In the studio with artist Robert L Caldwell

The link between Charleston, SC and Pigeons

2012-01-24T17:27:00.000-05:00

WIP: "Charleston Roof Top (Rock Pigeons),"

Oil on prepared 1/2 maple panel, 24 x 36

Detail image of concrete finial, 2nd layer of color applied.

My current painting on the easel is quickly coming tocompletion. “Charleston Rooftop (Rock Pigeons)” is a medium to large piece (forme) measuring 24x36 inches. I will share in a future post when the piece isdone the narrative behind the painting but for now I am writingabout the subject(s) and the habitat that I have placed them in.

Detail image of one of the pigeons and green decorative scallops, 2nd layer of color applied.

My subject(s) for this painting as with many of my pieces arebirds, and in this piece Pigeons seem to fit the environment perfectly. It wasthe buildings unique cornice work, gable and roof lines that caught myattention and not the birds, the birds were added later. This particular rooftop as the name implies is from beautiful Charleston, South Carolina. I lovevisiting Charleston, what a fantastic city and with so much character.

Detail image of the front pigeon and green decorative scallops, 2nd layer of color applied.

While doing a little research on Charleston and Pigeons Ifound an interesting commonality between the two, at least I found itinteresting. Pigeons were introduced to North America by colonists in the early17^th century and not to long after that Charleston was founded in 1680after moving to its current location (Oyster Point).

Back to the easel…

11-22-63

2012-01-10T14:22:00.001-05:00

My latest audio book fix!

11/22/63 by Stephen King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is one of the best story that I have listened to in a while! I will definitely be going back down the rabbit hole and listening to this one again and probably a couple more times.

** I Listen to my books while working at the easel painting, this one was read by Craig Wasson. I found him a little boring in the beginning but he grew on me and he really worked a portraying the characters with different voices and personalities.

Fantastic story and great listen!!

View all my reviews

Seasons Greetings!

2011-12-14T16:30:00.003-05:00

Happy Holidays!

Buttons (Carolina Wren)"
Graphite pencil on 300lb. Arches watercolor paper
5 x 8

I heard thebells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Best wishes for a happy and prosperous New Year!

Watch "Buttons" come to life in a time-lapsed video!

Guardian of the Garden

2011-12-12T17:24:00.000-05:00

This is from awhile back but I finally got to it thisweekend. A time-lapsed video of my painting "Guardian of the Garden(Dark-eyed Junco)," which was donated to Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden'sCheers to Art auction, which raises money for the children's garden. I hope youenjoy it!

Buy Art!

2011-12-05T16:50:00.001-05:00

The holidaysare here!

BuyArt!

"PresquileBlue (Great BlueHeron)"

Oilon board
20 x 30

Dear Friends,

We are always looking for that perfect gift to give someone for the holidays.An original piece of art can be that unique and special gift. In this season ofgiving, consider supporting the arts community and purchasing a piece of artthat your friends and family will cherish for years to come.

Click here to browse my availablework. If you don't find just the right piece, then please visit mycommunity of artists friends by clicking on their names below.

From myself and all of my fellowartists, Thank you!

-Robert

"Feisty(Northern Cardinal)"

Oilon board

16x 12

Galleries
Lovetts Gallery
Berkley Gallery
Artists
Dale Weiler	Don Rambadt
Dustin Van Wechel	James Gary Hines II
Jan Martin McGuire	Jim Bortz
Julie Benber	Mark Yearwood
Melanie Fain	Paul Rhymer
Ray Brown	Steven Walker
Terry Miller	Victoria Wilson Schultz
Wes & Rachelle Siegrist	Will Armstrong

Some Fantastic Friends!

2011-12-01T09:39:00.001-05:00

Presenting...

