Landscape of Virginia

The restaurant known as "Duner's" is perhaps best known for its customers. In times gone by, this dinner was perhaps a favorite among the University elite and professionals from the University crowd It is the very most sought after dinner restaurant by the faculty and families of them. It is the kind of place one might just drive on by without giving it much notice. Its unassuming with its flat one story appearance in brick. Its almost pancake like when looking at it from the outside. I haven't had the chance to eat within its rooms but from what those who have have said its suppose to live up to its reputation of being the one place that continually pulls in the U.Va. elite, so it must have something going for it with its fare.

The painting wasn't quite "right" for me. I retouched some of the Hotel's portico overhang to be more in line with its actual color. Perhaps one wouldn't notice it but it mattered to me. I think its a little bit better but who knows....

This building was one of (if not the very) first high rise buildings in Charlottesville. It was a 'cathouse' at one time. The building has also been home to a college (but not related to U.Va.) and it still stands proudly on West Main Street today. It got a fresh paint job and looks new and ready for business. I liked its grand brickwork and added features on its columns of white. I used stand oil in the medium. It helps give the paint some depth and warmth once its on the canvas. Its also makes the paint layer on into a heavy coat of oil. I liked the way it handled in its color transitions from dark to light. Once its on its on and its not going to be messed into the color laid on beside it. Its a very different way to paint from the lite, wet, thinned out way I have been handling the medium for my oils. It a new beginning using it moreso than my old 30/30/30 medium. I still used the 30/30/30 medium but just to start the painting then I quickly switched ...

This is an eating spot on the main drag in our little college town where people have a chance to partake in oysters and other shellfish. It is well loved and favored by the townspeople of Charlottesville. Its on West Main Street and it used to be a building that served bait and tackle to the men and women who wanted to go down to the Rivanna to fish for the day. The shop's owner was dead set when I talked with him that no one was going to buy him out and change his building into anything other than the 'Bait and Tackle' shop that it was...."I'll be dead in the grave before that happens". Well he's passed on and its changed but I do think he would be ok with it as it is because of the nature of what it changed into when it was reconstructed into the restaurant. I thought I would paint it. It was fun to do. Its very colorful and it was enjoyable to paint the deep blues and the windows being those one could see through to the otherside. I t...

Planning to remember buildings standing on West Main Street in Charlottesville is an ongoing task I have under taken. I will finish some but many buildings have already been leveled or are being prepared to undergo the wreckingball in short order. This building is one of a place that underwent a renewal as a multi-store location all in one building. It was used because it was still a structure that could hold occupants with ease. Across the street from this Market there are two houses that are coming down to make way for yet another hotel on West Main Street. This building was spared by it being made into a location for new trendy businesses within its old walls. I liked the colors chosen by the new occupants on the outside of the building, the color is not one usually used in our city but it looks attractive none the less. I am thankful for the revitalization of the city yet I do feel some remorse for the removal of some of these older buildings. Luckily this particula...

Early in my creative process is the necessity for drawing out the images. To do that well I need to keep up with my drawing practice with some sketches. I do that in ink. I am skilled enough to use ink being an older gentleman as I am. I do this mostly when I am inbetween oils. This particular drawing is such a one, it is a simple meandering of my concepts of both figures and buildings from my mind. I began with images of buildings then inserted a few figures before finishing it up with more structures surrounding the figures. It relaxes me to do one.

On a walk to my day job in the 1980's I would pass this non-important gas station on the main drag of West Main Street. Today its a new and different event taking such a meandering in Charlottesville, the buildings are all redone and new ten story hotels are being placed on that street. The old has been made new. I believe the term is re-gentrification. Such a change happened to this former gas station. It was a building I passed by and never really took a good look at because there wasn't anything 'noteworthy' for me to see in it. It was your average gas station with mechanics working on cars inside of its portals. But then came the changes and renewal occurred. While I don't like change for change sake, the re-gentrification of West Main Street has added some taste to that street's structures, such was what I saw in 'Whiting Oil Co.' It has had some new walls added, outdoor tables and new glass windows that made it somewhat unique to ot...