Stephen Parker

Summers Past No. 2

2011-12-16T18:39:00.005-06:00

Summers Past No. 2, 8 x 8

Here is the second painting, this one of Matthew's younger brother, Jeffrey. The style of this painting came out a bit different from the one posted yesterday, for a few reasons. Among Jeffrey's favorite childhood memories were piñata parties given along Cypress Creek in honor of his and other relatives' birthdays. While I didn't have much in the way of compelling reference photography, I did have enough to give me an accurate sense of the setting, where various trees, paths, the creek, etc. were in relation to each other. Considering how well family members know this place and how much time they've spent here over the years, this was important.

I also had a sharp photo of one of said colorful piñatas in motion, as well as photos of Jeffrey at prime piñata-busting age, though none showed him whacking, or primed to whack, a piñata. Taking these elements into account, yet painting quite a bit from imagination, I ended up emphasizing the bright colors and movement of the piñata and carrying this through to the rest of the composition. The result was a more whimsical piece than the first. I think this is okay, since the paintings will reside in the respective homes of each brother, both of whom are now young adults living on their own.

Summers Past

2011-12-15T17:12:00.006-06:00

Summers Past, 8 x 8

This is one of two small commissions I just finished. A family friend, who is mother to two boys who are now young adults, wanted to give each a painting as Christmas presents. Both commissions depict memories of the boys' favorite summer activities at their grandparents' property along Cypress Creek in Wimberley. This painting is of the older brother, Matthew. I will post Jeffrey's picture tomorrow. Click here to view a plein air study I did along the creek last June.

New Gallery Opening in Georgetown

2011-12-01T12:39:00.004-06:00

I'm happy to be among the original group of central Texas painters and sculptors to have work displayed at Through the Looking Glass, a new gallery opening this weekend just off the square in Georgetown. The owner, Barbara Falcone of Austin, will be welcoming visitors with snacks and refreshments Friday, Saturday and Sunday on this, the first weekend of Georgetown Square's extended-hours holiday shopping season.

It will be a great chance to do some holiday shopping away from the mega-malls. Instead, stroll the many shops on historic Georgetown Square, and stop in to see what Barbara has to offer. I will be there later in the day both Friday and Saturday. I hope you can stop by.

Address: 122 East 8th Street (near the end of the first block east of Main Street)

Opening Hours: Friday 4 pm - 8 pm, Saturday 10 am - 8 pm, Sunday 1 pm - 5 pm.

Directions:

I-35 Exit 261 (29/University)

East (right if coming from Austin) on 29/University

North (left) on Austin Avenue

East (right) on 8th Street

Cross Main Street, gallery is 3/4 of a block down on the right side, just past State Farm Insurance.

Thanks to JudsonArt.com

2011-11-22T13:19:00.003-06:00

I was flattered to learn from Sarah Judson of Judson's Art Outfitters that they have featured my work on their online journal. You can view it at the link above. Happy painting and Happy Thanksgiving, everybody.

Bell Tower

2011-10-12T00:19:00.007-05:00

Bell Tower, 12 x 10

SOLD

This is a study from a visit to New Sweden Church, about twenty miles east of Austin. The church was built in the 1890s. Lots and lots of angles.

Fruit Bowl On Deck

2011-09-21T21:49:00.005-05:00

Fruit Bowl On Deck, 16 x 20

purchase

These papayas, apples and lemons were home grown in Tahiti. The painting is from a photo sent to me by a very good friend I met at a workshop last spring.

Back Yard Wedding

2011-09-13T01:39:00.001-05:00

Back Yard Wedding, 8 x 10

Earlier this summer, my niece, Melissa, was married here in Austin. The words summer and Austin would explain the presence of hand fans among the guests. The three ladies shown here are my mother and two of my five sisters. Angela, at right, is mother of the bride.

Park Bridge

2011-08-29T01:15:00.001-05:00

Park Bridge, 8 x 10

This painting was started back in March during a Randall Sexton workshop in southern California. With all the beautiful coastline normally available to paint, we were forced to this city park in Irvine because of the tsunami warning from the Japan earthquake. We had tried a for a spot above the cliffs at Corona del Mar, but there were so many people there waiting to witness their very own tsunami, we packed up and headed inland.

Drying Up

2011-08-26T14:58:00.006-05:00

Drying Up, 8 x 6

This belated posting is from a PAA paintout in May along the Blanco River in San Marcos. I initially wasn't sure it was a worthy attempt, but every time I've come across it since, it told me, very quietly at first, that it just needed a few strokes to bump the contrast and add a bit more clean color. There's probably not a drop of water at this spot today, but I'm glad this plein air moment refused to let me ignore it. You can view the start below.

Georgetown Square II

2011-08-02T23:32:00.006-05:00

Georgetown Square II, 20 x 16

SOLD

Here is the final result of the pallet knife start. I do like the freedom pallet knife painting practically imposes on you. Like plein air painting, you end up focusing on the main shapes, values and color. The better you do that, the less relevant fine detail seems to become.

