Shows, and shows and shows! Ok, scratch that last one

Just got done painting. I talked aboot the show at the Arboretum Sunday from 2-4pm, but I haven't mentioned the show down in Harrodsburg from 6-8pm this Friday. It's at the ACMC (Arts Council of Mercer County). It's in the downtown section. I put four pieces in that, there are here to see in an album thingy. If anyone is there, stop on by.

New work

Chipping away, here is the newest painting. Pretty happy overall, but the rock in the background behind her bother me, I have to give them more detail despite the fact in the photo they are lit up by the sun, and there is little detail. I'll have to proceed a little differently. And I made her hands and foot bigger. I drew them too small last time. I am very happy with her skin tones though. It's takes a long time to get this stuff down. A friend of mine mentioned how my last two paintings seemed several steps above what I have done. I'm trying for this American Portrait society competition so I'm reaching for the stars here. I getting pretty tired too. After next week, I'm giving the portraits a break. Shoo! Oh, and I also started another painting tonight despite still working on this one. I'll talk more aboot that later. Have fun everyone!

In progress

Here is what I have done on this one. I switched the direction of the scene on this one.It's because of the presentation I will do on the Portrait entry.  Usually I try to get the accuracy of the landscape just as much as the model, but this time for the sake of getting into that Portrait show, I'm changing things a bit. Malissa read that to get into a juried show it's best to have images that face each other. The last painting I did the model was looking to her left, so this one will be looking to the right. That's what someone on Google advised and I want my ducks in a row on this one, so we will see how it works. The scene in this painting is of Yahoo Falls down in McCeary County. Close to both Tennessee and the Cumberland Falls. The Yahoo Falls in Kentucky's tallest Falls. I haven't added it yet, but it's coming. Take care and have fun!

New drawing

Here is the drawing for my next painting. We went to Indianapolis and Bloomington this weekend. Malissa has music stuff she does in those places. Since we leave at 6am, I usually sleep for a while in whatever parking lot, wake and draw pictures I brought, and then hit some shopping centers and stuff. Sometimes I hike outside of Bloomington. These are great places with lots to do, but I always draw some. No cats and no tv, just me and a parking lot. That creates a peaceful atmosphere to work in. Anyway, this is the drawing. I'm still working for another good portrait and hopefully this will be it. I have a little over two weeks so I have to kick it. Have fun! In the mean time if you see a guy sleeping or drawing his next painting in a car in Bloomington Indiana, it might be me. Don't call the police.

In Her Field

The bane of my art existence is getting good photos. This pic is blurry, but it's the best I have. Now that I see it though, I might work on the grasses a little more.  But not tonight. Me and Malissa just got back from Cincinnati and we are wore out. We visited our good friend Brandy, then went to see Comedian Marc Maron. More of a story teller than a joke teller, I'd put him up there with Steven Wright, who we saw back in the 90's. The first comedian was good too, but I forget his name. Anyway, I should be starting the next painting tomorrow. I think I will put this one and the next(if it's good) in the American Portrait Society contest. I think I could win $60,000 or something like that, but if I could just get into the exhibit, I'd be fine. We'll see. Oh, and this one is titled "In Her Field".

Animals!

Jesus said we were not to call attention to our charitable acts and things like this, but some times I think it's actually a good idea. I donated two paintings to be auctioned off for the Scott County Humane Society. Not because I'm a great guy, but because I want to get this auction mentioned and if anyone ever wanted to buy my art, get these because 100% of the moneys goes to the shelter. Not me. The welfare of critters is something that is really important to me, especially shelter animals. In most shelters they face death and the only crime they have committed is being born. As a society I think we really should undo this method of animal control. There are several things people can do, but the first act is trying. Volunteer or, donate, and most of all get your pets fixed. Anyway, I decided to donate Drawing Nearer. It won the People's Choice award at the Art of the Highlands exhibit, so this may be one that will do well at then Auction. The painting above it is Autumn ?Days to Come. I'll post more aboot the Auction later. Cheers!

New Painting

Getting closer on this one. I'm taking tonight off though. She had bracelets and a walking stick and I'm trying to figure out if the painting is better off without them. It may be best kind of simple, I'm not sure yet. I think I'm going to just play music and read tonight, and maybe tomorrow I can make a better decision. We'll see.

Shawnee Run Creek

Many thanks to me bosses Mike and Letha for letting me use the shop for building this frame. They're really cool folks! I delivered this painting today for the Glories of the Garden show at the Arboretum. I've sold there a couple of times, hopefully I can keep that going.This painting, by the way, is titled Shawnee Run Creek. It's a creek there at Shaker town. The one by the bird blinds and has an overlook.

New painting

Ok, since I had the pic I decided to go ahead and put the it up. I got a lot done in short time. Hopefully I won't blow it before I'm finished. That has happened.

New Painting

I also wanted to post some photos of my newest painting. I feel this one is going to be special, I only worked on it in aboot three or four sessions. I really started last Thursday and got a lot done. I have more done but I'll post those pic tomorrow. Some paintings just fall into place. Wish they all did.

Award time!

I picked up one of my paintings, Drawing nearer, from Louisville tonight. Turned out it didn't sell, but it did win a People's Choice Award. Really cool when you consider how many other artworks were in that show. Very nice! This is also cool because around 2010 I got really frustrated and stopped painting. Eventually after a hike at Shakertown in the woods, I realized I may never make a living painting, but I still couldn't stop painting. This was the first painting I did after my attempt to quit. Weird.