New Posts

If you are still visiting this site, please go check out http://donthacker.com. I have several new posts up. And I’d love for you to sign up for my newsletter!

Don

New, Improved donthacker.com

I’ve just launched a new site at : http://donthacker.com!

This one goes way beyond the Online Art Journal (which has moved to the new site), and includes multiple ways to browse my work and an online store.

Thank you for following my wordpress blog. I look forward to seeing you at the new site!

- Don

New Posts

I have some new posts over at the new blog site, www.journal.donthacker.com (or go directly to www.donthacker.com).

Hope to see you there.

Don

I’ve Moved!

First, thank you to all who read my blog.

Second, I’ve moved the site. I’m revamping www.donthacker.com. Be careful if you go there, it is still under construction. But all the links will point you to the new blog. Or you can go to http://journal.donthacker.com. to go there directly.

See you at the new place!

Good Morning

I got up this morning before work to do a quick 5×7 sketch at nearby Freedom Park. Unfortunately, it rained and I had to pick it up and go home before I even got started. I guess Mother Nature was teasing me after my last post.

So I spent 15 minutes and finished this off at home from memory. It was a great way to start off the day. Between the walk and the painting, I start off energized. I’ll be doing more of these as the daylight expands.

Good First Day

We are getting ready for day 2 of the Art Show (www.thetelephonefactoryartshow.com). Day 1 was a success. I sold a few pieces and met some great folks. In addition to showing my work, I’m hosting the Fireball Collective (www.fireballcollective.com). The Fireball Collective is a group of great jewelry makers. It has been a lot of fun participating in the show with them. It is really satisfying when participating in a show with so many great artists. The community here at Telephone Factory is fun and inspiring. We had hundreds of folks come by yesterday. I really enjoy sharing my work and getting lots of feedback. It is interesting which pieces people comment on and say is their favorite. Often, people’s favorites differ than my own. So it is important to take note of the variety of opinions and see what you might have overlooked.

If you are in Atlanta today, please come by. Kate has done a wonderful job catering. We attracted several patrons by the wonderful aromas coming from our apartment. Today will be more so as she makes her signature french toast muffins.

The Hooch

I went out yesterday and painted the Chattahoochee River along a bank at the Chattahoochee National Rec Area. I’ve painted the Hooch a few times before, although not at this specific spot. I’m getting better, as the subject matter – big mess of trees – is quite challenging. One really nice thing about this spot was wading in the water during a break. It wasn’t too hot out, only about 85F, but the river was very cold and it felt fantastic. In a couple of weeks I’m taking out my boat (The Olive) to scout around some additional spots along the banks. They call that Shootin’ the Hooch. Stay tuned.

Beach Baby

This past weekend, I hit the beach at Sanibel Island, FL. I was there with Kate and her family, and they were all very supportive in letting me paint while they soaked up rays. Kate knew about this spot at the tip of the island with a lighthouse, and her talent for good painting spots helped me out again. This painting marks a few firsts for me – first time painting on a beach and the first time painting without my shirt on. So I was able to lessen my ‘painter’s tan’ a bit. 

Painting Out Back

For several months, I’ve wanted to paint this scene out in the backyard of my apartment complex. It is a late afternoon view where a building from downtown is a nice distant blue behind an large old tree on a hill. The other day I was grilling out back and I did this watercolor. This color blue is perhaps my favorite color. Usually, I like it best on a distant mountain. But the way the light hits this building, it creates this color very nicely. It’s so nice to have a paintable scene like this at home.

More with Dorian

The day of my last post (6/29), Dorian, Liana and I drew Kate for a couple of hours. I played around in watercolors, which I still haven’t gotten the hang of yet for figures. Dorian and Liana didn’t finish their work, but both pieces turned out really nice. 

Don:   Dorian:  Liana: