15 Minute Sunrise # 67

The sun moved to the left since the last time I painted it. The cloud cover gave me two or three opportunities this morning - only got one. Next time I'll be ready.

Byrd Park # 66

Yesterdays Byrd Park adventure....with the mosquitoes - 8x10 Panel.

Has anyone found themselves so absorbed in what you were doing, you didn't take the time to look at your palette - like typing and not looking?

What I like about this site

I like when a painting is posted and it has a story to go with it. I like from a collectors standpoint that story makes it personal. I like that anyone can join in and comment or not. I like that it becomes a journal for a group of people with the same interest. I like that we have the same funny problems. I like that you can price and sell your art work. I like the site because it's not cluttered but very simple and direct. I like that the posts have a contiguous thread and are not tucked away once posted. I like that the members seem to be down to earth and simply like to paint. I like most of all, the site is not pompous, but unassuming and not trying to dissect the Plein Air movement.

Water Before the Bridge by BJ Wright

This is a 10"x8" oil (June 6th) which I feel still needs some touch ups. I always try to finish my plein air paintings at one sitting (alla prima) without tweaking or 'noodling' them after I get them home. This one, however, needs a little more work. I'm not satisfied with the reflections and the foliage needs some value change. If the changes seem drastic, I'll post the noodled result.

Belle Isle Quarry - Bridge Repair # 63

On my way off the island I came this most remarkable scene @ the quarry - young workers in bathing suits repairing a damaged bridge @ the bottom of the shear wall. The wall is used for rock climbing. Oil on 8x10 Linen panel

Saturday Fishing on the James # 61

8x10 panel - it's been raining here in Richmond for several days now. This afternoon was the first opportunity for me to get out and paint.

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.

Reflections Gallery mural...and Tim

I had to post this mural, being painted by our SPAP member Tim. He is around 6' tall so you can see what an incredible undertaking this is...and the fact that it's being painted on the outside western facing wall of Reflections Gallery in Chattanooga, TN. You can't see it, but he has a huge smile on his face.

West Point Marsh # 56

8x10 Linen Panel - Hot 94 Degrees with no shade so... it was small and fast :=)

Fresh Cut Hay # 55

11x14 Oil on panel - A perfect day to play :=)

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.

15 Minute Sunrise # 54

8x10 Linen panel - Cadmium red with the orange is an important part - not just orange alone. This morning I left cad red off my palette but, quickly added it. The sun when it first breaks through is more red than orange.

I didn't realize it but, I had an audience who said I was aglow with red from the sun - How interesting is that? A photographer recently told me if you get stuck with what's in front - turn around and look behind you. In this case maybe the artist was the point of interest.

15 Minute Sunrise # 52

8x10 Linen panel - It seems the best way to start is with the sun - almost pure yellow and orange values from the tube and work out adding the original yellow and orange values to all other colors. It takes more pure color than you expect.

Byrd Park - Lower Lake - Vintage Home # 51

The Beautiful cloud cover was still around while I painted, but turned to rain moments after I finished and was heading to the car.

Richmond has a bountiful supply of old large vintage presidential homes, most built prior to the last market crash of 1929. Reminds me of California and the new crop you can't give away. Richmond may have escaped the most recent events. My wife and I were fortunate enough to have owned several of these vintage masterpieces. Most of the new crop unfortunately are not as good, but poor out of scale copies of the renaissance we experienced during the early teens and twenties of the last century. Now that the homes have some historical value many are experiencing a new revival.

An interesting side note Las Vegas had a great deal to do with the new emergence of the arts and craftsmanship the country exhibited over the last 10 or 15 years. It would have never happened without them. They had the money and desire for mainstream respectability to get the job done. They, through new technology and innovation made things previously cost prohibitive - possible.

Daily Painting 857 Heathcote Plant Sale

I did this a couple of months ago, I forgot to post it, it was really busy then. I did it as a demo at Heathcote Botanical Gardens, its 12 x 16, oil, plein air alla prima. $400.

15 Minute Sunrise # 46

This is turning out to be a very good exercise - you just don't have time to think about it.

Byrd Park - Red Building # 49

11x14 Panel - This is a maintenance building next to the lower lake. The Canadian geese came along as I was finishing up. The real painting however would have been the cloud cover - spectacular - it really came into play as I was leaving. If the clouds stay around we should have a nice sunset.

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.

Painting At Spanish Point in Feb

 

15 Minute Sunrise # 45

8x10 Sunrise Study - I started late and wasn't prepared so.... I ended up with little time. The object was to catch the intensity of the sun - the problem - it's difficult to get the color values right around the sun so it will pop. You have a tendency to make it much too light, mostly because the sun alters your color perception. I think it will take a few more cracks at it.

Byrd Park @ Dusk # 43

11x14 Study @ the same location as # 42, but end of day. the sun sets to the left.

Byrd Park # 42

Plein Air paining of the day

Afternoon on the James # 41

I'm not sure who was having more fun, them or me.

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.

Painting # 31 James Rapids @ Belle Isle

The second of two 11x14 panels - painted later in the day as I was leaving Belle Isle - view toward Hollywood Cemetery.

