Beginning my "marathon" painting: Cullasaja Falls

Where do I begin?

Because my panel is actually larger than any canvas I can get my hands on, I had to prep the panel itself to receive the texture, inventing the gloppy substance that will readily receive the texture I will apply. So here's the recipe:  1 c. gesso, 1 c. wood glue, 1 c. modeling compound plus a tablespoon of secret sauce. Mix thoroughly (no tasting), pour into paint pan and roll on the panel. Viola! (see -- half artist, half mad scientist). 

My Marathon

Future "Cullasaja Falls"

Bigger is Better

Have you ever decided to do something and then wonder, "Oh my gosh. What was I thinking?"

A few days ago, I ordered a 6' x 8' panel for a new project I want to undertake. I knew it would be big. Then today it was delivered.

Oh my gosh. What was I thinking? 

This thing is truly huge.  At 6' x 8', this monster is the largest painting I've ever done. Most paintings take between 3-4 weeks. This one will take six months. I wanted something larger, more intricate and more challenging than anything I've ever done before. I'll take you along step by step until it's complete.

"Is this a commission?" you ask. No. I'm just doing it. It will hang in my Asheville studio until someone adopts it.
"WHY are you doing this?" you ask. "Are you crazy?" Yeah well...

You know how some people get into running and they end up running a marathon? If you ask them WHY the HECK they'd do that, a lot of them will simply answer "to see if I could do it".

So that's my answer. I want to see if I can do it.

This is what I am painting...Cullasaja Falls, North Carolina.

Welcome!

What I'm up to...

This video is a nice sample of the last several months of work. Fun times...and big plans ahead.

Aegean Waters

A 79-Piece Painting

This one was a bit different than my standard pieces in that it is a painting that fits together like a puzzle (see photos below). There are 76 pieces to this, each cut out, textured, covered with aluminum leaf, painted, assembled and glued to my panel, then resined. Though the Aegean is far from North Carolina, the colors in this artwork are reminiscent of the golden sunsets and aquamarine waters. 

Final Assembly

The Red Planet

"The Red Planet"

Gold and Red

Every now and then, I feel like I have just a bit too much fun. I don't feel guilty about that mind  you! The latest bit of fun involves this commissioned art piece (yet to be formally named). This abstract oil painting is destined for a home that will be part of Asheville, North Carolina's 2016 Parade of Homes this autumn (and Joy and I have been invited to be there shamelessly handing out business cards). Anyway, the video (below) was actually taken from a helicopter 10,000 feet above the surface of an alien planet. Just kidding. It's just me playing with my camera. Cheers!

Puzzling and Playing

"The first assembly"

Assembling a Painting

This is the beginnings of a new "intarsia" piece I'm working on. Each piece (there are 76 of them) is cut out, texturized, painted and then assembled and resined. The photo above shows the first actual assembly of the piece before the first layer of paint was applied. Photos below are just a couple to show what they look like with the first layer of paint. They will get several more layers of paint...so stay tuned. 

First layer of paint

First layer of paint

Hominy Valley

"Hominy Valley" (16" x 26")

Local North Carolina Scenes

Some of our favorite hiking trails in western North Carolina are just off the Blue Ridge Parkway, southeast of Mt. Pisgah. Waterfalls, streams, amazing vistas and BLUEBERRIES are what make this part of the Blue Ridge landscape so special. The fastest route to the top of the Parkway here is on the back side of Mt. Pisgah. Gradually making your way through rolling hills and Hominy Valley, (a beautiful place filled with wildflowers) you approach the hulking mountain (our local landmark). Many such drives through Hominy Valley have inspired this oil painting. I hope you enjoy it and next time you're in Asheville and feel like exploring, come by the studio and I'll pull out a map and point you in the right direction. 

Fishy Art

Underwater Art

This project, featuring a school of tropical fish swimming amongst giant kelp was the most intricate, detailed painting I've done using this technique. Finished this time with satin varnish rather than gloss resin, it's new home will be in Georgetown, SC. 

Hyatt Ridge (26" x 16")

Hyatt Ridge

Last October, my kids were visiting Asheville and one of the days, we ran over to the Bryson City area to go hiking. As we entered Smoky Mountains National Park (on the "Road to Nowhere"), we got to the end of the road (in the middle of...nowhere) and parked the car. After walking through an old abandoned auto tunnel (they ran out of money in the Depression and simply stopped the road project) we started on the trail. The place was silent except for the sound of the wind in the trees and the "crunch" of leaves underfoot. Talk about a source of inspiration. How could I not paint this? This was a perfect day. This painting is my attempt to capture that day last autumn. 

"Broad River in October"

Constructing a Painting

This piece, "Broad River in October" is so reminiscent of Autumn. In "constructing" this piece, I used more texture than I usually do, but that created very rich and dimensional results I'm very happy with.