painted anything out of the ordinary during our short stay but had a great time doing it and have some good reference for future paintings.

I did discover one major drawback from using the new paint box (see previous posts). Because it seemed most comfortable to sit and prop the box on my legs, with my legs tucked under, I ended up with sunburned knees! Hint: in eastern Colorado there are a lot of cattle but not many trees.

Transistion points.

2010-08-16T08:32:00.000-07:00

Hop Along Fred. 6x9", Ink, tea, watercolor and wax on paper. 2010

Sometimes I'm drawing along and an image from a few weeks back pops on to the page without any real effort on my part. Good times. Good times. . .

When work is a guilty pleasure.

2010-08-13T16:40:00.000-07:00

Sketchbook drawing, 6x9", ink with watercolor, tea, and wax, 2010

Painting landscapes always seems to give me this feeling that I'm cheating on my abstracts. So while I've been painting and blogging about paints and canvases, scenic locations and Thumb boxes during the day, I've been trying to make up for it by filling up my sketchbook in the evenings. And after three weeks of landscape concentration, the notebook is packed with drawings that I'm excited about—many influenced by the grasses, mountains, buildings, and weather that I've been painting.

Now I'm going back through the drawings and choosing the ones I think have potential and finishing them out in watercolor and wax. Many which will appear for the first time in October at the Fall Foliage Festival in Waynesboro, VA (Oct 9th and 10th). I will also be posting them to the gallery on my Web site.

A lot of experiments at once.

2010-08-11T12:10:00.000-07:00

A Walk in the Park, acrylic on rag mat, 6x9", 2010

As I mentioned in my last post, I've built a new Thumb box (a paint box that you can hold on your hand if you wish) out of Clementine crates and spare hardware around the house. In the post before that I talked about trying out Golden's Open Acrylics (slower dry time). Also on my list of things to try is painting on rag mat board which offers a nice semi-rough texture.. All perfect for a travel adventure.

In an effort to be as unscientific as possible, I decided to try all three together and see what happens. The weather was perfect for the test since regular acrylics would have been difficult to use—sunny skies and in the low 90s. The early results?

The paint (using a regular water mixture to thin) stayed wet on the palette, and dried fairly quickly on the rag mat, which is what I was hoping for. A drawback is it takes a bit more paint and effort to work up the underpainting. The box worked well on my hand but was a little tiring after a while—something I think you have to get used to.

The best part was caring everything to the location and setting up was simple. So all in all, I think it is a success as is and will give a full test when I go out West. I think about any modifications after that.

Did I mention I'm also trying a set of hog bristle brushes instead of synthetic ones? Why not one more new thing to throw in the mix?

Clementine Thumb box.

2010-08-11T06:33:00.000-07:00

What do you do the the Clementine crate after the Clementines are gone? If you're like me, you find them too good to throw away but don't have any real good use for them.

Last week, while thinking about what painting materials I'll be taking to Colorado this year, I decided something more portable than my French easel would be nice. Then I saw a few ads for Thumb boxes that looked nice but wasn't exactly sure if they were what I wanted. They looked like nice furniture but a bit heavy. While still considering those I was out in the garage and saw out the the corner of my eye two Clementine crates mixed in with all my gardening pots and implements. Hmmm, about the right size. . .

I picked one up which reminded me how light weight they are. The perfect solution for holding in one hand? Well, worth a try. Taking the two crates, I took one apart for extra pieces and the lid, and scrounged around the garage again for misc. hardware. Then a couple preliminary sketches and yesterday, I had a grand time putting it together.

There are already a couple items I think need to change. The palette is too small for one, but today, it's going to the park for a test run. Those results I'll post next.

And although building the box ended up a pretty improvisational affair, for anyone else wanting to give it a try, I will post additional images and a fuller description soon and post it on my Web site.

Practicing for vacation.

2010-08-02T16:27:00.000-07:00

Raspberry Parade, acrylic on panel, 5x7", 2010

It's been almost impossible to paint outdoors this summer because the high temperatures and strong sun dry out my standard acrylics too quickly, even for my working method. So I thought our vacation in Colorado, where I know I'll be painting outdoors, could be the perfect time to try out Golden's new Open Acrylics. They have a very slow drying time allowing them to be used outdoors more successfully than standard acrylics. The plan: paint on rag matboard which is a porous surface, so the paint, in combination with a lot of wind and sun, will dry quickly enough that I can work in my usual way. Meanwhile, on my non-porous palette, where the paint is thicker, the paint will dry slowly and stay usable for a long period of time.

I couldn't stand not trying them out beforehand. So I picked the perfect way of doing it—ha! Yesterday it was cool and misting (for the first time in weeks) and I had some small canvas panels laying around—pretty much the total opposite of how I plan on working out west. But since I had a little bit of free time. . .

The results? I don't know how they'll work in Colorado but can you have too much fun? They're nothing like regular acrylics when used under cool and damp conditions. They're thinner and don't really dry while you're working. It felt like working in oils which I hadn't done in ages. But no smell or use of thinner needed. Basically, it wasn't a good test—only a couple hours happily passed outside my studio painting a Raspberry Hibiscus (a fantastic plant).

