After the Fall

I have been celebrating the Holidays and now to work. I created a larger picture just for a change as I get ready to start painting everyday.

This little girl just had a bad spill on a steer and she was not very happy. She is limping back to the shutes to think things over. Maybe riding steers is not such a great idea, maybe roping would be more fun. We will see.

9"x12" oil on gesso board unframed, $225.00 and I always frame pictures if the customer wants it for an additional fee. Postage prepaid.

The Old Mill Pond

GG's 2007 Road Trip

When Ed Mabry built his water powered mill in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia in the early 1900s how could he possibly imagine that Mabry Mill would become one of the most photographed places in the United States! There are other restored buildings on site including a sorghum mill, a working blacksmith shop and a whiskey still, but the mill is the the star. The mill, the mill pond and even the ducks that swam out onto the water to complete the picture seem almost unreal it is so perfect.
SOLD

6"x6" gesso board unframed. $97.00 postage prepaid

Recyling Memories

GG's Road Trip 2007


Driving across the country there are many touches of the whimsical in the small towns and farms along the road, such as the red white and blue 1940s pick up proudly parked in the middle of a field in Texas, farm equipment as sentinels on the top of a hill in Kansas, an old scarecrow with a top hat but nothing to guard in Missouri. This is one of my favorites. In a field by the entrance to a farm in the Blue Ridge Mountains sits this old red John Deere with a load of red geraniums. A touch of whimsey, a statement, a tip of the hat to a well used item, whatever, it makes us smile in acknowledgment as we pass.

6"x6" on gesso board unframed. $97.00 postage prepaid.

Rider Up

This picture of a young man thinking about his strategy for the upcoming event is all consuming and he will make a good ride because the competition is where his heart is and Good Luck.

6"x12" gesso board, unframed on a cradle of 2". This picture can be placed on a shelf or hung. $97.00 postage prepaid.

Open Studio

I have been away from my blog for awhile but I am back. A new picture is unvailed 12/6/07.

The enclosed picture is my cousin GG and Hazel a great friend at the Open Studio and they have been perusing the pictures on display. We all had a great weekend and met a lot of real nice people.

GG and I have a wonderful new series planned starting the first of the year and I am anxious to get started.

Abandoned

GG's 2007 Road Trip

It takes forever to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway. This old homestead is just one of the reasons for slow travel time. They’ve moved from the old home to just on the brow of the hill behind looking down on the valley. Beside the two lane road I am on is a small meandering creek; off to my left is a big field of gold with two trucks bustling to an old barn sitting at the far end. And, just around the corner is a country store with home made fried apple pies. Another slow travel day.....
6"x6" gesso board unframed. $100.00

Glorious Half Dome

This picture is a commission and it is a copy of a photo which I have taken some liscense with and it is not being sold in the market. I have had great fun with this picture as the water and reflection of the mountain gave the impression that I wanted. I will be back with Road Trip 2007 on the next picture and cannot wait to finish it.

11"x14" oil on gesso board Not For Sale.

Along the Old Valley Pike

GG's 2007 Road Trip

On the Old Valley Pike, aka Highway 11, in the Blue Ridge Mountains. I always wanted to drive through the Shenandoah Valley ever since I saw that old Clark Gable movie many, too many, years ago. I love this!

Beautiful and prosperous looking farms with fields of young corn. I drove off to admire, drive through and take pictures of an old covered bridge; just one more addiction of mine. Corn fields on both sides of the road and across the valley where you can just see a big white barn. It's so quiet and pleasant. The cornfield behind me has a big sign: Maize Quest - The Cornfield Maze Adventure. Maybe I will have to travel this way in the fall. It might not be so quiet then.

6"x8" canvas board unframed, $100.00 postage prepaid.

The Brinegar Cabin

GG's 2007 Road Trip

This is one of my favorites on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The cabin was built by Martin and Caroline Brinegar in 1885 and they lived there until 1935 when the Parkway was constructed. Just down the path is the old spring house. Caroline worked on a rare old loom, must be a century old now. They still do demos on it. Two couples were there at the same time I was, watching the ranger work on the loom and talk about the Brinegars. Carolines maiden name was mentioned and one of the men said that name was in his grandmothers family, an Uncle Thomas or something. Just think, he takes a pleasant weekend drive and ends up with a whole new set of relatives on his family tree. Exciting!

