A video!

Well, I've gone and done it. Me and my wife worked on a you tube video and you can see it here





I made it based on The Land of Anglin because that is the most step by step photographed painting I've done. There will be more soon. Hope you like it!

Living Waters

Hello again. I thought I'd take a moment and show you the latest work "Living Waters". This is yet another Acrylic piece on board about 2x3 feet in size. I take a certain pride in doing landscapes in this area. I've been out West in the Rockies, which I love, but I really think Kentucky can match any state in natural beauty....if you know where to look. In this painting however, this is my wife posing next to a stream just out of Gatlinburg, Tennessee. If you drive towards the Chimney tops on the way to Cherokee, this stream is located on the left side of the road just a mile or so out of Gatlinburg. There is a couple of signs that say "Quiet Walk" or something like that. It's one of those, but the same stream. It's not Kentucky, but it's close, and the landscape is not so different. The mountains are just a bit bigger. My next peice is also of another exotic land, but even more so. I'll keep up the suspence until I post it, but it was of a land far, far away. Take care and have fun!

Sold! Return to Serinty painting

Well tonight, thanks to the good people at Common Grounds here in Lexington, I sold another painting to a fine Gentleman named Josh. This has been a good year, despite the economy I've sold art in almost every exhibit I've been in. I think all but 1, maybe 2. Don't think I'm getting the big head though, I still have my day job. But that may be about 6, maybe 8, I'm not sure. Anyway, I just wanted to send out the good news. Good night all and sleep well.

Portrait Fin!

Well, it's done. I finished this portrait Saturday morning about 5:30 in the morning and a few hours later the two great people became one in the sunny city of Elizabeth town KY. I'm still happy with the angles on the garden structure, I usually don't do those very well. And I'm happy with this painting because this is the first I've done since I had taken a much needed break. Well, everyone take care and have fun!

Portrait

Hi all! Just thought I'd show what I'm working on right now. This is a portrait for my Step-Brother in Law's wedding. He's a great guy marrying a great girl so I thought I'd do this for them. It turned out they were thinking the same thing so he gave me some equipment he didn't need,... we bartered. You can see my drawing and painting, I have to hurry on this one. They get married Saturday! I'm really happy with the structure behind them, I don't do well with straight angles. I don't care what what anyone says, perspective is way harder when you are working from a real picture. But anyway, I hope everyone likes this and I really, really hope they do! Everyone take care and have fun!

Hi there!

Well, I took a bit of a break from painting, I needed some sleep. About a month and a half's worth. I'm now back and doing a wedding portrait for family member and friend of mine and his bride to be. I'll show a pic soon. During my break I still exhibited and Woodsong sold at last Friday's Gallery hop. Two wonderful folks from Richmond purchased Woodsong and said it reminded them of their backyard. I told them that this modeling session was done at Anglin Falls, South of where they live, but not far at all, and they loved it. I also let them know that this was my wife modeling and they met her. People always like meeting the models. I still have art at Common Grounds, Christ Church Cathedral and Awesome Inc. Everybody, take care and hace fun!

Up Coming Shows

Haunting Waters

Hi! Sorry I haven't blogged in a while, I've been taking some much needed rest. Working in the day and painting at night becomes very hard after 6 or so years. I've also took some time to travel and clear my head some. But showing hasn't slowed down. Some of the previous show is still at Awesome Inc., I will be in the next Gallery Hop this September 18thhttp://www.ccclex.org/Art/tabid/172/language/en-US/Default.aspx and next week some art will be hung at Common Grounds http://www.commongroundsoflexington.com/ Hopefully I'll have some good art sales. I'll keep you posted as how I finish the last painting I posted. Take care and have fun!

Awesome Inc show

I thought I'd share some pics from the exhibit at Awesome Inc. It's a neat place in downtown Lexington where people have started their own businesses and they share the space and the rent. Rebbecca has a dance studio there and Andy, my former drawing classmate (and student of the wise and wonderful Ross Zirkle, God bless his soul!) helped me get a show there and thanks to them both. It's a great space but kind of hard to see in during the day. If you go by at night look in, it's pretty cool. It's across from Duncan Doughnuts on Main Street. Just be careful if you are driving.

WoodSong

Hi again, just thought I'd post the finished painting "WoodSong". It seemed like the only name suitable for this piece. It just seems that the subject is singing to the trees above her, and enjoying her place in the Universe. Here is a positive attitude we can all emulate and it would be good for us all. I really enjoyed working on this one despite being really busy lately. I guess when working on this piece I was kind of like her, slowing down and enjoying painting. What do you like to do to relax? Do it and have fun!

