Belfast 55 - watercolor

watercolor, 2019

available, 11"x15"

      This is from a photograph shot in Belfast back in 1955, hence the title. I loved the graphic nature of the monochrome shapes and thought a watercolor version might be fun.

Autumn Promenade - watercolor

watercolor, 2016

available, 11"x15"

prints also available

      I've had this reference photo so long I don't remember where it came from or who shot it. I was never quite sure how to tackle it or if I could do it justice. I think it works pretty well now.

King's Crab Shack - watercolor

watercolor, 2015

available, 11"x15"

prints and gifts available

      The patrons of a Winston-Salem restaurant try to dodge the sun on a hot June day.

Santa Fe - watercolor

watercolor, 2015

available, 7.5"x11"

      Virtual Paintout is in Santa Fe this month. I had a lot going on and just barely had time to do one this month. There's a lot right about this one. The dry brush on the road and the reflections in the windshields are just right. The figures are all good except for the center figure's feet. I should have just left them out completely.

Manteo - watercolor

watercolor, 2015

available, 11"x15"

prints and gifts also available

      It was cold, dark and cloudy the last time we were in Manteo and all my reference photos show it. It wasn't too difficult brightening things up. I added the pedestrian for some interest and movement.

Available Asheboro - watercolor

watercolor, 2015

available, 11"x15"

prints and gifts also available

      Another view from Asheboro, NC. I had just noticed this building and was pulling my camera up to my eye when this man turned the corner. I just waited for him to finish the composition.

Cesky Krumlov Square - watercolor

watercolor, 2015

available, 11"x15"

prints and gifts also available

      Virtual Paintout is in Cesky Krumlov this month. Lots of Old World charm, narrow streets and squares full of pedestrians.

Lexington WiFi - watercolor

watercolor, 2015

original available, 11"x15" $125

prints also available

      Lexington NC is a forward-thinking little town with a thriving downtown that offers free wi-fi. I really wasn't thinking about that when I took the reference photo. But the red and white sign makes for a nice focal point. When I took the shot I was so intent on getting the pedestrians in the shot before they disappeared into a store that I didn't realize the trees and utility pole lined up the way they did. It looks a little odd, but I guess it still works. There's a lot of other things about this one that I got exactly the way I wanted, though.

Sunday Morning, Fall Market, High Point NC - watercolor

watercolor, 2014

original available, 15"x22" $300

prints also available

      Really stretching with this one -- and pretty happy with the result! It's looser than most of my previous paintings. It has an expanded color palette. It has a much expanded view of subject matter. And it has figures in a landscape. All of these are things I've been working on -- or trying/wanting to work on. And here they all are in what I consider a pretty successful painting. Having said all that, by the time this post went live I've already started -- and probably am nearly finished -- re-painting this one. The more I looked at it, the less I liked the inclusion of the hood of my Jeep at the bottom and some of the ads on that bridge structure between the two buildings. We'll see how the second attempt looks. Maybe I'll post it and leave this one up too.
      And for those who don't know, the International Home Furnishings Market (which was in full swing when I took the reference photo for this painting) is a twice-yearly convention of sorts in High Point NC where furniture and other home furnishing manufacturers host buyers from stores from all over the world. It's here that these buyers find the products that will fill their stores for the next few months. High Point's normal population of about 107,000 doubles during these two weeks each year (one week in the spring and one in the fall) and brings in more than $5 billion.
     And happy new year to one and all!