"Woolaroc Visitor (Lark Sparrow)"

"Woolaroc Visitor (Lark Sparrow)"

Oil on 1/2 prepared maple panel

8x16

As with many of my paintings, this one came from one of my “adventures,” this time from a visit to the Woolaroc Museum & Wildlife Preserve in Bartlesville, Oklohoma. I had just finished a group exhibit with The Gallery of Artists. Friend and fellow artist Paul Rhymer and I were packed up in the truck ready to head home to Virginia when we spotted this beautiful Meadowlark perched on the barbed wire bordering one of the pastures outside of the museum. Paul pulled over so we could see the bird move along its perch, and after sitting there for a few minutes, he slapped me on the shoulder and said, “Well?” I said, “Well, what?” He then reminded me that we had a long drive home and asked if I was going to take a picture or if I was going to let this fleeting moment of beauty pass.

For many reasons, this painting encompasses that trip for me — a wonderful exhibit in a beautiful museum with some great artists and, better yet, some fantastic friends!

Molecular make-up?

2011-11-10T13:57:00.000-05:00

Color mapping, Part 3

My road to how I taughtmyself color theory and how to mix paint.

Example of CMYK to make black

So I introduced the subtractive color theorymodel in the last color mapping post. The subtractive color theory model statesthat as you mix your primary colors, red, yellow & blue, together in equalparts that they become darker.

To clarify this more we need go back to ourschool days of science and talk about energy and matter. All objects are madeup of matter, which are in turn a grouping of atoms that contain energy. Lightcontains energy which is compatible with the energy in surfaces of objects,which absorbs the energy of the light. The molecular make-up of the object willdetermine what light energy is absorbed and what is reflecting back, which isthe color that you see.

If a surface absorbs all of the light energythen it will reflect none of the lights energy and the surface will appearblack. The energy that is absorbed will be turned into heat, that’s why an asphaltroad will look black and be hot to the touch. A white surface of course doesthe complete opposite of black; the energy of a white surface rejects all ofthe energy of the light waves.

Now how does this work with color? A surfacethat is green will absorb all of the lights energy except for the green energywave which is reflected back to you. If a surface looks red then the red lightenergy waves are being reflected while all of the others are beingabsorbed. If an object looks like ared-orange then in this case the light energy of the red and the orange arebeing reflected back.

Learning this color theory model is what helpedme to understand the mixing of physical pigment into mixtures of color that Iwanted. This led me to the knowledge of “Color Bias” and that every tube paintis bias towards the warm or cool side of the color wheel. If you want to mix anice and saturated orange you have to pick up the right tube of red and tube ofyellow.

Color Bias and my six color primary palette discussedin the next color posting.

Other posts of interest:

“Colormapping, Part 2”

"Color mapping, Part 1"

"It's what's behind the paint & graphite"

"Why I work the way I do"

Robert's Holiday Drawing Workshop!

2011-11-08T11:17:00.000-05:00

Robert's Holiday drawing workshop!

Saturday 12/3/2011, 9:00am-4:00pm,

1 hour lunch, bring yourown.
Sunday 12/4/2011, 10:00am – 2:00pm,

1 hour lunch, bringyour own.

Workshop location

ArtHaus Visual Arts Studio

1811 Huguenot Road, #304

Midlothian, VA 23113

$225.00 this includes your drawing paper and the frame!

Every year Robert draws a special drawing that encompassesthe holiday season which he then uses for his holiday greetings card. Robert isgiving you a special opportunity to join him on a two day workshop where youwill draw along with him creating the same drawing that he is. The drawing is asurprise and you will not know what it is until the day of the workshop. Itwill of course have a bird in it, in past years he has used a snow man, snowwoman and holiday lights. Wonder what it will be this year?

All you need to bring to this class is your drawing pencils(see material list below), and your patience! Robert will be supplying thedrawing paper, the same paper that he uses, a 300lb. Arches water color paperthat will already be prepped for drawing along with the contour drawing of thedrawing.

At the conclusion of the workshop on Sunday we will bescanning your image so that you may have a printable image that you can thenturn around and use for your own holiday greeting cards. Also included withthis workshop is a frame, mat and glass that Robert will help you assemble sothat you can display your original drawing during the holidays for years tocome.

The drawing when finished will be a 5 x 8 drawing and theframe will be a black 9x12 with a off-white double mat and glass.

