Barn - watercolor

watercolor, 2016

available, 11"x15"

prints also available

      This one went a lot darker than it should have. But, it turned into a study in pulling out all the stops and using all the tricks to save a failed painting. And, I'm still not crazy about it.

North Street - watercolor

watercolor, 2016

available, 11"x15"

prints and gifts also available

      Downtown Asheboro NC.

Tuk Tuk - watercolor

mixed, 2016

available, 11"x15"

      Virtual Paintout is in Sri Lanka this month. I often have trouble finding images that appeal to me in some locations. But, given my affinity for vehicles, I had to do something with this obvious symbol of South Asian transportation. In almost every StreetView image you see at least one of these. I had a little fun with this one using John Lovett's technique of adding gesso to break up and lighten parts of the otherwise finished watercolor.

442 - watercolor+ink

mixed, 2016

available, 11"x15"

prints and gifts also available

      I decided to jump forward into the muscle car era with an Olds 442, or 4-4-2 to be exact. The numbers stand for four-barrel carb, four-speed transmission, and dual exhaust. I had my doubts about doing a yellow car. But, using three different yellows and controlling the highlights actually made this one pop. The ink-only version is below and prints and gifts of it are available here.

Local Eggs - watercolor

watercolor, 2016

available, 11"x15"

prints also available

      This is where urban meets rural in my hometown. Just to the right a modern retail area begins. Just behind those tree is an interstate highway. But turn left here and you head out of town into what's left of farmland between High Point and Winston-Salem NC. Years ago, I'm sure this store thrived as it's on what was then the main road between the two cities. Now, if you didn't live in that area, you'd never know it was still open.

Trade St. Skater - watercolor

watercolor, 2016

original available, 11"x15"

prints and gifts also available

      From a reference photo I shot a couple years ago in Winston-Salem NC. The skater just whizzed by as I was walking down the street. So I jumped out and fired off half a dozen shots.

Hop's - watercolor

watercolor, 2016

available, 9"x12"

prints and gifts also available

      Just a quick, sketchy painting of a restaurant in downtown Asheboro NC.  There are only a few things I like about this one. It might be re-worked at some point.

Sullivan's Island - watercolor

watercolor, 2016

available, 11"x15"

prints and gifts also available

      I took a lot of reference photos during our September 2015 trip to Charleston, SC. When I took this one I knew it was kind of cliche. A photo of any kind of sailboat on the beach is on every real estate and tourism brochure for every coastal community in the world. But this one works, I think, since I framed the lighthouse in the rigging and I'm very happy with the looseness.

Goodrich Barn - watercolor

watercolor, 2015

available, 11"x15"

prints also available

      A fairly quick, loose and sketchy old truck.

50 Futuramic - watercolor+ink

mixed, 2016

available, 11"x15"

prints and gifts also available

      It's been a while since my last ink+wash car. This time I thought I'd show the ink-only version (below). This one worked out very nicely. I played just a little loose with both the ink and the watercolor. Prints and gifts of the ink version also are available here.

Red Boat, Manteo - watercolor

watercolor, 2016

available, 11"x15"

prints also available

      I took the reference photo for this when my wife and I went to the Outer Banks of North Carolina last year to celebrate our 25th anniversary. Today is our 26th.

      I probably can count the number of water scenes I've painted on one hand. I never feel like I capture it just right. But, this one worked out pretty well. 

Longworth House - watercolor

watercolor, 2016

available, 9"x12"

prints also available

      My last one for Virtual Paintout this month. A loose sketch in - what else - a sketch book.