In the studio with artist, photographer and instructor Robert Louis Caldwell

Work in progress... "Crow" Work in progress I have been working on this little painting for the last couple of days (minus the holiday). Above is the painting completly blocked in with the first layer of color. If it is dry by morning I will work on the second/final layer of color in the background. Once finished this painting is slated to travel to GalleryOne in Mentor, Ohio for the 19th annual Masterworks in Miniatures exhibit. I need to finish it by friday... YIKES!!! While working on this painting I have been recording the process and creating a few short "Works in progress" videos. The "Under drawing" stage is in two parts, both parts are under 10 minutes long, and are now on the RL Caldwell YouTube channel . You can watch them below... Enjoy! Work in Progress... "Crow" painting, Under drawing, Part 1 Work in progress... "Crow" painting, Under drawing, Part 2

Happy Holidays! "Bulbs ( House Finch )," Graphite pencil, 5 x 9 Sincerest wishes for hope, happiness and peace during this holiday season and throughout the coming year. * * * It was about this time last year when we made the decision to go 100% with e-mail over the traditional paper mailings. In the past year, many of you have remarked how much you enjoyed receiving those little note cards in the mail, and on many occasions when Robert has been visiting his collectors he's spotted those very note cards on the fridge or tacked up somewhere. This is very humbling and because of that we are trying something new. Please click the link below to find a printable PDF and wallpaper of Robert's 2009 holiday drawing, "Bulbs (House Finch)." "Bulbs (House Finch)" Sincerely, Robert L Caldwell RL Caldwell Studio

These are two more pieces that I have been working on. Both are completed under drawings and will be painting when finished. Ginter painting Ramsey's back porch

Here are the two pieces that I have been working on for the last several days. Both are are "toned" and ready for color, not sure which one I will start first though. Grey cat bird painting Canal Walk painting

Due to the overwhelming amount of spam that I am having to keep up with on my blog I have had to turn on the monitoring comments feature for my blog. I apoligize for this and hope that everyone will continue to leave your comments about my work - they just won't appear right away. Thank you for understanding. - Robert

Work in Progress... I just finished up the "under drawing" stage of this one this morning, it is already sealed and I am waiting for the burnt sienna and odorless mineral spirits wash to dry a little so that I can go and pick out the highlights. I'll then add in the darks , let it dry and start adding some color. I am also toning the canvas of the Grey cat bird painting as well although I will more than likely move forward with the Canal painting first.

Current piece on the drafting table: I have been working on this one for a couple of days now, hopefully another 6-8 hours will finish up the under drawing and then I can tone the canvas. It should be ready for color after Thanksgiving and when finished the painting will measure 29" x 14".

Show opens tonight... 26th Annual Almost Miniature Show Francesca Anderson Fine Art Gallery Lexington, Massachusetts November 20, 2009 - January 16, 2010 Over half of the show are small paintings that are no larger than 8 x 10 by some of New England's finest realist painters. Miniature paintings are also in the show, painted by well known artist from England, Australia, and the United States. The show opens Friday November 20, 2009 and runs through January 16, 2010. The gallery is open Wednesday - Saturday 10am - 5pm and Sunday 2 - 6pm. For more information please visit www.fafineart.com or call 781-862-0660. "Three Gentlemen ( Roosters )," Oil, 6 x 13 My painting "Three Gentlemen (Roosters)" is one of the many pieces invited to exhibit at this annual show and is currently available through Francesca Anderson Fine Art Gallery. (Map of Gallery)

39th Annual Waterfowl Festival Easton, Maryland Friday Novemeber 13, 10am - 6pm Saturday November 14, 10am - 6pm Sunday November 15, 10am - 4pm http://www.waterfowlfesival.org/ I will be at the Tidewater gallery located in the Tidewater Inn at 101 East Dover Street. I hope to everyone there! Now in its 39th year the Waterfowl festival is dedicated to wildlife conservation, the promotion of wildlife art, and the celebration of life on Maryland's Eastern Shore. In addition to world-class art the Waterfowl Festival offers diverse exhibits and events in venues throughout the town of Easton. In its 38 years, the Festival has become a leader in the conservation of waterfowl and wildlife habitat. More than $4.8 million has been raised and donated to projects throughout the Atlantic Flyway, and in particular the Chesapeake Bay.

