Outer Banks Vacation

This painting is a 4x6 oil on wood and is a perfect introduction to explain my two addresses, Virginia Beach and Nags Head. It is also a work that was in the 16th Annual Miniature Show at the Seaside Gallery in Nags Head and sold to a family from California on vacation in the area.
I am very fortunate to own homes in both sites, and they are only 91 miles apart. As my wife and I are now both fully retired, we have the luxury of changing addresses at the "drop of a hat".
This particularly home is an example of the disappearing scenes on the Outer Banks as the newer and more expensive homes are taking their place(and aren't very good artistic subjects).
Our home is about a 1000 yards from the ocean, but backed up on two sides to a National Wildlife preserve....hence, deer, fox and other "critters" abound. But the lovely thing is that I am able to paint in spot about 30' in the air overlooking these sights....while not worrying about my messy garage and yardwork that is needed done back in Virginia Beach!

Favorite Links

Here are my favorite links for artists wishing to investigate/discuss miniature art:

http://www.miniatureartshows.com/ The ultimate guide to available miniature shows, together with a wealth of brilliantly put together information on so many aspects of miniature art.

http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/miniatureart/ A discussion group, which you must join to see or participate. Lots of frank discussions where you have to be willing to do "give and take" knowing that it is only a discussion. Great place to get answers to questions, works critiqued, etc. The site also has a growing list of files and links that just have to be looked at.

Here are links to the galleries that I am in year-round that have web sites:

http://www.theartistsgallery.org/ Artists Gallery, Virginia Beach
http://www.vincenthestergallery.com/ Vincent Hester Gallery, Portsmouth Virginia
http://www.skipjacknauticalwares.com/ Skipjack Gallery, Portsmouth Virginia
http://www.seatreegallery.com/ Sea Tree Gallery, Nags Head North Carolina
My newest gallery, Sailor's Craft in Lewisburg, West Virginia is not online as of yet

My Interests?

My favorite things to paint? Well it is like asking me what do I want to do when I grow up? at 68 years of age, I haven't figured that out yet either!



Just examples of the variety of subjects that I try. All sold, so I guess it works! Oh, like most of my works...they are 4x6 oil on wood.

One Person Gallery Show.....and

(click on image for larger view)

In July 2007, the culmination of my acceptance as a miniature artist in this area was being asked to do a one month, one person show at one of our more prestigious galleries in the Hampton Roads area. I literally was the first miniaturist to ever be asked to do this and was furthered honored to have a lovely newspaper article done in two of our five city magazines that are large inserts into our daily newspaper.

There is no intent to "brag" by the above....only simply the fact that it has taken five years of outdoor shows and various gallery associations to find a gallery willing to "take a chance" on one of their monthly shows(which are well publicized in this area) with these "tiny works". Simply put, volume sales at lower prices can often outdo larger works at higher prices....but it takes a courageous gallery owner to take that chance and in this case....she won based on the public's reaction to the show. Now I can say that I am a permanent "artist on display" in four galleries between Virginia and North Carolina.

Nice Press Coverage

I am adding this only to show that the Hampton Roads area is a nice place for an artist to reside as the local paper(voted number one in the state) and its circulation extends all the way to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The "Hampton Roads area" consists of the cities of Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth and Suffolk.

This particular article appeared in two of the five city "inserts", which meant it got to about 250,000 households. Did it work? As the gallery said, the best ever crowd for an opening and the most sales on opening night!

I must add that this occured because of the gallery owner who had the "connections" necessary for this to happen. She has been an absolute "jewel" with my career from offering me advice as how to better display my works at outdoor shows to pricing suggestions as my works improve. She has even recommended me to other galleries! How many artists get that kind of reception from a gallery owner these days. She is also one of the biggest advocates of my doing two large outdoor shows that occur just blocks away from her gallery!........and some galleries absolutely forbid such things.

Potpourri of Works....or What do you like to do?

The following are some of this year's work....many which received most detailed critiques from artists "way beyond" my expertise..and to whom I forever indebted. The far right are four of my four submissions to Miniature Art Society of Florida show in January 2008. My toes & fingers are crossed. Note the smaller than normal size for me.




Still lifes completed for my last big outdoor show of the year this weekend(25/26 Aug)....but works I want to redo on ivorine...with more attention to detail for possible competition submission




Very popular subjects at shows....wine bottle stills. Love doing them(old Navy man talking!) Both targets for ivorine and more attention to detail for miniature shows.


I might add...all my works do NOT get the awesome attention a show piece gets(magnifier, sanding, rework, etc). Most are painted so that general public can appreciate with eyes...and from some distance.

Love doing tug boats! Wouldn't let them come near me on my destoyers...but they are hard working and beautiful subjects. Like to paint them with the respect they are due.






This is a particular favorite as this is what the US Naval Academy waterfront looked like when I was there from 1958-1962.






These four represent what the bulk of my works usually are......scenes from the Outer Banks for use in a Nags Head gallery that I am in....and a very large annual outdoor show in Manteo, NC