Bernie is blogging from his website now....

Bernie is blogging from his website now at www.bernierosage.com ... 

Click HERE for more recent blog posts and plein air adventures.

New Bern Art Crawl this Friday (August 8th) features works and demo by Bernie Rosage.

I will be showing some works and doing a painting demo at Fine Art @ Baxter's Gallery this Friday evening in Historic Downtown New Bern for the Art Walk. Make plans to attend this FUN evening of art, music, fellowship, food, and drink. The fun usually starts around 5pm
In Art,
Bernie

Alfred A Cunningham Drawbridge - New Bern, NC
10x20x1.75" Oil on Gallery Wrapped Canvas
Bernie Rosage Jr.

Event Title:	Summertime ARTcrawl in Downtown New Bern
Dates/Times:	Friday, August 8, 2014 5:00pm-8:00pm
Location:	Galleries, Studios, Art Shops, Performance Venues & More throughout Historic Downtown New Bern.
Description:	ARTcrawl through the landmarks and showcases of art exhibits, live performances & artisan demos by a plethera of creative people in New Bern! ARTcrawl is held the 2nd Friday of every month! For a map of participating locations in Downtown New Bern, stop by the Community Artist Will located at 228 Craven Street or visit the website below.
Admission:	FREE & Open to the Public!
Website:	www.communityartistwill.org/artcrawl.html
Organization:	Community Artist Will

Line up of events...

ArtCrawl August 8th 2014

On Craven Street, come to the Isaac Taylor Gardens to hear the live music of the Beach Street Band, a seven piece jazz ensemble from Havelock who are always a crowd pleaser. Artists will be demonstrating and selling their hand made, one of kind crafts and fine art pieces. Participating artists include ECU graduate Samrae Duke who specializes in fantastic illustrative works, Katherine Wiggs with her fine art paintings, Ben Watford demonstrating his skills on the pottery wheel as well as showing his unique pieces, and Susan Spirko with watercolor, oil, and acrylic paintings. Several jewelry makers will be on hand. Elisa Shulman and her wonderful bead work creations, Ashley McDaniel with scrimshaw and enamel pendants, and Alice Bilello will be set up in the gallery with her amazing jewelry creations.

The Gallery on Craven, a new art co-op, in front of the gardens will be open and displaying the works of several local artists. The wonderful and talented artists who participate in this gallery are Dara Morgan, Jay Manning, Dottie Miller, Sarah Thrasher, Bernice Abraham, Jon Derby, Brandy Baxter, Elaine Meyer, and Becky Preece.

At Studio 413 located at 413 Broad Street, Edward Macomber will be showing watercolor paintings from his trip to England. He will lead a discussion on his experiences with the Chelsea Arts Society, staying at Elton John's estate, painting at Harrods, and meeting other distinguished members of the Chelsea Arts Society.

On Pollock Street, between Middle and Craven streets, stop in Fine Art at Baxters for their exhibit of historic New Bern paintings created by the talents of Bernie Rosage, Vicki Vitali, and GeeVee Meyer. Just a few doors down, Carolina Creations will be featuring the plein air paintings of Dan Nelson and Michael Rooney.

Turn the corner onto Middle Street where you will find A Hopeful Balance displaying the works of several New Bern artists in their hallway leading up to Laughing Yoga at 6:45pm. In Bear Plaza, Hannah Mathiot of Bear Hands Art Factory will be displaying her whimsical pottery. Further down Middle Street, JaqJill will be showing and selling the works of Sydney Gilgo. Sydney makes and sells painted shells to raise funds and awareness of human trafficking for Bethesda and Bethlehem, a Costa Rican ministry. Each shell is $15 and 100% of proceeds go to benefit the women of the ministry who were single mothers rescued from human trafficking and work to liberate others from this terrible market. JaqJill will also be displaying the photography of Brandon Moreno.

Also on Middle Steet, Blaine Kruger will be demonstrating his painting skills at The Boathouse. Across the street, Midtown Olive Oil will be featuring the paintings of Becky Coleman, Kathleen Bailey, and Sarah Finch. You are invited to sample fine olive oils while your peruse fine art work.

At Bear Town Market's Beer Garden on the corner of Middle and South Front Street, the Bohemian artists of New Bern will be demonstrating and displaying their works. Artists include Chris Wagner, Gilligan Carlson Stith, Heather Main, Elisa Maple, and Braedon Welsh. This is always a fun venue for the whole family. Stop by and enjoy the artists accompanied by the live music of Asheville's The Broadcast, a rock and roll band who harken back to the sounds of classic rock with a power house lead female vocalist. 

HEADLINES: Rosage graduates from ECU and gets a Job!!! Wife is ECSTATIC!

