Sketches

I never thought about the beauty in rough drawings, sketches and initial ideas that go into creating the first steps of a new painting. However, once one of my sketches was chosen for an art exhibit this summer, I decided to take another look at these pieces and their own worth and beauty as stand alone pieces of art. Here's the piece that was chosen for the show:

Wander

Right now, the world can be a scary, uncertain place full of danger. It's easy to feel small, insignificant and helpless in times like these. People seem to be drifting further apart and losing faith in each other. It may feel like we are just wandering aimlessly. 

Chris Stapleton's song, "Traveller" sums it up best:

I'm just a traveller on this earth

Sure as my heart's behind the pocket of my shirt

I'll just keep rolling 'till I hit the dirt 

Cause I'm a traveller 

I believe we have a choice. Yes, our time here is limited. We can choose whether we take the journey by ourselves, or we choose to let others go with us. We can choose love or hate.  Parts of journey will be wonderful, others depressing, but if we're traveling together, it will make the bumps a little easier to bear.

So, when you're walking in the middle of nowhere, feeling alone and not sure where the sky ends and ground begins, I hope you realize you aren't alone, and there is something bigger and more wonderful than you are that will help guide you. I wish you faith, hope and love as you seek the grace and direction to put one foot in front of the other.  

To remind us all of this part of our travels, I give you "Wander". 

Retirement Painting

I was honored to be commissioned to paint this painting. It was a teacher's retirement present. It has special meaning because the painting is of the view from her window at school every day. It's wonderful to help capture special memories.

Disappearing Frog Project

My latest painting will go the Museum of Life and Science in Durham as part of the Disappearing Frog Project, which raises awareness about the decline of frogs and other amphibians around the world.  Hope you like "Red Eyed Tree Frog"!

Day Thirty

I made it! Day 30 of the #30paintingsin30days challenge is "Flat Top Manor", which is part of the Moses Cone Memorial Park at Milepost 294 on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Day Twenty-nine

Day twenty-nine of the #30paintingsin30days challenge is "Deer in the Mist", which is a common site along the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Day Twenty-Eight

Day twenty-eight of the #30paintingsin30days challenge is "Hofauger House", which is part of Explore Park off Milepost 115.

Day Twenty-Seven

Day twenty-seven of the #30paintingsin30days challenge is "Fall Drive". As you leave the Boone area and head towards Deep Gap there are lots of beautiful scenes.

Day Twenty-Six

Day twenty-six of the #30paintingsin30days challenge is "Gully Creek Trail", which is at Cumberland Knob around Milepost 217 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Cumberland Knob was the site where the construction of the Blue Ridge Parkway began.

Day Twenty-five

Day twenty-four of the #30paintingsin30days challenge is "Waterrock Knob", which is near Milepost 451 on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Day Twenty-four

Day twenty-four of the #30paintingsin30days challenge is "Moonlight and Moonshine". Tucked away at Mabry Mill are several vignettes including this still.

Day Twenty-three

Day twenty-three of the #30paintingsin30days challenge is "Snowy Swim at Mabry Mill". I think this one might be one of my favorites!

Day Twenty-two

Day twenty-two of the #30paintingsin30days challenge is "Price Lake", which is part of the Julian Price Park at Milepost 297 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Remember half the sales from this series goes to Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway. All the paintings can be viewed together at yessy.com/stonemarstudio/

Day Twenty-one

Day twenty-one of the #30paintingsin30days challenge is "Dark-eyed Junco", which are being seen more and more in this region.

Day Twenty

Day twenty of the #30paintingsin30days challenge is "Fancy Gap". This crossover is near Milepost 199.5 on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Day Nineteen

Day nineteen of the #30paintingsin30days challenge is "Spinning Wheel". This is a scene from the grounds at Mabry Mill.

Day Eighteen

Day eighteen of the #30paintingsin30days challenge is "Wild Turkey". You can see all the paintings in the challenge at yessy.com/stonemarstudio/

Day Seventeen

Day seventeen of the #30paintingsin30days challenge is "Blowing Rock View". My family and I went to hike the area on an extremely foggy day. Just as we got to a viewing area, the sun came out and the fog began to lift. It was amazing to see. There's lots to see in the Blowing Rick area (off Mileposts 292-298).

Day Sixteen

Day sixteen of the #30paintingsin30days challenge is "June Rhododendron". This is a 9" x 12" watercolor.

