It’s been more than a month since my trip to Hawaii ended. I’ve been painting at my regular pace but the blog is still occupied with the story of that trip that I wish to document before it dims in my memory. I was very fortunate to have the painting up top featured in Outdoor Painters weekly online newsletter. I often post on Ed Turpening’s fine Facebook page and Bob Barr, who is an OP editor noticed this and asked me if he could use it. Yes…Yes, of course. My fifteen minutes of fame commenced and dissipated rather quickly but was nice while it happened. Thanks to Bob and OP for all the attention.
It’s painted at my old haunt Mountain Park and called Height of the Season. A wonderful day in the sunlight —about the last I’ve seen in month. At 12 x15″, it’s a strange size that will cost me when it comes to framing. But it was a bit of triumph in it’s paint quality and color. Lots of action on Facebook and Ed’s page made me hope I was on to something. But as is the way with most glory it was fleeting and I have not had as much success since. My rational for this burst of talent was a reaction to all the blue in Hawaii with an opposite orange counteraction. Sounds good, and is as good an explanation as any.
The next weekend I was up in Helen to check on the Wurl Estate. I got up in the afternoon late but had time to set up near in Sautee for this view towards the misty north GA mountains. Cows, barn, old Chevy truck, mountains…this has it all! Sunday I explored Smithgall Woods. It’s the home of Duke’s Creek a top ten trout stream. It poured all day but I set up under an overhang for this rather dismal view of the bridge that crosses the creek. I saw huge fish under this bridge and met a few anglers that told me stories that I could only believe after seeing the fish myself.
Vickery Creek and Sope Creek were the victims the next weekend. Anything with water is an attraction to me—might be something that will take some therapy but for now I’m going with the flow! My thought process was that the water near is good for the trees and extends the color a bit. The 12 x 24″ (my new favorite format) rocks and rolls along while Sope Creek with it’s Civil War ruins and late afternoon light is certainly more placid.
Still a bit like Fall a few weeks back and I spent the day exploring the Chattahoochee below 285 right here in Atlanta. I was pleasantly surprised with a few of the parks I visited. I caught this rather Halloween colored view called November on the River above on another 12 x15. I followed it up this weekend with another 12 x24 view of the river from Paces Mill Park just about a mile south. This took two days to finish because the first day I forgot my paint and ended up using what was left in my box—red, ocher and white. So Sunday, the first of December I went back with a full compliment. No sun is the only excuse I will give you for this rater dull view. I was encouraged by the figure which was done with just a few stokes. It looks like it’s stick painting from hear on out till spring.
