compelled to paint: the art of david boyd, jr.

Crossville Study SOLD

2012-02-02T05:11:00.000-08:00

SOLD Crossville Study, 6"x8", oil on RayMar panel, $125

Accepted

2012-01-31T17:24:00.000-08:00

Glad to announce that I was accepted to the Glynn Art Paint Out this April. The event takes place on St. Simons Island, GA just south of my old stomping ground, Savannah.

The event will begin Tuesday, April 17 and culminate in a sale and reception Saturday evening. This is my first plain air paint out event and I am nervous and excited. I will be coming in on the heels of painting in that area three weeks prior and then 7 days in the cloud forests of Costa Rice, needless to say, I should be primed and ready!

Merry Merry

2012-01-26T05:14:00.000-08:00

I have a boatload of commission I did for people over the holiday, and now the cat is out of the bag. I painted this piece for a client whose husband collects tractors. This is his favorite, a gas powered Farmall Super M. Easily my favorite tractor as well, a true beast. This one was aged just right and still put to use. This tractor was his uncles and the tractor he learned to drive on.

Super M, 30"x40", oil on museum wrap, SOLD

Early Autumn Trail, NFS

2012-01-25T05:51:00.000-08:00

Early Autumn Trail, 16"x20", oil on panel, Currently NFS

Dug back into some old photo reference from early this fall. We had taken a trip to Crossville, TN. Got some great shots, just have yet to put them to work!

This pice is currently not for sale, I plan on entering it into some Oil Painters of America stuff coming up.

SOLD Farmall, Revisited

2012-01-22T05:00:00.000-08:00

SOLD FarmAll Revisited, 24"x30", oil on museum wrap

Did this commission for a new client here in town, very excited about having a new one with great taste in tractors and old trucks.

Super M

2012-01-21T05:00:00.001-08:00

Super M, 20"x24", oil on museum wrap, $1000

Have plenty more FarmAll Super M references, glad to have replenished my supply for the year.

Toccoa River

2012-01-21T05:00:00.000-08:00

Toccoa River Bend, 11"x14", oil on RayMar panel, $400, plein air

Did this piece from the bank of the river of out mountain rental, Nannie's Shanty. Did have time to paint the downstream view.

Side Lit Barn

2012-01-20T04:54:00.000-08:00

Side Lit Barn, 11"x14", oil on RayMar panel, $400, plein air

Location number 2 in the North Georgia Mountains.

Mineral Bluff Pass

2012-01-19T05:00:00.000-08:00

Mineral Bluff Pass, 11"x14", oil on RayMar panel, $400, plein air

Had to edit some hefty power lines out of this one, but she worked out pretty well. Thanks to my buddy, Jeff, who drove me around this morning showing me all the cool places he thought I should paint while up here in the Blue Ridge, GA area.

Winter Field

2012-01-18T06:30:00.000-08:00

Winter Field, 11"x14", oil on RayMar panel, $400, plein air

Did this the same day as the previos entry, little field was just to me right from the other view.

Neighbors

2012-01-17T05:00:00.000-08:00

Neighbors, 11"x14", oil on RayMar panel, $400, plein air

Found this little field and a honey hole of structures behind my mother in laws house in Paris, TN. This was actually done Christmas eve.

SOLD Rick's Jeep

2012-01-16T05:00:00.000-08:00

Rick's Jeep, 20"x24", oil on linen, SOLD

Found the photo of the commission piece.

Chair in Autumn Field Revisited

2012-01-11T13:25:00.000-08:00

Chair in Autumn Field, 24"x30", oil on gallery wrap, $1200

Sometimes I wish I hadn't painting something when I knew nothing... thus the revisit. I painted this chair when I was still goofing around with no idea what I was doing... in acrylic much less. I love to go back and resurrect those old images with what I have leaned over the past few years.

Latest Gallery Drop off

2012-01-11T13:20:00.000-08:00

If you are in the downtown Newnan area, make sure you swing by the Flint Gallery of Panoply to see my latest. All work will be up for a short period before they are rotated out. See them while you can! My last installment sold out pretty quickly!

Chair in Autumn Field, 24"x30", oil on museum wrap, $1200

Freightliner, 30"x40", oil on museum wrap, $2500

Tivoli, 24"x30", oil on museum wrap, $1200

Afternoon GraZe, 24"x20", oil on museum wrap, $1000

Meriwether Morning, 16"x20", framed, $800

SOLD Along the Fence, Revisited

2012-01-02T12:57:00.000-08:00

Along the Fence, 16"x20", oil on RayMar panel, SOLD

This was commissioned by the original designer that commissioned the original. I normally don't do that, but it is the least I can do.

Three Jeeps

2011-12-30T12:39:00.000-08:00

Jeep I, 18"x24", oil on linen, $840, click here to buy

Jeep III, 20"x24", oil on linen, $960, click here to buy

The title is a lie, I am missing the middle jeep that was the actual commission piece. I client asked me to paint their son's Korean War era Wilys. I photographed the Jeep and they picked the image that Jeep I was based on. With their permission I painted the Jeep 3 more time. I must have the commission piece, Jeep II on different camera, but that was the one they picked.