Presenting, "Reflected Blue (Great Blue Heron)" Oil on board, 11 x 6 Finished this little painting just in time for it to dry, frame and take it the Waterfowl Festival in Easton , Maryland opening this Friday at 10am. I hope to see everyone there!

For everyone in Richmond, Virginia, tonight is the opening of my friend and fellow artist Steven Walker's exhibit "Between Homes" at the glavekocen gallery. Steven's work, in my opinion, is incredible. He will have over 40 pieces at this opening tonight and it will be a treat to see so many of his pieces in one setting. I met Steven at Virginia Commonwealth University in one of our many art classes, I thought he had allot of talent then but WOW has his work taken off! He can capture so much with one paint stroke, his handling of color and compositions are simply amazing! Please check out his work on his website and blog. http://www.stevenwalkerstudios.com/ http://www.stevenwalkerstudios.blogspot.com/ The glavekocen gallery is in the Fan on West Main Street and easy to get to if you are familiar to Richmond, Virginia. Please visit there website, blog, become a fan on facebook or follow them on twitter. I hope to you at the opening tonight! http://www.glavekocengalle...

Work in Progress... "Reflected Blue (Great Blue Heron)" First layer of color blocked in. Not going as fast as I would like but the first layer of color is blocked in and ready for me to start laying in the second/final layer of color. If everything goes right this painting should be finished by this weekend and dry in time to take to the Waterfowl Festival next week!

Work in Progress... "Reflected Blue (Great Blue Heron) " This is the current painting on the easel, just a small one measuring 6 x 11. I hope to be able to get this one finished up in time to take to the up coming Waterfowl Festival in Easton, Maryland.

What, Where, and When... Fall 2009 RL Caldwell Studio Newsletter See whats been going on with Robert's work and see what he has coming up! (Newsletter)

Here's the latest painting off the easel... Presenting "Oystercatchers" Oil on board, 12 x 6 The reference for this painting came from the same trip down to the Outer Banks that the "North Pond on Pea Island (White Ibis)" reference came from. That was a really great reference gathering weekend, I think that I have probably 3-4 more paintings that will come that visit. The best thing about this painting is the memory that it evokes... right before getting onto the beach at Oregon Inlet I turned onto the access ramp and what do I see in front of me a Mazda Miata buried to its axles in the sand. For those of you familiar with the Outer Banks and driving on the beaches with our four wheel drive vehicles can understand why I am chuckling while I write this. You can not drive on the beach on the Outer Banks unless you have a four wheel drive vehicle and one with sufficient clearance to get through the deep sand. Being the helpful person that I like to think that I am...

It's finished! Presenting "Three Gentlemen" Oil on board, 6 x 13 This piece came about from a visit to the Chesterfield Berry farm last year, which is just outside of Richmond, Virginia. We where there picking up pumpkins for Halloween when we came across the pens with all the farm animals inside. This piece is a good demonstration of how long I will have reference photos hanging around my studio before I get going on the painting. This painting (as soon as it dries) is destined for the 26th Annual Almost Miniatures show Francesca Anderson Fine Art Gallery Lexington, Massachusetts The exhibit opens November 20th and ends January 16th.

I am currently working on two pieces, "3 gents" and a beach scene with some Oystercatchers. Both pieces have the first layer of color painted in and are ready for the last final detail layer to complete them. The Oystercatchers piece still needs to dry some more before moving on but the 3 Gents is ready now (or tomorrow morning). These along with a couple of other pieces are all going to the Waterfowl Festival in November, which is approaching fast!

Off to Martinsville today for the opening reception of "Wildlife Art Revealed" September 26, 2009 - January 9, 2010 Virginia Museum of Natural History Martinsville, Virginia Robert along with Paul Rhymer , Julie Bender , and Roger Martin will be exhibiting their original artwork along with informative displays on each of the artists process of creating their art. The exhibition is being held at the Virginia Museum of Natural History in Martinsville, Virginia from Saturday September 26, 2009 through January 9, 2010 with the opening reception on Thursday September 24, 2009. Robert plans on having over twenty original pieces at this exhibition. For more information, visit http://www.vmnh.net/ -This is going to be a really exciting exhibit, its not often that you get to see such a large body of work from indvidual artist in one setting and then on top of that to have displays showing you how the artist goes about creating their work. Go see this show! I have and will be posting m...

