SALON INTERNATIONAL

My frame from King of Frame for "Grand View"
came today. So I will be shipping my painting to Greenhouse
Gallery for the Salon International show tomorrow.

















"Grand View" 24" x 30" oil/linen

The number one challenge for plein air painters
is to maintain the bravado application of paint in larger
studio pieces. The painting above is 24" x 30" and for most
painters is not all that large, but for me it is a fairly big
jump from my usual 9" x 12" format.

I'm glad to say that I went into this painting with the goal of
keeping it fresh and lively throughout. I worked really hard
at making my painting decisions quickly and approached
each segment of the painting as a plein air piece. The
result is exactly what I have been searching for ...a
studio painting as fresh as a plein air painting.

WORSHOP COMING UP IN MAY

I will be teaching a four-day plein air workshop
May 4-7 at Wenmohs Ranch in the heart of
the Texas Hill Country. The class is for beginner to
intermediate painters with an interest
in the challenges of painting outdoors.

There will be a demo every day and plenty of
one-on-one instruction. For more information
go to http://www.wenmohsranch.com/art_retreats.htm

PAINTING OUTDOORS BRINGS FRIENDS TOGETHER

Last weekend I had the pleasure of painting
with Jane Hurd from New York. I've known
Jane for over 30 years. Many of you may not
know that I am a Certified Medical Illustrator, which
is a highly technical form of illustration requiring
a Masters degree and training right alongside the
medical school students in gross anatomy
(including human dissection), embryology,
pathology and all things medical.

I've known Jane through the years by way of our
membership in the Association of Medical Illustrators
of which she is the current president. She was in town
conducting official AMI business but took some time
to join me for a morning of painting.

Below is my painting of barn near my home.
















"Broken Door" 12" x 16" oil/linen plein air

6" SQUARED EXHBITION AND SALE

I painted three entries for the 6" Squared exhibition and sales at the Randy Higbee Gallery in California. This will be my first time to enter the competition. Painting on a 6" x 6" panel was quite the challenge and a little different, but I had fun with it.





















"Sheep-n-Hay" 6" x 6" oil/linen





















"San Jose Arches" 6" x 6" oil/linen

I've actually wanted to paint the arches of
Mission San Jose in San Antonio for quite some time
so this gave me the perfect opportunity to do a
small study before I tackle a larger version.






















"Canyon D" 6" x 6" oil/linen


I really don't need much of an excuse to
paint something from Canyon De Chelly.
I'm off to submit the entries online. If you have
a chance, check out the paintings Michael Godfrey
has done for this show. He is amazing.

PAINTING DONATION RAISES $5,000

"Tarpon Inn" 10" x 20" oil/linen

My painting of the historic Tarpon Inn
in Port Aransas, TX sold for $5,000 and
helped raise valuable money for the new museum.

The Tarpon Inn was built in 1886 and served
as barricks for Union soldiers during the
Civil War. It was later turned into an inn that
served has the hub for major fishing tournaments
for decades and survived five hurricanes in the process.

I originally had the painting in the gallery. Gallery
owners Rick and Cameron Pratt are longtime
residents of Port Aransas and heavily involved with
the museum so when Cameron asked for a donation
it seemed only fitting that a painting of one of the island's
most historic buildings be donated. I am so happy
the painting raised so much money.