Normandy

I spent the last two days of last week in and around Normandy and Bell Buckle. I did Thursday and Friday morning at the Normandy dam painting the tail waters that are the Duck River. It is a great place to paint. The river is small and accessible everywhere there. Thursday I was the only person around. That morning the trout stocking truck from Dale Hollow Fish Hatchery showed up and dumped trout in the river. The next day was Good Friday and I am sure word on the trout got out so there were a few fishermen in the river but they seemed to be too busy fishing to even care I was there. The only question I was asked was by a lady who pulled up in a beat up pick-up and asked if I had "caught anything yet." I didn't want to try to explain what I was actually doing so I said,"nope, not yet."

Henry Horton Park

The Chestnut Group is teaming up with the Nature Conservency to paint the Duck River Watershed to raise money for the restoration and preservation of the Duck River. After I painted in Mount Olivet I drove to Henry Horton State Park that afternoon and the drive is not that bad. It is a straight shot down Nolensville road and takes less than an hour from the heart of Nashville. The river winds around the park and is very accesible almost everywhere in the park. They have a walking trail that runs along the north side of the river with some beautiful views. There is quite a bit there to paint. Got one done Saturday afternoon and plan on going back for a full day soon.
If anybody in the Chestnuts has a question about it, e-mail.

Plein Air Nashville

Plein Air Nashville is back in action. We painted Saturday at the Mount Olivet Cemetary. I had never been so I actually didn't know what to expect. There is so much to paint there you would never get it all. The history there is also worth going for. We were just standing there talking and I turned and read the first one next to me and it was Acklen, the lady that owned the Belmont Mansion before it was Belmont University. Names that you recognize are everywhere, old Nashville names. There is also a number of Confederate soldiers and generals buried there. I think the nicest thing about the place though is the artistic quality of most of the monuments. It is almost like walking through a sculpture garden.
Anyway, I was rather pleased with the painting I got. It was backlit with a lot of reflected light and real close values. When you looked at the monuments they were all gray but some were more green, some more blue, some more red, etc., etc. The difference sometimes was more of a temperature change in the color than an actual change in the value. I think it was the struggle more than the finish that made me appreciate this painting so much.

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.

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.

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.

15 Degrees

Last Thursday I think I set a personnal best. I have painted in temperatures as low as 20 degrees but Thursday it was 15 degrees when I started. The biggest issue was the thickening of the Titanium white. It needed liberal doses of terp to perform properly.
Also, 15 degrees is not too cold for muskrats. I had a couple that were swimming the river back and forth about 10 feet in front of me the whole time I painted. I am not sure what muskrats have to do that would make them so busy, but they were getting it done.

Winter

The winter is actually my favorite time to paint and be outdoors. I can't remember where I read it but some artist said that "in the winter you can see the bones of the landscape." The land looks so much different in the winter.
Lately I have been painting in Bell Buckle and in the Yanahli Wildlife Management Area in Maury County. For those who haven't been to Bell Buckle and Beford County it's a painter's paradise. Rolling hills and tons of backroads. Be prepared though because they are not accustom to seeing painters and you will be asked," what'cha doin'?"

Belle Meade Show Update

The show that the Chestnut Group is having at the Belle Meade Plantation has been extended until the end of January. If you haven't been, stop by. There is still plenty of excellent art left.

Belle Meade Show

I will be participating in The Chestnut Group's "Belle Meade Small Works Show" from December 6th through the entire month of December. All pieces must be of Belle Meade, no larger than 8x10 and must be executed en plein air. They will hang in the Plantation Giftshop which will be a great place to Christmas shop.

The Chestnut Group

I have recently joined the Chestnut Group which is a group of local painters whose members donate a lot of time and money through volunteer work and proceeds from shows to land preservation in the area. They will be having a show at Radnor Lake beginning on Nov. 1 with a reception that evening from 5-8. Above are 2 of my images for the show. Please drop by, I think you will enjoy the show.

The Month of August for a Plein Air Painter

Below are some of the images I produced in the record setting month of August. It was the hottest month we have had on record in Tennessee and it made painting out very difficult. I think you will notice though, a lot of creek paintings. It was the only way I could manage.