In Progress

2011-07-30T23:45:00.002-05:00

blocking-in

I wanted show the block-in stage of this painting. I sometimes like to use a pallet knife for blocking in larger paintings (this panel is 20 x 16) for a couple reasons. It allows me to cover the canvas quickly, focus on the main shapes and to keep from getting overly tight. I'll post the final result in the next day or two.

Waiting for a Ride

2011-07-18T02:56:00.005-05:00

Waiting for a Ride, 12 x 12

SOLD

This was painted from a friend's photo reference taken on Balboa Island this spring. A typically beautiful morning at the marina, I'm guessing.

Cypress Creek

2011-07-02T01:11:00.009-05:00

Cypress Creek, 8 x 10

SOLD

Thursday morning, Plein Air Austin members painted along Cypress Creek in Wimberley, about forty-five minutes southwest of Austin. With beautiful scenery, plenty of shade and a cool, clear, spring-fed creek to cool off in, it was the perfect venue for a summer paintout in Texas.

Big. Fat. Donuts.

2011-06-13T13:24:00.002-05:00

Big. Fat. Donuts. 6 x 8

SOLD

Hello world! I'm glad to finally have something to post after way too long a layoff. Work has put a crimp in my free hours to paint, but I'm hoping that is going to change. This picture was a commission by a gentleman named Robert Flowers who helped his daughter move to Austin from Atlanta a few months ago. Robert and his wife like to collect paintings from cities they visit and they were intrigued by all the snack trailers to be found around Austin. This is Gourdough's, whose tagline is, you guessed it, "Big. Fat. Donuts." Thank you for the referral, Laurel.

Thank You

2011-05-09T12:35:00.003-05:00

The month-long "On Site" exhibition at Davis Gallery closed on Sunday. While speaking to owner Bill Davis this morning, he mentioned the traffic had been tremendous throughout the entire month, saying that it was one of the most successful shows he's had. This was reflected in numerous sales by each of us displaying — Laurel Daniel, Julie Davis, and myself. Thanks to everyone who made it to the show, and to you who have taken an interest in our work. It is very much appreciated.

Magnolia

2011-05-04T23:54:00.005-05:00

Magnolia, 16 x 12 oil on panel

purchase here

I started today's still life thinking I would paint it with a pallet knife to help me stay loose. But because I've been wanting to try using round brushes more often (after having seen both Randall Sexton and Jill Carver use them extensively in workshops), I decided to experiment with that instead. I must say, I experienced a few "aha" moments today using the rounds and will continue playing with them.

Left Spot

2011-04-27T23:57:00.002-05:00

Left Spot, 5 x 7

Third of three small panels for Arthouse Austin's upcoming, annual 5 x 7 show.

Right Spot

2011-04-25T22:16:00.001-05:00

Right Spot, 5 x 7

Second in a series of three for Arthouse's 5x7 Show.

Hot House

2011-04-25T11:58:00.001-05:00

Hot House, 5 x 7

This representation depicts the main office of the apartments I live in. I've exaggerated the colors for artistic effect, as you may have guessed. I'm happy about that, since, though they appeal to me here, being surrounded by such colors day in and day out might get to be a little unsettling. Over the next couple of days I'll be posting the two companion studies I've painted which, together with this one, will be entered in the upcoming 5 x 7 show at Arthouse Austin.

Balboa Island

2011-04-16T06:23:00.002-05:00

Balboa Island, 10 x 8
purchase here

This is a panel I started my first day painting at Randall Sexton's workshop last month in Newport Beach. The ferry to Newport Peninsula (background) boards a few hundred feet back along the seawall to the left.

Opening Reception

2011-04-10T20:11:00.002-05:00

Gallery Reception, Davis Gallery

Saturday night was the opening reception for a spring art exhibition featuring the work of Laurel Daniel, Julie Davis and myself. As many of you know, it was actually Laurel's spring exhibition at the gallery of her Austin representative, Bill Davis. Laurel being Laurel, she invited Julie and me, two of her former students and permanently appreciative friends, to show our work alongside hers from now through May 7th. If you have the chance, we hope you'll drop by the Davis Gallery, located on 12th Street, a block east of Lamar Boulevard, to see the work on display.

The photos above were taken a few minutes before the doors opened. I hope to have more to post soon of the large and enthusiastic crowd that attended. We each had our core group of supporters, but there is no doubt we all benefited greatly from Laurel's long coattails, and each of us made several sales. Thanks again to Laurel, and to Bill Davis, for a terrific evening.

New Web Gallery

2011-04-03T01:09:00.002-05:00

My posts have been sparse of late, as I've been preparing for an exhibition, as well as creating a web portfolio of my work. The site launched today, though there is much to be added. Please stop by for a look when you have the chance, at www.stephenparkerfineart.com.

