Whoops... Forgot my brushes! Plein Air Knife painting by Bernie Rosage Jr.

"Impressionistic Marsh".... 8x16" Oil on panel, alla prima "en plein aire" with palette knife, 11-2008. .

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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.

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This piece was on display at the Baysden Gallery for the Invitational Show titled "Water World" on exhibit through January.

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Click on image to see a larger view and experience the texture and colors better...

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My Lil' Painting Buddy, Olivia, and I set out on another plein air painting adventure recently. We went to one of our favorite spots at the Cedar Point branch of the Croatan National Forest. I got my Lil' Buddy all set up and painting and I picked out a good view for myself. As I began setting up my french easel I discovered something... Whoops... I forgot my brushes... they were on my desk at home just where I left them while packing my gear. Adapting to the dilemma I decided to do my painting totally with my palette knives which were luckily packed in my easel. The result was something totally different than you are used to seeing from me... I enjoyed the freedom of doing something totally different and fresh. You may see more of these in the future... I didn't hold back and piled the paint on thick.

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Close ups showing impasto texture from palette knife work...

This painting has 1 3/4" deep painted sides and is ready to hang.

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

Plein Air Painting Demo from Appalachian State University Campus by Bernie Rosage Jr....

There's a small park in the center of campus at Appalachian State University (ASU) in Boone, North Carolina that is one of my favorite spots to paint en plein aire. My wife dropped me off with easel and painting gear in hand buying me two hours time while she took the kids to the library. The weather was clear and warm for Boone in late December... around 55 degrees... perfect painting weather!

I positioned myself along a walking path in the park with a great view of the campus bell tower... my focal point.

I met many nice folks walking and jogging along the path... it's a wonder I finished the painting before my wife returned with the numerous conversations I had. Knowing the short time frame I had to work with I had to do some mental editing and only included the

elements necessary to make the piece work compositionally.

Stage 1... First I sketched a "rule of thirds" grid to help position the focal point on my panel. I then began to block in the important shapes with burnt sienna and ultra marine thinned with odorless mineral spirits.

Stage 2... I began to block in with more opaque paint defining the shapes and values more. I mixed Liquin Impasto Gel with all my pigment mixtures to speed drying times knowing I would be transporting this one back to the coast in a Honda CRV packed to it's gills with luggage, kids, and two cats.

Stage 3... I began working in some detail. Note my editing consisted of leaving out a few trees and the gazebo. Often times you know when something in a painting just isn't working... that's how it was with the evergreen tree on the left for me. My evergreen looked more like a sycamore giving half the painting a visual tension with the bare tree on the right... it was as if I had two seasons (summer and winter) within one painting.

Stage 4... With that said... the best thing to do was wipe it out... I could have licked it to death trying to fix it but I learned sometime back it is better for me to wipe it clean and start fresh. Many times the plein air painter has to wipe his whole panel clean... we call that a "scrapper".

Stage 5... Adding more detail and refining areas. My palette for this painting consisted of cad lemon yellow, cad yellow medium, yellow ocher, terra rosa, burnt sienna, alizarin crimson, viridian, cerulean blue, ultra marine blue, and titanium white.

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Stage 6.... The Finished work... just in time... my wife showed up just as I was signing it.

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Click on image to see a larger view...

"ASU Bell Tower"... 8x6" Oil on Panel, alla prima en plein aire, 12-30-2008.

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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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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.

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Packing up and looking forward to the next plein air adventure... Hope you enjoyed this short demo.... Happy New Year!

Bernie

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Here's another plein air demo I did in 2005 in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains that you may glean some info from: Impressionistic Demo by Bernie Rosage Jr.

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100 5/15

A Special Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and yours...

Snowy Path in the Blue Ridge... 6x8" Oil on panel, alla prima, 2008. Click on image to enlarge...

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all my friends and patrons... Thank you for being a big part of my journey... May your journey bring you Peace, Hope, and Joy in the New Year.

Bernie

A "Blast from the Past"... Me and Santa, Christmas 1962.

"Oceanside Cabana" Plein Air by Bernie Rosage Jr.

Oceanside Cabana... 8x10" Oil on panel, en plein aire, 11-2008.

Private Collection, County Wexford, Ireland... Thanks Jane!

Click on image to see a larger view...

I painted this one on location at Onslow Beach aboard Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune... it was C-C-COLD! Once a month I gather with a few plein air artist friends... we call ourselves OOPS... to plein air paint around the county we live in. Read all about the outing HERE...

Corporal Cole's Mandolin by Bernie Rosage Jr.

