A Remembered Walk

sold

The last place we lived in Texas was in a forest. We loved to take walks in our neighborhood, which basically looked like this. The trees were mostly Blackjack Oak and Loblolly Pine. It was very unique for Texas, and despite it being very hot for half the year, we loved it. Unfortunately this is the very forest that burned down three years ago, along with our house. I am told there is only a small part of the forest left. It's very sad. I did this from a photo.

"What'd You Buy?" & workshop photos - SOLD

BUY NOW $90

I completely forgot to mention that I was heading off to teach a workshop in San Antonio this week. You guys probably figured I fell off the Earth! But no, we're having a great time here, despite the cold. And my kids are making up for the cold by taking me out for not only wine, but to-die-for-homemade-mozzerella-cheese-with-pesto-on-top as well. Yum! Tomorrow night is my reception at Nueva Street Gallery, in case you missed my first mention of it. Be there or be square. (and here are a few of my current kids...)

"Back at Ya" - SOLD

Click Here to Bid

This is another one I did while I was in Germany. I took the photo years ago in Fredericksburg, TX (near where I grew up). I really love the idea of doing a whole series of people walking around an area like this. One problem though, especially with an SLR camera like I have (where you have to hold it up in front of your eye) is it becomes very obvious what you're doing and who you're photographing. Then people tend to look at you, ruining the shot. So I had the idea of walking around with a video camera (the kind that you can hold down - with the little flip-up viewer) and then being able to choose the exact frame I want to use afterwards. But I haven't done it yet. Has anyone tried this?

"Cherry Chums" - SOLD

Click Here to Bid

Cherries are back in my grocery store! I very much enjoy them for their shiny red-ness. Also, I completely forgot to post the photo below - me and my two buddies at Lost Maples. On the left is Laurel Daniel, and on the right is Penny Lentz. I'm not quite sure who that wierdo in the middle is with the freaky (hat) hair. Please disregard.

"Cherryspresso" & "Upper Field" - SOLD

Click Here to bid

After much deliberation I've decided to put the rest of my landscapes from last week in my Ebay store, as "make me an offer" listings. I struggle with landscapes, and while I like the ones I'll post (I wiped the rest) I'd rather you guys decide what they're worth.

The story behind the painting below: One day at Lost Maples, Penny and I took a hike to find a new painting spot. After a couple of hours, with heavy packs full of painting gear on our backs, we came across a guy and his dog. He said "there's some stress up ahead." We thought - ok... After a few minutes and some extreme uphill, we thought "stress" was an understatement. But at the top we came out into this beautiful clearing with fields of this light grass and a few clumps of dark cedar. I said "Penny, even though we're hungry and tired and don't have much water left and it's another hour hike back to the car, we've got to paint this." So we did.

Make Me An Offer

"Afternoon Light" & second book! - SOLD

Click Here to bid

Above is another painting from Lost Maples last week. I was standing in a small field in late afternoon with just one shaft of light shining across some of the grass. It was such a neat effect and I painted furiously to capture it. This is my favorite painting from the week.

AND, I am happy to announce the completion of my second book - 100 Small Paintings, Volume 2!!! I used Blurb again so you can go directly there to see a preview of the entire book and/or order one for yourself.

"Country Driveway" - SOLD

Recently I visited my folks in the Texas Hill Country and painted a scene looking down the driveway that I saw half a billion times growing up. So now I have to figure out whether I like this so much because it works, or because ... I'm sentimentally attached.

"Out to Pasture" - SOLD

I took a trip home to see my folks recently and found this cool old truck in a field down the road from the house. I got there in the morning and took advantage of the intense light. I am finding what I am most inspired by when I go outside is the light - and the difference between what's in the shadow compared to what's in the light. I think I need to get out early on a regular basis.

"Originally Blue" - SOLD

This is another truck from last week's camping/painting adventure. So, a couple of my buddies came out and we drove around Burnet, TX looking for cool things to paint. We were outside of town and going about 50 mph when we passed this awesome truck (and another like it) - and yelled, at the same time - "that's it!" So we turned around and went and asked if it was alright if we painted them (along with a whole field of them behind the building you see). The folks were real nice and said we could paint there anytime and asked if I would mention that this truck and another very much like it are for sale. I got their card so if you're interested let me know.

"Face the Dawn" - SOLD

This is one of the paintings from my camping trip last week. I'll tell you more about it soon. First I want to add a couple of things to the painting from photos discussion (see yesterday's post and comments for more). Yes, I think it is best to paint from your own photos. And yes, a long time ago I stopped printing them out and instead paint from a monitor set up next to my easel. Because the light shines through everything is just more vibrant and alive (as close to as you can get w/ a photo). And, yes I agree, painting from life IS "funner!" And, as Karin Jurick said, "it doesn't matter if you're standing in a field or looking at a photo - whatever gets you to paint!"