Gift from a GREAT photographer... Gary Hollar

While painting en plein aire last Sunday at Cedar Point I met a nice gentlemen and talented photographer named Gary Hollar. He captured and sent me this image of me texting my wife...

"Honey, just finished painting,
will be home in about 30 minutes... Love ya!"

Here's a link to Gary's webpage... Gary Hollar Photography... check it out!
Thanks Gary for the awesome image!

Bernie

Ended the year in the Mountains and began it on the Coast...

My family and I have spent the last week of 2011 in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains near Boone. Yesterday I spent the afternoon ringing 2012 in by plein air painting at the Cedar Point portion of the Croatan National Forest. I never tire of the North Carolina landscape... it is a spiritual journey for me to spend time painting it. One thing is for sure... NC is a gorgeous state from one end to the other as these photos I took within the past seven days attest to!

Bernie and Tami atop Rough Ridge near Blowing Rock, NC.

My first plein air painting of 2012.

The temp reached 70 degrees yesterday and the light was perfect! The Cedar Point hiking trail was crowded so I picked a spot off the beaten path to paint his one. I met several nice people including the nicest young couple from Alabama who make Jacksonville their temporary home compliments of the USMC.

Happy New Year everyone!
Bernie

Mery Christmas from Dixie!

I want to take the time to wish everyone a blessed Holiday Season... may the light of the season shine on you and warm your heart. Talk to ya'll next year!
Bernie

Painting again!

The Holiday Break between semesters has forded me some brush wielding time... I must say it feels quite good to put paint to canvas again! Here are a few recent works...

Felt great to pick up a brush...

It felt great to pick up a brush this week instead of a calculator... Here's a small one I painted as a Christmas gift...

Had a great time plein air painting in Downtown Wilmington!

Bernie on the docks of the
Wilmington waterfront.

A few weekends ago I participated in the International Plein Air Painters (IPAP) 9th annual Worldwide Paint Out. Simply put... plein air artists from all over the world agree to paint on the same weekend to promote the tradition of plein air painting all over the globe. Most of the Eastern North Carolina artists decided to converge on historical Wilmington as our source of inspiration. I painted with several of my pards from the Onslow Outdoor Painters Society (OOPS) plus had the privilege of painting with dear friend, Brenda Behr. Check out Brenda's ponderings and paintings from the weekend HERE.

It was my first real plein air adventure this summer... my brand new French half easel was screaming for attention... I have been spending most of my time with T.S. Eliot, Langston Hughes, John Cheever, radicals, radicands, polynomials, Mendel, Eukaryotes, Genotypes, and Darwin this summer. Full time college and work leaves little time for painting... however, in the absence of painting... Eliot, Hughes, and Cheever have kept me sane... can't say to much for the others... back to the plein air weekend...

I worked on three paintings Saturday (which still need finishing touches) and had a great time sharing time with artist friends, talking to the public, and enjoying the beautiful weather and scenery of Wilmington. I spent the evening pub hopping with my son-in-law and friends which can all attest to the fact that I  paint better than I play pool!

Sunday morning I got up bright and early and decided to set up along the downtown waterfront. It was the 10th anniversary of 911 and I wanted to paint something patriotic so I zeroed in on the USS North Carolina Battleship just across the Cape Fear River. 2011 marks the 50th Anniversary of the ship's arrival in Wilmington. I turned 50 this summer and have included a photo of me. mom, and dad on the Battleship when I was just a baby.

Mom, baby-Bernie, and Dad at the
USS North Carolina Battleship in 1962.

My painting of the battleship seemed to click from the beginning and I was in a pretty good grove when I met the coolest man from Sweden... Anders Persson. We talked and he explained how he and his wife, Marie, had just visited the battleship yesterday and were interested in American history.

My plein air painting of the battleship.
9-11-11.

Marie and Anders Persson from Sweden.

