Artists Of Texas Contemporary Paintings and Art

The road that runs through Zion Natl. Park  presents an almost endless array of beautiful scenes to improvise into paintings.  I was, at first, captured by the panoramic views of mountains and towering cliffs.  After the first few days, I began to notice more intimate views surrounding me.  This one was the first such scene I tried that had no massive mountains with sky.  I was starting to feel at home in the canyon, so I settled down to pay closer attention to the variety of stunning scenery. ZION CREEK BEND ©Jimmy Longacre 2014 11x14 oil on canvas panel Jimmy Longacre subjective impressionist landscape paintings MY WEBSITE MY BLOG: Paintbox & Easel GALLERY LINKS River's Edge Gallery Kerrville TX Austin Street Gallery Rockport TX Capital Fine Art Gallery Austin TX

THIS ONE IS FROM THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL THAT RUNS THROUGH PEASE PARK IN AUSTIN.  I'm going through recent paintings for entering a number of competitions that are coming up.  This was done last October. MORNING JOG ©Jimmy Longacre 2014 9x12 oil on canvas panel Jimmy Longacre subjective impressionist landscape paintings MY WEBSITE MY BLOG: Paintbox & Easel GALLERY LINKS River's Edge Gallery Kerrville TX Austin Street Gallery Rockport TX Capital Fine Art Gallery Austin TX

This view in Zion Natl. Park can be seen from the spacious, covered porch of the Historical Center.   It's part of a sweeping amphitheater, with a vast wealth of painting subjects, any time of day.  The Shadow patterns slowly shift and transform the view as the sun moves across the sky.  There's way more information than you can possibly handle, so it's  a great exercise in selection, editing and arrangement. TEMPLES AND THRONES ©Jimmy Longacre 2013 12x16 oil on canvas panel Jimmy Longacre subjective impressionist landscape paintings MY WEBSITE MY BLOG: Paintbox & Easel GALLERY LINKS River's Edge Gallery Kerrville TX Austin Street Gallery Rockport TX Capital Fine Art Gallery Austin TX

Because of the steep canyon walls  there are interesting shadow/light patterns all day long.  Sorry, to be so brief with my posts.  I've been spending lots of time with my family over the holidays, and trying to put up some of the work I did while in Zion Natl. Park in November and early December.  I'll get back to being a bit more thorough after the new year. NOONDAY SHADOWS ©Jimmy Longacre 2013 14X11 oil on canvas panel Jimmy Longacre subjective impressionist landscape paintings MY WEBSITE MY BLOG: Paintbox & Easel GALLERY LINKS River's Edge Gallery Kerrville TX Austin Street Gallery Rockport TX Capital Fine Art Gallery Austin TX

Going back through the studies I painted at Zion National Park  reminds me how much fun I was having there.  Putting myself in a new environment is a sure way to awaken the senses and inspire me to paint.  Everything looks new and fresh.  Motives to paint seem to be everywhere I look.  It also gives me fresh eyes for my home landscapes.  More travel planned for this year! CANYON WALL ©Jimmy Longacre 2013 14x11 oil on canvas panel Jimmy Longacre subjective impressionist landscape paintings MY WEBSITE MY BLOG: Paintbox & Easel GALLERY LINKS River's Edge Gallery Kerrville TX Austin Street Gallery Rockport TX Capital Fine Art Gallery Austin TX

Going back through the studies I painted at Zion National Park  reminds me how much fun I was having there.  Putting myself in a new environment is a sure way to awaken the senses and inspire me to paint.  Everything looks new and fresh.  Motives to paint seem to be everywhere I look.  It also gives me fresh eyes for my home landscapes.  More travel planned for this year! CANYON WALL ©Jimmy Longacre 2013 14x11 oil on canvas panel Jimmy Longacre subjective impressionist landscape paintings MY WEBSITE MY BLOG: Paintbox & Easel GALLERY LINKS River's Edge Gallery Kerrville TX Austin Street Gallery Rockport TX Capital Fine Art Gallery Austin TX

