55 Desoto - ink + watercolor

mixed, 2016

available, 9"x12"

prints and gifts also available

      A quick, little ink and wash classic car. This one works out pretty nicely in spite of a general loosening of the details in the chrome grill.

Angie's Shoes #9 - watercolor

watercolor, 2016

available, 11"x15"

prints and gifts also available

      Just another still life of yet another pair of my wife's shoes.

The Camper - charcoal

charcoal, 2016

available, 8"x11"

prints and gifts also available

      The most famous attendee of everyone's favorite summer camp. Something special but off-beat for St. Valentine's Day. Remember what happens to lovers in horror movies.

53 Skylark - watercolor + ink

mixed, 2016

available, 9"x12"

prints and gifts available

      Not much to say about this one. Just another ink and wash classic car. I really like the graphic nature of Buick's old vertical grill. The ink on this one has a unique look because I used Arches cold-pressed watercolor paper instead of the smoother paper I normally use for inks. The paper texture made for a lot of skipping -- or micro-skipping -- in the ink line. I like the look a lot, but I'll probably stick to the smoother papers most of the time.

Salisbury Corbel - watercolor

watercolor, 2016

available, 11"x15"

      This is architectural detail from a building in downtown Salisbury NC. I just thought it would make an interesting subject.

Bethabara Blacksmith - watercolor

watercolor, 2016

available, 11"x15"

prints also available

      When I saw this historical re-enactor (and real blacksmith) at an event at Bethabara Park early last fall I wanted to get shots of him doing blacksmith stuff; you know, hammer, fire, red-hot metal. I circled for a good half-hour. But he was talking a group of kids showing them some nails and hooks he'd made. I settled for a shot of him leaning on his anvil. The pose, costume, actor and accessories all work just as well as an action shot. And, I'm pretty stoked (get it;) about how this portrait worked out.
      Bethabara Park, by the way, is a partially restored and preserved 260-year-old Moravian settlement in Winston-Salem NC.

Susan - watercolor

watercolor, 2017

      A portrait of my sister in better times. She's been fighting cancer for three or four years and was this week admitted to Hospice care as there is little more any of us can do for her.

      Update: Susan lost her battle early this morning (Friday, Jan. 27).

Roadside Vineyard - watercolor

watercolor, 2016

available, 11"x15"

prints also available

      From a Google Maps Street View image acquired but not used during Virtual Paintout's Napa Valley month.

Punkinseed - watercolor

watercolor, 2016

available, 9"x12"

prints and gifts also available

      Another "sporting" still life. Again, quick and easier than I expected. I wasn't sure about some of the color and lighting effects. But, I'm very happy with this one.

County Line - watercolor

watercolor, 2016

available, 11"x15"

prints also available

      This is from a shot taken during our one decent snowfall last year. It happily breaks one of the cardinal rules of composition -- actually, almost two. 1) There's a heavy line running up the center of the painting. 2) the horizon line also is in the center of the space. The second problem is easy; the actual horizon line is mitigated by the curved line of the tree line. The first problem is ignored because of the graphic nature of the image. Not all images conform to rules (and why should art have to?). Besides, everything else about this image follows other rules like leading and unity. There are five leading lines pulling the viewer into the painting. The line the tops of the trees make against the sky mirrors the tree line on the ground. There's also unity of color in that only four colors were used.
      So, breaking the rules is OK if you have a good reason and the image calls for it.

Dean - watercolor

watercolor, 2016

nfs, 9"x12"

      This is a portrait of my late brother-in-law attempted in the loose, impressionist style I've been chasing. Frankly, I think this is the most successful portrait/figure I've done in this style. It has it's issues, though very minor. But it's right on target and the things I would change are greatly outweighed by those that are just right.

Danbury Baptist - watercolor

watercolor, 2016

available, 11"x15"

prints also available

      A loose view of the front of the little Baptist church in Danbury, NC. I wasn't sure about the warm light reflected back into the shadow areas of the eaves and under the porch. But it works pretty well. The reference photo was taken very early one June morning, a nice contrast to January's usual chill.