Shady Spot and A Place of Renewal and Reflection

8"x10" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

Click Here to Purchase

Today's post is a shady sycamore painted en plein air for the Chestnut Group art event benefiting the Harpeth River Watershed. 

Painting outdoors is always a renewing experience. But this spot was particularly special for me. This tree lives by a pond on a farm which used to belong to the Christian/Pop singer Amy Grant. Back in the 90s, she hosted regular music/worship events in the barn on her farm. As a college student, I went to a couple of those events. They were very renewing for my faith life at that time. Returning over 20 years later to that same space as a painter gave me a lot to think about. I thought about where I've been and where I am now as both a person of faith and as an artist. I have much to be thankful for. I'm thankful for the gifts of renewing moments. I'm thankful for the gift of art and what it has done for my life. I'm thankful for the simple gifts of shady spots in nature—resting beside still waters. And most importantly, I'm thankful for a loving and patient God who gives all of those gifts and so much more.




You can learn more about the Chestnut Group event "Scenes of the Harpeth" here:

Scenes of the Harpeth

Heron Glide

8"x10" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

Here is another portrait of a most fascinating bird. 

This Blue Heron will be on display at the 

Friends of Radnor Lake Fine Art Show & Sale, 

Nov 6–8 form 8 a.m–5 p.m.

Impressions of Spring

8"x10" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

Here is another painting with the The Chestnut Group for the Cumberland on Canvas event. A portion of the show's proceeds benefit the Cumberland River Compact. Event Details below.

This is a reflecting pond from Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum. Here is a field shot on location.

Sycamore In Spring

8"x10" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

I love Sycamore trees. I call them "Lightning Trees" because their stark, white, branches look like a bolts of lightning to me. I have been itching to paint one for some time now. I finally got my chance while painting with the The Chestnut Group for the Cumberland on Canvas event. 

We will be sharing and selling our paintings for the Cumberland River Compact April 17 and 18. Details are in the attachments below.

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

Moon Over Radnor Lake

8"x10" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

I had a great experience painting with the Chestnut Group the other evening. We gathered at Radnor Lake and painted the full moon rising over the lake. This was my first attempt to paint at night. It was so much fun! As I was painting, I discovered another artist sharing my easel to create his own work of art. Sadly, I had to interrupt his work and gently escort him to another spot when it came time fro me to pack up. You never know what's going to happen when you paint en plein air.

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.

Resilient

8"x10" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

“Reflections: 150 Years Later,” 

Art Show Benefiting The Battle of Franklin Trust

This is another plein air painting I did with The Chestnut Group. A portion of the group’s sales are donated to the preservation of fragile local environments and historical properties. It is for an upcoming show benefiting The Battle of Franklin Trust.

This red building survived the Battle of Franklin that occurred on November 30, 1864. The building served as the farm office for the Carter family when their property became ground zero for what became one of the bloodiest nights of the Civil War. Riddled with bullet holes, this little wooden structure is currently the most battle-damaged, free-standing building in the country. Today, you can walk up and put your fingers into the building's many holes. It is a great testament to the violence of that fateful day, 150 years ago. It is also speaks to the resilience of a family and a community to survive the toughest conditions, but not without bearing some scars.

If you are in the area, come and see the show and meet the wonderful and very talented Chestunts.

Witness Tree

11"x14" Oil on Canvas

with Palette Knife

“Reflections: 150 Years Later,” 

Art Show Benefiting The Battle of Franklin Trust

This year, I have joined a plein air painters alliance called The Chestnut Group. A portion of the group’s sales are donated to the preservation of fragile local environments and historical properties. This painting is for an upcoming show benefiting The Battle of Franklin Trust.

On November 30, 1864, the Civil War came to Franklin with great cost. One of the key locations in this tragedy is the Carnton plantation which served as the area’s largest army field hospital. 

This tree, on the adjacent property of Windermere, witnessed the horrific events of that terrible day.  Its curved trunk, twisted branches, knots, holes and fallen top bear witness to a long life of moments—both joyous and tragic. Trees like this have many stories to tell, and are living monuments to events we should never forget.

If you are in the area, come and see the show and meet the wonderful and very talented Chestunts.