Portrait of Fay Curtis completed 6/29/13

Mr. Curtis was a servant of God. I was honored when I was commissioned to paint this portrait. 24"x36" Oil on canvas.

I'm entering four paintings in a show with the Chestnuts very soon. This is the first of the three studio paintings that I did for that show. 10"x8" Oil on masonite.

Steeplechase Valley completed 2/6/13

This one was painted plein-air. Looking in the direction of the sun wasn't easy. My board and palette were in the shade, but the sun was hitting me in the face. Whew! lol 10"x8" Oil on masonite.

Last Light at the Steeplechase completed 2/13/13

That time of day when that last warm light makes the tress glow with orange tones. 10"x8" Oil on masonite.

Steeplechase Fencing completed 2/20/13

This was a challenge to paint but I couldn't pass up the 'flow' of the fencing. 16"x12" Oil on masonite.

Taylor playing her violin completed 12/22/12

This family has been great friends for a long time. While sketching profiles at the school bazaar, David approached me about painting this one of Taylor as a surprise Christmas gift for his wife. Thanks, David ... may you and your family enjoy it for many years! 16"x12" Oil on masonite.

Fine Art in Brentwood ... Show and Sale 2012

The Fine Art in Brentwood Art Show and Sale will be held in just a couple of weeks ... Nov. 30th - Dec. 2nd. Brentwood Academy does a great job with the show ... come out and see it if you can. This is my second year to be juried into it. There will be many artists there showing lots of artwork. The link to their website is http://www.brentwoodacademy.com/page.cfm?p=3586 if you would like to see it. Along the left side of the webpage are the links about the show.

Along the Greenway completed 10/30/12

Here's a view from the Springfield, TN greenway not far from Garner Street Park. It's a little bigger than what I'm used to painting. This one is probably the last one I'll paint before the Brentwood Academy Art Sale, which is scheduled for end of November. I'll have, at least 40 paintings there for sale. I'm hoping that the thick paint in the dark areas dries in time. 20"x16" Oil on masonite. 

Shinning Tree completed 9/25/12

Here's another Radnor Lake piece that will also be in the show. This one looks better if you squint at it :) 10"x10" Oil on linen.

A Hint of Autumn completed 9/19/12

About 50% of this one was painted plein-air. After collecting color notes and value ranges ... along with most of the drawing ... I finished it at home. It will be featured at this years Radnor Lake show in exactly one week from today. 14"x11" Oil on linen.

Rachel completed 8/11/12

Another head study. Rachel was a great model and hope to paint her again sometime! 12"x16" Oil on masonite.

A Golden Morning completed 8/4/12

I've passed by this scene many years on the way to work. One morning I looked back over my right shoulder at it ... and thought, wow ... one day I'm going to paint that! So ... I did. 16"x12" Oil on linen.

Austin Seated completed 7/15/12

This one is a combination of both, from life and studio. I'm really enjoying painting people again. Would like to work on some commissions ... if you are interested. My prices are on the home page. Thanks. 12"x16" Oil on linen.

Fruit Bowl and Jar completed 3/25/12

A still-life painting that was done a few months ago. Working from life is a much more rewarding experience than from a photo ... because there is so much more truth there to paint. 14"x11" Oil on linen.

Austin completed 6/30/12

Here's another 'from life' painting. This one was about 90%, completed from life. The strong features were fun to paint! You may be seeing more of Austin in future posts. 8"x10" Oil on masonite.

Maria completed 6/18/12

Started from life and then completed in the studio. Trying to loosen-up in the outlying areas ... then tighten-up in the areas of interests. Enjoyed myself doing this one! 11"x14" Oil on linen.

Head Study #2 completed 6/2/12

Although, much of it was done from life ... this one has quite a bit of studio attention. I knew it was going to need more work, so I asked Wanda if I could use her camera. I couldn't quite figure out how the camera worked, so that meant that I had to use the auto setting ... which TOTALLY messed up the colors and values. I ended up converting the photo to a greyscale in Photoshop and then working from that greyscale image on my computer screen to complete the study. It's an 8"x10" Oil on masonite.

Head Study #1 completed 5/26/12

I've begun painting from life with a small group of talented artists on a regular basis. This head study is the first of many ... I hope ... because painting from life is very beneficial to any artist who is willing to take on the challenge.

