The "Elvis Got It Wrong" Photo Contest

"The Elvis Got It Wrong" Photo Contest"

On September 22nd, from 2 to 4:00, the Franklin County Public Library's "Hound Dogs: A Howlin' Celebration" will showcase the hound dog heritage that has run through Virginia culture. There will be guest speakers and lots more going on, plus the winner of the top hound dog photo contest will be chosen. I will be lucky enough to get to paint the top dog! Come check it out. It will be a fun event.

Young Girl "Remembering Trayvon"

12 x 6 Oil on Archival Board

From a wonderful exhibit at the Taubman Museum in Roanoke, VA; a young girl about the same age as Trayvon Martin here, studying the image. Alice Beasley created this fiber portrait which reminds the viewer of the "senseless killing of African American young lives." This piece and others are for an upcoming exhibit at Goose Creek Studio and Custom Framing in Bedford, VA entitled "Sacred Bodies". More info to follow.

Bedford Vista

8 x 10 Oil on Archival Board

On my many trips to Bedford, I pass such beautiful countryside.  This is one of the farms I drove by recently and decided to stop and take some pictures, taking my life in my hands as traffic whizzed by.   I wish there was a place to park and do some plein air painting.  I could probably drive up and ask permission, but I'm not that brave....yet :-)

Bedford Farmland

8 x 8 Oil on Gessobord

 

SOLD

I've been busily doing Holiday commissions and haven't been able to post any of them until after Christmas gift giving, so meanwhile here's an older painting that I have always loved.  Our Fall has been less than spectacular this year, but is still always my favorite season. 

This has been a wonderful commission season so far this year, and I am so thankful!  I've got 9 paintings drying and one on the easel.  If you'd like me to paint a commission of your animals, landscapes, etc., please get them to me by Thanksgiving.

Have a great weekend, Everyone!!

Goose Creek Studio

8 x 6 Oil on Archival Board

SOLD

This is a quick rendering of one of my favorite places.  The angle is a little quirky because I took the reference photo as we were driving by.  It became a challenge (all those angles), but I gave up stressing over them and just painted them by eye.  That probably contributes to the quirky-ness.  If you are passing through Bedford, VA, stop in.  Great framing, Great art, Super Great Owners :-)

Storm Front On Its Way

8 x 8 Oil on Gessobord

SOLD

Another rural scene of Bedford, VA.  This one at Poplar Forest.  The day started out with lots of bright sun but deteriorated really fast with the sky changing from a light blue to a deep color over the mountains in the distance.  Before the light totally changed, I was able to capture some of that sunny Fall green and a few light rays here and there.

Bedford Fall

8 x 8 Oil on Gessobord

SOLD

Can you smell those leaves?  How can anyone resist the Fall season?!  This is a road less traveled on the way to Bedford, VA.  The photo colors came out a little vivid and purple for some reason.  I still don't have the process for taking pictures of my artwork down.  Some days the colors match the painting perfectly, other days they don't...as here, and it doesn't seem to have anything to do with the sun or shade.  It appears to happen with landscapes most of the time.  My painting is a lot more subtle.  But it is Fall..and vivid colors are a good thing.  Just picture this a little more hazy and not as pink :-)

Dry Docked

6 x 8" Oil on Gessobord

$65, Unframed

Happy Summer, Everyone!  Smith Mountain Lake has such great scenery for painters.  This is just one of them.  The day was perfect, and everything sparkled; especially the sailboat.  This is another of my favorites.  I keep thinking I'm going to keep these pieces, but have to remind myself that there is so much more to paint out there, and I would have to rent a warehouse if I planned to keep them all....

Nonconformity

20 x 8" Oil on Board

SOLD

This is one of my favorite paintings!  It's a group of men sitting on the curb killing time.  The body language says it all, and that is what attracted me to this subject.  What absolutely makes this painting is the framing that was done by GOOSE CREEK STUDIO in Bedford, VA.  Patrick and Mitchell are a wonderful and creative team, and they come up with framing ideas that really showcase the art (or photography, or anything else people bring in).  You can see their link when you scroll down on the right column of the blog.  I'm probably going to put this in an upcoming art show.