I attended the Portrait Society Academy this week-end in Chattanooga.  It was GREAT!  I joined the Portrait Society about two months ago and this was my first event.  I learned so much.  I didn't paint, I listened and watched.  Friday Night, three internationally known artists took their place in front of their easels.  A model  was there for them to paint and paint they did for three hours.  We watched and during breaks, we visited the easels and studied their work more intensely. We saw how they worked, the brushes they used and their palettes, it was wonderful.  Marc Shatov, Seth Haverkamp and Dawn Whitelaw were the artists who were in the paint off.  Saturday, Michelle Dunaway did a demonstration and after lunch Dawn Whitelaw lectured on Practical Insights to Skin Tones, it was so helpful.  A Panel Discussion followed with Mark, Dawn and Michelle answering pre-submitted questions concerning artist's struggles in painting people.They had the same questions that I had, very informative.  We finished with a critique of attendee's works.  The attendee's works were outstanding.  I loved every minute of this week end.  The time I wasn't at the Academy, I was staying with my sweet and wonderful cousin, like I said, I enjoyed every minute of my time in Chattanooga.  Thank you Debbie & Larry and the Portrait Society. 

Saturday Morning I was back out painting in Clarksville.  I painted at the Spur Line Park (last Photo).  We had to turn in our Paintings at 4:00 and head out to the Quick Draw.  The Awards and Reception started at 6:00.  I placed 3rd with the very first painting I did on Friday.  Rock by the River (First Photo).  The middle photo is of the members of the Chestnut Group that painted in the 2Rivers Event. The Chestnut Group is a nonprofit alliance of landscape artists and friends dedicated to the conservation & preservation of vanishing landscapes in Middle Tennessee. http://chestnutgroup.org/

Chestnut Tiffany Foss place 1st, Patsy Sharp 2nd, my self 3rd and Chestnut Barbara Joines Honorable Mention.  Tiffany Foss also placed 1st in the Quick Draw.  It was a fun event and I'm looking forward to next year.

I got two paintings done today and I'm pretty happy with the results.  The Reception and Wet Paint Sale is tomorrow, - - -  Tree of Life Center, 30 Crossland Ave., this Saturday Oct. 21, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Most artworks will be for sale. And all the artist will be there.
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After I painted the first painting this morning, I went to lunch.  While I was sitting there, I felt a bug crawling up my jeans (inside the jeans on my leg).  So I  pinched it up in my jeans.  It was a really big bug, I sure didn't want to loose again - - - so I squished it.  The thing had to have been an inch in diameter and he was full of liquid.  The photo is of my wet finger prints on my jeans.  It was an awful cold, very wet feeling under those jeans. My leg was wet for about 30 minutes. The wet spots were as big as my thumb.  So GROSS !   

I started a new painting, I've wanted to try this one for a while.  I have the two shows coming up in January and February and I need some new, large works.  So, it's a still life and it's 20" x 24".  I do very few still life paintings.  I'm liking it so far. 

Today at the Chamber I did a short demo on Plein Air painting and Plein Air equipment.  Three artists came and two will be painting with me in Clarksville this week end.   I'll be in the studio tomorrow!  It was a very good day.

I framed five pen and inks today.  They will be added to the other paintings waiting for my first exhibit for 2018. The exhibit will be at the DAC in January and then they go to Hopkinsville Community College in February.  I have six more pen & inks to get framed along with  three large paintings. David is making my frames for me now and they look great.  I had a very good day.

Monday - I painted Plein Air in Clarksville with Friends, finished two small paintings 6" x 12 and 8" x 8"
Tuesday - I finished a plein painting that I had started but didn't come close to finishing, 11" x 14".
Wednesday - I went to take photographs for an up coming commission piece.
Thursday - I worked on frames for the Dec. show at the DAC
Friday - I met with the 2River Painters in Clarksville for our monthly meeting.  And it was GREAT!  

It was a wonderful week and I hope next week is as productive and fun as this one was.  Have a great week end everyone.  

I painted on Riverside Drive this morning in Clarksville.  I enjoyed the cloudy morning and painted until about 1.  The sun came out and it got HOT fast.  Then we had a nice lunch on the river.  Beautiful day and good company = great day.

I'll be painting in the 2Rivers Paint Out again this year in Clarksville, TN., my hometown.  
2Rivers Paint Out
Clarksville, TN
Oct. 20 & 21, 2017

To Register Contact Ellen Kanervo at (931) 551-8870 or kanervoe@apsu.edu
You can pay fees and sign wavier form when you sign in. Or
You can register, pay fees and sign up at the event.
Registion 9 til 12 Friday and Saturday at the DAC
96 Franklin St.
Clarksville, TN

This one is finally finished, it has been sitting in my studio for a while now.  Everyone who comes into the studio thinks it's David, but it's not.  Just another bluegrass musician from one of the festivals we attended in Georgia.  I'm glad it's done and off the easel.  It was a fun one to do.  

I have a new sidewalk in front of my studio and new placement of my drawing boards inside.  I got to work today on a watercolor and the drawing boards are working out GREAT!  I'm so happy with it, everything with in reach.