Smokey Mountian Stream

Ok, a few nips and tucks but I finally have it the way I want it. Turns out, it has already sold to a person who really gave me some really kind words about her connection to this piece. Selling a piece is always great but to make a piece that means so much to someone means more to me than I can say. Totally awesome.

Guardian of Anglin

The cell phone woke me while I was napping earlier and it was a man wanting to buy a piece of art that was on display at the Good Foods CoOp. An unexpected sale but very welcome. I looked upon Guardian of Anglin for the last time and handed it to the buyer. It's sad when they go, but he paid me, which made me feel better. Now to spend it on Christmas. I already spent some, cat food, a new cat toy, and some new fake plants for my fish Blue Boy. He always likes new objects to explore in his tank. Just wanted to share the good news. Everyone take care and have fun!

SOLD: Discovery

Well, my painting Discovery sold last Friday from the Good Foods Co-Op here in Lexington KY. This is one of my wife posing out at the Anglin Falls, my favorite place in the world. It's one of my favorite and most realistic paintings ever. It's hard to see them go, but I'm glad it will have a nice home. The man who bought it really seemed to like it. There are times when sales go down but people reacting to my work like this makes me know I'm doing the right thing. It validates the time and work I put into this. There is another one spoken for, but I'll let you know if it actually sells. The buyer is supposed to get it later this month. Everyone take care and have fun. Merry Holidays and Happy Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Smoky Mountian Stream

Ok, I'm not done, but getting close. This also isn't the best pic ever taken. I had to add the Turkey feather. Also named it Smokey Mountain Stream. My wife Malissa posed for this just outside Gatlinburg Tennessee. This Color Pencil piece is coming along nicely. Everyone take care and have fun!

New Color Pencil Piece

There are two pics for this one. This is the new Color Pencil piece I'm working on. You've already seen the drawing a couple of posts back. Here is where I'm to now. The model is my wife modeling down in Gatlinburg Tennessee. Lots of Streams there.

Lady of the Valley

OK, I worked a little more on this one. I realized with just her right foot showing from under the dress her posture might be a little confusing. In the original pic her left foot could be barley seen and there was light shining through the skirt, but I chose to leave these things out. Now I chose to go with it so that her right foot's placement will make more sense. I also added the light coming through the skirt as it was in the original photo to help everything makes even more sense. I'm a little uncertain about the leg shadows. They look blocky, but she is actually wearing blue jeans under the skirt. But this may be Ok. I have to think on it.

Lady of the Valley

I finally got this one done. I was happy with the original drawing, but I could not recreate it on the painting surface. I use tracing paper to get my drawings onto the painting surface but for some reason, it would not work out on this one. I even painted the face white and started all over. Usually paintings aren't this hard but I'm very happy with the end result. My drawing which you can see a few posts back looks like the photo. The photo was taken in a way where it's a nice photo, but doesn't look like the model as much as I would like. In having to redo this, I got the semblance of the model more than the photo. I know her well, and I guess the drawing of the photo which didn't completely look like her bothered me. And this is a tall painting, so I had to work on her sideways, as that I do not like easels, but instead work with my paintings flat on a bar stool. We all have our own little ways. As for the Title, I was listening to the White Lion song Lady of the Valley and liked the connection in my mind between the painting and the song. Everyone tale care and have fun!

Omen-Kentucky Theater show

Forgot to post this one. I didn't like the the title Black Figure so I renamed it Omen. I added some more branches and greenery. I will be hanging it tomorrow as part of my exhibit at the Kentucky Theater. I'll be showing new and older works. If you are near stop by. Take care and have fun!

New Painting

Working on a new painting and decided to take a picture. You can see how I work with my painting on a bar stool. Oh, maybe you can't. Well I do with a pillow desk top thingy on the bar stool. I keep my drawing next to me to keep me on the right track. It was hard to get the face looking like the drawing until today. I started Last Friday. It's hard to control those brushes sometimes. Anyway, here I am, hopefully I will have a lot more done next week. Everyone take care and have fun and Happy Thanksgiving!

At the Thingy

Well, Christ Church Cathedral here in Lexington buys artwork. One of their paintings is mine. They were getting a new painting of one of their Bishops unveiled Friday and did a show of artworks in their collection. When they did the unveiling they invited the other artists to stand and be reconized. I was kind of pushed to the back and the person talking to each artist overlooked me, but Jess mark called her attention to me out loud and I wasn't forgotten. He has been very good to me, Thanks Jesse!

Gallery hop

I don't know how long this will last or if for sure I'll be there, but it is cool. This Church bought my painting a few years ago and they are doing a thingy for all the artists they have bought art from. Her is the announcement: RECOGNITION OF PARTICIPATING ARTISTS IN THE HISTORIC
ART COLLECTION AT CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL AT 6:00.

Come early and pick up a name tag just beyond the welcome desk.
...
The platform will be set up with the Dulcimer Choir placed to the right
The mike will be on the left of the platform with room for the
presenter; the participating artists can stand in front of the platform
facing the audience. Your names will be read off and appropriate
thanks be given for your contribution to the art collection.

Jesse Mark will recognize the participating artists:
Aoibheall Mize, Cliff Sullivan, Donna Jones, Grace Perreiah,
Jacob Evans, Jean Epperson, Jill Plaisted, Marijim Reeves,
Sarah Gray, Tom Gaither, Tom Wigginton and Tom Sturgill for his mother.

PARKING IS FREE IN THE CHURCH LOT AT CHURCH AND UPPER
NORTHEAST CORNER AFTER 5:00.

New Drawing

Here is the drawing for my next painting, then I'll paint the drawing below. This will be the first painting I've done in a while, being that I've been working in Color Pencil. I enjoy both, but I like Color Pencil just bit more and I work faster in it. It just doesn't sell as well for some reason. Great news! I talked to a book publisher yesterday and might get some Illustration jobs. I'm working on a portfolio now and plan to send it to her in a few days. Wish me luck! Thanks!

Drawing last night.

A drawing I did last night of my wife Malissa by a stream side. Probably my next Color Pencil work. Probably do that after me next painting. I'll post some pics of that soon. Everyone take care and have fun!

Roots

Well here is Roots. I named it that both for the connection of one's self to the land, but also because there are a lot of Roots. This is a color pencil piece. I don't know if I got a good enough picture of it though. On the full size I don't know if you can see the model well enough. I did a detailed crop so you can see the model better. I have a few pieces in the works that I need to finish. I get excited and start new ones before I'm finished with the ones I'm working on. Guess I should do that now. Everyone take care and have fun!

New Exhibit at Good Foods Co-Op

Just put this up today. Got some really positive comments from customers walking in. Always good to hear. If you live in Lexington, stop by, they look better in real life. Everyone take care and have fun!

New Art Show

Here are some of the paintings going up today at Good Foods Co op here in Lexington. I will try to get a picture and post it soon. Everyone take care and have fun!

New pic.

Here's a couple of pictures from my new work. It's another Color Pencil piece. The larger pic was taken last week and the smaller today. The pictures aren't great but you get the idea. I took this model out to Anglin Falls two weekends ago and she was a blast to work with just like she was at ShakerTown. I was glad to get her to the Anglin Falls though because I feel that's where I do my best work from. It was also nice to get her there during the Fall colors. Everyone take care and have fun!

Paris Art Walk/ Barrel Show

Here's some of the pictures from the Paris Art Walk/ Barrel show. Above you can see my wife Malissa posing as she did in the painting. That homeless looking guy above is me. Above that Malissa is posing next to another painting she posed for. She's a very good model! At the top is a Color Pencil piece I did of my friend Britney. Another good model. It was a fun night. Local celebreties signed the Bourbon Bottles on the Barrels. John Calipari was one, I think Wolfgang Puck or one of those Food Network guys signed another. I didn't know the person who signed mine but I think someone said it was the lady that owned Secretariat. I'm not much into Horse Racing so I'm not sure. Oh, and so it makes more since, we had to paint the labels on the Bourbon bottles to go with our Barrels. The barrel acution went to some good benfit but I can't remember what for. I'll find and post it later. Everyone take care and have fun!

