Always Work To Do

Always Work To Do

10x8 acrylic on masonite en plein air

This is my latest plein air painting from Zimmerman Vineyards. Every time I visit, I see Norman out there in the field somewhere working. No matter how blistering the heat or pleasant the breeze, there's always work to do.

 This painting reminds me of Galatians 6:9,

"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."

Zimmerman Pergola

Here is last Thursday's plein air painting at Zimmerman Vineyards. The pergola was lit up from the evening sun which created some cool shadows and warm highlights.

Zimmerman Pergola

8x10 acrylic on masonite en plein air

No Hunting

No Hunting

8x10 acrylic on masonite in plein air

This is this morning's plein air painting which I painted just a few miles from my house on Hwy. 62 in Trinity. The sign on the post says "POSTED...No Hunting" with locked gates...I didn't see a sign that said no plein air painting so I took advantage of the opportunity.

Zimmerman's Patio in plein air

Zimmerman Patio

9x12 acrylic on masonite

This is yesterday's painting down at Zimmerman Vineyards in Trinity, NC. I took some artistic liberty to paint the umbrellas red instead of what they truly are, which is green. I felt like there was too much green in the painting and the umbrellas got lost in the background trees. I also experimented with a more limited pallet using cadmium yellow light, cadmium red deep, ultramarine blue and white.

Shepherd and the Lost Sheep Print Now Available

"For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost" Luke 19:10

The prints are finally available! This print is a celebration of God's grace in saving lost sinners. You can order a 16x20 giclee on archival paper print for $75 or if you want a 24x36 canvas reproduction just like the original, you can order one for $250.

The 16x20's require no special custom framing, but should fit right into a ready made frame with glass that you can purchase at your local craft/frame shop. The canvas prints do not require glass.

Place your orders here!

If you need a custom sized print, we can make that happen too...just contact me.

Outer Banks Plein Air

Here's a few paintings that I was able to paint while on our Outer Banks trip with the Miles family.

Salvo Beach, 6x8 acrylic on masonite

This is the typical beach scene at the Outer Banks. Broad sandy beaches with tire tracks running down the beach. The cool thing about these beaches is that most are accessed by 4 wheel drive vehicles, except for the "bird nesting and turtle egg areas"...these areas are strictly forbidden to humans without a special degree in tree hugging. This painting was done on a cool overcast day.

Pamlico Morning 6x8 acrylic on masonite

Avon Pier 6x8 acrylic on masonite

This was an interesting pier located in the town of Avon, NC. It looks like this pier has seen its better day, but the crooked lines and hurricane battered shape give it much character.

Silver Lake on Ocracoke 10x8 acrylic on masonite

Ever wondered what happened with the infamous Blackbeard the Pirate? Here's where he lost his head...a little island called Ocracoke. This natural lake makes a perfect place for boats to find a safe harbor on Ocracoke Island, NC.

Here, I'm doing a little touch up on a painting right before we roasted weenies on our beach campfire...try doing that at Myrtle Beach! Overall, this was a great trip and a nice time to relax.

Art Show Video

Here's a video of the La Grange Art Show featuring my work. Brent Gallant, from Community Baptist Church in La Grange, NC, was kind enough to put this up for me...of which I believe he did an excellent job! Thanks, Brent! I'll have to make sure he gets a copy of my newest print.



Jeremy Sams Art Exhibit from Community Baptist Church on Vimeo.

The opening reception turned out to be a great night. I met a lot of new people and was reaquainted with a lot of familiar faces. The painting I'm working on in the video is a plein air piece that I painted just down the road a couple of miles from the Arts Center. La Grange is a beautiful small town surrounded by picturesque farmlands and lots of character.

I'd like to thank all those who had a hand in making this happen and for all who came out. What a blessing!

Also, feel free to visit Community Baptist Church's Vimeo site to see a sermon from our good friend Jeremy Varner.