I've been meaning to get to this.

2010-07-23T08:54:00.000-07:00

Sun is going fast, 24x48", acrylic on canvas, 2010

During the late spring and early fall, at the end of almost every Nelson Gallery opening, some form of this simple composition gets my attention as I'm driving home. I had been thinking about it recently and found it hard to resist completing one more new painting for my upcoming show at Westlake Library in Hardy —Smith Mountain Lake— which runs from July 31st to August 28th. The opening is August 6 from 5-7. I'd love for you to stop by.

A scan from Wednesday's notebook.

2010-07-16T06:58:00.000-07:00

Since I had mentioned that my pen had roamed free and had trouble settling down to the task at hand Wednesday night at our figure drawing group, thought maybe I should provide an example from my sketchbook. I was using my usual Faber Castell Pitt artist pen. It's hard to find a good, high-quality, disposable mechanical style pen and these are my favorites. You can get them in very thin (xs), thin (s), fine (f) and medium (m). They also come in a brush style for those interested. Best of all, the ink is permanent and pH neutral so if you do a drawing you like, you know it will last. I like them so much my drawing Fragile Balance is posted on Faber Castell's Web site gallery.

Pen to paper but without the paper.

2010-07-15T14:19:00.000-07:00

Ripe berries (detail),, 12x12", ink, watercolor and wax on clayboard, 2010

Well, painting landscapes in acrylics can be a lot of fun, but after concentrating on it for a week, my ink pens and improv notions were ready to let loose and get some exercise. At our figure drawing group last night I did my best to concentrate on the longer poses but it stayed all gesture and energy (and a lot of doodles on the sides of the pages) for the entire evening. Still desired to scribble away today so carved out a bit of time as an excuse to try out some clayboard that I'm experimenting with. I'm using Ampersand's clayboard which has a white clay coating over hardboard. It really gives up smooth lines with rich flowing colors. I think it could work for some drawing projects I don't want framed under glass.

Going around the bend.

2010-07-12T07:30:00.000-07:00

Rolling, 12x16", acrylic on canvas

There's one particularly special spot along U.S. 221 traveling towards Roanoke (from Hillsville) where you wind around a bend and the view is long, open, amazing to look at and always different. Sometimes flat, sometimes full of colors. I seemed to have picked a day that was determined to tempt me into detail country. Trying to keep it simple is a great plan but with rolling clouds offering up so much of interest in the air and on the ground—who could resist looking closer and wanting to define things a little bit more? My last little bit more ended up taking about an hour and a half. Shame on me. Fun though.

This marks the end of my "home painting retreat" week (which I stretched into Sunday so I could finish this up). My studio is a now a huge mess and considering how small my studio is that's saying something. So it's cleanup time, catch up time, and time to start preparing for upcoming shows. I'd better get to it.

A little rain can bring out summer's best colors.

2010-07-10T06:58:00.000-07:00

Summer Colors, acrylic on canvas, 18x24"

After the big thunderstorm on Thursday, rain continued on and off overnight leaving a really nice fog for Friday morning. Colors that seemed bleached out and flat only the day before had popped back to life with. Even grasses that had turned yellow and brown seemed really vivid. By the end of the day the heat had returned, the humidity was up and I was still painting, but indoors.
Turned out to be a good thing. As I was trying to finish up (though it still needs a bit of tweaking this morning) the lightning started up again and was soon followed by another good night of rain. Best of all, a new box of Holbein Oil Pastels arrived by UPS yesterday and that gives me an excuse to head out on a little nature excursion today to see what other colors I can find. This is the last day of my "home painting retreat" since chores are starting to pile up so I hope those pastels will help me end the week on a bright note.

Catching even one Z can be hard sometimes

2010-07-09T06:56:00.000-07:00

Crossover, acrylic on canvas, 12x12"

Nothing like a solid day of painting to provide too much confidence for the NEXT day. A small painting of this simple crossover on I-81 seemed a good choice as a warm up before tacking something a little more challenging. Eight hours later, while a tremendous thunderstorm beat down on my studio roof I was still trying to turn this image into what my mind wanted to see. I stopped for a bit, wandered around my studio (it's only 10x15') because I was trapped by the storm, then picked up the brush again, threw in a couple last color changes and called it a day. Now that a new day has dawned it's time for today's challenge—leave it alone, hit the highway and move on.

Crop making waves.

2010-07-08T08:49:00.000-07:00

Turnover, 24x30", acrylic on canvas, $600.

Thanks to the heat, I've decided to press on with catching up on images from various recent road trips. Mostly views seen from U.S. 220 or I-81 (both of today's posted images). Usually falling under my category of Roadside Distractions, these are scenes spotted along the highway that make me want to stop and stare, but isn't possible. Since I'm in the studio there's the opportunity to press on a little late in the evening—was pretty tired when I popped out of bed this morning. None the less, two new paintings completed and I'm ready to press on with my "home painting retreat" week here in a few minutes. As soon as I get a spot of lunch.