It's Official... I have graduated from East Carolina University and landed a job as the new art teacher at Jacksonville High School... I am SO excited!... and so is Tami!!!!!!!!!!!

Aerial / Atmospheric Perspective... The Landscape Painter's ace in the hole!

I shared this with my class and thought you all may enjoy it. Understanding and using aerial/atmospheric perspective is an essential tool in the landscape painters toolbox.

The image alone speaks volumes... FYI... Bernie

Aerial or atmospheric interference with visual perception causes loss of contrast, detail and sharp focus. The effect, which Leonardo called "the perspective of disappearance," tends to make objects seem to take on a blue-gray middle value as they increase in distance. This effect is used by film makers to give the illusion of great depth, but can be used to great effect by painters and draftsmen. The illustration above shows loss of color saturation, contrast, and detail as the cubes fall further away from the viewer. Here is a list of attributes that objects have as they recede in space:

SIZE OF OBJECTS-smaller objects seem farther away (distortions can occur if objects are the same size or too close to the viewer).

OVERLAPPING OR SUPERIMPOSING-by partially covering one object with another it gives an appearance of depth (distortions also occur if viewer is too close).

TEXTURE-density increases as an object gets further away.

SPACING-objects clustered closer together seem farther away. Horizontal lines which get closer as they near the horizon line appear to be defining a recession in space.

FOCUS-objects lose detail as they recede into space.

BRIGHTNESS-objects are brighter when closer to the viewer, except for reflective surfaces.

SHADE AND SHADOW-darker shadows seem closer especially if overlapping other shadows.

UPWARD ANGULAR LOCATION-creates depth if juxtaposed to ground and sky lines, e.g. tall buildings.

COLOR-color intensity is much greater closer to the viewer and tends toward medium gray as it recedes.

Hint: As objects recede away from the viewer in atmospheric perspective, bright whites and rich blacks tend toward medium gray and eventually disappear into a blue/gray background. Even colors have greater intensity closer to a viewer than they do further away.

Related Posts:
8 Benefits of Atmospheric Perspective
5 Factors That Affect Atmospheric Perspective

SOURCES: 

http://moorestuff.us/ART_STUFF/chalkboard/13_ap-aerial.htm

http://www.arthints.com/what-is-atmospheric-perspective/

It's a God thing...

It's a "GOD THING"... My "How Great Thou ART" class is painting this painting this Friday evening for our painting lesson. The inspiration comes from Jesus' words in Matthew... "You are the salt of the earth" and "You are the light of the world." Within the past two hours, I have had two pastors, one in Northern California and one in Winchester, Virginia, contact me to ask permission to use it as a visual for their upcoming sermons this Sunday... of course I said yes. I painted this several years ago... the story gets better... Pastor Nigel James, road pastor for the Christian band, Third Day, owns the original. 
Be salt and be light....
Peace, Bernie

"Salt and Light" by Bernie Rosage Jr.
6x8" Oil on Panel, Painted from life.
SOLD

Plein Air... NC Mountain Style!

Had a great time painting en plein aire in the mountains of North Carolina with my dear artist friend... Jeremy Sams.

Wishing you an ARTful Holiday Season!

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

Bernie spends two weeks plein air painting in the NC Mountains...

I had a relaxing time painting "en plein air" in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains while on vacation at Fleetwood Falls, NC. I made many new friends and spent time with some old dear ones. The highlight of my painting adventures was painting with Jeremy Sams and Scott Boyle along the New River near Todd, NC. The crowning jewel was spending the day (August 9th) with some of the best NC plein air artists at the Sweetgrass Paint Out near Blowing Rock, NC. I painted with dear friends, Jeremy Sams and Brenda Behr in a meadow with an awesome view of Grandfather Mountain. We dodged the showers as best we could but it was well worth it!

In Art,
Bernie

Check out all the photos at this link.... Plein Air FUN in the Blue Ridge Mountains ~ August 2013

Onslow County at the Battle of Gettysbirg... 150 years ago TODAY!

Onslow County at the Battle of Gettysburg
PART I

 

by Bernie Rosage, Jr.

July 1st through 3rd of every year our country commemorates the  anniversary of the epic Battle of Gettysburg, often referred to as the turning point of America's Civil War. Thousands of people will converge on the small Pennsylvania town once again, not to do battle, but to remember. Lincoln put it best when he said, "The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here".

The anniversary embodies many special events, highlighted by  reenactors clashing in battle reenactments of familiar names like; The Railroad Cut, The Wheat Field, The Peach Orchard, Devil's Den, The Bloody Angle, Little Round Top, Cemetery Hill to name a few. All done not to glorify war but to remember history and honor the men who fought and died.