Corporal Cole's Mandolin... w16.00" x h8.00" x d1.75", Oil on wood, 2008.
Titled changed to Pat Murphy og the Irish Brigade and added to Enchanting Ireland Collection.

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...

This painting, on wood, is box-framed and ready to hang.

All my paintings are signed originals using artist grade oils and archival surfaces.

Here I am portraying an 1860's period artist at a Civil War reenactment at Fort Branch near Hamilton, NC. I was working on this very painting at that event.

"Gathering Provisions" by Bernie Rosage Jr.

Gathering Provisions... 6x8"" Oil on panel, alla prima, 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...



This painting, on gessoed panel, is framed and ready to hang.

All my paintings are signed originals using artist grade oils and archival surfaces.

100/15

The Aman Farm... Plein Air by Bernie Rosage Jr

The Aman Farm... 9x12" Oil on panel, "en plein air", 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...



This painting, on gessoed panel, is framed and ready to hang.

All my paintings are signed originals using artist grade oils and archival surfaces.

125/15

Bernie's Ramblings: There is nothing like viewing art in person...

As Tami and I walked the lovely streets of Dublin we came upon many interesting sites. One of the best treats for me was our visit to the National Gallery of Ireland... here we are pictured outside.

My advice... never pass up a gallery or art museum. Paintings should be viewed in person to get a true sense of their splendor where they can literally communicate with the viewer. So many times we only get the chance to see works by the masters in print or online... neither are able to rival the awesomeness of viewing a painting in real life... it's a rush for me!

Some people would be ecstatic if they could see their favorite singer or movie star in person... that's how I felt when I rounded the corner in the National Gallery and came face to face with one of my top five favorite paintings... Caravaggio's The Taking of Christ.
Caravaggio (Michelangelo da Merisi) 1571–1610
The Taking of Christ 1602 (Click on image to enlarge...)
Society of Jesus of Ireland, on loan to the National Gallery of Ireland

The man carrying the lantern at the extreme right, who looks inquisitively over the soldiers’ heads, has been interpreted as a self-portrait of Caravaggio.

I wasn't even aware this painting was part of their collection so this was a special surprise. The gallery was almost empty and it was if we were able to have a private viewing of this spectacular work. I handed Tami the camera and asked her to snap a photo of me with the painting... at that point the private viewing was over... a security guard (who appeared out of thin air) quickly informed us about the "no photos" rule and I was forced to commit the painting to memory... a good one I might add.

The painting has an interesting story behind it and how it came to be part of the collection at the National Gallery...

By the late 18th century, the painting was thought to have disappeared, and its whereabouts remained unknown for about 200 years. In 1990, Caravaggio’s lost masterpiece was recognized in the residence of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) in Dublin, Ireland. The exciting rediscovery was published in 1993.

Read the complete story about the rediscovery HERE....

YouTube Video... The Taking of Christ - Caravaggio


The guard was very pleasant once we conceded and actually gave us a tour discussing several other works which included pieces by the likes of Canova, Vermeer, Rembrandt, Poussin, Monet, Velasquez, Picasso, Goya and John B. Yeats as well as Jack B. Yeats to name a few.

Another one of my favorite Old Masters was represented in the gallery.... Johannes Vermeer (1632–75). His painting Woman writing a Letter, with her Maid (c.1670) was another real treat for me to see and study intently in person.


Johannes Vermeer
Woman writing a Letter, with her Maid (c.1670)
National Gallery of Ireland

Viewing great art with a great lady in a great city... what more could I ask for?

Those of you who collect art know exactly what I am talking about... a work of art is something to be savored in person!

Bernie

"Ye Olde Brick Store"... Swansboro, NC by Bernie Rosage Jr.

"Ye Olde Brick Store"... 6x8" Oil on Panel, alla prima, 10-2008.

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...



The small North Carolina coastal town of Swansboro is dubbed "the friendly city by the sea"... and aptly so. It's quaint shops and great eating places make for a must trip if you are ever in eastern North Carolina. One of my favorite structures in the old town is the Olde Brick Store circa 1839. The former warehouse scarred by Civil War mortar shells once held naval stores, thousands of barrels of turpentine and sometimes prisoners.

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.

100 5/15

"Along the Marsh"... Plein Air by Bernie Rosage Jr.

"Along the Marsh".... 6x8" Oil on panel, alla prima "en plein aire", 5-2008.

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...



I am always drawn to the marshlands near my home... in fact... I never tire of painting them. I painted this scene on location en plein aire at the Cedar Point branch of the Croatan National Forest in eastern North Carolina. A great place to kayak, hike, camp, and PAINT! May this painting bring you the peace I experienced painting it.

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.

100 5/15