Preparing for Taste of St. Louis Art Festival

Turvey’s Corner

I am having to find another gear as I resume my daily school responsibilities, unpack my gear from Grapefest and replenish my inventory for next week’s Taste of St. Louis.  I am posting a watercolor I created in 1999, because I am printing the next series of limited edition giclee prints from it, just in time for the St. Louis show.

This marks a turning point in my watercolor odyssey.  It is my first successful composite landscape, with the distant building bearing the Switzer’s Licorice ghost sign coming from the St. Louis waterfront (now sadly demolished), the traction train car from a magazine photo, the right building with ghost signage bearing Busch Bavarian and Budweiser logos came from a small town in Illinois (I believe Prairie du Rocher). The buildings on the left (I think) came from New Bern, North Carolina.  All of the images came from 35mm slides I took years ago while traveling about the country.  I titled this watercolor Turvey’s Corner, because one of my favorite night spots in St. Louis was Turvey’s on the Green on 255 Union Blvd. (now sadly closed) that featured seafood, steak, cigars and St. Louis Blues post-game broadcasts.  I would love to go there and hang out and see Blues hockey players relaxing after a game.

This painting was to be the first of a series that I would call “My Town 63050″.  It was my dream then to create a fictitious town, Anwywhere USA, in the midwest, in the same way that Garrison Keillor created his Lake Wobegon, Sherwood Anderson his Winesburg, Ohio and Thornton Wilder his Grover’s Corners.  I did complete four or five paintings of specific buildings and streets, and had planned to design a town map illustrating where these structures were placed, complete with street addresses.  At some point, I abandoned the project, and only one of the paintings remains in my possession, all the rest of them sold and none of them were editioned.   The zip code is fictitious–I grew up in High Ridge, 63049, and attended high school in the neighboring town House Springs, 63051.

I still think of this abandoned project now and then, wondering if I might take it up again.  I did enjoy the creative juices and imagination I experienced as I worked out the various compositions.

Thanks for reading.

Musings on the American Railroad

Kansas City Southern Trackside, Waxahachie, Texas

I find it hard to believe that I have gone eight months without returning to Waxahachie to paint.  This quaint Texas town has been the setting for some of my most enjoyable plein air experiences, including the one posted above.  Every June, I participate in the “Paint Historic Waxahachie” event, a 10-day paint-out that brings 30-50 painters from north Texas into the town for the purpose of improving in the discipline of plein air painting.  Most of the artists are oil painters (and very professional, I might add).  A handful of us are watercolorists.

I have painted this setting twice during my three years of participation in the annual paint-out.  This one posted was created in June of 2011.  If you have been following my blog, you probably realize that the railroad is one of my favorite subjects for watercolor.  To me it is the symbol of the American Odyssey, and certainly an outlet for anyone experiencing wanderlust.  How many of us have fancied what it would be like to “hop a rail” and see where the freight takes us over the next 24 hours?

I am fortunate in that business cards have been handed to me by railroad employees and supervisors with invitations to come to their offices and gain access to rail yards for plein air opportunities.  I regret that I have yet to cash in on one of those offers, though I have saved the business cards.  Perhaps this summer there will be time to explore that possibility.

In my photo archives, I have countless shots I’ve taken over the years of trackside structures such as this one posted.  But I have always found those watercolors so unsatisfying.  Being on location opens so many more exciting possibilities, and I still remember my two visits to this Waxahachie site as yielding favorable results (and I sold both paintings within days to Waxahachie residents).

When I return in June for this year’s paint-out, perhaps I will walk to the other side of this structure to see the view from that perspective (hoping that I’m not trespassing).  And I think the time is past due to put a passing freight train on that main line.  That would be a challenge, but necessary, I believe.  Currently I have more ideas for watercolor compositions than time to execute them, but I guess that’s a better problem to have than the alternative of too much time on my hands and “blocked” for an idea of what to paint next.  If you have been following me, I have not given up on my Ridglea Theater idea.  In fact, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram published an article a few days ago concerning the renovations going on at that site.  I saved the article, hoping to return to Ridglea within the next few days to work on some thumbnail sketches and ideas.

Thanks for reading.

Railroad Freight Cars in the Morning Autumn Light

Railroad Freight Cars in the Autumn Light

This weekend I will be getting out the guitar again and making music with several bands.  Aside from that, I will be buried in business paper work.  I am behind, as usual.  Therefore, I see no watercolor activity on the 48-hour horizon.

I am re-posting this small watercolor I put together last fall during a festival in Mineola, Texas.  I had taken the sketch to Austin for a weekend of watercolor demonstrations, and left it behind in the Prismacolor booth, where I had done some work.  Thankfully, a representative from Prismacolor mailed it back to me recently, along with other pieces I had left behind.  It is good to look at it once again, and think about some new railroad compositions.

