"Engine 630" 12x16 oil on canvas for the 3 man show in December.

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This is one of my new studio paintings that I'll exhibiting in the group show with Bernard Conda and Thomas Bradshaw next month.  I had a little bit of a struggle with this, as all painters do from time to time.  There's a desire to grow and yet stay true to your self.  I feel the need to loosen up, but find myself trapped in getting too tight with details.  Sometimes your head is in the game, and other times, you feel like you just don't know where to start.  I may revisit this one with a major crop to only include the engineer and the front of the train.  When I experimented with various crop sizes, it did have a different effect.  Particularly making the train seem more massive in size and mass.

Adventures in Plein Air Painting.

One of my favorite plein air sessions had to be from the trailer park near Little Creek.  I had passed by this beautiful Chevy Bel Air, a 56 to be exact earlier in the fall.  Although, it was sunny when I passed by the first time, the clouds had rolled in when I set up to paint.  It was one of my first paintings after I had gotten my Easy L Versa and tripod.  If you look closely enough you can see I have hardly any paint on the easel back board.  The locals drove by and seemed to appreciate it.  What I didn't expect was the trailer park management to drive by and start asking if I had a permit.  "What? A permit for what? To paint? Duh, no." I thought.  But I was polite and explained the whole reason I was there was to paint the classic car.  Then I turned the easel around to show her the progress.  That seemed to impress her enough to let me get back to painting.  Sometimes it's better to set up and paint and then let things play out if someone is curious enough to ask what I'm doing there.  Hopefully by then the painting has gotten far enough that I can show my efforts and can see I'm serious about painting.   

6 Squared Painting at the Randy Higbee Gallery!

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With everything else going on, I managed to eek out a painting for the Randy Higbee 6 Squared Exhibition, and got it in.  I was stressed to get the paint to dry before sending it off.  That is one of the short comings of oil is dry time, but most of the times, I'm not on a shipping deadline.  It really does make me wonder how Lyendecker and Rockwell made the Saturday Evening Post deadlines with the shipping of the work.  I've heard of horror stories of other artists trying to get their oils to dry in time, but craziest one is when an artist (Whom will remain nameless), tried putting his oil painting in the oven at a low temperature.  I wrote to him after reading about it and he was quick to say it was a BAD, BAD, BAD IDEA!  So, the only real solution I've read and have been told by illustrators is Crystal Clear by Krylon.  I did this to some of my paintings back when I was illustrating, but quickly gave up on it because of the nasty smell it leaves behind for a few days.  Surprisingly, I haven't noticed any change of color to the paintings I still have from over 10 years ago.  Conservators will say it is not good to do this, and I agree.  Better to let it dry naturally and then add varnish after the appropriate time. 

Olmsted Plein Air Invitational

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Next spring, I'll be attending the Olmsted Plein Air Invitational in Atlanta, Georgia.  At the time of getting the invitation from Andy Hall, he explained this was their first year.  I forgot to post this awesome palette they sent me earlier.  Recently, I looked at the roster of the other artist attending.  "Whoa!", I said to myself as I saw a who's who of plein air painters also invited.  Needless to say, another cool thing I saw was several artists that I had the pleasure of making friends with at Easton this past summer.  My next thought was to look at the terrain of the park.  The park was designed by Frederic Law Olmsted, who also designed NYC Central Park, (I instantly flashed back to the movie, "The Park Is Mine", starring Tommy Lee Jones).  When I got to the park map legend, there were several diagrams of trees and what? Alligators? For a brief moment the thought popped up I might be painting alongside a pond and out of nowhere an alligator would lurch out at me.  My wife, who was over looking with me at the computer, said, "The gator is a work vehicle".  Duh, I'm such a dunce!  So now, I began to think, I'm a train guy, I paint structures, vehicles and buildings.  Not many trees.  It became very clear that I was really going to need to study and learn how to paint trees and vegetation much better than I currently do.  So, after I get my current painting done, (another train), it's off to paint and study trees and other plant life!  Also, it's a indication to me that I need to finish the John Carlson book I started, but haven't finished yet.

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"A Trio of Artists" group exhibition including the works of Bernard Conda, Thomas Bradshaw and Doug Clarke.