The New "Rig"

2011-12-30T12:26:00.000-08:00

Here is my new Open Box M panel holder. It was well worth the weight and really works better for the way I like to paint than any of the other systems I have used... and I have used them all with the exception of the Glouchester. I started with a half Julian, then a full, a Guerilla box and most recently and for the longest, James Coulter and his Art Box and Panel system. I was looking at the EasyL Versa but the ones I have seen and felt were very heavy and kinda clunky.

The box is 12"x16", beautifully made and it smells like heaven. I have used it outdoor on 6 occasions and in the studio the same amount. It is comfortable in all setting.

Avocado I

2011-12-27T09:06:00.000-08:00

Avocado I, 5"x7", oil on museum board, $85 starting bid

Still playing with museum board. Got out my old stand by, avocados, and did a couple of small studies. I also got my new pouchade box today, an Open Box M, 12"x16". It took while to get it, but it was worth the wait. Being able to mimic the angle of the canvas with the palette and having it closer to my face really makes a difference in being able to see the values correctly.

This museum board was lightly primed with gesso and it really helped with the absorption problem.

Bid on this painting here.

Towards the Tower

2011-12-24T12:55:00.000-08:00

Painter buddy, Elsa Sibley, and I went out for an afternoon sketch to a spot I had been admiring for a few days now, it was could, but I kinda like it like that.

click here to buy

Towards the Tower, 10"x12", oil on raymar panel, $300

Paper Bag Demo

2011-12-23T12:36:00.000-08:00

I practiced fruits and the like for my demo without much success. Just didn't feel like me anymore, even though the daily painting fan base really enjoyed them. I planned on doing an 8"x8" that I could do in the hour of time allotted. At the last minute before I left for the demo, I grabbed a paper sack and an 11"x14" panel. Something spoke to me when I saw it and the demo was a success... sorry for the poor image, I took it with my phone and it was kinda dark.

click here to buy

Paper Sack, 11"x14", oil on raymar panel, $300

Demo and ArtTalk

2011-12-22T12:29:00.000-08:00

Here are some more belated images from the demo and Arttalk I did to coincide with my show. I had pieces there from my first painting I did in college at the age of 19 to pieces I did in my late twenties and early thirties, up to when I got serious about painting 5 years ago. It was great to be able to show the progression and growth in my work, talk about my methods and ideas about art.

Progression

2011-12-22T12:23:00.000-08:00

Here are some belated images of my show, Progression. The show was hung on November 12 and we are taking it down right after Christmas. Great crowd and great fun, I appreciate all the Greg and Jennifer Blair and Dogwood have done for me!

My lovely wife Julie and I before the big show...

I have no idea what I am doing in the background...

Some of my students, Kent on the right and Mitchell on the left

My friend, Meredith, thinks I am hilarious... and she is right. Surrounded my aspiring stand-up comic Gabe and his brother, Sam and their father.

My sister, Rosalyn Moore, and Greg Blair try on the 3D glasses. Once upon a time, before the 3D craZe took over, I wanted to do a show that was all paintings that were 3D. What was I thinking??

Super M Study

2011-12-19T06:02:00.000-08:00

Small Super M, 6"x8", oil on RayMar, $125

Study of one of my favorite tractors of all time, the Farmall Super M. This was mostly about color notes and creating a feel that I liked. Just finished a 30"x40" version that I will post soon.

click here to buy

Oranges on Blue

2011-12-15T10:44:00.000-08:00

Oranges on Blue, 8"x8", oil on RayMar panel, $150

Thought I was going to do a daily painting for my demo, I really wanted people to be able to see the creation from start to finish, but at the last minute, I strayed from the fruit and painted a paper sack I got some lettuce in.

Just Playing

2011-12-14T10:21:00.000-08:00

Avovados on Museum Board, 6"x6", oil on museum board, $100

Messing around with some old stand by's. I wanted to warm up for the the demo and play on museum board, which, for the record, I hate. This was untreated and very absorbant. I could get used to to it, but not sure why I would want to. I have but gesso on a a few larger pieces and I will play with them soon.

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/outofpopup/cbf65cd7-9cd0-4075-a0fd-21ae381d7be9click here to purchase

Demo and ArtTalk

2011-12-05T06:55:00.001-08:00

This Thursday at 6:30pm at the Dogwood Gallery I will be doing a quick demo as well as a guided ArtWalk and ArtTalk. I will field questions on my palette, my imagery and why I paint. I haven't painted in over a week, so I will be dusting off my daily painting abilities. I really want to start and finish a piece in one sitting. I love to see someone finish a painting... hope to see you there!

Sandman Motel

2011-11-29T05:36:00.001-08:00

Sandman Motel, Rawlins, WY, 30"x40", oil on gallery wrap, $2750

I am finally back. I have shrugged off the last of my Scott Christensen cobwebs and feel like I am myself and not some weird, awkward version of myself. It always bothers me when people ask questions like, "what kind of white do you use or what kind of brush is that." It reminds me of something my dad always used to say to his opponents when playing golf, "do you breathe in on you backswing or you downswing?" The point is, does it really matter? In this case, I was loving a synthetic brush over my old bristle brushes and that made all the difference to me. I guess sometimes the little things do matter.