R.C. May Jeweler completed 5/5/12

The setting is the town square in Columbia, Tn. ... ready for a Chestnut art show there in Columbia this weekend. 14"x11" Oil on Linen.

Radnor Spillway completed 4/26/12

I gave my first official workshop this past Saturday. At somewhere between 45 and 50 degrees ... it rained that morning. Thankfully we were able to use the lecture room at the visitor center for the beginning of the day. I gave out way too much info ... but the six attendees didn't complain:) We were actually running out of time ... so, I took a poll. 'Would you like to watch me give a brief demo and then have time to try to complete a painting yourself or watch me do a longer demo?' They all wanted a longer demo. So ... I started this one ... and completed it in my studio. I had a great time and hope they did also!

Lazy Sycamore completed 3/3/12

This property can be found in Western Columbia, TN. The stream flows into the Duck River a few 100 yards down-stream. 16"x12" Oil on linen.

Double Trees completed 2/29/12

Here's another pleinair done along the Duck River. It had been 3-4 months since I'd done any painting from life ... so, I was chomping at the bits. lol 10"x8" Oil on linen.

Old Smoothie completed 3/1/12

Painted pleinair along the Duck River about an hour and a half West of Nashville the other day and had a great time. I finished this one in the studio. 10"x8" Oil on linen.

Docked Red completed 10/25/11

This painting was actually intended to be a companion piece with 'Docked Blue'. They are both from the same location down along the French Riviera. I'm happy with the way the extreme foreground turned out on this one. It's a 14"x11" Oil on masonite.

Hayfields completed 12/27/11

Another scene within our county. 10"x8" Oil on linen.

Cat-tails on Blue completed 12/29/11

I enjoy painting branches. The way these came together where they met the bright blue water ... drew me to paint this one. 10"x8" Oil on linen.

Waves of Weeds completed 12/27/11

This scene can be found just minutes away from my home. I've always loved to draw and paint old barns. The way the light hits the weeds in front of the large shadow area intrigued me to paint this one. 10"x8" Oil on linen.

Reds and Whites completed 1/4/12

Just made the jump from student grade oil paint to the professional grade. Most of the colors are much more concentrated. It's also my first painting in 2012. It's a 12"x16" Oil on linen.

Cain's Land completed 9/27/11

There were plenty of scenes to paint on this wonderful spread of land. I remember the clear day that it was and the hospitality of the owners ... they gave personal tours of the 600 acres that boarder the Duck River and of the newly restored house built originally in the mid 1800s. It's a 16"x12" Oil on masonite.

Docked Blue completed 9/8/11

I liked the colors and perspective on this scene. Will be needing to buy more blue paint now. This one is 14"x11" Oil on masonite.

Brass and Orange completed 8/1/11

A simple still life of a brass bowl and a couple of oranges. I painted this one from life. I had to raise it up more near eye level using my wife's stool. So ... she calls me at work, "where's my stool?". Good thing she asked ... because she would have NEVER found it under that drapery! It's only 8"x6" in size. Oil on linen

Silos in the Morning completed 7/21/11

This is a typical scene that you would find here around Springfield, Tn. I enjoyed painting the light spilling across, the overlapping of the shapes and masses, and the cool colors in the shadow side of things. 14"x11" Oil on linen

Two Lemons completed 6/18/11

Just a small still-life painting from life. Enjoyed working with the warm colors on this one. 10"x8" Oil on masonite

Carter Property completed 6/7/11

This is a plein-air painting of the Carter House property in Franklin, Tn. The red building has many bullet holes it from the historic Battle of Franklin during the Civil War. It will be for sale at the Carnton Chestnut art show next month. 14"x11" Oil on linen

Sam's in Hillsboro Village completed 5/24/11

Except for the runner ... this one was completed plein-air at the first paintout that Local Color Art Gallery in Nashville, TN has offered. There were about 38 artists participating. I had a great time! 10"x8" Oil on linen

Behind Lisa's Gallery completed 5/13/11

This one was about 75% completed during Kevin Menck's plein-air workshop at Leiper's Creek Gallery. It's just a field out behind the gallery. Kevin's work is very nice ... you should Google him sometime. 10"x8" Oil on masonite