I have the distinct honor of showing with two other great Virginian Artists, Bernard Conda and Thomas Bradshaw and I will have our paintings on display.  This exhibition will at the Rawls Gallery in Courtland, Virginia.  I am really excited about this show, as Bernard and I have painted around a lot of places on the weekends.  Some of them very cold, others pretty hot.  He is a phenomenal figure painter and I knew that he would do amazing work in plein air once I convinced him on the virtues of outdoor painting.  Somehow, I have even managed to end up in his paintings as part of the subject matter, (see below in the blue jacket).  Tom and I met through local plein air events and have both made it into the prestigious Plein Air Easton, the biggest competition in the world for plein air painting.  He gets out to paint regularly and teaches workshops as well.  This is going to be one amazing show and I hope that you have a chance to make it out to the opening reception!

Show opens Dec. 12, 2014.
Rawls Museum Arts
22376 Linden Street
Courtland, Virginia 23837
(757) 653-0754

Bernard Conda

Thomas Bradshaw

Doug Clarke

 

"Pittsburgh Street Light" . -

I’m thinking that this might be my entry for the Higbee 6x6 gallery exhibition. I missed last years event, and I really regretted not getting a painting submitted, so I decided to belt one out last night to see what I could get. Gonna sleep on it and wake up with fresh eyes later on.

Having fun painting in Pittsburgh

If you have never been to Pittsburgh it is a fun town to paint, and the people couldn’t be nicer. I’m technically painting in the street in this photo. But despite the cars parking in front of me and behind me through out the day, the drivers and later on a police officer were all polite and understanding. How can you not love a town that appreciates artists like that?

Mount Lebanon Pleir Air Invitational Exhibition part 1

We got gear for us to get started!

The first artists arrive after I made it inside at the opening meeting.

David Csont and Erin Hart running the show at Mount Lebanon Plein Air 2014!

Jamming to jazz!

Getting started in Pittsburgh at the STRIP!

And the sun came out.

And then went away several times during the late afternoon, too late for me to get much in.

A Primanti Bros. roast beef and cheese drowned in french fries and slaw.

Monday morning at South 3rd St.

Second painting in the rain at South 2nd street.

Rain be damned I finished it!

David Csont shows off his pairing demo.

My trip so far on this journey has been awesome!  I've met some new artists and some from Plein Air Easton.  The weather on the first day was gray and over cast.  Only when I was finished did the sun come out.  Monday, proved to be epic and full of brilliant morning light.  I wish had more time to take pics, but I wanted to get a jump on the first painting.  The second painting was just plain challenging.  The clouds came back and brought torrential showers, but I was determined to paint thru it as long as the wind didn't blow too hard.  Luck prevailed and I left feeling good at accomplishing a painting thru heavy rain.

Rusty Engine No.5 is for Sale in the "Urban Beauty" Exhibition!

"Rusty Engine No.5" 9x12 oil on board. FOR SALE.

"Rusty Engine No.5" is for sale during the URBAN BEAUTY show at the Randy Higbee Gallery. Oct.4th-17th. 102 Kalmus, Costa Mesa, California. Opening Reception this Saturday!

See all the work FOR SALE.

"Easton Afternoon" featured in the URBAN BEAUTY group exhibition.

"Easton Afternoon" 9x12 Oil on board.

"Easton Afternoon" is for sale during the URBAN BEAUTY show at the Randy HigbeeGallery. Oct.4th-17th. 102 Kalmus, Costa Mesa, California. Opening Reception this Saturday!

See all the work FOR SALE.

My Four Paintings in the Randy Higbee Gallery "Urban Beauty" Group Exhibition.

"Bank Noir" is for sale during the URBAN BEAUTY show at the Randy HigbeeGallery. Oct.4th-17th. 102 Kalmus, Costa Mesa, California. Opening Reception this Saturday!

See all the work FOR SALE.

Great day at Neptune Festival!

Hanging out with the 21st Art Gallery & Official Neptune Festival Booth!

The weather couldn't be better, and Cole and I had a great time meeting fellow locals.  It was a non stop signing session and even with the signed limited edition posters sold out.

Neptune Festival Poster Signing

I'll be signing posters this Saturday, Sept.27th, 2-4pm down on the boardwalk for the Neptune Festival. Come by and say hi and get your poster personalized for you or as a gift.

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2014 Neptune Festival Poster by Artist Doug Clarke

“Drum-roll please.... The Neptune Festival is excited to present the 2014 Commemorative Poster artwork! Virginia Beach artist Doug Clarke is extremely talented and created a beautiful piece.

