Picking back up where I left off, the ducks are being started in this photo. I had to reposition the mallard due to the blue wing distracting from the main subject. Instead of a wing showing in front, the belly of the bird shows which will make the dog's head more distinct.  This is a closeup of the ducks and the tree being filled in along with the background. Total time in this session is 2 cups of coffee = 2 hours.  Now the foreground with grass will go in and some more work on the dog, adding some dark hairs over light hairs to give the sense of a solid form.  The grass is taking shape, and a similar pattern will be used for the remainder of the foreground. Notice some of the dark hairs over light in the chest area of the dog.     Here is the completed painting. The foreground is detailed in a manner that it does not distract from the dog. Too much detail can actually pull away from the central figure which is the dog, and ducks. Total time for the painting is about 8 hours, but broken up into several sittings...and several cups of coffee. I hope you enjoyed seeing this painting being done, and look forward to any questions or comments anyone may have.

    This is Day 1 of my latest painting titled "Hershey". I left off with just the basic sketch on canvas, now I will begin the painting. This painting is of an early morning hunt with a mist still in the air. To create a mist type atmosphere, I have used White in the unbleached form. The outline of trees in the mist can be achieved by simply painting the trees into the unbleached white, and letting the "opacity" of the white do it's job...to actually make the trees appear to be covered in mist. Another thing I will do is to dilute the colors into washes. However I have got the result I am looking for here. I go back when the painting is close to being done and add a few details, but the background is mostly set. This part is done, time for the first cup of coffee.
Okay, moving into the foreground, I have decided to paint the dog's head and start by blocking in with dark basic colors. One important fact on painting animals with acrylic is to know how the opacity will effect the end result. Light over dark seems better due to the dark "bleeding" thru and making the light details seem to merge into the animal. I try and start with the eyes and work out into the forehead and downward. Acrylic has it's advantages here by letting me actually mix the paint into the canvas and dry. Working in layers..dark to light, you can see the painting start to come to life.While the form is starting to make sense, I will add a few dark hairs to start the layering effect. Notice the top of the head, I have done a little more detail here to show how the layering will work. I have done a lot of work on the eye here to show how I have used dark to light. The last part painted is always the reflection of the eyes. Here I use White (regular) and will add a little at a time, letting the first drop dry completely so that it will not mix. This is another advantage of acrylic..the viscosity can be used to give the illusion of an actual eye. Time for the second cup of coffee. Here is my palette with the colors used so far. If I am going to be doing a large area such as blocking in the body, I will mix the paint on the palette with the palette knife. But if  I am doing a small area, I mix the paint on the palette with the brush and test before applying. This is so important..always test before using. Using acrylics this way I am actually getting the colors mixed both on the palette, and on the painting. Scrubbing the paint into areas I wish to blend.  Here I am moving down the painting. Working this way I can avoid the occasional hand smearing which can happen.  Total time in the painting so far...2 cups of coffee which computes to about 2 hours...I sip. Continuing downward here you can see the colors starting to come together. Notice the white hairs in the chest area. Here I will show how dark over light can be done. My wife commented and said the dog does not have any white chest hairs, and I simply told her I would fix it, and did not explain why I had done that.  Now I have applied the tree trunk colors with a palette knife. Some species of trees that are smooth barked just do not look correct done this way.  In my younger days my family used firewood for heat, and I actually sold firewood for added income. I was fascinated by the different textures of wood i.e. scaly bark hickory, yellow popular, oak, cherry. The details will be done later on the bark. For now I just want to get the basic forms in, and show how the composition is actually done. Time for coffee break #3.  Here is a close up showing some of the detail. Total time is 3 cups of coffee which is about 3 hours. Tomorrow I will work on the ducks and other tree.

  I have begun a new painting of a chocolate lab which has won several awards, and belongs to a friend of mine. I will demonstrate my techniques, and style of painting this subject to show how the opacity of acrylics can be used to your advantage. Many people do not prefer acrylics due to fast drying time, brightness of colors, and of course...opacity.
   I start with a basic drawing in pencil directly onto the canvas with the only detail being the main subject matter which in this case is the dog. The background is taken from several different photos, and combined to create a realistic "anchor" for the entire painting. In the last dog painting I completed "Gitta" (she is posted on my web site), the background was simply blurred  for the sake of having the dog's eyes as the primary focal point of the painting.
   There are many tactics to keeping the viewer's eyes focused on one object...or several. Always be sure if there are several objects to have a "flow" which encompasses all objects, and does not hold the viewer's eye on one. One of the ways to view your art differently...is by simply holding it up to a mirror. The mirror will reflect the image...in reverse. You will be surprised at what mistakes in composition, and even comformation can be made when you view the image in a mirror!
   I will post the drawing in the morning in my blog. Until then..good nite.

I am finally approaching the end of another painting. Some days are just meant to paint, others I simply cannot sit down long enough to get motivated. There are so many other things that have to be done on the farm such as spraying fence rows, gardens, horses that need to be carried to be bred, much less time for such things as finshing!!!
   Painting is relaxing but at the same time it can be nerve racking when doing fine detail such as a duck's eye. Paint brushes have been gone thru like candy. I just cannot seem to keep a detail brush for very long...wear the bristles out using it for scrubing, draging paint..things that just cannot be helped when working in detail.Frames should be in for paintings soon, will have to get everything framed and ready to show at Paris Landing this weekend. Hopefully the show will go well, and everybody will enjoy my work.

I have completed the painting titled Bearcreek Mallard, framing is done..ready to go. Another painting Titled Hurricane Mills is almost finished as well, has not been advertised yet. I will be working on a painting for the Illionis Ducks Unlimited next.

I have started painting the new painting for the Ducks Unlimited Convention at Paris Landing on May 30th and 31st. The name is "Bearcreek Mallards". Lots of work trying to get colors right with a sunset showing on the feathers of the mallard. Email me for more info..I will be glad to share my experiences with you.

     People often say that if someone is an artist, it is a gift. My response to this statement  is that the "will" to want to create art is not in every individual. Art is the way an artist expresses his or her identity. No matter what media is used, whether it be audio or visual, any individual that senses it has their own reaction. The basics of art can be taught, but the "will to create" has to come from the soul.
     As a child, I would watch my mother painting and wanted to try it myself. That was when my "will to create" started. Another cliché would be.."oh you inherited your talent from your mother". My mother still is an excellent artist, and her guidance and loving support to my artwork throughout the years has helped tremendously, but it was my "will" that has made me an artist.
    I have utilized my experiences in life for many subjects of my work.    Growing up in an agricultural area, every summer involved hay hauling. Remembering those huge barns with tall lofts has spawned many paintings of old aged barns. A trip to Canada on a bear hunt and actually seeing a wolf in the wilderness were inspirations for the painting "The Standoff". For several years I Commercial Fished on the Tennessee River, and having spent thousands of hours on the water I have seen waterfowl and other river dezeins at their finest. Being on the river on a early summer morning with the sun filtering thru the fog can be a unforgetful moment in life. Part of the tablefare in my childhood from a family with four brothers and sisters consisted of wild game taken by us, hunting was a necessity as well as a sport back then. These experiences are also part of my subject matter for many paintings such as "Bearcreek's Boss".  I still hunt today, mostly for the experiences with nature... and also the occasional venison steak, or grilled turkey breast.
    I am an equine enthusiast also, and along with my wife (Betty), raise Tennessee Walking Horses. Betty owns American Quarter Horses as well, and she was a professional farrier for over 16 years. Presently we reside on the Tennessee River in a community known as Bearcreek on our farm.