"Garden by a Fence in Old Salem" (in four stages)

This time I forgot to take a picture of my sketch on the canvas.  However, I'm posting the next four stages of creating this painting.  I begin again by posting the completed painting first.  I really got caught-up in the details of the fence and garden plants. (Quite opposite from my sometimes very impressionistic renderings!)

                                          32" X 18"
                                          oil on canvas
                                          SOLD

At this stage I'm pretty well along with having everything layed-in with local color and have started detailing the most distant trees:

Here I'm beginning to paint-in local color in the darkest areas:

I've covered the whole canvas with a value study/under painting (in acrylic) and established the composition:

"Sims Creek" (in five stages)

Scroll down to see the stages (in reverse order) of my process in creating this painting.  I actually remembered to take pictures! I don't always create a painting in this same manor.
Sims Creek flows through Julian Price Park located on the Blue Ridge Parkway here in North Carolina.

First the completed painting:

                                          30" X 30"
                                          oil on canvas

Just one painting session before the completed painting:

Continuing to develop the lights,darks and local color:

Beginning to lay in the lights/darks and local color:

Laying out the composition in charcoal:

"At Rest in Paradise"

                                          20" x 16 "
                                          oil on canvas
                     
  This deserted old barn resides in our lovely Blue Ridge Mountains.  What a beautiful setting to "age in place".

"Iris for Carla"

                                                    12" x16"
                                                    oil on canvas
                                                    SOLD
I painted this for a dear friend of mine.  She's a lovely lady who shares her love and kindnesses with me (and others) in so many ways.  You'd never know her favorite color is purple!  I have several varieties of Iris growing in my garden-none just like these.  I gave them the colors just to suit my wishes for this painting.  This is the first oil painting that I have done in quite some time.  Presently, I find myself immersed in using this medium for who knows how long.  More oil paintings in various subjects to follow in coming posts.

"Euonymus in Winter"

                                          30" x30"
                                          acrylic on canvas

                                         winter's red surprise
                                         silhouettes against the sky
                                         can you hear the snow 

                                         

"Holly Days"

                                          30" x 30"
                                          acrylic on canvas

                                          season's red and green
                                          celebrations of good cheer
                                          peace and love abound

                                          
                           

"Walking through the Woods"

                                         

 Here's a project that I worked on this past fall.  It took me three months to complete.  These three panels now hang in "Willingham Court" a dining area at Arbor Acres Retirement Community.  My concept for these was to present the image in a way that would evoke the way that oriental paintings are mounted on silk panels.  Of course my images are not at all oriental in style,  however I painted the borders to resemble patterns that might be woven in silk.  The over all decor of this court has an oriental flair in fabric patterns used along with beautiful interior landscape plantings and architectural features.

Each Panel:
                                                   Left: 48" X 72" acrylic on canvas

                                       
                                          Center: 72" X 72" acrylic on canvas
                                               

                                                   Right: 48" X 72" acrylic on canvas                          

SOLD

"Gothic Garden Arch"

                                          roses on a wall
                                          sweet intoxicating scent
                                          up this garden path

                                          36" X 36"
                                          acrylic on canvas
 
http://www.journalnow.com/relishnow/the_arts/visual_arts/nature-has-inspired-artist-for-decades/article_8a6c655b-9ec5-

"Springtime Overlook"

                                          white columned arbor
                                          quiet place to see the view
                                          colorful spring day

                                          36" x36"
                                          acrylic on canvas

"Airlie Gardens Arbor"

Here's my second completed painting for the "Arbor Room".  I chose an arbor that is located within the lovely "Airlie Gardens" in Wilmington, NC.  The beauty of place along with it's rich history (https://www.ourstate.com/airlie-gardens-wilmington/) make this one of the most intriguing gardens to visit in our state.  It is very "Old South" with plantings of azaleas, camelias, wisteria, live oaks, and seasonal annuals typical in this southeastern region of the US. 

                                         Completed painting:

                                          48" x 48"
                                          acrylic on canvas
                                          SOLD

                                          mid-stage of painting

                                          first stage of painting showing tonal underpainting