Jack the Koi

The end of August and the sky is overcast with the promise of rain. The goldfish in the pond pretend they are koi as they splash their fins in and out of the cool morning waters. When we are children it’s fun to play dress up and prance around like the princesses that our mother’s tell us we are. It’s good to watch the fish playing and remember the play times when we were transported from everyday life into a fantasy world. What is it they say? All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

Jack the Koi
En plein air 08-31-07
8x10 framed without mat
Soft Pastel on Canson
Framed & ready to hang
$100.00
Contact phyllisfranklin@hotmail for availability

Boom Boom Boom, Palette Knife Painting by Fawn McNeill Barr

"Boom Boom Boom!"
5 x 7 inches
Acrylic on gessoed board

This is a tribute to Lori McNamara, who does wonderful plein air palette knife paintings! I must say it was exciting, messy, and fun! This is my first one on location using only a knife. My previous knife paintings were done in the studio from my own photos.

These bromeliads remind me of firecrackers, such an explosion of bright color.

to see more of my work go to: http://fawnspaintings.blogspot.com/ or click on the label below.

Buy this painting on PayPal
Price: $100 USD
Or, send me an email

The Colors of Early by BJ Wright - SOLD

10" x 8" oil on canvas covered hardboard - painted en plein air, alla prima - SOLD -
Painted on August 23rd, an especially clear day, this painting bursts with colors of what might be called a late late Summer/early early Fall palette. The shadows were dark and the light was crisp and bold - just a wonderful day for painting en plein air. Contact me at beejw@charter.net

Sketches from my trip

Here are a handful of sketches from my trip.

Country Store with Caboose and Ghost by BJ Wright

8" x 10" oil on canvas covered hardboard - painted en plein air, alla prima - $85 including shipping -
This country store located on the Clisby Austin property in Tunnel Hill, GA, houses many Civil War relics. It is open during the annual Battle of Tunnel Hill reenactment set for September 8th and 9th. Several weeks ago Sandra and I were set up painting on the porch, avoiding the slight rain showers. There is an old pay phone, disconnected for years, beside the front door. I had just finished telling Sandra about some of the ghost stories I've heard connected with the property. Then the phone rang - twice! Disconnected for years, no outside wiring - but the phone rang twice. We both heard it.
Contact me at beejw@charter.net

Let's Party, Floral Daily Painting, by Fawn McNeill

"Let's Party"
5 x 7 inches
Acrylic on hardboard

Ready to frame

Many things are blooming right now, so I went out this morning and found this amazing lily. Not sure exactly what kind of lily it is, but it reminds me of party streamers!
It was done alla prima (all in one session).

To see my daily works go to: http://fawnspainting.blogspot.com/

(To see more of my plein air works click on the label below. )

Buy this painting on PayPal
Price: $100 USD
Or, send me an email

Florida Vacation Sketches

D, Kitty and I headed south last week to St. Augstine FL for some R&R and to visit my folks. The temperatures were lower than Nashville's 100+ but the humidity made up the difference. The ocean water felt mighty good and I caught a few waves. Some St. Augustine galleries featured some mighty fine local artists who really capture the spirit of the North Florida scenes. Here are a few of my watercolor sketches.

Who Will See Us? by BJ Wright

10" x 8" oil on canvas covered hardboard, painted en plein air, alla prima - $65 including shipping -
It was about 10am on August 22nd and Sandra and I had been painting for about 2 hours. The sun was rising quickly - and so was the temperature. We were just about to pack up when I spotted this patch of dead grasses hidden in the woods. The sun was breaking through the foliage and spotlighted the area with flaming orange and yellow. I worked quickly to get the scene on canvas. It was breathtaking - I was glad that Sandra was able to see it, too.
Contact me at beejw@charter.net

Bright Meadow from Fort Keys by BJ Wright

This image was dropped from the post on 8-23-07. Please click on the image for a high resolution view.

I got in the Palm Beach Post

INDIAN RIVER DRIVE : Old Florida's last stand

By Barbara Marshall

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Saturday, August 25, 2007

LORI & JACK McNAMARA

THEIR HOME: A 2-bedroom, 11/2-bath home built by Lori's parents in 1950.

Except for 13 years during her first marriage, Lori McNamara has lived her entire life in this small, low-slung house on the river. A painter and head of the Plein Air painters of the Treasure Coast, the river and Indian River Drive are Lori's constant subjects.

"It changes minute to minute," she said. "That's what's great about living on the river."

Lori is a member of a group of artists called "daily painters." She is nearing the end of a project where she finishes a painting a day for a year, which are then posted on her Web site. Most are scenes on or near the river she loves.

One of her recent subjects is a clump of blooming red bromeliads that locals call "hurricane flowers."

"The legend is that they only bloom in hurricane years," she said .

During the Treasure Coast storms of 2004, the McNamaras lost 10 feet of river bank and several large hickory trees. In exchange, they discovered new species of birds and plants blown in from other places.

"For a while, we had a family of Cooper's hawks, who cleaned up all the songbirds and squirrels, but they're gone now, so the squirrels are coming back," Lori said.

After trips, the McNamaras look forward to the moment when they make the turn in downtown Fort Pierce and head south on The Drive.

"Coming home from vacation you can smell the salt air and it feels like home," she said.

To see Lori McNamara's paintings, go to www.lorisart.blogspot.com.

Poppies

I love poppies and they make me turn my head and look at them even while driving thru the mountains. You see… they plant them along the sides of the roads in North Carolina so there will be thousands of them blooming all at once. Huge plantings... usually along side of high way off ramps…looking like a patch work quilt. You can almost have a wreck stretching your neck out the window to get a better look.
Individually, standing tall and blowing in the wind. Its more than an artist can take in at one time. Of course in this drought we are in, I didn’t have any poppies to see today. They are a very cheerful flower and one that grows well in most locals.

