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Plein-Air Richmond:

 

This summer began with my involvement in Plein-Air Richmond. Artists from various parts of the country submit work in advance to be accepted, and I was fortunate again this year to achieve participation. Along with twenty-five other painters (only six of us were from Richmond), five days in late June were spent on suggested locations around the city, culminating in a juried exhibition and competition.  Here's some of the work I produced: 

 

Morning on Main Street 

Oil on canvas, 2017

11x114" canvas size framed in black with gold liner, 3" width

 

This was painted over the course of two mornings near the corner of Meadow and Main Street. Across the street is the iconic Sticky Rice restaurant. 

Painting on Main Street, using my car as a portable studio. You can see the top of  Stickey Rice over the hatch of my car. 

As I was standing on Main Street to paint the other scene, I couldn't help but notice the charming Main Street Mercantile Barber Shop to my left. The friendly owner took the photo of me painting, and we chatted a bit. I was welcome to use their facilities and refill my water bottles, which is an opportunity you never turn down when painting in outdoor locations!

 

One of the barbers agreed to sit for a few moments during his break, and I quickly sketched him in pencil on a small pad.  After he went inside, I translated the pencil sketch into a quick painted figure in my painting, and the pose inspired the title of my next painting, Barber Break.