This is a timelapse video of me working on an abstract painting. This is a painting I have worked on for 5 years on and off, and I had just scraped off some paint before going back into it. It was nearly finished by the end of the video.
The painting is sold, but you’ll find prints of it HERE.
If you like this, check out more time lapse videos I made showing how I paint. There’s one HERE and one HERE.
I spent a week in July in Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Each morning, I woke up early and painted the landscape of fields, farmland, forests, earth, and sky.
Although you may be more familiar with my abstract work, painting and drawing from life are an important part of my practice as an artist. Observing the effects of light on color and shape, and translating that into paint keeps my eyes and hand sharp. These images work themselves into my abstract pieces as well – a memory of a particular color or shadow or shape – all these elements play into my abstract paintings.
Each 7.5 x 10.75 inch painting is oil on wood panel and is available for $550 including shipping to the US. $650 includes shipping anywhere else in the world.
If you’d like to purchase one of these paintings for your collection or to share with a friend, click on the images below to visit the gallery shop.
Enjoy this little stop motion video showing all the materials I bring with me for oil painting on the road. This is my pochade box, or a minimalist’s kit for painting when traveling.
Want to learn more about how to make a pochade box? Check out this blog post where I share a brief history of these little portable painting kits, how I made mine, and what I take with me on the road.
Next week I am headed to Pennsylvania Dutch Country for a week with family. During that time I will make a painting of the landscape each day. Plein Air painting, or translated from French, simply painting outside, was popularized by the 19th century Impressionists and made possible by advances in painting technology such as paint in tubes. Before this, artists ground their paint by hand and stored them in little sacks made of pig bladders!
Although you may be more familiar with my abstract work, painting and drawing from life are an important part of my practice as an artist. Observing the effects of light on color and shape, and translating that into paint keeps my eyes and hand sharp. These images work themselves into my abstract pieces as well – a memory of a particular color or shadow or shape – all these elements play into my abstract paintings.
I am offering each of these plein air paintings during a pre-sale this week July 2-8.
Each of these five artworks will be painted with oil on wood panel, 7.5 x 10.75 inches, and priced at $550. This will include taxes and free shipping to anywhere in the world. Because of oil paint’s long drying time, these paintings will be shipped in September. This way your painting will arrive in tip-top condition.
Note: After this pre-order period, shipping outside of the United States will add $100 to the price of these paintings.
If you know someone who may be interested in claiming one of these special paintings, please share this post with them.
What to see how I keep painting on the road? Here’s a little video I made to share my kit for painting in the outdoors. It’s a minimalist’s setup for oil painting when you have little space.
The Story of Antiquity Hill
I painted Antiquity Hill 2, the painting at the top of this post, in 2014. I used to ride my bike to a nearby field to paint there. It was a vast space and there were just a few houses on the land at first. I’m sure you can guess what happened as time went on. The tree line receded, more houses were built, and eventually a shopping center went up. The field disappeared. This painting is a love letter to that field.
Antiquity Hill 2 is available for purchase below:
In a few weeks I will head up to Pennsylvania Dutch Country for a week with family. During that time I plan to make a painting of the landscape each day. Plein Air painting, or translated from French, simply painting outside, was popularized by the 19th century Impressionists and made possible by advances in painting technology such as paint in tubes. Before this, artists ground their paint by hand and stored them in little sacks made of pig bladders!
Although you may be more familiar with my abstract work, painting and drawing from life are an important part of my practice as an artist. Observing the effects of light on color and shape, and translating that into paint keeps my eyes and hand sharp. These images work themselves into my abstract pieces as well – a memory of a particular color or shadow or shape – all these elements play into my abstract paintings.
As a special offer for subscribers of my Insider’s List, I am offering each of these plein air paintings during a pre-sale on June 25-July 1.
If you aren’t yet part of this group of Insiders, sign up here!
Each of these five artworks will be painted with oil on wood panel, 7.5 x 10.75 inches, and priced at $550. This will include taxes and free shipping to anywhere in the world. Because of oil paint’s long drying time, these paintings will be shipped in September. This way your painting will arrive in tip-top condition.
If you know someone who may be interested in claiming one of these special paintings, please share this message with them, and invite them to sign up to the Insider’s List.
And if you’re already on the Insider’s List, be on the lookout for a message from me on June 25th announcing the start of the pre-sale. These will be available to subscribers for one week before they go on sale to the rest of the world.
The Story of Antiquity Hill
I painted Antiquity Hill 2, the painting at the top of this post, in 2014. I used to ride my bike to a nearby field to paint there. It was a vast space and there were just a few houses on the land at first. I’m sure you can guess what happened as time went on. The tree line receded, more houses were built, and eventually a shopping center went up. The field disappeared. This painting is a love letter to that field.
Antiquity Hill 2 is available for purchase below:
On Wednesday April 25th, the Charlotte Millennial Art Program invited me to speak at Elder Gallery of Contemporary Art in Charlotte, NC. In this lecture, “Demystifying Abstraction,” I share a brief history of abstraction, talk about my painting process, inspiration, life as an artist, and why making art matters. The talk is followed by a Q&A session where we go into more detail about my education, philosophy, and where art comes from.
If you liked this, check out this video. I’ll show you how I made one of my abstract paintings.
I walk in the mornings after bringing Noah to school. I look, listen, breathe. I take in the shapes of light and shadow, the myriad greens, the pinks, violets, reds, birdsong, my favorite wind chime. I get as close as I can to birds before they fly away, try to get close enough to see their tiny chests moving with their breath. I look up at the big sky, taking in the sunlight-filled blues, the racing clouds, or the broad plush grays. My morning walks are one of my favorite parts of my day. Moving, feeling the cold or warm air on my face, thinking, sometimes even figuring things out! I take the light, shapes, colors, sounds, smells, back to my studio. I’ll keep trying to filter all of these experiences into my painting.
This morning I worked on a collection of drawings with watercolor, graphite, and ink. Here is the process sped up 4x. Enjoy!
In this video I’ll share with you what I pack in my travel painting and drawing kit. I’ll show you how to carry just a small kit for drawing, and what to add if you want to paint with watercolors. Find out what type of pens and other drawing supplies I use, as well as which particular colors and brushes are in my portable watercolor kit.
Looking for more tips for artists? Check out the blog posts below:
Good books for creative people
Timelapse showing how I pack my plein air painting kit
11 Things athletes do that will make you a better artist
Know anyone who might find this interesting? Please share it!
I made this pochade box to use for plein air oil painting over 15 years ago and it’s still going strong. To give you a bit of background, a pochade box is traditionally made of wood, has a hinged lid that acts as an easel, a storage box to hold your supplies, and holds a palette. The concept of plein air painting started in the time of the French Impressionists who painted outdoors with the help of the cutting edge tube paints that became readily available in the 19th century. Before paint in tubes, painting outdoors was unwieldy. So here we go: I’ll share with you my kit for painting outside with oil paint.
Looking for more tips for artists? Check out some of my blog posts below:
How to pack a travel watercolor and drawing kit
Timelapse showing how I pack my plein air painting kit
11 Things athletes do that will make you a better artist
Know anyone who might find this interesting? Please share it!