Still catching up with last week. Here is my 5 competition paintings I submitted for Gloucester Arts Festival. If you didn't see my previous post, "Mobjack Watermen" took Second Place. I feel my technical level of painting got better this year despite buring the candle at both ends with a large daytime painting 24x36 and a reasonably large nocturne 18x26. Per the course last so far. I've only sold one painting, "Old Red", my smallest painting. Slightly better that no sales at all (which has happened at this event and others in recent years.) Mostly I think this amounts to I'm gonna paint what I want to paint and not what I think sells. I'm sure it's because I'm drawn to paintings of riff raff, grungy derelict subjects. Gas stations, people of questionable character, run down places. All of which does not go with couches and room themes. I was actually told this at the event by collectors, so I know it's a valid point. A couple told me my prices were too high, to which I replied, "Don't worry, even I can't afford my own paintings!" I liked that reply, LOL.
Some random behind the scene photos of Gloucester Plein Air
The great Charlie Newman drew me at the Matthews portion of Gloucester Plein Air event. He was nice enough to give it to me, so naturally, I had to draw him in kind.
Here’s my rendition of Charlie while he was drawing other artists.
More random shots of Gloucester Plein Air
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention my wonderful hosts for the event, Kim and Jim Williams. They were fantastic and helped me with areas to paint that I was not aware of. I definitely plan to return to their farm to make more paintings and of the surrounding area! Here’s the host family painting I made for them of their corn crib in their front yard. It was salvaged from an old farm, which you don’t see many of these left anymore. I did a nocturne of it and punched up the colors as there were tons of fireflies floating around in the evening.
While pushing myself to extremes, I did feel like I did succeed in making better paintings. However, I have more to push and evolve. So, I’m looking forward to getting back out there to paint more this summer!
In other news, I wanted to give everyone a heads up that I’ll be doing the Princess Bride posters for the NARO Theater at the end of this month (JUNE 27th & 28th) and will begin working on it today! It’s one of my wife’s favorite movies, so I couldn’t pass that up. Also, I’m back to posting Youtube videos and doing LIVE sessions, which you can subscribe to get notice of when I go live. And lastly, I will be offering new 2026 Calendars in time for the Holidays and should have it available by end of July, so stay tuned!
Best, Doug
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It’s been a hot minute since I last posted. Gloucester Plein Air Competition wrapped up and I had decided to skip social media and videos to focus on making solid paintings. Going into this event I was in a serious funk and was not in the right frame of mind to paint well. Frankly, it made things worse and I started to have serious doubts about whether or not I was even qualified to be there! (Funny, because I had won the grand prize last year!). If you have ever been through this, you know exactly what I am talking about. I’ve heard some mention imposter syndrome, and to some extent, I think I can relate to a small aspect of it. I never really take the time to fully appreciate the hard work I’ve put in to get my paintings to the level it’s at now. Maybe it’s because I’m so frustrated with where I want them to be at and my paintings as of late fall so short of my goals. The first couple of paintings were okay, however, after the quick draw I felt much better about painting. Painting on demand is not always a piece of cake and it can be down right frustrating! After getting canvases stamped at the Artist’s Orientation meeting, I went straight to work trying to warm up with this painting of a barbershop. It wasn’t too busy and the barber would sit outside inbetween cuts to rest.
“A Barber’s Break” 9x12 Plein Air oil on canvas
The second painting was for our 6x8 at the Timberneck Farm. If you haven’t been there, it’s a really pretty place. I remember the first time I went there years ago. I had a slight “Deja Vu” moment that I can’t put my finger on. There are a few places like that I’ve been to. The inside of the farm house is amazingly old and has a slightly haunting feel to it. Not like horror movie, but more like Andrew Wyeth’s “Christine’s World” feel. Old, worn and broken in, yet distant. I may do some large interior paintings from my photos of it.
“Fields Of First Summer” 6x8 Plein Air oil on canvas
My quick draw painting which I had wanted to do the Texaco in the the past, but hadn’t gotten around to it. I was happy with the effort and tried to loosen up a little bit with it. Had I more confidence, I might have gone bigger with it.
“The Corner Texaco” 9x12 Plein Air oil on canvas
My unfinished Symphony Under the Stars painting.
And then there was this monstrosity, Mobjack Seafood. This piece was a marathon of two days in the sun. First, all alone. The second, a whirl wind of activity all around me. At first, once I found the spot I could work and maybe stay out of the way, I began to dread starting it. I knew it was going to be a slog in the heat with no protection from the sun or wind. My composition sketch completed, I began in earnest. Luckily, the wind died down in the afternoon of the first day. The second day, I met a young man named Travis and got the ok to paint from the same location. My guess on where to paint and not be in the way had been correct. There was just enough space to paint and not be in the way of the dock workers. Another waterman, Victor, was working the barge. I also found out his two sons worked with him as well. Honestly, it was a moral booster to have everyone stop by periodically to check it out. I met the owner and several of the managers as well. I know there is another painting there waiting for me to finish it.
“Mobjack Watermen” 24x36 Plein Air oil on cradel board.