Crossville Corner

2011-11-27T09:20:00.001-08:00

Crossville Corner, 6"x8", oil on RayMar panel, $125

Study done from some images I took on our journey to Crossville, TN earlier this fall.

Buy through PayPal here

Black Eyed Peas on Collard Greens

2011-11-25T13:38:00.001-08:00

Black Eyed Peas on Collard Green, 6"x8", oil on raymar panel,

This piece was published in LifeStyles Magazine here in Atlanta as part of the Southern Traditions editorial. The partnership is a new one and I am very excited to be working on such a beautiful publication. Due to the time crunch, this piece is very small. Subsequent illustrations will be larger and auctioned off as well. Look for this one done 24"x24"

click here to bid

Rusty Coke

2011-11-18T13:12:00.001-08:00

Rusty Coke, 36"x48", oil on gallery wrap in floater frame, available at Dogwood Gallery

Blog Trouble

2011-11-17T09:02:00.001-08:00

My blog has not been working properly. I can not upload photos and text at the same time, I am surprised if this will even post. I am hoping that since there is no photo in it, that it may work! I will still be posting to dailypainters.com, dailypaintworks.com and dailypainteroriginals.com.

If I have to, I will just post images, but I would rather do both.

Afternoon GraZe

2011-11-17T08:50:00.001-08:00

Overcast DodgeOvercast Dodge

2011-11-09T16:08:00.000-08:00

Overcast Dodge, 30"x40", oil on gallery wrap, available at the show Saturday, Nov. 12

I have had this on my list of paintings to do for quite some time. I am glad I waited until now to paint it. It is by far my favorite car piece...

Villa de Suenos, St. Simons Island, GA SOLD

2011-11-03T06:31:00.000-07:00

Villa De Suenos Beach view, St. Simons Island, 11"x14", oil on raymar panel, SOLD

Did this piece a couple of weekends ago while at my one of my best friends wedding. This was done the day of the wedding, actually right before. I had to pack up my gear before really finishing the piece to get ready for the big show.

RC Cola

2011-11-02T06:22:00.000-07:00

RC Cola, 24"x20", oil on 3" Museum Wrap, available at my show on Nov. 12th

This completes the southern pairing painting series with it's sister piece Moon Pie. Both will be available at the show as a pair.

Simple Ground PLane

2011-11-01T06:41:00.000-07:00

Simple Ground Plane, 8"x10", oil on RayMar panel

Playing with the ground plane... I did this one the same day as the other Thompson Farm painting. The ground plane was so active, so I decided to so something simple.

Past the Tree

2011-10-31T09:09:00.001-07:00

Playing around with some extra paint on my palette from the days outdoor adventures...

Thompson Farm

2011-10-28T08:56:00.000-07:00

Thompson farm, 10"x16", oil on RayMar panel

Work from Peggy Root Workshop

2011-10-27T06:35:00.000-07:00

From the Barn, oil on raymar panel, 12"x16"

I have been very bad and have not posted in quite sometime. Before the Peggy Root workshop in early October I got a stress fracture in my foot while running (barefoot, begin the ridicule now). I had worked my way out of running shoes because of a 5 year battle with IT band issues. So, no riding and no running for me. Shortly after I injured my wrist and could do nothing! I hobbled around the workshop and struggled with my inability to exercise in the same manner until now... it is weird what an impact exercise had on my mental health. We were also at a destination wedding on St. Simon's Island off the coast of Georgia. So, I am just now beginning to get back to the blog.

This first painting was done under a barn looking out into the woods and a field. It was wet and rainy, and I almost threw this one away after the first day. I believe it is very important to try to rescue a piece as much as I feel it is a good idea to scrap some as well.

Rulon Electrical

2011-10-17T09:36:00.000-07:00

Rulon Electrical, Houston, TX, 30"x40", oil on 3"museum wrap
Available at my one man show, Progression, Nov. 12th at the Dogwood Gallery

Had to big back in the archives to find this gem. This was from our trip to Houston in the summer of 2010. I knew it would become a painting sooner or later, guess I just needed to do a show.

I am always excited to find out little tidbits about a sign as I paint it, a bit of it's history if you will. For example, I did not notice that the top panel with "RULON" on it had been replaced. You can see that the white border that is on the "ELECTRICAL" part of the sign does not continue up, not to mention the difference in serif and san serif fonts used on the 2 names. I wonder what it was called before Rulon??

Peggy Root

2011-10-17T09:28:00.000-07:00

Spent some time with the painting gang here in Newnan. Peggy Root came down for 3 days to work with us. The weather left a bit to be desired, a bit wet and rainy, but I like to paint in that type of weather. The food and camaraderie made up for any shortfall in the weather.

Check out Peggy's work here. She is the real deal. No small plein air "studies" for her. She lugs her gear through creeks and hills in eastern Tennessee, working on one larger piece a couple of hours at a time, several days at a time in the same location. She actually stretches her own linen canvases on location! She puts me to shame. Peggy and her artist husband, Tom, also run an art school in their hometown. Check out her work here.

There was a good bit of "porch" artwork going on for the first few days... Peggy is in the trench coat on the right.

Hard to keep me away from a fire, but I was always a sucker for going out to get cold and
then coming back in for a warm up session.

