Brevard NC Farm

                                                  8"x10"  Oil on linen panel                                                     
                                               Click here to buy this painting

I have driven by this property many times, stopped a couple of times, and finally got permission to paint there.  The owners are very pleasant people.  On the morning I did this sketch, it was sunny but chilly with gusting winds.  I took many photos and with them and this sketch, I intend to do a large studio work later.  Well,  Christmas is near, my terrible cold is starting to ease a bit, and I think I'll take a week or so off.  Wish you all a happy holiday season!  Let us hope that next year is better than 2011 and that we are all healthy and happy throughout it.        Mike

New Hampshire snow

                                                         9"x12"  Oil on linen
                                                           SOLD
I like snow paintings.  I just don't like standing in snow.  It is beautiful when you view it from the warm side of a closed window.   I did this from a photo I took from my car a few years back.   Just so you won't think I'm a wimp, I did open the window for a split second to snap the shutter.  Later, in my studio, with a hot cup of coffee in one hand, I really enjoyed doing the painting.               Mike

First landscape

                                               12"x16" Oil on panel 
                                                          Sold                                       
Just for fun, I thought I'd show one of my earliest efforts.  It was a very long time ago.  A different world.
This was about my 5th landscape, but the first that was sold.  I started off doing George Braque type still life (just one or two) because I liked his color, but gravitated to landscape, which I enjoyed far more. You can see modernist in this painting in the false perspective and the outlined structures. I sort of like the color harmony in this scene,and yet it looks dirty in many spots.  I didn't know much about color then, I once tried to paint a model in a bright purple sweater, and I only had cerulean blue and cad red light.  Try getting a bright purple with those!    Have fun.    Mike

Farm near SLO

                                            14"x18" Oilon linen canvas

                                                      Sold

Here's hoping this blog attempt goes smoothly.  My late friend, George Gibson, and I spent a nice day painting at this location.   I was up on a rise looking down,as you can see, George was a little bit to my right doing his usual masterpiece.  Cows are curious creatures, and they kept nosing up behind us like they were supervising our work.  Sort of satisfying.  One other day, though, three Charolais ( I think that spelling is right) bulls silently came up behind us.  Our first inkling was when the ranch manager came up on a four wheeler and shouted "I'll chase them off".  We turned around and  saw three really large animals that obviously were not cows.  He did chase them off, but we painted with one eye over our shoulder (a neat trick!) for the rest of the day.            Mike 

Thunder road

                                            16"x20" Oil on linen
                                                SOLD

A painting of a memory.   A group of CA. artists, including your's truly,  assembled at this old farmhouse to paint it and publicize it in an effort to raise money to save it from a developer.  Just like in the movies!  Well, we painted and some artists did some very nice stuff and we each contributed a little cash.  Things looked good for a while, but alas, eventually the effort failed and the property was lost.  Life goes on.     Mike

Chandler's Farm

                                                      11"x14"  Oil on linen on board
                                                                     Sold




I painted this as a plein air class demo when I was in Cal. a while back.   I was thinking about putting a figure in it later, but someone bought it before I could.   Probably a good thing.  Looking at it now, it's OK as is, I think.    I'm still undecided if this blog business is a good thing or not.  I've had some response, but not a lot.  I feel a little like a comedian standing in front of rows of empty seats, undecided whether to tell the joke or not.  Oh Well!  I learned how to set up a blog.                 Mike

Carolina Farm

                                                            16"x20" Oil on Canvas
                                                                      SOLD


This is an old farm house near Hendersonville, North Carolina.  It's unusual because of the blue roof, and the red barn and outhouses. (I did greatly exaggerate the intensity.)   Structures around this part of the state are old and colors are generally more muted, barns usually unpainted.  It was a pleasant spring day and everything was turning GREEN!!  This is actually a studio painting done from a 12"x16" study.          Mike

Farm with Galloways

 

                                                     8"x10" Oil on linen on board
                                                  Click here to bid on this painting 


I stumbled across this farm in Vermont not too far from Lake Champlain. I was driving along a back road and when I saw it I stopped instantly and set up for a painting. Another thing that really got my attention was the cattle. The first time you see Belted Galloway cattle, you can hardly believe they are real. Giant Oreo's!  Dark head, shoulders and rump with a white band around the middle. And they are all like that! Anyway, I did the painting and traveled on to the lake. Great day.            Mike

Memories of a Friend

                                               11"x14" Oil on linen on hardboard
                                                                SOLD

For a long time, I was lucky enough to be a good friend to a wonderful artist and gentleman, George Gibson.   He was one of the famed early California watercolorists and the retired art director of MGM studios.  George and I painted together for quite awhile until his death a few years back at the age of 96, and he will always be remembered fondly.  The painting's name reminds me that this is the scene he and I painted the last time I painted with him.
It's an interesting farm, because there are many outbuildings.  Regardless of time of day or lighting conditions, there are compositions that are fine for the plein air artist.              Mike

Los Osos Valley Farm

                                               9"x12" Oil on canvas on hard panel
                                                                 SOLD


This was done a while back on one of my return trips to my old home grounds on California's central coast.  It is a beautiful area with great subject matter everywhere.  I miss it.  Every year I try to get back there for a month or so.  There are many outstanding artists there, some of whom are good friends of mine and we always get out as much as we can during my visits.

The scene above is an old farm just off the major valley road, and I have painted it many times.  On that day an overcast sky was breaking up and the sun caused cast shadows to appear.  Ah Yes!  I remember it well.  (Apologies to M. Chevalier).     

Just over a week from now for me to try an auction.                     Mike

One More Monday

                                               12"x16"  Oil on Canvas on Hardboard
                                                                     SOLD

Hello again!   I am slooowly making headway in my battle to get my blog going.  On my first attempt the post date was not correct and I think I can get that right next time.   I don't have email set up yet, but am working on it.  By the time the "Daily Paintworks" auction site is ready for new members, I should be ready to get into action.  Until then, I will continue to show a sampling of my work which has already sold.  The one above was done a while back somewhere around Meridian Miss.  The lady was actually hanging laundry, and the setting was almost like a movie set.  I asked her permission to paint her and her home and she gave me a smiling OK and then a very nice critique.  Said she liked it a lot.  Hope you do.too.

I want to thank Carol Marine for inspiring me to this blog effort.  After following her posts for some time, I finally met her in  LaCombe, Louisiana  recently and she was as warm and kind as her blog indicates.  And, a wonderful artist!       Mike