**Lunch is bring your own, we have several places close byto ArtHaus that can be driven to and lunch brought back. Robert will more thanlikely be going over to Fresh Market to get his and anyone can join him!

This workshop is limited to only 10 artists, sign up today!The deadline is Monday November 21, 2011

Material List:

Required:

Pencils: 4H, 2H, HB, 2B, 4B, 6B (try to use the same brand)
Kneaded eraser
Rub eraser
Value finder
Pencil sharpener

Recommended:

Pencil lengthener

This materials list can be found and purchased online at www.dickblick.com/lists/blicku/H81PLQ61EXKCO/publicview/

Workshop Location, nearby location & dinning:

ArtHaus Visual Arts Studio

View Larger Map

Nearby lodging:

DaysInn Richmond/Chesterfield Towne Center Mall
1301 Huguenot Rd., Midlothian, VA 23113
804-794-4999
0.6 miles away from ArtHaus
Hampton InnRichmond-Midlothian Turnpike
800 Research Road, Richmond, VA 23236
804-897-2800
1.1 miles away from ArtHaus
HolidayInn Koger Conference Center
1021 Koger Center Boulevard, Richmond, VA 23235
804-379-3800
1.1 miles away from ArtHaus

Nearby dinning:

Outback Steakhouse
2063 Huguenot Road, Richmond, VA
804-272-4500
Firebirds Wood Fired Grill
11400 Briarwood Road, Richmond, VA
804-440-0000
The Fresh Market (Grocery Store with greatsandwich makings!)
1200 Huguenot Road, Midlothian, VA
804-897-0300
Plentyof sandwich shops & fast food.

This workshop is limited to only 10 artists, sign up today!The deadline is Monday November 21, 2011

Art classes & workshops!

2011-11-07T16:12:00.000-05:00

Upcoming Art classes & workshops...

Individual attention. Creative exploration.

In each class, Robert lets students work at their own level, while encouraging them to expand their skills and problem-solve creatively, so every student comes away with a growing confidence in his or her artistic abilities.

Robert’s classes are for adults and teens. To ensure a creative environment with individual instruction, each class is limited to 10 students. Have a group of artists interested in taking a class? Please contact Robert for information about forming your group class.

Drawing classes…

Designed to be taken successively, the drawing classes are formed around lessons that build on each other, allowing students to develop confidence along the way. Students start with a fundamental course where they learn to see shapes, understand value and create three-dimensional drawings on a two-dimensional surface. Subsequent classes allow students to explore their artistic voice using perspective, architecture, and animals and nature before advancing to the capstone course, where they create more elaborate and thoughtfully composed drawings.

Current class listings...

Drawing
11/09/2011 - 01/18/2012	Drawing Studio 2 (Home School, Teens) Wednesdays 12:30-1:45pm; Course #64
11/30/2011 - 1/18/2012	Figure & Anatomy Drawing 1.2 (Adult/Teen) Wednesdays, 6:30-9:00pm; Course #35
12/01/2011 - 01/19/2012	Drawing 2.1 (Teen) – Drawing & Composition Thursdays, 3:30-6:00pm; Course #81
12/01/2011 - 01/19/2012	Drawing 2.1 (Adult/Teen) – Composition Thursdays, 6:30-9:00pm; Course #82

Painting classes…

Painting classes are open to students working in oil, acrylic and watercolor and provide an understanding of the basic principles of painting, including composition and color mixing. The lessons are designed to build on each other, allowing students to develop confidence in their painting skills. Students should be able to see and identify shapes, understand value and be able to draw. It is Robert’s philosophy that to paint well, you must be able to draw well.

Current class listings...

Painting
10/30/2011 - 01/18/2012	Painting 2.1 (Adult) – Pushing Paint! Wednesdays, 9:30am-12:00pm; Course #85
11/29/2011 - 01/17/2012	Painting 2.1 (Teen) – Pushing Paint! Tuesdays, 3:30-6:00pm; Course #83
11/29/2011 - 01/17/2012	Painting 2.1 (Adult/Teen) – Pushing Paint! Tuesdays, 6:30-9:00pm; Course #84

Specialized classes…

Robert also offers a class to help students prepare their portfolio for application to a college or a county specialty art high school, and a personal instruction studio, which focuses on developing the student’s individual technique, creative expression and style.