Prepared for Planting, 16x12", acrylic on canvas, $350

Starting small

2010-07-07T06:51:00.000-07:00

Summer Casual, 8x10", acrylic on canvas. $250.

Thought I would start out my "home painting retreat" with something small. That, and I had one remaining 8x10" prepared canvas that had been sitting on a table in my studio for a few weeks.

There is an excellent spot off of US 220 on Bent Mountain I came across that provides several interesting (and quite different) compositions by rotating North, South, East and West. This is the first painting from there. It reminds me of what yesterday really was. Some guy out wandering around the yard on hot day (98°). So hot in fact, that anything else from that spot most likely will need to be from the photos I've taken (unless I go really early).

Painting Retreat here at home.

2010-07-06T06:43:00.000-07:00

The Friday Night View, July 2, 2010

What better time of year to get in touch with the landscape? Summer is overwhelming in all the riches it offers up for the senses. So I've carved out this week for soaking it all in and hopefully getting some of it down on paper and canvas. I'll be hanging a new show at the Westlake Library Gallery in Hardy, Virginia (by Smith Mountain Lake) on the last day of July. If I'm lucky, a lot of what I come up with this week will be used in the show to contrast with what I like to call my "inner eye" abstract works.

I'll post progress for the week as I go starting with my warm up last Friday night—grabbed the oil pastels to get down a few memories from a beautiful drive home from Lexington, VA.

Inside every experience is art waiting to be discovered.

2010-06-18T06:54:00.000-07:00

Ever notice that there are days when everywhere you turn your head to look, every sound you hear, and anything you touch, screams at you to be captured and recorded in some way, RIGHT NOW? That’s being an artist for you. You wake up some days and your brain has been left open with no filter.

Unfortunately, even if those days arrive when there is time or opportunity to capture it, there is so much to choose from that it can be overwhelming. So quick decisions need to be made as to what to pursue. Notes need to be jotted, sketches need to be hastily rendered and perhaps photos or video taken for future reference. But deep down you know that there is going to be art, IMPORTANT art, that you’re letting slip away for good.

Best to glory in what you did get down and move along.

Memories of the Blue Ridge

2010-04-20T06:48:00.000-07:00

April 17. My Acrylic Painting, Ridge, was awarded 1st place Acrylic/Oils in Memories of the Blue Ridge. This is the inagural juried show at Chestnut Creek School of the Arts in Galax. My wife and I went to the gala opening on Friday night and had a great time. This school could up being the next Penland. The cultural richness of the area makes it a perfect location for it. I wish them all the greatest success. Memories of the Blue Ridge Continues through June 16, 2010.

Tree Aesthetics

2010-04-20T06:30:00.000-07:00

It's great to be surrounded by woods. Nature's wild abundance displayed in small to very large forms. That is, until the arborists contracted by the power company arrive. They have their job to do—making the world safer for powerlines everywhere. Sadly, aesthetics is not to be found on their list of priorities. As I sit here I'm watching a beautiful 40ft. ash tree crash to ground bit by bit, chunk by chunk. I'm afraid to go out and look to see what's happening to everything smaller that is growing underneath and around the trunk. Based on how the other trees they "pruned," for me yesterday, perhaps it's best they are removing it completely but there will be no more sunlight shimmering through ash foliage in the evenings.

Art can be easy to look at but hard to pick.

2010-03-04T07:11:00.000-08:00

They'll be an opening this Friday, March 5 from 5-7 p.m., at Nelson Gallery in Lexington, VA for a show titled The Wind That Blows. What's different about it, instead of being in it, I was responsible for curating it. My fellow gallery members asked me last fall if I'd be interested in putting a show together. That sounded simple enough: Select the theme, the artists and their appropriate work and see that it safely ended up in the gallery on the appointed day. No painting or framing required.

It was more fun than expected but a lot harder. It amazes me that museums put shows together on a regular basis and they're still so many good ones. I had enough trouble just selecting an appropriate theme.

For those who get a chance to view the show, I hope you enjoy it. It runs through March, 2010. The work is great and so were the artists to work with. Here is the poem on which the show is based and my statement about the show:

Men Say They Know Many Things

Men say they know many things;
But lo! They have taken wings, --
The arts and sciences, And a thousand appliances;
The wind that blows Is all that any body knows.
— Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

All each of us really know for certain is what our senses tell us. Despite this, we have little choice but to move forward, making progress as we imagine it. However, the truth is, what is progress to one person, or one society, may be going backwards to another. In the meantime, the planet we live on reflects directly all that we do collectively. This show explores this interesting dynamic in photography, painting, and pottery by artists Sarah Hazlegrove, Jim Newbury, Ann Glover, Mary Bullington, and Kay Franz (her work, Blue Earth Pod, show here).