This setting is in Grand Saline, Texas, near an abandoned cotton gin.  I had traveled out there two summers ago to paint the gin and railroad siding.  But last fall, while en route to an art festival in Mineola, I was spellbound at the sight of these brightly-colored rail cars parked in the morning sun, surrounded by fall foliage. I got out and took a number of photos, and later made a decision on this particular angle.

I have so many paintings in my head, that I have trouble prioritizing where to go next.  As stated before, I have a strong inclination to work on a large composition of the Ridglea Theater, but I also have been contemplating a large railroad composition.  I just haven’t yet settled on the particular scene I wish to depict.  Unfortunately, these paintings will have to wait a few days, while I sort out other business details.

Thanks for reading.

Trying to Return to the Studio, Watercolors are Waiting to be Born

Chicago Impressions

The hiatus from the studio is drying me out!  School has  been better lately, and I have found myself pouring more time and effort into classroom preparations (I’m teaching four different subjects this semester–ugh!) which has been good for school but bad for the studio.  I’m trying my dead-level best to return to studio tonight (after prepping for two more subjects for tomorrow).  The student whom I’ve been giving private lessons in the evening is ill right now, so I will not be teaching this evening.  Perhaps I’ll pick up the brush.

I’ve posted an original watercolor that I still have in my possession: Chicago Impressions.  I photographed this composition while in Chicago a few years ago, visiting the Edward Hopper and Winslow Homer watercolor exhibits at the Art Institute.  Though I’ve priced it at $250, and have it in a professionally prepared mat, it hasn’t managed to find a home.  So, I continue to look at it.

Tonight, I hope to return to the Fort Worth Flat Iron building I started last week, and have already posted repeatedly.  But my next plan is to create a large railroad composition, larger than any watercolor I’ve done to date.  I have been restricted to the full-page layout of 22 x 28″ but now plan to cut a longer piece off a roll, and see where that takes me.  I have painted quite a few train compositions, and often felt I was too hemmed in by the restricted size.  The more I think on this, the more enthused I am about going after it.

Thanks for reading.  If you would like to check out my online store at cafe press (still a work in progress), you can log on to http://davidtripponline.com.

Trolley Car Watercolor posted on Magazine Cover

Trolley Car Watercolor Illustrated on Magazine Cover

My artist friend from Canada, Nancy Trottier, continues to nurture me as I hack my way through the technological thicket.  I complained yesterday online that I did not know how to convert PDF to JPEG.  I awoke this morning with detailed instructions in an email from Nancy, and within two minutes, the deed was done.  Thank you, Nancy!  You’re always showing me the way!

A graphics design artist from Fort Wayne, Indiana surprised me with an email Sunday, requesting to use my watercolor of a trolley car that I did en plen air during the summer of 2010.  He was designing the cover of a weekly magazine for an arts fundraiser involving a trolley tour of the museums in the city.  I’m pleased now to post a photo of the magazine cover, and happy once again to have a piece of my art published.  I have never travelled to Fort Wayne, or even entered the state of Indiana for that matter.  But I’m amazed at how art blogging has opened new frontiers for me, and allowed me to meet more people as well as get my art out to a broader audience.

Thanks for reading, and thank you again, Nancy.

Durango-Silverton RxR Vista in Watercolor

Durango-Silverton RxR Vista in Watercolor

With the opening of my first-ever One-Man-Show only three nights away, it has been fun, finishing watercolor compositions and delivering them to the Weiler House Fine Art Gallery (http://www.weilerhousefineart.com).  This afternoon, I got a sneak preview of the installation of the show, and was delighted to see this piece presented in a beautiful custom mat.  Besides my trademark nostalgia watercolors from the American 1950′s, there are several railroad compositions included in the show.  The scenes include Burleson, Texas, Eureka Springs, Arkansas as well as Durango, Colorado.

I cannot explain my train fetish.  From my childhood, I was flooded with that sense of wonder and delight of model railroads, and still remember my first Lionel layout when I was of preschool age.  I also remember pressing my nose against department store windows late at night, staring at layouts with dozens of trains winding about in all directions.  We frequently picked up my grandmother at the St. Louis Union Station when I was barely old enough to walk.  I still remember the pain of my parents holding both my hands tightly as we hurried along, and I tugged and strove to look about at all the different sets of road colors on the F diesels that polluted the 31-track train shed.  In later years, I was fascinated with all the road names on the sides of the passenger cars rolling in and out of St. Louis–the Frisco, New York Central, Pensy, MOPAC, Burlington Route, Wabash, etc.

I haven’t painted as many trains in this past year as I used to, but now have serious thoughts about returning to the practice.  I’ve had the good fortune of meeting some railroad management figures who have assured me access, provided that I call in advance for appointments and sign the necessary waivers.  The Texas weather is finally cooling enough for me to be outside longer.  I guess it’s time to resume the trainwatching!

