Beachy Still Life #1

11x15 Watercolor on 140 lb. Kilimanjaro WC paper

Once I realized that Ann's show in November/December was actually a two-person show it motivated me in a way that only deadlines can. The show will be up during the Christmas buying season, so the lady that runs the Rock School Arts Foundation in Valdese, NC indicated that the show should be of sell-able art, that that is what she had in mind. Well, it's been awhile since I have done work with that specifically in mind, but I thought what the hell, that will be fun. I work , usually on holiday relaxing with family and friends when I do landscapes and still lifes, etc. and I really do enjoy doing them. But usually the work that I do are like journal entries with personal notes, etc. on them, which in my mind renders them not for the open market. So I made a plan to do at least one still life on the quarter sheet size every week end between now and mid-November. That should give me about 16 to 20 of these babies. I don't plan for all of them to work out to be of show quality over the span of that time, or I might poop out on the idea after a short while - but what the hell...here it goes.

At the Farmer's Market #4

15x22" Watercolor on 300 lb. Kilimanjaro WC paper

Oh gosh, what to say about this one. It was one I had to do because I had failure 3 times in a row trying to do another piece and I was really frustrated with myself. I'm still going to do the image that I was attempting, I really like it a lot, but need a "cooling-off" period first. So this piece, yes, is another performer at our local Farmer's Market. I'm adding these pieces to a series of street musicians that I have the opportunity to meet.

At Work in Tennesee

22x30" Watercolor on 300 lb. Kilimanjaro WC paper

I did not really meet these people. They were getting to work as we were leaving the hotel we stayed at overnight on our way back from Cincinnati. This was one of those compositions I was not so sure of when I started out. As this was in development I started getting into the personality of the woman on the right. I talked to them for only a brief moment, but through painting them you feel that you get to know them on some level. Strange. Fun.

Detail - the woman on the right

Supermoon Day 2

Some of the reasons I got the new camera that I did was that it seemed perfect for me, a few more mega pixels, a decent zoom and some opportunity to shoot out of auto mode. Not bad for a $200. camera!

Stanley

15x22" Watercolor on 140 lb. Kilimanjaro WC paper

This is a portrait of Stanley. Ken and I met him as we were leaving Botany Bay, a state park on Edisto Island, SC. We were stopped by Stanley as we were to take a left on the highway because they were paving the road. We got to chatting; Stanley was born on Edisto and was giving us suggestions as to go around the traffic hold up. I did not want to trust my directional abilities and chose to wait until Stanley would allow us to take our left turn - so we chatted some more. Everyone I meet on Edisto, especially those who have lived there for a long time express the same love for the natural beauty of the low country. I know that we do too.

Oh no, these details are too much fun !

Before Edisto. Birdhouse Man Paul

22x30" Watercolor on 300 lb. Kilimanjaro WC Paper.

This is Paul whom I met for the first time a month ago down in Charleston County, SC. He lives just before the Dawhoo bridge that connects the mainland to Edisto Island. My friend Ken has been collecting his work for a number of years. I decided to head out with Ken and the family this past visit and meet him (after buying a birdhouse for our yard).

Detail of Paul

At the Farrmer's Market 3

15x22" Watercolor on 140 lb. Kilimanjaro WC paper

I took the photo of this little guy some time ago at Boone's Daniel Boone Park, which is adjacent to the Farmer's Market. It's a wonderful setup, as the park has an outdoor amphitheater where performances might be happening, or pioneer re-enactors making crafts around log cabins, or just someone playing banjo while sitting on a log such as this little fella.

Tambourine Player in Montgomery

22x30" Watercolor on 300 lb. Kilimanjaro WC Paper

This is the third (and last) of the three musicians we came across at a Krogers grocery store when in the Cincinnati area last February. I started this third piece about two months ago, but the semester bore down on me and the events of family life kept me from the studio. It is so hard to finish a piece after such a long absence from the flow of the mini series. I decided to do some experimenting with technique and plain invention in order to just finish it and move on. I like some things about it, hoping the wonderful smile this woman had would carry the day. But it's hard to cover up the over-worked quality - so that's it - I'm moving on.