6"x8" on gesso board unframed, $100.00 postage prepaid.

Zion #1

Zion National Park plein air #1

Just throwing this one in and then tomorrow GG's 2007 Road Trip. When you put these paintings on the web you do lose some color but this was great fun. Hope that you enjoy.

9"x12" on gesso board, unframed. $175.00 postage prepaid.

OPA Paintout in Maynard Dixon Country

Through the Thunderbird Foundation, Oil Painters of America sponsored a four day three night paintout. GG and I drove to Mt. Carmel in Utah and stayed in a neat little place called Mt. Carmel Motel. We could elect to paint in Dixon's studio or go out and paint plein air in the beautiful surrounding Southern Utah landscape. Of course we painted outdoors and we had beautiful weather and marvelous scenery. GG took 300 + pictures so there will be many paintings in a series after my ocean to ocean series.

I will be happy to get back to my painting daily so keep watching. I will be putting Utah paintings in every once in awhile.

Happy Trails from Joanne & GG

The Puckett Cabin

GG's 2007 Road Trip

Orelena Puckett and her husband farmed near Groundhog Mountain in the Blue Ridge Mountains just below here when they were first married in 1863. She was 16. In her fifties she became a midwife and continued until she helped deliver her last baby not long before she died at the age of 102!! The Parkway wasn't here, of course, and when she was called on she either walked or rode her horse to help. They say in all those years she never lost a baby or a mother through any fault of hers. However, and this is sad, after assisting in the births of over 1,000 babies none of her 24 children lived past infancy. (1837-1939)

6"x6" oil on gesso board unframed, $100.00 (SOLD)

GG & I will be on a paint out with Oil Painters of America at Mt. Carmel in Utah the 24th of September through October 3, 2007.

Ocracoke Beach

GG's 2007 Road Trip

Just this week Ocracoke Beach was named Americas Best Beach! I am here and I can testify first hand that it is beautiful, the sand is like silk, it isn't crowded and it is a great place to play in the surf. Made a wonderful day and I hate to move on. If I came back next year would it be changed? Sometimes you wish these very special places would stay just a little out of the limelight.

5"x7" oil on gesso board unframed, $100.00 postage prepaid. (SOLD)

Cupcake Heaven

GG's 2007 Road Trip

If I lived in the East Dean and Deluca's just might give Seattle Best and Tully's a battle for my coffee addiction. This particular D & D's in Charlotte has everything...deli, bakery and different foods you just don't find in the average store. We filled our baskets and settled down at a table with our coffee and some Moravian cookies. Next to us this little boy had the same idea only with chocolate milk and a cupcake. If you could have seen his eyes when they brought this giant cupcake and sat it in front of him. Pure Heaven!
6"x6" oil on gesso board unframed, $100.00 postage prepaid.

The Battle of Little Round Top

GG's 2007 Road Trip

This is a beautiful photo, isnt it. And the countryside around Gettysburg is beautiful with the green and gold fields, the old rail fences, the rock walls. It is hard to visualize the battle that raged here in July, 1863 between the Army of the Potomac and the Confederate forces...and the terrible loss of lives in that four day battle. In an account written by a Captain in General Picketts Division, "The destruction of life in the ranks of that advancing host was fearful beyond precendent, officers going down by dozens and the men by scores and fifties." Across this field the Confederate soldiers must charge through the open to attack the Union soldiers dug in at Little Round Top just beyond the grove of trees.

5"x7" oil on canvas board unframed, $100.00 postage prepaid.
SOLD

The Garden of the East

GG's 2007 Road Trip

My day was spent in the old resurrected Colonial town of Williamsburg and I mean my whole day. It actually covers 300 acres, I understand, and I think I walked at least half!

The Governors Palace on the Palace Green is so beautiful and I really wish I could send a picture but as so often happens, those particular shots did not turn out. I was relieved to see that those taken in the Palace Gardens did. It was such a hot day and when I walked to the back of the Palace into the gardens I sat on a bench and soaked up the coolness as well as the beauty. It's laid out in big beds of flowers separated with box hedges and walkways, the beds of red, yellow and blue big rectangles of color. And then these intricate white filigree gates. Lovely!

5:x7" oil on canvas board unframed, $100.00 postage prepaid.

