Black and White

I titled this "Black and White" as sort of a har-har because in truth animals are usually not really white or black. If you look at either in strong sunlight you will see variations of blue or even yellow on white sheep and black sheep are really a dark brown. Or any black animal. Except crows who are actually all the colors of the spectrum in sunlight, not black. So you don't have to worry about those black cats anymore. They really aren't black.
Soft pastel on Mi-Tientes paper, 5 x 7, double-matted and framed to 8 x 10 in a rescue oak frame.
Art Show price $49.
To answer the comment below, yes, I took a photo of the sheep at Island Farm in Manteo and that was my reference photo for this painting. I made a video of the Civil War Reenactment there last year. The photo appears in the video.

Jump?

I am working on a series of small pastels for the Currituck Art Show in two weeks. This one is titled "Jump?" because this rabbit has a wary eye on the viewer wondering if he will have to jump up and run away at a moment's notice. But right now he is pretty comfy. Framed in a rescue frame of gold crackle. 4 x 6 in 8 x 10 double mat, Show price $49. Soft pastel on Canson Mi-Tientes paper.

Among The Hollies

I love to go hiking in Nags Head Woods. This painting is from a photograph taken there. Coming up the trail near these trees I always see a deer so I considered calling it "Deer Jump" but everyone would be looking for the deer, as I usually am through my camera viewfinder, only to find it has jumped into the gulley just beyond these holly trees. They are especially pretty in the spring in the bright sun and fresh greenery of the trees surrounding them. I gave this painting a circle effect with the branches -- the circle of life (Alternate title no. 3). This painting has a cherry americana frame and I used econospacers around the glass so there is no mat. I love this framing technique for pastels. It really gives a quality presentation. Soft pastel on Ampersand Aquabord, 8 x 10, $125, tax and shipping included in the price. Email for information. 

Ridge Tree

   This tree was much photographed in the 1970's on Jockey's Ridge and the subject of many an M. Charles painting. Frame is a nice refurbished golden oak rescue frame. If you read my facebook page you will know what I mean. 8 x 10, oil on artist's panel, $125

Flower Stand

Sometimes it is renewing for body and mind to wander among a profusion of flowers. I love the little flower and produce stand on the edge of Manteo. In all the changing seasons there is always something beautiful to look at. 5 x 7, watercolor on arches, matted, $40.

Climbing Clouds

This soft pastel is from a photo by Eve Turek who very nicely lets me use her outstanding photographs for reference. I called it "Climbing Clouds" because once in awhile the clouds look positively climbable, they are set out just like a mountain range over the ocean that you could step onto and get all the way to heaven. This is a soft pastel on Wallis Sanded paper, 8 x 10, matted and framed $175.

Corolla Lite

I was getting slightly intimidated by this small size painting 5 x 7 inches but I decided to forge ahead anyway and I am happy with the outcome. Looking at Corolla lighthouse from the southside. oil on canvas panel, 5 x7, frame is golden oak, $65.

Rainbow Marsh

Everyday I travel by this marsh on the edge of Wanchese, NC and admire the ever changing color of it. One rainy day I was going by and the sun had just come out. When I turned down the road that goes to Wanchese, a beautiful rainbow appeared over the marsh. I tried to paint it as best I could, with the grass this wonderful russet color since it was all wet from the rain. Oil on a linen panel, 10 x 8, stacked golden oak frame $150. 

Horse Dance

I've been studying color and its application so that is why this picture is so colorful. These wild Corolla horses appear to be dancing, actually they are fighting, but dancing and fighting sometimes look like the same thing, LOL. Maybe there is a lesson there? Reference photo by Karen Watras who gave me permission to use it for a painting.
This is my first time using the Ampersand Pastelbord and I will frame this with Econospacers and no mat, just glass and a rustic brown frame. 10 x 8, soft pastel, $150.

