Enchanted Gate

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

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30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: January—Day 17.

On one of my walks, I came upon this magical scene. The path meandered thru the trees towards a crooked, open gate. The sun was making fog rise from the wood inside the yard. It looked like the gateway to an enchanted place.

Morning Walk

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

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30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: January—Day 16.

My neighborhood is great for walking. There are so many wonderful little walking trails, and the whole community is edged with white fences. For today's painting, I managed to capture the morning light—softened by lifting fog. 

Tennessee Farm

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

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30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: January—Day 15.

WHEW! Half-way through the 30-days challenge! Today's painting is one of many charming farms nestled in the hills of Middle Tennessee.

One-handed Frog

8"x10" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

NFS

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: January—Day 13.

Not many people know that jumping rope is an international sport. My older daughter started competitive jump rope when she was in elementary school. Today's painting is from a photograph of her at age 11 performing a trick called the "One-handed Frog"  at the Nationals competition. Her goal is to become a All-Star. I think she is well on her way towards that goal.

See what competitive jump rope looks like by viewing this VIDEO.

Simplicity

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

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30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: January—Day 9.

And now something completely different—a country house painted with the Zorn color palette. 

Anders Zorn was a Swedish painter during the turn of the last century. He was known for using a limited palette of only four colors: black, white, yellow ochre and red. While painting with the Zorn limited palette, I first mourned the lack of blue to make green and nice cool shadows. I was beginning to think this was going to be an epic fail. As I kept working with the palette, I discovered the color range was more diverse than I thought. The most interesting thing was that I had to think more in terms of value than color. 

In the end, I am very pleased with the painting. I'm glad I didn't give into the temptation to add blue to the mix. This little country house, in the Zorn limited palette,  is a testament to the beauty of simplicity. Though I'm not quite ready to move into the house of Zorn just yet, it was a very nice visit.

Classic

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

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30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: January—Day 8.

On our California trip last summer, I hoped to find a VW bus. On one of the last days of our trip, we finally found one. Walking home from the beach, in the late afternoon shade, we discovered this classic, red VW bus—backdropped with palm trees and terra-cotta roofs. 

This little guy was a blast to paint. Lots of challenging shapes, values and colors. What was even more fun was the Pandora California beach songs rocking in the studio.

And speaking of fun…
A few feet away from this classic California scene was this great flyer posted on a telephone pole. We laughed the rest of the way home. Have fun, everybody!

Roadside Barn

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: January—Day 7.

One week complete in the 30 day challenge! Today's painting is a quick study based on a photo I took while traveling thru middle TN last November. 

California Dreamin

8"x10" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

NFS

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: January—Day 5.

Still escaping the cold by painting memories of summertime travels, today's painting is from our trip to California. But more than just California dreaming, today's painting is also a tribute to the host of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days challenge, Leslie Saeta. Leslie, an accomplished palette knife painter is known for painting California beaches, boats and palm trees. She been very inspiring to me both in terms of technique and marketing savvy. Last January, I took on her 30 day challenge and my painting career has been forever changed. This January, more than 360 artists have take up her challenge. Thank you, Leslie. And best of luck to all of you 30 day painters out there!

The Catch

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

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30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: January—Day 3.

Today was a bitter cold January day. So, my artist's eye went fishing for warmer inspiration. Today's painting comes from a photograph taken from one of my plein air adventures last summer.

On the day I was painting in the Elk River, there was a fly fisherman near by. He learned how to use the fly rod from a troop of Boy Scouts years ago and has been fishing that way ever since. My wife caught a great photo of him scooping up a nice trout. As I painted the sunset on the river, the man said to my wife, "I've seen a LOT of things in this river, but I haven't seen ANYONE paint."—another testament to why plein air painting is so special. 

I love the grace and elegance of fly fishing. I suppose it brings a therapeutic serenity similar to that of painting. I guess, in a way, were are both fishermen—standing in the middle of the river—sharing a peaceful passion to bring in a good catch.

Stone Stairs

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30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: January—Day 2.

On my last visit to Falls Mill in Belvidere, TN, I fell in love with these stone stairs. The little steps arched their way down to the creek. The had a magical charm about them—as if they were a path to an enchanted place. 

The Good Cup

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

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30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: January—Day 1.

Good Morning! It’s a new day—and a new year. A good cup of coffee is a great to kick-start the day. A warm cup in hand also encourages us to come together and talk with one another—sharing our dreams, our joys and our concerns. So, here’s to a good cup of joe to get us going. Here’s to another 30 days of paintings. And most importantly, here’s to sharing with each other and engaging in real conversation.

