You know, it’s just the same old, same old over and over again.

A few weeks ago I layered up in my winter clothes, loaded the car with my painting gear, and started backing down the driveway.

I wasn’t feeling particularly inspired to go out into the wild wild west and scribble some paint on a canvas. You know, the same old same old.

Okay, I gotta say that’s a pretty cool “same old same old” to have, but still, before long you start to feel a bit of a rut forming around your ankles.

Without much hesitation, I pulled the car back up to the house, unloaded my gear, and set up in the (garage) studio.

Studio painting is something that I honestly don’t do too often. Of course, it’s not unusual for me to fix something in the studio that’s bothering me on a painting that I’d done on-location, or sometimes even finish off paintings that I’d had every intention of taking back outside.

But just strictly studio painting, start to finish…..it’s just not something that excites me.

One side of my brain says, “it’s not exciting. don’t do it.”

The other side says, “it’s not exciting. do it anyways.”

Every year I get a handful of commissions that have to be done from photos, and I approach them with a very matter of fact mindset. I tell myself that I’m getting to make a painting that will be very special to someone, and it must be done from photos in the studio. There’s just no way around it, and that’s perfectly okay. By the end of the commission, every single one of them, as I’m packing up my plein air gear and headed outside, I say to myself, “man, I should really paint in the studio more often”.

For me, painting on-location is the ultimate. Cloudy or sunny, hot or cold, I’m all in and loving it. There’s rarely a moment that I feel more complete and fully satisfied than after a good painting session outdoors. (except of course when I’m spending time with my wife and two kids 😅 ) (and oh yeah, speaking of family, we’re expecting another little Vinson this summer!!🤰)

Anyways, plein air painting has its many benefits, but one thing that it doesn’t often allow for is….slowing down and thinking.

No, no, don’t worry, I’m not gearing up to completely transform who I am as an artist. The quick, intuitive and direct approach to painting is what I absolutely love. But I’m certainly feeling the need to push myself in the studio a bit more often. That time spent in a different environment is allowing me to stretch new muscles, and be even more prepared for the challenges that the wonderful outdoors presents.

It’s so easy to fall into a rut, and a rut has got to be one of the many deaths of creativity.

So I’m putting my best effort forward to side step this rut, and be on the lookout for the next one.

About Me

Growing up in a small town in Texas, I wasn’t exposed to the world of fine art until college, where an interest in photography led me to a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2011. After college I continued developing as an artist with a two year apprenticeship with an oil painter in Boise, Idaho. Soon after studying I fell in love with plein air painting and have now painted from coast to coast in the US and have made a few international excursions as well. My work can be found in private collections across the country as well as in Canada and Europe. My family and I now live and work out of the beautiful Bitterroot Valley in Montana.