The Woods Of Mercer County

Ok, here it is all done and everything. The Woods of Mercer County. I named that because this scene was actually modeled for in Shaker Town, but there is no Shaker Village and the model isn't wearing anything Shaker like. There are some need woods to hike in and I thought I'd paint some of those. Since this is in Mercer County I chose to go with that instead of naming it anything Shaker related. This is a color pencil piece aboot 2x3 feet in size. It's fun to work in Color Pencil again. I'm also thinking aboot joining the Color Pencil Society of America again. After the fiasco in Seattle I've been reluctant aboot rejoining, but it wasn't their fault I think, just the person receiving the shipped art. That didn't go well. Well, everyone take care and have fun!

New Painting

Working on the Color Pencils again. This is another scene that I'm working on from Shaker Town. If you go down where the bird blinds are there is a neat place, where it's like a field in front of some woods. A small Field, it's really neat. Still working on this one, this is just where I'm at right now. Think this one will be really good. I hope so anyway. I'll show it again soon. Everyone take care and have fun!

Black Figure

I've been working on this Halloweenish painting. It's inspired by the Black Sabbath song Black Sabbath. A friend of mine modeled for it at Anglin Falls, and it was a cool picture. She blends right in in terms of color, but she seems almost alien to the landscape otherwise. Very Creepy. Ghostly if you will. It's a good time of the year for this. It's not done but getting close. Everyone take care and have fun!

TV time!

Here's my big TV shot. We didn't get to speak, but at least our Art was on the Teli!

Getting up at four a.m. wasn't too bad. Everyone was fairly awake. You may have missed me because they just scanned around the room and talked to just one person. The segment where I was in the bottom picture above, I was actually in the scene for a few minutes but still didn't get to speak. I haven't contacted LEX aboot better pictures, I think you get the idea here though. Now that's for the barrels. The Creative art show will be tomorrow and hopefully everything I have in it sales! Doubtful, but still, one can hope! Everyone take care and have fun!

At Days End

Finally, I got a decent picture of this one. This is At Days End. This Color Pencil piece is based on a hill top in the Pleasant Hill Shaker Town near Harrodsburg KY. This is one of the better Field scenes I've done. It's a great place if you haven't been. Me and Malissa got a room here at Shaker town a few weeks back and we came to this spot to play music in the moon light. I was really glad to have this model here. She's a great person and with the way we get along, the photo shoot was really fun. I'm also supposed to have some TV time Thursday morning on 18 LEX with Lee Cruz. Not sure the exact time. I have to be there at 4:00 in the morning so we shall see how that goes. The TV thing will be about the barrel auction for the barrel I painted a while back. It's at the Hopewell museum in Paris KY, so hopefully (no pun intended...really) they will talk about the Creative Harvest Festival show that's on Friday. Our art is on the walls, so it seems like it would have to be talked aboot. We'll see. Hopefully this will get me more fans, more publicity and more sales! I like that idea. Well, everybody take care and have fun!

Gallery Hop in Lexington

Still working on the Color pencil piece. And a acrylic painting. But I did want to take time to say there will be a Gallery Hop here in Lexington Friday September 16th, 5-8pm. I have the above paintings at Christ Church Cathedral. The top is Two Robins by a Stream and the lower one is The Approaching Wave. Both are acrylic and 2 x 4 feet. The bottom one, The Approaching wave is a rare non-Kentucky piece. Me wife modeled on Stinson Beach outside of San Fransisco. I believe this is where Jerry Garcia lived. I should have the Color Pencil piece on here soon. Everyone take care and have fun and if you are out tomorrow, come by and see me. Everyone take care and have fun!

