Fence Row 4

Fence Row 4
From the Trumpet Flower Series
48" x 72", Oil on Canvas
12/2012

Finishing out the year with the next installment from the Trumpet Flower Series, and my largest painting EVER (discounting theatrical sets). It was very difficult to step back far enough to get a sense of what was happening in this one. Several paces back to look, several paces up to make a stroke. Squatting down to work the bottom edge on a easel with too low a mast. I sure got a work out and was sore for weeks.

Fleckenstein Park Trees

Fleckenstein Park Trees 2
5" x 7", Oil on Canvas Panel
12/2012

During December I was working on one of the biggest paintings I've every attempted, so why not take on the smallest. These two paintings were started and finished in two sessions at MAPs.

Fleckenstein Park Trees 3

5" x 7", Oil on Canvas Panel

12/2012

2821 Victoria Avenue

Finished in late November, but intended as a gift, this commissioned house portrait was just presented last week. Merry Christmas! I hear the recipient was very pleased.

House of the Singing Winds

Walking the Lower Gardens
12" x 16", Oil on Canvas
11/2012

These paintings are wrapping up the work I'm submitting to the TC Steele Historic Site's Artist In Residence program. I'm hoping for a AIR grant to paint onsite and study the Brown County Painters. Theodore Clement Steele was an American Impressionist and the first artist to find and move to the scenic Brown County, Indiana area.

Up the New Drive
12" x 16", Oil on Canvas Panel
11/2012

 

 TC's View
9" x 12", Oil on Canvas Panel
12/2012

TC's house was sited for this view, now partially obscured by trees which have grown up since it's building.

Approaching Winter

Field of Jinny Court
9" x 12", Oil on Canvas Panel
11/2012

Went to painting group needing a subject. I had this photo this painting was done from in my backpack, printed out  a couple of years ago. We haven't had this much snow in that long. It was taken the evening after one of the snowfalls in 2010, still enough moisture in the air for flurries. The location is the field behind the treeline behind our house.

Dad's Birthday Present

MAPs- Still Life 6
8" x 10", Oil on Canvas Panel
11/2012

This painting was completed at Mason Area Painters in early November. It depicts a working steamroller toy that was my father's. After some rough play and some 80 years, he had it restored (new chain and some other parts) and it was given to me. My parents decided to disperse a lot of their accumulated material wealth when they downsized several years ago.

The painting was gifted to my Dad on the event of his 91st Birthday, end of November. Thanks Dad!

Ryland Lakes Country Club

Ryland Lakes CC 1
A view toward the Barnhorn (blue) and Duveneck (hidden) cottages.
12" x 16", Oil on Canvas

October 20, the Cincinnati Art Club was invited to have a Plein Air Paintout, show and sale at the Ryland Lakes Country Club in Ryland Heights, Kentucky. Ryland started as the Kentucky Hunting & Fishing Club and was celebrating their 120th anniversary as an organization! Two of the Cincinnati Art Club's past presidents, Frank Duveneck (painter) and Clement Barnhorn (sculptor) were members at Ryland.

Ryland  Lakes CC 2
Reflections of the Brown cottage.
9" x 12", Oil on Canvas Panel
SOLD!

Cold painting, but beautiful fall color! A gray and blustery day, the rain held off and the sun peaked through for the cocktail reception in the afternoon. Then a celebratory dinner with our hosts in a PACKED club house. Many thanks for a great time!

House Commission

11709 Crooked Lake Boulevard
9" x 12", Oil on Canvas
10/2012

I'm starting to get around, first Texas and now Minnesota! This is a commission that came my way by word-of-mouth advertising (always the most satisfying). A big thanks to the Ganaways for passing my name along!

House of the Singing Winds

Selma's Garden– High Summer
16" x 20", Oil on Canvas
10/2012

Another view of the house and grounds at TC Steele's home outside Nashville, Indiana. The gardens were looking a little wild at this point of the year, with the dry and heat we'd had since early Summer.

I took this to Critique Group at the Cincinnati Art Club last night and only received compliments. Nice to get affirmation from your peers!

Seasonal Adjustments 6

Restricted Seating
8" x 10", Oil on Canvas Panel
09/2012

This is one of three 8 x 10 paintings I've submitted to the "Winter" show sponsored by Mason-Deerfield Arts Alliance and Ohio Rep. Peter Beck. For the last four years, Representative Beck has had an open call for artwork submissions, with a first prize purchase award and going on his holiday card.

A great excuse to paint some winter scenes, but last year didn't cooperate, very little snow!

Heritage Village Reprise

In September I went back to Heritage Village Museum in Sharon Woods Park for a second painting session "en plein air." A show of all the artists work from this summer's outings will be displayed in the historic Hayner House in the village, with an opening this Friday, 11/9, 7-9P.

This is the view from the center of the village looking Northeast. The clock is from in front of the McAlpin's Department Store in downtown Cincinnati and is now in the village "square."

