ANNIVERSARY PREZZIE

I did this painting as a gift for my wife Leslie on our 20th wedding anniversary last week. I tell people never ask the assistant manager at a cookie store if she gives free samples, or you may pay for them for the next 27 years.

Clancy 14 x 11" Oil on canvas

Leslie told me that she felt like a heel because she didn't get me anything. Actually, she got me a nice new studio easel, but she didn't know it at the time... I just put it together last night, and can't wait to try it out. It's a Richeson Best Classic Dulce easel, if anyone cares.

RECENT PLEIN AIR PAINTINGS

Here are some of the most recent paintings I've done out in the field. The first is in the woods behind my house. I came across this spot one morning while I was out for a walk, and made a point of coming back on Labor Day, September 3, to paint it. It was nice to just walk for 5 minutes instead of my usual "drive around for an hour until I see something I like, and can paint from the side of the road" routine.

Oak Hill 10x8"Oil

On Saturday, September 8, I filled my tank, reset my odometer, and drove around for an hour until I saw something I liked, and could paint from the side of the road... This was in Walburg, Texas.When I got home, I saw that all my meandering had put over 200 miles on my truck.

Walburg, TX 8x10" Oil

 It was such a beautiful weekend that I went out again on Sunday. This time, I stayed in my neighborhood, and painted another in field near my house. You know you live in Texas when 90° feels cool.

Legend Oaks 8x10" Oil

WATERCOLOR SKETCH BOX & CIGAR BOX POCHADE

I recently made a small watercolor box to take outside with my sketchbook during lunch. I made it out of an  older Altoids tin with a smooth top; newer ones have the name embossed on the lid. I had a bunch of tubes of Winsor & Newton watercolors at home, otherwise I would have just bought a set.  I used a section of a mini ice cube tray for the wells, chopping it off a with a Dremel tool. It's an extremely tight fit, and probably wouldn't need any glue to hold it in;  I glued it in anyway. I sprayed the lid with white appliance epoxy paint.

Altoids Tin Watercolor Box

It's a nice accompaniment for the cigar box pochade I made last year for small oil sketches. The box cost $1.00 at a local cigar shop and the palette and brush holder were made from scraps of 1/8" plywood that I had in the garage. I glued some 1/4 round molding to the palette so it snaps onto the side of the box without any screws. The brush holder is held on by a small thumbscrew with a plastic knob, and a box lid support keeps the box open if it gets windy. A 6x8" panel is held in place by a piece of spring steel from a picture frame, even when the lid is closed. A 1/4-20 nut in a small block of wood connects it to a tripod. I painted the inside of the box, and added a piece of glass for my dabs of paint. I found a small US Army map pouch at a surplus store that fits the box perfectly. It also holds a mini tripod that I got at the local Big Lots store, but that one is a bit flimsy, so I use a regular one most of the time.

Cigar Box Pochade mounted on a tripod.

This is the box I used for my pochade.

U.S. Army map pouch

Bottom of Palette

Everything but a full size tripod fits in the bag. 

PFLUGERVILLE COTTON GIN AND ANOTHER OLD BARN

It was 100° on Saturday, but it felt a lot cooler in the shade because of a nice breeze. I drove up to Pflugerville, north of Austin, to where this old cotton gin sits next to the First Methodist Church.

Pflugerville Cotton Gin 9x12"

 When I was finished and had a bite to eat, I found I still had enough energy to try another one right away. I pointed my truck northeast and let it take me wherever it wanted to go. I ended up in Cele, Texas, which isn't a wide spot in the road, but is in fact a bend in the road. I pulled over and set up to do this quick sketch.

Cele TX barn 8x10"

Often, I will do a screen grab of the map or the compass of my iphone when I'm painting, so I can remember exactly where I ended up. This one was at 30°26'25" N, 97°31'16"W

McCARTY GENERAL STORE

This corrugated metal building in Henley, TX was at one time a old general store, if the faded sign on the side is to be believed. Of course, the other sign says Used Cars... I was drawn to it for a couple of reasons, mostly the rusted metal roof and a shady spot to stand for a few hours while attempting the painting. It is right on HWY 290 west, about 5 miles or so outside of Dripping Springs. Luckily, there was plenty of room to pull over and set up to paint as the traffic zoomed past at 70 MPH.

McCarty General Store 9x12"

THE BIG BRIGHT TEXACO STAR

Last year, I attended a plein air workshop with Rusty Jones, and we painted a building that had been the Driftwood, TX post office for many years. It now has Texaco signs and antique gas pumps out front, and Rusty told us the trick would be to paint the enormous red star on the front of the building without making it the focus of the painting.

A few weeks ago, I painted another building with the same problem to solve. This one is on 290 West, between Austin and Dripping Springs. There are several terrific buildings to paint, including one that looks like an old train station, painted a golden yellow. The reason I chose to paint this one was that I found a tree to provide me with a bit of shade. I want to go back to paint the yellow building once it cools down around here, which will probably be October.

Texaco Star 9x12"

THURMAN FARM & A MANOR IN MANOR

Usually, when I head out to paint, I pick a direction and aim my truck that way. On Saturday, I decided to go east on 6th Street, where it becomes a two way road, but then ended up headed north when nothing caught my eye.  I soon (well, maybe not soon) found myself north of Parmer Lane near Pflugerville, where I saw this barn and set up to paint on the side of the road. As I was finishing this 9x12, I was approached by the guy whose family used to own the property, and who now leases it. He couldn't remember what the current owner calls the place, but it used to be the Thurman Farm.

Thurman Farm 9x12"

Painting the Thurman Farm

On Sunday, I headed east again, and ended up in Manor (to those of you not from these parts, it's pronounced "May-ner" and not "manner"). I found this old building, which looks like it may have been a general store at one time.

2012-05-20 manor, tx

Painting a manor in Manor