Posted in Kickstarter-Painted Diamonds, tagged acrylic, Citizens Bank Park, daily painter, daily painting, impressionism, Landscape, MLB, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Phillies, Virginia Artist on August 26, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Citizens Bank Park
Philadelphia Phillies
Citizens Bank Park, home of the Philadelphia Phillies, is the 21st ball park that I have painted in the Painted Diamonds series.
It features a giant Liberty Bell that lights up, rings and swings back and forth!
Posted in Art Class, tagged acrylic, Art Class, art lessons, daily painter, daily painting, flowers, impressionism, sunflower, sunflowers, Virginia Artist on August 25, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Logan with Sunflowers
Reference Photo
I took so many wonderful sunflower photos while I was out painting on Thursday morning that I had to share them with my students. Logan painted this wonderful landscape from one of the photos at Young Artists class. Great job!
Posted in daily painter, Plein Air, Tips for Better Painting, tagged daily painter, daily painting, flowers, impressionism, Landscape, oil painting, Oxbow Farms, Plein Air, Shenandoah Valley, sunflowers, Virginia Artist on August 23, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Set-up to Paint
Sketch
Sky and Distant Mountains
Distant Trees and Meadow
Foreground Greens
Sunflowers – Painting about 90% complete
View from Easel
Beauty in Sunflowers
Yesterday I had the most wonderful morning painting “en plein air” at Oxbow Farm. There is the most beautiful field of sunflowers there that just needed to be painted. I tried to take step by step photos to share today of one of the paintings that I did. When I work outside I can usually get a painting about 85-90% finished and then after a day or two of letting the paint “rest” I will complete it in the studio.
I call this “Oxbow Sunflowers 1“. It is an oil on canvas measuring 9″x12” and is available framed for $275.
Being outside and painting sunflowers was such a treat after painting all the ball parks I have been doing the last few months. It was a nice break.
Posted in Art Class, tagged acrylic, Art Class, impressionism, Landscape, oil painting, Virginia Artist on August 22, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Drema with her first painting
Yesterday I shared a demo painting that I did this past week with a new student. Yesterday, Drema, my newest student, completed her version. This is her very first painting. And didn’t she do a wonderful job?! I met her recently when she told me she had always wanted to paint but just wasn’t sure she could do. My answer was, “Of course you can”!
Sam’s abstracts
And we said farewell to Sam yesterday. She spent part of her summer break from school painting with us. She is a delightful girl and we will miss her. See more on Sam here.
Posted in Art Class, daily painter, tagged Art Class, art lessons, Blue Ridge Arts Council, daily painter, daily painting, impressionism, Landscape, oil painting, Shenandoah Valley, Virginia Artist on August 21, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Here is a demonstration painting that I did last week with a new art student. Often I get questions about how I teach new students. What I try to do is just help them “jump right in”. We start with a simple painting like the one shown here but it is detailed enough that they can get the feel of the paints and brushes and what they will do. I think the hardest thing for most new painters is to just get started. They don’t know where to begin. By having them follow along with me as I paint they see exactly what to do and how easy it can be. If you have ever wanted to paint you CAN paint. Just get started. Take the leap. Join us at art class on Wednesdays or Thursdays at the Blue Ridge Arts Council. You Can paint!
Posted in Kickstarter-Painted Diamonds, tagged acrylic, daily painter, daily painting, Dodgers Stadium, impressionism, Landscape, Los Angeles Dodgers, MLB, MLB Ballparks, Virginia Artist on August 20, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Dodgers Stadium
Los Angeles Dodgers
Dodgers Stadium, home of the Los Angeles Dodgers, is number 20 in the series of 30 Major League Ball Parks. I’m 2/3rds of the way finished with the project.
Dodgers Stadium is known for it’s no gimmick and simple ball park design.
Posted in Tips for Better Painting, Travel, tagged Beverley Street Art School, farm animals, impressionism, Nancy Bass, Nancy Bass animals, Nancy Bass Workshop, oil painting, Staunton Va, Virginia Artist on August 19, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Nancy Demonstrating Stage 2 in the process – Cow
Nancy’s Cow after the 2nd Stage
Nancy demonstrating a full body painting – Sheep
Nancy’s Demo Sheep
My Donkey at Stage 2 in the Workshop
I think the best thing an artist can do for themselves is to study artists whose art they admire. Taking a workshop or class if it is available is a great way to hone skills and develop as an artist.
This weekend I got to do that with a wonderful animal artist, Nancy Bass. Nancy’s art is beautifully expressive and has layer upon layer of color that makes the animal jump off the canvas. You can see her captivating work here on her website.
Each day of the workshop Nancy demonstrated her unique process with the eleven artists in the class and then helped us individually as we attempted her technique. Nancy works in layers so we had to work a drawing and under-painting the first day of the workshop. Then the second day she showed us how she begins laying paint onto the subject and explained that she sometimes lets it dry and layers 4 or 5 times. It is a process of patience.
It was an intensive weekend of painting…..and concentrating….and developing into better artists. It was interesting to see the style and work of each artist in attendance and getting to know some new artist friends from around the state.
Thanks Nancy for sharing your talent with us!
Posted in Art Class, tagged Art Class, art lessons, Blue Ridge Arts Council, daily painter, farm animals, impressionism, Landscape, oil painting, Virginia Artist on August 16, 2013| Leave a Comment »
John’s 1st Painting!
Katie’s 1st Painting!
Joy’s Latest Paintings
The students in my adult art classes are doing great work. Some have been with me a couple of years and some are new students to my class. We have a great time painting together. And I like to share their finished work with everyone to see. Here is the latest from the Thursday evening class. Great job Joy, John and Katie!
Posted in daily painter, tagged 175th Anniversary of Warren County VA, acrylic, daily painter, daily painting, impressionism, Landscape, Shenandoah River, Shenandoah Valley, Virginia Artist, Warren County Virginia on August 15, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Back in April I posted about the Anniversary painting that I did with the elementary schools and that I had given the sample painting to the County to hang at the government center. (Read more here.) I said then that I would get some photos to post of how it turned out so while I was at the Center this week I snapped a couple of shots.
It hangs at the entry to the Planning office. I am amazed at the number of people who tell me they have seen it there.
Posted in Kickstarter-Painted Diamonds, tagged acrylic, baseball, Baseball parks, daily painter, daily painting, impressionism, Kansas City Royals, Kauffman Stadium, Major League Baseball, MLB, Virginia Artist on August 12, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Kauffman Stadium
Kansas City Royals
Number 19 in the series of 30 is Kauffman Stadium – home of the Kansas City Royals. The stadium is known for having the largest privately funded fountain in the world, a 322 foot fountain and waterfall on display before and after the game and in-between innings.
All the paintings in this series are acrylic on canvas measuring 18″x24″.
The Studio 