The home page, shown above, announces the exhibition at the Davis Gallery in Austin. The gallery is participating with other local art spaces in "On Site," the city-wide art theme for this April. My friend, Laurel Daniel, represented locally by the Davis Gallery, has invited Julie Davis and myself to join her in displaying work for the show. Thanks, Laurel.

Workshop, the Day After

2011-03-15T22:49:00.007-05:00

Newport Pier, 8 x 10

NFS

Since we missed painting on the Balboa Peninsula on Friday, a workshop classmate and new friend, Valari, and I used a bit of our inspiration from the workshop to make our own trek to the spot. Neither of us painted the Crab Cooker, but the pier instead, which was across the street.

More Workshop. . .

2011-03-15T22:35:00.003-05:00

Debra Huse (away from her gallery), 10 x 8

The morning the tsunami news broke here in the U.S., all sorts of odd things started happening. Most importantly, we had to change our meeting location twice. We were scheduled to meet Friday morning at the Crab Cooker on Balboa Peninsula to paint some architecture. Because there was a tsunami warning all along the West Coast (only a foot and a half for southern California, but that was enough to prod us to higher ground), we decided to go to the southern end of Corona del Mar State Park. When we got there, there were so many people out to watch the Japan tsunami hit our very own beaches, that we had to move yet again. Thus, we ended up at Mason Park in Irvine. The above picture is of painter and gallery owner Debra Huse, who hosted Randall's workshop.

Workshop (continued)

2011-03-15T22:18:00.002-05:00

Corona Del Mar, Study 2, 8 x 10

Another study from our day at Corona del Mar. Nothing fancy, but as Jill Carver says, the stuff I learned probably won't end up on the canvas for another six months. I guess I'll have to wait. . . .

Workshop Work

2011-03-15T22:02:00.003-05:00

Corona Del Mar State Beach, 8 x 10

Last week I had the pleasure of attending a workshop in Newport Beach, California with Randall Sexton and a dozen or so other acolytes. Randall gave a demo each day and, among many other things, emphasized the importance of squinting down to help, not only identify value relationships, but to help with the overall composition through the abstract patterns made by the large dark masses. He also stressed the benefit of painting in "large puzzle pieces" to cover the canvas, without necessarily mapping in a line under-painting first. This can help keep the painting loose. The study above and the three following are all fairly quick plein air attempts at using these methods, without later going back to "fix" imperfections.

Tank Town

2011-03-05T04:07:00.000-06:00

Tank Town, 6 x 8

purchase here

These colorfully painted water tanks sit just outside Dripping Springs, Texas, west of Austin. I noticed it a couple years ago along U.S. 290 while returning from San Antonio. When I pulled over to take a picture, I was amused by the sign over the elevated tank, which proudly proclaims, "Tank Town."

Stately Arrival

2011-03-04T22:46:00.003-06:00

Stately Arrival, 6 x 8

purchase here

I painted this study today, simultaneously with another that I will post tomorrow. In an effort to loosen up and focus more clearly on the shapes and values, I painted each upside down, until the last stage of adding a few defining touches. I've done this exercise a couple of times now, and I find it a lot of fun. I took the reference photo for this one on a trip last summer to Ohio. This is the new main bridge into downtown Malvern, about twenty miles east of Canton.

Last Light

2011-02-18T00:02:00.004-06:00

Last Light, 20 x 24 oil on canvas

This is a larger version of a plein air study I posted back in December, depicting Lake Travis at dusk. I will be showing it and other recent work in April, along with that of Julie Davis and our friend and mentor Laurel Daniel at the Davis Gallery here in Austin. I'm excited to be exhibiting with these two and very appreciative to Laurel for inviting us to hang our work with hers at her spring show.

Continental Club

2011-02-12T13:31:00.001-06:00

Continental Club, 20 x 16
SOLD

The Continental Club has been around since the late fifties and is one of the most beloved of Austin's music venues. I like to think it will never disappear.

South Congress

2011-02-08T12:33:00.002-06:00

South Congress, 12 x 12
SOLD

This picture was painted from a reference photo I took while painting in south Austin a couple months ago (click here to see my November 16 post from last year, "Jo's"). This view looks north from in front of the Continental Club. The state capitol is about a mile and a half farther in this direction, across the Colorado River.

Summer Plans

2011-02-03T22:45:00.001-06:00

Summer Plans, 8 x 10

I caught these boys last year in Ohio during a break in their summer activities. They were more than happy to strike a pose for me.

Dulcinea Chapel

2011-01-27T21:46:00.002-06:00

Dulcinea Chapel, 8 x 10

SOLD

Hello, again. I was glad to finally get out again with my Plein Air Austin friends today. The weather was beautiful, albeit a bit on the cool side for some (in the fifties early on). Dulcinea Chapel is an open air chapel in Driftwood, Texas, southwest of Austin. It sits atop a ridge that offers scenic views of the Hill Country to the west. The best part about painting here is that it's only a couple miles to the Salt Lick, a famous barbecue restaurant in this part of the world. Lunch was great, as usual.

