Frost at Dawn

24"x24"

Oil on Deep Edged Canvas

with Palette Knife

SOLD

I'm really enjoying abstract landscape painting!

Radnor Winter

8"x10" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

My last plein-air painting of the year. And what a way to finish! It's amazing how cold and wind will add loose, expressive strokes to a painting as one hurries to get it done. This was painted at Radnor Lake—a favorite hiking spot for our family. I have learned so much from my plein-air adventures this year. I can't wait to see what new adventures, and lessons,  await in the new year. 

The Franklin Band: Trumpet

5"x7" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

My son is a marching trumpet in The Franklin Band. They have recently won the Governor's Cup and state championship for the sixth time and are moving on to Super Regional and Grand National competitions where they have been semi finalists four times. Here is a little portrait to honor the hard working kids of The Franklin Band. 

A Walk in the Park

8"x10" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

One of the paintings for "A Walk in the Park" event at Marcella Vivrette Smith Park, 

Brentwood, on Oct 30 from 1-5 PM.

If you're looking for a nice, short hike, Smith Park in Brentwood, TN has a lot to offer. There is a lot of varying terrain, from open fields to rocky climbs. The portion of the trail painted here was especially nice. It was a loose-gravel limestone path which meandered from a warm sunny overlook down into a minty-cool patch of evergreens. You could feel the temperature drop as you walked though it. All the while, the sun dazzled and danced through the trees.

Smith Park is one of Middle Tennessee's best kept secrets. If you're ever in the area, I highly recommend you give these amazing trails a try.

Redbird

6"x6" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

One of the paintings for "A Walk in the Park" event at Marcella Vivrette Smith Park, 

Brentwood, on Oct 30 from 1-5 PM.

One morning while walking on the trails of Smith Park, I came across this little Cardinal perfectly perched in a tree. I could not have asked for a better composition.

Tennessee Relic

8"x10" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

Click Here To Purchase

One of the paintings for "A Walk in the Park" event at Marcella Vivrette Smith Park, 

Brentwood, on Oct 30 from 1-5 PM.

On one of the trails, deep into the park, lies the remains of a slave wall. Slave walls are gems of history which can be found all over middle Tennessee. They were property fences land owners had built with slave labor. Many have been restored, for they are important relics of southern history. This one, however, looks untouched—letting nature and time take its toll. 

I actually think this wall tells a more accurate story than any restored walls.  I think it reflects the state of our culture's attitude to African Americans today. Racism and prejudice still exist today, but I believe it continues to crumble slowly over time. Like a scar, this wall is a beautiful sign of healing from a wound we will never forget and remains as an undeniable part of our personal story.

The people who built this wall in the days of slavery are long gone. 

I pray that someday ALL of the walls we build to divide ourselves and oppress others 

will be gone as well. 

Ravenswood Mansion & A Walk in the Park

9"x12" Oil on Canvas

with Palette Knife

FOR AUCTION

Lately, I've been working on some paintings to benefit Brentwood Green Space, an organization that exists to help citizens manage community growth while maintaining and preserve parks and green areas. This house, "Ravenswood", is a restored home in Smith Park. The home is now a venue for special events. Behind the home are miles of beautiful park trails. 

This painting will be on display at the Brentwood Library through October 30th. There is an auction to purchase the painting at BrentwoodGreenSpace.com. The painting will then be awarded to the highest bidder  at the special event, A Walk in the Park, at Smith Park on October 30, from 1 to 5 PM. 

As a bonus to all of the hayrides, pumpkin decorating, live music , BBQ and sweets, I will be selling paintings in the Ravenswood mansion. Some of the paintings are scenes from Smith Park trails. Be on the lookout for new paintings to come.

Horsing Around: Empty Nest

6"x6" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

My youngest daughter has taken up horseback riding lessons. I decided to take the opportunity to use the hour lesson time to work on some quick-draw plein air painting. 

When we arrived this time, all of the horses were out in the field to graze and run around—which left the barn empty and quiet. I have always been fascinated by the value differences in this scene. The dark barn doorway contrasted by the bright, distant, atmospheric pasture makes me want to run out and play too.

Spring Creek

6"x8" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

I was blessed to have had a return visit to NaCoMe conference center this past weekend. It is a sacred place for our family. At the heart of the campground is a spring-fed creek. I spent some time standing on the creekside rocks painting this scene. I especially enjoyed the little speckles of wildflowers. 

It rained a bit on me this time. I learned a lot about what to do and what NOT to do when it rains on your oil paint palette. My wife impressed me with her creative bushcraft skills by securing an umbrella to my easel with long blades of grass.

Many artists have core subjects they often return to. One of mine is rivers and streams. The experience of standing on the banks, listening to the soft rush of water, is so renewing for my soul. And they have new lessons to teach a painter—every time.

Iris

4x12

Oil on Canvas

SOLD

Keeping the spring palette for a second day. 

This time, a delicate Tennessee Iris.

Show & Sale 8/7/15

I will be showing and selling my art at 

Shuff's Music during the Franklin Art Crawl on 

Friday, August 7, from 6-9pm. 

Hope to see you there!

Color Garden

8"x10" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

Spring is such a beautiful time for plein air painting. Today's painting comes from the Color Garden at Cheekwood. 

Or send me an email.

