Spencer County Farm Lane

"Spencer County Farm Lane"

Oil on canvas, 14x18"

I went out sight seeking a couple of days ago, to seek both inspiration and composition. I didn't end up with a whole lot of material, but I had enough to work with to be able to combine photographs together, to make several potential paintings. This is the first.

Yellow Field Streaks

"Yellow Field Stripes", oil on canvas, 18"x14"

I haven't posted any new work in a while, so here's to breaking that streak. I have been mostly working on some drawings to change my pace. Settling back into painting over this weekend has been good for me, and working on canvas as opposed to panel, is feeling more natural.

Landslide

Landslide, oil on board, 14x 18"

Rows and rows of uphill vines acting as earths sun catchers.

Evening Vineyard

Evening Vineyard, oil on canvas, 14x18"

The photo of this painting is actually much duller then the actual painting. I am not sure how to remedy this at this moment. Just imagine it very vivid and alive. While painting it was difficult at first to switch from a vertical orientation of the vineyards to horizontal.  But it was fun because of the light and brilliance that help guide my brush.

Symmetry

Symmetry, oil on canvas, 14x18"

I'm on a roll with vineyards as subject matter, but I don't feel as if I've exhausted the subject for a while. I am thoroughly intrigued by how simple it seems when evaluating a photo reference to paint, to how that turns into something that requires so much more focus then expected. In other words, I am loving it. Despite how detailed vineyards are to paint, I feel like I have been much looser and freer with my painting style.

Long Shadows, Vineyard

Long Shadows, Vineyard, oil on canvas, 14x18"

The rows between the grapevines in a vineyard are equally as manicured as the vines themselves.  They are living, breathing natural artwork, representing painstaking symmetry and balance. 

I dedicate this painting to Peter Mondavi, who along with his brother Robert(who would later leave to start Mondavi Winery) turned Krug Winery into a quality wine growing/making facility. They were early leaders in helping Napa Valley become a premier wine growing region in the world . Krug is also my favorite winery in Napa. Peter lived on the property that now houses their tasting room in a  restored historic structure. The several visits I have made in the last few years, I always hoped to see him and take a selfie with him. But it wasn't to be. Peter died Saturday February 20 at the grand old age of 101. Cheers to Peter Mondavi and the delicious, bold Cabs his winery has given us. 

Bundled 2

Bundled 2, oil on canvas, 14x18"

"Bundled 2" came right off the heels of "Bundled". I felt I had to keep the momentum going.  This one was a bit harder to paint because the hay bales were smaller and more numerous.  The color promotes the serenity of the scene but still allows the drama of it to come out.

Bundled

Bundled, oil on canvas, 14x18"

I have been wanting to do a haystack painting for a while. I was going through the photos I took at the end of the summer, and I came across the reference for this painting - a photo I took in Kansas while traveling west.  I am starting a few larger ones to see how it "feels" and to include them in an up-and-coming solo show I will have at the Polvino Art Center in historic Nicholasville, KY during the month of January. I hope to see you there!

Composed

Composed, Oil on Canvas, 14"x18"

When I was researching a bit about cattails, I discovered that the majority of the plant is edible, and Native Americans used them for food and in their basket weaving. The one thing that is constant is they are always found near water. That's probably the reason why I have always loved them and have become enamored with painting them.