Kentucky Theater Exhibit

I thought I'd show some of my pictures from the exhibit I had at the Kentucky Theater. I didn't sell anything this time, but I do have someone interested in a piece who I am currently talking to. The show ran through July and he didn't get in contact with me until August. That's OK, better late than never. But be assured, if I make this sell the Kentucky Theater will still get the commission coming to them, it's very good to keep good relations. And, Fred (the Manager) has been very helpful and supportive as far back as I can remember. I have an exhibit at Awesome Inc. through August and I'll post those pictures very soon. This will be a busy Fall, hopefully with lots of sales from very, very good people. Everyone take care and have fun!

The Next New Painting

Here's the next new painting. I haven't came up with a title yet, I think I want to decide on that once it is done. Here you can see the subject gleefully looking to the trees and enjoying her environment. I really liked that this is such a Spring time scene. I will have more pics in a few days as I get more done and I will also have some pics of the Kentucky Theater exhibit that is currently up, well, at until Friday.

Just One Look

Hey there! It has taken me quite a while to finish this one. At least I'm finished for now. I struggled a bit with the hand. At first the original photo didn't show enough detail so I had my wife to pose again so I could draw the hand. But then it was too big, so I had to re-draw and re- paint it. Anyway, here is the result. You may have to enlarge it to see it right. This is one of those paintings that don't look right small. Oh, and as for the title, if you look at it differently, she has different expressions. At least the painting does, it might on computer too, I'm not sure. I may show it next month in my show at Awesome Inc. I'll give more news on that soon. Have fun all!

A drawing and Black paint!!!

Hey everyone. I have shown the start of another painting. As you can see I've started out with a drawing of the model, my wife Malissa, on tracing paper, then I transfer the drawing to a board already painted in black. And yes, this drives some people crazy such as my former painting teacher from college. He had two rules for me personally. No drawing with a pencil, and no painting with black as a back ground. I respected his class and didn't do there, but afterward, I've been all about black paint and pencils.
Why is there this rule that the background must be white? Some people paint the figure red before doing anything, but that was OK. Well, I've been happy with the paintings as they have turned out, and several costumers have them and seemed happy too, so I guess it all works out. I guess it's best sometimes to listen to what you think you should do. Everyone take care and have fun.

New Painting

Hi there! Here is my new painting titled Haunting Waters. It's pretty much in the same place the last painting was set in, but in this one you can see the water I was telling you about in the last blog. I'm going to do some more like this, I really like the look of the low light. It gives it a nice haunting effect. The challenge here is not to make it too dark. A lot of people, like my Dad, has noticed that some of my work is really dark. I know though, I like it that way. I stay up late a lot and usually hike around sunset. I'm not a Vampire though, I'm just a creature of the night, like in the Laura Branigan song:) Everyone take care!

New Painting

Hey, here is my newest painting that I have titled Discovery. This is the one from the Anglin Falls. My wife posed for this one, I'll be using more of her in the future. If she was to look up she'd be looking right up at the base of the falls. She's next to a pool at the bottom of the falls, but that will be in the next painting which I'm starting tonight. I really like these paintings with the low light. Everyone take care and have fun!

New Works

Hey everyone! It's been a long time since I've posted anything. It's been too cloudy to get a good photo of my work. At the top you can see one of my newest paintings, River's Edge. It's of the Kentucky River as it appeared at the Tom Dorman Nature Preserve last Fall. That is in Garrad County Kentucky and some of my other work as been based on that land. This is one of my few pure landscapes, and even fewer water paintings, which I will do more of.
I have a thing about old houses. This one is here in Woodford county Kentucky. Oh, and it's titled My Old Kentucky Home. Actually, this is an abandoned house on Carpenter Pike. If you know where that is you can find it. I love seeing these old houses and will also do more paintings of these. In a week or so I'll have another painting from the beautiful Anglin Falls. Everyone take care and have fun!

Another Sale

March and April has been a good month for me! I sold another painting, "Once upon a Summer's day" to Christ Church Cathedral. It was chosen by their Youth and I'm very thankful and find it a honor. You can see Once upon a Summer's day 2 or 3 posts back. Last Friday I was part of the Art Walk in Paris with my good friend and a heck of a painter Patrick Lynch. I have a pic with him, and one with my wife Malissa. I had a friend from out of town there too, but I don't think she wants her pic out here. Everyone should go look for Patrick's website at http://beautifulpast.blogspot.com/ Also I met a Ghost Hunter. Actually he works with my wife, I just got to speak with him at length about ghosts. Patrick and a friend/model of his named Norma had some stories too. It was fun. If you are from Kentucky and like ghosts check out Bluegrass CSI or go here http://www.bluegrasscsi.org/drupal/index.php Take care and sleep tight everyone. HA ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

Go to the next post, this one is incomplete.