Bodie Marsh Boat

I found this little wooden boat tied up near the Off Island Hunt Club one fall day. It belongs to a friend who is a fisherman and hunting guide. I have painted it before. I am working on 5 small paintings for the Dare County Arts Council Holiday Small Works Show. This is a little softer than usual, which means very soft but it turned out fine. Soft pastel on white Wallis sanded paper, 5 x 7, matted and rustic brown frame to 8 x10. $150. 

Red Oak Snow

One of my favorite places is a little woods near my house. And once in awhile on the Outer Banks it actually snows. Last year it snowed quite alot for here and I got lots of snow photos. This painting is from one of those pics in my favorite woods. There is a little red oak tree there that was all decked out with red leaves and blue snow. I liked all the contrast. 5 x 7 matted and 1" walnut frame,  8 x 10, soft pastel on Wallis paper, $125.

Last Light Dune

The other day I finally made it out the door with french easel to try some "en Plein Aire" painting. I asked permission at the ranger station at Jockey's Ridge and they said it was "light the kite" night and the dunes would be filled with people. I had scouted out this dune earlier in the week and it was right at the end of the boardwalk where everyone would be walking, Rats! So I had to set up on a different set of dunes and only got a photo of this as the last light of the day illuminated its flank and tree tops. So I took the photo into the studio and created what I wanted all along. 8 x 10 oil on canvas board, oak gallery frame $125.

Shad Lite

This shad boat sits in front of an antique store in Manteo. It has a lot of other junk around it which I cleared away and gave it some new fallen snow. I thought it would make a great Christmas greeting for all my friends and customers. Thank you all for your business and support in the last year. If you would like this painting, it is a 7 x 5 watercolor on arches, matted $40.

Sunset Winter

This is the second Ampersand Aquabord I used with some watercolors. It is a very interesting surface to use and does not require a mat or glass. It is sprayed with fixative when it is dry for a matte finish. A typical winter sunset on the sound in Kitty Hawk, NC. This is a 4x4 and includes a beautiful burgundy frame from Yellowhouse Frame Shop. $65 includes sales tax and shipping.

Turner Light Sunset

I bought four Ampersand Aquabords awhile ago and I am just now getting around to using the last two. I ended up with kind of a JMW Turner look. He loved to work with this kind of light in his paintings. The panel is sprayed with a fixative for a matte finish. This is a 4x4 and is in a beautiful dark brown frame from Yellowhouse Frame Shop.  $65 includes sales tax and shipping.

Marsh Islands

In the marsh there are these little high ground places that are not constantly bathed by the rising tide like the grass and trees can gain a foothold. These islands were laid out in a row like this with these wonderful mauve shadows. I did this with a red ground and worked and worked and finally gave up. I visited my friend, James Melvin, who said, oh, if it is oil keep working on it. You'll get it. And I finally got to where I wanted to be. 12 x 9, oil on a panel, framed, 1 year money back guarantee $175

The Old Docks

I have this idea that mediums should be used to their best advantage. Watercolors have their own quirky nature and portray water best, since they are actually, well, water. Beyond that, they do lost edges and hard edges, vague dreamy washes and shining sparkling light in really wonderful ways. I am always disappointed if I don't use a medium to its best advantage. I was pleased with how this one turned out because it shows off some of the spectacular advantages of watercolors with only a few minor problems arising. That is because I forced myself to slow down and do it right, which took all week while I waited for each wash to dry, lest I get in there and create mud because it wasn't quite dry, which is what I usually do (not happy face). From an old black and white photograph from the 1950's, somewhere near Wanchese, NC. This boat reminded me of a boat Everett Tate had, it was long and low like this and he used it to haul net. He had another boat and he would tow this skiff behind him -- it was mostly just a boat to carry the net. This is watercolor on arches paper, approx. 15 x 9, matted and in golden tiger oak frame to 20 x 14. $180 includes shipping and sales tax. 

