Railroad Landscape Sketches

Railroad Landscape from the Kellogg Overpass, 7" x 5" watercolor and pen

Oh, the things railroads to to my little Southern artist heart. All that power and rhythm, all that gorgeous graphic design they create in the landscape, all those long miles to explore ... and of course the sound of those big diesel beasts that could squash you like a bug.

Never let it be said that Southern culture has no morbid streak. 

Two Trestles, 5" x 7" watercolor and pen

These are available at $45 (Kellogg Overpass landscape) and $75 (Two Trestles); if you'd like both, email me and get free shipping.

More Winter Painting at Hopkins Honda

 

These were done before Thanksgiving, but I just got photos yesterday afternoon. All are acrylic (water based) paints directly on plate glass, and will be removed sometime in spring. 

Painting While the Sun Shines, Part 2

Rail Cars and Red Grass, 8 x 10" oil on canvas board

There are several tracks running through Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary, where I painted this, so if you can imagine the clanging, and squealing, and the track-rhythms, and the roar of those big diesels -- four in a row, sometimes, black red yellow like a coral snake -- then you know where I was.

I'm drawing trains more and more lately, and I hope there are enough people out there who like both trains and art to make this worth my while. Because I'm not likely to stop any time soon.

Tiny Railroad Sketch

Rail Cars at Fairview, St. Paul. Colored pencil and watercolor, about 3 x 5.5"

Stood there along the street with a purple Prismacolor pencil (the only thing I had on me at the time) and sketched these cars on the tracks. The watercolor part, I did once I got home.  The sketch book is a little Moleskine with nice heavy paper, so it holds up well to watercolors.

Taking photos between heartbeats

When you don't have a tripod to steady the camera, and it's getting dark and you need slow shutter speeds, that's what you do. Your pulse makes your hands move (try this at home; you'll see), so you do your best to slow it down, and click the shutter in between.

Railroad with overhead walkway, looking west from Edgecumbe

Standing at the corner of Fairview and Ford, missing my WALK signal to take a picture

Now, I'm not a pro photographer. I'm a painter. But there's a lot of joy in taking a camera and going exploring; I don't have to be a genius with the lens. This was just a walk I took yesterday evening.

The puddle-reflections here had a rhythm I liked. Walking, snapping shots, and James McMurtry playing on my iPod.

Sometimes even I can't resist the cliché Full Moon and Branches thing.

Another shot I loved for its rhythm. Does anyone else notice that these trees all lean inward, over the road?

Night crossing

I was on my way home from the studio. Saw train. Had camera. Urge to play: irresistible.

Show News, Classes, and Railroads, oh my!

As part of my prep for some large paintings I have planned, I went sketching & photographing freight cars today.

Hopkins Freight Cars, 9" x 12" pencils and watercolor, by Tracie Thompson. Oct. 11, 2010

This is prep work for my upcoming show at Robbin Gallery in January 2011.

My drawing classes at Bloomington Art Center begin again on Oct. 27th! I have both introductory and intermediate classes available. 

Meanwhile, finishing a few animal portrait commissions and taking on a small custom finishing job for Mary Mackmiller at Mackmiller Design + Build.  Oh, and drinking plenty of espresso, because Art Crawl was so much fun it wore me out! I finished four paintings in those three days.

Anyone who wants to see work in progress should plan to come out for the Spring Art Crawl, when I'll be doing the same thing, working and chatting with everyone.

Railroad Flowers

Railroad Flowers, 36" x 48" oil paint and wax medium on canvas.

This was created specifically to go on display and for sale at Riehl Designs in Wayzata, MN. While the colors and size of the piece were tailored for Shelly Riehl's studio interior, the inspiration is personal; I enjoy walking along the tracks, where the rhythm of ties and rails comes together with the turn of the seasons and the fascinating variety of plants and flowers. There's an energy about the place that draws me to it.

Technical notes: I'm using Dorland's Wax Medium, and I love the stuff. It allows me to create layer upon layer of translucent color, giving a depth and life that are difficult to achieve with anything else other than traditional encaustic. And while I'd love to do encaustic, I haven't got the space I'd need for that. Dorland's is a much simpler, cleaner alternative.

Railroad Landscape sketch

Done this morning around 9:30, along the tracks near East River Road and 694.

Dangerous Crossings -- Freight Train #2

Dangerous Crossings, oil and wax medium on canvas, 6" x 12".

This is another sketch for the possible restaurant commission, but I did it primarily because I wanted to. I love the energy and motion and potential menace of freight trains.

Barriers -- Freight Train #1

Barriers, 6" x 12" oil and wax medium on canvas.

This is a "thumbnail sketch" for what will be -- if I get the job, for which there's considerable competition -- a 6' x 12' painting. The prospective clients want "urban abstraction" and didn't guess I'd be interested, what with my portfolio full of wildlife and flowers and such. Truth is I don't confine myself. I love this kind of thing and really hope I get to do it on a large scale.

Whether or not I win out on the job, I really like the painting and am about to begin a companion piece.