Cades Cove

The economic news affects us all in different ways. As a painter I am getting a daily reminder of the recession. Paintings are a tough sell in an atmosphere of thread-bare budgets.

I mentioned a week or so ago that I had been awarded an artist grant by United Arts of Central Florida for which I was going to use the money to put together a show at Bennett Galleries in Knoxville TN. My proposal was to spend a week at Cades Cove in the Smoky Mountains painting and photographing that area exclusively. I had hoped to get into the park in early Spring which would give me another season in my series of visits.

Then I read where the 11 mile paved loop was to be repaved and the road and the trails through the park would be closed from March 1 through late May. Today additional news comes that Senator Jim Bunning, R-Ky., blocked an extension of the Highway Trust Fund because he wanted the spending offset with cuts in other areas or with additional revenues. The Cades Cove project which was part of that package and which had started just hours earlier was halted and the workers sent home. As of now the road will stay blocked off and the park will remain effectively closed until the issue is resolved. This will certainly affect my schedule but more importantly a lot of people in the area that rely on the tourism generated by the park. I hope all this is resolved soon and a beautiful spot can be re-opened.

What's new: Outpost, oil on canvas, 16x20

First Real Tests of 2010

Shows are coming at me fast. February sweeps in with three opportunities to test the economic climate: January 30th through Feb 1st brings the Temple Beth el benefit show in St Petersburg FL, Temple Beth-el - St Petersbrg, FL., a solo mini show of six or eight pieces that will reintroduce my work at Studio E in Jupiter FL, HomeMar08 then its the Miller Gallery 50th Anniversary Show. Miller

Let's all keep our fingers crossed that the market is confident of recovery and art is on the shopping list.

Whats new: Kermit Coughlon Barn, 16"x 20", oil on canvas. This barn in Cades Cove TN blew down in a storm Christmas Eve 2009.

Inspiration Destination

Part of the past week was spent on the road taking paintings to my gallery in Knoxville TN. Bennett Gallery http://www.bennettgalleries.com/ had a sales spurt with my work and new paintings were needed, so I lightly loaded the trusty Chevy Express - paintings gratefully not being like pianos. I dropped off my work and after a side trip for some family business, I programmed the Cades Cove loop at Great Smoky Mountains National Park into the GPS unit and left Knoxville for the mountains. Cades Cove is one of my prime inspiration destinations. I had plenty of daylight left and lots of camera battery. Unfortunately, the GPS unit didnt recognize the most direct road to the park is also a steep climbing switchback thrill ride better suited to Porsche Boxters than big vans. It finishes with a gravel road into the park open only in the summer months.

I retreated to the way I knew without using GPS and since it was late by that time, pulled into a hotel outside the park vowing to rise with the sun. The dawn shoot may have worked out better than the sunset visit. The fog was heavy on the floor of the valley and it lent great atmosphere to the photos. Tomorrow I get busy in the studio.