We actually got out to a favorite local of our group, the Thompson Farm, on the last day. Brenda Sumter is on the right, she was part of the Georgia Gang that went to Scott Christensen last summer. Peggy helps Pam Giles on the left.

Linda Mann shows the painting who's boss.

Sandy parker mixes and Val Cranford prepares to go big, or go home!

Special thanks to Val Cranford who brought Peggy to us and Elsa Sibley, who despite some latent surgical foot issues, hosted us at her wonderfully coZy country retreat.

Wyoming Waiting

2011-10-07T06:59:00.000-07:00

Wyoming Waiting, 48"x60", oil on 3" museum wrap

Dedicated this week to doing a large canvas, 48"x60". Haven't done one this big in over a year and it is time. I actually think I have more fun and enjoy painting larger than smaller, but who has room for one of these monstrosities. Luckily, I have never had trouble finding a home for one. This painting will be the key piece for my show next month. I also recorded the whole thing and hope to make a time lapse video of it. I have over 30 hrs in it, so I hope I can shrink it down to about 5 minutes.

Alta Tractor

2011-10-04T11:28:00.000-07:00

Alta Tractor, 20"x24", oil on gallery wrapped linen, available at my show, Progression,
on November 12th at the Dogwood Gallery in Tyrone, GA

Big Red

2011-09-30T13:16:00.000-07:00

A special honor for me to use the photograph of one of my students, Mitchell Jones, as inspiration for this painting. Mitchell, now a Senior in high school, was a junior when he took a picture of the semi up the road from his house. The first time I saw it, I knew I had to paint it. Mitchell was kind enough to let me use it, and I have to say, I really like it. If this one goes over well, it may become a 48"x60" piece. That was my initial thought, but after much debate, I decided to start a bit smaller and work from there. I usually take pictures at stages of the larger work in case something really cool happens and I can't remember what it is. Thanks, Mitchell!

Big Red, 30"x40", oil on 3" museum wrap, available at my one man show, Progression,
Nov. 12 at the Dogwood Gallery in Tyrone, GA

underpainting

toned canvas and value drawing in burnt sienna

Stand of Pines 294

2011-09-27T16:11:00.000-07:00

Stand of Pines, 24"X20", oil on 3" museum wrapped canvas, available at my one man show in November

When I want to play and get used to slinging a LOT of paint around, I paint one of these. This one is on very aggressive 3" museum wrap. I fought with this one a bit, but the outcome makes me smile. The colors in the photo are AWFUL, I'll have to get another shot tomorrow when the sun is up.

Lookout

2011-09-26T12:00:00.000-07:00

Lookout, 24"x20", oil on museum wrap

Another one of my favorite snacks, made in the south with a great old logo. Graphics back in the day were so much better than what we see now.

Join or Die

2011-09-25T17:10:00.000-07:00

Join or Die, 20"x24", oil on gallery wrapped linen, available at my show on November 12th

Paying homage to the first political cartoon ever run in an American newspaper by one of my favorite Americans, Ben Franklin... and man of many talents. You may or may not know that I am an editorial cartoonist and the son of a man who ran a printing business for 30 years so he could syndicate his own cartoons. We have been working together on this endeavor since 2004, Dad started in 1969. I have deep respect for me who speak their minds in front of many.

Best Painting Blog... EVER

2011-09-25T14:14:00.000-07:00

I have been so busy reading the blog of New England artist, Stapleton Kearns, that I have neglected my own blog. I have never found a blog and read it from the first post to the last... until now.

Stapleton Kearns has been a full time painter for over 40 years and has all kinds of tips and advice on everything from the making of panels to the chemical make-up of oil paints. He discusses other painters at length, including one of my favorites, Emil Gruppe.

He is a no frills, straight up kinda guy and a painters painter. His work is beautiful and he is so kind to share his wealth of knowledge with us. I am incredibly grateful!

Gadsden Flag

2011-09-20T13:59:00.000-07:00

Gadsden Flag, 18"x24", oil on linen gallery wrap, available at my one man show in November

Always been a huge fan of this flag and what it stands for.

Arches

2011-09-14T15:43:00.000-07:00

UGA Arches, 11"x14", oil on RyaMar panel, SOLD

Painted this commission for a client who wanted this for her daughter who is currently enrolled at UGA. I had this image from a shoot I did for another client several years ago when I was doing a lot of photography.

Decoy

2011-09-12T08:39:00.000-07:00

Decoy, 11"x14", oil on museum wrap, available at my one man show in November

Found this little gem in a junk/antique store in downtown Newnan, which is rapidly becoming the antique and junk store capital of the tri-county area.

Shhh... I'm Hunting Wabbits

2011-09-11T16:05:00.000-07:00

Hunting Cap, 8"x8", oil on gallery wrap, available at my show in November

I have no idea why, but my parents let me get this hunting hat for my grandfather on his birthday when I was about 4 or 5... he graciously gave let me wear and keep it. I suppose it was because it was way too small for him. However, on the bright side, it fits my smallish tater just right these days. Julie made it perfectly clear that just because it fits, doesn't mean I get to wear it. Kinda like my overalls. What she doesn't know won't hurt her.