Wild Dunes

This painting is from a photo by Eve Turek. We think it might be Penny's Hill which is above Corolla. Of course, with inflation, nowadays it might be more like 50 cent hill or Susan B. Anthony Hill. Or with the coming bridge there it is most probably going to be paved and developed hill. But for now, "The 4x4," as people call it, is wild and free. I was striving for "painterly" and following Susan Sarback's advice from her book to look for the hidden colors. This is soft pastel on Wallis sanded paper, 10 x 8, matted and framed to 14 x 11, SOLD.

We Bow Down

We used to sing a little praise chorus that went like this, "We bow down..." and I thought it was appropriate for a title since I have added some streaming light to the horses on the beach (from a photo by Karen Watras). You might think they are worshipping the Creator, depending on your outlook. Or, in the spirit of my father who was always irreverent at times like these, the colt might be saying to it's mom, "Wait! I have to stop to bite an itch!"  10 x 8, watercolor on arches, matted and rustic medium brown frame to 11 x 14, $175.

Nags Head Woods

This is the first time I have ever tried to paint a woods scene. Usually, I get the photos home and wonder what I was photographing since all the trees look alike. But this was a particularly beautiful day in Nags Head Woods one winter hike and the light was streaming onto the road and fallen leaves. So it was easier to paint than just a forest scene. I tried to give a feeling of light and atmosphere here and did so by using a lot of maskoid to begin with. Then I tried to work in transparent layers, always preserving the light areas. This is matted and framed, 8 x 10 matted to 11 x 14, watercolor on Arches, $175.

@Daybreak

Some of the most beautiful things are often the simplest. A clearing storm and the brilliant sunshine of early morning combine to reveal curtained light streaming down over the ocean, lighting up the whole scene with brilliant color.
This is soft pastel on Wallis sanded paper, 7 x 5, matted and stack golden oak frame to 10 x 8, $150.

Pier Lights

People tell me the fishing is best at the crack of dawn and it is also best on the pier. My friend, Karen Watras, took this photo of the sun coming up on the horizon, over the ocean. I believe (not positive though) this is Avalon Pier. I thought it was a great picture and got permission to paint it. The wash of the surf was reflecting all the lights of the pier as well as the red sky of dawn. This is a small watercolor on 300# arches paper, 7 x 5, and it is matted, not framed, only $40. Email for information.

Sunset Bay

Here is a small watercolor of a typical winter sunset on Bay Drive. I tried to capture the pure color as much as possible in this painting. In the foreground is some switch cane or possibly Phragmites. I have trouble telling them apart, except that the switch cane is useful and the phragmites are not. There is an island offshore with a few trees to the left and some marsh grass to the right. Watercolor on arches, 5 x 7, matted, not framed, $40.

Hatteras Proud!

Most people are by now aware of the problems the Outer Banks has suffered in the aftemath of Hurricane Irene. Hardest hit has been Hatteras Island, having been cut off from the North Banks by several new inlets. I took a picture of a boat in a Buxton boat yard this summer that had this red flag flying. I don't know what the real significance of the flag was, but for me the boat seemed to be saying, "I may be in for repairs, the seas have been rough, the work has been hard, but I am still proud, Hattras proud!" Soft pastel on Wallis paper, 5 x 7 matted and rustic brown frame to 8 x 10. $125

Seascape on Aquabord

Here is a new surface I am trying out, it's called "Aquabord" by Ampersand. I really like this for watercolors. I am pretty old fashioned and I like Arches because it reacts the way paper should react to water, but I stopped by to chat with Katy Caroline and she recommended this surface. It is about 1/8" thick and looks like masonite from the rear. It is very forgiving for watercolor which is a nice characteristic. I am also experimenting with pearlescent paint. It shimmers when you look at it. I did one of these earlier and it sold before I got a picture of it. This is 4 x 4 watercolor on Aquabord, mini-easel included, $25. This is available at the Mellow Dog in Manteo, NC.