Have a good day!

Fall Break

8"x10" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

We spent our Fall Break back at the lake. Here is a plein air painting of our view with the beginnings of fall colors reflecting on the calm water. The interesting thing on this day was the lighting. The sun was giving warm light to the background and leaving the foreground in cooler light. Since the background had more fall color, it just added to the beauty of the scene. 

I encourage you to take some time to recharge your souls to the beauty of  fall.

A Touch of Autumn

8"x10" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

NFS

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of painting the beginning of fall colors at Tim's Ford State Park. The folks at the State Park Marina were kind enough to allow me to paint from their dock. Although the location was a little bouncy, the view was beautiful.

Dockside with my older daughter looking on.

Another view from the marina.

The Marina at the State Park—friendly people and delicious ice cream!

Buddy

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

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30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge—Day 27.

This is probably as close as I want to get to painting a portrait. Today's painting is of our friend’s Goldendoodle. His name is Buddy. I was amazed at how much expression there was to be captured in a dog’s portrait. I learned a lot from painting this fuzzy fella. 

Go ahead. You can say it. "Awwwwwwwwwe."

Beautiful Dawn

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

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30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge—Day 26.

Today's painting is of a beautiful morning sky we had the other day. It reminds me of a great song by The Wailin Jennys called "Beautiful Dawn." I have included their lyrics and a youtube video of the song below. Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYwh02xjKL0

Take me to the breaking of a beautiful dawn
Take me to the place where we come from
Take me to the end so I can see the start
There's only one way to mend a broken heart

Take me to the place where I don't feel so small
Take me where I don't need to stand so tall
Take me to the edge so I can fall apart
There's only one way to mend a broken heart

Take me where love isn't up for sale
Take me where our hearts are not so frail
Take me where the fire still owns its spark
There's only one way to mend a broken heart

Teach me how to see when I close my eyes
Teach me to forgive and to apologize
Show me how to love in the darkest dark
There's only one way to mend a broken heart

Take me where the angels are close at hand
Take me where the ocean meets the sky and the land
Show me to the wisdom of the evening star
There's only one way to mend a broken heart

Take me to the place where I feel no shame
Take me where the courage doesn't need a name
Learning how to cry is the hardest part
There's only one way to mend a broken heart

Misty Morning Lake

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

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30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge—Day 23.

Today's painting is a plein air piece from the lake. It was a cool and misty morning—giving us a taste of Autumn weather.

Red Hot Chili Peppers

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel
with Palette Knife

SOLD

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: September—Day 20.

Ten more days to go in the 30 paintings challenge and things are heating up. My sister-in-law, while traveling in New Mexico,  took a photo of chili peppers hanging out to dry. I just couldn't resist the opportunity to paint all of that red hot color.

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

Click HERE to Purchase

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: September—Day 14.

Come, thou Fount of every blessing, 
tune my heart to sing thy grace; 
streams of mercy, never ceasing, 
call for songs of loudest praise. 
Teach me some melodious sonnet, 
sung by flaming tongues above. 
Praise the mount! I'm fixed upon it, 
mount of thy redeeming love. 

Here I raise mine Ebenezer; 
hither by thy help I'm come; 
and I hope, by thy good pleasure, 
safely to arrive at home. 
Jesus sought me when a stranger, 
wandering from the fold of God; 
he, to rescue me from danger, 
interposed his precious blood.

O to grace how great a debtor 
daily I'm constrained to be! 
Let thy goodness, like a fetter, 
bind my wandering heart to thee. 
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, 
prone to leave the God I love; 
here's my heart, O take and seal it, 
seal it for thy courts above.

Text: Robert Robinson, 1735-1790 
Music: Wyeth's Repository of Sacred Music, Part Second 
Tune: NETTLETON

Acoustic

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

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30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: September—Day 13.

I think the acoustic guitar is a marvelous instrument. The variety of sounds that can be made with a single guitar is amazing. In a world full of electronic sound, it's so refreshing to hear the unplugged mellow tones of the acoustic guitar. This is my guitar. Sadly, I don't know how to play it very well, but it was certainly fun to paint for today's post.

Autumn Medley

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

$75.00 unframed + Shipping

$100.00 Framed + Shipping

Click HERE to Purchase

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: September—Day 12.

One of my favorite places to be is under a tree in the peak of fall foliage. The colors are so vibrant. When the sun shines through, everything underneath is bathed in orange glow. Today's painting is from a photograph of such a place, taken last year in my front yard. This year, I hope to be in the same place painting.