Gesso Just So

Corn Maze II

2012-02-05T12:20:00.001-08:00

Here there is a bit more done to the piece, still though, lots to work out.

Corn Maze

2012-01-16T18:16:00.000-08:00

Work in progress. Oil on linen, 18" x 24.'

Arthur Wayne Corle

2011-12-11T19:27:00.000-08:00

A.W. Corle, oil on masonite.

In Memoriam (Easter, 1915)

The flowers left thick at nightfall in the wood
This Eastertide call into mind the men,
Now far from home, who, with their sweethearts, should
Have gathered them and will do never again.

Edward Thomas

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells

2011-11-26T17:24:00.001-08:00

"Jingle Bells" oil on masonite 4" x 4."

This is just a real quick 30 minute painting I did today at the Locality Gallery in Bedford PA.

Study For a Portrait

2011-10-23T00:15:00.000-07:00

Drawing at Shepherd University

2011-10-12T20:05:00.001-07:00

Conte Crayon on paper.

Deer Skull

2011-10-11T20:49:00.001-07:00

Oil on masonite.

Drawing at Shepherd University

2011-09-28T20:27:00.000-07:00

Carnival Prophet, Angel On a V-Twin

2011-09-04T15:14:00.000-07:00

Oil on linen, 12x14.

Alice at four

2011-08-15T21:07:00.000-07:00

"Alice" Oil on canvas.

My old friend Neil wrote about his nest, and how that is about to become empty in a week or two. That got me thinking about my youngest daughter who is approaching her final year in college. How quickly the years pass!

Renewal

2011-08-14T19:00:00.001-07:00

This afternoon my daughter and I were out running an errand and drove to Boonsboro. I have not been down alt 40 since maybe March. I figured we would have a look at an old house I painted a couple of winters ago. The last time I saw it, the place seemed dark and kind of spooky inside. For years the same old rusty 1953 Pontiac sat out front, and someone seemed to be trying to make a go of it with the house, and the car. Some time last year, the people and the car disappeared. The old house was a wreck. So today, I was very surprised (and Happy) to see the old house was occupied and completely renovated. I was so surprised I drove past the house thinking that I must be looking at the wrong property. On my second pass, I could see a large screen TV on in the living room, the house was full of life again.

Here is a a short film my daughter Alice made of me talking about that house, and other stuff:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRIf4S1es04

Carnival Prophet

2011-08-11T20:23:00.000-07:00

Oil sketch on linen. 12 x 14.

Lighter #2

2011-08-07T18:51:00.001-07:00

"Lighter #2," oil on masonite 3" x 2.5"

Glass Door Knob

2011-07-19T21:51:00.000-07:00

Pencil on paper.
Another artifact from my travels in Pennsylvania, an old glass door knob from Edinboro.

Peterbilt Study

2011-07-06T19:02:00.000-07:00

Oil on masonite.

Peterbilt parked and abandoned in Breezewood PA.
You can see it here from a distance.

Chester C. Waller

2011-07-05T20:40:00.001-07:00

Last April I came across a dusty old photo of a soldier, his dog tags, and a medal, in an antique shop in Edinboro Pennsylvania. The soldier's name was inscribed on the medal. A Google search turned up the life of Chester C. Waller, a physician and skilled surgeon from Vermont. He went to war in France in May of 1918. Before the war, Dr. Waller attended the Methodist Seminary in Montpelier Vermont, attended medical school in Burlington Vermont, and graduated from the Baltimore Medical College in Maryland in 1898. He had 3 children, his first wife died in 1911, a few years after his daughter was born. He remarried in 1913. From there I know little else about Dr. Waller.

The photo on the left is of Dr. Waller in profile, I found it while doing a Google search. My painting is on the right. I am still working on that. Some day I may learn what became of the good doctor and his family.

Pontiac, Greencastle PA

2011-06-19T19:11:00.001-07:00

Oil on masonite.

I saw this car resting in a field on Rt 11 yesterday afternoon. Just beyond this car is acres and acres of tall corn.