The "It's Organic!" Truck

Organic is a word we toss around a lot nowadays. Artists tend not to paint ugliness since it doesn't sell that well and we like to eat. But old vehicles have a certain appeal to certain artists and a few people buy them. What I like about rusting vehicles is how they merge with nature after awhile, becoming something organic, or, by way of definition, "living matter." I found this old truck tucked away in Manteo on hwy. 64, hiding in plain sight, and I didn't have to tresspass to get the photo either. It really makes my day and week when I find an old vehicle surrounded by vegetation. As an historical note, I recently found out this truck was used as a "boom truck" to lift engines in and out of boats that were in the water at the Marina that used to be near where Pirate's Cove is now. I always appreciate knowing little details like that about my paintings. Thanks to everyone at Outer Banks Vintage Scrapbook on Facebook for the info. This is soft pastel on Wallis sanded paper, 5x7, matted and rustic brown frame to 8x10, $125.  At Seagreen Gallery in Nags Head, NC.

Osprey with Fish (aerodynamics)

I drive the Manteo-Nags Head bridge and causeway quite alot and often see the Osprey out fishing. I love to watch them after they catch a fish. They give their wings a good shake in mid-flight to get the water off and then turn the fish around so that it's nose is pointing forward (sort of fish aerodynamics for birds) the better to fly with. I was quite amused and then protective of a particular osprey one day who caught a fish that was a little too large for transport and had to stop and rest in the turn lane (also know by Outer Bankers as "the death lane" since so many accidents happen there). I didn't want him to get run over so I stopped my car in front of him while he caught his breath, enough to take off and soar at low elevation (just over the traffic, phew!) til he reached the roof of a gazebo to have lunch (and dinner and breakfast by the size of it). So here is my "fish for dinner too" painting. 7x5 soft pastel on Mi-Tientes, matted and real weathered barnwood frame $125. At Seagreen Gallery in Nags Head, NC.

Goose Yoga

My dad always used to correct me when I would say "Canadian Geese." He would say, "Now these are not geese with passports from Canada (since we lived one lake over from that country), these are Canada Geese, meaning they originate from there." And boy, they do! Like majorly! They are pretty much everywhere now, so if you want to study wildlife, all you have to do is go to the nearest retention pond or golf course. They are even seen swimming around at the local drug store pond. I like to watch them take their little baths because one goose always watches out and the rest have at it, preening and stretching, even doing this great yoga warrior pose, or whichever pose that is. This is soft pastel on Mi-Tientes paper, 5 x 7, matted and framed to 8 x 10, $125. Before I framed this I made some changes to his neck, making it more curved. If you are interested in this piece I can email a current photo of it.

Winter Rest

It was very foggy one day this spring and I spent some time wandering around the Banks taking photos. This poor little sailboat has had a rough life and I have photographed it in various states of repose. Part of winter it spent heeled over on its side out of the water. Here at least it is afloat but it is still at rest for the winter, hence the title. I am experimenting with surfaces. This is a prepared panel from Dick Blick. It is about 1/4" thick and I taped the sides so that when the painting was finished I could remove the tape and wouldn't need a frame. It also came with a hanger groove which I forgot about and painted upside down. Oh well. But I will attach a sawtooth when it is dry. This is an oil, 8 x 10, masonite panel, gallery 3/4" frame, $125.

Smith Island

Here is a nice little watercolor that I just finished while waiting for Hurricane Irene. This is from a photo by a photographer friend who knows how much I love old docks and old wooden boats. It was somewhere near Wanchese in the 50's as you can see Bodie Island Light in the background. In the old days, fishing boats were many different colors, essentially whatever color was laying around. This one is a nice carribbean blue. Don't know what it really was because the photo was black and white. According to my calculations, after looking at an old map, this might have been Smith Island. Not sure, but it sounds good. 8 x 5 matted to 12 x 9, framed, $125. The original is signed in the right hand corner. At Seagreen Gallery in Nags Head, NC.