Breathe on Me, Breath of God

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: January—Day 30

Breathe on me, Breath of God,
Fill me with life anew,
That I may love what Thou dost love,
And do what Thou wouldst do.

Breathe on me, Breath of God,
Until my heart is pure,
Until with Thee I will one will,
To do and to endure.

Breathe on me, Breath of God,
Till I am wholly Thine,
Till all this earthly part of me
Glows with Thy fire divine.

Breathe on me, Breath of God,
So shall I never die,
But live with Thee the perfect life
Of Thine eternity.

O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

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30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: January—Day 29

O Master, let me walk with thee

in lowly paths of service free;

tell me thy secret; help me bear

the strain of toil, the fret of care.

Help me the slow of heart to move

by some clear, winning word of love;

teach me the wayward feet to stay,

and guide them in the homeward way.

Teach me thy patience, still with thee

in closer, dearer company,

in work that keeps faith sweet and strong,

in trust that triumphs over wrong.

In hope that sends a shining ray

far down the future's broadening way;

in peace that only thou canst give,

with thee, O Master, let me live.

Mother & Child

11"x14" Oil on Canvas

with Palette Knife

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30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: January—Day 28

Sometimes when I finish a painting, I feel a sense of gratitude to have been able to be a part of the subject's beauty. It is a joy and honor to have the opportunity to express this beautiful moment with my art. This portrait's true power is love.

Ancestral Home

 6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

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30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: January—Day 27

Here is when 30 days of paintings comes in handy. A client wanted her ancestral home painted as a gift for her parents. The photo reference was a black and white photograph. Thankfully, I my previous painting experiences allowed me to interpret the subject in color. 

Whew.

Lighthouse

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

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30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: January—Day 26

This lighthouse in Long Beach, California is just too cute not to paint.

Fire & Ice

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

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30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: January—Day 25

It was a bitterly cold morning in Middle Tennessee. As I drove my kids to school, the temperature was in the single digits. On the way, we passed a field where the treetops were just beginning to be warmed by the sun. The golden light looked like fire against the cold, icy ground. It was a beautiful scene to start the day.

Bluebird

8"x10" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

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30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: January—Day 24.

Every now and then, I come across a moment that just screams "Paint me!" 
One such moment was when  I saw this classic Thunderbird parked in the shade.

Robin and Red Berries

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

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30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: January—Day 23

On one of my walks, I snapped a photo of this little guy picking berries.

The Lord Is My Light

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

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30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: January—Day 22.

The Lord is my light,

My light and salvation.

In God I trust.

These words and today's painting come from a Taizé song based on Psalm 27.

Harbor

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

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30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: January—Day 21.

Have you ever looked at a harbor and all of the boats just seemed to blend together? That was the impression that I tried to convey in today's piece.

Riverdance

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

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

For today's painting, I went back to the river—this time to paint en plein air.  The light of the late afternoon was dancing all around. It was a challenge to capture the ever changing light. The result ended up quite lose and impressionistic.

Prayer

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

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30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: January—Day 19.

Let my prayer rise before you as incense,
the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

Psalm 141:2

Kicking Up A Spray

8"x10" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

NFS

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: January—Day 18.

It's hard to believe that my oldest child will be turning 14 in a few days. He is an amazing young man—full of energy and ability. As a baby, he went straight from crawling to running and has never slowed down since. So far, his achievements are high academics, 3rd Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo and First Class Boy Scout. His additional interests are gaming, reading, Model UN, drama, band (trumpet), snow skiing, and lastly, waterskiing. That is the inspiration for today's painting.

This is a portrait of my son slalom skiing last summer. He had just mastered how to "kick up a spray." It was a real challenge to paint. But like many of my paintings, what seemed impossible in the beginning, ended up to be a great painting. I'm really jazzed about how the spray turned out—and was surprised at the amount of detail I got in the figure.

So, Happy Birthday, my boy! Keep on running!

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.

Ripples in the Rain

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

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

Today, it rained—all day. Today's painting is a close up of rain on the lake. It is similar to a previous painting from my first attempt at the 30 Paintings in 30 Days challenge (see "Playing with Puddles"). Ironically, I painted this piece exactly one year later.

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.

River Walk

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

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

Today's painting is a treat from my neighborhood walk. Turning right at the split, instead of taking the usual left, I got a surprising view of the Harpeth river. Who knows what I might find if I take a different turn tomorrow.

Lazy Days

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

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30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: January—Day 11.

One third of the challenge is behind me. Time to relax and take a break, at least in my artist’s mind, in these cozy adirondacks on the gulf. 

Morning Fog

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

NFS

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: January—Day 10.

On the lake, I love those cool mornings when the fog quietly rolls across the water. So far, out of all of my lake paintings, I believe this one is my favorite.

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. 

Frozen

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

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30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: January—Day 6.

If you can’t beat em, join em. As temperatures here continue to drop, and snow comes quietly down today, I have chosen to celebrate with a wintery painting. This is a very loose, impressionistic painting based on an unusual photo of frozen fog on trees taken by my brother-in-law. To all of you who are in winter’s path today, I hope you can give thanks for its beauty. May you be warm and safe.

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!

Sunset on 30-A

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

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30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: January—Day 4.

When we visit the beautiful beaches along Florida's 30-A, I never get tired of watching the spectacular sunsets.

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.