The Stockade Art Club

2011-06-03T23:18:00.000-07:00

Tonight Dorothy and I drove to Bedford PA and sat in with the Stockade Art Club. Great live music, artists, models, wine and beer(iced tea for me), it was quite a night.

Centralia Fragment

2011-05-31T19:14:00.001-07:00

Untitled, oil on brick.

A brick from a Centralia Pennsylvania home. Perhaps a knob that opened a door to a little sister's or brother's bedroom in that home. I can only imagine how many holiday seasons were enjoyed in that house. One has to wonder what became of all of those families that were forced to leave. All that remains are sidewalks that lead past empty lots, and beneath it all burns a mine fire.

Wandering Pennsylvania

2011-04-29T19:52:00.000-07:00

Abandoned truck and motel.

I just got back home. I spent a week in north west Pennsylvania. This week I stayed at my daughters' apartment, and took a bunch of walks and short drives around the area just south of Erie PA. If you don't hunt, fish, enjoy snowmobiles, or working with your hands, this area is not much fun. This is an enormous rural area that has changed very little in several generations.

Greencastle PA

2011-04-19T11:12:00.000-07:00

A fellow watching civil war reenactors in Greencastle PA.

Pencil Sharpener

2011-04-16T21:26:00.000-07:00

"Pocket Knife" oil on masonite 6"x 8."

This was a pocket knife that belonged to my father-in-law. It is one of a few odds and ends he had in a small drawer at the end of his life. Judging by the wear, this little knife was in service for many years, prying open paint cans, splicing wires, or whatever else was needed to be done quickly. He liked to have first crack at most repairs around the house. The knife has been re-purposed as a pencil sharpener, and mostly spends time in my bag with drawing supplies.

Mennonite sketch

2011-04-12T20:32:00.000-07:00

Mennonite girl, Greencastle Pennsylvania.

Rick IV

2011-04-05T19:28:00.000-07:00

"Portrait of Rick Mullin" oil on linen 12 x 16.

Rick III

2011-03-31T20:35:00.000-07:00

Kind of a lousy image, but it is too late and I don't care. I need to get some shut eye. This piece is not done yet, a few more glazes and bits to work on. This piece over took my water tank. I'll return to that in the next week or so. Saturday, Amy and I are headed to the wilds of Bedford PA in search of more people/places to paint.

Sketching at Shepherd

2011-03-30T20:33:00.000-07:00

It was a really cruddy night to be out, but a nice night for drawing over at Shepherd University. I hope we saw the last snow of the season tonight!

Evenings with an old friend

2011-03-24T18:08:00.000-07:00

Spending these past few nights with this painting have been wonderful. I have known Rick about 30 years. This process puts me way back, years and years ago, and back again to a night not so long ago, having dinner downtown with Rick and Amy, waiting for the Mummers Parade to begin.

Rick

2011-03-22T18:36:00.000-07:00

"Rick" oil on Linen.

Been reading Huncke, by Rick Mullin. He has a very entertaining, and thought provoking blog, where he has but his life into incredible verse.

Chambersburg Diner

2011-03-16T15:12:00.000-07:00

Amy and I tried out another old diner last weekend. Johnnie's is on the south end of Chambersburg PA., near some old run down factories, and the main rail lines coming into town along on Route 11. Last night we decided to meet there after work, since it is on the way home. I started this drawing before Amy arrived at Johnnie's. There may be some plein air painting happening there soon since there is more daylight.

Sketching at Shepherd

2011-03-15T21:22:00.000-07:00

Figure

2011-03-09T19:48:00.000-08:00

From a local figure drawing night.

Maddox

2011-02-12T20:10:00.001-08:00

"Maddox" pencil on paper.
I am kinda house bound today due to the worst head cold in years. Hopefully tomorrow I will be able to have a look at a busted bus in a grove of trees in Pennsylvania. Anyway, this kid looks how I feel!

In The Pipeline III

2011-01-29T13:13:00.001-08:00

In The Pipeline II

2011-01-26T18:47:00.000-08:00

Still working on this one.