The Creative Harvest Festival

Hey Everyone! I just delivered these to the Hopewell Museum in Paris Ky yesterday. My friend Patrick Lynch has work in there too! http://www.beautifulpast.net/ The barrel that I painted will be auctioned off there the day before the Creative Harvest Show. That's the show these two paintings will be in. It's a very busy month! If you want to see the poster for the show it's here http://www.hopewellmuseum.org/ Just scroll down a little and you will see it. Everyone take care and have fun! Oh, and I've made some changes to my Etsy shop. Hope everyone will like it. Take care and have fun!
Ps, I forgot to mention The top painting is Hauting Waters. It's acrylic on board and my Wife modeled for it. The bottom one is Sittin' Pretty. It's Color Pencil on Board and a good friend named Britney modeled for that one.

Label for event in Paris

Oh, and here is one of the labels I painted for the event in Paris. It supposed to be beside my barrel. There supposed to be a local celebrity sign it next to my signature (Hoping for Ashly Judd!). I've gotten better over the years at painting and drawing, but my writing continues to get much-much worse:(

New painting

This is a not so good of this painting. I'm not done yet but I wanted to post what I did have done this week. It's another Color Pencil piece, it looks pretty good actually, but there has been no sun this week and it's hard to get a good picture without it. I'll post the full painting next week. To be Continued....

Drawing for new painting

Also had to share the drawing for the next painting. Well, color pencil piece I mean. Had some problems in the drawing, but worker them out once I added color. For some reason I miss mistakes in black and white that I later see in color. I jumped on this one pretty quick. Should have a pic of a more finished piece up this week.

Sitt'n Pretty

I've had this done for a while, I just hadn't posted it yet. Not much different than the last pic, just a little more filled out and polished. The title took like 2 minutes to come up with. Usually that's really hard to do. I'm going to build a frame just for it now, and one without glass. Glass takes away from the image. You can try the reduced glare glass, but it didn't do much for me:(

Barrel-Mania 2011!

Barrel mania 2011! This is an event put on by the Stoner Creek Arts group in Paris Kentucky. They asked local artist to paint a barrel for them and this is what I've been working on. I decided to put a painting on each side of the barrel, just to give them a little more. I had to keep the barrel on a dolly in my house and haul it around for the last few weeks while I worked on it. This is good, I should get some good exposure and even a TV spot next month. These are different versions of paintings I've have done in the past. The arch is Gray's arch from the Red River Gorge and the other side is my wife posing near the Anglin Falls in Rockcastle county. I hope everyone likes these and I'll announce more about the TV spot next week. Everyone take care and have fun!

Closer to being done

Here I am again. Not done, but I think you get the idea. Love the color pencil. At least this time I got to do a pic without a basket. Those are hard! Anyway, hope everyone enjoys this, should have it done real soon. Take care and have fun!

A Memory and Queen Ann's Lace

Here is the drawing and the first approach with Color Pencil. I will call this piece A Memory and Queen Ann's Lace. The scene for this was at Shaker Town near Harrodburg Kentucky. Pleasant Hill to be more correct. It's a great place and the model was a trooper. We had to walk around quite a bit while I tried to judge good places to model for the scene. In the last couple of pieces she was wearing a scarf on her head, but I wanted to do one without it so you could see more of her hair and face. She has a good hair and face! I also wanted to visit my old friend Color Pencil again on this one. It feels so natural for me, but when it's framed behind glass the reflection knocks down the image and the color. Even in reflection proof glass, which I've bought, you still see some reflection. I'm going to try it without the glass and see what happens next time I frame one of these. I might even explore some protective varishes. I seen those used once on watercolors in a gallery in Santa Fe. If anyone knows anything about this kind of stuff, please let me know. When this piece is done I'll post it. I have a pic of it done in a later stage, but I'll post it later with the new one. I wanted to show this in stages. Everyone take care and have fun!