Current class listings...

Personal Instruction
12/01/2011 - 01/19/2012	Personal Instruction Studio Thursdays, 3:30-6:00pm; Course #86
12/01/2011 - 01/19/2012	Personal Instruction Studio Thursdays, 6:30-9:00pm; Course #87

Workshops
12/03/2011 - 12/04/2011	Robert’s holiday drawing workshop! Saturday, 9:00am-4:00pm Sunday, 10:00am-2:00pm Course #91

If you see a class that you are interested in please click on the title of the class above and it will take you to the ArtHaus webpage for that class.

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"The Snowman"

2011-11-05T09:47:00.001-04:00

My latest audiobook fix...

The Snowman by Jo Nesbø
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Great read (Listen)! The story kept me glued to my easel working. I had my suspicions of who the snowman was but didn't feel like I knew for sure so I was happy to find out that it was indeed the person who I thought it was at the end.

This was my first Jo Nesbo novel and will look into some of the other stories by this author.

The narrator was Robin Sachs on my audiobook edition, I enjoyed the narrator as well.

View all my reviews

Passing a twig...

2011-11-01T19:46:00.000-04:00

Work in Progress…

“Lark Sparrow (Temporary Title),” Oil on ½” prepared maplepanel, 8 x 16.

I finished blocking in the first layer of color on this onelate last week! I am happy with where everything is at on this painting so far butwill be adding some more visual texture using different tones in the backgroundsky. I was excited to see the same colors used for the patch of reddish brownon the Sparrows cheek and the highlighted rust on the barbed wire. That’s the typeof thing that gets me excited about a painting.

The reference for this came from my visit to the Woolaroc Museumin Oklahoma which has a barbed wire display. Now that I find myself painting itI wish that I had paid more attention to the different kinds of barbed wirealong with their history.

A Lark Sparrow is a large sparrow, it has a long tail withwhite corners, it’s under parts are whitish with a large dark spot in thecenter of the breast. Other than the striking face pattern there isn’t much elsethat I found of interest besides the usual “Bird Geek” stuff, that I love but youmay not, was that they have a unique behavior during courtship. The Lark Sparrowpasses a twig from male to female during copulation. I guess that would qualifyas “Bird Geek” stuff! Simply fascinating!

The limitations of our materials

2011-10-25T17:23:00.003-04:00

Color mapping, Part 2

My road to how I taught myself color theory and how to mix paint.

So awhile back I started writing about my process of finding and mixing color, which I call “color mapping.” Now that I am teaching and find myself explaining my color mixing process almost on a daily basis to my students I thought I should start sharing it here as well.

First off as I mentioned in the Munsell posting, I basically taught myself color theory by reading several different books, each one teaching me something different. The most important thing that I learned right off the bat was that we as artists have to learn to work within the limitations of our materials. With that said the book by Michael Wilcox “Blue and Yellow Don’t Make Green” showed and explained to me the beginning of my understanding of color theory.

As you well maybe know the light that reaches earth is made up of several different electromagnetic wave lengths. The ones that we are interested in are those of visible light. Visible light can be separated using a prism showing us the different wavelengths that make up visible light. Each wave length vibrates a little bit differently and when separated you can see the colors of the rainbow and when you combine them back together they create white light this is also known as Additive color theory model.

That is important to know but since we don’t paint with light we will concentrate on the Subtractive color theory model. This deals with physical pigment and the inherent properties of tubed color which will help you to learn the limitations of your materials.

The subtractive color theory model states that as you mix your primary colors, red, yellow & blue, together in equal parts that they become darker and sometimes you can actually make your own black that is beautiful to use in your paintings. This type of thinking is what taught me to use the six color primary theory, I have two reds, two blues, and two yellows for my palette. Not every yellow and blue will get a really nice highly saturated green.

I’ll talk more about the subtractive color theory model, pigment particles and color biasis in the next color mapping posting.

The color that you can't see yet.