Winter Reflections

24"x30" Oil on Canvas

with Palette Knife

SOLD

THIS painting, I'm particularly proud of. It is  a 24"x30" palette knife painting of wintery reflections on the surface of the Harpeth River. It is for the The Chestnut Group's Cumberland on Canvas event. I have painted water reflections before, but this is largest surface I have ever attempted. I'm very pleased with the result. I love how it is recognizable yet abstract, which was my goal for this piece. It shows well in the modern urban exhibit space of the Bridge Building. If you are in Nashville this weekend, I highly recommend that you stop by and take a look.

Music City Winter / Riverfront Lights

Music City Winter
8"x10" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

My first attempt at plein air cityscape painting went pretty good. Although the winter day was not the best of weather, it was a lot of fun to work with all of the different shapes of the Nashville skyline. I painted these with my friends of The Chestnut Group. We will be sharing and selling our paintings for the Cumberland River Compact April 17 and 18. Details are in the attachments below. We painted in a beautiful urban space, just across the Cumberland River, to get a good view of the city. After the sun wend down, I stayed a little longer to get this nocturne quick-draw below.

Riverfront Lights
6"x6" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

There was a reporter there form Nashville Arts Magazine to capture us in action. Read the article here. The painter sitting in the top photo is your's truly.

Early Autumn Walk

8"x10" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

for A Hear for Warner Parks Exhibit
SOLD

Plein air painting is always a joy in Warner Parks. Here is one I made last fall. It will be in "A Hear for Warner Parks" show and sale Feb 13-15. Portions of the proceeds benefit the parks. On the day I painted this serene, leave-covered path, an class of elementary children came by. I loved hearing their thoughts about what I was doing. Below are some behind-the-scene shots from that day.

Rooted

8"x10" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

for the Friends of Warner Parks exhibit
SOLD

30 Paintings in 30 Days: January, 2015—Day 22 

Plein air painting with the Chestnut Group today. This beech tree is from a protected property nicknamed "Valley of the Big Trees."

About a dozen of us walked single file into the valley, our feet crunching on the stiff, frozen leaves. Our faces were already feeling the bite of the cold winter air. Some painters were well prepared with pouchade boxes neatly tucked into backpacks. I was hiking my trusty french easel with hacked back-pack strap attachments and a loud, but very functional TJ Max bag full of gear. 

Our guide told us stories of interest as we journeyed through. She told us how the land we were entering had been left mostly untouched for the better part of a century. She showed us places of interest— like where four species of trees were growing from the same mound of earth. She shared how they revere the fallen trees just as much as the living ones. The fallen trees become a new haven for other inhabitants of the forest.

The painters each found their places of interest from which to paint. I went the farthest into the valley to find this beautiful Beech tree. Its massive roots spread out for a distance of about 8 to 10 feet. They looked like giant fingers gripping into the side of the hill. Behind it, another tree had previously fallen and and broke apart on the back of the mighty Beech.  At first glance, the Beach just seemed to be shades of gray. But after spending some time looking at it, I discovered a rich palette of greens, pinks and blues. I knew this was the tree whose story I had come to paint today.

I set up my easel on the hillside. And a steep hillside it was. There was no level place to stand. As I painted, the winter cold was getting the upper hand one me. My paints felt thicker the joints of my fingers were getting stiff. My back was getting sore from the incline. But this is what plein air painting is all about. It's an adventure every time, and a opportunity to better understand nature. So, I pressed on. I loved every second of it!

As light began to fall behind the valley, we packed up and hiked back out of the forest. I felt privileged to have been a witness of such a sacred place. I felt thankful for my colleagues and the efforts of The Chestnut Group for arranging this unique opportunity. I made some new friends in those woods that day—and one very, very old friend—Mr. Beach.

Painters in the Valley of Big Trees

Reference photo… just in case I don't get finished.

In-progress photo

Mountain Rush

6"x6" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

Click HERE to Purchase

30 Paintings in 30 Days: January, 2015—Day 5

Today's painting is another water abstract. It is from a recent walk along side a river in the Smoky Mountains. This one not only reflects the mountain river color palette, but also a sense of the water's rushing movement. 

You can see some of my previous water abstracts here:

Pacifica

Reflections of Summer

Ripples in the Rain

Playing with Puddles

Rainbow Sunset

6"x6" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

30 Paintings in 30 Days: September, 2014—Day 30

It's finally here. Day 30. and this one was a squeaker. Since epic dories end with sunsets, I thought I'd paint one for today. This sunset on the lake came right after a double rainbow—hence the title. 

I hope you have enjoyed the September 2014 daily paintings. Thanks for following and stay tuned. There is more great stuff coming soon!

Field of Beans

6"x6" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD!

30 Paintings in 30 Days: September, 2014—Day 22

Colors of fall are starting to crop up all around Middle Tennessee—as illustrated by this beautiful field of soy beans off the highway.

Sunchokes

8"x10" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

for the Friends of Warner Parks
SOLD

30 Paintings in 30 Days: September, 2014—Day 17

Today,  I went to the park to do some plein air painting for an upcoming event with the Chestnut Group. I came across these beautiful yellow flowers and I just had to paint them. Afterwards, I asked the park ranger what they were. She said they were Jerusalem Artichokes, also called Sunchokes. You can read all about them here.