"The Old Homeplace"... Irish Thatched Roof Cottage, County Clare, Ireland...

"The Old Homeplace"... Irish Thatched Roof Cottage, County Clare, Ireland... 6x8" Oil on panel, alla prima, "Enchanting Ireland" series, 8-2008.

This original oil painting by American Artist, Bernie Rosage Jr. is available for purchase... email Bernie with the title in the subject line... click HERE... for price and details.

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Thatched roofed cottages are a common site in Ireland... a beautiful site I must add. We visited Bunratty Folk Park where we got to see and go in several. The village was set up recreating the general feel of the 19th century with a period style village main street. The cottages came alive as we stepped back in time... we even got to enjoy the smell of peat fires burning in the cottage fireplaces.

These small paintings are inspired from my recent trip to Ireland... in most cases they are studies for larger works for a solo exhibit titled "Enchanting Ireland" that will debut August 2009 at the Baysden Gallery. Visit my "Enchanting Ireland" blog to see the series unfold and read about our many adventures on the Emerald Isle.

This painting, on a gessoed panel with painted sides, is easily framed or displayed with a decorative easel.

All my paintings are signed originals using artist grade oils and archival surfaces. "Certificate of Authenticity" included.

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"The Winberry Barn"... Plein Air by Bernie Rosage Jr.

"The Winberry Barn"... 6x8" Oil on panel, alla prima en plein aire, 4-2008.
SOLD... Thanks again Jonathan!
Knoxville, TN

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This old barn was a joy to paint for two reasons...

#1... It's sentimental value. I grew up just down the road from this old barn that belonged to my great uncle. My brother and I along with other kids who lived nearby spent many hours playing in and around it.

#2... I painted this one en plein aire with My lil' painting buddy, Olivia

I love painting "en plein aire"... a French term that translates in English to "in the open air". The challenges that nature presents while painting outside from life appeal to me... changing light, changing weather, etc. Plein air painting fills all the senses for me and makes for an experience vs simply a painting. Most of all... I enjoy the people I meet plein air painting.

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Bernie's Ramblings: Self Taught or NOT...????... Kudos to my Mentors!

Most of my collectors and peers know that I am self taught... but to be honest... that is not a fair assessment. I would be more accurate in saying that I am self-motivated to be taught.

For example... I glean from the masters... old and new. I read books about painting almost daily... my favorite book BTW way is "Alla Prima" by Richard Schmid. I am in constant contact with artists from around the world through the Wet Canvas online artists community and other sites. At these online artists cafés as I call them... I have made many friends and gained several mentors. One of my dearest friends and mentors is artist, Larry Seiler. I submit my work for honest and helpful critiques and have learned what to take from them and what "not" to take. I also like to surround myself with local artist friends like "OOPS"... a local plein air group where things are more personal.

When time and location permits I like to attend workshops and have learned a wealth from them. Another mentor and friend, artist Mike Rooney, has helped me grow through his awesome workshops.

One of the ways that I have learned the most is by instructional DVD's. Demos where I can actually see the artist at work sharing his/her thoughts and techniques. I can watch these video demos as often and whenever I want to... very convenient for a busy artist like myself. My favorite plein air demos are the plein air series put out by Richard Schmid.

The "Painting a Day" art movement that is gaining momentum in the art collecting market and is one of my favorite ways to express myself. It's the art of painting everyday subjects from life is such a way they almost come alive. When it comes to my "painting a day" love of still life the one artist who has helped me grow more than any other is Hall Groat II. I purchased Hall's first two DVD's.... VOLUME #1 and VOLUME #2... and was very impressed by his simple yet thorough approach. My work was already selling by this point but after studying the demos and applying some of Hall's techniques my work jumped up several notches and began to sell for higher dollar amounts. My style is different from Hall's... after all... I don't wish to copy his work but glean from it and let it help mold my own. What I have learned from his DVD's is worth 10 times more than I paid for them. I understand Hall is up to VOLUME #20 as I write this... may just have to pay Hall's site another visit. To top it all... Hall has become a dear cyber friend and mentor and has been very approachable and helpful to me every step of the way on my journey... my Artistic Release!