2011-10-19T18:20:00.001-04:00

Work in Progress…

"Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Temporary title)"

Another one ready for paint! I finished up the under drawingfor “Scissor-tail flycatcher (Temporary title)” yesterday and I am now lookingforward to blocking in some color on this very shortly.

For me this painting is not about the bird but about the texturesand color of the rust in the background, the color that you of coarse cannotsee as of yet. A friend I were walking the fields of Oklahoma the last time Iwas visiting Tulsa and he was helping me find some oil pumps. I really wouldlike to paint a couple of oil pumps, don’t ask me why because I couldn’t tellyou any other reason other than I find them extremely interesting from a compositionalstand point. Well, all the oil pumps that we found had a line that traced backto a retaining drum, not extremely large but large enough. We found this onewhich just looked like it hadn’t been maintained in years and I just had topaint it! Haven’t you ever seen something that YOU HAD to paint?!?

Anyway the rust is going to be made up of these amazingburnt sienna’s and cadmium oranges that will help to emphasize the orange andbit of red on the Scissor-tail flycatcher.

Off to paint………..

Not a usual perch...

2011-10-13T14:25:00.000-04:00

Two works in progress...

So I have started two more compositions before starting to push some paint on the previous two compositions that I have ready. I have these ideas bouncing around in my head and I just needed to get them down in my sketch book and worked out which inevitably leads me to preparing a board with gesso and then starting the under drawing.

The on that I am working on currently (above) is of a Scissor-tailed flycathcher from Oklahoma perched on the handle of a very large oil drum, agian from Oklahoma. Can you guess where this is going once its finished? This is not a usual perch for this bird but its the oil drum with all of its textures and the simple geometric shapes that it creates that interests me and thats why I am painting it. I checked with several sources to see if a scissor-tail would perch on such a spot and most of them said yes so I feel confident moving forward with this painting.

One other piece that is now ready for paint is the one below of a Lark Sparrow, again from one of my trips out to Oklahoma. This one measures 8 x 16 and is more simple in design but will be a lot of fun to paint!

Artist mumbo jumbo!

2011-10-03T23:29:00.000-04:00

"Charleston Rooftop (Temporary title)," Oil on 1/2 prepared maple panel, 24 x 36

As I said in the last post, I was itchy to get back top work on this painting! Well the itch is temporaily satisfied with the under drawing complted and even with the painting being toned but it's not completly gone! I can't wait to get some color on this, the reference for this piece has some beutiful colors that just raidaiate!

Above is the toned under drawing, just a thin layer of burnt sienna diluted with mineral spirits, brushed on to the prepared 1/2 maple panel. I let the paint sit on the surface for about 15 minutes and then I start to pick out the highlights. To tell you the truth the only reason I do this is to get rid of the white of the gesso so that I can more acurately mix and paint my colors and it also gives it a more unifed feel. I know thats a bit of artists mumbo jumbo but it works for me!

Below is the finish under drawing before I lay in the thin coat of burnt sienna.

I'm itchy!

2011-09-22T14:29:00.000-04:00

Work in Progress...

"Charleston Rooftop (Temporary title)," Oil on 1/2 prepared maple panel, 24 x 36

I currently have a piece on my easel that I just itch to get back to every time I leave it! This one has all the right stuff for me texture, rhythm and repetition and you can't see it now but the colors are fantastic!

The reference for this one (not the birds) came from one of my visits down to beautiful Charleston, South Carolina a couple of years ago. I could probably find enough reference material in downtown Charleston to last me the rest of my life, so much character!

So... this piece is now in the under drawing stage of its life and I will continue to build my values, define and redefine the shapes until I believe its ready for color, which better be by next week!

Dam Painting update

2011-08-19T15:39:00.000-04:00

Work in progress...

A quick update on the "Dam Painting." I have finished drawing in the under drawing and believe that it is now ready to have some color added to it! Although I more than likely will not do that for a couple of more weeks, after school starts back in so that I can have larger blocks of time to paint. Until then you can see the finished under drawing below and I will get to work on the next under drawing for another painting, this one is of a beautiful roof line from Charleston , South Carolina.

