One of the questions I get asked most as a daily painter is how do you find something to paint everyday. And the answer is fairly easy. I live in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley and am lucky enough to have a little cabin in the mountains of West Virginia on an old apple orchard so I see things everyday that I want to paint. And I never walk out the door without my camera. (Well, sometimes I forget and then I see something I need a photo of and I have to beat myself up for a while which is never any fun!)
This is a view we see almost everyday as we come across the Shenandoah River into our town. I snapped this while driving along (don’t tell Allen) so it’s not the clearest photo ever but it will work fine as a reference photo.
And Truman, Jed and I drive down miles of roads all over the old apple orchard in search of great views.
And Jed and Truman are both experts at sniffing out a great location to set up and paint!
And sometimes when you least expect it you drive around a bend in the road and there it is, serendipity! The thing you least expect to see but can’t wait to take photos of so you can preserve it to paint later. Or maybe because you just can’t believe your eyes…..
Another great day of painting on location at Hilton Head. I discovered a really nice town park right on the marsh and set up there to paint about 8:15 a.m. Boy, did it get hot fast this morning. Not a lot of breeze blowing and within an hour I was burning up. But I kept painting and got a nice little 9″x12″ oil painting completed. I took photos at different stages so you could see how I work. 
I spent a little time painting yesterday morning at the bend going to South Beach yesterday… South Beach at Hilton Head Island, SC. It was early but there was still quite a few people out walking and I talked to some very nice people from Ohio and Pennsylvania as well as locals. People are always curious when they see you painting. Some will come over and ask questions. This is the scene I painted. The three little lines you see (one at the top and two at the bottom) are the metal prongs that hold the painting on the french easel. I took this photo while still wet on the easel so I could get it posted right away. 
(This painting is 
The painting that I am posting today is one that I started while at the cabin this past weekend. It was a beautiful weekend for plein-air painting. I am often asked just what that means. 
We were out at the cabin for an extended weekend. The weather was beautiful and I got to paint on location everyday. A real treat!!! I am finishing three paintings that I started out there so I will post them soon. In the meantime I wanted to share with you Truman’s big adventure. 
Strawberries in a Bowl is one of the entries that I have in the Blue Ridge Arts Council’s Member Show that opens tonight. The reception is from 5:30 – 7 p.m. This is the largest member show that BRAC has ever had with 80 entries and 25 artists represented. Please come this evening and enjoy the art and artists!
Today’s painting is Olives on Teal I measuring 8″x10″. It is an oil on canvas and is available for $145 (unframed). Contact 
The Studio 