Oil Painters of America Exhibit

River Banks - Spring Thaw, oil on linen, 8x16, plein air

I am super excited! After numerous tries through the years, I finally have a painting accepted into the 2013 Juried Salon Show of Traditional Oils with the Oil Painters of America. Although I have had work accepted into national art competitions before, this show in particular was a goal to have my work accepted among many other fine OPA painters. Having a painting accepted into a show like this can really boost one's confidence! The best part, is that the show is here in Michigan at the Crooked Tree Art Center in the beautiful town of Petoskey. I have already signed up for a plein air painting workshop with the well known painter, Marc Hanson at the art center. The workshop starts right after the opening weekend of June 22 in Petoskey.
Taking a painting workshop really helps to recharge the artist and learn from someone else who has knowledge to share. I hope to always keep learning and improving my work!

I hope you have the opportunity to see this exhibit and visit beautiful Michigan this summer. The show runs June 22 through August 31, 2013.

Plein Air at Hemlock Crossing

Using my new EasyL Prochade box at Hemlock Crossing Park in West Olive, MI. I was here painting with the Plein Air Artists of West Michigan, and painting nearby was Barb Berens and Sharon Griffs-Tarr.
This is a very nice park with many walking trails, the Pigeon River and has a new educational nature center.

The day was overcast even though the forecast was for sunny weather! 

I decided to pushed the color a little to add variety and depth. You can see there are a lot of grays and browns in this landscape, so I mixed up a variety of warm and cool grays.

March Thaw, oil, 8x10, plein air on the Pigeon River.
The finished painting. I added a little more snow and warmed up the grasses.  I initially did not have any Yellow Ochre on my palette (I was mixing up a similar color), and then finally relented because the painting just needed the extra color intensity in the right bank and nearer grasses.

March Plein Air

Today I went out plein air painting. It was in the mid 30's with bright sunshine, I soon felt overdressed!

This place is near to my home and I discovered it last fall, thinking it would be a good painting spot. I am set up on a flat earthen ledge, held up by a tree and the roots. I kind of felt safe, though I was concerned about my sled of equipment sliding down into the river. Overall, I was excited to try this new size format for a painting panel. I am also thinking that this composition will translate well into a larger painting of the same subject.

A start.... using a limited palette of Titanium white, Chromatic Black, Yellow Ochre Light, Yellow Ochre, Cad Red Light, Transparent Oxide Red, Transparent Brown, Alizarin Crimson, Ultra blue and Cobalt Blue.
The panel was already toned with raw sienna and dry before I started. My medium is Gamsol, Linseed oil and damar varnish in a 5-1-1 ratio. The easel is a ProChade box kit by Artwork Essentials. It fits into a backpack!

Making progress....

"River Banks - Spring Thaw", oil on linen, 8x16, $950 framed
The oil primed linen is mounted on a birch panel. A pleasure to use!

As you can see this final picture of the painting was taken in my studio and the lighting is different than the outdoor light. The studio light is more on the yellow side.

Winter Plein Air

Recent plein air work painted from a bridge on Mill Creek.

Mill Creek I, oil, 8x10

Mill Creek II, oil, 8x10

Happy Valentines Day!

Plein Air in Townsend Park

"Bear Creek", oil, 8x10, $500. framed, $250. unframed

"Leaning Pine", oil, 8x10, $500. framed, $250. unframed

Beautiful sunny day, lots of fresh snow, no wind, temps are bearable, time to paint outside!

Day 12 - "30 Paintings in 30 Days"

Cedar Creek - Winter, oil, 12x9
$250 unframed through the end of January.


I don't think it is cheating... I thought I would finish up a painting that I started as Thursday's class demo. It had the large shapes massed in, the sky, some darks, and mid tones. This painting was from a photo and the demo helped to show my students some tips on starting a landscape, the value of doing thumbnails for composition and working thin to think. This painting also helped in the discussions and demonstration of mixing colors like greens and grays.
I like the finished result and will bring it to the next class for further discussion.

Thank you for viewing my art, click here to see my web site!

"30 Paintings in 30 Days"

Day 6 - "30 Paintings in 30 Days"

Meandering Creek, pastel, 6x6
$225. framed in a custom silver frame with AR glass.

Finally, a sunny day here in West Michigan! Also, we still have some snow, especially north of  Grand Rapids, so it is really wonderful. This little creek is one of my favorite places to paint, in all seasons, and really nice in winter.

Thank you for viewing my art and you can see many more daily paintings at the "30 Paintings in 30 Days" blog.

Plein Air Paintings in Winter

Creek in Winter Study II, oil on linen panel, 9x12
Painted towards the end of February in Townsend Park.

Creek in Winter Study, oil on linen panel, 8x10
Painted in mid February at Townsend Park.

Other Side of the River, oil on linen panel, 9x12
Painted in January on the Rogue River.