Conversations by BJ Wright

8" x 10" oil on canvas covered hardboard, painted en plein air, alla prima - $85 including shipping -
Looking WSW from Fort Keys on the Clisby Austin property, these trees seemed to be conversing early on September 21st. The hay bales also seemed to be whispering to each other. I was listening to the buzz of insects and smelling the sweet hay drying in the sun as I painted the morning away.
Contact me at beejw@charter.net

Daily Painting 328 Afternoon on the Indian River Plein Air Alla Prima miniature

Its little, 4 x 6 inches, oil, all knife. It was a really pretty afternoon today. It got even nicer after I finished painting, the clouds turned peachy colored, beautiful! $100.

Bright Meadow from Fort Keys by BJ Wright

8" x 10" oil painted en plein air, alla prima, on canvas covered hardboard - $85 including shipping -
The hay is drying on the meadow, waiting to be loaded before the first Civil War reenactors arrive for the Battle of Tunnel Hill (GA) on September 8th and 9th. Painted on August 20th, this painting shows the day was clear and the shadows deep. Contact me at beejw@charter.net

ASTER by Shanti Marie

I loaded up my stuff and headed off to the Hospital. I'm not sure if you will think this is plien aire but it was painted from life and on location. 4.5 by 4.5 watercolor on paper $40.00

Chetoogeta Hillside by BJ Wright

8" x 10" oil on canvas covered hardboard - painted en plein air - $85 including shipping - SOLD - Thanks, Dr. Tom !! -
This scene was painted in 3 stages. Beginning in April the general layout was done; then twice the site was revisited with additions and corrections made to include the seasonal changes. The final touches were done in studio on August 20th.

There are actually two tunnels through Chetoogeta Mountain. The one on the right is famous for being part of the Great Locomotive Chase during the Civil War, and is now part of the historical park in Tunnel Hill. The tunnel to the left was opened in 1928 to accommodate the larger locomotive engines of modern times.
Contact me at beejw@charter.net

Daily Painting 326 Florida Flowers by the Indian River Plein Air Alla Prima

I finally did a plein air again, its 4 x 6, oil, all palette knife. Its the view looking towards the Southeast late this afternoon. Click it to see it bigger than life, its got lots of texture. $100.

Meadowlawn Hayfield by BJ Wright

10" x 20" oil on stretched canvas, painted en plein air - $185 including shipping -
The August heat made the sweet smell of Summer hay fill the air. The meadow is quiet now but on September 8th and 9th, the annual Civil War reenactment will be held on these grounds in Tunnel Hill, GA.
Contact me at beejw@charter.net

Tree by Bay by Jenna Star

I painted this looking northwest along Tampa Bay.

Oil on 8x10" canvas, with 1 1/2" deep edge also painted. $150.00.

Click on the paypal button below if you'd like to buy it. Thanks for visiting!

Wisdom Oak by BJ Wright

10" x 8" oil painted en plein air on canvas covered hardboard - $85 -
The old oak has seen possibly a century of modern development around town, but its feet are still firmly planted in the N Georgia clay. It has become a landmark for those who love the simple pleasures of the earth.
Contact me at beejw@charter.net

Low Profile, historical plein air painting by Fawn McNeill

"Low Profile"
9 x 12 inches
Acrylic on canvas-hardboard

I had a great morning! 75 degrees and a nice breeze . . . It hasn't been that nice is a long time. I stayed a couple of hours and had all kinds of interesting people stop and visit! One man had a bird on his shoulder that laughed just like a person! My husband even came and brought me breakfast. Can't beat that!

PS. All of this grass, even the closet grass used to be under water, so the lake has still not come up much at all.

To see more of my work go to: http://fawnspaintings.blogspot.com/ or click on the link below.

Buy this painting on PayPal
Price: $200 USD plus $12 USD s/h
Or, send me an email

painting en plein air in Summer heat

Painting en plein air in August in 95+ degree heat is a challenge. I started out early on Monday, the 13th, and parked beside the covered bridge in Tunnel Hill. The little creek was murmuring its way south, and I was pleased that there were enough trees to give shade for a few hours. The painting of the old oak still needs a few tweeks here and there and will be posted soon. When I'm out painting, I'm thinking of those other plein air painters who love the challenge of capturing nature on canvas or paper.

To quote Tiny Tim, "God bless us, everyone!"

Plein Air Painter Dressed in Pink by BJ Wright

10" x 8" oil painted en plein air on canvas covered hardboard - $85 including shipping -

Contact me at beejw@charter.net

Ode to a Plein Air Painter


Oh, plein air painter dressed in pink,
Are you as crazy as we think??

Outside painting in August heat…
Wouldn’t some iced tea be neat?

Or come inside instead
Of being outside…frying your head.

We know your hat keeps off the sun,
But isn’t your brain just about done?

So come inside and take a rest
Before someone must do compressions…
Upon your chest.

The plein air painter says with a smile,
“No thanks, I’ll stay outside for awhile.

“I’ll mix my paints…yellow, blue and red.
And, no, I’m not touched in the head.

“Nature’s palette sings to me –
To be outside is to be free…

“Free to paint to my heart’s content…
Not inside where I feel pent.

“I’ll come inside when I feel the pain…
Or if it should begin to rain.”

Now mark these words for they are true…
Only plein air painters understand you.


Written by BJ Wright on August 14, 2007
Inspired by my friend Sandra Babb