Red Roof Barn

GG's 2007 Road Trip

On my way to the Atlantic I swerved off onto Highway 64. Less traffic, slower pace and much better scenery. This old Barn is so interesting with old hay spilling out of the loft. Just to the side, the old farmhouse peeks shyly through the trees over the brink of a small knoll.

5"x7" oil on canvas board unframed, $100.00 postage prepaid.

Sunset at Morehead City

GG's 2007 Road Trip

Here I sit in Morehead City on the coast of North Carolina waiting for Monday morning when I take the ferry to the Outer Banks! It is a nice place to wait. In the evenings I go down to the waterfront to see what the catch has been on the fishing boats. Sit awhile to watch the fun and have dinner at one of the waterfront restaurants. The sunsets are spectacular.

6"x6" oil on gesso board unframed, $100.00 postage prepaid.

SOLD

Blowing Rock

Along the road to Blowing Rock, North Carolina, a private homeowner has this delightful display of old cars and farm implements. There is an expanse of lawn in front that catches the eye. We came back to see it, no small feat finding a place to turn around.

While I thought the old tractor and rakes were really interesting, the girls went straight to this little convertible. It really is true that a convertible catches a girls eye. Obviiously it doesn't even matter what kind of condition it is in.

5"x7" oil on gesso board unframed, $100.00 postage prepaid.

SOLD

Arnold Valley

Elevation here is 3,510 feet and the valley is 2,710 feet below. The Blue Ridge Parkway has beautiful views like this at every turn of the road and every one has a pullout so you can enjoy them. This one seems special not only for the view, but for this great outcrop of rock. It is friendly enough to crawl up on and sit enjoying the view below..which I did. Down the left side a rock cliff falls at a 90 degree angle and there are beautiful mossy ferns clinging to the rock. You should see this, it is beautiful country!

6"x6" Oil on gesso board unframed for $100.00, postage prepaid.

Missouri Corn Field

I've been following the Mighty Missouri on Highway 90 and when the river turned south at Sioux Falls, so did I. This is new territory for me and it is great. From South Dakota on....corn, corn and more corn. I saw a billboard with a man in a blue shirt standing in the middle of a corn field...the caption: Oil Fields of Missouri. Being a farm girl, I really do love the good looking farms with the newly turned soil ready for the crop. I took an exit so I could take this picture and I drove over five miles before the road accessed the highway again.

This oil is on gesso board 5"x7" unframed. The cost is $100.00 - postage prepaid

COUNTRY & CITY

GG's 2007 Road Trip
The wide open spaces always intrigue me. Living in the Pacific Northwest with a llimited long distance view I love that you can be driving through range or farmland and in the distance see the city.

This 6"x6" oil on gesso board unframed is for sale for $100.00 - postage prepaid

SOLD

HOMEWARD BOUND

This is the first painting in a new series called Road Trip 2007. My paintings and the accompanying stories will follow my cousin GGs travels across America this summer.

HOMEWARD BOUND
During a visit to the Gettysburg battlefield I turned to look across an open field to see a group of cows grazing framed by shrubby trees along the fence line. I aimed the camera to catch them when suddenly all of the cows looked up and turned to look toward the south. They all began moving toward a man that came into sight with a walking stick. This was an even better picture. I took several shots and on the last perfect one he turned his head and looked at me across the fields before taking his cattle home. I wonder if he smiled for the camera.

This 5"x7" oil on gesso board unframed is for sale for $99.00 - postage prepaid.

Airing Out

After a day looking, shopping, lunching and having a wonderful time in Blowing Rock, North Carolina, we started home to Charlotte. We were into taking pictures that day and stopped numerous times to take numerous shots. We decided to take a side road down into a valley and this was our favorite picture of the day. It is only appropriate that the photographer has the painting. Enjoy, Karen.

SOLD

Serenity

We were high on the pass driving back to Charlotte from Blowing Rock, North Carolina. The Blue Ridge Mountains were on one side and on the other a narrow curving road dropped down into the valley below. We could just barely see this small farm and had to explore. That little farm was just the tip of the iceberg. The valley was beautiful and we drove to the end. The sky began to darken and shortly after we got back on the road home the thunder rolled, the lightning flashed, the heavens opened and there was a downpour of rain.
SOLD