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

I have spent the last week prepping for my upcoming participation in the Group Exhibition at Berkley Gallery in Warrenton, VA from October 9-23, 2010. I have eight pieces of art included in this exhibit, 3 oil paintings and 5 graphite drawings, including the recently returned drawing “Contemplation (Chimpanzee)” from the Art of the Animal Kingdom XV exhibition at the Bennington Center for the Arts. As I was packing these pieces up yesterday into the crate I started to revisit the moments and elements that inspired each piece and thought I would share that here.                                      "Swift Creek Morning (Mallard Ducks) " Graphite pencil on watercolor paper 7 x 12 This drawing is inspired by one of my many morning walks down to the Swift Creek Reservoir near my house, just outside of Richmond, Virginia. Occasionally, the mornings are overcast and misty along the water’s edge. One morning in the dead silence of the early hour, as I stood on the dock, dog

  Art of the Animal Kingdom XV Bennington Center for the Arts Bennington, Vermont June 12 - August 8, 2010   "Contemplation (Chimpanzee)," Graphite pencil, 6 x 15   My painting "Contemplation (Chimpanzee)" has been selected to appear at the 2010 Art of the Animal Kingdom exhibition , June 12 through August, 8, 2010, in Bennington, Vermont.   The Bennington Center for the Arts brings world-class fine art, history and theater to the residents and visitors of Southwestern Vermont. The center's permanent art collection, sales exhibitions, live theater and exhibits within the Covered Bridge Museum are available throughout the year.   Considered one of the most prestigious wildlife exhibitions in the country, this year's Art of the Animal Kingdom exhibit includes 80 pieces of art. Morten Solberg is this year's special guest artist and juror of the exhibition. He will also be giving a workshop at the Center the week prior to the opening of

Art of the Animal Kingdom XV Bennington Center for the Arts Bennington, Vermont June 12 - August 8 "Contemplation (Chimpanzee)," Graphite pencil, 6 x 15 I have the honor to announce that my graphite drawing “Contemplation (Chimpanzee)” has been selected for inclusion in this year’s exhibit Art of the Animal Kingdom XV . The Art of the Animal Kingdom exhibit is held annually at the Bennington Center for the Arts in Bennington, Vermont. “Contemplation” is one of eighty pieces that was chosen from hundreds of submissions. Morten Solberg is this year’s guest artist who is also the juror for the show, it is quite an honor to be juried into an exhibit by ones artistic peer. In addition to being the guest artist Morten will also be teaching a workshop June 9th – 11th . “Contemplation (Chimpanzee)” is a graphite drawing on Arches 300lb. hot press water color paper. As with all of my graphite drawings the value is built layer by layer starting from the hardest grade pencil