Lake View

11"x14" Oil on Canvas

with Palette Knife

NFS

30 Paintings in 30 Days: September, 2014—Day 14 

Another view from Tims Ford Lake. I have made several other paintings of this view, but to date,  this is my largest plein-air attempt at this location. 

Verdant Reflections

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

Here is another painting from Tims Ford Lake. (to see others, just click "lake" on the search list to the right.) This painting was on a particularly calm day. The afternoon reflections on the still water were long and bold. A great day to paint reflections.

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.

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!

Misty Morning Lake

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

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.

Paddlin’ Around

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

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

Another view from our spot on the lake. This time, I painted the end of our cove. It was an interesting study of greens, but there was something lacking. The next morning, I saw a kayak gliding through the cove—silent and graceful. I just had to add it to the painting. It summed up the whole feeling of the lake. You see, the lake is a slow place. Despite all attempts to make life at the lake faster, via technology and agendas, the lake has an inescapable pace of its own. That pace slows us down. We are able to enjoy God's simple gifts. Things like gratitude of every day, appreciation of God’s creation and intimacy from genuine conversation with one another. With all of the water-skiing, tubing and boating, the lake is at its best when the water is still—where you just float along the gentle current. 

King of the Hill

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

NFS

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

As a child, I used to play a game called "King of the Hill" with my friends. One player (the King) stands atop a hill (or ditch as in our case). Challengers climb the hill and wrestle the king. The one who ends up staying on top is the new king. 

In this plein air painting from the lake, a solitary bale of hay rests atop a hill. This bale has been challenging me to paint it for some time. The best time to paint it is in the late evening when the light is the strongest, but fades fast. In the spirit of the 30 in 30 Challenge, I dared to wrestle that hill with paint. 

It was a tough fight. First of all, the sun vanished behind a cloud just as I was beginning. It returned just in time for me to record the dramatic light effects before setting for the night. The colors changed so fast. I mostly had only values to work with with fleeting moments of color checks in the setting sun. Assaulted by mosquitos and with hands covered in paint, I finally finished the painting by dusk. 

Although the bale of hay still rests at the top of the hill in this painting, I feel confident that I have overcome the challenge and won the game.

Good Morning

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

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

Welcome to another series of 30 paintings in 30 days inspired by painter Leslie Saeta. Today's post is a plein air piece from our spot on Tims Ford Lake. Mornings are hazy and peaceful on the lake—and today was no exception. The kiss of sunlight on the shady cove gives me a sense of new beginnings and hope-filled possibilities of a new day.

Going Swimming

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge—Day 22.

By mid summer on the lake, the water temperature is perfect. Walking out onto a dock, you might find the lake calling you, with gentle ripples and sunny reflections, to go for a swim. And if you get in, you may never want to get out again.

In the Shade

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge—Day 7.

This is my favorite little spot on Tims Ford Lake in Tennessee. It's a great place to unwind and spend time with family. For me today, it's a place of reflection. It has been one week since I took on Leslie Saeta's 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge. I have already learned a lot about my art and about myself. We all need a quiet place to unwind from our hectic life and reflect on our journeys—even if that place is in a painting.

Solitude

A late summer afternoon on a dock at Tim’s Ford Lake. That’s the setting for this plein air painting. This is our family spot on the lake. We visit here every summer. At this place, our family retreats to fellowship, splash around and unwind from life’s hectic pace. In the late after noon, after the boats have returned to their docks, the lake quickly settles down to a calm that is guaranteed to bring peace and serenity to one’s soul. The orange, setting sun makes the colors dance on the water. This is my favorite time on the lake. This is the time I like to sneak away from the family, head down to the dock, for a retreat of my own. My moment of solitude. Our Lord is wise to have us take a sabbath. We all need to take time for God’s peace to calm our lives. To ditch the cell phones, emails and facebook posts. But I also believe God calls us to deeper sabbaths of solitude. Where the body, soul, and spirit are all still. A moment in time where there is no one else but yourself and God. It helps us to refresh our core self and live life more in keeping to the way of love. Unfortunately, I don’t get to spend too much time at my place of solitue on the lake. There are too many kids to get dry and meals to be prepared. But I always look forward to this time and place, even if just for a brief moment.