The Bluegrass Painter

Carroll Benoit...Music Man

I just had a pleasant surprise compliments of Carroll Benoit, the builder of fine resophonic guitars out of Mauriceville, Texas. Carroll sent a CD with 5 cuts recorded by himself playing rhythm guitar, Eddie Ortega on the resophonic guitar and Andy, on Bass. These are great performances. I have been entertaining myself by both listening to them and picking along on my mandolin. It's my chance to kind of "be in the band".

Carroll tells me that they plan to go back into the studio to add to the set and release a new CD.Good News. I have a CD Carroll did a couple years ago called Cajun Classics, subtitled "Memoire de ma Grand'mere" (Memories of my Grandmother). This is one of very few recordings that are always at arms reach. I think you can still get one from Carroll at his Benoit Guitar address...PO Box 213, Mauriceville, TX, 77626.

Here is a photo of Carroll and our Queenbee taken at the IBMA WORLD OF bLUEGRASS.

Back to the studio

Having just finished a great three day workshop and taken a few days to spend with grandkids and other things, I guess I better get back to work. Petunia told me it is time to get our Christmas Card art on track.

We also have a show to assemble. The Our Town Theater of Oakland, MD is holding their annual Christmas Market fund raiser on December 5 and we have been invited to participate.  The one-day event is being held at St. Peter's Catholic Social Hall, Rte 135 and 4th Street in Oakland and open from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Stop by and visit us.

It is raining today and not real warm  which makes for a good day to work in the studio. Here is a preview of two of our Christmas Cards.

 

Garrett County Watercolor Workshop

I'm in the process of preparing for our upcoming workshop at the Discovery Center in Deep Creek Lake State Park. The dates are November 9, 10 and 11. I always enjoy these workshops. Garrett County, MD is a hotbed for the arts and the enthusiasm of this group is always stimulating and contagious.

One of our exercises is to create a painting using only three colors. I've been trying to get a head start by creating some examples to show to the group. I'm posting them here for a preview for the group and for anyone else interested. This first one uses Burnt Sienna, Ultramarine Blue and Raw Sienna. I titled it Farm on Cook School Road.

The second painting uses the colors Cobalt Blue, Cadmium Yellow and Alizarin. I called it Fence Line and it portrays the same farm as above.

One other that I prepared is the Old Presque Isle Light and it employs Burnt Sienna, Raw Sienna and Payne's Gray.

 
 

Autumn Glory in Garrett County

The fall festival in Garrett County, MD has been touted by independent reviewers of such things as the best in the country. Its a four day event that encompasses all kinds of activities.  We take part in the art fair each year and always have a good time. This year was no exception. Down side is that with all the food and treats available, diets tend to be put aside for the time.

Our photographer friend, Jim Lawrence, and wife, Louise, were located right across from us and they are good company. Jim is the kind of guy who will jump in and help when you have a need. He has done this for us and others and we thank him.

We followed up with a speaking engagement at the West Hills Art League, near Pittsburgh.  We shared our experiences in marketing art with this exceptionally capable group. We enjoyed their hospitality and look forward to jurying their member show next April.

Next on the docket is a three day watercolor workshop at the Deep Creek State Park (MD) Discovery Center sponsored by the Garrett County Arts Council.

Visit us at Garrett County's Autumn Glory Festival

This is the big weekend in Maryland's Garrett County...it is Autumn Glory time and the festivities begin today with the firemen's parade and "Oktoberfest" shindig at the fire hall in Oakland. If you haven't been to one of these, you need to. Oompah music, suds, food and firetrucks.

Saturday features the annual parade through Oakland.

Maryland's banjo, fiddle and mandolin champs will be crowned following a competition held in the gymnasium at Southern High School.  And, the old Bluegrass Painter will have an Appalachian Studio booth set up at the Heritage arts and crafts fair in the Broadford middle school building. Stop by and visit if you can. We will be featuring our new watercolor on canvas works along with conventional watercolors, prints and cards.
I call this "The Conversation".   I have done this on paper and on canvas. The canvas will be at the show and the paper version has been added to our card collection.

Did you ever see the Welland Canal?

I did listen to the IBMA awards presented last week while sitting on the back porch of a rented house. Thanks to Sirius Satellite radio, we heard it all while staying in Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario.

Now, I must say Niagara-On-The-Lake is a pretty town. But, if you want any down home bluegrass you better bring your own. We did, two friends to pick with while the ladies enjoyed the perfumes and things of the shops in town.

Most interesting part of the trip, scenery wise, at least for me, was the Welland Canal. Impressive. Big boats moving from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie and back. I did a little drawing and painting in the three days there...here's an impression of the Welland scene.

IBMA World of Bluegrass

The IBMA World of Bluegrass starts today in Nashville and, sad to say, I'm going to miss it this year.

Bluegrassers from all over will be there. Business ands social events will be highlighted by the awards show this Thursday at the venerable Ryman...and, FanFest this weekend.  Even though I won't be able to partake, I will make a point to catch the awards fest on my Sirius Satellite radio and will pick a tune or two this week as a tribute.

I'll be there in spirit.

A Sad Note

We note with sadness the passing of John Trout's father this past week. Our condolences and prayers go out to John and his family.

Appalachian Festival and More

This past Saturday was a red letter day for me. Our band for the day,  Bloomington Hill, was privileged to be one of the mountain music groups playing at the Appalachian Festival on the campus of Frostburg State University.   It was a pleasure to have Randy Thomas, Eric and Wayne Weimer, Dave Funkhouser and Walter Dixon with me on stage

 This a well run event that showcases the mountain culture of western MD and surrounds. Thanks to Kara Rogers Thomas for inviting us and Greg Latta and the sound crew at the Sowers Stage for making it easy. We were flattered to be included with so many performers of significant stature. Saw Karen Artis, bassist and vocalist with the Allegheny Drifters. Also,  Pat Skipper on fiddle and Jim Rayner on mandolin, who perform as part of the Broken Glass and Rusty Hinges, were nice enough to sit through our set along with their wives.

Loretta Hummel, accompanied by Robert Broadwater and Bill Nelson, preceded us on stage and was kind enough to extend an invitation to an afternoon pickin' party at her home near Grantsville. I went and had a real good time although I had to leave just as things were getting going for another commitment.

I didn't get any photos, darn! But here are two watercolors that seem to capture the day.

Hope we get invited back to both of these events.

Sure has been a dry fall

After a summer of cool days and rain, the fall around here this year has turned very dry. My friend, Harold Harsh guides fly fishermen on our local streams and rivers and tells me that all the streams are very low. We are a bit worried about our grape crop as well...looks like some of the fruit is dry.ing up before being ripe enough to pick. We had rain this past Saturday for the Annual Garrett  County Art & Wine Festival but it wasn't enough to be a positive effect on the water table.

Here is a recent painting that I did during a workshop I did recently for the Garrett County Arts Council at the Discovery Center in Deep Creek State Park (that's MD). I didn't name it until this weekend and called it Dry Run Farm.