Click HERE... to see some of my "painting a day" works.

Most of all... I have learned the most about painting from PAINTING! All the resources and mentors listed above would be for naught if I didn't apply the paint to canvas...

Kudos to all my mentors!

Bernie Rosage Jr.
Artist

Check out Hall's various sites and blogs: http://www.oilpaintingdvd.com/

Highlighted artist on Creative Spotlite webpage...

I am very humbled and honored to be highlighted on Creative Spotlite's Artist Spotlite section of their awesome website. Many artists use their site as a knowledge base for art lessons and resources... cool to be highlighted among my peers. I have purchased several instruction DVD's from this top notch company and highly recommend their artists resources.

Please click here... Artist Spotlite - Bernie Rosage Jr... and take a gander... leave a comment if you get the chance.

A side note... I'm humbled two times over by having this painting,"Confederate Canteen", juried into the Spring Images Art Show sponsored by the Onslow Art Society and was awarded an Honorable Mention.




Bernie

"Pa's Old Brownie" by Bernie Rosage Jr.

"Pa's Old Brownie"... 6x6" Oil on panel, alla prima from life, "Painting a Day" series, 7-2008.
SOLD... Thanks Amber H.
Culver City, CA

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American nostalgia can not be better exemplified than by this painting I did from life of the famous Brownie, the name of a long-running and extremely popular series of simple and inexpensive cameras made by Kodak. The Brownie popularized low-cost photography and introduced the concept of the snapshot. The first Brownie, introduced in February, 1900, was a very basic cardboard box camera with a simple lens. With its simple controls and initial price of $1, it was intended to be a camera that anyone could afford and use. The camera was named after the popular cartoons created by Palmer Cox. The model I painted here is the FLASH SIX-20... introduced in 1946 which sold for $6. It was discontinued in 1955... six years before I was born.

Everyday objects painted from life is the essence of the "Painting a Day" art movement that is gaining momentum in the art collecting market.

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Lone Granny Smith Apple #2

"Lone Granny Smith Apple #2"... 6x6" Oil on panel, alla prima from life, "Painting a Day" series, 7-2008.
SOLD... Thanks again Jonathan!
Knoxville, TN

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This small painting was the result of a live demo in my Sunday School class. I had the students read "light" verses from the Bible as I painted. We talked about how light adds form to objects... in art and real life... let your light shine...

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"The Old Mill" by Bernie Rosage Jr.

"The Old Mill"... 6x8" Oil on panel, alla prima, 6-2008.
SOLD... Thanks again Art!
Oronogo, MO

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Can't you imagine yourself relaxing next to this Old Mill? The still water of the millpond not only evokes a peaceful feeling but seems to invite a line and bobber from a cane pole. Hopefully this one takes you down that nostalgic path of your childhood when days seemed to last forever...

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"Bradham's Pharmacy... Birthplace of Pepsi-Cola, New Bern, NC"... Plein Air

"Bradham's Pharmacy... Birthplace of Pepsi-Cola, New Bern, NC"... 6x8" Oil on Panel, en plein aire, 9-2008. SOLD

 

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This painting, "Bradham's Pharmacy... Birthplace of Pepsi-Cola, New Bern, NC" is set in downtown New Bern, North Carolina and was painted en plein aire as part of the 6th Annual Worldwide Paint Out sponsored by the International Plein Air Painters. It marks the spot that was once a pharmacy where Caleb Bradham invented "Brad's Drink" in 1898 which he later patented as Pepsi-Cola. The historical site is owned by the Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company which serves as Pepsi memorabilia store where visitors can purchase a variety of Pepsi products and even belly up to a vintage soda fountain.

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Photograph of sign on the building...

RJ Howarth of Moorestown. NJ

"City Hall Clock Tower #3, New Bern, NC... A View from South Front Street"... Plein Air by Bernie Rosage Jr.

"City Hall Clock Tower #3, New Bern, NC... A View from South Front Street"... 8x6" Oil on Panel, en plein aire, 9-2008. SOLD... Thanks Homer, New Bern, NC.