Beautiful tracks of green slim and washed out rust ...

2011-08-17T13:46:00.000-04:00

Work in Progress…

“Dam Painting (Great Blue Heron),” Oil on panel, 30 x 40 – Under drawing stage (in progress)

I have wanted to paint this scene from the moment that I was standing at the base of the Keystone Dam which is just outside of Tulsa, Oklahoma over 2 years ago. I spent a morning there capturing as much reference as possible of White Pelicans and Great Blue Herons that where fishing at the bottom of the dam in the spill way. This dam was huge and I was just awed by its size, it helped that I was at the base of the dam looking up and over the great expanse of it. Couple that with the fact that you know that there is all this water behind that great wall of concrete exerting pressure against the other side of it makes you feel small.

It was this feeling of being small, positioned at the base of this huge edifice exerting an immense sense of pressure behind it in this painting that I wanted to convey in my composition.. It has taken me almost 8 months of playing with the composition to find that feeling I was looking for and it was by accident that I stumbled upon my chosen composition. Frustrated I zoomed in on the reference and found myself saying “wow” that’s too large and then that’s when it dawned on me. Focus on just a portion of the dam instead of trying to make the entire dam work in the composition.

Now that the composition is focused on just a portion of the dam it also creates these fantastic positive and negative shapes and although you can’t see it yet in my under drawing there are these beautiful tracks of green slim and washed out rust lines that I will be able to include in the finished painting.

Went to the National Zoo

2011-07-16T00:49:00.001-04:00

I took the day off and drove up to Washington DC and went to the national zoo with my studio assistant (my little boy). What a beautiful day for a visit to the zoo but half of the animals are gone due to the construction that they are doing. The new elephant habitat is amazing and looks to be about 3-4 larger than it was. I did spend some decent time with the birds, shouldn't be a surprise, and hope that I got some decent shots in.

Always a hit is the reptile house although I don't ever see me using any of the animals there as reference. I am not a fan of reptiles! But my favorite shot of the day (from my camera phone, I haven't uploaded my camera pictures yet) is the one below. And my little studio assistant agrees with me!

Has anyone else been to the National zoo recently and seen all the improvements that they are making? Your thoughts?

Warn off Intruders

2011-06-27T15:27:00.000-04:00

Work in Progress…

Cardinal painting on Finial

I am back at my easel today after some much needed time off. Rested and eager to get back to work I started in on the second layer of color on my Cardinal painting this morning and the background is now done. Before my vacation I was able to get the first layer of color blocked in on the cardinal, lots of pale brown plumage with those warm reddish tinges in the wings, tail and crest.

Did you know that only a few female North American songbirds sing and that the female Cardinal is one of them? She will do this often while on her nest giving the male information on when to bring food to the nest. The most common sound that you hear from a cardinal is the loud, metallic “chip.” This is used to warn off intruders to the cardinal’s territory and from the posture of the cardinal in my painting I would say that we just missed that “chip” call and she is now looking at us with a look of, “did you not hear me the first time?”

A deterrent to witches?

2011-06-09T11:49:00.000-04:00

Work in Progress...
Cardinal Painting on Finial

The current painting on my easel is that of a female cardinal on a concrete finial that decorates a brick pillar outside of one the many historic houses on Monument Avenue in Richmond, Virginia. The painting is currently in the first block in of color stage and just has the cardinal left to be painted, which will be done shortly.

Finials are used as architectural elements commonly seen at the apex of a gable, along the top and corners of buildings to serve as decorative motif. We see smaller finials today used as curtian rod ends and on furniture but they were once belived to act as a deterent to witches. Apparently a witch on a broomstick could not land on a persons roof that had a finial. Hmmmm..... I see the making of title at hand!

Rhythm and Repetition!

2011-06-07T14:07:00.000-04:00

Presenting...
"The Wren's Gate (Carolina Wren)," oil, 18 x 24

Although this piece has been finished for a few weeks and delivered to the collector I am sadly just now getting around to posting the story of "The Wren's Gate." This painting has more meaning to me than most of the pieces that I do beacuse when I look at it I don't think of my initial reation to seeing the gate as you will read below but I am reminded of a morning on the shores of South Carolina with two great friends and fantatsic artists!