March and April has been a good month for me! I sold another painting, "Once upon a Summer's day" to Christ Church Cathedral. It was chosen by their Youth and I'm very thankful and find it a honor.

New Painting

Hi all! Well this painting didn't take me too long. It's titled Watching the Trees Sway. It's another painting based on the photos from the Anglin Falls area. It's a wonderful place to paint. All the big trees and rocks and the falls itself! I put a pic in here to show how I block off areas for trees so I can paint the sky and leaves around them. This makes things go faster and look more realistic. You have probably seen this before from painting books, but now you have seen it from me. I used masking tape, but if you do this, lay the tape on your shirt so as to make it a little less sticky, other wise it may hold too strong to your painting surface and not tear off right or pull away some of the paint you have already laid down. You can also get some of the lent and cat hairs off your shirt with this method too:) Everyone take care and have fun!

Hey everyone!

Sorry it's been so long since I've last posted anything. Unfortunately, life has been very busy, but on the other hand, I have sold a few pieces this last month. Seeker of the Forest and Prayer Among the Trees sold to a very nice couple who did the Gallery hop here in Lexington last time. Tina and Patrick, beside having impeccable taste, are also very kind people and it was a pleasure to meet them both. The pic in the middle, Silence of Saturn also sold. I haven't sold, or showed any of my Space Art in quite a while. I left it a few years ago feeling I have said all I have to say in that medium. I may do it again some day, I hope Matt enjoys this painting lots! In this time I've done 2 paintings and I will show them soon here on the blog. Everyone take care!

Natural Beauty

Hey Everyone. Here is the newest painting titled Natural Beauty, and she is too. This one was kind of hard to get right, but once I got it I was really happy with it. In the original picture, her mouth was not visible because of the lighting. That can work in photography, but it's harder to get away with in a painting. So, I had to imagine what one would look like, or figure out where it really is. This was quit difficult. I can draw what I see, but it's hard to guess. But, like I said I'm really happy with this one. The work paid off. Speaking of that, the Gallery Hop seems to have worked out well as I may sell 2 paintings from that event. I'll let you know more as things happen, but it looks good. Everyone take care and have fun!

Guardian of Anglin

Hi all! Well, here is the newest piece. It's kind of like another piece I did last Summer, but from a different angle. Robin has her stick again and is ready to defend the great land of she is in. She really did like doing kung fu poses, even though I wasn't going to paint them. Maybe I'll draw one and put it on here one day. Oh, and I will have six pieces in the Galley Hop here Friday. I'll be at the Christ Church Cathedral on Market Street. You can go to http://www.ccclex.org/Home/tabid/36/language/en-US/Default.aspx Hit the Art button. Everyone take care!

New Painting on the way

Hi! I just wanted to show the drawing I'm basing the next painting on. Robin has that walking stick again. I just got through loading up some paintings for a show I'll have at the Cathedral. I'll put more info up about that soon. Everyone take care and have fun!

Once Upon a Summer's Day

Hey everyone. Here is the new painting Titled, "Once Upon a Summer's Day". I've been working on this series of Robin a lot lately. I tried something new with the tree bark. I usually paint in some highlights and leaves a few dark lines to suggest bark and texture. I did some of that, but I also kept painting brighter and brighter greens to suggest lichens growing on the bark. The paint darkened as it dried so I did this several times until it seemed right to me. In this painting is Robin over looking Jessamine County from Garrard County. I need to do a painting where in it you can see the KY River separating the two. Everyone take care and have fun!

Other works

Just for anyone who thinks I'm a one trick pony, WRONG! I draw lots of things. Over the holidays, I did several cartoony pics of some of my friends for Christmas cards. Everyone seems to enjoy them. I just thought I'd post these to show some of what I do other than my main body of work. Take care everyone!

The Drawing

Oh, I just wanted to take the opportunity to show the original drawing for the painting "Overlooking Jessamine". You can tell I'm right handed by all the smears on the right side of the paper. Anyway, there you go.

New Painting

Overlooking Jessamine-this is my newest piece. The last piece did not work out the way I was hoping, but I will explain more of that in another posting. The reason this is called Overlooking Jessamine is because the Robin was setting on an Overlook in Garrard County looking at Jessamine County across the Kentucky River. This is an Acrylic piece on board. I struggle sometimes with her skin tone, being she is very tan, but when I get it right it is worth it. She a great model. In the original picture the trees almost completely hide the hill you are seeing so I left out a few trees. I thought about leaving them out all together, but I thought a happy medium was best. I also added in those Turkey feathers, I just love the way they look. Everyone have fun!