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.

Beyond the Lilies by BJ Wright

10"x8" oil on RayMar panel, painted en plein air, alla prima on June 10th '09...completed about 1:45pm...at Barnsley Gardens just outside Adairsville, GA...$85 for the painting or $125 as shown framed. It was my first encounter with the magic that is Barnsley Gardens...what a feast for the eyes of an artist!!! I'll definitely return for another art day outing.

Sailors' Delight by BJ Wright

9"x12" oil on RayMar panel, painted en plein air, alla prima, on 4-24-09 (completed at 8:10pm) showing part of Lake Lanier near Buford GA. - $118 for the painting only (including shipping), but if you'd like it framed (as is, $140 including shipping). Usually I prefer my comfort zone of painting during morning light, but I liked this challenge of late afternoon. The breeze was refreshing after a long day of plein air work.

Rainbow River by BJ Wright

Here's an 8"x10" oil, painted en plein air, alla prima, during the Buford (GA) paintout on June 24th ( completed around 1:15pm). Here, just below the Buford dam, the fish hatchery had stocked rainbow trout. The title "Rainbow River" comes from the trout, but also because the light was dancing off the swirling waters. It was a totally wonderful day for fishing, kayaking...and painting. $85 including shipping for ONLY the painting...but if you'd like it complete with frame, $115 will do it.

Harry Griffin Park Early by BJ Wright

10"x8" oil on RayMar panel, painted en plein air, alla prima, on Saturday May 30th - completed around 9:00am - $85 including shipping - I had driven to several favorite painting spots and couldn't decide where to set my easel. I almost took photos and returned home (shame on me). But then I heard me, telling me --- out loud --- "Good grief! Just get out and paint!" And so I did.

North from Snodgrass Hill by BJ Wright

May 22, '09, just before noon...it was overcast, then sunny, then drizzly...in short, painting en plein air was a bit of a challenge. The light was changing by the minute/second and capturing the correct colors was almost impossible. This is a slice of what I painted that day. Going too dark with my darks is something I need to work on, especially in such changeable light. This was a 6"x12" mini canvas, but I think a larger version would have better captured the meadow's expanse. Gonna work on that.

Confederate Memorial Wreath by BJ Wright

9"x12" oil on Raymar panel, painted en plein air, alla prima, on Tuesday, April 28th '09, at Old Stone Church near Ringgold GA. $120 including shipping -
The wreath on the door commemorates Confederate Memorial Day which is a state holiday in some states in the US. In Georgia, it was April 27th. It gives people a chance to honor and remember the Confederate soldiers who died or were wounded during the Civil War in the 1860s. Old Stone Church was used as a hospital.

Reaching for the Sky by BJ Wright

8"x10" oil on RayMar panel, painted en plein air, alla prima, on 4/24 at the Buford Dam during the "Historic Buford (GA) Plein Air Festival"...currently on display at the Tannery Row Artist Colony. There is a bit of shadow from my easel showing at the upper edge of this photo.

Pathway Puddles by BJ Wright

8"x10" oil on RayMar panel, painted en plein air, alla prima on 3-24-09 (completed around 3:15) - $85 including shipping - This is the first time I've been out painting en plein air in a long, long time...well, since November anyway. I usually paint during morning hours, but conditions haven't been right for awhile...but this particular afternoon seemed perfect. The more I painted, the more the clouds rolled in. Puddles on the gravel walkway danced in the changing light, so Mr. Coker's chimney and the oak tree's old and new foliage had to relent.

reflections, goals, insights

I'm not a person who makes New Year's resolutions, but I do take time to redefine myself and look through fresh eyes occasionally. Working outside my comfort zone and painting with more insight, I hope to become a better painter. I've been self-limiting this year, but reflections on the past only serve to cast more light upon the future.