Day Fifteen

Day fifteen of the #30paintingsin30days is "Grandfather Mountain".

Day Fourteen

Day fourteen of the #30paintingsin30days challenge is "Linville Falls" near Milepost 317 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. One of my favorite stops on my honeymoon.

Day Thirteen

Day Thirteen of the #30paintingsin30days challenge is "Brinegar Cabin" which is near Milepost 239 on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Day Twelve

Day twelve of the #30paintingsin30days is "Doughton Park" at around Milepost 240 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. This place is extra special to me because it's where I got engaged years ago. Check out yessy.com/stonemarstudio/ to see all the pieces of artwork together.

Day Eleven

Day eleven of the #30paintingsin30days challenge is "Groundhog Mountain Tower". The observation tower is near Milepost 189 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Remember, 1/2 the sales from the paintings in this series go to Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway. You can see all the paintings together at yessy.com/stonemarstudio/

Day Ten

I'm a third of the way through the #30paintingsin30days challenge! Today's painting is of one of my favorite spots at Groundhog Mountain on the BRP. "Groundhog Mountain View" is an 11" x 14" acrylic.

Day Nine

Day nine of the #30paintingsin30days challenge is "Linn Cove Viaduct" which is at Milepost 304 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. This acrylic painting is 8" x 8". You can see all the paintings together at yessy.com/stonemarstudio/

Day Eight

 Day eight of the #30paintingsin30days challenge is "Mabry Mill in May". When you're doing a Blue Ridge Parkway painting series you have to paint the iconic Mabry Mill. This watercolor is 12" x 16" on watercolor paper.

Day Seven

Day seven of the #30paintingsin30days challenge is "Evening Ride". This is an 8" x 8" acrylic on wrapped canvas. Driving along the parkway at dusk in early summer when the air is fragrant and the sunlight lingers is a always a special treat.

Day Six

Day six of the #30paintingsin30days challenge is "Craggy Gardens" which are at Milepost 364 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. This is a 9" x 12" watercolor.

Day Five

The Day Five painting in the #30paintingsin30days is "Mayberry Trading Post". This old country store, established in 1892, is off the BRP near Milepost 180. This watercolor is 12" x 16" and is on watercolor paper.

Day Four

Day four of the #30paintingsin30days challenge is "Pond at Mabry Mill". The mill itself is beautiful, but there's a lot to see around the mill itself too. I recommend that you  don't just ride by, but stop and take the time to walk around the mill, especially on days when they are doing demonstrations or showcasing music. Mabry Mill is at Milepost 176 on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

" Pond at Mabry Mill" is  a 9" x 12" acrylic painting on wrapped canvas. Half the sales of these paintings go to Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Day Three

Today's #30paintingsin30days painting is "Puckett Cabin", a 12" x 16" watercolor of Orelena Puckett's Cabin near Milepost 190 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Mrs. Puckett was a midwife for almost 50 years and helped deliver over 1,000 babies. Check out yessy.com/stonemarstudio/ for more details about this painting. 27 paintings to go!

Day Two

Today is day two of the #30paintingsin30days challenge. We are blessed to leave near the Blue Ridge Parkway and a quick way to get there is at Orchard Gap, at Milepost 193. The lay of the land changes briefly, and houses and cabins can be seen dotting the landscape. It's always a beautiful, relaxing place to stop along the BRP. Today's painting, "Orchard Gap" is an 11" x 14" acrylic on wrapped canvas.

Check out yessy.com/stonemarstudio/ for more information. Only 28 days to go!

Day One

Happy New Year! Today is the first day of the #30paintingsin30days challenge. All of the paintings in this challenge will be for sale and half of the sales will go to Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Today's painting is of the Bluemont Presbyterian Rock Church at milepost 192 on the parkway. If you aren't familiar with the rock churches or Reverend Bob Childress, you owe it to yourself to read The Man Who Moved a Mountain. It will give you an important perspective about the history and culture around Buffalo Mountain in Virginia. This painting is titled "Bluemont Rock Church" and is a 12" x 16" watercolor.

Half of the sales from the paintings in this challenge will go to Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway, a wonderful organization that helps the NPS maintain the parkway.  Go to http://www.yessy.com/stonemarstudio/30in30in201.html  for pricing details.  Only 29 more paintings to go!