Ashe County Plein Air

Below are a few paintings that I completed while on a family trip to the West Jefferson area of Ashe County, NC. This is a beautiful area engulfed with Christmas tree farms and the New River coursing its way through the valleys.

 Ashe County Farm

8x10 acrylic on masonite en plein air

 Spring on the New

6x8 acrylic on masonite en plein air

Ashe County Tree Farm

8x10 acrylic on masonite en plein air

God's Sovereignty In Calamity

Watch the video below. Does the question, "Why would God allow this to happen?", ever come to your mind?

As a result of the storms that ravaged through NC this past Saturday, at least 23 lost their lives and more than 130 were injured. Several of those who died were children and I can't imagine the pain that many families are experiencing right now. When we're faced with tragedies like these, one would certainly be justified by asking the question, "Was this God's will?"

Hollybrook Stables and Plein Air Carolina

The Lone Ranger

8x10 acrylic on masonite en plein air

I'd like to give a special thanks to Mrs. Joyce Metters for inviting Plein Air Carolina to come out and paint at her beautiful horse farm near Lexington, NC. Also, a special thanks to Plein Air Carolina for inviting me to come. It was a beautiful day and there was plenty of subject matter to capture.

Here's the scene I chose...of course, the shadows are totally different than when I began the painting. I also removed some of the fence posts I had painted in. I love my homemade pochade box, by the way.

Below are some of the other talented artists I had the privilege of painting with today...

Mrs. Joyce Metters

Mrs. Norma Owen

Mr. Rex White...view his blog.

Mrs. Sharon Forthofer...view her website.

Mrs. Rachel Lee also attended, but I wasn't quick enough to get her photo...maybe next time! You can view her website here.

Night of the Cossack

Night of the Cossack

Tom Blubaugh

cover art by Jeremy Sams

Night of the Cossack is finally available. I just received my personally autographed copy last week. It's pleasantly odd to see your work on the cover of a book, and I think it turned out nicely. You can purchase the book through Amazon. The book was published by Bound By Faith Publishers and written by Tom Blubaugh. If you're interested, you can review the book by reading the introduction along with the first chapter online.

About the Author: Tom Blubaugh

Tom Blubaugh, author of Night of the Cossack, is a freelance writer. He has written nonfiction most of his adult life. He resides with his wife Barbara in Southwest Missouri where he is currently writing fiction. Tom and Barbara have six children and fourteen grandchildren. In addition to writing, Tom loves macro photography.  He is president of Jericho Commission, Inc. Tom believes that retirement is about continuing to fulfill God's purpose.
Find out more about Tom and follow his blog.



To see the process of the painting, click here.

Psalm 29:11

The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.

9x12 acrylic on masonite en plein air

Tall standing oak trees are great examples of strength, even when the ground they're attached to is covered in thick thorns and briers. What a testimony this is to believers in Christ as well. God gives strength in the midst of adversity. When the circumstances that surround you seem as nothing but thorns and reflections of the curse of the earth, that's when these giant oaks become trophies of God's persevering strength that He gives to His people.

Psalm 23:3

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

9x12 acrylic on masonite en plein air

This is another scene that I painted Wednesday, April 6, at Creekside Park in Archdale, NC. The trees are just beginning to bud and the colors of these young buds are just brilliant. The warm sandy paths and moss covered rocks along the creek were the inspiration of this painting. The smoothness of the gessoe prepped masonite panel was a pleasure to work on in comparison to the Fredrix canvas boards that I usually paint on.

Psalm 118:19

Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD: 

8x10 acrylic on canvas board in plein air

 

It's good therapy to get out of the house and out in the open field with sunshine, the smell of green grass, and a cool "breeze"...maybe "breeze" isn't the correct word for this painting trip that my wife and I took this past Monday, April 4. A more accurate word would be gusts. On several occasions, I had one hand on my pochade box, trying to prevent it from becoming a wooden kite, and the other on a paintbrush. Other than that, it was great to get out of the house with my little wife, Crystal.

From my wife, Crystal

Thank you all for your prayers and support. God has been so good to us and I still praise Him for the hardest time of my life. His love and His grace is holding us up. But, I just wanted everyone to know that we are so thankful for everything everyone has done. We love you all.

- Crystal Sams