Pots and Drawing Friday and Saturday

2009-11-18T11:28:00.000-08:00

A Special sales event at Steve Mitchell Pottery—Friday, November 20th and Saturday November 21. I'm just down the hill from Steve and he's been kind enough to invite me to hang a gift giving selection of drawings during the event. Hope to make this an annual event. Friday, 10am to 2pm and Saturday, 10 until noon.

Steve always has great work at great prices during this sale! Directions, Take Brambleton Ave /Rt 221 west to Back Creek, Just past Fire Dept take Rt 1774 to the right & go 50 feet, then a right on Crown Rd to the end. Go through cul-de-sac straight up driveway to top of hill at the stone house. Plenty of parking. 7114 Crown Rd., Roanoke, VA, 525-4002.

Dreams of Fall

2009-09-17T04:41:00.000-07:00

This last weekend of summer will include New River Land Trust's Land and River Revel has an art component as part of a full schedule of fun while raising funds for an organization dedicated to to protecting the farmland, forests, open spaces and historic places in Virginia’s New River region.

Two recent works of mine, Dreams of Fall and Relation & Connection, will be auctioned during the event. Here's hoping they have an excellent turnout, great results and a good time.

Dreams of Fall, watermedia & wax on paper, 2009

Pond & Cedar.

2009-07-13T07:37:00.000-07:00

Here is a view along US 460 between Bedford and Roanoke, VA. An early warm summer day—before the grass starts to go brown for the summer. Currently one of three paintings that will be on display at the Bath County Art Show, July 19-26, 2009 at Valley Elementary School, Bath, VA.

Pond & Cedar, acrylic on canvas, 30x40", $1,050

Big Sky, Small House.

2009-07-03T06:40:00.000-07:00

Here in southwestern Virginia, amidst the mountains, hills, and lush foliage sometimes you can't see the sky through the forest. Along the interstate, the landscape opens up quite often to reveal a nice reminder while providing some scale to our little part of the planet.

Since the '80s I've been doing little sketches and doodles of a particular curve along I-81. Consisting of a small house on a hill, a steep drive along side of it, guardrail and lots of yellow signs below, it is a scene of simple graphic elements. So it's a little amusing to me that when finally getting around to doing a painting of that corner, the sky ended up as the dominant element.

Big Sky, Small House, Acrylic on Canvas, 36x12" $475.

Winter Green

2009-06-29T08:35:00.000-07:00

Last February, driving back on I-81 from a weekend vacation in Abingdon, VA, the only greens in sight seemed to be the Red Cedars and White Pines that would occasionally appear in groupings along the side of the road. Until coming across the all green house.

Both the roof and the siding were covered in a cool, muted green, very much in keeping with the season and a excellent match with the cedars. However, almost hidden behind railings and asphalt, it seemed to be playing the role of wallflower to the intense rusts, tans, browns and blues of the bare sycamores and other deciduous trees being lit up by the sun directly behind it. Fortunately, my camera was handy to help me remember it in detail later. The painting that resulted, Green and Gold, will be included in my new show: Roadside Distractions, Driving the I-81 Corridor. It opens this Friday at the Nelson Gallery in Lexington, VA, 27 West Washington Street.

Green And Gold, Acrylic on Canvas, 30x40", $1,050

Roadside Distractions, Driving the I-81 Corridor.

2009-06-25T13:46:00.000-07:00

Roadside Distractions, a new series of acrylic on canvas paintings, is my effort to capture the scenes, changing light, and interesting contrasts between the hardscape and the landscape along the Interstate.

I'm really excited to see these hang together for the first time. Enjoy a Friday night in Historic Lexington, Virginia. The reception is July 3, 5-7pm, Nelson Gallery, 27 W. Washington Street.

Drive, acrylic on canvas, 36x48," $1,250.

Generation 30 project.

2009-04-23T13:38:00.000-07:00

A collaborative effort, Generation 30 was a mix of 15 students and 15 adults, was part of ArtFeast, a collaborative arts event in Roanoke From February 20 to March 19.

Trends and fads, politics and society, is an ever fluid blending of the thoughts from every current generation. The goal was to take a random selection of these people with each of them selecting, on the given day of their choosing, whatever objects came to mind. They could then be viewed by others together, in various combinations, to represent the blend of influence.

Thirty identical lidded boxes were placed on a floor in a 31 space grid. To further represent how these random thoughts create a precise result (a new trend, fad, etc.), the grid was created so the rows of boxes, horizontal and vertical, created every number from 0 to 10.

The participants each represented one possible day of the month. The 31st day was left black to indicate the wild card factor that can tip the balance one way or another. Each box contained the objects of one person with no outside identification.

During the exhibit, people were guided to wander among the boxes, taking the lids off of some, or all, and observe how these objects worked together. The result? Hard to say, but the boxes were viewed with much enthusiasm throughout the run of the show.

Intriguing to me was the amount of paper, aluminum cans and other recyclables in the boxes. This selection of thoughts and objects may to a bit small to draw any conclusions, but it does appear that the environment and our influence on it might be on a few minds these days.

After the show? Some objects are still being returned, and the rest recycled, including the boxes. Seemed like the right thing to do—I feel a bit influenced, it seems.

