DA BEAR, 5X7, OIL

We spent a few days cruising Fontana Lake in a pontoon boat this summer. The lake is great, with clean refreshing cool water surrounded by beautiful untouched forest. It is in the mountains of western North Carolina. One day we were anchored off shore about 50 feet, enjoying a swim when this guy entered the scene. I think he was fishing for lunch. It was very thrilling (and a little scary) to be so close to this beautiful wildlife.

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WATERROCK KNOB FALL VISTA, 6X8, OIL, ABSTRACT, SOLD

Another fall view of Waterock Knob off the Blue Ridge Parkway. This is the time to be there with the trees in full color everywhere. If you have never seen full fall color, take time out of your life and make it happen. It is worth the effort! Here is Florida, what passes for "fall color" is a joke. It is such soft color and so little of it that you hardly notice it. After 30 years in Florida, I miss the Ohio autumns of my youth.

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SOLD

MOUNTAIN BARN, 5X7, OIL, SOLD

Another plein air. There were 7 of us sitting in this farmer's field that day. After, we returned home to a wonderful picnic lunch with homemade bread and chicken curry sandwiches with yummy kettle potato chips and the sweetest black grapes. I think most of us took a little snooze after lunch. Life is good during our artist's retreat!

WATERROCK KNOB, 5X7, SOLD

Unlike yesterday's post, this one was painted directly from a photo reference. The mountains and tree were in the photo. Not the ground cover or the colors. This is a view from the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina.

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BLUE RIDGE AUTUMN 5X7, OIL,SOLD

This one was fun to do, kind of abstract. I liked the colors, so decided to do more in the same style. I will post the other two soon. I actually created this one out of my head. When I first took painting lessons, it was all about "seeing" and painting what you "see" not what you know. Then I took a month long class from an artist who does abstract and it was all about getting it out of your head. This is half and half. I didn't paint from a photo, but, I feel like I have seen this before.

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DEEP CREEK, 5X7, OIL SOLD

Yes, it's true! I actually did plein air. I packed everything in the car, hiked up the trail carrying all my supplies, sat on a rock among the bugs, got rained on, painted my little panel, packed it up carrying all my dirty paper towels with me and hiked back to civilization. Now, maybe you can tell the difference in the painting, but, to me it looks just like it would have if I had painted it from my computer monitor only with twice the effort. Oh well, sorry for the complaining. I have so much respect for you folks who do this on a regular basis, but I guess the truth is, I'm just too lazy! I must admit that it was a little bit easier for me than the last time I tried and I did have just a little excitement that I actually came away with something other than my usual wiper, but I was ready to go running back to my studio!
SOLD

WATERROCK KNOB, BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY, 5X7, OIL, SOLD

Waterrock Knob, Blue Ridge Mountains, elevation 5820 feet. WOW! It was a hot August day when I drove here with my buddies, Pieces of 8 for a day of painting. When we opened the car door, the wind swept in. It must have been in the low 50's and there I was in my sandels and capri pants. My little Florida toes curled up and turned blue! I was not exactly dressed properly. We had a great picnic lunch and painted for hours. All the heat coming off the brush saved me from freezing. Check out Pieces of 8 for photos of our week long retreat.