Tanks in the Field

SOLD

I love the structure of oil well servicing equipment in a rural setting.  I don't see much of this in Missouri, so when I come to Fairfield, Illinois, I like to paint them. The rain was constant on this day, which had me ducking for cover in the car, when necessary.  Ink and rain don't mix well! I'm using my new Qor palette, and I'm finding a few favorite colors in the mix.  One I never thought I'd love is Payne's gray. I haven't used it for maybe 20 years, and only then in acrylic.  But I'm finding their gray to be rich and bluish, really wonderful for a shadow base color.  This is a new size for me, framing at 6x12. I like the information I can get in this format, and I think I'll do a few more, too.  Painting number 5177 in 5177 days. 

Light on the Tanks

I've lately been hunting up special requests from patrons, and have come across a few paintings never posted. In an effort to update my records, I'm adding them when I find them. It gives me a place to tag those paintings and make them visible to those in search of them. This is an acrylic painting of an oil field site somewhere near Fairfield, Illinois.  It was down a gravel path unknown to me, and I didn't record the exact location.  I've not been to that site since, so can only guess that is was north/northwest of town, based on what I remember. Painting number 3963 in 3963 days. 

7 Tanks

 

Love sending paintings to their new home - and this one is headed to Fairfield, Illinois!  Sketched on the outskirts of town, the rusty color of those tanks grabbed my attention.  With ink and watercolor, I painted the scene leaving the sky for last.  I didn't want to detract from the composition by adding color to the sky, so I didn't!  Painting number 3949 in 3949 days. 

Big Red and the Gang

Big Red and the Gang
Oil on masonite,  10x8
purchase here

This morning was a bit overcast, but warm and comfortable.  After a little scouting for "oil rigging" gear, we landed on the back road of the Podolsky Petroleum Oil Yard.  These wonderful old tanks sported all stages of rust and discoloration - making them fabulous subjects for painting! One of the best parts of participating in these plein air events is the opportunities I get to paint new and completely different subject matter.  Where would I ever find such tanks in Missouri? I do see small pump jacks dotting the landscape, but never tanks like this.  This makes painting number 1009 in 1009 days :)

on location

Vintage Tanks

Vintage Tanks
Oil on panel, 12x9
Fairfield Paint-Out
Wildcatter Award - sold

Scouting out sites for the "Wildcatter" theme - Wayne County Oil Industry - Marcia and I found these tanks down an old gravel road.  These rusty, old tanks were so interesting with their many colors and sizes - I just had to paint them!  Setting up in the gravel lot, the rain started lightly....then a little more.  I decided to put up my easel and sketch it from within the car.  The rain increased a little more.  I got my palette, oil, brushes, and panel from the trunk - and headed back into the car.  I thought, "I can do this inside my car" - and I did!  I'm a neat painter, and I was able to get the whole thing done in my warm, dry car - instead of suffering in the cold rain!  Some days, I just don't feel like getting soaked.  This is my 651st painting in a row - and this won the "Wildcatter" Award at the Fairfield Fall Foliage Paint Out :)