One-man band syndrome.

2009-03-27T14:03:00.000-07:00

Too many ideas, not enough time? Or more realistically, too many distractions. While working on a new series of both landscapes and abstracts over the last month, I've pretty much let everything else fall off the map including this blog. I'll see what can be done over the next few days to make up for the lapse.

40 drawings and a poem.

2009-02-10T07:03:00.000-08:00

The best ideas beat pots and pans while you’re trying to sleep.

Visions fully formed engulf you,
Prying open an inner eye.

No line laid down is false,
Every color chosen—pure.

All barriers fall away,
Revealing the glory-road.

Then the dreams will come.

Various sketches, 2008/9

Now for something a little extra fun.

2009-02-07T18:33:00.000-08:00

For the last three years I've enjoyed participating in the Roanoke Valley SPCA's Best in Show competition. The winning image is used for the cover of what has to be one of the nicest and most elaborate pet calendars going. With each passing year (the show is now in it's fourth year) the crowds for the opening event and participation in the competition have grown exponentially.

To accommodate this years crowd, the opening night event was moved from The Market Gallery to the new Taubman Museum Atrium in downtown Roanoke. Then the work continues on display at The Market Gallery through the end of the month.

People from all professional backgrounds, kids, and numerous artists that I truly admire donate their time to create an amazing array of animal images in every imaginable style and medium. Usually images are of their own beloved family pets.

Needing to be at another event at the Nelson Gallery in Lexington earlier in the evening but not wanting to miss out on a fun event where I'm sure to see lots of friends, I hurried back to town with about an hour before the end. Glad I did!

To my true amazement, it turns out that the third time IS the charm and discovered that my painting had won Best in Show at Best in Show. Our cat Ali is now claiming Supermodel status and sticking her tongue out at our cat Pappy and dog Bertie who had been used as models the two previous years.

The real joy though, was seeing such a huge turnout of people supporting the work of the Roanoke Valley SPCA while showing their concern for a world full of wonderful animals in need.

Acrylic 12x12" 2009 (sold)

Stop the car, I want to paint.

2009-02-04T07:41:00.000-08:00

Monday was hanging day at the Nelson Gallery in Lexington, VA so I packed up my current crop of landscapes and headed up the road. The latest batch of paintings have been fun, but since acrylics and cold weather don't mix well, they are studio paintings done to catch up on previous sketches and photos.

It was so beautiful along I-81. Lots of sun. Very little truck traffic (a rarity to be sure), strong colors and mild weather. Eventually it made it up near 60 degrees. There was a view worth painting almost everywhere.

Since the car headed out of the driveway at 9am and needed to be in Lexington, 55 miles away, at 10am, stopping was not an option. So painful.

When the hanging was done and it was time to head back towards Roanoke, the clouds were out, the temperature was dropping like a stone and it was back to painting indoors.

My paintbox is sulking and eyeing the weather for the next warm spell.

Painting: View from Afton, Acrylic on Canvas, 16x12", 2009

Making do from a sketch.

2009-01-29T06:43:00.000-08:00

There isn't always a camera handy when zipping down I-81 so if something strikes me, the best hope it to do a quick sketch upon arrival at my destination. Does seem to be helpful in focusing on what's most important.

Nasty weather like we've been having here in Virginia is a good opportunity to work a couple of these sketches up into paintings and dream about being outdoors on better days.

Blue against gray.

2009-01-24T06:48:00.000-08:00

As I was walking my dog, Bertie, this morning along a gravel road, a bluebird flew in front of us and landed less than five feet away. To see bluebirds in the spring or summer is always a positive experience. Their bright blue and rust colored feathers against the trees always stand out, as does their cheerful call. Seeing them on a cold gray day in January has a much greater emotional impact. At least it does on me.

Turned out to be a pair of bluebirds. The first flew off into the woods where he met up with the other, singing and flying between trees.

What a terrific way to start a planned landscape day in the studio.

Notes and doodles.

2009-01-21T14:27:00.000-08:00

While taking a huge number of notes during this week’s smARTist Telesummit (my feeling is if I write it down, I’m more likely to remember it over the long haul), the number of doodles, scribbles and some weird kind of new language that’s being squeezed into the margins is increasing with each passing day. Most likely, it’s suffering from a lack of time in the studio this week. Figure drawing group tonight should be a great opportunity to get my pen and crayons a little much needed exercise.

Doodling during the meeting as usual.

2009-01-20T07:07:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was another good day of gathering information during the smARTist Telesummit. While I was feverishly taking notes I, like most americans, had today's inauguration on my mind.

During the last presentation, Dr. Lucia Capacchione strongly suggested using the non-dominant had to free up the other side of the brain and bring some new insight to the party.

As anyone who has ever worked with me can tell you, I may take good notes but by the end of a meeting the doodles often compete with them for space on the page. So I tried a little experiment by picking up a second pen and continuing to take notes with my left (dominant) hand while doodling a portrait of Abraham Lincoln (in a mood appropriate for today's inauguration) with my right. I had already made a few attempts with the left earlier but wasn't quite satisfied with the results.

