Landscape of Virginia

Yesterday I went down to Richmond to visit the British art exhibit at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. It was a nice trip and I was pleased to see all the work done by the Brits. My favorite was the British watercolorist by the name of Rowlongson. He centered in on cariatures and did them quite well and with some wit of observation. What seemed so strange to me what how small all these watercolors were in their size. Tiny works and I imagine it made working very difficult. I prefer working on a size where I can move around and get into it. Working so tiny must have been a cramped feeling for the artist. But no matter they were all really good watercolors. Another artist who impressed me was a fella by the name of Copley. He worked without using any lines, he used the brushstroke to get his effects across. He also used color hues to denote distance and composition, a very good painter to be sure, I'm sure one can see him in other art sources, since I've heard of h...

On a lazy summer day, what better thing to do than relax at poolside. My elbow was hurting from all the paintings I've been doing. As of yesterday, I finished fourteen of them in one month of summer relaxation. A bit more than I could expect to have done when I was planning this summer break from work. I will have them posted soon on my website . Today, I was at poolside at a local club, what a beautiful day to be out and about. Nothing but clear blue above me as I swam the backstroke across the ever so wide pool. I was in and out three times before it was time for me to go. Swimming is such a true joy for me. Thankfully, my parents had me learn how to swim at a summer camp on the Chesapeake Bay way long ago and today you can't get me out of the water until I hear the car engine start in the car I came in. Tomorrow it's back to the humdrum of my life here in town. Nothing wrong with it, I'm enjoying my painting and going to the gym is just great, but i...

I've been busy painting outdoors. Yesterday, I packed up my easel and paints put on my backpack with the easel on it and walked to the downtown mall. I arrived about nine thirty am and got to work after setting it all up. Many people stopped to comment and offer supportive comments about the start of the painting. I was working on the Miller's bar and buildings headed westward from their on, I included a couple of people in it too boot, the thing was I was filmed by some group that came back later and had me sign a release form and I was photographed by tourist and others who just happened upon me while I was working on my painting. My work progressed to a good stopping point and I plan to finish what I've done at home. Some people to whom I talked I never saw because I was paying attention to what I was painting not to whom I was talking to at the time. I was looking at the buildings and what I was doing on the canvas so I have very little idea as to what or who the...

During this past weekend I was up in Cleveland at a wedding of a lifelong friend of mine. He's over sixty years old and he has just got'n married once again (only the second time) but this time I think it will stick. It was quiet a wonderful ceremony and reception. During my stay in Cleveland I had a chance to see the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I really loved the form of the building it is located in on the waterfront of Lake Erie. Inside, there are "cars" that hang from the ceiling and a CD store that is a Classic Rock fans delight. It has most every Classic Rock Band's CDs in stock and ripe for the picking. The museum is ok, they show a film of some of our favorite old time rockers with the additional benefit of showing the Black Blues musicians who were the start of it all. I really enjoyed see those men and hearing their contributions to the music we have today. My good friend had a great ceremony and the best part was seeing people with whom I ha...

Never spent much time walking around Harrisonburg until this past Sunday when a friend had me a long for a biking trip. He wanted to ride in the "Tour D'Burg" and I went along for company. While he rode with many friends and fellow-cyclist I walked around downtown H'burg. I stopped in a couple of places for coffee and I read the Sunday paper in a typical "diner" atmosphere. Then I went over to the capital building and I spotted a nice little building to sit down in for a while, it turned out to be a spring fountain. There was a sign saying how this spring was a watering hole for Native Americans and animals which became an important spot for the early settlers. It seems this spring became a refreshing spot for settlers who were either traveling up or down the valley and also for people who were going east or west over the mountain passes nearby (where Rt 33 now goes this spring gave them a watering hole. Today, the spring is inside a gazebo type o...

It's been indoor weather these last few days here in C'ville, I've been painting a canvas in my apartment. I began it out on a bridge in the heat and I almost passed out from the heat. I got enough done to work at home, once you get a good start one can work the rest of it indoors. If need be I can go back to the site and make mental notes as to what colors are where on the buildings I am painting so I don't have to be out on the site itself for long periods of time. The other art I am have doing has turned out satisfactory to my desires for it. I am pleased to be working in paints once again. I enjoy oils more than acrylics. For me I am better able to handle the plasticity of oils. I know some good processes for blending them whereas with other paints I am not so secure in how to handle them in order to get a desired affect. It's nice to be back in the saddle with my paints, working is a pleasure. I will be posting my artwork on my site soon. U...

Reading a blogger in Philadelphia Pa I am filled with thankfullness for the peace of biking in the countryside around here, I am thinking we aren't very full of congestion everywhere we turn as I was in Philadelphia riding my bike. The blog I read was a sorry comment upon the hopelessness of fighting a gallant fight but with little hope of winning the war of bikes against automotive transportation in the big cities. Here in this small town in Central Virginia we are blessed with a rush hours that last about an hour and a half. We can get around most problems in our town, we also have a good number of committed people who bike to get to work or who take a bike instead of driving a belching car. Hurrah for our small town's efforts to be helpful for us to ride instead of drive. I've never looked back since leaving Philly, but in many ways it shows up that I made the right decision to come to Central Virginia. I've never been sorry to have been spending my time ...