Benedict Cottage
Plein Air, 12" x 16", Oil on Canvas
09/2012

Early Fall Commission

I was waiting on posting of this painting, until the giving of it as an first anniversary gift. The wife wanted to present a really special something to her husband and thought of my work! She had seen my paintings at the Wyoming Art Show two years ago.

This work was painted "en plein air" in two sessions:

1255 Garden Circle
Plein Air, 11" x 14", Oil on Canvas

SWOPA at Glenwood Gardens

Cotswold Cottage
12" x 16", Oil on Canvas

Last Thursday the SWOPA group went to Glenwood Gardens, one of the Hamilton County Park System's parks. The original owners of the land were captivated by the Cotswolds region in England and set out to reproduce the setting here in Southwest Ohio. Their "cottage" is perched on the hill overlooking a valley of rolling fields and stands of large trees. I started painting early in the morning and fixed the scene with the long shadows being cast down the hill.

SWOPA at Bellevue, KY

Mt. Adams from Bellevue
12" x 16", Oil on Canvas

A dramatic sky and the first hints of Fall touching the trees on Mount Adams was in view from Bellevue, Kentucky last Thursday. Southwest Ohio Plein Air painters met in Bellevue Beach Park, but I wound up painting next door with the kind permission of the custodian at the VFW Hall. This gave me a slightly better angle of Mt. Adams hill and the city behind.

House of the Singing Winds 2

On the Grounds 2
9" x 12", Oil on Canvas Panel

While painting the third 16" x 20" work in the House of the Singing Winds Series, I did this 9x12 at painting group. Showing part of the parking lot and the approaches to the TC Steele house, you can get an idea of the ridge top setting for his home.

Curatorial Discussions
16" x 20", Oil on Canvas

My wife and I were greeted by the home's currator and given a tour of the facilities. In the background of this painting you get the almost opposite view of the drive from On the Grounds 2. Behind the figures is the building Steele built as his second studio at the site, his first studio being the living room area in the main house. The indoor studio spaces were not much used, Steele being devoted to painting "en plein air". He had several shelters built on the grounds at the best views so he could paint in all weather.

Friday– Little Miami

Morning– Little Miami
9" x 12", Oil on Canvas Panel
08/2012

I painted with Chuck Marshall at one of his favorite spots on the Little Miami River on Friday. While I painted, Chuck did two small studies, one of which he put up on his Facebook page.

SWOPA at Columbia-Tusculum

Painted Ladies
9" x 12", Oil on Canvas Panel
08/2012

Last Thursday SWOPA went down to the East side of Cincinnati, near where the city was founded. The Columbia area of the city, near Lunken Airport, was founded by Benjamin Stites in November 1788, predating Losantiville (later Cincinnati) by a month. Transportation has always been important in the area: a landing for flatboats, construction sites for many steamboats, route for steam trains and then Lunken, built on Turkey Bottoms and the first commercial airport for Cincinnati.

The pictured houses were built in the late 19th Century on Tusculum Street. Tusculum leads up the hill to Alms Park on the summit. Location of previous SWOPA plein air trips.

SWOPA at Washington Park

Bandstand at Washington Park
12" x 16", Oil on Canvas

The SWOPA group met at the newly remodeled Washington Park in Cincinnati's Over the Rhine neighborhood. It was too warm to brave the views of Music Hall, so I painted the bandstand and newly repositioned Civil War canon.

House of the Singing Winds

On the Grounds
9" x 12", Oil on Canvas Panel

I have started a new series of paintings to support a possible Artist in Residence grant I am pursuing. I have completed the first four in the series from the "House of the Singing Winds", the TC Steele State Historic Site, just outside Nashville, Indiana. The first of these paintings was completed during the Chuck Marshall workshop and posted previously. Here are the next three:

Up from Below
9" x 12", Oil on Canvas Panel

Southern Gardens
16" x 20", Oil on Canvas Panel

Entry Pergola
16" x 20", Oil on Canvas

Heritage Village Museum

I spent a beautiful Saturday morning and afternoon at Heritage Village Museum in Sharon Woods Park, Sharonville, Ohio. Made up of buildings from throughout SW Ohio and even one from Northern Kentucky, the structures date from the early to the late 1800's. I got two paintings in:

Elk Lick House
c. 1820, 1870
12" x 16", Oil on Canvas

Hayner House
c. 1850
9" x 12", Oil on Canvas Panel

Closer to Home

Some of the SWOPA group journeyed North a little closer to my "stomping grounds" and met at the Fitton Center in Hamilton. Just south of the High Street Bridge and behind the Soilders, Sailors and Pioneers Monument, I painted this view looking up river toward the:

Site of Fort Hamilton
12" x 16", Oil on Canvas
08/2012

SWOPA at French Park

A wonderful, if warm, morning at French Park in Amberly Village. This is the view from just behind and below the large main house, looking toward the:

Caretaker's Cottage
9" x 12",  Oil on Canvas Panel
08/2012

OPAS Milford Paint Out

Saturday, August 4, was the Ohio Plein Air Society's paint out in Milford, OH. No rain, but was hot (98 degrees) and muggy. I set up in one location and painted two views:

Mill at Main Street
12" x 16", Oil on Canvas
08/2012

Milford Bridge
9" x 12", Oil on Canvas
08/2012

SWOPA at National Underground Freedom Center

Dodging rain showers again (why does it always seem to rain for SWOPA outings?), I went South from the Freedom Center to Smale Riverfront Park to do this view of:

Covington and the Roebling Bridge
12" x 16", Oil on Canvas
07/2012

SWOPA Plein Air at Glendale

On 7/19, I was one of three that showed up on a rainy morning to paint in Glendale Village Square. I started one painting and then it began to pour, so this is a new view painted from under cover of a gazebo.

View Toward the Iron Horse
9" x 12", Oil on Canvas Panel
07/2012

Chuck Marshall Plein Air Workshop

The first day of Chuck's workshop was devoted to identifying and painting "big shapes." We went out to Schappracher's Farm, just north of Mason, for some big vistas. We were to locate and block in (in the correct color and value) the large shapes. After a 15 min. painting to warm up, here's the day's paintings:

Simple shapes and values:
Schappracher's Farm 1
8" x 10", Oil on Canvas Panel
07/2012

Schappracher's Farm 2

8" x 10", Oil on Canvas Panel

07/2012

Day 2 was devoted to and experiment in mixing different color. We were to replace our use of Ultramarine Blue in our pallet with Ivory Black! All paintings completed without the use of blue...

Rain forced us inside to paint from photos for the first painting of the day...

On the Grounds
9" x 12", Oil on Canvas Panel
07/2012

Pine Hill Vista– Blu for Blk
9" s 12", Oil on Canvas Panel
07/2012
(with help from Chuck, suggesting knocking back the background detail)

Pine Hill Vista– Further Shore
9" x 12", Oil on Canvas Panel
07/2012

Day 3 was devoted to trying to let your feelings come thru in your paintings. We started with a 15 min. painting (I later spent an hour or so completing).

View from Pine Hill
8" x 10", Oil on Canvas Panel
07/2012

Next was an exercise in comparing your memory to what you see. We looked at a scene for 10 min. and  then had to paint from memory with our back turned:

Pine Hill Vista– memory
9" x 12", Oil on Canvas Panel
07/2012

Then we painted the same scene from life:

Pine Hill Vista– from life
9" x 12", Oil on Canvas Panel
07/2012

The paintings from memory had more life and feeling!

A Lot of Catching Up to Do!

I've been remiss in posting my work over the last couple of months, so here's to trying to catch up:

Artistic Garden 2
9" x 12", Oil on Canvas Panel
07/2012

Reserves Park– Lotus Bud
6" x 8", Oil on Canvas Panel
07/2012

Artistic Garden

From last Saturday's Art in the Garden, Lebanon, Ohio.
Artistic Garden
9" x 12", Oil on Canvas Panel

Plein Air– Something Different

At last Thursday's outing with SWOPA, we were painting at the Cincinnati Museum Center. This Art Deco masterpiece started life as a massive building project to consolidate all the city's passenger train terminals during the Depression and was dedicated in 1931. Three museums– Cincinnati History, Cincinnati Children's and Cincinnati Natural History, make this location home.

I thought I would try something different , knowing the breadth of the view at this location, and put two 6" x 8" panels together for a panoramic view:
Museum Center
6" x 16", Oil on Canvas Panel

Sesonal Adjustments– Like Cordwood

The canoes were stacked like cordwood outside the Morgan Canoe Livery this winter. Just waiting on weather like we're having now, I'm sure they're making multiple trips per day, down the Little Miami.

Seasonal Adjustments– Like Cordwood
8" x 10", Oil on Canvas Panel
06/2012

Taft Museum from Lytle Park

The Taft from Lytle Park
Plein Air, 12 x 16, Oil on Canvas
05/2012

Across Pike Street from Lytle Park, in the East end of downtown Cincinnati's Central Business District, is the Taft Museum. Last of the city's first "great" homes, the rest having succumbed to the expanding city center. Built by Martin Baum in 1820, it is considered the best example of federal style architecture in the city.

The Taft houses a wonderful small art collection with "major works by Rembrandt, Hals, Goya, Gainsborough, Reynolds, Turner, Ingres, Whistler, and Sargent, as well as the greatest Gothic ivory sculpture in America." It also hosts smaller traveling exhibitions. The Taft is considered one of the "finest small art museums in America."

SWOPA at Cincinnati Nature Center

May 17, Southwest Ohio Plein Air painters met at Rowe Woods, Cincinnati Nature Center, Milford, Ohio. Most went to the larger pond behind the Visitor Center, but I found this piece of meadow to paint. The Abner Hollow Cabin was obviously moved to its present location on top of a ridge at one end of the meadow. I worked with the long view.

Abner Hollow Cabin Meadow
12" x 16", Oil on Canvas, 05/2012