The right hand version seemed to have just the right attitude I was trying for. Loose and happy. Looks like I'm going to spend more time with Lucia’s idea. If you'd like to see how artist Eric Fitzpatrick has used this same concept, he has numerous examples of his musician series on his Web site.

Summer to winter. Winter to summer.

2009-01-19T08:24:00.000-08:00

When I felt I needed a bit of a creative push last spring, my thoughts were about working in the warm summer sun. I ended up at Wildacres where Ringling College of Art & Design hold their annual retreat. I've mentioned previously what a great experience that was. Now that winter has arrived, I continue to apply what Joe Loccisano, studio art instructor at Manatee Community College, forced us all to see in his workshop—that if you don't look for inspiration quite so hard, it will come to you instead. Just keep your eyes open.

And thanks to my new friends, Bill and Diane Reeves, I have photos that help remind me of those nice warm July days.

Now that winter and a new year has arrived, my aim to make that creative spirit work for me in a different way. I love working in the studio, but love sharing that work with others even more. So this week, with no real desire to head out in cold, nasty, weather, I am attending an arts seminar online, the smARTist telesummit. It looks there's going to be a lot to learn. Let's hope I'm at least part sponge!

In the meantime, the best way I can share is by posting a variety of new work at my website, http://www.brett-art.com

Simple solution to storage issues.

2009-01-09T10:33:00.000-08:00

Musicians have the right idea. I was whining recently about how visual artists tend to turn their lives and workspaces into a sea of clutter. An evil necessity for most of us. The smart solution might be for us all to become writers or musicians. Still creating art. Lots less physical stuff.

A an example, I’ve been listening this past week or so to the music of Mike Seeger. First, by attending his show Saturday night at The Taubman Museum of Art (part of their Down Home and Out Back series), then while trying to learn a few strumming techniques from his new DVD, Early Southern Guitar Styles, and finally from his new music CD of the same title. His music combines all the elements required in important visual art — history, emotion, and technical virtuosity. While at the same time conjuring up concise visual images — without the need for paint, gesso, canvas, marble or steel.

Sorting out the right stuff

2009-01-06T15:56:00.000-08:00

With the start of a new year brings out my desire — albeit a temporary ordinarily — to get the studio in order. Whether it’s organizing paperwork or putting things away, it feels good to create a clean slate for whatever lies ahead in 2009.

Reluctantly, I have to say that for me, putting things away mostly means standing in the middle of way too much stuff, and wondering where I can possibly put it all. And then get to it again when I need it. I imagine that this is a problem for the majority of visual artists who work in a studio smaller than a gymnasium.

The desire to toss pops in my head first, but the inner voice tells me I might need to keep all those stamps I’ve been tearing off envelopes since I was eight (and sometimes the entire envelope). I’ve used, maybe, two of them total but you never know. And the works in progress, which are in actuality things I wasn’t quite satisfied with, that might complete a brilliant idea when I least expect it? They’re not going anywhere this year.

Worst of all may be the collection of ideas that can be followed up on “someday.” I don’t even know how to file them. Notes, photos, doodles and odd bits of stuff from books or magazines that pool around the corners of my studio like so much spilled brain fluid.

Please note that I haven’t bothered to mention a few smaller items: matboard, matboard scraps, cardboard for shipping, finished art, art materials, cameras, lights, drop cloths, art show tent, displays, and dozens of other things that have to exist somewhere. It’s a bit daunting if given too much thought. Better just to jump in and do one’s best.

Perhaps I can find a used Sorting Hat on Craig’s List or Ebay that might offer some assistance.

Still time to see a gem

2009-01-06T06:55:00.001-08:00

The Prospect. 1 seems to fit the current mood of New Orleans, offering both relections of its history and a spirit of optimism for going forward.

Creativity is not only for the young.

2008-12-13T05:39:00.000-08:00

Anyone would find it nearly impossible to make it through the holiday season without being bombarded with images of Christmas trees at every turn. In the mall, the grocery store, the office, on television and at any chain restaurant.

By the time you've reached adulthood you're probably already seen hundreds, perhaps thousands, of decorated Christmas trees. Most of them probably looked a lot alike. So just when you think you seen the limit as to what can be done with a tree, you come across this: a farm scene, with familiar music never intended for the holidays wafting into you ears. You take in the fence. And the mailbox that says "Gale."

There seems to be a wicked witch crushed by the front porch of a farmhouse. Then you see it. The first ever Christmas decorated as a Tornado. Still in Kansas? I think not.

This hilarious take on an all to familiar image is the brainchild of the residents at Woodhaven Nursing Home in Roanoke. Included as one of 25 well appointed trees that are a part of Fashions for Evergreens at The Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center, this is a display that can only be appreciated by paying it personal visit.

On the way to the Hotel to see the trees I was behind a car with a bumper sticker that said "Something wonderful is about to happen." Turned out to be true.