Rawlings

2011-09-02T10:53:00.000-07:00

Rawlings, 8"x8", oil on gallery wrap

Sorry, still on this sports, man-cave thing at the moment.

Daily Painter Originals

2011-09-01T09:08:00.000-07:00

Just in case you don't already follow me dailypainters.com or dailypaintworks.com, you can now follow me through dailypainteroriginals.com. I have loved daily painter and daily paintworks, but daily painter originals is a MUCH smaller group. At the moment, they have around 30 member as opposed to the 150 or so on daily painters and the 300 or more on daily paintworks. Daily paintworks does have a small core group of amaZing painters like Carol Marine, Michael Naples, Laurel Daniel, and the like... but I have yet to get my invite from them:) Honestly, if you are here, there is nowhere else you need to go!

Everlasting

2011-08-31T11:36:00.000-07:00

Everlasting, 11"x14", oil on museum wrap, available at my one man show in November

Got some boxing gloves... obviously. The composition of this one needs a little work, but a great place to start. I love the fluffiness of the glove, but at the same time it has it's hard edge areas as well.

Big Pink Brandywine

2011-08-30T08:29:00.000-07:00

Large Pink Brandywine, 16"x16", oil on RayMar panel, SOLD

Did a larger version of Pink Brandywine for a client's wife's birthday.

Seventh Inning

2011-08-29T06:01:00.000-07:00

Seventh Inning, 12"x16", oil on museum wrap, available at my one man show in november

Sorry for the AWFUL image... I think I have found the prefect spot to take pictures of the paintings in black... but this wasn't it. I will put a better image up when I get home form work. One of my best pals and fellow teacher, J. Jeffrey Stuart brought this jewel to me when I put an APB out for old school baseball mitts. This one really fit the bill, a Wilson infielders glove from the 1930's. Beautiful and one of my favorite pieces of all time.

Life and Death in Black and White

2011-08-26T05:10:00.000-07:00

Life and Death in White, 8"x8", oil on gallery wrap, available at my One Man Show in November

Another study out of the shadow box. This one is small, but I have a 24"x24" canvas ready for the big daddy version of it.

Mini Fake Rooster

2011-08-25T06:29:00.000-07:00

Little Fake Rooster, 8"x8", available at my show in November

I had the paint left over from the big rooster and i didn't quite like his posture, still didn't get the posture quite right, but it was interesting going from large to small...

Pink Brandywine

2011-08-24T05:25:00.000-07:00

Pink Brandywine, 8"x8", oil on gallery wrap, available at my show in November

Well, the $200 tomato just became a $100 tomato. We were lucky enough to harvest another one and I think we will have more.

Once again, this image just doesn't look right.. the blacks aren't quite black enough and it really washes the color out... I'll keep working to find a solution.

Pretend Rooster

2011-08-23T13:42:00.000-07:00

Pretend Rooster, 16"x20", oil on raymar panel, available at my One Man Show in November

My mother was glad we moved from the country, closer to the fam... but sad we had to get rid of our roosters and chickens, so she got us this little charmer. He doesn't poop as much or make as much noise. I enjoy him more than Julie. BTW, the chickens were a wedding present, if that says anything about the wonderful community we left!

For some reason, the dark background is not reading black like it should, no matter where I put these paintings the pick up reflected light from everywhere!

FairHope Farm

2011-08-17T08:05:00.000-07:00

FairHope Farm, 11"x14", oil on RayMar panel

Found this picture while going through reference materials I was collecting for the next show. Thought I would play around with it. Pained this with an earthtone palette and a palette knife.

In the Corner

2011-08-16T08:03:00.000-07:00

In the Corner, 16"x20", oil on RayMar panel, available at my One Man Show in November

The first in a series of studies that will be based on dilapidated or old, abandoned shacks or houses. This on is in the country outside of Newnan, Ga where we currently reside.

Big Green, Little Red

2011-08-15T08:00:00.000-07:00

Big Green, Little Red, 8"x8", oil on gallery wrap

The last installment of the $200 tomato before it became part of dinner! After it ripened, we cut it up and ate it... it was worth every penny.

Big Green

2011-08-14T07:59:00.000-07:00

Big, Green, Pink Brandywine, 8"x8", oil on RayMar panel

Behold the $200 tomato. Our garden didn't fair too well this season. We had great basil and some other herbs, a ton of grape tomatoes, but my favorite of all are pink brandywine tomatoes... and this is the only one we got. While we waited on it to ripen, I painted it several times... this is the first.

Getting back to me?

2011-08-09T14:43:00.000-07:00

Rawlin's Buick, 12"x16", oil on RayMar panel, $285

Having an interesting time re-adapting myself to myself after the workshop, so I decided to paint something I would normally paint... this is just a dust of, so I hope that they improve as I go along. I also think this piece would look much better LARGE! I was really drawn to the red wheels and the broken windows.

Beginning to End

2011-08-08T14:43:00.000-07:00

Water's Farm, 6"x8", oil on linen panel, $150

Water's Farm, 12"x16", oil on RayMar panel, $285 SOLD

Water's Farm, 16"x20", oil on RayMar panel, SOLD

I did a small plein air sketch for a client and after approval did a larger study and then moved to the final piece.