I have been paid the ultimate compliment! "Sewanee Barn (Feral Pigeons)" Oil, 30 x 13 Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum has decided to add my painting "Sewanee Barn (Feral Pigeons)"to its collection. I am extremely honored and excited. I recently wrote a thank you letter to the museum and all the staff thanking them for putting together such a wonderful exhibit. I wet on stating that nothing else has even remotely come close to that feeling of belonging to something so great that I felt when sitting under the tent for the first time in 2007. I consider Birds in Art to be the measuring stick for all of my work and artistic endeavors. I feel now that that measuring stick has been raised much higher. Thank you Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum for adding my painting to the Woodson collection. I will continue to strive to do my very best to reach that new height. From one of my all time favorite movies "Explorers" -"It's the stuff that dreams are made of...

Birds in Art 2009 What an opening! It was a great weekend in Wausau, Wisconsin visiting fellow artist, friends, the wonderful staff at the museum, and of course the public who come to see this great body of stunning work. It goes by way to quickly and its hard to put the event down in words. If you have the opportunity you should really go and see the show, this years exhibit is amazing! You can visit the museums website at www.lywam.org You can become a fan of the museum on Facebook at Become a fan of LYWAM Read the Museums Blog Woodson Wanderings And follow them on Twitter Follow Woodsonart Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum - entrance "Sewanee Barn (Feral Pigeons)" in the exhibition catalog Robert with his painting in the museum

It's that time, off to Wisconsin for Birds in Art. Birds in Art Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum Wausau, Wisconsin September 12 - November 15, 2009 Opening September 12, 2009 9 a.m. - noon "Sewanee Barn ( Feral Pigeons )" Oil, 13 x 30 "Sewanee Barn ( Feral Pigeons )" has the honor of being one of 112 pieces selected to exhibit at the prestigious annual Birds in Art exhibition at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in Wausau, Wisconsin. Organized annually since 1976 by the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Birds in Art presents the very best contemporary artistic interpretations of birds and related subject matter. Each year, a jury selects approximately 100 works to take part in the exhibit. This year, 545 artists from around the world submitted 884 pieces of art. Robert is one of 112 juried artist selected for the exhibit; the show will also include the work of nearly 20 master wildlife artists. For more information please visit: www.lywam.org

Presenting "Red Berries ( Song Sparrow )" Oil, 12 x 8 Finished this one up yesterday! Presenting "Red Berries ( Song Sparrow )," Oil on board measuring 12 x 8. This painting seemed to drag on a little longer than it should have but I am happy with the results. The idea and reference for this painting came from a hike behind my brothers house in northern Virginia several years back. I was in a dense part of the woods, everything seemed very gray and subdued except for this cluster of bright rich red berries.

Coming in early October "Strokes of Genius 2: The Best of Drawing Light and Shadow" Pre-order your signed copy of the book, follow link to order. Robert's in "Strokes of Genius 2" I have two pieces included in the pages of this book, "Lookout" and "Your Majesty (Black Vulture)"

"What, where and when..." Summer 2009 The RL Caldwell Studio newsletter Follow link to read the Summer newsletter What, where and when...

The RL Caldwell studio newsletter "What, where and when..." will go out Tuesday 8/11 around 11am, to receive your copy please follow the link to sign up - http://bit.ly/7yX17 This issue of the newsletter covers the two big exhibits coming up in September along with some other exciting things happening in the studio and with my work.

Well its been a slow production week for me in the painting department but I did finish toning the canvas for my "3 Gents" painting. I love painting but I do find that if I can not get a stretch of solid time (at least 4-5 hours) to paint that I don't.

My studio newsletter "What, where, and when..." summer 2009 issue will be delivered to your e-mail in boxes next week. I will be highlighting my upcoming events like Birds in Art, the Virginia Museum of Natural history exhibit, and the Waterfowl festival. If you have not received prior issues, show invitations or studio announcements and would like to please sign up at http://bit.ly/7yX17 .

