Here is the 2nd house portrait for the previous client. Every summer the family moved four miles outside of town to this beautiful country home. You will notice I used the same color scheme for both houses, complimenting each other if they were hung together. In the small, black and white reference photo, most of the face of the house was obscured by trees. Luckily, I could see part of one upstairs’ window and because the house is very symmetrical, I was able to determine where the other windows and chimney should be placed.

Old Homeplace in Hawkinsville

House portraits are fun, but that doesn’t mean they’re easy. Every house presents similar and unique challenges. My job as an artist is to find creative solutions and it is in finding solutions to the problems that I experience the most satisfaction. My process begins with the reference material. I prefer taking my own photographs because I begin to make compositional decisions as I frame up the shots. However, sometimes that is not possible and I must rely on whatever photographs the client can provide.           Old Homeplace in Hawkinsville is a good example. This home burned to the ground many years ago and my client only had two photographs of the house. Below, you will see the two, black and white, out of focus photographs I was given to use. One was even printed in reverse. Luckily, I’m on good terms with a patient and talented photographer who flipped it for me. From these, I produced a detailed drawing, value studies, a line drawing, and finally a painting. 

The only detail shot of the house was out of focus and incomplete.

Reference photograph, before it was corrected.

Photographer printed corrected image for me.

“Seascape” is a new subject for the Watercolor Crash Course series. No drawing or painting experience is necessary. Have fun learning all about watercolor and in just four hours, you will have this beautiful little painting to take home. 

Click on Schedule in the menu above to view a list of my fall classes at Columbus State and Auburn. To read a detailed description of each class you can click on Classes.

The Prunifolia Azalea is Callaway Garden’s signature flower. The beautiful scarlet blossoms open in August and that is why I’ve chosen this time to offer It as the subject for my next  Watercolor Crash Course! Art Works.Pine Mountain. August 24..

 Recently, I read an excerpt from “The Tools: Transform Your Problems Into Courage, Confidence and Creativity” and wanted to share this enlightening statement with my students; , “a real creative process isn’t immediately gratifying.  It’s frustrating, mysterious, and uncertain.  We all put such unrealistic pressure on ourselves to do everything well, even our first attempts. This attitude is certainly prevalent in the art classroom. Drawing and painting are not easy, but many students think they should be and often throw in the towel long before they’ve given themselves a fair chance.  I hate to see that happen, because I know if they keep moving forward they will push through the frustrations to the rewards of creative expression. Perhaps it would be encouraging for them to know even professional artists hit brick walls sometimes. The trick (a mind game with yourself)  is to accept the worst outcome possible and forge ahead anyway, in spite of the negative voices in your head telling you to give up. Most of the time, the result is not as bad as you think it will be and many times you will produce something you really like. Take heart, have courage, keep moving.

My painting, “Southern Magnolia” was chosen to receive the Manfred Metcalf Award in the Columbus Artists Guild 2013 Members’ Show. It was a thrill to be so publicly acknowledged as an artist.
The painting sold the same day. What a validating experience! The same day this happened, I was commissioned to paint an old family home. This house has had the same family living in it since 1910. They have a strong emotional attachment to the place and I will do my best to convey that. I’ve finished my preliminary studies and completed the final drawing. Now, I will decide on a color scheme and a value pattern. It is a process.