The subject of this plein air painting is an old oak tree situated on a knoll which overlooks a nearby Civil War battlefield. The tree has become a fixture in many of my paintings. It seems I'm captivated by Nature's light and how it plays across the area. Studying the tree has helped me 'see' rather than just 'look'. I'm always amazed at God's palette and how we mortals struggle to capture His works on canvas.
BJ Wright http://beejw.blogspot.com/

determined plein air painter

This summer Sandra was working on a large acrylic painting of the pre-Civil War Clisby Austin House. But she had forgotten her water container...and her water. But there's no stopping a determined plein air painter. She remembered a punch bowl left in her car after a recent art reception. She dipped water at the spring house, filled the punch bowl, set it on the hood of her car...and she was all set to paint.

Life of a Tree by BJ Wright

11"x14" oil on linen panel, painted en plein air, alla prima, on November 6th (completed at 11:30) - $160 including shipping - contact me for purchase. Sandra and I painted at Mountain Cove Farm on this warm, breezy November day. The 1800+ acres were ablaze with the glory that is Autumn. Evergreens poked their heads through the warm red, orange and yellow hues and the mountains were shrouded early with a lavender mist.

Looking Again by BJ Wright

10" x 8" oil on RayMar panel, painted en plein air, alla prima on November 5th (completed at 4:30)...$85 including shipping...contact me at beejw@charter.net for purchase.
Sandra and I set up our easels in her front yard on Wednesday afternoon. It was simply a gorgeous day with Autumn blazing all around us. Looking directly across the road, this small stand of trees caught my eye. I had seem them dozens of times before, but in looking again.....

Scattering of Sunshine by BJ Wright - SOLD

10"x8" oil on Raymar panel, painted en plein air, alla prima, on October 12th (completed at 11:15am) - SOLD - The sun didn't break through the scattered clouds until after 9:00 on that Sunday morning at Prater's Mill Country Fair. When I began laying in the basic shapes, my sight line into the woods was clear. As the morning progressed, dozens of people eating freshly baked goodies crowded around the picnic tables. I was popping my head up and down - like "Whack a Mole" - to see my subject as I worked to finish this painting. For purchase, contact me at beejw@charter.net.

Hidden Trail by BJ Wright

6" x 8" oil on RayMar panel, painted en plein air, alla prima, on Saturday, October 11th at Prater's Mill Country Fair (completed at 11am) - $50 including shipping - This was my first year as an artist exhibitor at the annual Prater's Mill Country Fair. I set up my easel early after opening my tent, hoping to catch the sunlight as it hit the trees. The morning was overcast and I was somewhat disappointed that no "Autumn blaze" was showing. I laid in the dark basics and shadows -- and waited. It wasn't until mid-morning that the sun broke through and showed the beginnings of what will be glorious Northwest Georgia foliage colors. Contact me for purchase.

Chickamauga Battlefield Trail by BJ Wright

10" x 8" oil on linen panel, painted en plein air, alla prima on June 16th (completed around 9:30am) - $85 including shipping - contact me at beejw@charter.net for purchase. Sandra and I painted in Chickamauga Battlefield Park that cool morning, but the temperature was climbing fast. This trail is used by hikers, bikers and people on horseback as they explore the many acres of this beautiful Northwest Georgia park. The red Georgia clay appeared with lots of pink that morning - so that's how I painted it.

Cool Green by BJ Wright

8" x 10" oil on RayMar panel, painted en plein air on July 9th & 12th - $85 including shipping - contact me at beejw@charter.net for purchase -
It's always exciting to start a painting and return to the same site on another day to complete it. Even at the same time of day, there is always a difference in lighting and atmosphere. This was painted on a Wednesday and completed the following Saturday - just a few days apart, but it had rained on Thursday causing the water to take on an olive tone.

Three by BJ Wright

8" x 10" oil on linen board, painted en plein air, alla prima on June 16th (completed around 10:30am) at the Chickamauga Battlefield in Northwest Georgia - $85 including shipping - contact me for purchase ----
Sandra and I spent the morning at Chickamauga Battlefield painting the rolling hills and meadows. Occasionally a hiker or biker would come into view, wave, then disappear around a bend.

The sun was fast rising and so was the temperature, so I painted quickly. A lilac colored haze in the distance reminded me that there was once cannon fire here - but now there is peace.

Contact me at beejw@charter.net for purchase.