John Barber and Walter Cronkite I wanted to point out that I have added two new links, one in my Artists websites and the other in my Artists blogs list. Both belonging to a fellow artist and friend John Barber, a fellow Richmonder. When you have a moment please visit his website to see his beautiful work and his blog to read about his his days with Walter Cronkite. http://www.johnbarberart.blogspot.com/

Here is the 3rd time-lapsed video. This one shows the drawing "Contemplation (Chimpanzee)" from blank paper to the finshed drawing. I have now completed all 3 videos and they are ready to be sent to the Virginia Museum of Natural History so that they can be included in with the exhibit thats coming up in September. All of my videos can be seen at www.youtube.com/rlcaldwell Enjoy!

Here is the re-edited video of my "Reflected Green (Green Heron)" oil painting. I re-edited this video to make the type sections longer so that they can be easily read and to add some background music as well. (I got my background music from www.audiomicro.com) Enjoy!

In preparation for my upcoming Virginia Museum of Natural history exhibition I am re-editing my time-lapsed videos making them a bit longer (so you have enough time to read the type). And most importantly inserting some royalty free background music - thank you www.audiomicro.com! So here is the first newly edited video "Cow on a Hill."

Yesterday I went with my friend and fellow artist Paul Rhymer to visit the Virginia Museum of Natural History to check out the exhibition space for our upcoming four person exhibition at the museum. All I can say is WOW! The space is great and HUGE! The museum is just fantastic. The other artists invited to exhibit are Paul Rhymer a sculptor, Julie Bender a pyrographic artist, and Roger Martin a sculptor. The exhibition will open on September 26, 2009 and run through January 9, 2010. The exhibition will show allot of our original works but will also have displays (visuals) on our individual processes, so you will be able to see how we each create or pieces. Visit their website at http://www.vmnh.net/ to find out more about the museum and to see all the cool stuff! Also check out the other artist sites below. Paul Rhymer http://www.rhymerstudio.com/ Julie Bender http://www.juliebender.com/ Roger Martin http://www.rogeramartin.com/ Paul explain why sculptor is so great!

Here is the latest progress image of the Ibis's painting. Second layer of color is done on the background and foreground marsh grass and the water is also finished. I will go in and put some detail into the grass and water when finished with the birds, I can't do that now because the paint is still wet and I have learned to be patient and just let the paint dry before moving on to the fun detail work.

Working on several pieces at once now... Here's the progress on the Ibis's painting as of Wednesday afternoon. The background and the middle ground marsh grass both have the second layer of color on the canvas. This will be one of those paintings that will need some additional tweaking on a third layer of color because there is so much overlap of color that i can't get the results that I want without muddying up the colors already applied to the canvas. Hopefully by tomorrow afternoon I can have the foreground grass completed and have started on the water. Below is the piece that i just finished up on today. The under drawing is finished and I'll tone the canvas tomorrow so that it is ready when I'm finished with the 2 Ibis's and the sparrow with the red berries paintings. I have several deadlines coming up!!!

As always this one took a little longer to get the paint on then I thought but nevertheless here it is. And again this will need to be put off to the side so that this paint layer can dry before moving on to the next and hopefully last layer of color. When I do move onto that last layer I will want to do some adjusting. The background is all on the same level and has no depth, I will bring some of the tree limbs closer to the foreground with some saturation in the color and added detail. Also I want to add some more, smaller, branches throughout the background to break up the space and give it more of a visual dance. Now back to the Ibis's painting...

I finished blocking in the first layer of color today on the two ibis's in the marsh grass. This layer will need to dry before I can move onto the 2nd and hopefully last layer of color. The next layer takes about twice as long as the first layer to paint. Now moving on to the next piece... going to plan out the colors and hopefully start mixing paint for this one today and get the first layer of color blocked in before the weekend.

Art of the Animal Kingdom XIV Opening weekend June 13 – July 26, 2009 Bennington Center for the Arts Bennington, Vermont Robert’s graphite drawing “Out of the Darkness (Saw-whet Owl)” has the honor to exhibit at one of the country's most prestigious wildlife exhibitions Art of the Animal XIV. The exhibit opens on June 13 and will run through July 26th, 2009. This year's Special Guest Artist, Terry Isaac, will be in attendance and giving talks at the opening reception on Saturday, June 13th. For information, visit http://www.benningtoncenterforthearts.org/ or call 802.442.7158.

After a nice relaxing weekend in the woods of western Virginia camping I am now back working in the studio on the Two Ibis's painting. Below is the progress of the last two days blocking in the first layer of color.