Paint-out at Pinchot Forest

The paint-out at Pinchot Forest was a fabulous success! Thanks to Wesley Greene, the event coordinating team, the 12 artists from the Western North Carolina Plein Air Painters group, and all the folks who dropped by the event!

I set up my easel under a large shade tree with a southern view of the Meadow and Mills Gap. Here are four pictures of the painting in progress. (12 x 24, acrylic on canvas.)

Scott Boyle gives an impromptu demonstration. It's always inspiring to see another artist at work.

Two of my paintings on display in the gallery:

South Asheville Vista - New Painting

Recently finished painting from Pinchot Forest: "South Asheville Vista." Acrylic on gessoed paper, 8.5 x 13 inches.

Brookwood Snow

It snowed in Asheville. Again.

Near our house there's a large parcel of land which used to be the Brookwood Golf Course. It was purchased by developers and graded in preparation for building condos or something probably less attractive than the golf course. But apparently they ran out of money, because the project has been at a stand-still for a year or so.

Snow has a wonderful effect of covering everything and restoring the "natural" appearance of the landscape. The marks made on the earth by construction equipment and earth movers are hidden by the white blanket.

Brookwood Snow - South Asheville / Arden

Acrylic on Canvas

16 x 20 inches

(Location near the intersection of Mills Gap and Weston Road.)

I am looking forward to Spring and warmer weather.

I've recently joined the Western North Carolina Plein Air Painters group. - An informal club of Asheville area landscape painters who get together from time to time to paint on location. I'm especially looking forward to painting with Richard Oversmith and Stuart Roper.

(click for larger image)

This image shows the development of the painting. I started with a warm undertone - something close to the color of raw linen. Then I "pushed" the color palette toward the blue tones. The final image on the right shows a more balanced warm / cool spectrum of colors.

Winter Views - Pinchot Forest, S. Asheville

I was born and raised in Santa Barbara, CA. I never heard of the term "winter views" until my wife and I started looking to relocate to Asheville in 2005.

In the Blue Ridge Mountains, each season has its delight. Spring brings waves of new growth and wild flowers. Summer has its long warm lazy evenings with fireflies and cicadas. Fall has the brilliant color of the changing foliage. And in Winter, after the leaves have fallen, opens up the long vistas that were previously obscured by the vegetation.

From Pinchot Forest, there are many handsome views (in all seasons) but this one is one of my favorites, since the road winding down the mountain creates a clearing in trees.

Winter Views - 14 x 18 inches, Acrylic on Canvas

South Forest Beach - New painting from Hilton Head

While the kids played in the water, and built sand castles, I took a bit of time to work on a plein air painting of the beach. It's remarkable to observe how the sky changes throughout the day. In the morning the sky was perfectly clear, then as the day progressed, clouds formed on the horizon to the south east, and then relentlessly took over the sky.

I love painting out of doors, especially in a public place. I got to meet several folks, who were walking by, or riding bikes on the beach. There's something about painting on location that breaks down social barriers. I like that.

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