Corner Station

2011-01-19T23:42:00.001-06:00

Corner Station, 24 x 30

purchase information

Sorry for the long delay in posting the final step in this project, but here it is. Hope you like it.

Getting There

2011-01-05T02:17:00.006-06:00

Well, I hoped to be finished with this by now, but it turns out tonight was the first chance I've had to paint since 2010. I hope to get it done in one more session, though there are quite a few things left to do. Mostly, final color in the directional signs, completion of the pumps and final, loose indications in the background and what will be a bench sitting to the right of the window.

Corner Station — Stage 2

2010-12-31T13:50:00.000-06:00

Not a ton of progress yesterday, though I began building up some detail in the signs, pumps and the ground plane at left. Still some straightening to go, along with continued building up of color and values. Happy New Year, everybody.

Corner Station (lg) — In Progress

2010-12-29T18:57:00.001-06:00

Round Rock Gas Station (24 x 30) — Step 1

Happy Holidays, everyone. I hope you're all still enjoying family and friends for a few more days. My blog posts have been few and far between the last several weeks, but now that I've completed my short move (a short move is still a move, trust me) and made it through Christmas shopping, I will be back to posting on a more regular basis.

Because I've been away so much of late, and because my latest project is a large piece and will take more time than the usual 6x8 or 8x10, I've decided to post it in stages. That way, at least people will know I'm not twiddling my thumbs.

The picture above is the beginning of a larger studio version of a rough field study I did back in October in Round Rock's new Chalk Walk Art and Music Festival (see field study below). Referring to the field study for color notes and photographic reference to fine tune the composition, today started out by blocking in the main color. I was very happy with how quickly it went, considering the size of the canvas. I used Kevin McPherson's "best average color" method, which can be a huge time saver, because you start right in with the more or less correct color and value for the main color areas and get it down with a big brush. Because of the beauty of the oil painting process, there is no real need to start with a line rendering (I did, however, mark the half-way points along all four edges and the center of the support). The slow drying oil paint, instead allows you to push the shape edges around until you're happy with their location. Another time- and paint-saving element of the block in process that I find especially important on larger paintings is adhering to the well-worn maxim "fat over lean." Thinning the paint and using a big brush makes this stage go so much faster. Now that I've mapped out the composition, in the next stage I'll go in with thicker paint to start adding nuanced color and values and make the edges read as they should. I hope to post again in a day or so.

Afternoon Haze

2010-12-19T00:41:00.000-06:00

Afternoon Haze, 8x10

purchase here

One of the many barns on the outskirts of Malvern, Ohio, this one sits just south of U.S. Highway 30 as it heads east from town. U.S. 30 in this part of the country is known as the Lincoln Highway, and follows the route that for two hundred years has been perhaps the country's most heavily traveled land route for immigrant settlers heading west from New York and Philadelphia. The first of my Ohio ancestors arrived there from Germany in 1825.

Last Light

2010-12-11T23:36:00.003-06:00

Last Light, 6x8

SOLD

The plan this day was to paint a beautiful Texas sunset over Lake Travis. We had a fabulous spot at the property of our wonderful and generous Plein Air Austin co-member, Lynn. Since I happened to arrive a few minutes late, however, and with every moment so precious, I decided to take the easy way out and paint the pretty, indirect light coming off the water facing north.

It turned out to be no bargain. The subtle light and color shifts (which, like the actual sunset, were still constantly changing) were more than enough to demand all the focus I had. The exercise was valuable, however, and certainly one that bears repeating and continuing to learn to see and render such subtle, yet powerful differences.

Holiday Sale!

2010-12-10T19:32:00.006-06:00

25% OFF ALL AVAILABLE ART,
NOW THROUGH DECEMBER 31

Friends, now through December 31 is the time to purchase any of my art that you may be interested in. Visit my etsy.com store at http://www.etsy.com/shop/stephenparkerart, add the items you like to your shopping cart, and enter code DEC2010 during checkout for your 25% discount.

Please note that to help ensure arrival by Christmas, items should be purchased using PayPal, and done so by December 15. Items purchased by check will be shipped immediately upon the funds clearing the issuer's bank and, thus, those items are not likely to arrive before Christmas.

Don't forget — enter code DEC2010 for your 25% discount.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS
Stephen

In The Barn II

2010-12-06T10:56:00.002-06:00

In The Barn II, 6x8

SOLD

Saturday evening, after a couple hours of painting, Plein Air Austin had our end-of-year party at Westlake Beach and Marina. The weather was perfect and lots of family and friends showed up for the catered picnic. The scene above is not actually of Westlake Beach, but of the adjacent marina, the name of which I didn't notice. I was attracted by the clear skies and the bright, late afternoon light on the boats.

