Tanner and Ashton

Tanner and Ashton in Port Aransas___tiny canvas__SOLD

My son and daughter in law enjoyed time with us in the south Texas surf on Labor day. Here is a tiny canvas sketch in oils that I gave them...

Tonight was the first of my September drawing sessions here in Austin. Come sharpen your sketching skills and enjoy some great gourmet chocolate, coffee, tea and fellowship with other artists. $30 each session. You do not have to attend all of them...I give homework :) Email me for info, and a supply list, and to let me know you are coming to the NEXT session!

Wednesday, Sept. 12, Chiaroscuro and Chocolate at Joel's Coffee Shop

Other fall workshops:

Sept. 15, 2012___Salado TX, Contact Belinda Walker__MAYBE FULL! Ask Belinda about wait list

Oct. 28-30__Texas__at Fredericksburg Artists School. Be rested up for this one! I do marathon teaching in a three-day, full-moon workshop!

Blue Moon II

Blue Moon II___5x7 oil, framed__available at Wind Way Gallery__$250
Here is a second little painting of Friday's Blue Moon down at the Texas coast!
I am gearing up for Thursday night's sketching session. Please let me know if you are coming to this one...Thurs., Sept. 6, Chiaroscurro and Chocolate at Joel's Coffee Shop

THURSDAY kicks off a month of weekly drawing sessions here in Austin. Come sharpen your sketching skills and enjoy some great gourmet chocolate, coffee, tea and fellowship with other artists. Email me for info, and a supply list, and to let me know you are coming!

Thurs., Sept. 6, Chiaroscuro and Chocolate at Joel's Coffee Shop

Blue Moon I___5x7 oil, framed at Wind Way Gallery___$250

Friday's Blue Moon sure looked pretty down at the Texas coast, where we spent the weekend....This little one is hanging down there, now! I delivered about 20 works to Rockport's Wind Way Gallery, where I am the guest artist for September and October. A reception is planned for Friday, Sept. 14...hope to see you there!

THURSDAY kicks off a month of weekly drawing sessions here in Austin. Come sharpen your sketching skills and enjoy some great gourmet chocolate, coffee, tea and fellowship with other artists. Email me for info, and a supply list, and to let me know you are coming!

Thurs., Sept. 6, Chiaroscuro and Chocolate at Joel's Coffee Shop

Espiritu Santo___10 x8 oil on linen__$550 framed

I am delivering art to Rockport's Wind Way Gallery for a two month "featured artist" show there....Hope you can come by and see! We will have a reception soon....I painted this especially for Wind Way. The location is in Goliad, which is along the way to Rockport from my place...

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Fall Workshops with V....

September 6, 12, 20, 27__Austin___ "Chocolates and Chiaroscuro" contact V...,.


Sept. 15, 2012___Salado TX, Contact Belinda Walker__1 or two spots open!

Oct. 28-30__Texas__at Fredericksburg Artists School

See the Thunder 2

See the Thunder___24 x 30 oil on linen___$4500 framed at Wind Way Gallery, Rockport, TX

A few weeks ago I posted the study for this painting. H.L. purchased it, and graciously let me hang onto it while I used it for reference to paint this larger version. I will show this one in Rockport, TX at Wind Way Gallery, where I have a special exhibit as their guest artist for the next couple months...unless you ask for it first ...

As a plein air painter, I often take my outdoor works and use them as studies for larger versions. One of the things I teach in my workshops is HOW TO create a large painting from a smaller study. ...BUT, my next workshop is all about sketching, drawing and grasping a glance quickly with a drawing instrument. It's called Chiaroscuro and Chocolate...see info below __________________________________________ 

Here are some locations for a few of my workshops. email me if you want more info on any of these...

See this SPECIAL ONE.

I can't wait to see the water go down the drain BACKWARDS there!

September 6, 12, 20, 27__Austin___ "Chocolates and Chiaroscuro" contact V...,. 

