Salisbury Morning - watercolor

watercolor, 2017

available, 11"x15"

prints also available

      From a photo taken early one December morning in downtown Salisbury, NC. It was too early for pedestrians or even much traffic. The stark contrasts and long shadows caught my eye.

Church Street Church - watercolor

watercolor, 2016

available, 11"x15"

prints also available

      I called this one Church Street Church because it isn't a church anymore; it's an Italian restaurant. I couldn't find the original name of the church that occupied this building. Beyond that, I'm quite happy with this one.

Apothecary's Shop - watercolor

watercolor, 2016

available, 11"x15"

prints also available

      This is from a photo I shot in Old Salem, a preserved Moravian town first settled in 1766. I couldn't resist the shadows on the building when I saw it a few years ago. Even then I knew it would be a challenge to paint and this is at least the second attempt. I'm much happier with this one than with the first.

Grace Lutheran - watercolor

watercolor, 2016

available, 9"x12"

prints also available

      Here's that second church from Lancaster PA for Virtual Paintout I mentioned last week. Very quick, very loose and impressionistic.

Pleasant Grove - watercolor

watercolor, 2016

available, 9"x12"

prints also available

      Virtual Paintout is in Lancaster County, PA this month. Lots of farmland and wide, open spaces. I always seem to gravitate to church buildings. This simple, little church is out in the middle of nowhere. I might do a gothic church from downtown Lancaster, as well. This one worked out nicely. I wish the little graveyard behind the church was more apparent. I could have gotten a closer vantage point or one from camera-left. But that would have either reduced the feeling of space or removed the straight-ahead frankness these little churches exude. The only other problem is that the scan washed out a sky with which I'm actually very happy.

St. Johns, Charleston - watercolor

watercolor, 2015

available, 11"x15"

prints and gifts also available

      This is the third attempt at this image and I'm still not sure about it.

St. Anne's - watercolor

watercolor, 2016

available, 11"x15"

prints also available

      St. Anne's is a picturesque, old church in the eastern part of North Carolina. I wasn't too sure about this one until after I scanned it. I like it more now than I did before. But I still might try it again to add some more air around it. I think it's a little too crowded.

Blowing Rock Church - watercolor

watercolor, 2015

available, 11"x15"

prints also available

      This is from a reference photo I shot back in the summer of Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church in Blowing Rock, NC. There is a particular lighting issue that bugs me. But, it's probably only noticeable to me. Otherwise, I'm pretty happy with a couple new techniques I tried out on this one.

      Also, happy new year!

Immaculate Conception - watercolor

watercolor, 2015

available, 11"x15"

prints and gifts also available

      Virtual Paintout is in Ecuador this month and without even realizing it I chose the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Cuenca. It's fitting that I chose this particular church just before Christmas. But I didn't even know the name of the church until after I'd finished the painting and looked it up. Anyway, I'm quite happy with how this one worked out, though the perspective is odd since the right side of the building is almost perfectly in line with the viewing position. It looks like a flat Hollywood false front. And, of course, Google's photos always play havoc with vertical perspective, which I try to correct in Photoshop and again when doing the initial drawing. Still, I don't always get it right.

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.

Caitlin's Cottage - watercolor

watercolor, 2015

9"x12"

      This is a quick, loose sketch of the cottage my daughter is living in this summer while doing an internship in Michigan. We hate her being gone all summer -- especially so far away that it's prohibitive for us to visit her. But this is a great learning experience for her. So, more power to the Puddinator!

Open, Asheboro - watercolor

watercolor, 2015

available, 11"x15"

prints also available

      This is from a photo I took in downtown Asheboro. The store in view was an interesting little hand-made jewelry boutique that also sold re-purposed artsy furniture. The owners had covered the floor in gold glitter because the carpet was stained and ugly, but the floor underneath was no better. There was a large bowl of glitter by the door so you could add to the decor if you wanted.
      I've been spending a lot of time in antique and consignment stores lately because I've been driving my wife, mother, mother-in-law, and sisters (or any combination thereof) around on Saturdays. It sounds a little odd, I know. But, they get a driver and I get lots of opportunities for reference photos like this one and that toy truck from last week.

Bhutan - watercolor

watercolor, 2015

9"x12" available

      Virtual Paintout is in Bhutan this month. I had a lot going on and almost didn't get anything done for this month. But here it is, another step toward a looser, more impressionist style.

Corner Store - gouache

gouache, 2015

original available, 11"x15" $125

prints also available

      This is a piece that was finished the day before my recent inner ear trouble began. It took a few days to get it scanned and uploaded since I was out of commission for more than a week.

Salem Christmas - watercolor

watercolor, 2014

original available, 11"x14" $150

prints also available

      Merry Christmas to all! This is another one from a recent trip to Old Salem just after they decorated back in early November. I usually don't do holiday-themed art. But, this seemed like the perfect opportunity to find some reference material. Unfortunately, this was the only Christmas-themed image I found. It'll have to do in a very Moravian-like understated sort of way.

Old Salem Tavern - watercolor

watercolor, 2014

original available, 9"x12" $150

prints also available

      From a recent trip to the historic Old Salem, a Moravian settlement/town that eventually became Winston-Salem, NC.

Wallburg Barn - watercolor

watercolor, 2014

original available, 9"x12" $125

prints also available

      A small barn or shack I found just a few feet off the road in the Wallburg area.

Church Door - watercolor

watercolor, 2014

original available, 9"x12" $175

prints also available

Back Yard Ford - watercolor

watercolor, 2014

original available, 11"x15" $275

prints also available

Beach House - watercolor

watercolor, 2014

original available, 9"x12" $100

prints also available