Yellowstone

2011-08-04T07:39:00.000-07:00

Yellowstone, 6"x8", oil on RayMar panel

Did this little study after decompressing a bit and wanted to use some photo reference from the trip. I played a bit with the color of the sky and thought the outcome was pretty interesting.

Marsh Study 4 of 4

2011-08-03T07:34:00.000-07:00

Marsh Study 4 of 4, 8"x10", oil on RayMar panel

Marsh Study 3 of 4

2011-08-02T07:27:00.000-07:00

Marsh Study 3 of 4, 8"x10", oil on Ray Mar panel

Marsh Study 2 of 4

2011-08-01T07:27:00.000-07:00

Marsh Study 2 of 4, 8"x10", oil on RayMar panel

Marsh Study, 1 of 4

2011-07-30T11:11:00.000-07:00

Marsh Study 1, oil on RayMar panel, 8"x10"

One of the things I wanted to start working on when I got home was to work as many different designs of the same reference piece. I had a small study and a photo from the intercoastal waterway in Savannah. It was a gray day, which makes for more interest in a marsh to me. This study is the first of 4, working off the same theme.

Painting with Bart, Painting 2

2011-07-28T12:00:00.000-07:00

Horseshoe Canyon, 8"x10", oil on RayMar panel, $175

Painting with Bart

2011-07-27T07:00:00.000-07:00

Became friends with Scott's right hand man in the painting part of the workshops, Bart Walker. Bart is from Birmingham, AL and is an avid and accomplished plein air painter. His brother owns a gallery in Birmingham as well and reps one of my mentors, Millie Gosch. My wife accidentally met Bart's wife at the local market searching for a moisturiZer... seeing that we we have quite a bit of moisture here in Georgia and they seem to have none in Idaho. Turns out, Bart's wife is an Atlanta girl.

We stayed in Idaho a bit longer so I could paint, so Bart took me out and we hit Teton Ranch, owned by Paul Allen and then Horseshoe Canyon.

Day 10

2011-07-26T07:00:00.000-07:00

Recap day, question day... or for me, stare dumbly at the wall and try to make cohearant sentences. Not so much from the antihistamines and the Zicam overdose, but from the sheer amount of information and the brisk pace at which we worked. It was FANTASTIC!

I had one question, but he answered before I could ask. What to do now?? He suggested all types of studies... water, trees, clouds, etc. Get the small pieces before you put them together to make a piece. As far as the big picture, compose, compose, compose. Do 10 minute compositional studies everyday, not just putting in the time, but really working it out, making the eye move around the canvas.

This was truly the experience of a lifetime. Going to this workshop has been a dream since my first oil workshop with Millie Gosch in 2007 when she showed me Scott's work. I had high expectations which we met, for sure. So much so, I signed up for the Advanced session next summer.

Rick and Kathy Jamison who run the show up there. Rick is a VERY talented singer/songwriter with a bluegrass influence and Kathy is a magnificent write. She write their blog, Flow, which is excellent if I may say so myself.

Kathy, The Man... Scott Christensen, and Rick

The Gang. Feel like I have been to battle with some of these guys. Made some great friends and even brought a few from my Georgia painting group. Also ran into fellow dailypainters.com friends there, Julie Davis and Melanie Nogawski.

Painting with Bart, Painting 1

2011-07-25T12:55:00.000-07:00

Teton Valley Ranch, 8"x10", oil on RayMar panel, $150

Day 8

2011-07-25T12:27:00.000-07:00

I was told we went out to paint aspens, but I have no memory of such. I do remember Scott pulling my pieces to work over, again... very nice for me. He reworked the larger, tall one and started on a smaller one that seemed to even stump him.

I did small sketches on a big board again. We were asked to compose and do as many as we could, starting with odd numbered groups, of course... dominant and submissive tress as well.

my aspen cluster before Scott got his hands on it. The one on the far right had been scraped down by yours truly before he started to work into it. There was a LOT of paint to work through! 12"x16"

Scott makes my work look great...

This one stumped and frustrated the hell out of him...

The one he did not "fix"

Christensen Day 5-7

2011-07-23T18:56:00.000-07:00

View of the Titons from TargeeCanyon

These days were pretty much a blur for me, had a cold/ hayfever and took every Zicam nasal gel and throat spray I could get my hands on. Not to mention a steady dose Benadryl and Advil.

There was a rain day in there somewhere where we watched Scott produce more amaZing paintings and several demos. I could NEVER grow tired of watching him paint or listen to him talk about painting. It is a beautiful thing. Day 6 found us in the Targee Canyon in Wyoming. It was absolutely beautiful. Wildflowers, rushing rivers, blowing grass, blood sucking flies. Living and painting outdoors in Georgia has taught me one thing... always wear long pants and long sleeves... these things served me well, though I was warm, and had sinus issues.

I continued my "study" theory and painted several small pieces on one board and finished the day up with a larger 11"x12" piece done from one of the studies.

Scott gave me some instruction, noticing that I tend to repeat things and that I need more variety. It was nice to have something to focus on.