After painting the first day at Mobjack Seafood, I knew I had to start on a nocturne. There was a 64 Ford Thunderbird under an old gas station awning that screamed to me to paint. I wanted to paint it even though I knew no one would buy it at the event. Alas, it was not to be, as it was missing that night, so I opted for plan “B”. Another nocturne down at the Coleman Bridge. It also proved to be a multi night challenge as the light from pier and my light was too strong and threw off my sense of values. It was too dark after the second session, so I returned at dusk to correct it and literally repainted most of it. I was happy with the mood of the painting and felt it was a strong entry for best nocturne. (It would not get an award.)
“Pink Moon” 18x26 Plein Air oil on board
On Tuesday, we had a mandatory paint out in Matthews and it was a rough day for me with little sleep and little energy. Luckily, the first one was a great composition and didn’t take too much effort to paint.
“The Sister Boats” 12x16 Plein Air oil on canvas.
Unfortunately, my second painting in Matthews was a battle with me stuggling to finish and left me with low moral.
“Strollin’ On A Hot Day” 12x16 Plein Air on canvas.
Driving back to the host family house, I stopped by the their farm. I was about to paint a green tractor when Jim, the owner of the farm, told me I should check out his 63 Massey-Ferguson tractor he got unstuck from the mud earlier that day. He said it was a real beauty with rust and all. After driving over the dam and in between several rows of produce, there it was siting in the fading golden light of the sun. That tractor painted itself while I listened to the field crickets and other bugs with a dog howling occasionally in the background. I knew it was going to sell at the event or shortly after. It might make a good larger painting if I can hold on to the energy this one has.
“Old Red” 9x12 Plein Air on canvas.
“Jim’s Farm” 12x16 Plein Air oil on canvas.
Despite my lack of confidence and bundle of nerves, the sun shined on me again. Lo and behold, the judge Bob Upton awarded “Mobjack Watermen” Second Place!
My daughter and I at the opening Gala for Heart of the River - Gloucester Plein Air Competition. Second Place.
There’s more to share, but I’ve reached my limit. I’ll post more later - Doug
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The last painting demo “A Mahattan Minute” 9x12 oil on canvas for my Wednesday night painting class. It was a good class and I’m looking forward to see how their paintings will progress afterwards! In this painting demo, I broke down how to tackle a busy subject and help give depth and atmosphere to a painting. I also discussed how gesture figure drawings can help give your figures life when painting them. Since, I’m getting ready for tonight’s NARO Cinema movie showing of “JAWS”, I don’t have much else to share, so I thought to post some other cityscape paintings.
If you would like to like to get a signed “JAWS” poster this weekend at the NARO. I will be at the following showtimes until the poster has sold out! Friday 7:15PM - Saturday 7:15PM - Sunday 7:15PM - Monday 7:15PM Buy movie tickets online!
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Hey everyone, It’s done and off to the printers! I’ll be selling JAWS posters this coming all weekend or until they sell out at the NARO Cinema in Ghent Norfolk. I’m really happy how the final came out. JAWS was very impressionable on me as I saw it in the drive-in theatre back in 1975. It took a while for my dad to convince me there were no sharks in Lake Michigan. Everytime I jumped off the boat into the water, I felt certain that JAWS would be there to snatch me under!
In other news, my evening painting class is down to the last class and Gloucester Plein Air in Virginia is starting next month! I’ll post all the demos I painted for the class in my next email.
Until next week, have an awesome day! -Doug
JAWS - 11x17 NARO MOVIE POSTER
“9:15 on a Friday Night” - 9x12 oil on canvas - AVAILABLE
I gifted this painting to a wonderful person, Mrs. Jordan.
Summer is near and things are in motion! Gloucester Plein Air is starting next month, so it won’t be long before I have to start prepping canvas panels. In the meantime, here are some painting demos I did for my evening class. This was my demo for Monday’s make up class from me being out with Covid.
Windy City Stroll - 9x12 oil on canvas - AVAILABLE.
This was my demo from last week. If you have followed my work long enough, you might have remembered I had done a smaller painting of this years ago. I like this one better as it’s more refined, and I got the left hand down. I’ve painted Iffatt several times and she’s always fun subject.
And now to the JAWS movie poster! This was my first idea, but I’ve scrapped it for another that I think has better feel to it. I did several thumbnails and like several ideas, but as with everything I try to do now, it must have a mood about it. Can you guess which thumbnail I’m moving forward with? Click the drawing below to see my LIVE Youtube session of this.
Today I did a ink drawing to warm up before painting. I like doing these, but like everything else in, there are only so many hours in the day. Painting usually wins the day over ink drawing.
This was a painting that popped up on my Facebook feed. I really liked the effort and got a mood with it. Somebody has this painting, I just don’t know who ended up with it.
Painting of the Cape Charles Pier - Unknown Collection
Another fun sketch using the original app “Zen Brush”. I haven’t used the more recent versions, but I really did like this one and the way it felt. And of course, I got some energy in this! Wish I hadn’t ran out of room and left hand didn’t make it in.
And of course, this one also came up in a Facebook reminders recently. I had to fill in for the model after they got ill ten minutes into the session. Probably the only time an artist was allowed to pose at the Norfolk Drawing Group with clothes on! There’s more to this story, but for the sake of the internet, I’ll leave it at that. I’m pretty sure I sanded this one over for the next painting night. I really enjoyed seeing how all the other artists drew me at the end of the night!
Well folks, that’s all I have for now! Time to get back to the easel and make more paintings.
Best, Doug
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