Unlike Texas, everything is very green in the middle of summer in Tennessee. Hardwoods, pines, green on green. And did I mention the Tennessee River? My wife and I were blessed and visited our daughter and son, son-in-law and grandchildren for a few days of camping on the Tennessee River. First couple of days the humidity was probably near 100%, but then it cooled off, air dried a bit and it was beyond nice. We had to find a blanket during the night while sleeping in our tent. That’s the Tennessee I remember as a child.

While everyone was playing in the river, fishing, etc. I took a couple of trips exploring the landscape near our campsite. Shiloh National Battlefield was only about 15 miles away so I had to check it out. A sober reminder of the nature of man. Shiloh was the bloodiest battle of the Civil War up to that point, which was April, 1862. I was also looking for a place to setup and paint, but it was late in the day and I headed back to the campsite.

Easel setup on a lonely road in middle Tennessee for the oil painting “Twin Pines”

On the previous day, I came across an interesting place, off the beaten path which turned out to be a great place to paint. I setup and painted “Twin Pines”. The place was quiet, green and I really enjoyed the solitude. During the 2 hours or so I was setup painting, not one car came by that location. I love Tennessee in the summer…

Oil on panel, plein air painting of a middle Tennessee scene called “Twin Pines”

If I turned my head to the right, about 90 degrees, this was the scene I could see through the pines…

The temperature was nice and cool…still in the 90’s. When it’s June in Dallas, it’s kind of like standing on the coast when a hurricane is coming…you know what’s coming, hoping it won’t, but knowing it is only wishful thinking. I went out with a group of plein air painters to the south side of Dallas. We setup near a road to paint. Over all the temperature wasn’t too bad. But  by the time we left around noon, it was hot…a foreshadow of what was coming in August 🙂

Easel setup in south Dallas, Texas.

Final plein air on panel, 12 x 9, Dallas, Texas. SOLD

Terrell is an interesting town, full of unique history for anybody who wants to take a look. It was founded by a man from Tennessee back about 1873 – Robert A. Terrell. I really enjoyed investigating the town while looking for locations to paint. Learned some interesting history that surprised me.

One such surprise was that the U.S. Government trained British pilots during the Second World War, many who stayed after the war, married and started a family. You can visit the British Flying Training School Museum in Terrell and learn much about this little segment of history.

Below are a few of the paintings I created during the paint out week. My favorite location was probably the Dr. L.E. Griffith Homeplace. Everything about is screamed to be painted. I only wish I could have spent more day at that location.

9 x 12 oil on panel, called “The Carriage House Door”

Easel Setup for Carriage House Door

Alley scene painted during the Terrell paint out. Oil on panel, 12 x 9