Thanks for reading.  I hope you can attend the opening of my show Saturday night from 5-9:00.  Weiler House Fine Art Gallery is located at 3126 Handley Drive, Fort Worth, Texas   76112.

Eureka Springs Railroad Environment

Eureka Springs RxR

The 4th of July has turned out to be a decent day for painting.  Once my thermometer reached 106, I decided it was time to get out of the garage and retreat to my indoor studio (I cannot bear the dim light of the indoors, once I’ve indulged in plein air, nevertheless I’m not inviting heat stroke either).  It’s nice to work in an air conditioned place now.

I began this small 11 x 14″ piece on the last day of class with my Eureka Springs School of the Arts group.  It was Friday morning, and I felt a heaviness, knowing I was going to leave Eureka Springs and all its beauty that day, yet anxious in my heart to get on to the next appointment.  I felt that great things were just ahead.

Once I took out this piece today, I realized that the antique steam engine really needed a set of wheels.  So I fortunately had a reference photo taken on location, and set to work today trying to finish out the bottom of this composition.  I’m glad to bring closure to this work.  Again, I have too many conflicting feelings co-mingled, as this painting takes me back to the end of Eureka Springs and the transition back to life as I know it today.  It has not been an easy shift, and I’m still working to get my feet back underneath me.

I have filled out an application for the 2012 academic year at Eureka Springs School of the Arts, and hope I can return to this remarkable mountain town next summer.  This quaint Victorian mountain town is a plein air artist’s dream.

Thanks always for reading.

Colorado Dizziness! Durango-Silverton Railroad Watercolor Finished!

Durango Silverton RxR finished

This 4th of July finds me somewhere between Vincent Van Gogh’s steam locomotive and Andy Warhol’s factory.  I’m possessed with an energy to kick out some art work on an assembly line.  I frequently allow a number of watercolor partial attempts to accumulate in my studio–some that I regarded as “finished enough” en plein air and others that just started out badly and I abandoned them but did not throw them away–just threw them aside.

Now and then a day comes along like this one, where I choose to line up the unfinished pieces and resolve to bring them to their conclusions, sign them, blog them and move on.

This painting began during the Art in the Park festival in Kennedale, Texas.  During a slow moment in sales and traffic I sat on my stool and began this work, using a small reference photo (3 x 5″).  I never thought anything significant would come of it–just passing time (festivals can become rather long when the sales taper off).  In the months following (this began in April), I took the sketch out now and then and “diddled” with it.  I thought it was finished last week, but then saw some more things in it that bothered me.  Now I’m satisfied.

I long for the next time I get to board the Durango-Silverton.  My wife and I are thinking seriously about a trip to Colorado when the Aspens start to turn.  We’ll see.

Oh well, I have another railroad composition awaiting-one that started badly.  We’ll see if anything positive can come out of that.

Thanks for reading, and happy 4th of July.

Quick Watercolor Sketch of the Durango Silverton RxR

Durango Silverton RxR Skirting the Gorge

Every time I think I have finished this small watercolor sketch, I find something else to do to it.  I began the work while sitting in my booth at Art in the Park last spring in Kennedale, Texas.  My reference photo is a small 3 x 5″ photo I took with a throw-away digital camera purchased years ago before I bought my own Nikon.  I had the privilege of sitting near the back of this train, and was able to photograph the front portion of it as it wended its way around the mountains between Durango and Silverton, Colorado.  I still haven’t managed to capture the steam billowing out of the engine, and feel that I’m going to have to do some scrubbing with a towel or maybe even some sanding with light-gauge sand paper and begin again.  I really want to show the steam.  I’m also not satisfied with the misty trails in the distant valley to the right.  I feel that it looks as though I just quit on the foliage.  I believe the cliff face in front also needs additional work on the deep shadows, and there are some details with the yellow passenger cars that I forgot to finish out.  Anyway–plenty more “playing around” left to do on this way.  All the same, I wanted to post it on the blog, so here it is.  Hopefully I’ll show it again when I get it where I want.  It’s a small piece by the way, about 12 x 16″.

Thanks for reading.

Kansas City Southern Railway Trackside shacks in Waxahachie, Texas

Kansas City Southern Railway Trackside in Waxahachie, Texas

The winds got up again this afternoon, making it difficult to paint and hold supplies in place.  But it also kept the heat from rising.  I found a tree that offered plenty of shade, and went to work on this trackside structure, stopping occasionally to allow passing freight trains to obstruct my view (one Kansas City Southern, one Union Pacific).  I painted this shack at last year’s Waxhachie Paint-Out, but this time decided to paint it larger (11 x 14 instead of 8 x 10) and incorporate more of the surrounding trees.  I did not time myself, but estimate that I had this one finished in less than 90 minutes.  Two paintings in one day has exhausted me.  School resumes tomorrow (one more week of it) and I will return to Waxahachie for a new plein air adventure as soon as that final bell rings!

Thanks for reading.