Congratulations Spence and Ashley!

And I thought last year was busy...

The reason for the lack of new posts is that I have a number of commissions currently in the works. I would love to show them to you, but most are Christmas presents, and I don't want to spoil the surprise! However, I will post new work whenever I can, including some new sketches. I will also have a few show announcements in the coming weeks, and will post all the new commissions after the holidays. So, stay tuned!

There is still time to get your commission done before Christmas. Just email me and we will discuss the details.

This piece is still in progress, and the photo I took of it is not great, but I really like the direction it is headed. I love the car and the figure sitting so far back in the shadows, as well as the shadows of the people standing in the foreground.

A Sneak Peek

Open Studios this weekend! Come check it out!

This is a commission piece I finished recently. Happy Anniversary Amy and Trey!

Greenville Open Studios this Weekend!

Be sure to come by my studio this weekend during Greenville Open Studios. The hours are Saturday, 10am - 6pm, and Sunday 12pm - 6pm. My studio is located in the heart of downtown Greenville, on the corner of Main St. and McBee Ave. Just look for the signs. Hope to see you there!

I was very excited to learn that one of my paintings was on the front page of the Arts section in Sunday's Greenville News (it is the smaller painting next to the title.) The piece talks about this year's Open Studios, coming up on November 1 & 2. I was also happy to be one of the artists quoted in the article.

"Holding His Hat"

20" x 20"
Oil and Newsprint on Canvas
$400

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

This painting took me a few days, as it had several steps, but I am so happy with the results. I wanted to combine the collage element I used several months ago with the painting technique I have used recently. I collaged several pieces of newsprint on to the canvas, allowing it to wrinkle and rip to give the whole piece an aged feel. I also taped off the edges so that I would have the border you often see on old photographs. I applied dark brown and white paint very loosely, wiping off large areas of it as I worked. The areas of white don't show up well in this photograph, but painting on the newsprint allowed the white areas to stand out against the neutral background.

"Letters Home"

9" x 12"
Oil on Mat board
$150

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

This piece is from a picture of my Grandfather. I don't know where he was, and the picture is so faded and blurry that I was hesitant for a while to do a painting from it! This was another piece where I put a light wash over most of the surface, and then brought out the dark and light areas.

"Things Treasured: Christmas 1981"

12" x 12"
Oil on Canvas

I have been working on this piece for the Open Studios show. For the show, all artists participating in Open Studios can submit a piece that must measure 12" x 12". This piece was done from my favorite picture of all time. It is of myself and my older sister, and my mom has written "Christmas 1981" on the back. I would have just turned 2, and Anna was about 4 1/2. And, yes, my pants were plaid!

TRAM Fair tomorrow!

"Small in a World of Big"

6"x 6"
Oil on Masonite
$80

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

I haven't done one of these smaller pieces in a while, and it was good to go back to this size. The title refers, not only to the little girl in the world of grown-ups, but also the small painting in the wold of larger, louder work.

I took much of last week off, and a minor computer problem kept me from posting, but I am back! Below are a couple of commission pieces I finished recently. Also, I will be a part of the Traveler's Rest art fair this Saturday, October 4, from 10am-6pm. It is sure to be a great time, and the weather should be perfect. Visit the TRAM website for more details. Hope to see you there.

A huge thanks to everyone who came out to Art in the Park this weekend. It was a great success, and we coudn't have asked for better weather! I was also very excited to learn that my piece had won first place in the juried show! Below is a picture of my piece with it's ribbon, as well as my tent and fabulous display system that my dad built for me. If you missed Art in the Park, I will be participating in the Traveler's Rest art fair on October 4. There will be tons of outsider, folk, and local artists, as well as great music and food, so be sure to come check it out.

Art in the Park

Art in the Park will be held this weekend, September 19-21 at Flour Field at the West End. The festival hours are Saturday from 10am-7pm, and Sunday from 11am-5pm. I will be in booth E23, so be sure to come by and check it out!

I spent this weekend celebrating my cousin's wedding. This piece was part of their wedding present. Congratulations Chad and Nicki!

"More Possibilities Open"

9"x12"
Oil on Mat board
$150

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

This piece evolved in an interesting way. I added and wiped away paint so many times, that I had covered most of the surface with a mid-range tone. I was able to then add in darks and lights, so the figure seemed to almost "emerge" from the background color. Another challenge in this piece was to try to create a sense of place without putting all the background details in. I do like that she is sort of glowing there in the midst of the darkness.

"Lined Up in Our Finest"

11"x 14"
Oil on Mat Board
$150

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

My favorite part of this piece was the different expressions on the faces. Everyone has a different attitude towards being photographed with their siblings, I guess!

"She Understood Her Best"

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

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

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.

Thanks!

A huge thanks to everyone who came out to the show over the weekend! We had a great crowd, and it was a very successful event. Several pictures from the show are below. Stay tuned for information about Art in the Park, TRAM Fair, and Open Studios, all happening in the coming weeks.

"Building the Future" Opens tonight!

My newest show, "Building the Future on the Past", opens tonight at the Art and Light gallery in West Greenville. The opening is from 6-9 pm, and is sure to be a fantastic affair! Also be sure to come out for the grand opening of Kyle Buttram's studio, Lilly Pottery, and the expansion of Knack. Art and Light is located at 1211 Pendleton Street in West Greenville. Hope to see you there!

HOG

So, my "daily painting" last night was a little different than usual. Every year, Hands on Greenville has a piggy bank auction to raise money for their organization. The banks, decorated by local artists, are paired with packages of great items. This is my submission for this year. I still have to name it, so if you have any suggestions, let me know.

"Across Their Path"

10"x 14"
Oil on Masonite
$150

I submitted this piece for a juried show in North Carolina. Hopefully it will make it. I am very happy with how the stone steps turned out, and I love the brightness of the children against the neutral ground.

"A Bath Anywhere"

9 1/2"x 13 1/2"
Oil on Mat board
$150

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

This is a wonderful, classic picture of my dad taking a bath in a bowl...

"Stranded, but This Time Prepared"

14"x 18"
Oil on Mat board
$220

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

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.