This is also the piece that I was working during my paint demonstration at Lovetts Gallery in Tulsa, Oklahoma back in March. I would like to thank Jack & Waylon for giving me the opportunity to share my painting technique and for welcoming me into their wonderful gallery!

"The Wren's Gate (Carolina Wren)," Oil, 18 x 24

This painting reminds me of a fantastic (albeit early and chilly) morning in Charleston, South Carolina. I was exploring the Isle of Palms with two artist friends, Julie Bender and RayBrown, when we noticed a stretch of boat docks with waterfowl perched along the pilings. We all spotted something that piqued our interest and headed off in different directions to capture reference material. At one point, I thought I had captured just about everything and was talking to Julie while Ray was being silly, skipping down the boat dock, when I noticed the gate to a private dock — a gate that encompassed some of the elements that I look for in an interesting perch for my subjects like rhythm and repetition. And as I shot this last reference of the day, I thought, “What a great morning out with two of my good art friends on the Isle of Palms and I just found my next painting … PERFECT!”

LIVE paint demonstration!

2011-06-02T11:11:00.000-04:00

A work in progress...
“Three Gulls” – Under drawing stage.

This Saturday I will be painting LIVE from ArtHaus Visual Arts Studio in Midlothian, Virginia during their open house event. Please join me at the studio from 3-6 pm to watch me start adding color to my current painting “Three Gulls.” As you can see above the painting is in it’s “Under drawing” stage of my process and I will be toning the canvas (board) later today making it ready for the first layer of color on Saturday. You can also see below that I have already mapped out my colors for my painting using the Munsell color notation system.

If you are new to this blog and/or my work and the process I go through to create my finished pieces you might be asking yourself what is an “under drawing,” what is “mapping your colors” and who is Munsell? I will be more than happy to answer all of those questions and any more that you might come up with at the LIVE paint demonstration at ArtHaus Visual Arts Studio on Saturday.

If by chance you can’t make it to the studio that afternoon but would like to still watch the demo and ask questions, please tune in via my Ustream channel on Saturday during the same time. You can ask your questions using the chat window on the channel; make sure to create your user account so that you can interact with us at the demo!

I have included the reference photos for the painting as well as the finished Photoshop composition where I put all of my images together.

See you this Saturday from 3-6 pm at ArtHaus Visual Arts Studio!

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Premiere Exhibition!

2011-04-22T08:57:00.000-04:00

You are cordially invited...

The Woolaroc Museum and The Nature Conservancy cordially invite you to a private artist reception:

The Gallery of Artists

"Artistic Perspectives on Nature"

Woolaroc Museum

Bartlesville, Oklahoma

Friday May 6, 2011
4:30-5:30pm Tour of the Museum
5:30 - 9:00pm Art Show & Sale

Please RSVP by Friday April 29th to 918-336-0307, ext. 11 or 14

or by email to jtucker@woolaroc.org

Open to the public

Saturday - Sunday

May 7-8, 2011

10am - 5pm Art Show & Sale

Artist demonstrations and lectures offered throughout the weekend.

This is a unique opportunity to meet this award-winning, nationally acclaimed group of artists and to add to your fine art collection! A percentage of the proceeds goes toward the Woolaroc Museum and The Nature Conservancy.

All credit Cards accepted.

Save the date PDF note card!

The Gallery of Artists proudly announces its premiere exhibition, "Artists' Perspectives on Nature," at the historical Woolaroc Museum in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Dates for the show are May 6-8, 2011. Friday evening, May 6, is an invitational reception to benefit both Woolaroc Museum and the Oklahoma Nature Conservancy. The show will continue Saturday and Sunday, 10am - 5pm and is open to the public. The exhibition will include artist demonstrations and lectures. The Nature Conservancy will also give presentations about the important work they are doing in Oklahoma. (Read More)

LIVE paint tomorrow & Friday!

