If you could say it in words, there would be no reason to paint. ~ Edward Hopper
Plein Air Painting at Beech Bluff Park
This past Saturday I was out with my wife at Beech Bluff County Park as part of Wake County’s “Paint the Parks” event. Local artists were invited paint at all of the county parks for the event. The paintings will be shown in an exhibition later in the summer. I meant to take more photos while I was there, but once I got out there and started painting I didn’t really think about it.
We set up in a field of yellow wildflowers off one of the hiking trails. There is an old barn in the edge of the woods beside the field, so I decided to make that the focal point of this painting along with the wildflowers.
The weather wasn’t very ideal for plein air painting, but we made the best of it. It was completely overcast, so there was not a strong light source. We had to deal with some misty rain in the morning as well, but luckily any major precipitation held off.
This was painted in oil on linen panel and measures 9” x 12”.
Springer’s Point Shoreline, Ocracoke NC
Continuing my recent theme of watercolor paintings of Ocracoke, NC, here is a painting of a cedar tree along the shoreline at Springer’s Point Nature Preserve, which is one of my favorite places on the island.
Springer’s Point is a coastal preserve on the western side of Ocracoke village with hiking trails and a soundside beach. It is believed that the waters offshore, known as Teach’s Hole, are where Blackbeard was killed by Lieutenant Robert Maynard in 1718.
I painted this same spot a few years ago from a slightly different vantage point. You can see that painting in my Oil Painting Gallery.
This painting was done in watercolor on paper (Arches 140 lb cold press). 9 x 12 inches.
Ocracoke Village Shops
This watercolor captures a group of small shops in the heart of Ocracoke Village. Just out of frame—immediately to the right of the white building—is the shop where we often stop for fudge and ice cream. The nearby boardwalk and dock area in this scene make a perfect spot to sit take in the view.
The building in the foreground is a jewelry and candle shop, while the structure just behind it houses Down Creek Gallery. The piece was painted on 140 lb Arches cold‑press paper mounted on aluminum composite panel. 8 × 10 inches.
Birdhouse in Winter
This painting is of a gourd birdhouse in our back yard from a previous winter when we got a little bit of snow. I liked the way the snow piled up on the shoulder of the gourd, so I snapped a photo for future reference. I pulled it out a few days ago and did this small painting. This birdhouse has been hanging here for several years and has seen a few bird families nesting inside of it.
Paited in watercolor on paper (Arches 140 lb cold pressed) and measures approximately 6 x 11.5 inches. Click the thumbnail below to view the full image.
Silver Lake, Ocracoke
This is a view looking south across Ocracoke Island’s harbor, Silver Lake. This was painted based on a reference photo I took a few years ago. You can see the top of the Ocracoke lighthouse peaking over the treeline.
9 x 12”, Painted in watercolor on paper (Sauders Waterford, rough, 140 lb.)
Tree Studies
Two small tree studies painted from imagination. The first is 6 x 9” and the other is 5 x 7”. Both painted in oil on linen mounted on panel.
Moores Creek Marsh
This painting is based on a photo I took while visiting Moores Creek National Battlefield in Currie, NC (near Wilmington). It was the site of the Battle of Moores Creek Bridge on February 27, 1776. The battle is known for being the first significant Patriot victory in the South during the Revolutionary War.
This scene was a marshy wooded area with many large cypress trees growing out of the water, which is what I chose as the focal point of this painting. To get an overall unified tone to this painting, I included at least a small amount of cobalt teal in almost every mixture. This was painted in oil on a 12 x 24” panel.
Ornamental Gourds
Early in the Fall season we visited the local farmer’s market where I picked up some small gourds/mini pumpkins. These make great still life props because they last a long time before going bad. Some of them you can dry out and keep indefinitely, albeit without the vivid color. Below are a few small studies of the gourds.
