Tunnel Hill paint out

Cathy Cooksey working on a painting of historic downtown Tunnel Hill (GA).
Several members of the Art Alliance of North Georgia participated in a paint out during the annual "Battle of Tunnel Hill" Civil War reenactment. This painting sold the next day.

A Land Apart by BJ Wright

9"x12" oil, painted en plein air, alla prima, on September 8th (completed at 12:10pm)...$120 (including shipping but NOT the frame)...This was painted a few days before the annual "Battle of Tunnel Hill" Civil War reenactment. I popped it into this frame for display at our Art Alliance of North Georgia tent.

please try to ignore the glare

Sunny September Morning by BJ Wright

8"x10", oil on RayMar panel, painted en plein air, alla prima, on September 8, '09...$85 including shipping...This late morning painting of a Tunnel Hill (GA) meadow reminds me that Fall will be here before we know it. I've painted this scene dozens of times and each time it's fresh and different.

July Afternoon Late by BJ Wright

12"x9" oil on RayMar panel, painted en plein air, alla prima, on July 4 (completed at 8:10pm)...$135 including shipping...Since I'm usually painting outdoors during morning hours, the idea of painting in the afternoon took a bit of adjustment. The light and shadows play differently and I could quickly run out of daylight...just in time for a nocturnal painting.

July Afternoon Late by BJ Wright

12"X9" oil, plein air painting in progress...I got a call to meet an artist friend around 6:00pm at the Tunnel Hill Civil War battlefield this afternoon. Since I'm accustomed to painting during morning hours, I thought it would be great to catch the setting sun on the hay bales scattered about.

Waiting by BJ Wright

10"x8" oil on RayMar panel, painted en plein air, alla prima on September 20th 2009 (completed at 1:05pm)...$85 including shipping...The annual "Battle of Tunnel Hill" Civil War reenactment weekend was rainy, muddy and overcast. But that didn't dampen the spirits of the artists who painted onsite both days. Contact me for purchase at beejw@charter.net.

Namesake by BJ Wright

6"x6"x1 1/4" oil on gallery wrap canvas, painted en plein air, alla prima, on August 18th (completed at 10:30am)...$50 including shipping....The historic tunnel that gave Tunnel Hill (GA) its name is a breathtaking monument to the determination of the human spirit. There will be a two day paintout here during the annual "Battle of Tunnel Hill" Civil War reenactment on September 19th & 20th.

Among the Tree Shadows by BJ Wright

10"x8" oil on RayMar panel, painted en plein air, alla prima, on June 17th...completed at 9:30am...$85 including shipping. The house hidden behind the trees is the Clisby Austin House, located in Tunnel Hill GA. The adjoining property hosts the annual "Battle of Tunnel Hill" Civil War reenactment in September. As shown in the painting, the hay was ready for mowing. I'll return soon to capture the bales.

Sutler Tents by BJ Wright

8"x10" oil on RayMar panel, painted en plein air, alla prima, on September 7th, during the "Battle of Tunnel Hill" Civil War reenactment - $85 including shipping -
Sunday morning sutlers were preparing their tents for customers - both reenactors and visitors. Fall colors were beginning to show in the trees as the morning sun streamed across the meadow. Eleven Southern plein air painters captured similar scenes during this weekend of the Worldwide Paintout. Contact me at beejw@charter.net for purchase. Here's the Wikipedia definition of "sutler"... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutler

Fort Keys Saturday by BJ Wright

8"x10" oil on RayMar panel, painted en plein air, alla prima, on September 6th at the "Battle of Tunnel Hill" Civil War reenactment - $85 including shipping - contact me at beejw@charter.net for purchase.
Early on Saturday morning reenactors began milling about making preparations for the upcoming battle. The smell of frying bacon still hung in the air. Behind me a small squad of young Confederates practiced their marching drills. Several folks stopped by to watch me paint. There were nods of approval - then they went on their way. It was a wonderful day spent at the battlefield with close artist friends as we captured scenes for remembrance.

Fort Keys Waits by BJ Wright

8" x 10" oil on Raymar panel, painted en plein air, alla prima, on September 3rd - completed at 10:30am - $85 including shipping - NOT including frame - contact me at beejw@charter.net for purchase
I painted this one on Wednesday before the "Battle of Tunnel Hill" Civil War reenactment on September 6th and 7th. As I was packing up, one of the reenactors drove past Fort Keys on the little road in the painting. The next day canvas tents were springing up all around, ready for the battle.