Sept. 15, 2012___Salado TX, Contact Belinda Walker__1 or two spots open!

Oct. 28-30__Texas__at Fredericksburg Artists School

2013___New York City, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania...

2014___February 23-March 1___New Zealand

**BE SURE to tell me if you sign up! I like to send things to my students to get them ready, keep them "seeing", and thinking, and talking about it!

Young Hat

Young Hat___a sketch at the coffee shop

OK the details are done! It's time for Chiaroscuro and Chocolate! We can add charcoal, chalk and coffee if you like!...there will be a model there, doing coffee shop things, and Brad promises to have plenty of free tea and coffee there while he fills the place with the rich aromas of fresh made gourmet chocolate. Cost is $30 each session. Includes model fees, tea coffee...email me for a suggested supply list. 

My recent longhorn painting, "The Backfield" won the "Artist Retreat Award" at the American Plains Artists National Show, which opened in Midland last week. If you are in the area, go see the show which is at the Museum of the Southwest for the next month or so.....On my "retreat", I will be visiting a working ranch "Our Heritage Guest Ranch"  in a most beautiful area of northwestern Nebraska. Painting, hiking, and generally horsing around sounds like my "thing"...CAN'T WAIT!

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Here are some locations for a few of my workshops. email me if you want more info on any of these...

See this SPECIAL ONE.

I can't wait to see the water go down the drain BACKWARDS there!

September 6, 12, 20, 27__Austin___ "Chocolates and Chiaroscuro" contact V...,. 

Sept. 15, 2012___Salado TX, Contact Belinda Walker__1 or two spots open!

Oct. 28-30__Texas__at Fredericksburg Artists School

2013___New York City, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania...

2014___February 23-March 1___New Zealand

**BE SURE to tell me if you sign up! I like to send things to my students to get them ready, keep them "seeing", and thinking, and talking about it!

Chocolatier 3

Chocolatier 3___A sketch of Brad at Joel's__our workshop location

I am calling it "Chiaroscuro and Chocolate"! It is a sketch workshop series to be held at

 Joel's Coffee Shop, in Austin, Texas, weekly in September. These will be evening sessions on Thursdays mostly, starting at 6:30 pm...we will sketch on paper or canvas, bring in a model or two, have deep discussions on art and eat or drink chocolate!!! Click the link for directions. Below are the dates and you can click for more info....

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Here are some locations for a few of my workshops. email me if you want more info on any of these...

And here is a link to a SPECIAL ONE.

I can't wait to see the water go down the drain BACKWARDS there!

September 6, 12, 20, 27__Austin___ "Chocolates and Chiaroscuro" contact V...,. 

Sept. 15, 2012___Salado TX, Contact Belinda Walker__1 or two spots open!
Oct. 28-30__Texas__at Fredericksburg Artists School

2013___New York City, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania...

2014___February 23-March 1___New Zealand

**BE SURE to tell me if you sign up! I like to send things to my students to get them ready, keep them "seeing", and thinking, and talking about it!

Chocolatier 2

Chocolatier 2__another sketch of Brad

Brad runs Joel's Coffee and Chocolates, where my next "workshop" will be. We will work weekly and the focus is on SKETCHING...and Brad's gourmet chocolate! This is an easy-going gathering for a few weeks in September. We will meet at 6:30 to 8:30 starting September 6. See details below and click the "V" to sign up. Beginners are welcome. 

...and chocolate is in the news, today!!!

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-57494718-10391704/flavonol-rich-dark-chocolate-may-help-reduce-blood-pressure/

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Here are some locations for a few of my workshops. email me if you want more info on any of these...

And here is a link to a SPECIAL ONE.

I can't wait to see the water go down the drain BACKWARDS there!

September 6, 12, 20, 27__Austin___ "Chocolates and Chiaroscuro" contact V...,. 

Sept. 15, 2012___Salado TX, Contact Belinda Walker
Oct. 28-30__Texas__at Fredericksburg Artists School

2013___New York City, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania...