Posters are available for purchase on our website and will be sold on Neptune Festival Boardwalk Weekend in September ”

 

More press coverage for Williamsburg Plein Air

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Doug Clarke paints a scene on Duke of Gloucester Street across from Bruton Parish Church (Hannah S. Ostroff/WYDaily)

Plein Air Painters Capture the Sights Along Duke of Gloucester Street

As children, tourists and dogs bounded down Duke of Gloucester Street on Saturday, a dozen artists took in the scene not through the lens of a camera, but through the touch of paintbrush to paper.

For the fourth annual Plein Air Show, presented by Williamsburg Celebrates as part of Williamsburg Fall Arts, painters took to the street to create works of art. They could paint en plein air — French for “in the open air” — prior to the event and display their pieces at a festival tent, or set up an easel at 7 a.m. Saturday and work until the 3 p.m. judging for cash prizes.

Doug Clarke, a painter from Virginia Beach, loves taking his work outdoors. Painting outside combines pleasure and training for him, as he fights the challenge of changing light and gradually shifting landscapes.

“It’s like drag racing with paint to some degree,” Clarke said.

When he started his “Williamsburg Morning,” the sun was barely peeking from behind the gardens across from Bruton Parish Church. By mid-morning, it was beating overhead from an azure sky.

Clarke said he does not aim for the precision of a photograph, but rather tries to capture the essence of a setting in his art. It is a vision that won him first place and a $1,500 cash prize at the end of the day.

Kay Krapfl, painting in the gardens off Duke of Gloucester Street a block away, said painting outside adds an element to art that cannot be created when working from a still snapshot.

“When you copy from a photograph, it loses its depth and feeling,” she said.

She will paint from a photo in the winter, but as soon as the weather gets warm, she longs to be creating outside.

This is her second year participating in Williamsburg Celebrates’ event and — a lover of impressionist painters of nature — she chose her spot for its colorful flowers.

Artist Ginny Fisher scoped out a location prior to setting up her easel Saturday morning. Tucked in the garden behind the plant shop on Duke of Gloucester Street, she wanted to depict the shadows and intricacies of a wheelbarrow, pots and bricks.

She hoped the little details would spark a connection with a viewer, bringing a smile to someone’s face who remembers the old farm of a relative.

“Picket fences – it means home,” Fisher said of her paintings background.

She appreciated the Plein Air Show was tied with the Contemporary Artisans Show in tents up Duke of Gloucester Street, just off Merchants Square. While she painted in a quieter spot away from the heavy foot traffic at the show, Fisher said the two events gave artists a platform for connecting with the community.

All proceeds from the event went to Housing Partnerships Inc., a nonprofit that serves the Historic Triangle with emergency home repairs and installation of indoor plumbing.

Also earning honors for their painting of the day were Bob Carlson, in second place for his piece of the Robert Carter House, and Bob Oller winning third place for “Pomegranate Garden.” They received $1,000 and $500 respectively.

http://wydaily.com/2014/09/22/plein-air-painters-capture-the-sights-along-duke-of-gloucester-street?cat=localnews%2Fneighbors%2F&pid=927

Williamsburg Plein Air

Had a great time at the Williamsburg Plein Air. The morning light was incredible! Met new painters from Yorktown and Williamsburg as well. Ended the day with a sale and first place! Looking forward to next years event!

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Just about done!

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Before framing

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Just set up!

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Some of the local media showed up.

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Sold and First Prize!

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Here with Michele DeWitt

Bank Noir

"Bank Noir" 9x12 oil on canvas - available. I approached this very differently than my other paintings. Some what of a frustrating experience due to the frequent wipe aways and rebuilding the painting. Not sure how I feel about it yet, but it's done. Definitely learned a lot thru the process of this piece.

Afternoon Trolley 12x16 oil on board

This was a fun painting based from my travels to San Francisco.

Cavite Sunday Morning 9x12 oil on board - Available

All my paintings that I completed during the Plein Air Easton 2014 Competition.

Easton was an amazing experience to say the least.  Where else do you get paint so many different locations alongside so many amazing painters?  I got to meet plein air greats, such as Nancy Tankersley, Stewart White, Eleinne Basa, Greg LaRock, Charlie Hunter, Ken DeWaard and John Michael Carter, talk shop and learn about them as people.  I also met new painters that I had never really knew before, but was blown away by their work, Zufar Bikbov, Za Vue, Jason Csont.  I think one piece of advice that Ken DeWaard helped the most, which was to just not waste too much time driving around looking for the perfect place to paint.  He was right, there were more than enough things to cover.  The people of Easton were more than gracious in allowing me to get anywhere I needed to go or paint.  From backyards to boatyards and docks, I had carte blanch all by just politely asking.  If I were to give advice to anyone new to Easton, it would include the following.  