Hanging at the Selden

2008-11-07T11:45:00.000-08:00

If you've ever wondered what it's like for an artist to hang a show, well, here is what they face when the walk in: Lots of blank walls that seem to go on forever. The first thought is that you didn't plan on enough work to fill it all. Then the decision needs to be made as to what will look best where. It's never like the plan on paper you've brought along as a guide. Once the locations are chosen, then all the work needs to hang at the right hight, and equally spaced from one another so the tape measure gets a workout next.

Before long, it's up. Let the show begin.

I've included a few snapshots here from the Selden Gallery space, where Anna Velkoff Freeman and I have a show opening today, November, 7. If you're in town, please stop by for a look or come to the reception on November 14th at 5 PM. For those who can't make it, I'll be posting a virtual version of the show on brett-art.com next week.

Did I mention adjusting the lights? Not done yet as you can see in the above image. That had to wait until after lunch. Artist's have to eat to keep up their strength.

From the pond to the tent and back

2008-10-02T13:29:00.000-07:00

After a rather rainy day at Centerfest in Bedford, VA this past Saturday (okay, it was really rainy), the water was contained to a newly created pond in the middle of Art in the Alley in Salem, VA on Sunday. There was a nice crowd looking for a bit of sun, and a bit of art.

I'm thrilled and perhaps even amazed to see so many out and about, looking for art despite all the lousy economic news of the past few weeks. But there they were. People who love art are the best.

Art in the Alley I believe is my last outdoor show this year, but despite the wacky weather at this year's shows, I'm looking forward to next year and hope to branch out a little. I met so many terrific folks, and generally just had so much fun that I'm ready to do it again.

When I have a better idea of the 2009 shows I'll post it to give everyone a heads up. And to all of you that stopped by this year, thanks!

Summer workshop

2008-08-07T08:56:00.000-07:00

I’ve recently returned from a slight brain overhaul at an Artists’ workshop. Called Art: Inspiration & Action, conducted by printmaker Joe Loccisano and sponsored by Ringling College of Art+Design, this was certainly more of a challenge than I had anticipated.

The location couldn’t have been more beautiful—along the Blue Ridge Parkway at Wildacres, about an hour from Ashville, NC.

Wildacres may be a relaxing and tranquil spot, but Joe made sure the mind wasn’t slacking. Starting with a series of rapid art exercises without providing explanation as to the purpose, we were forced to put planning aside, and let improvisation take over. This included the entertaining “50 drawings in 50 minutes.” These were to be non-objective drawings based on concepts such as “timid,” or “emotional.” When the 50 drawing were done, you were left with the feeling that you had covered most of the possibilities. Then looking at the work of everyone else, it became obvious how wrong that assumption was. Everyone’s drawings were radically different.

Other exercises included selecting and combining random images, Selecting and combining words intellectually pleasing, or visually pleasing, and destroying works created only moments before to create new pieces.

As the week progressed, patterns of meaning began to emerge in these combined works. These were then refined into a few finished pieces, which were exhibited on the last day.

To some degree this sounds like simply collage, that was used only embracing the concept of abandoning (at least to some degree) the easy path of creating visually pleasing works, and allow new ideas, visions, and possibilities to present themselves.

Absolutely loved it.

I will say, on a daily basis, when in a hurry, it’s a philosophy that can be easier to embrace than to put into practice. But I’m working on it. However, one example can be seen this month at Cheshire Gallery in Downtown Roanoke, where I am currently the featured artist. The piece is called Kicking and Screaming

Thanks, Joe.

Jazz marvel

2008-06-28T20:33:00.000-07:00

Nothing like going to a concert and hearing the kind of music that opens up your brain, sweeps out all the dust, and leaves a nice clean space for new ideas to roll around in.
This time that music came from the Bill Frisell Trio, on June 28th at the Jefferson Center in Roanoke.

From “Shenandoah” to selections from his new CD History, Mystery, it was a thinking jazz experience with a beat. Helping bring that beat were his fellow musicians for the show, Drummer Rudy Royston, and Bassist Tony Scherr.

There may be no other musician as capable of bringing so many ideas to one tune and ending up with a tight, cohesive statement. Bill Frisell is truly an amazing artist. If you ever get the chance to see him at work, go, go, go.

Don’t forget to stick around either—he did two encores at this show. I’m guessing he’ll do the same for you.

A tree and a truck

2008-06-03T11:09:00.000-07:00

There are times that something catches my eye and is converted into a painting or drawing a.s.a.p. Then there are scenes I look at day after day yet remain unsure as to what exactly makes it important.

Several tall and somewhat sparse Virginia Pines line the cul-de-sac in our neighborhood. Attacked relentlessly by the Southern Pine Borer, Virginia Pines are dying off everywhere you look. Our neighborhood has been no exception. But with red scaly bark, an irregular twisted form with a tendency towards a tall branchless truck that leaves short bristled needles only at the top —every tree is indeed it’s own work of art. The trunk, usually tucked in amongst other woodland trees is a perfect home for vines such as Virginia Creeper or Poison Ivy. When fall come you can follow the purple leaves of the vines up to the olive green needles and finally up to a deep blue sky. It will be a sad day when they’re gone.