2014___February 23-March 1___New Zealand

**BE SURE to tell me if you sign up! I like to send things to my students to get them ready, keep them "seeing", and thinking, and talking about it!

Chocolatier 1

Chocolatier 1___a sketch in charcoal

Finally I have posted CONTACT INFO and dates for the first two workshop get-togethers. Please see the September dates below...an join us!

The sketch today is Brad, the Chocolatier and Barista at Joel's in North Austin.While he made his special truffels, a few of us sketched the action, and got full on the wonderful aroma of real chocolate!

______________________________________________________________________ 

Here are some locations for a few of my workshops. email me if you want more info on any of these...

And here is a link to a SPECIAL ONE.

I can't wait to see the water go down the drain BACKWARDS there!

September 6, 12, 20, 27__Austin___ "Chocolates and Chiaroscuro" contact V.... 

Sept. 15, 2012___Salado TX, Contact Belinda Walker

2013___New York City, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania...

2014___February 23-March 1___New Zealand

**BE SURE to tell me if you sign up! I like to send things to my students to get them ready, keep them "seeing", and thinking, and talking about it!

Senor Gordito

Senor Gordito___8x10 oil on  linen__$390 unframed

Another little burro. His name is Mr. Chubby...appropriate!

Hoping my computer restore will be successful this weekend.

Please hang in there with me for workshop info. I have a few contact phone numbers and dates to share. Coming up FIRST is a series of DRAWING evenings at Joel's north Austin coffeeshop.  Space is limited, so email me soon about this. vvaughan8@yahoo.com .

A one day workshop in Salado, Texas is on September 15. Salado is in between DFW and Austin. We will work indoors and I will focus on capturing impressions QUICKLY! email me if you want to come!

Gazer

Gazer__10 x 8 oil on linen__Act I Gallery

Here are some locations for a few of my workshops. email me if you want more info on any of these...

Be sure to check out this SPECIAL ONE.

I can't wait to see the water go down the drain BACKWARDS there!

September ___weekly Drawing class__Austin___ "Chocolates and Chiaroscuro" 

Sept. 15, 2012___Salado TX

 2013___New York City, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania...

2014___February 23-March 1___New Zealand

**BE SURE to tell me if you sign up! I like to send things to my students to get them ready, keep them "seeing", and thinking, and talking about it!

The Stroller

The Stroller__8x10 oil on panel__$420

What is it about little burros? They are "cute", but really they are tough and smart little animals! I enjoyed watching a little "herd" of burros in a pasture not too long ago.

Here are some locations for a few of my workshops. email me if you want more info on any of these...

Be sure to check out this SPECIAL ONE.

I can't wait to see the water go down the drain BACKWARDS there!

September ___weekly Drawing class__Austin___ "Chocolates and Chiaroscuro" 

Sept. 15, 2012___Salado TX

 2013___New York City, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania...

2014___February 23-March 1___New Zealand

**BE SURE to tell me if you sign up! I like to send things to my students to get them ready, keep them "seeing", and thinking, and talking about it!

Oh Ruby!

Oh Ruby!___10 x 8 oil on linen__a commission

Up Against the Wall Gallery in Tennessee has a collector who commissioned me to paint their beloved dog a few years ago...I forget which dog it was, but they asked me to paint their other dog, Ruby. What fun!! This Ruby has a lot of character and I liked painting her!

THIS WEEK I will have all next year's workshops nailed down...Please contact me if any of these locations look interesting to you....

Here are some locations for a few of my workshops. email me if you want more info on any of these...

Be sure to check out this SPECIAL ONE.

I can't wait to see the water go down the drain BACKWARDS there!

September ___weekly Drawing class__Austin___ "Chocolates and Chiaroscuro" 

Sept. 15, 2012___Salado TX

 2013___New York City, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania...

