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Plein Air Paintinting in Augusta, KY – March 2019
Augusta, KY will always have a special place in my heart. During my formative years as an artist (my 20s), I met many amazing people, who nurtured, encouraged and supported me…their friendship and kindness played a major role in the artist I have become. Looking back, it was a magic time and place for me.
Time has passed…and we have lost too many of those wonderful people. I haven’t been visiting Augusta like I should, and today, I decided to fix that. I paid a visit and set my paints up to make a little oil painting of the heart of Augusta — it’s library.
Afer painting the library, i also visited Augusta Ky’s namesake church “st. augustine” and painted it too…the sky was so blue today…almost surreal. I love how the white steeple contrasted with the blue sky.
Barns, Bridges and buds
Im trying to paint outside more often. Its a great way to challenge myself and grow as an artist. I *almost* didnt paint today, because its a cloudy, grey day. Then i realized that grey is one of my favorite colors…it looks great with everything! Hope you are having a great, grey day!
sketch and view for today’s painting #2 
Bridge over the ohio 6″x4 1/2 
the buds on this tree are just about ready to POP! 
Old Washington, KY Plein Air Painting a fancy old house-March 16 Downtown Maysville
I needed to dust off my plein air painting equipment. The weather was good today, so i went to downtown maysville to give it a test run and paint one of the fancy old houses on 3rd street.
Mefford’s Fort-old Washington, KY
the sketch of Mefford’s Fort in Old Washington, KY 
the finished painting! Plein air painting in Aberdeen and Ripley, Ohio- March 18th
I have been struggling with some of my studio work, and these little pleinairexcursions have been a great exercise in capturing a moment, color, light…and knowing when to stop…plus an added bonus of fresh air, and making art in public.
i love visiting ripley. Such a friendly little river village. Ripley artists Betsy Adams and Ron Ralston stopped by to see what i was working on (st michaels church)
The finished painting- St. Michaels Church-Ripley, Ohio 
Painting at the Rankin House in Ripley, Ohio New color in the studio!
What better way to show off some new paintings, than with a new color on the wall? My latest paintings are colorful. I’m hoping that navy blue is neutral enough to let the art shine!
A chilly day of painting in Old Washington, KY 31 March 2019
I have thawed out from this mornings painting (you can see it in my instagram or fb stories) . Now that its warmed up to 37 degrees, i thought id take my paints down the street for a second plein air painting. Todays a great day to be here because Robbin Lee Weingartner is hsving an open house in his studio–with Nicholas Denham performing live music.
working out the composition and values. I love my alpaca fingerless glove/mittens…its chilly out here! 
im ready to start mixing color!!! Trying to only use red yellow blue and white…to improve my mixing skills 
Our super talented Leah Frederick, stopped by!!! 
some color on the panel… 
taylors corner. Old washington, ky Printing With Friends at the Log Cabin Print Shop
I dont have a plan for a particular print, but the studio is open to the public, you are welcome to stop by and see what i end up making…or come to make something yourself. Ill be here until at least 5pm.
ive decided what to do. I usually dont work from photos, but–at the airport, they have a display of wood models of different riverboats that were used on the Ohio river. I took this photo to use as reference. Im going to start some sketches…it would be a good subject for a woodcut or linocut! 
heres my thumbnail sketch. I shortened the boats length, which is probably a big insult to anyone who really knows these boats, but i want it to fill the space without cutting a custom size block. 
i stained my linoleum with a light coat of acrylic paint. It helps me see the design better while i carve. 
to scale drawing of the boat. Ill trace this onto tracing paper, then (once the acrylic paint is dry) transfer the design onto my block 
i have traced the design, and im ready to transfer…but im still waiting for the acrylic to dry. I forgot to eat this morning, so im going to run home and eat while the paint dries (theres nothing sadder than a starving artist, lol!) 
back at the studio. Im trying to eat healthy, so i made spinach avocado egg and rice tacos. Hoping the paint will be dry by the time i finish lunch 
artist friends Betsy Adams and Nicholas Denham stopped by; print party!!! 
transferred and ready to cut 
our blocks are carved and ready to go through the press 
painting in the countryside
Yesterday was city painting, so today is countryside. I like the way the road winds up the hill and the contrast between the black barn and white house 
This painting and i have different ideas about whether it will be a landscape or vertical. It keeps telling me it wants to be landscape. I say, no, you are vertical. I think im going to win. Heres the composition worked out. Now time for color! 
im using some new colors… Having fun with the greens… Trying not to get too wild with the violet. Detail time 
finished!
I love the smell of oil paint and cows while im painting outside in the springtime!
next stop, minerva, ky. If you love old country churches they have a lot in this little town. The church in the background is from yhe 1830s, the church in the foreground is important because it was an early african american church. Sorry i dont know all the history about it, but hopefully, someone will chime in. 
i wasnt happy with my original composition, so i moved to a different spot, and came up with this vertical composition and value study. Its color time!!! 
i love this time of the day. The light is so beautiful, this painting is shining! 
Thats a wrap! Im having such a good paint day, id love to try the dover covered bridge, but the light is changing fast, and im hungry… Forgot to pack snacks! Old Washington Woodcut
You might remember, when a few months ago, I sketched Washington Hall, along with the row of shops on old US Route 62 in Old Washinton.
Sketching With The Ipad – on Old US ROUTE 62 -Old Washington, KY
I have finally finished carving the 9”x24” panoramic woodcut of the scene. My plan for today is to proof it, and then print an edition on paper.
just printed the rest proof. I am over the moon happy with how it looks!!! maybe a few more bricks around the horse?
carved some more bricks–to bring out the horse… let’s put it through the press and see how it looks!
I’m happy… now time to print on the “good” paper