This story is about the men of Onslow County, Company H of the 55th North Carolina Infantry in particular,  who where there over 150 years ago to witness the historic event first hand.

The company, known as the "Alexander Boys," was raised mainly in Alexander and Onslow counties in March - April, 1862. It was mustered into Confederate service at Camp Mangum, near Raleigh, on May 31, 1862, and assigned to the 55th Regiment N.C. Troops as Company H.

The 55th NC, commanded by Colonel John K. Connally, was assigned to General Joseph R. Davis' Brigade (the nephew of Confederate President Jefferson Davis) in the spring of 1863 where it remained until January of 1865. During the Gettysburg Campaign, Davis' Brigade consisted of the 2nd, 11th, and 42nd Mississippi regiments, along with the 55th NC and was part of Henry Heth's Division, A.P. Hill's III Corps, in Robert E. Lee's famed Army of Northern Virginia.

Heth's Division is given credit for starting the battle of Gettysburg. Heth wanted to procure some shoes for his barefoot troops and had heard there was a large supply in the town. Initially thinking Union General John Buford's cavalry was only Pennsylvania militia, he continued to push towards Gettysburg. Ironically the South entered town that day from the north and the North entered from the south. More and more troops from both sides were drawn to the sounds of fighting and on July 1, 1863 the great battle had begun.

The 55th NC formed the extreme left of Davis' Brigade, and owing to the nature of the ground was the first regiment to come into view of the enemy, and received the first fire in the battle. A volley from the 56th Pennsylvania Regiment of Cutler's Brigade. From the beginning, the fighting was fierce and as the regiment advanced, Colonel Connally seized the battle flag from a fallen soldier and rushed several paces in front of the regiment where he fell badly wounded in the arm and hip. Major Belo rushed up and asked him if he was badly wounded. Colonel Connally replied: "Yes, but pay no attention to me; take the colors and keep ahead of the Mississippians."

After driving Cutler's Brigade, Davis' units took shelter in an unfinished railroad cut to regroup. The "shelter" turned out to be a death trap because along much of its length, the walls of the cut were to deep for men to fire out of. The 6th Wisconsin and the Iron Brigade Guard, about 450 men total, took advantage of the situation and charged the cut, killing and wounding hundreds, and taking 232 of the brigade prisoner.

Onslow County was there --- John S. Meadows was killed in action; Abraham T. Autaway was wounded in the face, captured, and died in a Gettysburg hospital; Michael Rawls and Thomas Simpson, Jr. were captured and sent to Point Lookout --- to mention a few. Thomas' brother, Curtis Simpson, was furloughed home sick and missed the battle. (Curtis' son, the late Walter Caden Simpson --- 1894-2000, resided in Onslow County in the Back Swamp district. He was Camp 1302's "Real Son").

The 55th NC including Company H, suffered dearly on the first day's battle. The battle that would swell into a terrible three-day struggle, one in which 160,000 Americans would contest for supremacy within 25 square miles of ground and carve into history the greatest battle on American soil resulting in over 50,000 casualties. Day one wasn't the end for the "Alexander Boys" --- they still had to make one more grand charge!

 

 

Onslow County at the Battle of Gettysburg
PART II

North Carolina; Farthest at Gettysburg!

by Bernie Rosage, Jr.

 

The Tar Heels of the Old North State, including over 1300 men from Onslow County, have earned their page in history with their deeds of valor, contributions, and dedication to the Confederate Cause of 1861 - 1865. Often North Carolina wasn't given the respect due to her for such contributions and found herself defending her soldier's good  name. Too many times other states got the glory and promotions while North Carolina did the work and was content with the simple attribute of duty. North Carolina was considered by her people as, "The valley of humility between the two pinnacles of conceit", referring to the hot-tempered South Carolinians who started the war and the illustrious lineage of the Virginians.

North Carolina boasts a motto that no other state can revel; "First at Bethel, farthest at Gettysburg and Chickamauga, and last at Appomattox." A motto worthy of respect for all Confederate Tar Heels and one that, in part, was earned by a company of infantry consisting of men from Onslow and Alexander counties.

Longstreet's Assault on July 3, 1863 at Gettysburg, or what is generally but very incorrectly known as "Pickett's Charge," has not only had its proper place in books about the war, but has furnished a subject for more speeches, historical essays, paintings and poems than any other event which ever occurred in America. Many writings have led their readers to falsely think that Pickett's Virginians were the only ones in the grand charge.

Company H, nicknamed "The Alexander Boys," of the 55th North Carolina Troops were there. As the Alexander and Onslow boys crouched in the McMillan Woods they waited for the furious two-hour bombardment by some 150 Confederate cannons to cease. Their attack would then commence, and little did they know that the turning point of the war and their cause was at hand.

