Reception Today in Altavista

Hey Friends,  The challenge is over !! so maybe I will not post every day for a while !

But I wanted to let you know what a grand time we had in Altavista, Va. today at the YMCA.  The photo above shows Tim Dalton taking photos for the local newspaper.  We were treated royally and it was very appreciated.  They even had special rose baskets for each of us to take home. 

Lots of people came out to talk art with us so the time just flew by.

We laughed and enjoyed every minute.

Thank you Altavista!

Happy Trails

Original Plein Air Painting of Douthat State Park Pines

Hey Friends,  Time to list a few paintings on Ebay.  I will be starting these newer paintings at prices to cover cost of supplies and if they don't sell, I will paint over them !!  Good idea, don't ya think?

This 20x16 OIL painting can be found HERE on Ebay.  This link engages at 9pm Eastern.

Would make a nice gift, right?

Happy Trails

New Chick and Douthat State Park

 

Hey Friends, Another impression of a chicken.  Click HERE for Ebay.

 

And a few photos of the trip last week to Douthat State Park with my painting Buddies, the Double Line Painters.  We had a great time trying to decide where to paint.  There was a painting everywhere you looked.  The sun was a little contrary at times.

 

As usual, my acrylic paintings were too dark when I got them home.  I'm always amazed how much they darken (acrylics) but they dry so fast it makes it so much easier to get them home.  I've been trying to adjust for 2 years now and still haven't gotten it right.  The one above is OIL.

 

These are all acrylics.  I've already worked on the 2 smaller dark ones to lighten them.  And now I must work on the biggest one to the left.

I suppose the answer is to get a couple boxes that are made for transporting wet oils.  Leave the acrylics at home and/or keep practicing with the acrylics on paper.

 

Happy Trails

Travel Well

Spirea and Iris on the Driveway

 

Hey Friends, The painting above was painted last Sunday, 5-25, and a couple photos of the work in progress below.  It's up for auction in Ebay now, CLICK HERE

 

 

It's a struggle to get the values right when outside in the bright sunlight.  I started with a dark warm brown canvas, as you can see above.  I think it helped.

 

 

This photograph looks more like or is closer to the real colors and values of the painting.  The top piece is scanned and looks too dark to me.

Just adding a side note here, on the other side of this scene on the driveway , my brother drove up to find a rattlesnake there !   Yuck Yuck - I can't stand a slithering snake, none of them, much less a poisonous rattler.  I went to Northwest Hardware and bought a bag of sulfur to sprinkle a band around the house.  Supposedly snakes will not cross the line.  Ordinary snakes, a band 4" wide, for rattlers, a band 8" wide !  The bag says this.

 

Anyway, Come to the Sedalia Center Artisan Fair tomorrow, Saturday May 31st.

I will be there with my painting buddies, the Double Line Painters of the Blue Ridge.

Have a great weekend

Happy Trails

Travel Safely

Red Buds and Pears

 

 Hey Friends,  Above is a small 6x6 oil painting I did a while back while dog sitting at my daughters house.  Her neighborhood.  It's for auction in Ebay, Click Here

 

Above is a shot of me painting at 2nd Helpings Gallery on Williamson Road in Roanoke, Va.  My painting group, the DLP was at the gallery today, just to entertain the customers.  The gallery's regulars seem to really enjoy us painting and any demo's in general. It is a great gallery and their café has wonderful food.

This is one piece I finished today (not finished in this photo).  I will scan it and show it tomorrow.  I like it a lot probably because I love the colors of all the trees blooming right now.  I took some photos last week when I was out at Butts Cemetary, along Alleghany Rd., when I came across this beautiful row of trees.  I think it was at Richfield.
Have a great evening.

Happy Trails
Travel Well