1. Be ready to paint as much as possible.  
2. Second, ask before going on any private property, chances are they will say yes.
3. Bring your gear and have back ups boards, brushes, paint, etc. ESPECIALLY an extra easel.  I almost never lose things, but for some reason I lost brushes, paints, sunglasses, even my wedding ring (don't fret, it was my non-gold ring as I found out after getting married that I am allergic to gold).
4. Business cards and event info to give out to passersby.
5. There are a lot of artists that have been doing these events for years, they have a lot of experience to share, it's best to listen to any advice given.
6. Paint what you know.  Your passion to the subject will show through.  There is the temptation to paint what you think what will be an easy sell, I urge you to resist that temptation and be true to yourself as an artist.  If it doesn't sell there, you'll find a buyer for it else where.  
7. Have a lunch box cooler bag to keep your water cool.  It's hot and water is not always nearby.  Heat exhaustion can steal valuable time away from painting.
8. Eat as healthy as possible.  Treat yourself like an athlete.  Would you run the 500 meter dash after eating a heavy meal of fast food?  Why do that to yourself and risk heartburn or other things while spending an extended time out doors exposed to variable conditions of sun, heat, rain and wind?
9. Power naps can work wonders, even 20 minutes.  I used this while staying up all night nocturne plein air painting to get me back out to paint during the day.
10. Bring an umbrella for shade and light rain. Also find an alternative place to paint in case of a severe storm.  Lightning is bad, working under a metal umbrella in the middle of an open field is worse.  If you can manage, painting from inside your vehicle can help you from the elements.
11. And last, have fun!  I made some new friends that I greatly respect and admire as artists.  You will have an incredible time there, enjoy it, as it does go by fast!

During my stay in Easton, for seven days, I painted 15 paintings.  Of those, kept 14, and left one on the side of the street, abandoned in disgust.  I knew that I would churn out a stinker or two, so no love lost there.  What I didn't expect was burn out.  My stinker had begun to haunt me and I knew why.  I had a enough paintings and went out to experiment.  A bad idea.  I had desire to try the technique of other artists and was trying to incorporate several styles at once.  By expecting good things could come of this approach and becoming furious when it didn't, was unrealistic.  Yeah, I know, stupid me.  I went out that afternoon and tried to paint again and could not get myself out of the funk.  This had a psychological effect on me of not being able to put out a good painting for the two hour quick draw.  I had really psyched myself out.  So I did the best thing I could do, which was to not paint.  I traded my easel for a camera and spent that Friday afternoon checking out different places.  The next morning, I was back in "A" game mode and was happy with effort after the two hours.  Below is all the paintings I did at Easton, starting with the first painting done at Tilghman Island and ending with the 2 hour quick draw.  Plein Air Easton is an awesome event, the best in the country.  Even if you don't get juried into the main event and you have the chance to participate in the quick draw, I highly encourage you to jump in and sign up.  It's a great way to push yourself to paint in a short time period and challenge your skills.  Afterwards, then go look around and see some of the best painters in the country.  The main event winners from that week are up on display at the Avalon Gallery on South Street.  Don't forget to go upstairs to see the reserve paintings!  There you'll find a lot of inspiration and great paintings.

Recent painting commissions completed!

I'm glad these came out so well.  It's a funny thing about doing commissions.  It's much different than plein air or landscapes which the only person I really need to satisfy is myself.  Of course selling landscapes is nice, but when it comes to commissions, the painting is practically sold and the art has to live up to expectations of both parties involved.  As a result, I've become very selective on what I do take on.  That's the only way I know to keep the end result looking amazing.  If a client decides to become a "co-pilot" of the artwork instead of being the passenger, nothing good can come of it and no one will be completely satisfied. Over the years, I've learned that it is best to give the money back and move on to something more productive.  Some artists are better taking direction from others, but for the most part, listen to your gut.  If you are miserable being the hired brush for someone trying to express their artistic ideas through you, it's best to cut the cord and let them find someone else.  You'll be much happier in the long run!  If you do find someone who is willing to let you paint and express your ideas while commissioning a painting, think about charging double the amount of a painting that size.  After all, not only do you now have to satisfied with the final painting, the client does as well.