"Bob's Gun Shop III" 12x16 oil on board nocturne plein air
/As I was painting this a guy walked by and said, "I just got into Norfolk two days ago and I didn't like anything about it, until now, seeing you paint that. Now, I like Norfolk!".
Night & Day Plein Air Painting in Norfolk's Ghent District
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Spent a lot of time painting this weekend. Friday night, I was back at the Naro painting a nocturnal plein air. This time for the Jerry's Artarama Plein Air contest. I got out late and started painting around 11pm and didn't finish till after 2 am. I met some cool people, handed out all my business cards. Bernard came by to film me a little before heading home after his own nocturnal plein air adventure. And despite being outside, the amount of smoke and alcohol eeking out of the surrounding bars was strong. Norfolk still knows how to party, I guess. Saturday was tough, I slept hard but managed to get out to the Norfolk Academy Art Exhibit, (I'll have to enter that next year). Sunday got me going to paint out around 1pm, (later than I wanted to). Although there were just as many people walking about, something about quiet sunny days that keep people from approaching. Honestly, I felt almost invisible at times. Until I met Larry, who gave me a glimpse of what it is like to have no one understand you or even try. I feel for folks like Larry. A few artists stopped by to ask about my Easy-L Versa easel and see how my painting was coming along. In all, it was a good day. Then it got better when my friend Kevin told me my Naro painting won a $100.00 at Jerry's. I'll burn through that in a week, I'm sure. Last, but not least, I'll address the fantasy that every business card you give out will be kept and cherished in somebody's purse or wallet. Nice thought. Now take a look at the last picture at the bottom. Yup, that's my card. A friend took a pic of it in the hallway of her apt. building after she found it. Only a few hours old and it was already soaked in beer & cigarettes, laying stranded on the floor.
Recent Plein Air Paintings
/Saturday night had me painting the NARO Theatre in Norfolk. Was a great time painting despite the hard orange glow overpowering my easel lights. Met a lot of great people. Especially one guy that I discovered that we had a lot in common. We had a great talk about failures and how we move on to overcome those failures and turn them into life lessons. My fellow artist Walt came by to say "hi!". It was a cold night, but I had great time.
Sunday morning had me painting the Fairground Coffee House in Ghent Norfolk. It was a good session and met some new people and saw a friend there too. A really cool guy named Loftus was kind enough to take some pics since my phone died.
Steam Train Chasing in Norfolk.
/Norfolk Southern had a steam train visit Norfolk for the day. I spent half the day chasing it down for photos.
"Little Creek Engine" Painting
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My latest train painting is available. Defunct Eastern Shore line Engine based in Little Creek Norfolk, VA. One of my favorite places to paint. Oil on masonite, 11x14inches.
Off to start on another Night Train painting!
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As I started this, I felt I had got a good composition down, despite this being only 8x10 inches. I can't wait to throw down some colors on this. Masonite gessoed, Paynes Grey wash. I wish the Norfolk Southern railway ran all the way through the beach like it used to when I was a kid.
My Afternoon Sketch
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So I'm trying my hand at using charcoal on newsprint to do some building studies. Moleskines are awesome, but it was a nice day and I was up for a 25 min challenge. Buildings are tough. But the cop was really cool, so I added him into the scene. I'm looking forward to nicer days when drawing this big will be really nice. The wind was the trickiest part. Next time I'll bring tape and a board. MacArthur Memorial, Norfolk, Va.
The Dishwasher at Cogans
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If you have ever had the opportunity to be a dishwasher at a restaurant, you know what a thankless job it is. It's down there ( I say "down" because nothing is positive about being a dishwasher ) with sewage cleaner and pooper scooping. The place I worked at in 92' was just as crappy. The floors were literally underwater in my work area. My feet began to suffer from 8 hours of submersion in dishwater muck, I jest you not. But worst of all, was the fact that the waiters would snatch the silverware before I could wash it. Despite my protests, they would give it a quick rinse and fold it back into the napkins to go back on the table. Needless to say, I began to eat somewhere else for my dinner break. Fear not, patrons of restaurants, the establishment I speak of has been laid to rest. I guess the food chunks stuck to the forks wrapped in fresh napkins spoke volumes to the patron. I hope the guy I drew got to settle down to a fresh cold one and a hot slice of pizza.
Original studio painting by Doug Clarke. 24x36" oil on cradle board in black floater frame. Oversized shipping.
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