In the Pipeline

2011-01-18T11:03:00.001-08:00

"Water Tank"" 28 x 28, Oil on linen. A work in progress.

Ad hoc Modeling

2010-12-30T15:21:00.001-08:00

Ball point pen on paper.

I think the local Urgent Care is one of the best places to draw people. This afternoon my daughter was there for a sprain. The waiting room was loaded with people and we had lots of time on our hands. These two men were the most interesting people in the room. The man on the left is 98 years old, the fellow on the right is a mechanic.

Last of The Year

2010-12-28T20:00:00.000-08:00

"Water Tank"" 28 x 28, Oil on linen.
This is the last start for the year and maybe the first painting of 2011 for me. Hoping for a better year ahead.

Here is where the tank can be seen, off in the distance.

Drawing At Shepherd

2010-12-01T19:53:00.001-08:00

Another terrific Wednesday evening drawing session at Shepherd. Tonight I carpooled with my lovely friend Caroline. We had a super time, and lots of laughs on the way down and back.

Black Friday

2010-11-26T21:06:00.001-08:00

A little drive in the country and some hiking on this black Friday, a good day for self reflection. I stayed in tonight, and finished up this drawing.

Study For A Portrait

2010-11-15T21:26:00.001-08:00

I am in the process of working on drawings for a portrait. I was lucky enough to find a very good subject while visiting my daughters in Edinboro PA. I have not done many portraits in the last 10 or so years, so this will be exciting.

A Drawing Started

2010-11-14T19:59:00.001-08:00

My Sunday so far after dishes and coffee.

Drawing Night

2010-11-10T19:27:00.000-08:00

I went to draw at Shepherd tonight with the Wednesday night drawing group. I only seem to be able to make it there once every couple of months or so, which is frustrating.

Oopsy Daisy

2010-11-03T19:51:00.000-07:00

"Planter" Oil on clipboard.

Rick

2010-10-31T18:05:00.000-07:00

"Rick Mullin" pencil and white chalk.

This is a quick sketch of my friend Rick Mullin. He was in town for the Mummers Parade on Saturday. Rick is a incredibly gifted writer, his blog is one of my daily stops on he internet.

Mobtown Bobber

2010-09-25T22:26:00.000-07:00

"Little Bastard" oil on canvas, 60" x 42."

This bike belongs to Tim Sneed of Baltimore, Maryland. Tim is a custom builder with a shop that is loaded with great old bikes and a killer old Seeburg jukebox. Here is Tim's shop.

Midnight, Funkstown MD.

2010-09-19T20:47:00.000-07:00

Oil on Masonite, 10" x 5."

Little Bastard

2010-09-09T21:34:00.001-07:00

"Little Bastard" 60 x 42, oil on canvas.

I have been working on this one off and on for months. The plan is to have it completed in 2 weeks, we'll see.

AG Fair

2010-09-02T18:09:00.000-07:00

"Untitled" oil on masonite, 10 x 6.5.

This man was watching the pig races at the Washington County Agriculture Expo in July.

Drawing Group

2010-09-01T22:02:00.000-07:00

Another sketch from the Wednesday night drawing group. I just might be able to attend a few times a month this year. It is such great practice.

It Must Be Autumn

2010-08-25T19:56:00.001-07:00

Figure drawing sessions have resumed at the local university. Hopefully I can make it more than twice this semester.

State Line, PA

2010-08-08T20:15:00.000-07:00

"Untitled" oil on masonite, 5" x 6."
Closed gas station on Rt. 11 in State Line, Pennsylvania.
Location on Google Maps.

Centralia Pennsylvania

2010-07-13T20:26:00.000-07:00

On my last visit to Centralia PA, these were two of the last few houses still standing. Centralia is the location of a mine fire that has been burning underground since May of 1962. For a very good account of this disaster read David DeKok's book: "Fire Underground: The Ongoing Tragedy of the Centralia Mine Fire."