Some Virginia Pines are still hanging in there. Regularly parked along our street beneath one such tree is an old bright red Ford F150 pickup truck. Somehow the truck feels like the perfect anchor to this typical woodland view. I’m not sure exactly why. You see vehicles parked along the street all the time. I’ve looked at it dozens of times in all kinds of weather, and at different times of day. I’m certain to commit it to paper or canvas eventually but want to make sure others will see in it what I do. It’s such a simple scene but it needs a bit more thought to do it justice.

—Brett

A helpful Squirrel

2008-05-05T13:24:00.000-07:00

In his ongoing effort to display his fullest affection, Squirrel, a large and lovable lab, bounded out of the woods at the crest of the hill and made a beeline to his faithful companion. Squirrel does not have brakes. Disaster hung in the air while Ernie held his breath. Watching helplessly, his easel, the wet canvas on it, Ernie, and Squirrel soon became intermingled, tumbling into the grass as one messy unit.

Squirrel, quick to show that he remained unhurt, demonstrated so by continuing down the hill at full speed. He soon vanished back into the woods where adventure was sure to be found.

Quick inspection of the remains provide a temporary moment of disappointment, followed by actual relief. Lacking the courage needed to wipe his canvas clean and start anew after his landscape had slowly crept south, Ernie welcomed the excuse to do it now. There would be no evil painting created today that would endlessly mock Ernie from a forgotten corner of his studio.

I may not be Ernie, but there are moments of weakness when my little mixed terrier Bertie could provide a push in the right direction by offering a service similar to Squirrel's. I think it best to keep him close at hand in case of emergencies.

—Brett

Mornings at the Market Gallery

2008-04-24T05:38:00.000-07:00

One of the requirements of being a member of Roanoke's The Market Gallery, a cooperative of regional artists, is working the desk a couple of shifts each month. I particularly enjoy working mornings whenever possible, even though it's not usually when you get customers most intent on purchasing art.

People wander in off the city market and seem to enjoy a few moments, often with friends or coworkers, of relaxed browsing between meetings or on their way to lunch. The benefit to me is a chance to hear conversations about a broad range of the art currently on exhibit. Customers looking to buy often come in alone, with one artist in mind, and may take their visit quite seriously.

If a small group strolls through the gallery, making pleasant comments about various pieces, they might walk past without commenting on my work. It's hard not to start analyzing. Is this work to sedate? Too unusual? Just boring? Maybe I just have a bad spot for my work this month? Perhaps something can be gained from looking at it that way, but probably not much.

What's more useful is hearing what customers say about art on display by the other 25 gallery members. The colors, styles, subjects, and compositions that get their attention. Often, my preconceived ideas of what someone of a certain age or profession might be attracted to, is too narrow.

Once they leave the gallery, I enjoy looking at the pieces they've commented on,while trying to see the work as they did and think about how this relates to what I do. Then I can step back and analyze my work in a more thoughtful way.

—Brett

Inspiration in the library

2008-04-19T19:47:00.000-07:00

A book catches your eye, you flip it open and start scanning the inside of the dust jacket. Or you flip open to a random page, look at the quality of the paper, the font used and think it might be interesting to draw on one of those pages—not that you would of course. Perhaps not something a librarian might want to spend too much time thinking about.

It might be the rough edges of lines in an old engraving, or the very smooth dots in a photo that catches your eye and leaves you itching to pick up a pencil. It could be just the title of a book that gets the creativity going. Ever though of creating art based on a '99 Beetle repair manual? Maybe not, but it's something different to think about.

One weird thing about libraries. They smell like libraries. Old books smell different than new books. Glossy books smell different than ones on cheap paper. For some reason I find that useful though I haven't figured exactly how yet.

The important thing is that just wander through the stacks and you'll see topics, visuals, textures and shapes that you wouldn't ordinarily be thinking of. Tons of new thoughts and ideas to consider and help loosen up the brain a bit. And the best thing about libraries? All that inspiring stuff is free! Unless you forget to return a book on time. Not that you would.

—Brett

Sometimes it's all a struggle

2008-04-17T15:57:00.000-07:00

You get out there in great outdoors and it all seems so easy. It was a fantastic day weather wise, Virginia at its very finest. I settled on a spot that was sure to provide great results, broke out the paints, put on my hat. What I didn't count on was that it was going to be more of a wrestling match then a painting session. But in the end I did come away with something positive—experience in being humble.

—Brett

What to paint next?

2008-04-16T14:07:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is what my wife has taken to calling Art Thursday. A day I hold sacred for creative pursuits only. Not that it always works out that way, but this Thursday the woodlands are calling.

The paint box is packed. The problem is there are too many choices right now. Everywhere you turn your head there's a scene worthy of attention. Serious amounts of new leafy and bloomful stuff to overwhelm the senses. Yesterday things were brown—today their red, purple, white, yellow, and lime green. If I come up with something worthwhile I'll post it here first.

-Brett