Susie, Sandra, and Durinda

 

Ain't we got fun?

Maymont - towards the James #408

11x14 on linen canvas - painted en Plein Air during morning of 11/22/2010 - View from behind the stone barn towards James River below. Beautiful fall day, but occasional gusty winds kept you on your toes....this one also has a few embedded bugs in residence.

Fishing Bay Sparkle #407

The sun is low at this time of the year causing the water sparkle to stay surprisingly constant during the day while it slowly moves towards the right.

8x10 on linen - painted en Plein Air in the morning hours of 11/20/2010 from the forecastle of our sailboat. Typically in this view line several sailboats are at anchor, but left for warmer waters earlier.

I started using driers last week to speed things up. Not wanting to use fast drying whites (washes out colour) I opted for a clear Gamblin product called Galkyd Lite, because its also a medium it sets up enough for over painting and wash glazes. Wind helps dry it a bit too. It would take several sessions to get this particular look otherwise.

Late Evening at Ft Myers Beach

 
This 12 x 12 plein air painting was done the first evening I painted last week. It's for sale.

Sandra Participating in the Quick Draw

 
On the beach behind the Holiday Inn were many "sand" activities. Here I'm shown trying to capture a professional artist building a lovely sandcastle. I got carried away with the onlookers and didn't finish the sandcastle that was being built.

Look at Us

 

Susie Covert, Sandra, Durinda Cheek, and Ruth Cox stand in front of the Plein Air Festival Tent in Ft Myers Beach, FL on November 11, 2010.

Maymont - Italian Gardens #405

11x14 on linen canvas - painted en Plein Air 11/15/2010 - Gray day with broken sun

Painting in the Quick Draw at Paint the Beach

 
From November 8th -14th 2010 Fish-Tale Marina, Santini Marina Plaza and the Fort Myers Beach Art Association sponsored a Plein Air Art Festival. Here I am painting the last day. These paintings were entered in a contest.

Maymont - Italian Gardens #402

11x14 Oil on linen - Painted en Plein Air 11/11/2010 at Richmond's Maymont Park - The Italian Gardens were freshly planted a few days before. Sunny and reasonably warm - I used Naples yellow in place of white - very effective at reducing colour. I did a quick 8x10 study of the far fountain on 11/8/2010 in preparation (top) using titanium white

Maymont - Fountain study #401

8x10 Oil on linen canvas - Painted en plein Air 11/10/2010 at Richmond's Maymont Park the fountain is located close to the Hamilton Street entrance.

Maymont - fall study #397

Fall colours are in full swing here in Richmond - Painted en Plein Air 11/6/2010 - This view is near the Maymont Park Hamilton St. entrance.

I'm in the process of selecting a number of views for a 12-month series showing the different seasonal moods at Maymont.

Bernie takes a time trip....

I donned 1860's period attire two weekends in a row portraying a civilian plein air artist. Last weekend Olivia and I attended the Civil War reenactment at Fort Branch. The weekend before Olivia, my grandson, Christian, and I attended a Living History program at Hammocks Beach State Park. The three of us are pictured above.

Here I am working from my small cigar box pochade box painting an old house on the grounds of Fort Branch near Hamilton, NC. Marsha Harris took this photo of me while I was painting.

Here's the 6x8" finished painting from the sitting. Olivia met some friends and they all played in the old house while I painted it.

I met some nice people as well and had many interesting conversations while painting. One was Tom Whelan, a photographer who was kind enough to share these photos with me. Thanks again Tom!

As I was painting I used the "Complementary Color" technique where I paint the opposite color to what I see in the first stage. The spectators that dropped by while I was working this stage must have scratched their heads and asked themselves, "What kind of drug is this guy on?"

I chose an more intimate setting for my painting on Sunday morning. This 8x10" painting is a view across the field where the battle took place later that afternoon.

At the Hammocks Beach Living History program I portrayed a younger Claude Monet and gave a demo on plein air painting.

In 1863 Monet discovers Manet's painting and paints "en plein air" in the Fontainebleau forest for the first time. My age and impression are closer to Monet as seen in his self portrait painted in 1886 posted here.

The day was full of excitement!

I gave my finished painting to Charlie Wilton who commanded the artillery battery in above photo.
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Two GREAT weekends spent with old and new friends, Olivia, and Christian, topped with plein air painting... PRIMO!

Koi at Maymont #395

Painted en Plein Air with (VPAP) Virginia Plein Air Painters, (OPA)Oil Painters of America sponsored Paint-out at Richmond's Maymont Park October 30, 2010.

(top) 24x30 on linen panel (largest to date) of the Japaneses gardens - the pond, of course full of spoiled Koi was perfect, because of my current Koi and Lilies series.

(bottom) 14x11 on linen - detail study

My location, under a small structure made it difficult to see my palette much less my canvas. I should have moved, but it was the best Koi viewing spot.....stuck with it vowing never to do it again!

Belmont - paintout #386

I started painting en Plein Air again with a fledgling Plein air group called Virginia Plein Air painters from Richmond, Va. My first paint-out was at the Gari Melchers (American painter - first part of 19th century)1790 Historical home and studio called Belmont located near Fredericksburg, Va.

It was a great day, well attended and I completed (2) panels both 8x10 - this one sold later to one of the members

Daily Painting 1175 SOLD Beachcomber Tortoise Plein Air

SOLD I did this at the Inlet State Park its 8 x 10 inch oil. It was beautiful out, a perfect day.

Daily Painting 1174 Cottages at Edenlawn Plantation Plein Air Alla Prima

Its oil, 8 x 10 inches on masonite. I went to Edenlawn this morning and had a nice time, got pretty hot in the afternoon, around 87 degrees. Wore me out! $200.