Gruene River Grille

2010-11-28T17:48:00.004-06:00

Gruene River Grille, 10x8

SOLD

Today's post is from last Saturday's PAA paintout in Gruene, Texas, just north of New Braunfels. Once again I had to finish the piece almost a week later. I was fighting a slight fever during the outing and, contrary to the plan, being outdoors only made things worse. Happily, unfettered access to plenty of Thanksgiving food the last few days has returned things to normal.

No Wake Zone

2010-11-23T21:52:00.003-06:00

No Wake Zone, 8x6

SOLD

Westlake Beach on Lake Austin was the site for our last plein air class, which was a week ago tomorrow. I got the block-in done on site with fairly accurate color, but didn't get a chance to complete it until today. It's amazing how rusty one can get in a week.

Morning Coffee

2010-11-16T23:13:00.003-06:00

Morning Coffee, 8x10
purchase here

Fall has arrived in central Texas and after a typically long and hot summer, the locals came out in droves last Saturday to enjoy the cool, dry air and bright blue skies. This is Jo's, a popular spot along Austin's South Congress Avenue. It's a great place to read the paper over coffee or to just sit and watch this happening neighborhood wake up and come alive.

Morning Gloria

2010-11-10T18:16:00.003-06:00

Morning Gloria, 6x8

purchase here

This landscape was done in Laurel Daniel's plein air class two weeks ago. I'm just posting it now, because I have been busy preparing to move at the end of the month (still in Austin) and haven't had time to touch up and post it until today. The class is focused on rendering water in its different environments. The weather shown here is typical of the last couple of weeks — beautifully sunny and cool with light breezes.

Georgetown Square

2010-10-30T22:48:00.003-05:00

Georgetown Square, 6x8

purchase

2010-10-04T02:44:00.002-05:00

Hanover Township Firetruck, 24x24

NFS

Hanover Township encompasses the farm my mother grew up on in northeastern Ohio. This 1940s firetruck served the township for decades. It still runs, thanks to the restoration efforts of my cousins, the Fureys, some of whom still live twenty miles or so down the road in Malvern, Ohio.

Life Drawing Class Studies

2010-09-30T19:19:00.001-05:00

Life Drawing Studies

It's been thirty years since my last life drawing class and, at long last, I'm finally taking another. This one is taught by David Everett at Laguna Gloria and it's great to have found such a capable teacher. The instruction is geared toward finding the correct proportions, strictly in horizontal and vertical terms, which I am finding very helpful. The standing poses were twenty minutes, the center one, forty minutes. Not that there's much difference in the level of finish. They were done using a peel-able charcoal stick, which I have not yet learned to shade with. For the time being, I'm roughly cross-hatching to indicate shadow areas.

2010-08-10T04:29:00.002-05:00

Afternoon Ride, 5x7
purchase

I found this red motorcycle parked in front of the Firehouse Grill in Malvern. It is one of an endless number of cycles we saw while in Ohio. The rolling countryside and summer sunshine no doubt contributed to their ubiquity.

Road Warrior Redux

2010-08-08T10:04:00.003-05:00

Road Warrior, 24x24

SOLD

I'm building, albeit rather slowly, a body of larger work, taken from smaller plein air and studio pieces I've done in the past. The original study for the piece above is from a paintout we had several months ago at the Davis Ranch out Hamilton Pool Road in the Hill Country. Below is the original 6x6.

Road Warrior (original plein air study)
SOLD

A Place In The Shade

2010-08-03T14:52:00.004-05:00

A Place In The Shade, 8x10
purchase

This shady spot can be found alongside 613 Porter Street in Malvern, directly across the street from Furey Motors.

Rolling Corn, Red Barn

2010-08-01T23:25:00.003-05:00

Rolling Corn, Red Barn, 8x16

purchase

Coming from central Texas, it's amazing to see the rolling farmland of northeastern Ohio this time of year. In the week I was there, the corn seemed to grow well over a foot. This barn and corn field are on County Road 15, just off the main road between Malvern and Carrollton.

Ready To Pick Up

2010-07-30T02:33:00.005-05:00

Ready To Pick Up, 10x8

SOLD

Furey Motors, an auto repair garage opened by my Uncle Louis Furey, has been in Malvern, Ohio for a very long time. Since it predates me, I never even thought to ask just how long. To me, it's been there forever. My cousin Tom now owns the garage and while the car designs have changed, everything else looks virtually unchanged from the way I remember it during our family visits of my childhood.

The garage was a special place. One reason was that Uncle Louis always made sure I had a clean mechanic's rag ready for my back pocket when I showed up for "work." That was cool. Even cooler, however, was that Uncle Louis had one of those old bottle-dispensing Coke machines at the garage AND the keys to go with it. To me this meant the Cokes were free, not just for me, but for Uncle Louis, as well. This being my perception, at even the slightest twinge of thirst, I would hit up my very patient elder for one frosty beverage after another.

In hindsight, I don't know how Uncle Louis weathered this brazen tendency toward self-gratification so magnanimously, but he always did. Louis and my Aunt Alta both passed away several years ago, now. But their seven children, and the two generations that follow them are remarkably similar in their kindness.