Carter House Gable completed 4/28/11

Built in 1830 ... the Carter House was caught in the middle of the bloody Civil War Battle of Franklin on November 30, 1864. It was painted as a plein-air piece ... but the perspective was fine tuned considerable back in the studio. This one will be for sale in July of this year at a Chestnut Group show. 10"x8" Oil on linen

Campbell Spring completed 4/13/11

This spring begins at the base of this tree ... makes me wonder which came first. Also, it reminds me of a well-known Bible verse ... "And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season ... " Psalm 1:3a 14"x11" Oil on linen

Carnton Plantation completed 3/22/2011

This property has a great historical significance. I don't think I've ever painted a subject that has stirred my emotions more. It's probably because we had a great tour guide. It will be for sale at a show in mid July of this year. 14"x11" Oil on linen

Cummins Falls completed 2/7/2011

Here's the main water fall at Cummins. It's now for sale online to benefit the property where the falls are. The price is $490.00 framed and ready to hang. 11"x14" Oil on linen

Stepping Down completed 2/2/2011

This is a painting of Cummins Falls ... just above the falls. It sold at a show at Belle Meade Plantation in Nashville, TN for $300 just a few days ago. 10"x8" Oil on linen

Old Cowboy Painting completed 1985

I painted this one about twenty-six years ago. It was hidden away in a closet ... actually, I had forgotten all about it. 20"x16" oil on masonite.

Caleb Reading completed 12/27/2010

I painted this one, of Caleb, to match the other of Nathan. I'm very proud of them both! 8"x10" Oil on linen.

Healthy Remedies completed 11/22/2010

I know I should eat more of these kinds of 'things' ... but actually, I was only in this one for the colors. I enjoy working from life. Especially when the lighting stays the same long enough to complete the painting. 12"x9" oil on linen.

Blue Bowl and Fruit completed 11/9/2010

Just a fun and simple still life painting ... done from life. The colors seem to go well together, to me. 8"x6" oil on linen.

Old Radnor Bridge Site completed 11/6/2010

Steve showed me this site in Radnor park. They're in the process of registering this site historically. It was interesting enough for me to paint. I like the way the trees lead your eye the area of primary focus. It was started plein air, then finished in the studio. 6"x8" oil on linen.

Orange Glow completed 9/9/2010

Late day warm light is great! That's what drew me to paint this one. The location of this painting is in Cedar Hill, Tn. We'll be painting there soon in pleinair with the Chestnut Group ... I'm certainly looking forward to that! 20"x16" oil on masonite.

Peaceful Place completed 8/12/2010

Here's the second painting that was entered in the Roswell, GA paintout. The water was basically finished on the first day, so the rain didn't really effect me to bad at this location. This painting is 16"x12" and 'Inclined to Hear' is 10"x8". Both are painted on linen and the medium is oil. Both are for sale, if you are interested.

Inclined to Hear completed 8/12/2010

I entered a paintout in Roswell, GA last month. This was the first paintout for me and it lasted for three days. Each of the 75 artists could enter only two paintings and the paintings couldn't be touched up in the studio ... so, it was totally a pleinair competition. This is a painting from under the Vickery Creek walk across bridge. I arrived late and only had two days to paint ... the plan was to pick a morning spot/painting and an evening spot/painting for two days. These would be my two paintings to enter into the competition. The sunlight would be basically the same. However, it rained BIGTIME the night after the first day. The creek waters were about one and a half feet DEEPER on the morning of the second day and the water went from being very transparent to being opaque and muddy! I had to finish the painting from memory. The best part was that I won second place with this painting! Thank you, Lord ... for an experience that I'll never forget!!

Radnor Morning completed 7/26/2010

This is a view of Radnor Lake plenty early in the morning. I get sleepy whenever I'm reminded of how early I had to get up that morning to be there to capture this view. It's a peaceful place. 14"x11" Oil on linen.

The Heron at Radnor Lake completed 7/19/2010

The heron at Radnor is always on time for breakfast early in the morning about every day. Most folks who walk the trails no him. The colors on the lake this particular morning were awesome! It's a great place to visit. The last time I was there I saw two large owls in a tree about thirty feet from me ... fourteen deer on the trails ... and many friendly people along the trails as well. 30"x24" Oil on linen.