My rendition based on a smaller study, 11"x12", oil on RayMar panel

Targee Canyon study, 2"x4", oil on RayMar panel

Up the Path, Targee Canyon, 2.5"x5", oil on RayMar panel

Here is a link to my Facebook photo album, feel free to check out more of the photos I was not able to post here.

Day 4

2011-07-12T16:17:00.000-07:00

Out in the weather today! Hot, sunny, tons of bugs... but that is what makes it sooo great! Studio painting is a breeZe compared to the reality of plein air, but there is NO other way to get the information. Cameras fall short of the human eye when it comes to this.

We went to a lake south of Victor and stayed all day. I got 4 pieces done. The first few were on the same panel. Another Dave Boyd Jedi mind trick... all the keep me from worrying too much about what I was doing and to remember that I was there to study.

After painting at night for the first few days, I felt comfortable with Scott's palette, which is limited with a lot of grays. If you want more info, let me know. I don't want to get into it if I don't have to. I rocked out 2 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon. I tried hard to focus on depth, looseness, orchestration. I was happy with what I got done.

Here a the pieces for your viewing pleasure...

Day 3

2011-07-12T16:09:00.000-07:00

Demo Day!

We got to watch Scott paint a large demo. I would love to show you the images, but we have promised not to publish for obvious reasons. The first was a Carmel coastal done over what looked like a Georgia field painting that didn't work for him. Nothing to it, some big rocks, tons of water and foam, lots of depth, childs play.Very impressive to watch considering that he did not erase the image underneath before he got started.

He did let the students mix paint, so my Georgia gals were asked to be the first. I do have a picture of that!

Watching Scott paint is like noting I have ever seen. He only uses references for color and they are his field studies. Sometimes he has a picture, but he hardly looks at them. He is a MASTER designer and composer. You can see him thinking about every stroke if you watch carefully enough, he squints down every few minutes and is always watching his progress in the mirror. Every stroke is well thought out a deliberate, but you would never know. He makes it look so easy. Unreal...

Christensen Day 2

2011-07-12T16:00:00.000-07:00

Today we had lectures most of the day, losts of breaks, lots of old school Western American paintings viewed... pure heaven. Guess I should have studied painting in college.

We viewed the likes of Edgar Payne, John Carlson, Karl Runguis, several Russians without names and others that are escaping my lock box of a memory.

Later that evening we had a mixer with all the spouses and some bluegrass music by Rick Jamison and his wife, Kathy, who run the workshops for Scott.

10 Day Intensive with Scott Christensen... thus far

2011-07-12T15:56:00.000-07:00

oil on RayMar, 8"x10"

It has been a long and glorious 5 days, it has been exhausting but I am sorry that it is almost half over! Day 1 was an overview, introduction and brief painting day.

I met several of the gals I paint with here and met fellow DailyPainter Julie Davis as well, not to mention a few others whose names currently escape me.

I painted solo away from the others so I could really concentrate on what I was going to do... which I had thought long and hard about for several days. I figured I would stick to my guns, use my split primary palette and do my thing... harder to do than I thought.

We met at 2 for crit and he picked mine to work on... good or bad... don't really care. I have a painting that Scott worked on. He used 2 from the 30 person class to work on. He doesn't really roam around while you work because there are so many people, but Bart Walker does... and he is pretty darn good himself.

If you would like to see other photos from our trip (we drove from atlanta to victor, idaho) you can view my open Facebook album here.

Here is the piece I did that he "touched up" for me. He did some work in the ground plane, simplified the clouds a bit, cooled of the mountain side and added some cows.... seriously.

Beaver Lake Fall

2011-07-09T12:00:00.000-07:00

Beaver Lake Fall, 12"x16", oil on RayMar panel, $250, unframed

Digging deep on this one, found it in the archives of old cell phone pictures...

War Trace Barn

2011-07-08T18:14:00.000-07:00

War Trace Barn, 16"x20", oil on RayMar panel, unframed, $640

Another limited earthtone palette creation...

Running Behind...

2011-07-08T18:10:00.000-07:00

I am a bit late posting painting from last week. Julie and I are on the road, we drove from Atlanta, GA to Victor, ID this week. Thirty three hours of driving and photo excursions and junnk food with raw veggies in between.

We left Atlanta on Monday and arrived in Driggs, ID for the 10 day intensive workshop with Scott Christensen. We stopped oustside Nashville, Lincoln, NE, Rawlins, WY at various bed and breakfi, as I like to call them, and finally to our new home for the next 10 days in Driggs in the Teton Valley... the most beautiful place on earth. If you have never seen Scott's work, here it is.

I have tons of photos from the journey, a few will make it here. I also have work from last week I did not have time to put up.

Today was the first day of the workshop and it ended with Scott picking my piece out of the 30 to critique and rework... good or bad??? Not sure.

Pear in Shadow

2011-07-02T03:48:00.000-07:00

Pear in Shadow, 8"x8", oil on RayMar panel, unframed, $100
Wanted to apply the limited earthtone palette to an object. Picture is horrible, the black I mix with red oxide and ultramarine reall picks up the light from anywhere and everywhere.

Large Meriwether Daybreak

2011-07-02T03:45:00.000-07:00

Meriwether Daybreak, 16"x20", oil on RayMar panel, unframed

Worked this piece up from the previous color study.