Edisto in May

These are a few watercolors I did while at Edisto with the family and our watercolor buddy Ken. I honestly don't know what I'd be like if we didn't go to Edisto a couple of times a year. These sketches sure help in loosening up. I have quit worrying so much about the drawing, sorta embracing the inaccuracies and chalking it up to expression. I'm learning this from my old pal Hugh. Gotta let the media do it's thang.

Kroger Drummer

22x30" Watercolor on 300 lb. Kilamanjaro

This is the second of a three piece band we saw in Krogers grocery store last month. I loved this guy - really intense looking and determined drumming.

For Hugh

Hey Hugh,

Here is a composite I took this AM of my office. If you want I can take a picture of the painting studio too.

March studio

Latest studio shot.

In a Krogers #1

In a Krogers #1

22x30" watercolor on 300 lb Kilimanjaro

We were in Cincinnati last month; while shopping for groceries we encountered a three-piece band in the front of the store playing away. I couldn't resist of course taking as many reference shots with my phone as I felt that I could get away with.

Happy 4th

Happy 4th

15x22" watercolor on 140 lb Kilamanjaro

Maybe it's a sign of being tired of winter, this painting a picture from last summer. My daughter and I went to an alternative 4th of July parade up in Todd NC, orchestrated under the auspices of Elkland Art Center. I caught this young fella in the middle of the parade. We plan to get involved with it again this summer, I guess it can't come soon enough.

Feed All

Feed All

22x30" watercolor on 300 lb Kilimanjaro

This is an image of another street musician in the town of Boone. This is Edward, who also works in the produce section of the grocery store I frequent, so I have befriended him over the years. I've taken several photos of him in the past, but somehow decided on this one to paint. There was a lot of ups and downs with this piece - at times I really liked it in its development. I'm at the point now where I just wanted it to be over with so I could start on several other ideas I have.

Gifts

22x30" watercolor.

Here is the image in the studio photo below. I'm thinking about calling this one finished.

Plugging Along

Tuesday AM in the studio feeling pretty good. Got a piece framed and ready to ship to Raleigh for a Flower Still Life show and making headway on this next watercolor. I'm really enjoying painting this one, sorta savoring it cause it's a subject that seems to paint itself. This young man is playing an old National Tricone steel guitar - one like the old blues players played. I failed to get his name, but he has a bit of a story. What I know of him was related to me after the fact by my students who seemed to know a lot more about him. Sure hope that I run into him again. I'll post the finished image - I want to say in a few days, but I'm having so much fun that I don't want it to end.

Sambo on Deck

Sambo on Deck
15x22" watercolor on Kilimanjaro 140 lb.

Sammy on holiday at Edisto Beach, one his favorite hanging out spots.

Joyu #2

Joyu Lee #2
22x30" watercolor on Kilimanjaro 140 lb.
This is the second attempt at Joyu playing cello. I'm thinking that I may ask her for some more reference shots in either natural light or directed light, would be much more interesting. I'm sorta faking the reference shots I have - taken in that damn industrial lighting I have in the classroom. I'm afraid to ask, lest she think I'm obsessing here!

Joyu Lee

Watercolor  15x22" on 140il. Kilimanjaro

This is a new friend Joyu who I met in my class this semester, as she was assisting a diverse learning student. A more generous soul would be hard to find. It just so happens that she has played the cello in orchestras all over the world and she agreed to model for the latest addition to my musician series (that is slowly taking shape). My source was drawing and photography with composition as my main concern. You might can tell that this is rather tightly composed, I'm wondering if too much so - but as for now I'm pleased. I think Joyu is pleased too, but she is so sweet she wouldn't say otherwise. She is going to give this to her parents in Taiwan.