Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Road Trip!



There is nothing in the world like a road trip. New places, people. I find it hard though to paint in a place I have never painted , it always seems to take a while to get acclimated to the landscape.
I went to Brazier Fine Art in Richmond, Virginia. Loryn and Tammy Brazier own and run the gallery there and have graciously decided to represent my work in that area. I spent last Thursady with them and took a little time to see Loryn's studio. It's sweet. A place up front for classes and workshops and studio space in the back. It appears from looking around that she is a very high caliber portrait artist. There were some incredible pieces hanging in the place. I am looking forward to being in their gallery.
After that I went back to Staunton, Virginia to stay and paint the following day. If you have never been to the Shenadoah Valley and the Blue Ridge Mountains, go. It is beautiful. There is a highway that runs along the bottom of the mountains (I think 320) and parallel to Interstate 81, right through the Valley. It is small towns seperated by vast stretches of farmland with the Shenadoah River laying all through it and mountains all around it. There is just way too much to paint. The houses and barns all look 200 yrs. old. So much character to everything. Anyhoo, got 3 done on Friday and took a ton of photos and may attempt a painting from some of them. Like I said, too much to paint.

Monday, February 4, 2008

Middle of Nowhere


Another painting out of Bedford County. I think I was in Bedford County. I was somewhere between Gossburg and Bradyville. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

Sunday, February 3, 2008

Navigation


Went painting with Jason Saunders recently. Our method for finding a place to paint was to hook up a Garmin Navigation system and start driving. We wound up at the Rock Island Natural Area which is right below the dam that is right below the convergence of the Caney Fork and the Collins Rivers. My best guess is that it is the old river bed that was exposed when they dammed the river. It is all rock and the tail waters run through it and create tons of waterfalls and rushing water that cuts through these rock formations. I found it very challenging with the moving water and the texture of the rocks. That and the fact I was painting with Jason. He is a machine. By the time I got one keeper he had 3! It's intimidating to paint with someone who, everytime you look up they are loading a new paint panel. But I still enjoy painting with him because you never know where you might end up painting.