Meriwether Daybreak

2011-06-28T08:07:00.001-07:00

Meriwether Daybreak, 11"x14", oil on RayMar panel, $225, unframed

This really got me excited. This is the limited palette with yellow ochre, aliZarin, burnt umber, and ultramarine blue. I did more pieces in this same palette including a plein air piece (actually I used transparent red oxide instead of the burnt umber). This palette is great for a cool misty morning, but that may be the end of it.

Earthtone Limited Palette

2011-06-28T07:36:00.000-07:00

Limited palette of yellow ochre, aliZarin crimson, burnt umber, ultramarine and titanium white

Anders Zorn used a limited palette very similar tho this one. In the last post I used raw sienna as my red... along with aliZarin, for the pieces to follow and on this palette, I have used a burnt umber to cool the palette down with exciting results.

Ford Decor

2011-06-27T07:29:00.000-07:00

Ford Decor, 16"x20", oil on RayMar panel, unframed, $640

Before we moved from Gay, I took a ton of pictures around a new business area that had sprung up. I made friends with a mechanic down there who knew some people who had great old stuff. The guy that owns the business park had this truck stripped of it's engine and had it out in front of the general store. Now it is painted with the logo of the store. Great idea and a very cool truck. This piece is another smaller one, but I love the color scheme and I think I will do it at 30"x40" or larger.

The color palette I used is a bit of a departure for me.... and I love it. It has given the mystery I have been looking for in my work. Since painting this, I have altered it and used it on a few more pieces. This was painted with yellow ochre, aliZarin crimson, burnt sienna, ultramarine and titanium white.

Palmetto River View

2011-06-26T07:28:00.000-07:00

Palmetto River View, 8"x10", oil on RayMar panel, $175

Did this as a study for a larger piece, but just do love it like I should. It will just have to grow on me.

Darien Boats

2011-06-24T07:00:00.000-07:00

Darien Boats, 12"x16", oil on linen panel, unframed, $250

Came across some of these old pictures from a camping trip to Jekyll Island. Darien is just up the coast towards Savannah and is known as a shrimping village. I found this to be quite a challenge... the water, the reflections, the boats, the clutter. Looking forward to more boat torture in the future!

From Below

2011-06-23T06:33:00.000-07:00

From Below, 12"x16", oil on RayMar panel, unframed, $250

Painted this guy en plein air last week when I went to Athens, GA... not your friendliest plein air town, BTW.

I asked a guy with a junk yard in downtown if I could take pictures of some of the cars (he had a '59 Caddy, old pick ups, old sedans, etc.) He said he didn't let people take pictures of his cars... then followed me out to my car to make sure I left. On my way back by he had some large dudes hanging around the gate. Weird.

The following day I was asked to leave a cemetery while setting up to paint an old bridge. They were polite, explained that they had had a lot of vandals and the families wanted to tighten things up. They also had a few suggestions of other bridges and cemeteries to paint.

From Below, 12"x16", oil on RayMar panel, unframed, $250

Chat Hills Creek

2011-06-20T16:18:00.000-07:00

Chat Hills Creek, 11"x14", oil on RayMar panel, $200

Painted this this morning with a group of gals I enjoy painting with... that was enough for one day.

LaGrange Street Bridge

2011-06-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

LaGrange Street Bridge, 8"x10", oil on RayMar panel, $175

Went out and painted with my buddy, Martin Pate. High noon, 95 degrees... glad we found some shade. I had to get out of the studio and start knocking the dust off for the Scott Christensen workshop.

Sunset, Small and Large

2011-06-16T11:58:00.000-07:00

Sunset, 16"x20", oil on RayMar panel, $640

Sunset, 8"x10", oil on RayMar panel, $175

Another series of large and small pieces based on a sunset. I have found it very valuable to do a small study to work out the colors and composition. Then, when producing the larger piece, I can tweak whatever it is about that piece that wasn't working.

Peach on Gray

2011-06-13T07:00:00.000-07:00

Peach on Gray, 4"x4", oil on panel, $75

Thought I would give it a go since I already had the colors out and time to kill. As Robert Genn always reminds us, you should never forget to play.

Peaches on Gray

2011-06-12T12:23:00.001-07:00

Peaches on Gray, 8"x8", oil on RayMar panel, $150

Once again, playing with the shadow box but lacking in confidence. Lately things have reversed. I used to be most comfortable inside in front of a still life, now I am most confident standing in front of a landscape. Just trying to get y still life stride back.

Homestead

2011-06-10T12:31:00.000-07:00

Homestead, 24"x30", oil on museum wrap, $1100, SOLD

Did this piece for a client who wanted this for his mom for Mother's Day.

She moved this house to the land in Texas years ago. She actually lived in it for years before she had plumbing and electricity put in.

His mother was going to live in assisted living and he wanted her to be able to take her house with her.

This is one of those pieces that I love to do and I hope it can be all they want it to be! From what I hear, she loved it. That makes me very happy!

Fried Rice, Steam Rice???

2011-06-10T12:27:00.000-07:00

Fried Rice, Steam Rice?? 8"x8", oil on RayMar panel, $150

This came with my Thai take out a couple of weeks ago. Thought it would make an interesting study of an all white subject... it was hard to do!