Summertime Sketches

There is absolutely nothing like the lazy days of summer to brush up on some laid back drawing....

and some note taking...

and some olympic watching...

and some grocery shopping...

and traveling...

and snacking...

Recent En Plein Air Work

Fire Hydrant

2012

Acrylic Paint on Board, 12”x12"

Hoops Up

Sold: Private Collection

2012

Acrylic Paint on Board, 12”x12"

Plate with Rocks and Bowls: Study

2012

Oil on Board, 10”x10"

En Plein Air, En Heat Wave

What nut decides to paint outside in 105 degree weather?  

Me, of course!

           As part of my last graduate class, I decided to take the bull by the horns and do a series of paintings en plein air or outside from real life.*  I had fun figuring out how to make this work, what to bring, what to leave behind in the studio.  It was actually much easier to pack it in and set it up then I imagined.  Now if only the weather would cooperate...

One of my first area to set up in was the Old Virginia Power Plant next to Troutman Saunders, downtown by the river.  This is also the site of some amazing professional work from the G40 Mural Project Richmond.  Definitely worth the drive in for you local RVA folks.  The murals will be there until 2014.

Old Light

2012 

Acrylic Paint on Board 12”x12”

With hot weather and acrylic paints, fast work and and even faster decision making were the rule of the day.  My open time was about 45 seconds on this piece.

close up of Old Light

*Full disclosure, due to the extreme heat, some of the painting was done pre and post visit to the site.  So maybe that could be called “en hybrid air”  what do you think?

Drawings: Spring 2012

I finally had the opportunity to work with the figure again this spring.  These are close ups of larger work.  They were created by using a pastel transfer technique.  All are large scale pieces rendered across several sheets of paper.

Power Play 

2012 

Chalk Pastel on Paper, 66”x28”

Compadres

 2012 

Chalk Pastel on Paper 56”x66” (dimensions vary)

Pensive

2012 

Chalk Pastel on Paper 50”x28"

I also worked a bit in mixed media.  In this assignment for my class, I had to render my work in the Vanitas theme.  There is a figure in this but it may be next to impossible to find.  

Creepy

 2012 

Gesso, Charcoal, Pastel, Pencil, Gouache, and Collage  22”x28"

Graduation! (Well pretty close to it...)

Found out at the last minute that I got to wear the funny gown and hat (courtesy of Teresa Keefe) this past Friday.  It was a weird thought to realize that the last time I had worn one of these get ups most of my fellow graduates did not exist!

Only one more class to go this summer and it will be official in August...

Sketch in Progress

Nothing like having some written homework due to make me really work in the studio.

Fall 2011

Warm 2409

2011

Acrylic on Paper; 30"x66"

Cool 2409
2011

Acrylic, Metallic Marker on Paper; 30"x66"

Opening Night

Photo credit:  Helen Smith Dickinson

What a fantastic night!  It was wonderful to see so many friends, artists and supporters.  My only regret? I forgot to have photos taken of all these wonderful people who came by.  If you have any that you would like to share please email them to me, it would be so appreciated!

Thesis Exhibition Card