2014___February 23-March 1___New Zealand

**BE SURE to tell me if you sign up! I like to send things to my students to get them ready, keep them "seeing", and thinking, and talking about it!

Duck Creek Lightning Night

Duck Creek Lightnings__24x30 oil on linen__a commission

I have a commission to paint a ranch in Nebraska. I have been there several times, most recently in June (Tina was my travel buddy)...The very first day there, we had the ranch to ourselves, so we tromped around with the help of some "wheels" they provided...This place is situated on the Platte River, and there were miles of wild places to explore. My FAVORITE impression happened as we pulled away at dusk, and I tried to capture it here. Storms were approaching from the west, with thunderheads building, and I am just sure I saw some distant lightning.  In the wetlands were DOZENS of "lightning bugs" and they seemed to be blinking replies to the lightning in the clouds....

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Here are some locations for a few of my workshops. email me if you want more info on any of these...

And here is a link to a SPECIAL ONE.

I can't wait to see the water go down the drain BACKWARDS there!

July-August ___weekly__Austin___ "Chocolates and Chiaroscuro" 

Sept. 15, 2012___Salado TX

2013___New York City, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania...

2014___February 23-March 1___New Zealand

**BE SURE to tell me if you sign up! I like to send things to my students to get them ready, keep them "seeing", and thinking, and talking about it!

Kelly - A Figure Study

Kelly...a figure study

I am still in Colorado enjoying the mountains...

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Here are some locations for a few other workshops. email me if you want more info on any of these...

And here is a link to a SPECIAL ONE.

I can't wait to see the water go down the drain BACKWARDS there!

July-August ___weekly__Austin___ "Chocolates and Chiaroscuro" 

Sept. 15, 2012___Salado TX

2013___New York City, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania...

2014___February 23-March 1___New Zealand

**BE SURE to tell me if you sign up! I like to send things to my students to get them ready, keep them "seeing", and thinking, and talking about it!

Line of Scrimmage

Line of Scrimmage__12x24 oil on linen___$2100

Available at Cactus Jack's in Gruene, TX

My longhorn paintings have football titles and images that reflect some of the deep things about the game, teamwork and how football is a lot like life!  There are "holes" in all allegories, but I like the symbolism found in sports...When a Quarterback steps up to the line, he looks around and must be aware of everything, while the lineman focus ONLY on their assignment and timing...I imagine that the other team is across the water and....

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Here are some locations for a few other workshops. email me if you want more info on any of these...

And here is a link to a SPECIAL ONE.

I can't wait to see the water go down the drain BACKWARDS there!

July-August ___weekly__Austin___ "Chocolates and Chiaroscuro" 

Sept. 15, 2012___Salado TX

2013___New York City, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania...

2014___February 23-March 1___New Zealand

**BE SURE to tell me if you sign up! I like to send things to my students to get them ready, keep them "seeing", and thinking, and talking about it!

Seven Strokes Plus Seven or So

Seven Strokes__another demo/lesson__6x8

A couple weeks ago I posted a Seven Stroke painting. This is a lesson that I teach at my longer workshops. YES, the entire painting is done with just SEVEN strokes, without lifting the brush.  Compare the one above with the one I posted earlier...Which one do you like better? I like this one...it was simpler!

Obviously I did both from my same photo...it's more fun to do on location!

Next week I will be all over southern Colorado and northern New Mexico. Part of the time I will be nailing down our locations for the 2013 workshop there. If you want to start thinking about it, I have the tentative dates set for July 20 - 22...but there will likely be an extra half day...possibly Wednesday, July 23...I can send details on this one in about two weeks, so let me know if you want them.

Here are some locations for a few other workshops. email me if you want more info on any of these...

And here is a link to a SPECIAL ONE.

I can't wait to see the water go down the drain BACKWARDS there!

July-August ___weekly__Austin___ "Chocolates and Chiaroscuro" 

Sept. 15, 2012___Salado TX

2013___New York City, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania...