I've been traveling  to paint during October and November.  It was a wonderful experience to get out into new landscapes.  Now, I'm playing catch-up back in the studio.  It's great to be home again, but I need to improve my juggling act this year.  I have a new iPad, so I can start posting while traveling. Here's a plein air study done in magnificent Zion National Park.  I'll try to show you more of what I've been doing.  I feel things changing, getting more direct in my paint handling.  I think that's coming from paying closer attention to starting with a good notan pattern. Careful planning is the greatest enhancement to spontaneity!   ZION CLIFFS ©Jimmy Longacre 2013 9X12 oil on canvas panel Jimmy Longacre subjective impressionist landscape paintings MY WEBSITE MY BLOG: Paintbox & Easel GALLERY LINKS River's Edge Gallery Kerrville TX Austin Street Gallery Rockport TX Capital Fine Art Gallery Austin TX ...

    Fall Sumac   by Jill Randall 8”x10”   oil on Raymar canvas panel The sumac are always so beautiful in this spot which I visited three times this fall with my painting buddy, Sheri Jones.   However, the first two times I had painting “wipe outs”. The last visit Sheri and I painted here I had a “keeper”.   However, I had to finish it in my studio. I am happy with the results because it has the scruffy look of the place.   I used the pallet knife which is such an advantage for me when painting a plein air piece since I can get strong colors on fast before the light changes too drastically.    

Painted during a steady light drizzle, in the Port Aransas Plein Air competition.  I't's interesting how the light coming through an overcast reverses the usual order of things from warm influence in the light with cool shadows, to warm shadows and cool influence in the light.  I've noticed that if I pay attention to this phenomenon, it will sometimes produce rather beautiful color relationships. When I don't the result often has an inert, depressing feeling.  If I can choose, I prefer the sunshine, but I enjoy the surprises that can come from observing the light on a cloudy day.  RAINY DAY SUNFLOWERS ©Jimmy Longacre 2013 12x16 oil on canvas panel Jimmy Longacre Texas impressionist landscape paintings MY WEBSITE MY BLOG: Paintbox & Easel GALLERY LINKS River's Edge Gallery Kerrville TX Austin Street Gallery Rockport TX Capital Fine Art Gallery Austin TX

Another one of my plein air paintings from last week's Coastal Paintout in Port Aransas. This was a hazy day, and I was interested in the effect of the backlit scene. Because the sun was behind the house it created a very nice foil for hi-lighting the profusion of sunflowers at the fenceline. The flowing curve of the mowed lawn also presented a useful shape emphasizing the focal area.  HAZY DAY ©Jimmy Longacre 2013 12x16 oil on canvas panel Jimmy Longacre Texas impressionist landscape paintings MY WEBSITE MY BLOG: Paintbox & Easel GALLERY LINKS River's Edge Gallery Kerrville TX Austin Street Gallery Rockport TX Capital Fine Art Gallery Austin TX

I just returned from the annual "Port Aransas Coastal Paintout". I'm happy to say that my painting "FAREWELL TO GIBBS" won the "Peoples' Choice Award" . Kind of an emotional piece for me, as 'Gibbs Cottages' is one of the last remaining r elics of the old Port Aransas I knew growing up. It's destined to be razed to make room for the new. Can't look at them without remembering all the fun and crazy summers I had there in Port A, with my friends. FAREWELL TO GIBBS ©Jimmy Longacre 2013 11x14 oil on canvas panel Jimmy Longacre Texas impressionist landscape paintings MY WEBSITE MY BLOG: Paintbox & Easel GALLERY LINKS River's Edge Gallery Kerrville TX Austin Street Gallery Rockport TX Capital Fine Art Gallery Austin TX

