The Smoker - Preliminary

16 x 16 oil on canvas panel

I've been struggling on this one for a few days--found myself paying way too much attention to detail before I had even blocked it totally in.  Color is a big issue with this one because I reinvented the background!  Few more sessions on this.....

Baby's Guardian Angel

6 x 8 oil on mylar

Not my usual style but I wanted to paint something for a special friend's baby who will be here in about 6 or 7 weeks.  She has wanted a child for so long and finally she will be delivering a little girl in a few more weeks.   I am so happy for her!

Behind the Scenes - Revisited

11 x 14 oil on gessobord

I reworked this one yesterday because I didn't like the dark menu board and door in background.  I like it better but the composition doesn't thrill me.  It was a good people practice though.

Red Rover, Red Rover

8 1/2 x 15 1/2 oil on mylar - SOLD

Completed as far as I wanted to take it.  I was trying to abstract the figures more in this one and I may try it again on canvas some time.  The girl in the middle is my favorite part.

Rough In of Red Rover

oil on mylar

This is one just for me for practice purposes and is a very rough beginning!  The poor child on the right has been painted in and out several times--his arm kept growing too long as I painted and honed in on proportions.   That's the thing with figurative:  if just one limb, feature, etc. is in the wrong place, it throws the entire figure off.  I have much more work on this one.

Chapel of the Cross

16 x 20 oil on canvas board

Finally completed and signed this one.....tough getting those roof angles just right.  I spent most of the time painting with the canvas upside down....don't know how those plein air painters can do all those angles when you can't turn the actual scene upside down!!!  Funny how the lighting changes depending on when you take the photograph.  The colors are the same as in the "in progress" one but just taken, this time, in late afternoon sun.  

Chapel of the Cross .....still in progress

16 x 20 oil on canvas board

Just posting today what I have been working on for several days.  This is one of the oldest churches in the area and is located outside of Madison, MS.  It is an old Episcopal church and is still in use today.  I have been attempting to get the drawing correct without it being too "drawey" as my friend Bee says.    Obviously I haven't finished it yet because I have not done much to the background at all but hopefully I can finish before the week is over.

New Works by Caroline and Pres

New works by Caroline and Pres done during the Christmas holidays.  They both received mini IPads for Christmas and have been creating some neat pictures.  Caroline also got an art set (from her Nonie) and created the nice lady dog with skirt.  I am very proud of both of them and their enthusiasm for creating beautiful work!!!!

Charleston Streets

12 x 12 oil on stretched canvas

More work on this one today....had to quit fiddling with it because I caught myself bringing out the small brushes and overworking.

Charleston Streets - initial attempt

12 x 12 oil on stretched canvas

It has been almost 2 months since I last painted and I am majorly rusty!!!!  I pulled my brushes out this a.m. and started on this initial block-in.  I have a long way to go but am fairly satisfied with the values thus far.... I feel certain it is going to take several more sessions.  I haven't painted in so long I really struggled with getting the feel of it again.