This week's little work, 'Thing-a-ma-bob'. And again, the price is $125.00, unframed, plus $5.00 shipping to any location in the continental US. The overall image size is 4" x 6" and first contact has the option for purchase. Drop me an email at pencilart@juno.com to inquire about this little piece.

'What's' next?

What is it?

Watch and see!

Out and about on Saturday afternoon, just looking for interesting reference and came across a nice old, weathered barn along a back road. Got out to take some shots and heard what sounded like a freight train heading toward me from the back! Turned to see a heard of about 35 dark cattle racing down the hillside behind me, hooves thundering and moving at a fast clip. Had no idea I had such charisma! I have no doubt, these youngsters will show up in a drawing sometime soon.

'Blueberries #1' . . . the first of my little postcard sized studies that will only be avaliable here on the blog. The overall image is 4" x 6", drawn on 4 ply Bristol Board, price $125.00 (unframed). If interested in purchasing this piece, please send an email to me at pencilart@juno.com. Shipping cost to any address in the continental US will be $5.00 additional. First contact will have option for purchase and I will update this blog entry when the work has sold. Hope to have another small work avaliable next week on Friday.

'Compadres' finished and ready to head out of the studio. And, speaking of compadres, a major fund raiser will be taking place shortly for artist friend, Paco Young. Paco has been suffering with leukemia for some time now, going through a series of procedures and working on recovery. A multitude of wildlife artists, including moi, have pitched in and donated small original works of art to both Gallery Jamel in Maryland and Trailside Gallery in Jackson, Wyoming. A web site has been set up by both galleries, displaying the various works that will be available for bidding in an auction type situation . . . http://www.galleryjamel.com/Paco2.html. Some very fine works have already been uploaded to the site and more are on their way over the next three to four weeks. Take a look, you might just be able to bid on a wonderful piece of art and in so doing, help Paco and his family.

A couple of mugs.

With all the craziness of the filming last week, I hardly had any time to work, except for the little bits that we filmed. Anyway, got back to it this afternoon, though did not spend too much time on it today. Will get in good work time tomorrow and expect to finish it up by mid week. Hoping to head out and do some on the road reference work for a few days, maybe toward the end of next week, weather permitting, so want to 'tidy' things up in the studio before then.
The filming experience, now that I am a few days removed from it all, went rather well. I had no idea of what to expect last Wednesday. The guys could not have been nicer and more professional. Of course, in any sort of filming whether it be TV or movies, there is a lot of 'hurry up and wait' time, and there was a fair amount of that here on Thursday and Friday; setting up lights, setting camera angles, 'walking through' set ups . . . all part of the game! I will be anxious to see the finished outcome of it all. Editing will not be done for a couple months, I am told, so in the meantime, will just get on with other things.

Unfortunately, the morning broke with overcast skies and by the time the crew got to my place, it was drizzling quite a bit. We reshot some stuff in the studio and by the time that was 'in the can', the mist had let up enough for us to head out to one of my favorite local (about 6 minutes from my studio) spots, Hashawha Park. With the skies being so grey, there was no one there when we arrived and the guys, Colby and Ofer, began to set up for the first shots, while David (right) looked on. I took advantage of the time to wonder around and get a few shots for reference. Then we got on with the filming.

The four of us were the only ones at the park, except for a passing parade of a Canada goose family.

After about a half hour of 'action stuff', the guys shot a few stills of David and I. I must be saying something important?

Well, the first day of filming went off pretty well today. The two man camera crew drove down from New York this morning and arrived shortly after David Wirth (davidwirth.com), the artist/host of the program, knocked on my door. Before I knew it, lights, camera . . . action! We spent about five hours total, filming in the studio today, conversing about art and Africa and composition and creative influences and much else. It all seemed to go by very easily and I will be anxious to see how it all gets edited together. Colby Gaines and Ofer Zimchi, the camera guys, took turns with set ups to capture some of my finished work, as well as running the 'two shot' angles. Wow, I am now even talking like a TV producer!
David, quite a wonderful sculptor of sport fish both in wood and bronze, was so easy to talk with, I felt at the end of the day that we had known each other for years. So, tomorrow it will be some outdoor shooting, on 'location' as they say, with me doing some field sketching and continuing the discussion from today. More images tomorrow!

Last Saturday evening was the artist reception for the small group show at my Annapolis gallery. The show, 'Line and Light', melds a nice collection of mediums. Along with my graphite works, there are some wonderful, intense and moody pastels by Stan Sperlak, with whom I had an interesting conversation about all things art. Sam Dixon's light and airy watercolor studies of Venice scenes impressed me very much and brought back fond memories of my time in that watery city after graduation from art school. And last, but not least, Linda Volrath showed some masterly rendered still lifes. All in all, a nice show and a nice turn out crowd. The show hangs through the end of this month and you can see some of the works at this link . . . http://mainstreetfineart.com/0705.html.

Well, besides the usual distractions and chaos of the studio this week, I shall be interviewed on Thursday and Friday for a segment of an on going series on the Outdoor Channel on cable TV. 'Wildlife Art Gallery', as the series is being called, will consist of 13 one hour programs devoted to wildlife artists. Each episode will cover two artists for a half hour each. Along with a host of questions about how I do it, why I do it and where and when I do it . . . they will want to film me at work, so I have fleshed out this lion work this afternoon for something to show while they are here later in the week. Not sure when the show will air, but I believe that it will be carried on their new HD (High Definition) channel that they are launching this fall. When I know something more, I will post it here.

A small (image size 6.25" x 12"), just completed commission work.

Interesting shot here . . After some heavy overnight and morning rains on Thursday night and Friday morning, I went out Friday afternoon for some quick sky shots and decided, since the clouds were beginning to break up, to head out to some of my favorite spots to see what was happening. In the course of driving around, wound up at Otterdale Mill and was not at all surprised to see Big Pipe Creek just going to beat the band! Compare this shot to the one from a few days back and you will see just how much water tends to pour over the weir after heavy, sustained rains. The power of water!

'Midwinter', finally completed.

Yesterday afternoon, spent a few hours with friends at a garden party. Just before leaving, there was a bit of a stir as this little creature was discovered, wriggling through the grass. Identified as a young black snake, several took turns holding it up for the admiring crowd and of course, I had to run and get my camera to get a few shots. Who knows, it may turn up in a drawing someday soon!

Yes, I did not complete the current work as planned last week, too many weekend distractions! Anyway, hope to have a finished shot of it either later today or tomorrow. In the meantime, spent a couple hours roaming the countryside near home on Sunday afternoon, seeking some reference material of more commonly identifiable landmarks of the county in which I live for a project to complete several works for review by a local business for addition to their collection. The current mill piece will be one of them, plus maybe two more before the end of this month.
And now, for just a brief comment on a piece of art I saw yesterday at my friend Paula's studio. After our trip across the bay to the Black Water Refuge a week or so ago, she completed a wonderful painting of the late afternoon color and light from that day and I felt, after seeing it yesterday, it really captured the moment completely and with such subtle emotion . . . I stood in front of that canvas and was instantly transported back to that afternoon and the soft sounds and calm nature of it all. A fine, fine painting . . . check it out from this link . . .
http://photos1.blogger.com/img/138/5320/320/307JuneThunder%2816x20%29.jpg