Pearre, Maryland

2010-07-05T13:13:00.000-07:00

Trailer in the woods just off the Western Maryland Rail Trail, Pearre MD. I am not sure if this is a home, or a little vacation "getaway." There are a number of old abandoned homes and trailers in the woods along the old railroad. This area was once a thriving community during the days of the old C&O Canal.

Silver Star

2010-06-29T07:35:00.000-07:00

"Silver Star" 2" x 2" oil on masonite.

Just about a week ago we attended my father-in-law's funeral at Arlington. He was such a powerful influence in my life, as well as a great friend, I love and miss him so much.

The tiny painting above is of one of two silver stars he earned during the second world war.

Mobtown

2010-06-14T20:35:00.000-07:00

I am still working on this painting. Here is the blog of the owner of this bike. This is going to take a while. My last post on this piece, click here.

Berkeley Springs Wildlife

2010-06-02T22:00:00.000-07:00

This was an interesting fellow I saw at the park in the center of Berkeley Springs, West Virginia. He was sitting on a bicycle, and having a long conversation with a shirtless guy who had the word "PRICK" tattooed in an old English font across his large stomach.

Water Tank

2010-05-22T20:19:00.000-07:00

The Hagerstown Airport.

Location on Google Maps

Hagerstown Square

2010-05-15T20:52:00.000-07:00

This is a guy that was hanging out in the town square this afternoon.

Euclid R 35

2010-05-12T21:16:00.000-07:00

A dump truck parked in a field on Punch Bowl Rd, outside of Mercersburg PA

Location on Google Maps.

Why a drawing of a Euclid Truck? Beats me, it just looked really cool.

Amanda

2010-05-06T22:46:00.001-07:00

Hack Wilson

2010-04-26T21:10:00.001-07:00

"Hack Wilson" Acrylic on 12 gauge steel. 3.5" x 2.5."

Wilson grew up in the Pennsylvania steel mill town of Ellwood City. Although 5'6" tall, he weighed 195 pounds, and had an 18" neck and size-6 shoes. One sports writer wrote that he was built along the lines of a beer keg, and not wholly unfamiliar with its contents.

He finished his 12 year career having played 1,348 games with a lifetime batting average of .307, 244 home runs, and 1,063 RBI. He died in 1948, possibly due to alcoholism complications. He is buried in Rosedale Cemetery in Martinsburg, West Virginia. There is a street in Martinsburg called Hack Wilson Way, in honor of Wilson.

Micro Murals

2010-04-25T15:48:00.000-07:00

Sometime in the next several days, I'll have about a dozen small pieces of art all around downtown Martinsburg, West Virginia. Each piece depicts something that was once part of the town. The pieces are sometimes inconspicuous, and meant to be discovered by people as they walk through town. The location above used to be a J.J. Newberry 5 and 10 store in the 1960s. The art depicts a baseball card that would have been a common item for sale back then. This is a volunteer public art project I developed and have been working on for a couple of years. I worked with Mainstreet Martinsburg, a wonderful group of volunteers that are dedicated to the revitalization of Martinsburg, West Virginia.

Soup and Crackers

2010-04-25T12:57:00.001-07:00

Drawing at Railroad Junction Diner on a Sunday afternoon. This man was chatting with his mother and having a nice quiet afternoon lunch.

Little Bastard

2010-04-20T20:59:00.000-07:00

This is a painting I started a couple of weeks ago. The bike was built by Tim Sneed of Mobtown Cycle, in Baltimore MD. I have a ton of work to do on this piece. The painting is larger than the pieces I have done for the past few years, "60 x 42."

Father and Son

2010-04-14T19:36:00.001-07:00

"Chris and Glenn."
I was going through some boxes in the basement and came across a long forgotten painting of mine that appeared in a concert program for Opportunity Village in Las Vegas, NV. That was about 16 years ago.

Doughboy

2010-04-04T14:15:00.000-07:00

Doughboy statue, Funkstown, MD.

