Painting in the Park

I don't typically paint en plein aire, or outside. I actually think the last time I painted a landscape outside was in college. But, this spring weather we have been having made me dread being cooped up in the studio all day, so on Tuesday, I packed up my paints, my desk easel, and a lunch, and ventured out to Falls Park to this spot:

And set to work. There are several sets of stone steps in this remote corner of the park that lead up to the Governor's school for the arts. I only discovered this spot recently, and have wanted to paint it ever since.


"Leading to Where"
16"x 20"
Oil on Canvas
$220

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Painting outside is so totally different from painting in the studio. In the studio, I have pretty much total control over my environment, and can work relatively undisturbed. Outside is a different story. You have to deal with changes in weather and light, wind, picking leaves out of the paint, and bugs landing on the canvas, not to mention the people wandering by to see what you are doing. Throughout the day, I was beset by many questions and curious looks: the little boy who politely asked if he could "help" me, the group of high school students on their lunch break who suddenly surrounded me, the two older ladies who just sat down behind me and watched for a while, the little girl who, after asking her mom if I was a painter, stated that I "wasn't very good" (everyone is a critic). All in all, it was a fun experience which I will likely repeat again soon. If you are out and about on a nice day in Greenville, come look for me!

"She Understood Her Best"

11 1/2"x 14 1/2"
Oil on Mat board
$150

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This piece came out of the way I typically start a painting. When I first start a piece, I use a very thin wash to lay in the entire painting. I rub out areas and make adjustments until I am happy with the layout. This process usually gives me a lot of "shadow" in the background which I then cover over with thicker layers of paint. In this piece, though, I really liked the shadows, so I left the background as a thin wash, and just added in thicker detail in the figures. I like the resulting juxtaposition of the figures against the almost dreamlike background.

If you missed the show this past weekend, those pieces have now been posted to my website gallery.

"Stranded, but This Time Prepared"

14"x 18"
Oil on Mat board
$220

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I decided to revisit the boats on a larger scale. I think this one has a bit more contrast and attention to detail. I don't often do larger versions of smaller studies, so it was interesting to repeat a subject, remebering what worked the last time, and what needed improvement.

"Keeping a Step Behind"

12"x 14"
Oil on Mat board
SOLD

I was happy with this painting when I finished it last night, but I think I like it even more now. I was most worried about painting the striped blankets around the women's shoulders, but they turned out to be one of the easiest elements to paint. I also love the texture of the braids on the woman on the left.

"Peeking Into the Complexity of Their Lives"

10"x 14"
Oil on Masonite
$150

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"Traces of Things Not Seen"

10"x 14"
Oil on Masonite
SOLD

This piece took a little longer than expected, but I am very happy with the results. As you may have guessed, it is from another one of Kathryn's photos from Peru. Thanks for all the inspiration!

"The Balcony Overlooks"

10"x 14"
Oil on Masonite
SOLD

The challenge with this piece was mixing a vibrant enough green to capture the intensity of the photograph. This is another of Kathryn's photos from Peru. I also love the strong diagonal of the power lines across the top.

"Stranded, but Not Alone"

10"x 12"
Oil on Masonite
SOLD

My sister's friend, Kathryn Bowen, took the photo this painting is based on during their recent trip to Peru. I love the texture in this piece. You can expect to see more of Kathryn's photos from that trip soon!

"Over the Sand"

6"x 6"
Oil on Masonite
$80

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"Snow Day"

10"x 12"
Oil on Masonite
$150

To purchase, email me with the title in the subject line.

It has been snowing in South Carolina! One of my coworkers took this photo of his son playing in the snow. I love the blue colors in the ice, as well as that bright orange jackted against the white of the snow.

"Ocean of Blue"

5 1/2"x 8 1/2"
Oil on Mat board
SOLD

Difficult days require soothing paintings done all in blue. This piece is from a friend's photo of Alaska, and I actually didn't adjust the color much at all from the original- it was already such a stunning shade of blue.

"Through the Clouds"

6"x6"
Oil on Mat board
SOLD

The stairwell at my apartment provides a great vantage point for viewing sunrises and sunsets. This was a sunset from a few weeks ago. I was amazed by how the clouds split the sky into two distinct colored areas. I am constantly in awe of the beauty of nature.

"Hole in the Sky"

6" x 6"
Oil on Mat board
SOLD

I have started taking my camera with me everywhere, because whenever I do not have it I come across something I want to paint. On this particular day, I walked out of my apartment, but had to run back in to grab the camera and photograph these amazing clouds. This one is very loose, but I think it caught the feeling of the sky that day. I especially like this one from a distance, so if you can, get up from the computer and walk a distance away to look at it.

"Sunrise Through Powerlines"

6" x 6"
Oil on Masonite
SOLD

I was up all night for work a couple of days ago. The good part of being up all night was that I got to see the sunrise, which I hardly ever do. This was from a photo taken off the balcony of my apartment building.

"After the Storm"

10" x 14"
Oil on Masonite
$150

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I meant to post this last night. Needless to say, it was a rough day. Hope you enjoy!

"Sunrise Through Trees"

6"x 6"
Oil on Masonite
SOLD


This is another piece from my friend's pictures of Alaska. I love clouds. They are one of the most amazing creations, which always remind me that there is a God who is so much greater than we are. Doing these pieces makes me want to go out and paint "en plein air", if it weren't for the 101 degree South Carolina heat!

"Beauty on the Horizon"

6" x 6"
Oil on Masonite
SOLD

Ask and it shall be given to you! A friend send me some photos of his hometown in Alaska, and they were just too beautiful to pass up. A huge thanks to Dustin Wilson for the pictures. If you would like to commission a piece, send me some photos, or just give me a suggestion on what I should paint next, feel free to send me an email or leave me a comment, and you too can see your name in print. I am always up for suggestions.

"Natural Wonder"

6" x 6"
Oil on Masonite
$80

To purchase, email me with the title in the subject line.

I don't do many landscapes, but I just love the beauty of this scene. This is from a picture I took at a family reunion up at Lake James, NC. Our whole family piled on to my aunt and uncle's houseboat and rode out on the lake to see the sunset. It takes my breath away to see the beauty of God's handiwork. My own piece is but a shadow of that wonder.