Bridge No. 5

Another in my series of bridge images. This is after mybsecond painting session. I'll do a few more things to it. It is oil about 14 inches wide.  

I grew up in Pittsburgh, the land of bridges, so perhaps that explains part of my interest in this nice example at the Norfolk Botanical Gardens. 

North Beach / Virginia Beach

This is the larger finished version of the smaller study below (which I love very much). At 24 by 36 inches this oil painting is a very pretty reminder of days gone by and days still to come --once this cold weather is gone for a while. 

Just a few more touches and it will be listed for sale here and then on display and sale at one of the Stravitz Galleries --it is in the Stravitz Laskin Avenue gallery now, framed with a complimentary simple but substantial gold frame.

Night Night Rudee

9 x 12 inch oil on on linen study for a new nocturne

As with the painting below, EVENING SURFERS, this is a nice little study ready for a few more touches when it is dry, and then when all finished I'll consider making a larger painting --maybe at 30 X 40. 

This is a winter harbor with not too much going on these days, but some people like it that way. I like it all seasons. At least this is one of the rhythms of the place.

Evening Surfers

9 x 12 inch oil on canvas study for a new nocturne

A rising moon at Virginia Beach competes with reflected light from the hotels and boardwalk, which sometimes presents a pretty pinkish peach hue on nearby low clouds and the immediate surf and foam.
I'm probably going to do a larger version of this complete with more surfers as observed with peculiar elliptical short waves near the jetty,

Ocean View Bay View

9 x 12 inch oil on linen panel, January 2015

The Ocean View area in the north of Norfolk, Virginia, has a pavilion where the city hosts Sunday night big band dances in the summer. Last year the wind was tough on a few summer nights of the dances. Here was a view noted looking out at the Chesapeake Bay.

North Beach Evening Study

9 x 12 inch oil on linen panel, January 2015

Here to the left side is the mouth of the channel which is the inlet to the Chesapeake Bay and Norfolk and Baltimore ports, etc. Soon after this moment, one of the Navy's aircraft carriers emerged into view heading out to sea. I may do another larger version of this study and include the carrier.

Henry B. Hyde Wreck in Virginia Beach

This is a fresh 5 X 7 oil of what the sailing ship Henry B. Hyde might have looked like after beaching here in Virginia Beach. Imagine what that must have been like!  What weather would confuse a crew to think they were further out to sea. Of course, now the beach is well illuminated here, but a hundred years ago that wasn't the case. The saying was, concerning the coastal lighthouses like the Cape Hatteras light, that if you could see the light --you were too close to shore. Recently one of the Volvo Ocean Race yachts hit a reef off of the eastern coast of Africa. They were running fast at night, with GPS, radar, and all sorts of computer aids and, ..ouch! So what did it feel like and how sickening for the captain and crew of the Henry B. Hyde to know that, OOPS! --this ship was doomed and they might not get away safely?

I've been examining several photos of the wreck and it appears part of the upper foremast fell over the starboard bow. I'm trying to establish what happened. At any rate, though grounded, depending on the surf and storm, this fine cargo ship might have been beat up and turned around before she was scavenged and abandoned. Part of her is probably still there buried in the sand. A future hurricane may temporarily reveal the carcass and timbers some day.

Rudee Boys

Here is a sweet little pastel from my Rudee Inlet experiences. It is 9 by 6 inches and is matted and framed under glass. SOLD

Cold Sunset with Warm Light

One of a series of new 9 X 12 oils, this is a winter beach sunset.

SOLD (Thanks Ann!)

Chesapeake

Any chance I get to see the water --I take it. Here was a view I gleaned on a breezy afternoon off of Ocean View.  This is a pastel at The Art Works in Norfolk.

The Hague in pastel

Another of the Hague, but a small pastel.  This image doesn't do it justice.  Available at The Art Works in Norfolk.

Norfolk --the Hague

Here are a couple of small canvases of an interesting view across water with steeples and trees. Its called The Hague, looking north from Hague Park across Smith Creek with Mowbray Arch on the right. You can see this crossing the bridge on West Brambleton Avenue between sections of downtown Norfolk.

