Lake James

                                                     Lake James     16 x 40    oil     Sold

This view of Lake James in North Carolina was commissioned by a client in Hawaii;  this must prove that western Va and N.C. can compete with the views in Hawaii which makes me very excited!  I love the panoramic view and decided to buy a few more canvases, this size, on which to continue my Parkway project.  I am now caught up on commissions unless I get a few more last minute ones for Christmas, so my plan is to keep on painting the Parkway.  I have already scheduled four Parkway shows for 2012 so I need to get busy!

Thankfulness

                                           16 x 20 oil  Sold

At this time of Thanksgiving, I am truly thankful for the many commissions the Lord has brought my way over the last few weeks.  This is not a Parkway scene but a diversion to the beach!  It is enjoyable to change locations and subject matter occassionally, especially after 360 woodland/mountain scenes!

Enjoying the Day II

Parkway Series #363     16 x 20       Oil      Sold

  After painting trees and haybales and mountains for a while, it was fun to paint "little people" enjoying their day at the Peaks of Otter.  I have several other commissions that I will be working on that are not part of my Parkway Project so I may not be posting for a few weeks.  Two shows in October, one at the Artisan Center in Rocky Mount this weekend and the other at Tuggles Gap on the Parkway Oct 15 and 16th, will also be keeping me busy for a while.  If you are in the area on those weekends, please come by and visit. Signing off for a while....................

Farm Hospitality

                                                             
The Ridge and Valley Plein Air Painters gathered at  a farm in Moneta to paint a few weekends ago.  I will probably give this painting to the farmer as a "thank you" for his hospitality!  He was very interested in our work and excited to show us around his 150 acre farm.

Early Morning Hay Bales

Parkway Series #362  12 x 16 oil    Sold

Botetourt Hay Bales

Parkway Series #361  12 x 16   oil   SOLD

As the summer wanes, hay bales pop up over the parkway landscapes readying the farms for winter.  The warm colors are so inviting as opposed to the gray tones of winter.  I plan to paint summer and fall as long as I can!

Art and Music in the Mountains II

Parkway Series #360   12 x 16   oil   sold

This is another painting done on location last weekend at the Peaks of Otter.  Sometimes I will begin a painting on location and then tweak it in the studio.  This one remains as it was done on location.  It is interesting that I achieve a much softer painting on location than in the studio.  Maybe it is a phenomenon of plein air painting or maybe it was the influence of David Heath who was painting nearby!  In either case, it is fun to experiment with styles and change old habits.