Art Showing at La Grange Arts Center

Friday, May 13, is the opening reception of the show featuring my artwork in La Grange, NC. The reception is from 6-8pm.

 The location is La Grange Arts Center,
104 W Railroad Street La Grange, NC 28551

A Godley Painting

Godley's Garden

10x8 acrylic on masonite en plein air

While driving down Statesville Blvd., I peer through the windshield of my little VW wagon and see a very Godley sight...No, it wasn't an apparition of Mary glowing in the blown tire on the side of the road. It was a sign....a sign like no other...a sign from Godley's!

Friday's paint out with Plein Air Carolina was held at Godley's Garden Center in Salisbury, NC. This place was packed full of gardening supplies, plants, trees, and all kinds of colorful things to paint. This is the scene I chose which is located behind the store.

I must say, this is the most Godley painting I've ever done.

Zimmerman Vineyards Plein Air

Zimmerman Vineyards

8x10 acrylic on masonite en plein air

What a beautiful setting Randolph County has in the rolling hills at Zimmerman Vineyards. This is a painter's paradise with great mountain views, vineyards, pergolas, stone patios, ponds...you name it, it's probably there. They're located just off of Tabernacle Church Rd. in the Trinity area. Lord willing, I'll be visiting again very soon.

Pochade Box Updates

I've done some reconfiguring on my homemade pochade box. If you're interested in making your own, the design comes from Jim Serrett.

Below are some pics of my improvements. I took off the friction lid supports from the sides and installed friction hinges to keep the lid at whatever angle desired. The friction lid support brackets worked great but could get in the way sometimes, especially in transport. For a better design using friction lid supports, visit Josef Sy's design.

As you can see, the lid brackets are gone, resulting in a little less weight, less parts, and an overall sleeker look. The friction hinges seem to work perfectly. You can also see some of my plein air essentials: portable brush washer, adjustable view-finder, sealable pallet (craft-bead jars and box from Walmart) and brushes.

Here's a detail of the friction hinges. They're some form of hard plastic material...very lightweight yet strong. After running all around town trying, with no avail, to find these things...I finally ordered them online. I got the idea from Bryan Mark Taylor.

Here you can see my homemade brush holder. It's basically a strip of 1/2"-3/4" square dowel (left over from the pochade project) glued and nailed to a 3"x9" strip of 1/4" birch plywood (also left over from the pochade project). I drilled various sized holes in the plywood to accommodate my brushes. On the underside of the brush holder are 2, 1/4 round dowel rods attached to the strip of square dowel. The side of the pochade box has 2 holes drilled to match these round dowel pins so that it will slide into the holes and become stable. I mounted it on the left side because I'm right handed and didn't want the brushes to interfere with me working.

Here's a detail of the underside of the brush holder with the dowel pins. When not attached, it lays perfectly inside the box when it's closed. Notice the sealable clear jars from the craft section at Walmart...this is a must if using acrylics outdoors. I wasted so much unused paint before these little contraptions. Maybe when I get a little more experienced and quicker with the brush, I can go to a more limited pallet of 4 colors...but I haven't got that far yet.

Also, the tripod is a Sunpak 7575 that I bought on sale from www.buy.com for $25 and free shipping! It's a little bulky though, but I wanted something that could hold some weight.

Go here to see the pochade box process.

Art Daze at Creekside Park

 Swinging at Creekside

8x10 acrylic on masonite en plein air

The Northwest Randolph Arts Council hosted Art Daze this past Saturday at Creekside Park, Archdale, NC. The painting above was part of a plein air demonstration. There were several other art venues there as well including a Japanese drum group, a guitarist, a storyteller, and several tables of crafting supplies for the kids to make their own artistic creations. Oh yeah...free pizza was there for everyone to enjoy! Thanks NWRAC!

"His Witness Ministries" Feature of the Month

Be sure to check out His Witness Ministries, my Luke 19:10 painting is the feature for the month of May, 2011.