Both are available at The Art Works on Bute Street.

Pastel Portrait

Here is my latest pastel of proprietor Anton Muraviov of The Art Works Gallery of Bute Street in Norfolk.

--Jack

Rudee Morning

24 x 36 inch oil painting on linen  SOLD

This is a nice morning view of the Rudee Inlet Jetty, sans surfers, before the day got too far along.  As I was observing the waves, so were several guys on their phones calling in the troops.  When I returned later in the day there three dozen surfers enjoying the rough wave action. Seems there are several ways to enjoy our ocean. Now someone gets to enjoy this painting of mine, which was my pleasure to experience from start to finish. Thank you!

Rudee Afternoon

Rudee Afternoon --Surfing near Rudee Inlet one November afternoon
30 X 40 inch oil on canvas

I've several images completed of Rudee Inlet during a recent nor'easter. I've tamed the waves and added surfers after witnessing dozens of these brave souls with wet suits that afternoon and on subsequent days. This painting is at the Stravitz Gallery on Laskin Avenue for their Water Show

Rudee Nor'easter

9 x 12 inch oil on linen SOLD

One Sunday morning in early November I dropped off Antoinette at First Presbyterian at 7:30 and then I went down south to Rudee Inlet. It was raining so I waited a while but finally got out and saw the jetties and waves, and then later in the afternoon I came back and boy! --it was cranking! That was fun to see. Large waves crashing on the rocks is not something we have too often here. Of course, by the afternoon there were quite a few surfers out south of the inlet with nice action.

The Woman at the Well

On our trip to Pittsburgh last week we stopped at art museums in Richmond and Washington, DC. At the National Gallery of Art I found inspiration to start a little 10 x 18 oil. It's not from one of the paintings from the NGA that I'm talking about, although there was plenty of that kind of inspiration, but it was just a quick glimpse and iPhone photo of one of their beautiful water fountains where I caught a reflection of Antoinette in the brass.  At the NGA, even the water fountains are works of art. So I'm calling it The Woman at the Well. This is the fountain on the main floor in the northeast corner of the original building --on the end near the modern art wing and at the elevator.

Here is a shot of my first paint, --there's a bit more detail that I'll include, but I feel this is a happy start.

Delivered Portrait

I'm happy to say that I've delivered a portrait today and everyone is delighted.  This beautiful young woman posed for me and sat several times for this 20 X 30 inch oil on linen.

I've several new portraits underway and a new large canvas for a church --a complex scene of working children on the Sea of Galilee with Jesus visiting.  I've made several such large paintings for churches and am looking for more ways to follow through with plenty of other ideas. If you are interested, I'll send you details.

Mother Earth

Last week's plein air paining event in Kinston was lots of  fun, although the timing was difficult with so much activity in the city with crews getting ready for the weekend festival.  I mentioned how noisy it was as I made my first pastel at the bridge (River Willows was the only item I offered for sale at the show) -well, painting on the downtown side of the river was even worse as the grass was getting cut, tents and tables were set up, etc., etc.  We experienced a range of weather, too, from a very cool day on Wednesday to a pretty warm afternoon on Friday and it was breezy all that time.  I had a couple of incidents that strong gusts blew over my panels and they fortunately landed with the wet side up!  I always tell people that the way to spot a real Monet is to look for dust, dirt and bugs in the paint.  As someone who mainly works inside and ventures outside in mostly fair weather, I can appreciate the work of others who persevere in the worst conditions to paint on location.

Here is Mother Earth Squared  --Mother Earth visiting Mother Earth --a 10" by 10" oil

River Willows

This was fun to do. Mostly, it is being present to -- attending to a view of these hardy trees and standing for two hours in one place listening and watching and painting. By the way, this is a noisy place!

On to the next image( in the shade) and back to The Nature Center to make a labyrinth this afternoon -- helping a Girl Scout project.


Pictures to come!