Home for Dinner

2010-07-27T22:56:00.009-05:00

Home For Dinner, 8 x 6

purchase

My recent visit to the small town of Malvern, Ohio and the surrounding area was very nostalgic. We used to visit relatives there in the summers and spend time on the family farm about twenty five miles away. The afternoon before returning home, I had a chance to drive around and get plenty of reference photography of Malvern and some of the surrounding farms. I was amazed how much things have stayed the same there. The residents have done a great job maintaining the old homes and buildings. This back porch in the warm afternoon light is emblematic of the comfortable and friendly nature of this place and its people. I'll be posting more new art in the coming weeks, recalling this trip.

San Marcos Gazebo

2010-07-26T04:52:00.002-05:00

Veramendi Plaza Gazebo, 6 x 8

purchase

Saturday morning Plein Air Austin met at Rio Vista Park in San Marcos. I was glad to find the solitude of this gazebo a few hundred yards upstream from the park's waterfront recreation area. With the river up and the summer heat on the rise, the park was crowded by 9:00 a.m. with locals ready to cool off in the San Marcos River's spring-fed waters.

St. Philip Neri Church

2010-07-23T14:48:00.004-05:00

St. Philip Neri Church, 12 x 9
NFS

Last week I accompanied my mother to eastern Ohio to visit relatives and the area near the farm on which she grew up. At eighty-eight years old, she was glad to be able to make the trip and had a wonderful time. The church above is special to my mother. She, along with most of her direct American-born ancestors, on both sides of her family, were baptized in this church. She attended the church, built in 1849 in the village of Dungannon, until she left the area to become a Navy nurse during World War II, where she met my father. The painting is a gift to my mother, Ruth Wernet Parker.

Minnows Anybody?

2010-07-14T00:08:00.004-05:00

Minnows Anybody? 5 x 7

purchase

This was painted from a photo I took at Stony Brook Harbor on the North Shore of Long Island over Labor Day weekend, 2008. Typical of kids this age, this brother and sister were excited to be the owners of a big bucket of minnows. As young entrepreneurs, I think they were even more excited about the prospect of turning a tidy profit off their sale.

Bungalow with Blue Trim

2010-07-11T20:56:00.006-05:00

Bungalow with Blue Trim, 8 x 10

purchase

I passed by this bungalow while in Marble Falls in April. There was nothing really unusual about it, other than I found everything about it inviting. I always loved the porches common to houses of this era.

Staying Put

2010-07-08T00:58:00.003-05:00

Staying Put, 6 x 6

purchase

This spring, Plein Air Austin had a paintout at the Michaelis Rance, south of Austin. On this particular day, feeding the cattle and mowing a pasture were enough to keep the hands busy. Happily, that meant this aging trailer was around to be admired, photographed, and finally today, painted.

Cotton Warehouse

2010-07-06T00:21:00.000-05:00

Cotton Dock, 8 x 10

SOLD

This dock once was the loading point for the cotton grown on the historic Boone Hall plantation in South Carolina. Barges transported the cotton from here down the tidal Wando River to Charleston Harbor for export.

Power In Repose

2010-07-02T04:33:00.004-05:00

Power in Repose, 6x8
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This is one of four bengal tigers at the Austin Zoo. When the first two walked out from their shelter, I was amazed at their size. Then this one appeared and it was huge, in comparison. It was obvious by the size difference that this was a male, which was confirmed. He weighs nearly 400 lbs.

Having never painted at a zoo, I wondered from the outset whether it would even be worth trying. I eventually tried quick pencil sketches of a couple goats nearby, but the exercise was less than satisfying. Then this magnificent cat climbed up on a rock to sun himself after taking a swim. I came over and was able to get a quick sketch of him in this pose, which was very fortunate. I took a couple pictures later but none had as good a head position. With a sketch I liked, I spent the remaining time mapping the composition on my panel and blocking in main color, before heading home. I used the photos back in the studio to reference accurate color and shading.

Overall, I found painting at the zoo a little nerve-racking. But in the end, the one pencil sketch made the trip worthwhile. I managed to get the pose I wanted from probably the most beautiful animal I've ever seen.

Evening Gathering

2010-06-30T23:05:00.002-05:00

Evening Gathering, 8x10

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Here is a piece I started last Friday on our trip to Bryan. It required some tweaking, which I wasn't able to get to until today. Summerville Lake is a slight detour to the south from the route between Austin and Bryan, about halfway between Caldwell and Brenham, Texas. The picturesque scenery, ample shade and a nice breeze made for a nice opportunity to paint.

