Thanks to all who came to the openings!

We had a great time in Raleigh at Adam Cave Fine Art Thursday and Friday night. Even sold a few paintings while having so much fun! The show will run through November 5.

October 3 & 4- solo show at Adam Cave Fine Art

Been a while since I've had any time to post. The last several months have been devoted to getting a show together for my return to Raleigh, NC. I'll have 14 new  pieces at Adam Cave Fine Art for the first Friday. It'll run from October 3- November 5. Here are a few paintings that will be there. Come by if you are in the area. We will have a preview opening on Thursday night 6-8pm, and then 6-9pm on Friday night. 

Cannon's fish, crabs, and shrimp 24x36"

A Portsmouth Place 18x24"

Core Banks Kitchen 20x24"

A Pivers Island Morning 18x24"

Ronin Can 24x36"- my favorite!

Should call this the Phoenix or el gato

Ever totally kill a painting and then attempt to resurrect it? This is it! Destroyed and rebuilt this one more times than I care to think about... Thus "the cat" ( with his 9 lives),or Phoenix as a title- hope I am nearing a finish! The painting will let me know, more to come soon. We are only a little more than a month out from my first show at Adam Cave Fine Art in Raleigh!! 

Studio diversion

Taking a break from boats- doing a little still life of studio "junk"

Pumps and Pier #2

In looking at this painting, I realized I was focusing on too many things, and have begun to repaint, playing subordinate areas down while reinforcing my focal points. Will get better pic tomorrow, once I'm back in the studio. But you can get the gist of what I'm doing. Painting is all about sacrifice- more on that later.

Getting there, Pumps and Pier #2, a slightly diff view

Slow and steady wins the race. This is the point when painting sometimes feels like work. The pressure to realize your vision and not screw up what you've already struggled to achieve. A lot more looking and a lot less painting.

South River 24x36"

Continuing to refine my South River painting, based on a painting I did in 2008. 

24x36" backlit drawbridge Morehead City

This one is very close to finished. Want to keep an active surface, creating a shimmering, temporary, visual effect- unless you are walking the high rise bridge between Morehead and Radio Island, a person would only see that view for a second. 

Continuing pumps and pier#2

Slowly taking shape, I am beginning to push and pull on the painted space, figuring out proper values and beginning to find edges. I see this painting as being about the light as it slides off of the roof, onto the focus (the pumps), and then around to the boat and to the back, where it will set off the pilings and shape of the fish house. I think I will do a little more planning on my next several paintings! I've started 5 in the non- drawing manner, and have yet to finish one... Lots of gnashing teeth and rending of clothing, but they'll come together- hopefully in time for the next show! Stay tuned. JC

Another 24x36" start

It's taking shape

Another painting in progress- pivers island

I am using a limited earth palette for this piece. I began by just scrubbing in approximate blocks of color- then its all about the battle to refine shapes until the image emerges. The no drawing approach is a nice change from my usual start, which is at least getting general outlines with diluted burnt sienna or blue.

Work in progress- 24x36" Radio Island

This painting continues to be worked up from a watercolor I did last week. The focal point will be the building in the middle ground, with a path of light moving the eye around the composition. Will probably be a painting in the show coming up in October at Adam Cave Fine  Art in Raleigh.

Painting in progress- 24x36" port rail bridge

Thought it would be fun to show how I begin some paintings. This is from a pic I took off of the high bridge between Morehead City and Beaufort. 

Trying out mobile blogging app

Doing a large painting in studio from on site watercolor. Testing out this mobile app for my blog. Hope it'll allow me to post more. More to come soon!

Carteret Contemporary Art Show, Beaufort Home Tour a success- Back to work

Thanks so much to all that came by the studio and went to Carteret Contemporary to see the show with Kevin Aita.  Next event, October- and a solo show at Adam Cave Fine Art, on the horizon.

 I've been back working on my watercolors over the past week, but something just hasn't felt right. I realized paper is very important in creating a watercolor! After completing 5 or 6 paintings that I was unhappy with, using an Arches paper (not the block), I went back and got the Strathmore Windpower pad I am used to. This particular Arches seems to be too absorbent, but is a great weight. It is also rough! Don't get me wrong, I use a block that is tremendous, just can't figure out this one. I guess I prefer what I've grown accustomed to. Hope that solves it, we'll know the next session...

Here are a few... sinky inny ones. 2 site pieces and 2 done while hanging with my new artist son, Ollie.

And here is what he is doing... Scott Wood "sharing" the ball with CJ Leslie(who prob wishes he was still at NCSU)- who is 

dunking over a Tar Heel.  GO STATE!

Carteret Contemporary Art- June 15- July 4

The opening Saturday night went well, liked hanging with Kevin Aita and his family. Here are a few more form the show.

Old Salt 12x12"

The Strong, Silent Type 18x24"

Charlotte Industrial area

A Pivers Island Pit Stop 24x36"

The King and I 24x36"

Carcassonne, France 18x24" 

Smoky Exit 30x40"

Next event, Beaufort Home and Garden Tours- June 27,28 (last weekend in June). I'll be in the studio and selling prints, cards, originals. See you then!

Atlantic Afternoon- painting as it was in progress.

watercolor sketch

This painting was so big, I did a detailed drawing on the linen as a guide to keep me on track. 

Yardstick for scale.

Also note the day passing behind the painting. Entire block in done in around 7 hours. Big brushes, lots of paint... Then weeks of tweaking!

Here are some progress pics I took while doing one of the large paintings earlier this Spring. From sketch to block-in.

Hospital Commissions

Around March and April, I had a project painting 2 pieces to go in a hospital somewhere in NC. Each painting was 48x75" Certainly the largest paintings to date for me. Here are the final pics. I look to show the progression of one in a future post.

Atlantic Afternoon 48x75"

oil on linen

South River Sun 48x75"

oil on linen