"Tunnel Hill Battle Paintout"

As part of the annual "Worldwide Paintout" publicized by International Plein Air Painters, we had a wonderful weekend at the "Battle of Tunnel Hill" Civil War reenactment in Northwest Georgia.
pictured front row (l-r) are Gretchen Allen, Allison Doke, and BJ Wright
back row - Phyllis Franklin, Cathy Cooksey, Cecil Warfel, Patti Vrobel, Shane McDonald, John B. Guernsey and Sandra Babb. We couldn't find Tim West - he was somewhere painting on the 83 acre property.
Both days were in the 90+ degrees, but we found plenty of shade and lots of interesting subjects for plein air painting. Everyone had such a good time that there's already talk about next year.

Early Summer Hay by BJ Wright

8" x 10" oil on RayMar panel painted en plein air, alla prima, on June 25th (completed at 9:30am) - $85 including shipping - contact me at beejw@charter.net for purchase.
The hayfields in Tunnel Hill have offered an endless source of painting ideas this early Summer. Every time I visit the property, I'm struck with a sense of quiet and peaceful existence. The shadows are always deep with purples playing against the yellow/orange of the hay. It's a wonderful palette to behold.
Next weekend (September 6th and 7th) the property will be the site of the annual "Battle of Tunnel Hill" Civil War reenactment. This year our location will also host the "Tunnel Hill Battle" paintout in conjunction with the International Plein Air Painters' "Worldwide Paintout".

Tunnel Hill Battle paintout

"The Art Alliance of North Georgia" is inviting plein air painters to participate in the premier Tunnel Hill Battle Paintout to be held during the annual Battle of Tunnel Hill (GA) Civil War reenactment on September 6th (Saturday) and 7th (Sunday). This is in conjunction with the International Plein Air Painters' World Wide Paintout.

For more information, please contact BJ Wright at beejw@charter.net.

Fort Keys Hay by BJ Wright

8" x 10" oil on RayMar panel, painted en plein air, alla prima on June 24th (completed around 9:45am)...$85 including shipping but NOT including frame...contact me at beejw@charter.net for purchase.
The sweet smell of newly cut hay drew me to this spot on the Tunnel Hill battlefield. Cool shadows played on the little gravel road and the mountain cast its shadow on the hayfield.

It won't be too long until the Civil War reenactors set up their tents under the big oak tree here at Fort Keys. Preparations are already being made for the Battle of Tunnel Hill.

Headquarters by BJ Wright

9" x 12" oil on linen board, painted en plein air, alla prima, on June 4th - completed at 8:15am - $115 including shipping - contact me for purchase at beejw@charter.net
This little shack is on the Tunnel Hill battlefield property. Every year during the Civil War reenactment "Battle of Tunnel Hill" it serves as battle strategy headquarters. Dates for this years reenactment are September 6th and 7th.

There will also be an art exhibit at the Tunnel Hill Heritage Center beginning August 18th through September 15th.

Be sure to visit my photo blog at http://www.photographicsouth.blogspot.com/ for photos and directions prior to the battle.

In the Green Depths by BJ Wright - SOLD

6" x 8" oil on RayMar panel, painted en plein air, alla prima, on July 18th - completed at 9:30am -SOLD-
There's a little covered bridge at the edge of the Civil War battlefield in Tunnel Hill. Just to the North is the Western & Atlantic railway which carrys maybe 30 trains a day. Between the little road and the rail bed is a line of trees, casting their shadows throughout the day. Surrounding the bridge is the "North Georgia green green" of trees and the cool blues and violets of shade.

Meadowlawn Afternoon by BJ Wright

12" x 9" oil on linen board, painted en plein air, alla prima, on May 7th - completed at 7:30pm - $115 including shipping - contact me for purchase -----
This shack sits in the meadow near the Clisby Austin house, on the Tunnel Hill battlefield property. Usually I choose to paint in the morning, but this particular day I met Sandra and we explored the various lighting available in late afternoon. Honestly, the bright green tree in the background was that bright North Georgia 'green green'. The structure is used as headquarters during the annual Civil War reenactment "Battle of Tunnel Hill" which always takes place the weekend after Labor Day.

Place of Peace and Quietness by BJ Wright - SOLD

24"x12" oil on stretched canvas, painted en plein air, alla prima, on April 23rd around 9:30am. --- SOLD - thanks LS Manis !!---
This little church is in Tunnel Hill, GA. There are buildings around the church but I chose to leave them out of the painting. The church has been there for probably 100 years or more.

Tree Line Vigil by BJ Wright

8" x 10" oil painted en plein air, alla prima, on canvas covered hardboard - $85 including shipping -
The Southwest corner of the meadow meets a tree line at the site of the annual Battle of Tunnel Hill. Here the Yankee soldiers emerge, guns drawn and cannons blazing. It was quiet when I painted this but within an hour the site showed hundreds of Civil War reenactors.
Contact me at beejw@charter.net