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.

Buy this painting on PayPal
Price: $100 USD
Or, send me an email

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.