Monday, July 19, 2010

Intracoastal Acrylic work in Progress

Acrylic Painting in progess on the easel (Sorry for the quick photo -will post again when it's finished)
Here one of many paintings I am working on. I am painting this from a color sketch and photo from my trip to Ocean Isle beach back in June. I was out doing my "painting crawl" one morning(looking for subjects to paint), and I saw this scene. It was a back property line on the Intracoastal Waterway, and I could see it from the road, but it was behind a home and on private property, so I had to do a quick color sketch from the car and take a quick photo.
I still have quite a few more layers to add to this piece. The sun was at a back angle, just grazing the side of the trunks of these palm trees, and casting shadows on the grass. This person's yard ended right at the grasses along the Intracoastal. It was an awesome scene, and I just knew that I had to paint it. I will post the finished piece in a few days.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Back to blogging

"Calabash Marsh"
8" x 10" Acrylic on Stretched Canvas
$200 Framed in Solid Wood Gold Metal Leafed Frame
Will be available at Raleigh Street Gallery

"Summer at Ocracoke"
16" x 20" Acrylic on Stretched Canvas
$400 Framed in Antiqued Brown and Gold Leafed trim frame
Will be available at Raleigh Street Gallery

These are two recent paintings done in the studio from sketches I did on location in Ocracoke and in Calabash, NC. I will have a whole series of coastal paintings available soon.
The top painting I actually started on location but couldn't finish it in time because the light had changed so dramatically. I complete many of my paintings in the studio from sketches made on location and photos that I take for detail, but there is nothing like standing in front of nature and painting and observing. I remember starting this piece from the docks at Calabash in early morning, with the shrimp boats getting ready to depart. It was a great day to be painting.



Thursday, July 01, 2010

The Start of a Painting

Charcoal study sketch for a painting
I have been painting, just not posting very much. I am trying to wrap up a few pieces that are sitting in the studio in various stages of completion.
Some of you have asked how I start painting. When I am painting on location or in the studio, I usually just start with a sketchy drawing in thin paint to lay out the composition, then start blocking in the painting. I first plan out what I want to do before that step with sketches or color studies, but usually don't do an actual detailed "drawing" on the canvas unless I am painting things like people, buildings, or still life objects.
The sketch above was done as a study for a painting because I am including the boat, which I feel needs to be well drawn, even if I stay loose with the painting itself. For that reason I drew this study to get a feel for the composition.
I will post the paintings I am working on when finished.