My wife asked me to paint a chicken for our kitchen and being one to barely follow instructions I painted this rooster when I think she really was looking for a hen. I’ve been wanting to work in some darker tone backgrounds and see how they came out. I’m not sure if this came out too gothic for a kitchen chicken painting. Might have to do another brighter hen piece to balance it out.
Varnishing a couple things
I’ve had these paintings ready to varnish for a while now and figured today was finally the day. A rooster for our kitchen, a barn nocturne, and a horse skull that I didn’t really have a plan for so went with an ominous sort of background.
See my luxurious varnishing area? So aesthetic.
This is the first time I’ve used Gamlin’s Gamvar gloss varnish which I’ve head good things about so when everything dries we’ll see how they turned out.
Exhibition: Arts @ Erlanger: Local Inspiration
Recently I was accepted into the Arts @ Erlanger exhibition for “Local Inspiration” for my Black Bear oil painting titled, “Curious Ol’ Boy.”
The exhibition takes place in a long hallway at Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga, Tennessee where they rotate artwork on a 6 month period. While all the artworks are for sale, one of the main goals of the gallery is to “create a healing atmosphere for patients and their guests.”
That’s something I’m very proud to be part of.
To see more of the exhibition’s artwork, click here.
Adding the first layers after the initial wash of burnt sienna.
Adjusting some colors, then to dry, varnish, and frame.
Me and my biggest little fan.
Lantern Study
Here’s a study of a lantern I did on a 8 x 10 wood panel. After drawing in the shapes and lines with burnt umber, I wiped away the areas where it will be the brightest.
I meant to get some more progress shots, but quickly got into putting color down and lost track of time. Here’s the finished piece.
Copper Still
I just finished reading Carol Marine’s book Daily Painting to help get me out of a rut. I just haven’t been able to sit down and work on anything lately because of a titanic-sized artist’s block. The promise of the book is getting your artist brain in the habit of doing smaller paintings on a more regular basis and also keeping them affordable for most collectors. So here’s my first, a new and shiny moonshine still just waiting to be fired up.
These daily paintings are going to be unframed to keep the cost down unless I suddenly get a bunch of extra time between my full time job, part time painting, being a dad and a husband to set up a woodworking shop to make frames so you get the drift.
Available in the store.
Tennessee Critters Series - Part 7
For the fifth and heretofore unmentioned critter is the Black Bear. Mascot of the Smokies and raider of all unsecured edibles.
I’ll name him “Curious Ol’ Boy” on account of he looks like he’s up to something.
Framed and available in the store now!
Tennessee Critters Series - Part 6
Here is my painting of a Tennessee Walking Horse. I’m naming him “Boots” after a horse I used to ride at a ranch and he got his name on account of the fact that he had to always be at the end of our line of horses or he’d up and kick any horse behind him. Didn’t much like being tailgated I guess. Can’t say I blame him.
Will be up in the site store soon.
Tennessee Critters Series - Part 5
Finished this rascally varmint that I’ve taken to calling “Bandit”. Available in the store.
Tennessee Critters Series - Part 4
I didn’t get any other process shots of my Barn Owl, but here’s the finished product all framed up.
Tennessee Critters Series - Part 3
The initial phase of toning the canvas and creating some lines to give me a place to start.
Putting in the lightest lights here first. For this painting it’ll be the most reflective line of scales down this critter’s side.
From lightest lights I jumped into the darker areas which is the greenish blue of the lake water.
Lots more color added and I even picked up some frames for my Tennessee Critters series.
Tennessee Critters Series - Part 2
I decided to go ahead and prep some more canvases for the series and get some lines down as well. The fancy folk call this imprimatura.
From the top right we have a Smallmouth Bass, then bottom left a Tennessee Walking Horse, followed by a good old fashioned Racoon.
Don’t mind the mess of new canvases there. Michael’s had a buy 1 get 2 for free sale and about stole all my money.
Tennessee Critters series
I’m starting a series of 5 paintings that will all be focused on animals we have here in Tennessee.
For my first critter, I’m working on a classic Barn Owl. They’re probably the prettiest owls in the owl family for my money.
Gonna be on 16” x 20” canvases.
Jack Daniel’s Study
Here’s a quick study I did of a Tennessee staple. Wasn’t too displeased with how it came out.
Ball Jar Study
Hey ya’ll.
Here’s my study process of a jar of bean soup preserves in a classic Ball jar. I bet that’s good eatin’ on a cold winter’s night.