Anders bought the painting on the spot saying he wished to take a piece of American history back to Sweden with them. I agreed to the sale under a couple conditions... he let me (#1) add the finishing touches and (#2) he and his wife visit with me awhile. I explained that I wanted them to spend a half hour talking to a regular Joe American so they wouldn't think Lindsay Lohan was the American norm! We had a great visit and I learned some interesting things about Sweden. This was very cool since my wife's great-grandfather was from Sweden. The patronage and visit from Anders and Marie were a double blessing for me and I count this among one of my favorite plein air stories!

Marie and Bernie.

Anders and Bernie.

Can't wait for some PLEIN air FUN with my OOPS pards on the 28th!



OOPS August Paint Out date... Aug. 28, 2011.

WHAT: OOPS! August 2011 Paint Out

WHEN: Sunday, August 28, 2011 from 1pm (or earlier) until...

WHERE: Trent River Boat Access, Pollocksville, NC (on Highway 17N just before the Trent River Bridge turn right into public access area on the river.... shelter and restrooms available.)

NOTE FROM PATSY (Paint Out Organizer):

Let’s plan for August 28th. Maybe ask everyone if they’d like to have a little picnic afterwards, since there really is nowhere there to eat. There is only one restaurant there and it is closed on Sundays to the best of my knowledge. We could each bring a little something to share or bring our own individual brown-bag meals. Just need to let me know the count, and I’ll try to have water like Dean did last time since the weather is so hot. I haven’t been to Pollocksville yet, but will do so this week most likely Tuesday. The wildlife area is a right turn just before the bridge there in Pollocksville. I believe there is plenty of parking, and there is a covered picnic area with 2-4 tables. Not far from it is T-shaped pier and there are a few large shade trees in the parking lot. It’s not a large area, but I believe large enough to accommodate us.

Patsy

WHY: SOME LIKE IT HOT!!!! Simply put... we LOVE gathering with like minded artists and painting outdoors!

Newbies welcome... all mediums and skill levels... simply show up with your gear and be prepared to have fun! No worries... there are NO art-snobs in our group!

What the heck is OOPS and how do I join the FUN?

Pollocksville, NC on HWY 17N

Turn Right here... just before you cross the bridge over the Trent River at the old train depot.

Plenty of docks and decks to paint from with views of the river.

Plenty of shade!

Shelter with picnic tables.

Just in case!

 

"Afternoon Burst" by Bernie Rosage Jr.

Afternoon Burst
22x32x1.5" oil on panel
Bernie Rosage Jr
2011

It's been a tough summer for painting...

My jealous paint box has been screaming for attention! Seems I've been spending to much time with T.S. Eliot, Langston Hughes, John Cheever, radicals, radicands, polynomials, Mendel, Eukaryotes, Genotypes, and Darwin this summer. Can't wait for this semester to end! However, in the absence of painting... Eliot, Hughes, and Cheever have kept me sane... can't say to much for the others... :)

Bernie

Two weeks left to see the "Life, Light, and Pigment" Exhibit by Bernie Rosage Jr.



"Morning Has Broken"
by Bernie Rosage Jr
24"x48"x1.5" oil on panel
2011

Close up

“Life, Light, and Pigment”
June 5 - July 29, 2011

Baysden Gallery ~ Council for the Arts
826 New Bridge Street
Jacksonville, North Carolina 28540
910-455-9840

“Life, Light, and Pigment” is a collection of oil and acrylic paintings from the past two years by artist, Bernie Rosage Jr. Most of the 40 paintings in the exhibit were painted from life, either in the studio or on location en plein aire. “Painting from direct observation really hones the artist’s skills and develops the art of seeing”, states Rosage. The exhibit also shows how Rosages’ work has evolved over a two year span. “I have moved beyond just capturing what my subject looks like to something deeper”… “I am striving for the divine and sublime as I paint now”, added Rosage. Bringing everyday objects to life in fresh and artistic ways by capturing light, mood, and atmosphere are goals he is consciously and consistently achieving.