We recently moved to North Carolina, so my wife could start a new job. I am enjoying living here. One my favorite things about North Carolina is their great State Park system. Most of the state parks are free, and in beautiful locations.
South Mountains State Park is a great example of this. The South Mountains are one of the many ranges in central and western North Carolina, before you reach the main body of the Appalachians. Lynley and I had a picnic here on our way to Lake Lure a few weeks ago. We decided to take the 3 mile round trip hike to High Shoal Falls. The hike was beautiful, and started out easy, along the river. Eventually though, it started to climb, and then it was up 1/2 mile of steep stairs to the base of the falls. I was proud of Lynley, even though she is about 6 months pregnant she made the climb.
The falls are definitely worth the effort. They are large and beautiful. Being so high up in the mountains, the flora had changed to mostly evergreen trees, and it was beautiful. If you ever get a chance, it is well worth the trip.
I created a focus on the falls by making the greatest contrast be the dark of the rocks, against the white of the falls. I also used the lighter green of the trees on top to show the way the sun shone through them against the light sky.
I hope you enjoy the painting!
Filed under Landscapes by on Aug 10th, 2011. 3 Comments. 
I was just interviewed by author Mandi Tucker Slack, author of “The Alias” for her blog. She interviewed me about my particular artistic viewpoints, and especially about my abstract art. Come enjoy the article, and when you are finished, take a look at the rest of her blog!
http://heyyouslackers.blogspot.com/ Read more on Interview by Mandi Tucker Slack…
Filed under Blog by on Aug 8th, 2011. 1 Comment.
There are a number of different ways in which I come up with ideas for paintings. Sometimes I just start painting, and see what comes out. Other times I use one of my photographs for inspiration. Often I will base a painting off of a feeling. Every now and then I do a preliminary sketch.
The Chimney is a painting that was based off of a preliminary sketch. The idea behind it was abstracting the landscape of Lake Lure and Chimney Rock, where we recently vacationed. I was watching a concert of Mozart music on PBS while I did the sketch, which also influenced the painting.
I have recently stretched some older abstracts, which had been rolled to be able to move. They have influenced me on a number of decisions, like brush size, and colors. This painting looks a bit different from anything else I have done, because of the mixing of more recent ways of painting with the influence of my older work. I quite like it.
Filed under Abstracts, Artist Tips by on Aug 5th, 2011. 1 Comment.
Providence Canyon is a State Park in Georgia. It is actually a beautiful gully that formed from centuries of poor farming practice. When you are looking at it, if you didn’t know better, you would think you were in Southern Utah.
I took Lynley to Providence Canyon on Memorial Day, 2008. We had been dating almost 4 months at the time. I painted this for her as a birthday gift that summer.
I love the different colors on the formations in the canyon, and the luminescent quality of the light as it strikes the clay. As I painted this I hinted at vegetation, but let the mind fill in the details. This is actually how we see most things.
Filed under Landscapes by on Aug 3rd, 2011. 2 Comments.
I had a pet beagle. She was really a fun dog. Her name was Tia, a feminine version of Teancum, a hero from the Book of Mormon.
Tia led a somewhat dull life. She was stuck inside most of the time, because we didn’t have a fenced yard. She loved being outside, but when she would see a squirrel she would get so focused, nothing else would matter. She had to stay on a leash.
Dogs are basically colorblind, but I figured Tia’s dreams would be fun and colorful, unlike her life. This painting was in homage to her.
We ended up giving Tia to a family who could make her life much more fun. They had a kitten, an older dog, two kids, and a fenced yard. I think about her now and then, especially when I see this painting.
Filed under Abstracts by on Aug 1st, 2011. 5 Comments.
I enjoy movement and color in my paintings. This painting is about water and flow. Color is also very important. I love the ways colors work together to create different harmonies.
Filed under Abstracts by on Jul 29th, 2011. 1 Comment.
Lynchburg, VA was my first home with my wife. We lived there for a few years, and really enjoyed it. The city is very historic, on the bank of the James River, at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
One of my favorite views of the city is driving in from the north. As you come down the hill to the river, the city is spread out before you.
Filed under Landscapes by on Jul 26th, 2011. 4 Comments.
After years of a slow art market, things have finally turned around. I sold 3 paintings out of my galleries, had a very successful time at the Mulberry Street Festival, in Macon, GA, where I sold 5 or 6 paintings, and also had 9 paintings purchased in June. That has cleared out a lot of old inventory. During that time I finished teaching with Lynchburg City Schools, and we moved to Asheboro, NC, where we lived in a hotel for a month while my wife got to know her new practice. She graduated from her residency, and we moved down to Asheboro, and bought our first house.
I am able now to fit my inventory in a closet, and will be starting to do a lot more work, so look forward to more posts!
Filed under Blog by on Jul 20th, 2011. 4 Comments.
I enjoy 20th century modernist art, especially early and mid century modern. Here is my homage to the artists of that period.
Filed under Abstracts by on Mar 23rd, 2011. 1 Comment.
I believe that most successful people are stubborn. We aren’t necessarily that gifted, we just keep going, no matter what. Obstacles get in the way, but we find a way past them. Eventually we will receive the breaks we need.
This painting is in honor of everyone who keeps going, trying to excel. I think of my parents, who have been through a lot this past year, and have made it through, improving all of the time.
Filed under Abstracts by on Mar 16th, 2011. 2 Comments.
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