Paintings accepted in 6x6 Show

Autumn Harvest, oil, 6x6

Wow, I am excited to have three of my 6x6 paintings accepted into the Randy Higbee Gallery 6x6 Exhibit in Costa Mesa, CA! The whole gallery will be filled with 6x6 paintings from artists across the nation, and a large gala reception will take place with awards and usually many of these small paintings sell.

Still Life with Leek, oil, 6x6

Garlic, Eggplant and Sloans, oil, 6x6

More October Plein Air

Autumn Fields, oil, 12x12, $800.

From the Pumpkin Fields, oil, 9x12, $650.

Icehouse and Barn, oil, 12x16, $900.

October Morning II, oil, 6x6, $250 framed

October Morning I, oil, $250. framed

Pumpkins for Sale, oil, 9x12, $650.

River Banks, oil, 12x9, $650.

October Cornfields, oil, 9x12, $650.

I was very happy to get out on those warmer mid-October days to paint out in the field. My duck boots are still mud caked, but soon to be switched to warmer winter boots!

Reworked Pastels

Sometimes a painting just tells you that something needs to be changed. I unframed several paintings like that. I liked the pastels paintings, in general, but knew in my heart that they could have been a little better. The older versions are still on my web site and will be switched over around the first of November when I do my web site changes.

Looking East, pastel, 24x30. $2300. framed 
This pastel only received slight changes. I added the tracks in the road,  and broke up the road shadows. The trees were improved and the distant field and road grayed down. Overall, I like this painting even if I am the only one who notices the changes. A word of wisdom that applies here is "never leave something in a painting that does not work."

Pond Reflections-Autumn, pastel, 18x24, $1500. framed
OK, I changed the name. It was "Glorious", which was appropriate, but kind of short and not descriptive of the whole painting. The original work was painted in 2009, so I have had this painting for a little while and it had not found a home. Overall, I think the stream did not read well as a stream because it lacked the needed reflections. I am very happy with these recent changes of the reflections and some implied detail along the water's edge.

A Successful Show in Kentucky

Under the Weeping Cherry, SOLD

Pear Blossoms and Bee Box, SOLD

The weather was chilly, but the sun helped to keep us warm. Overall, the show was a success with some nice sales to my collectors. The St. James Court Art Fair is a large juried show with artists attending from many states. We enjoy the southern hospitality and love staying at the Gallery House B&B! Thank you Gordon and Leah!

Awaiting Fields, SOLD

Garden Brilliance, SOLD

Peony and Nectarines, SOLD

Nectarines in a Silver Bowl, SOLD

Sunflower Field, SOLD

October Plein Air

I haven't been able to get out to paint as much as I would have liked so far this month. Now that the St. James Court Art Fair is finished, I did get to paint with Holly Sturgis last week and I went to the Pierce Cedar Creek Institute just on Friday to join the PAAWM painters. The day was sunny and brisk, very enjoyable!

Cedar Creek, oil, 12x9
Painted on Dowling Road.

Natural Beauty Road, oil, 14x11
Painted on Giles Road, south of 4 mile.

Pond in Autumn, oil, 11x14
Painted on Cedar Creek Road.

September Plein Air

Country Home, oil, 9x12, $650.
Last week I painted with the GVA plein air group at the Frozen Creek Farm. 

Glad Fields, oil, 11x14, $800.

White Farm House, oil, 9x12, $650.The childhood home of an old school friend.

Hope you enjoy my recent plein air paintings for the month of September.

The Blue Moon

OK, I must admit that I was geeked over the blue moon. I even had the event marked on my calendar. There is a small lake across the street, so if the conditions are right, the moon has a nice reflection early in the morning before it disappears over the horizon. So Friday morning, I took some photos, which did not turn out well. That is alright though because I mostly work from memory with this kind of subject.

Full Moon at Sunset, pastel, 12x9, $500.
On Saturday, we visited friends in Grand Marais,  MI in the Upper Penninsula, along Lake Superior. At evening, we had a bon fire on the beach and as the spectacular sun was setting in the west, the full moon was rising in the east! This painting is a result of that wonderful sight. Great friends, good wine, gourmet food and inspiring land throughout the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

Harvest Moon, pastel, 12x9, $500.
This painting was started last year in 2011 during the harvest moon. It was started and I just finished it.

Red Moon II,  pastel, 6x6, $225.
I was surprised to learn that the "Blue Moon", which is a full moon that appears twice in the same month, is also called the red moon this time of year. The moon did have an orange cast to it.

Red Moon I , pastel, 6x6, $225.
I was most interested in this composition which I will enlarge to a vertical format .