2011-03-23T16:42:00.000-04:00

LIVE paint demonstration!
Thursday 3/24 & Friday 3/25
10:00am – 1:00pm
from ArtHaus Visual Arts Studio
Midlothian, Virginia

Painting is to be donated to
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden’s
cheers to ART!
Benefitting The Children’s Garden

For the lack of a title..... "Junco"

In the under drawing stage of the painting
Oil, 4 x 6

The kind people at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden have asked me to donate a piece of art to their 2^nd annual Cheers to Art event that benefits The Children’s Garden. I am honored to have been asked to be part of this and I luckily have a small bird painting already started that is ready for color that I can donate to them. Tomorrow and Friday I will be painting this small bird painting LIVE, on my Ustream channel, from ArtHaus Visual Arts Studio in Midlothian, Virginia streaming it over the internet. I invite you to either watch from your computer or to come by the Visual Arts Studio and see it in person. As always I would be more than happy to answer any questions about the piece I am working on, my technique, the weather or anything else art worthy!

Watch LIVE on my Ustream channel!

or on location at ArtHaus Visual Arts Studio
(click for directions)

See you tomorrow and Friday online or at the studio!

Cheers to ART!

Thursday, April 14, 2011
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
Richmond, Virginia

Silent Art Auction from 6-9:30 pm in the Massey Auditorium and Central Garden.

The 2nd annual Cheers to Art! event will feature more than 100 extraordinary artworks available by silent auction -coupled with beer, wine, hors d’oeuvres and live entertainment! Don’t-miss your chance to attend this amazing event!

So focused that I might of missed it!

2011-02-24T16:16:00.000-05:00

Presenting “Magnolia (Brown Thrasher)” …..

Finished this one up late last week and it will be going to Lovetts Gallery for my Solo exhibit and painting demonstration next week.

“Magnolia (Brown Thrasher)”
Oil, 11 x 14

One of my favorite birds is the brown thrasher, a bird normally seen on the ground foraging as it sweeps the leaf litter and soil layer for insects, fallen seeds and berries. It’s always a nice surprise to see a brown thrasher perched somewhere other than the ground. I was walking down a main street in Richmond, Virginia, taking photos of the large majestic magnolias when I heard the repetitive call of the brown thrasher. I looked down but then realized the call was coming from overhead. Just then, I turned my attention to a brick pillar ahead of the tree and spotted the bird sitting atop the concrete finial. I was so focused on the magnolia that I nearly missed what was sitting right in front of me.

Live from the studio today!

2011-02-23T09:37:00.000-05:00

Streaming LIVE from the studio, on my Ustream channel, in preparation for my Solo exhibit & painting Demonstration next week at Lovetts Gallery in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I will be painting in the studio Wednesday to Friday from 1-6pm and on Saturday from 10am-5pm. During the whole time that I am in the gallery I will be streaming the painting demonstration live over the internet and you will be able to ask me questions, through the chat box and I then will answer your questions while painting. You will also be able to hear the questions from the gallery visitors.

Live video by Ustream

A walk on Richmond’s Canal Walk

2011-02-22T10:41:00.000-05:00

Presenting “Breakaway (Mallard duckling)”.....

“Breakaway (Mallard duckling)”
Oil, 16 x20

One of my favorite places to visit — for fun and inspiration — is Richmond’s historic Canal Walk. Last spring, my family and I spent a Sunday afternoon downtown, meandering along the 1.25-mile historic pathway and found ourselves sitting along the water’s edge at the Turning Basin where the canal cruises begin. As we waited for the next boat, we had the joy of watching several groups of geese with their goslings swim by, mixed with the occasional mallard duck and her ducklings. After about five minutes without seeing any more waterfowl, we started to get up. That’s when I noticed this one solitary little duckling. We watched it swim along the edge of the canal wall, exploring its surroundings and moving along at a leisurely pace as if it didn’t have a care in the world. As it disappeared around the bend, I thought to myself, “That little guy isn’t going to make it.” Then, all of a sudden, a mother mallard with a trail of older ducklings swam around the corner at full speed, quacking up a storm as she searched for her missing duckling that had obviously broken away from the flock.