This weekend I used my motorcycle as a place to sit and sketch. It worked out pretty well. My supplies sat in an up turned helmet hanging from the handlebar. The sketchbook rested on the tank. The seat is low, so my feet rest flat on the ground on either side of the bike. During the winter I used my car as a roving studio, but this set up on the bike is actually quite comfortable and very handy.

Rt. 522 Pennsylvania

2010-03-31T19:39:00.001-07:00

I met a farmer near Shirleysburg PA along Rt. 522. This is a drawing of his 1941 Farmall tractor. It has been in continuous service on his farm since 1941.

Mack B Series

2010-03-28T21:16:00.000-07:00

B Series Mack Truck. Parked and rusting along the Lincoln Highway about 10 miles west of Gettysburg, PA. I took a drive on an absolutely miserable day to see a bike show in Gettysburg. After spilling my coffee all over my sketchbook at the Lincoln Diner, I drove west and found this cool old Mack Truck parked along the side of the road next to an old garage.

Le Petit Ecolier

2010-03-09T19:47:00.000-08:00

Oil on masonite.

Along The Old National Pike VI

2010-03-09T10:05:00.000-08:00

"Our Faith" 7 x 10, oil on masonite.

Along The Old National Pike V

2010-02-27T11:28:00.001-08:00

Oil on masonite, 7" x 10." Not quite finished yet. I am going to go by this place soon and see how the last two snow storms have changed the look of the scene.

Along The Old National Pike IV

2010-02-22T20:00:00.001-08:00

Oil on masonite, 7" x 10." Still in progress, did a teeny bit more on Sunday.
Earlier post here.

Along The Old National Pike III

2010-02-17T19:07:00.001-08:00

This is a work in progress, a little more done since the last posting. Oil on masonite. I started with this sketch before the February snow storms.

Google maps location.

Along The Old National Pike II

2010-02-13T12:26:00.000-08:00

This is a piece I am working on based on this drawing.
I have a lot more work to do with this painting.

Cameo

2010-02-10T17:59:00.001-08:00

"Cameo" oil on steel.

Along The Old National Pike

2010-02-03T21:05:00.000-08:00

I enjoy the really old roads, and the National Pike might be my favorite. Last Sunday I went out late in the day looking for something to draw, and I remembered this Pontiac Catalina sitting along old rt 40, just south of Hagerstown.

Zinc White

2010-01-25T18:57:00.001-08:00

"Zinc White" oil on masonite, 3 x 5.

An ancient tube of Utrecht zinc white.

Hagerstown Block in Progress III

2010-01-20T21:01:00.000-08:00

"Hagerstown Block" oil on canvas, 8 x 10. This is a work in progress, here is the previous post.

The Ham Sandwich Guy

2010-01-19T20:48:00.000-08:00

This is a color sketch from the Franklin County Fair. I think every other trailer in the place was selling country ham sandwiches. Late in the afternoon, just after we arrived, they started a large outdoor church service between the rides and rows of tractors. After the service, the fair started.

Location on Google Maps.

A Quick Buck

2010-01-19T20:35:00.000-08:00

Oil on masonite.

Hagerstown City Square

2010-01-19T20:21:00.000-08:00

This is a drawing I did a while ago while sitting in Skyline Coffee on the square in Hagerstown.

Here is the location on Google maps.

Hagerstown Block in Progress II

2010-01-13T20:48:00.000-08:00

"Hagerstown Block" oil on canvas, 8 x 10.
This is a painting I am working on that is based on a sketch from a previous post from 12/7.

Hagerstown Block in Progress

2010-01-04T20:38:00.001-08:00

"Hagerstown Block" oil on canvas, 8 x 10.
This is a work in progress based on a sketch from a previous post from 12/7. It should take a couple more hours or so to complete. I love the late afternoon light on a winter day, and the way shadows of trees smear across the sides of buildings.

Seashell & Glove

2009-12-31T17:26:00.001-08:00

"Seashell" 48 x 48, oil on canvas.

My long gone Seashell and glove. I think this was painted in 1986.

