Stuffed....

Hey folks, nothing to debate right now in my mind, but i did want to take a few minutes of your time to say how appreciative I am to have so many followers! This Blog has tripled in yall's traffic over the past year! I can only think yall for keeping coming back to my site.

I hope yall are having a very thankful Thanksgiving weekend. For me, it's been a very relaxed and low key weekend. A great old painting friend came down to throw some paint with me. Even though I have mainly stayed inside while painting, he has stepped out and gotten in a couple paintings in between brief trips inside to warm by the fire. I salut him for braving the cold, but clear days.

It has been way to long since posting some recent images here. That is not to say that I have not put down the brush! I'm still painting nearly daily and have painted on some bigger sized canvas's. Those are alot of fun just for the sake of getting "INto" the larger pieces and spending more time on them.

Well, anywho, here are some of the paintings, Enjoy!

Accepting your Subject's

Hi Folks, I am following up with you tonight because I often come across info on the web and it forces me to think and dwell on issues and how paintings come to being. So often I come across these findings and makes me question and question why don't i post them on my blog to possibly stir up the blog and hopefully get a reaction from you guys. Maybe this will work....lol

Here is something I've been thinking about lately, “As you grow older, it dawns on you that you are yourself – that your job is not to force yourself into a style but to do what you want. I saw that if I would accept subjects, I could paint with more absorption, with a certain enthusiasm for the subject which would allow some of the esthetic qualities such as color and composition to evolve more naturally.”

What I take from this statement is this..... There are paintings that I go after that AAAH HAH moments and purely put down color. Those paintings are so much fun and easy to convey because you have that scene right in front of you. It's all spelled out. Then there are painting's that are for study...those scenes where you are there to study why this scene has wound up on your panel. This is why studies are so important. You are studying a scene to get answers, if you can answer that scene then you painted it dead on, if you are unable to answer all the questions and then your painting suffers, it's as simple as that.

So I pose to all of you this question. I'd love to hear back on your thought's about the previous statement. I for one do think in my opinion it is good to step back from doing that AH HAH scene and going with just what is in front of my right at that moment. These times often are the times that make you the best at what you do. You are forced to annalyze the scene in a whole different point of view because you are not going for an AH HAH moment. you have to get down to the brass tax of why you are painting. It's interesting to do these painting's for the mere fact of painting and finding out why you are painting that scene. Great things come from these subjects even if you never noticed.

here are 2 paintings that I'll post here.
One's from an AHH HA moment, and one's from a study for study perspective. Which one sings to you?

One Man Show over At Jack Richardson's Gallery this Friday!

Just a quick note, and sorry for not posting much lately, but I've been so busy that I haven't had time to even sit and think.

I am having an opening at Jack Richardson's Gallery in Onancock, Va
I visited his gallery back in July on my way to Easton, Md. and he saw what I produced and asked if I would show some paintings there this fall. Needless to say I am happy to oblige. There will be a reception at his gallery in Onancock this friday from 6=9 so please come out and support the arts!!
here's a bunch of paintings from the easel lately. Enjoy!
Tom

Williamsburg Celebrates Plein air painting

This Saturday, Sept 21st, there will be a Quick Draw in Colonial Williamsburg on "Dog Street" (Merchants Square) that will take place from 10am until 5 pm. I am happy to say that I have been invited to this wonderful event. Along with the Quick Draw, over the past couple of weeks, the month of September, the invited artist have been painting the area. Those paintings will hang in the Bruton Parish Church Hall, 331 Duke of Glouchester St, for viewing.
So come on out tomorrow morning and watch an artist doing what he loves to do!
here are my paintings of the area that will be on view at Bruton Parish Church Hall

Season's Change

Hi Folks,
Fall is in the air! My favorite time of year, maybe I said that in the spring, or maybe even in the summer, but fall really is a painters dream. Colors are popping just around the corner. In a couple of wks, I'll be off to painters paradice. That means, I can set up office around any bend in the road, any old barn that I see, and any swamp or lake that I pass by.... Mother nature just begs to be seen and understood. I think painters are the most a-tuned to her power as far as,business people go. What I mean here is, we interpret her. We have to read what she gives us, interpret her givings, and try to make a painting out of it. She is perfect in all that she throws at us. She never rest, and she forces us to keep focused and goal oriented. The time is near, get your gear, rear your head, put the lead down, and get out there!!

Pre Fall preparations....including the bug spray

Hi Folks,
I am just taking a small chance to write on my blog tonight after a couple of wks of painting, a plein air exhibit (plein air 757) and the very next week preparations for my opening reception at Blue Skies Gallery. All this has happened so fast that I have not even had much time to recollect on my paintings that have come across my brush. I try to approach each painting differently from the one before, but still keeping the things I learned from the last painting fresh in my mind. This keeps everything fresh and free aspect about my work. I often look at some of my work and note to myself that one works, one doesn't or it doesnt have feeling with in itself. I do not like to put work out there that doesn't have it's own presence, so it usually get's covered up or painted over. I try to paint daily and even those that do not make the cut, it's still an opportunity to paint and it's still brush mileage. The result might not be up to par, but I usually do notice things to change and the process of change is recognized. Whether that sticks for the next painting? That remains to be seen in every case...

Well, here are a few paintings that have been painted over the past couple of wks. Hope you enjoy!
Tom

Easton follow.....An Update

Hi folks.
This past week has been a change from last wk's crazy paint fest up in a beautiful town of Easton,MD. If you have been a follower of this blog you are aware of my anticipation for this event. I will post some photo's of paintings done and I think I have photo's of 2 that have found new homes. All in all, Easton was a huge success with 2 new homes that my work now reside in! Meeting new collectors is always a joy and coming to a union with someone who doesn't paint is always a special bond. After having a relaxing and well deserved painting break it is time to start to prepare for the next one! Yes, Plein Air 757 is in just a few weeks away. Augest 8-10 with a quick draw over in Cape Charles on Sunday the 11th. So much Fun!!!!
Stay tuned for more updates!

All and all I was able to meet my goals in Easton. 20 paintings in 7 days. Some days I did 2 a day, others I was able to get in 4 in one day. The days were extremely hot! but that never stops a plein air painter! Did I mention the days were HOT!?

Take care folks, hope you enjoy!
Tom

Pre- Easton warm ups...

Hey Folks,
I hope your summer is kicking and is as hot as it is here in Va. I just recently got back from a favorite spot up in Nelson County. This area is truly one of the most beautiful places in the state. All this rain we have had is helping to keep the area green. In just a few days I'm onto my next journey up to Easton, MD for plein air Easton. This event, if you hadn't heard, is the biggest Plein air event on the east cost. Over 200 artist come together for a quick draw painting that last 2 hours. Then all of the paintings go up for auction and awards. This quick draw follows over a week of painting by some of the nations 50 best artist. I am so humbled to be able to participate in such a wonderful event. I just hope I'm ready and have plenty of panels. For more information, please visit www.pleinaireaston.com

Here are a few of my recent paintings from the Hampton area, and my trip to Nelson County...
Hope to see you all at Easton