Thursday, September 24, 2009

5 Guys


5 Guys
Oil on Canvas
9 x 12 inches
2009
Auburn, Alabama
September 18, 2009

Occasionally I will take suggestions on what to paint for the 100 paintings of Auburn. This suggestion came from my daughter Savannah. 5 Guys is a new hamburger restaurant on College St. It’s very good and usually crowded. Her intentions were for me to paint the outside and while painting treat her to a hamburger and fries.

When I got there I couldn’t really find a good outdoor view but I could see a spot to paint the inside. I could park myself outside the window and paint the inside. It was a near impossible scene. People were in constant motion, there is light everywhere and I had no room to move back from my easel. It was challenging me so I decided to give it a try.

I painted by just spotting color everywhere I could and painting what didn’t move, which wasn’t much. Then I put in the people. While I painted I met several old friends and entertained children who always see a painter as a performer, which I guess I was.

I tried to eat some fries while painting, but they started to taste a bit like paint. In the end I couldn’t really make out what I had done until I got back to the studio. Busy group scenes can be fun but I promised myself to find a nice pastoral scene the next day.

If you would like to buy "5 Guys" please contact Ronald Bayens at
bayens@bellsouth.net
334-740-0077

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Stormy on the Plains

Stormy on the Plains
Oil on Canvas
8 x 10 inches
2009
Auburn, Alabama
September 19, 2009

I think this game day in Auburn will always be remembered for the big storms that rolled through right before the game delaying it for an hour.

This painting was done earlier in the day just outside the university library near Samford Street. I started with the relaxed feeling a painter gets with an overcast day. I didn’t have to rush because there was no light to make shadows to chase, however the relaxation didn’t last long.

Soon it got darker after I was well under way then the skies opened up and the rain came down heavy. What do you do when it rains while painting, keep painting oil and water don’t mix. Sometimes I like the strange rough texture I get went water runs through the paint. It would have been fine but then out comes the sun! I saw an opportunity to catch it on the white tent to add some drama to a day that would see much more.

That was the only painting I did that day after that I was off to kayak the Tallapoosa. I different kind of thrill that included a 15 foot drop over a waterfall.

Sorry about the lack of paintings recently
My internet has been out the past few days.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Daytime Lights

Daytime Lights
Oil on Canvas
5 x7 inches
2009
Auburn, Alabama
September 12, 2009

It was a very overcast day on game day and about half an hour before the game the stadium lights were put on. They are so powerful that they outshone the sun that was trying to creep through the clouds behind.

I thought the small section of the corner of the upper decks would be interesting. The people in all their orange and blue became just a series of dots from far below.

If you would like to buy "Daytime Lights", please contace Ronald Bayens at
bayens@bellsouth.net
334-740-1750

Monday, September 14, 2009

Tiger Walk

Tiger Walk
Oil on panel
8 x 10 inches
2009
Auburn, Alabama
September,12, 2009

On game days I put my painting gear in a back pack and walk the campus of Auburn University. The whole place is alive with tailgaters waiting for there beloved Tigers to play. One of the traditions at Auburn id the Tiger Walk. Outside the stadium there is a walkway set up down the middle of the street and a couple of hours before the game the team walks down it so the fans can see them and show their appreciation.

What possessed me to paint thousands of people moving about I don’t know. When I started there weren’t that many. But more and more came. I painted everything around the crowd and then held my breath and just put the crowd in.

I was a very exciting place to be. The painting gathered a lot of interest and I am happy to say a couple from Montgomery bought on the site.

If you would like to buy "Tiger Walk", please contact Ronald Bayens at
bayens@bellsouth.net
(334)-740-0077

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Evening at the Farm

Evening at the Farm
Oil on Canvas
5 x7 inches
2009
Auburn, Alabama
September 10, 2009

It was evening at the horse farm and I decided to sit and paint. I was tired from working on a portrait all day and thought this could be a relaxed painting.

Little did I know I set up on a colony of ants, also the sun was setting quick. Between being bitten and chasing the light it was not the relaxing time I had hoped for, but who says painting is suppose to be relaxing. Viewing the painting should be

If you would like to buy "Evening at the Farm", please contact Ronald Bayens at
bayens@bellsouth.net

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Season Opener

Season Opener
Oil on panel
8 x 10 inches
2009
Auburn, Alabama

The opening game for football season is a huge event here. Everyone is brimming over with anticipation for the new season. Today the game started later so most of the crowd were also brimming over with alcohol.

This made for many interesting conversations with passers by as I painted. Everyone was very complimentary toward my painting. I just hope they remember me the next day.

If you would like to buy "Season Opener", please email Ronald Bayens at
bayens@bellsouth.net