Chili Pepper

2009-12-28T18:49:00.001-08:00

"Chili Pepper" Oil on masonite, 3" x 7.5."

Factory

2009-12-27T14:17:00.000-08:00

"Hagerstown Block"

This is a spot I am going to visit again. I drew this late in the afternoon today, during the golden hour of daylight. Hagerstown Block sits on one of the many rail lines that go through Hagerstown. This particular track is overgrown with weeds and appears to be abandoned. This old business sits in an old well kept blue collar neighborhood of small, well kept homes.

Hagerstown Block website.

Street view on Google Maps

Life Drawing

2009-12-27T11:10:00.000-08:00

Conte and chalk.

Whatzit

2009-12-26T18:50:00.001-08:00

Sketching in front of the TV.

Betty

2009-12-12T20:06:00.001-08:00

"Betty" oil on canvas. 9" x 12." •

Jingle Bell and Peppermint

2009-12-06T19:53:00.000-08:00

"Jingle Bell and Peppermint" 4" x 3.75"

Moments

2009-12-03T20:36:00.000-08:00

"Found Ornament" oil on masonite 3.5" x 5." •

I went through the Christmas stuff this week and found this old ornament at the bottom of a box. We have lots and lots of decorations that we have accumulated over the years, many handmade beauties from the girls, made in elementary school. Some mark points in our history as a family, our first Christmas, the arrival of a baby, or that very cold winter at Boystown in Nebraska. Lots of memories hanging on that tree, one of my favorite parts of the holiday.

Mauginsville, MD

2009-11-30T20:17:00.000-08:00

This is quick sketch I made of a grain elevator while it still stood by the tracks in Maugansville, MD. This is just a couple of miles up the tracks from our house.

See location on Google Maps

Waiting for pizza

2009-11-30T19:57:00.001-08:00

Placemat sketch of a home across from Cafe Italia from 2004.

Google map location.

Hunting Season

2009-11-30T19:42:00.001-08:00

"Double Ought" 2.5" x 3.75."

Construction

2009-11-27T19:26:00.000-08:00

"Untitled" oil on wood panel, 11" x 17." •

This is a painting I made back in 1984. These two men were working on a large renovation project in Hyattsville, MD. They were quite nice about letting me take lots of pictures at the site, I had a real nice time that day.

Ball point pen at the pancake house

2009-11-24T16:24:00.001-08:00

My daughter Alice and I were hanging out tonight at the Perkins in Edinboro Pennsylvania. This gentleman was sitting nearby.

Perkins is very much like the United Nations Institution of Pancake Studies, maybe better pie though :-/

Stick to Your Guns III

2009-11-23T20:17:00.000-08:00

"Colt 44" oil on wood, 14" x 9."
Previous post here and then again here.

Dorothy

2009-11-18T19:29:00.000-08:00

"Dorothy" pencil on paper

This is a sketch I did of my oldest daughter when she almost four years old, so many pushes on the swing ago. I cannot believe she is coming up in her 23rd birthday.

Leaf collection

2009-11-15T19:50:00.001-08:00

"Leaf #3," oil on masonite.

There are lots of things to see, unwrapped gifts and free surprises. The world is fairly studded and strewn with pennies cast broadside from a generous hand. But- and this is the point- who gets excited by a mere penny? If you follow one arrow, if you crouch motionless on a bank to watch a tremulous ripple thrill on the water and are rewarded by the sight of a muskrat kit paddling from its den, will you count that sight a chip of copper only, and go your rueful way? It is dire poverty indeed when a man is so malnourished and fatigued that he won't stoop to pick up a penny. But if you cultivate a healthy poverty and simplicity, so that finding a penny will literally make your day, then, since the world is in fact planted in pennies, you have with your poverty bought a lifetime of days. It is that simple. What you see is what you get.

Annie Dillard
from "Pilgrim at Tinker Creek."

Drawing Group II

2009-11-11T19:31:00.000-08:00

This stuff is so hard after years away from steady weekly sessions. I am thankful to live near a university where a life drawing group is available.