"Wet Traces of High Tide"

Oil on linen on panel, 6 x 8 inches, $150

I just returned from a short visit to Ocean Isle Beach. This time of year the water is too cold to go swimming in, for my taste, so I completed a painting "en plein air" instead. I painted from the far east end of Ocean Isle Beach and that strip of green in the distance is Holden Beach.

In the photo of my setup, below, you can tell better that the two beaches are actually divided by a sound. I almost changed my vantage point to paint that sound, but the wet sand which remained from high tide was so interesting - and also served as a good "lead in" to the scene. What you can't tell from the photo is what a windy day it was. Several times I had to stop my easel from blowing over and even a few paint brushes took off flying!

"Clouds Over Cook's Wall"

 

 Oil on linen on panel, 6 x 8 inches, $150

This view of Cook's Wall is from a spot in Germanton, NC. From this vantage point Hanging Rock can be seen in the distance, too. But it is much further to the right and so I didn't include it in the composition.

My painting buddies and I were sitting in a field of tall grass that was literally filled with grasshoppers. You can see a couple of them on my backpack, in the photo below. Cute little critters... who really know how to bite!

"Horne Creek Smokehouse"

Oil on linen on panel, 6 x 8 inches, $150

I can't believe how quickly this summer is flying by! I've been busy with some illustration projects and haven't had time to do much painting outside. But, I just met up with a group of plein air painters at the Horne Creek Living Historical Farm which is located near Pilot Mountain. The farm is a North Carolina State Historic site and serves as an outdoor museum dedicated to the state's rural and agricultural heritage, circa 1900-1910.

It was a hot day but I found a nice shady spot to paint from. The photo below shows my set up. That's my easel in the center, behind the woodpile. My subject is to the left and you can see part of a farmhouse to the right. That farmhouse was built in the 1870's and I considered choosing it as my subject, but felt that a large format painting would do it better justice. My painting buddies and I agreed that there was so much on that farm that would make a great painting! So I hope to go back again someday.