Company H stepped out of the woods atop Seminary Ridge and, with forty-one other Confederate regiments, formed ranks for the assault; eighteen regiments and one battalion from Virginia, fifteen regiments from North Carolina, three from Mississippi, three more from Tennessee, and one regiment and one battalion from Alabama. Before them, clearly unveiled as a breeze blew the smoke away, lay 1,300 yards of coverless ground and the bristling Federal lines beyond.

General Lee requested his "Old War-horse," General James Longstreet, to command the assault even though Pickett's fresh division was the only one from his I Corps. The other two divisions were from A. P. Hill's III Corps.  Henry Heth's division was commanded by Johnston Pettigrew. Heth was wounded on the first day which would have been fatal if it were not for a few folded papers he stuffed in his hat. Upon the mortal wounding of Dorsey Pender, his division was now commanded by Isaac Trimble. Both divisions were heavily engaged during the first day's battle and suffered severely. The 55th NC was commanded by Captain George Gilreath upon the killing and wounding of all its' field officers on the first day's fight. Company H was commanded by Captain Edward Satterfield with many of the regiments' companies led by non-commissioned officers.

Major General George Pickett's Virginians took up position on the right of Pettigrew with Trimble in support of Pettigrew. The command to commence the assault was given to Pickett by a reluctant Longstreet and the grand charge had begun. Pettigrew dispatched Col. James Marshal, "Now Colonel, for the honor of the Old North State, Forward" and the Tar Heels stepped off.

Preceded by a line of skirmishers and "colors flying in the breeze," Pickett's and Pettigrew's men moved "in perfect order as if on dress parade" towards the Emmitsburg Road. Under severe fire from artillery and musketry the southern lines began to give way. Brockenborough's Virginia brigade was soon shattered which left Davis' brigade, which included the 55th NC, exposed on the far left where they were flanked by the Union 8th Ohio. Franklin Sawyer of the 8th Ohio Volunteers later wrote; "Changing our front, the men were ordered to fire into their left flank at will. The distinct graceful lines were at once enveloped in a dense smoke and dust. Arms, heads, blankets, guns and knapsacks were thrown and tossed in the air. A moan went up from the field, distinctly to be heard amid the storm of battle, but on they went, more like a cloud of moving smoke and dust than a column of troops."

The casualties of the charge were horrendous for every southern regiment involved. However, if the charge of the Light Brigade at Balaklava in which it lost thirty-five percent has rendered it famous, why should not the Charge of Davis' brigade in which it lost sixty percent render it equally famous? The casualties for the 55th NC were 74 men killed or mortally wounded (of whom 27 died in the hands of the enemy), 76 wounded, 263 captured (of whom 107 were wounded), and two missing --- a total of 415 including many men from Onslow.  The 55th as a regiment rivaled in casualties, the three brigades of Pickett's division who averaged  455 each.

The ocean of men in butternut and gray that flowed forward that summer's afternoon 150 years ago, created the "high-water mark" to which the tide of Southern success rose, and from which, it painfully ebbed away. General Lewis Armistead, (born in New Bern, N.C.), of Pickett's division, with about 150 men crossed the Union lines at an angle in a stonewall where he was mortally wounded 40 yards therein. The portion of the Union line assaulted by the 55th NC was a stonewall 80 yards farther in distance. Captain Satterfield of  Company H, fell dead nine yards from that portion of the line. Allowing for the thickness of the wall, Captain Satterfield, company commander of Onslow County soldiers, fell 31 yards beyond Armistead and is responsible for North Carolina's motto: "Farthest at Gettysburg."

It should be noted that one Confederate soldier in every four who fell at Gettysburg was a North Carolinian.  

Masters Study: Jacob van Ruisdael

"Wheat Fields"
Jacob van Ruisdael
circa 1670

I love to study old and new masters of art. As an art instructor, I teach their techniques and styles to my students to help them gain a better understanding of fine art and develop technical skill.  Often I will cover old masters' paintings (but usually change it up a bit) to learn something from them myself. I varied this Jacob van Ruisdael painting "Wheat Fields" as a cloud study. Jacob van Ruisdael (1628-1682) is one of my favorite Dutch landscape painters from the17th century.

I started this as an old masters painting demo for my 5th grade art classes at Carolina Forest International Elementary when I was filling in for the art teacher while she was on maternity leave. While in between spring and summer semesters at ECU... I finally got a chance to finish it yesterday. Here is my cover of van Ruisdael's "Wheat Fields."

In Art,
Bernie

"Wheat Fields" by Bernie Rosage Jr. after Jacob van Ruisdael
8 3/4"x14 1/2" oil on linen
2013