Morning Shadows by BJ Wright

7"x5" oil on RayMar panel, painted en plein air, alla prima, on June 25th (completed at 8:15am)...$30 including shipping...The early morning sunlight cast a wonderful yellow/orange glow...but it was gone in a flash. Just enough time for a small one.

a perfect morning

Sandra paints hay bales on a perfect morning at the Tunnel Hill (GA) battlefield.

From the deck in 15 minutes # 92

I used a thin cadmium red toned background (too light). Over the last month I've been reducing my palette. Currently it consists of yellow-pale, cadmium yellow-deep, orange and red, permanent green light, cerulean blue, dioxane purple and of course titanium soft white. I use a wide range of cadmium's, because it's easier. The only color I would add back is French Ultramarine. I also use a toned disposable palette by Stephen Quiller. My brush work is deliberately more impasto and towards palette knife. While these might be sell-able, my only objective , is to study colour relationships to each other and light.

From the deck in 15 minutes # 90

Yesterday, I started a new series from our back deck - this is fair warning to my neighbors - careful what you hang on your line....:=)

Exploring What's There by BJ Wright

10"x8" oil on RayMar panel, painted en plein air, alla prima, on Tuesday June 30th (completed at 9:55am)...$85 including shipping...Sandra and I explored Crown Gardens and Archives in Dalton (GA) and found a painting in every direction. This small addition to the main structure was set deep in shadows and as the sun crept in, I began painting using only yellow ochre, alizarin crimson and ultramarine blue (and of course white). I had challenged myself to use a very limited palette. Next time I think the mixing will go faster.

15 Minute Sunrise # 84

My favorite!

Early at the Tunnel by BJ Wright

7"x5" oil on RayMar panel, painted en plein air, alla prima, on June 24th (completed at 8:20am)...$35 including shipping...The historic Tunnel Hill railroad tunnel is hidden in this plein air study, but is somewhere beyond the darkness on the lower left side. The sun had cleared Chetogeeta Mountain, turning the sky almost instantly from a golden haze to a clear blue. Taking the road to the left carries the viewer to the mouth of the tunnel. Contact me at beejw@charter.net for purchase.

Your Turn

Looking forward to something new :=)

15 Minute Sunrise 87 & 88

I was up and ready this morning. I wanted to catch the very first peek the sun makes each morning...it has a colour that's almost impossible to capture (top panel)......not there yet, but that's a secret she's not going to keep long. I had to make a quick decision to jump ship and start another one because the sun suddenly became an intense yellow and the surrounding atmosphere a warm liquid creamy gray....needed to catch that! I think I did ......

Hay's In by BJ Wright

8"x10" oil on RayMar panel, painted en plein air, alla prima, on June 24th (completed 8:00am)...$85 including shipping...Getting outside to paint in 95+ degree heat is nuts...so I get out really early to miss the heat. The early sun quickly rose to show its orange light on the recently baled hay. It's hard to believe this was just 3 days into early Summer.

15 Minute Sunrise # 76 & 77

It looked like rain this morning so I missed a great misty sunrise, but....here's two from the other day, again very misty morning. This one (bottom) marked a pivotal point in my painting. I did an 11x14 (top) immediately after. I could have been anywhere...studio...it didn't matter... I was painting from experience and memory. I was using the scene in front of me as a minor reference......anyway natures moment had moved on. The 8x10 became the paint chip for the larger work (works better in the studio).....now Plein Air and studio are monolithic .....how cool is that!

15 Minute Sunrise # 82

I always think.... I didn't get it....nuts lost it....oh well - keep going nothing too lose....once I go though that process.....I get it :=)

First Hay of Summer by BJ Wright

8"x10" oil on RayMar panel, painted en plein air, alla prima, on June 18th (completed at 9:10am)...$85 for painting only, $120 framed (as shown)...The hay was freshly cut and the meadow lay golden in the morning sun. Crickets and birds were the only sounds heard, except for the westbound freight train.

15 Minute sunrise # 79 & 80

This morning I barely had time to set up when I discovered my glasses were left behind in the studio....so squinting was in :=)

(2) 8x10 Panels executed about 10 minutes apart - incredible how fast it changes

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.

First Hay of Summer...progressing

We were there before 7am to begin painting the first cutting of Summer hay. Getting an early start to beat the heat is a must. It was 97 degrees later in the day. This is an 8"x10" oil on RayMar panel painted en plein air. At the time of the photo, it was still progressing but was finished alla prima. I just haven't taken the finished photo yet. Since this area seems to be famous for its "North Georgia green green", I often push colors into their blue or yellow zones.

Swan Lake # 69

8x10 Oil on Panel - The island in the middle of the lake is teaming with wildlife. A safe nesting refuge for hundreds of ducks and Canadian Geese that make the lake their home.

Lunch Time @ Swan Lake # 68

8x10 Oil on Panel - I added the family, geese and ducks at the last minute. The nice thing about Bryd Park, it has grand scale, large lakes and constant movement. A great place to study and paint human behavior at play. Occasionally they will mix it with the wildlife - as in this setting.

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.

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.