Save The Queen

2010-06-28T00:54:00.008-05:00

Save The Queen, 10 x 8

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Hello, everybody. My postings have been few and far between the last several weeks, but they will be back on a more regular schedule beginning with this post. This piece was done in Bryan on Saturday, as part of Plein Air Austin's participation in a promotional paintout put on by the Forsythe Gallery. The Forsythe is presently exhibiting the work of PAA members through July 31 and they invited us down to join in with locals interested in trying their hand at painting en plein air. The turnout was good and we all enjoyed the trip. Bryan is undergoing a renaissance of its downtown area and they are fortunate to have many wonderful old buildings to work with. The Queen theater is one of its most unique and one most in need of repair. I was happy to hear the city has recently secured funding for the restoration of this magnificent structure.

2010 Plein Air Austin Show at Forsythe Gallery

2010-06-10T00:05:00.003-05:00

FYI, from now through July 31, the work of Plein Air Austin members will be on display at the Forsythe Gallery in Bryan-College Station, Texas. For anyone interested in attending the opening, it will be this Friday evening from 6:00 - 8:00. The address is 110 N. Main Street in Bryan.

If you're unable to make it out to the Brazos Valley for the exhibit, you can view a web album of the accepted entries here. Click the "slideshow" button near the top left corner of the page.

Front Gate

2010-06-06T23:59:00.012-05:00

Front Gate, 22 x 28

NFS

Here is a large studio version of a plein air study I painted last summer at Laguna Gloria. The original 6 x 8 study is posted below.

Light Traffic

2010-06-02T15:34:00.001-05:00

Light Traffic, 6 x 6

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This morning I painted at a street corner in the Riata mixed-use neighborhood in north Austin. It's a place full of beautiful little landscapes, all within walking distance of my apartment.

Purple Door

2010-05-26T14:49:00.005-05:00

Purple Door, 9 x 12

A group from Laurel Daniel's last plein air class has been meeting for Wednesday paintouts over the last several weeks. This morning we were invited to paint at a beautiful old German farmhouse in central Austin, built in the 1800s. The couple who owns it has, over the years, created a unique setting with an amazing variety of flora, stone walkways and large antique artifacts arranged throughout the property. As the weather in central Texas continues to warm, the lush shade here makes it all the more attractive to plein air painters.

By the way, today I painted from the center out, ala Richard Schmid. Hence, the large unfinished areas around the edges. The reason for doing it this way is that there was so much going on visually at this site, this offered a way to isolate an area of interest.

San Gabriel Park

2010-05-22T21:27:00.004-05:00

San Gabriel Park, 6 x 8

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PAA painted in Georgetown this morning, at the town park along the San Gabriel River. Though there were plenty of picnickers, the slow moving river and overcast skies kept the feeling very low key.

Enough Time To Play

2010-05-19T19:18:00.006-05:00

Complements To Bull Creek, 6 x 8

This morning, a group of us met to paint along Bull Creek. Knowing I wouldn't have as much time as usual today, I decided to bring a small board and some pallet knives and just have fun.

I like the abstract quality of pallet knife paintings, and in this case I added to the abstraction by painting the simplified forms in the complements of their actual color. (Actually, here I used split complements, which gives you more colors to choose from, and theoretically still allows the colors to work in harmony.)

I found this a fun way to try something a little different.

Holding Back

2010-05-17T02:42:00.002-05:00

Holding Back, 9 x 12

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This painting was a long time in completing. The subject is from our last Plein Air Austin paintout of April, at Mansfield Dam. I blocked in the main shapes and colors and not much more while on site and hadn't gotten back to it until today. I think I knew I had a big challenge ahead of me to make this complex structure both believable and compelling. Overall, I'm happy with how it turned out and something close to elated to have it behind me.

Silent Path

2010-05-13T21:46:00.005-05:00

Silent Path, 6 x 6
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Plein Air Austin had its paintout this morning at a place called Wizard Academy in Driftwood. An unusual name, as is the place itself. It is a marketing academy, but the grounds are very Zen-like, lots of quiet, beautiful surroundings. It seemed more designed for spiritual retreats, complete with an open-air chapel, but apparently that's not the case. In any event, they were very happy to have us out, and that included my dog, Major, which we both appreciated very much.

Old Driftwood

2010-05-08T23:27:00.016-05:00

Old Station Driftwood Texas, 8 x 10
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This morning, Plein Air Austin met in Driftwood, about twenty miles southwest of Austin. This gas station is one I recently drove by, so I was glad PAA had a paintout scheduled here. While painting today, a former local, who was attending a church fair on the property I was painting from, came up to chat. It turned out he was a third generation Driftwood resident who knew all about this Texaco station. To him, this was once a johnny-come-lately. He remembered that, as a boy, before it was an old gas station, it was Driftwood's post office. Learning this might explain the sign overhanging the front steps, which reads,"Driftwood Elev. 1045. " Signs like this were typical identifiers at old postal stops. On the other hand, it might be that as gasoline was first becoming available to rural America, some old post offices in the narrowest of wide spots in the road might have taken on double duty for some time. I wonder if this was one of them.