Painted at the Kerrville Outdoor Painters Event, October 2013.  This property was loaded with wonderful old classic barns, sheds and cabins from the past.  The light falling on this grouping was irresistible. HILL COUNTRY MAGIC ©Jimmy Longacre 2013 11x14 oil on canvas panel Jimmy Longacre Texas impressionist landscape paintings MY WEBSITE MY BLOG: Paintbox & Easel GALLERY LINKS River's Edge Gallery Kerrville TX Austin Street Gallery Rockport TX Capital Fine Art Gallery Austin TX

Outdoor painters love a sunny day  displaying interesting shadow patterns that contain rich, subtle colors contrasted with the bright sunlit spectrum. But, alas, you can't always have it that way.  Gray day paintings present a unique challenge, because they lack the availability of shadow shapes that are so nice to use in organizing eye-catching compositions.  Because of the close values and and color relationships,  gray day paintings present a unique challenge.  Even though they can be more difficult to paint, they can yield some beautiful effects.   This painting was done last Saturday at the Kerrville Outdoor Painters Event, on a still, thinly overcast morning that gave the landscape a kind of beautiful glow.   MORNING OVERCAST ©Jimmy Longacre 2013 11x14 oil on canvas panel Jimmy Longacre Texas impressionist landscape paintings MY WEBSITE MY BLOG: Paintbox & Easel GALLERY LINKS River's Edge Gallery Kerrville TX ...

HOME MEMORIES   11x14  oil on canvas panel I just returned from The Kerrville Outdoor Painters Event, a four day plein air painting competition.   This was one of my entries in the show.  I didn't receive the Best In Show award this time, but I'm pleased that my painting was selected as one of the winners in the show.   However , for those of you who participate in these events, or if you're thinking of participating in one, I'd like to offer my opinion about the experience. Winning, or placing in the competition is nice and gratifying, of course, but I don't think it's the primary objective, or benefit.  There is so much to gain from accepting the challenge to do your best in the company of other painters of varying skill levels, and under whatever conditions happen to prevail during the event.  Why?  Because, it can't help but test your skills, raise your confidence level as a painter, and move you more quickly toward...

Today's painting, entitled "CREEK FLOW" is an 11X14",  plein air, oil on canvas panel,  by Texas modern impressionist Jimmy Longacre.  I was caught by the abstract quality of this view, seen from the top of a cliff.

Today's painting, entitled "GOOD TO BE OUT" is an 9X12",  plein air, oil on canvas panel,  by Texas modern impressionist Jimmy Longacre.  Painted in the welcome shade of ancient oaks at 9:30 a.m. Jimmy Longacre's website        My blog: Paintbox and Easel        My CFAI Gallery/Store

Today's painting, entitled "ROCK PASSAGE" is an 8X10",  plein air, oil on canvas panel,  by Texas modern impressionist Jimmy Longacre.  Painted at Pedernales State Park Jimmy Longacre's website        My blog: Paintbox and Easel        My CFAI Gallery/Store

Today's painting, entitled "EARLY PASTURE" is a 12X16",  plein air, oil on canvas panel,  by Texas modern impressionist Jimmy Longacre.  Painted in the welcome shade of ancient oaks at 9:30 a.m. Jimmy Longacre's website        My blog: Paintbox and Easel        My CFAI Gallery/Store

Today's painting, entitled "PEDERNALES CLIFFSIDE" is a 16X20",  plein air, oil on canvas panel,  by Texas modern impressionist Jimmy Longacre.  Painted in the welcome shade of ancient oaks at 9:30 a.m. Jimmy Longacre's website        My blog: Paintbox and Easel        My CFAI Gallery/Store

Today's painting, entitled "AT TRATTORIA LISINE" is an 8X10",  plein air, oil on canvas panel,  by Texas modern impressionist Jimmy Longacre.  Painted in the welcome shade of ancient oaks at 9:30 a.m. Jimmy Longacre's website        My blog: Paintbox and Easel        My CFAI Gallery/Store