2014___February 23-March 1___New Zealand

**BE SURE to tell me if you sign up! I like to send things to my students to get them ready, keep them "seeing", and thinking, and talking about it!

Sunny One_State 1

Sunny One__state 1__12x16 oil

I saw this scene a few years ago near our farm. Horses do not eat sunflowers, but this one was grazing below the flowers. Every few moments he would come up for air and I snapped some photos that have been reference for a number of paintings. So this one looks similar to another recent one called "Sunny"...

I had to photograph it before I had finished, but I call this "state 1", and you might not notice changes on the finished work....I am delivering it to Taos' Act I gallery TODAY!

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Before I head back to Colorado, I want to express sorrow about the shooting there in the movie theater. It was stunning to open the YAHOO! front page  recently and see a photo of a church service honoring the victims. In the photo there was a projector with a photo of a victim. it touched me, so I saved it on my desktop...then a friend told me that a mutual friend of our families was a victim...a man named Gordon Cowden....when I looked back at the YAHOO! photo I had saved, it was Gordon's picture on the screen at the church (see below)...He was the first one to have a funeral last week   :(    please pray for these families for a LONG time....

Here are some locations for a few of my workshops. email me if you want more info on any of these...

And here is a link to a SPECIAL ONE.

I can't wait to see the water go down the drain BACKWARDS there!

July-August ___weekly__Austin___ "Chocolates and Chiaroscuro" 

Sept. 15, 2012___Salado TX

2013___New York City, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania...

2014___February 23-March 1___New Zealand

**BE SURE to tell me if you sign up! I like to send things to my students to get them ready, keep them "seeing", and thinking, and talking about it!

Tiny Columbine

Tiny Columbine___2.5x2.5 canvas with a little easel___$60 +shipping

Another little columbine painted from life at our place in Colorado last week....again, God Bless those in Denver area...especially the families directly affected by evil.

During next year's workshop, we will try to find some of these to paint! The area in southern Colorado has many beautiful wildflowers...I will go early to find the best spots! Often there are plenty of columbine deep into our canyon on the rocky walls by the road to the Platoro Reservoir. It is a LONG 20 miles on a bumpy dirt road, but amazing scenes abound!!!  And the famous delicious Platoro Burgers await!!Next week I have meetings to finalize out accommodations. STAY TUNED!

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Here are some locations for a few of my workshops. email me if you want more info on any of these...

And here is a link to a SPECIAL ONE.

I can't wait to see the water go down the drain BACKWARDS there!

August-Fall ___weekly__Austin___ "Chocolates and Chiaroscuro" 

Sept. 15, 2012___Salado TX

2013___New York City, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania...

2014___February 23-March 1___New Zealand

**BE SURE to tell me if you sign up! I like to send things to my students to get them ready, keep them "seeing", and thinking, and talking about it!

Actual Size

Actual Size___2.5 x 2.5 inches_oil on tiny canvas__$60 includes a tiny wooden easel

Yes, the flower is painted at actual size! I worked from a real little Columbine growing beside our place in Colorado...God Bless Colorado, tonight...

This is the state flower of Colorado, and July is the time to see them.  I painted a couple of these on tiny canvases that come with tiny easels. They are little flower gems! Let me know if you want one!

Sorry I did not get the workshop rolling this year, but next July I will teach in this part of Colorado. I have some great locations lined up for artists who like to paint outdoors. You can let me know if you are interested and I will put you in the list and send the info to you as soon as I finalize things next week...

Here are some locations for a few of my workshops. email me if you want more info on any of these...

And here is a link to a SPECIAL ONE.

I can't wait to see the water go down the drain BACKWARDS there!

July-August ___weekly__Austin___ "Chocolates and Chiaroscuro" 

Sept. 15, 2012___Salado TX

2013___New York City, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania...

2014___February 23-March 1___New Zealand

**BE SURE to tell me if you sign up! I like to send things to my students to get them ready, keep them "seeing", and thinking, and talking about it!