Right Turn

2010-05-01T22:39:00.004-05:00

Right Turn, 6 x 8

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This is the last of the paintings from the PAA retreat, done Sunday morning before Laurel and Julie headed back to Austin. The water here looks muddy, but being the Guadalupe, it is actually very clear. The brownish color is from the reflections of the ledge faces in the early morning sun.

Julie's View

2010-04-30T23:55:00.006-05:00

Far Shore, 8 x 10

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Here's the next in line of the the subjects from the PAA retreat. This is a look across the Guadalupe from Julie Davis' property in Hunt. It's a beautiful place, especially as the late afternoon sun reflects off the far bank. I hope she'll invite me back.

Camp Mystic

2010-04-30T15:38:00.005-05:00

Camp Mystic, 8 x 10
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Another piece from the PAA retreat. This one was from Saturday morning at Camp Mystic, a girl's summer camp on HWY 39, which runs alongside the Guadalupe for several miles.

An interesting note — Camp Mystic's property ends at the spillway indicated here by the abrupt end of the water at its top edge. Just out of frame to the left, about ten feet above the level of the water shown, there was a kayak lodged in the canopy of a tree. Since the tree in question was downstream from the spillway, which itself was at least seven feet tall, the kayak had to have been floating at least seventeen feet above the normal level of the river where the tree stands. Camp Mystic, indeed.

I later found out that several days before our visit, the area upstream had received about ten inches of rain over two days, causing the Guadalupe to flood far beyond its banks. Kayak mystery solved, but an awe inspiring sight, nonetheless.

Afternoon Drive

2010-04-30T11:58:00.005-05:00

Afternoon Drive, 8 x 10

$250 plus tax. s&h
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Above is the first of several paintings I attempted on the Plein Air Austin retreat last weekend. Julie Davis knows the area around Hunt, Texas very well and she cheerfully shepherded the rest of us to some beautiful venues throughout the weekend. This spot is a few hundred feet from the entrance to Camp Waldemar, a beautiful children's summer camp along FM 1340. While I painted this view, Julie, Trish Seigel and Laurel Daniel stood directly behind me, painting a horse stable just across the road.

Ingram Home

2010-04-28T22:14:00.017-05:00

Ingram Home, 12 x 12

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Here is the painting shown on the easel in the last post, after tweaking. I wasn't able to get to it, or any other paintings, until today.

Tomorrow, PAA is painting just below Mansfield dam, which happens to be Texas' tallest. I've been looking forward to painting out there, but it now looks like it will be dicey, since I'll have my Irish Terrier, Major, in tow. He's fine until another dog shows up, but at that point focusing on painting becomes a whole other challenge. Wish me luck.

All Along The Guadalupe

2010-04-26T15:51:00.000-05:00

This weekend, Plein Air Austin had its annual retreat in Hunt, Texas, along the Guadalupe River in the Texas Hill Country. With one of Texas' most beautiful rivers full from recent rains, non-stop sunshine and temperatures in the seventies all weekend, the timing couldn't have been better for anyone interested in painting en plein air. The picture above shows the last venue of five I painted in forty-eight hours. That's probably no big deal for some, but for me, it is definitely a lot of painting. I'll be posting each one separately, after I've had a chance to make last minute tweaks.

Riata Path

2010-04-20T23:19:00.002-05:00

Riata Path, 6 x 8

Today, I painted across the street from where I live. The sun was strong, but the temperature was very nice. The birds were going crazy, so I'm guessing they liked it, too.

Phone Line Alley

2010-04-18T21:51:00.001-05:00

Phone Line Alley, 8 x 10

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Above is one of two entries I submitted for the Paint the Town plein air competition this weekend in Marble Falls. We had two days of painting, but unfortunately it was either sprinkling or raining pretty much the whole time (the sunlight you see above was a figment of my imagination, for art's sake). I completed three pieces, though this is the only one I came away really happy about. I pulled the last one, which was done Saturday afternoon during the worst of the rain. It just never got off the ground. I'm pretty sure the quarter-inch of water along the bottom edge of my easel box, and more sprinkled generously throughout my palet, had something to do with it (and that with the benefit of an easel umbrella!).

So went my first plein air competition. I have to admit to a little disappointment in not having placed. But I was happy in the feeling that the top picks didn't feel eons beyond my reach. More practice, as always.

Mohawk Lounge

2010-04-16T07:26:00.005-05:00

Morning After at the Mohawk, 9 x 12
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The above painting is from a not-so-well-taken phone shot of the Mohawk Lounge in Austin. Taken during South by Southwest a few weeks ago, the shot was almost totally in shadow in the late afternoon. To create a more pleasing light, I had to imagine the morning shadows. Below is the phone image I worked from.

Painting Michaelis

2010-04-16T07:20:00.000-05:00

Painting Michaelis, 9 x 12

The picture above is from a photo taken the day of the PAA paintout at Michaelis Ranch. I caught these girls chatting as they painted, as good a way as any to spend a spring day in Austin.