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Close-up....

Day 2 of the IPAP 6th Annual Worldwide Paint Out started out clear and HOT! I met several other artists from Eastern NC... some from New Bern, Oriental, and Little Washington. Mitchell Morton and I were the only artists from Onslow County to paint on day 2. Keeping my fascination with the City Hall clock tower alive I found a cool vantage point just off South Front Street at the Zaytoun-Raines Century 21 building. I met several nice people who dropped by to chat including a nice man named Homer Ray who worked at the office I was painting from... he even expressed an interest in purchasing this painting and has first dibs on it if still interested. After I finished... Mitchell and I headed to the corner of Pollock and Middle Streets to paint the Birthplace of Pepsi... images will be posted soon.

This painting, on a gessoed panel with painted sides, is easily framed or displayed with a decorative easel.
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All my paintings are signed originals using artist grade oils and archival surfaces. "Certificate of Authenticity" included.

"City Hall Clock Tower #2, New Bern, NC... A View from Pollock Street"... Plein Air

"City Hall Clock Tower #2, New Bern, NC... A View from Pollock Street"... 8x6" Oil on Panel, en plein aire, 9-2008.

This original oil painting by American Artist, Bernie Rosage Jr. is available for purchase...Email Bernie about purchasing details HERE... please include the paintings title in the subject line.

Click on image to see a larger view...



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Close-up...
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I headed out of the house, riding the heels of tropical storm Hanna, eager to plein air paint with of a couple of my artist friends who I was to meet in New Bern, North Carolina. We were taking part in the IPAP (International Plein Air Painters) 6th Annual Worldwide Paint Out. My pards set up in the shade of the trees at historic Christ's Church while I set up across the street (Pollock Street) to paint another view of the clock tower of the New Bern City Hall. We painted till dark... I'll share more soon.
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City Hall Clock Tower #1, New Bern, NC... A View from Craven Street... Plein Air

"City Hall Clock Tower #1, New Bern, NC... A View from Craven Street"... 8x6" Oil on Panel, en plein aire, 9-2008.

This original oil painting by American Artist, Bernie Rosage Jr. is available for purchase... Email Bernie about purchasing details HERE... please include the paintings title in the subject line.

Click on image to see a larger view...

Close-up...

Several plein air artists from Eastern North Carolina (myself included) converged on the historic and beautiful town of New Bern, North Carolina to take part in the IPAP (International Plein Air Painters) 6th Annual Worldwide Paint Out. Plein air painters from all over the world agreed to meet in various locations all over the globe to plein air paint on September 5, 6, and 7. This special gathering is to help promote the unique art of painting "en plein aire"... a French term that translates... "in open air". This is my first of several paintings that weekend.

Plein Air Artists and Hanna converge of New Bern...

Tropical storm Hanna may make Saturday's Worldwide Plein Air Paint Out a bit challenging.... none-the-less many Eastern NC artists still plan to converge on the historical town of New Bern... myself included! She is projected (at this point) to be out of here by Saturday afternoon with Sunday being beautiful! The IPAP (International Plein Air Painters) holds a worldwide paint out every year (this is the 6th annual event) to promote the tradition and bring exposure to painting "en plein aire"... a French term which translates... "in open air". Does anyone know the French term "in open air and WIND"?

"Salt and Light" by Bernie Rosage Jr.

"Salt and Light"... 8x6" Oil on Panel, alla prima from life, "Painting a Day" series, 4-2008.
PRIVATE COLLECTION

This painting was recently highlighted on Christian rock band, Third Day's website...

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Scripture is often the inspiration for my paintings. This still life I set up and painted from life is such an example. My inspiration comes from Jesus' words in Matthew... "You are the salt of the earth" and "You are the light of the world." I think it cool the fact that one can associate salt with taste and thus the mouth and light with sight. Plainly put... our words (what comes out of our mouth) and actions (what others see us do) reveal who we really are.

Everyday objects painted from life is the essence of the "Painting a Day" art movement that is gaining momentum in the art collecting market.

Nigel James, Cardiff, Wales