Rainy Day on the James #34

This particular morning I set up on a rock pad in the James. It rained most of the session so rain water became one of my mixing mediums. A side benefit, water mixed with oil will tack up quickly. It might work for under painting in small amounts. A photographer, who started following me around a few days earlier was also there to get a silhouette shot of me painting. I, on the other hand was waiting for a dramatic sun break in the cloud cover....neither got our wish.

Swan Lake Fountain # 38

Many years ago Swan Lake @ Richmond's Byrd Park had swans...now Canadian Geese. I preferred the Swans far more appropriate for a beautiful park lake. Painted on a 12x12 Panel with a time limit of 1.5 hours

Daily Painting 841 Oleander Plein Air

Its oil, 5 x 7 Plein Air Alla Prima, I painted it at Pepper Park in Fort Pierce.

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James sunset @ Belle Isle # 36

This is a small 8x10 sunset study over a period of several hours. I had to adjust the color values through the whole process and stopped about a half hour before the sun set. I also use a jury rig set up that really worked well. I needed to be flexible. I have some new gear on order that will solve most issues. I used my palette as an easel with a simple clip to hold the panel. The palette also became the carrier. I think you could use this for panels up to 11x14 with ease. I was able to adjust for glare and check color value instantly. You just can't do that easily with the traditional easel set.

Belle Isle Hydro Dam # 30

My path, rain or shine is now leading to a series of paintings of the James River from Belle Isle and the North and South banks. The river is high and fast because of all the recent rain. I'm on a small narrow foot bridge at the top of an old hydro plant dam facing toward the south bank. I didn't realize it at the time but the right cascade was dropping onto a huge rock. The South front face drops another 10 or 15 feet and creates an imposing view from the south shore. This 11x14 panel was painted in the morning. The first of two over a 6 hour period that day. If any of you come to Richmond don't miss this area, perfect for a Plein Air painter. It will test your ability.

Painting with a Special Friend in Beautiful Callaway Gardens

 
One of the best days this spring was with Phyllis at Callaway Gardens. I know it was special to her because she did THREE PLEIN AIRS...way to go Phyllis.

Peonies # 32

I've been painting the James River rapids for the last few day from Belle Isle and needed a change of pace so I stayed home for a day and painted the peonies in our back garden. The peonies were planted by my mother-in-law more than 50 years ago. What made it interesting, the sun was to their backs - 12x12 panel

Rainbow Stream by BJ Wright

This is another plein air oil painting completed on site at the Historic Buford (GA) Paint out on April 24th. "Rainbow Stream" denotes not only the many colors reflected in the waters, but also the trout swimming about. The location is just downstream from the Buford dam. There were dozens of fishermen and kayakers enjoying the perfect morning. I popped the finished painting into a frame and delivered it (wet) to the Tannery Row Artist Colony for exhibit throughout the month of May.

James River Rapids # 29

Great sunny day on the river - 8x10 linen panel

Stormy James # 27

I'm not going to forget this one. Yesterday, Cooper my dog and I got caught in a nasty lighting and thunderstorm on a hill over looking the James River. I did have a small umbrella and was able to finish by staying with it a few more minutes. No way was I leaving, the river surface was absolutely luminous. I didn't have time to breakdown before taking shelter so my little 12x12 suffered more than 15 minutes of hard rain with no apparent damage. It makes you rethink your sanity and gear.

Elio Camacho Fall Workshop

Elio Camacho is having a workshop in Huntsville, Al. Oct.19-23 2009. The cost is $450.00 for the week and a $50.00 deposit will hold your spot. You can register and pay at  http://www.blog.eliocamacho.com/workshops  . If you have never had the opportunity to see Elio's work check it out on his website link above. Elio has studied under his mentor Russian Artist Ovanes Berberien (who studied under Sergei Bongart).You cannot imagine the attention Elio gives to his students as a group through demonstrations and lectures and as individual instruction. He is always available.  You will learn so much and learn to see the rich colors in nature.  Hurry and register because class size is limited to 14 students and spaces go fast.

Between Storms # 26

I painted this 12x12 view of our back garden yesterday afternoon during a storm break. The field is covered with wild yellow flowers even a gloomy day couldn't hide. It looks like today will hold the same.

NEW!!! Fall workshop in Tuscany!

Join me for a week of sketching, painting, sightseeing, eating.... and a lot of fun this September in Tuscany! You couldn't ask for better accommodations than the elegant San Fedele just outside Siena. Maybe you have been to Tuscany before, with family, or on one of those whirlwind tours. Now see it through your artist's eyes. I have structured this workshop for all levels of experience. Get as much or as little guidance as you wish. We will travel light with sketchbooks and watercolors and of course, our camera. Now it is the time to do something for yourself. Airfares are down, the dollar is up, and Tuscany is breathtaking in the fall.

Register now with Il Chiostro to ensure your place. Spaces are limited. I promise you will be thrilled with everything you will get for this special price. I will be happy to talk to you further about this once of a lifetime experience!

Now, let's go to Tuscany!

Ciao,

Durinda

Morning Iris # 25

The Iris are starting to bloom in our backyard - hard to resist especially at sunrise - 12x12 on panel