Hello
On this site, you'll find groups of my recent paintings along with a few of my old favorites. If you would like to add a piece of my work to your collection, please inquire about the originals or you may purchase signed
limited edition prints of most of the painting that are posted on the site. 

I make my prints in two sizes on the finest archival quality, 100% cotton papers using UV protected inks. And, if you'd like to share any of my works with a friend, I've printed my paintings on note cards. These come in a box of 10 with envelopes and they also are printed using the finest papers and inks.

I also take commissions and work as a freelance illustrator. If you have a need for specific images, illustrations or portraits, that resemble my style, please email me with your inquiry.

Thanks for visiting,
George Buchanan


Artist Statement
I've spent a significant portion of my 40 plus years, painting. The process of making images in the attempt to convey my cherished moods and visual experiences is absolute fun. Although, I've spent many hours in absolute frustration making the worst kind of pigment muck! Still, the sublime feeling of occasionally getting it right, always supplies me with the motivation to continue.

 I've spent a good deal of time in the past few years tooling up and learning computer graphics. Many of those hours were spent in total frustration and befuddlement. But, here again, when it works, it's magic!  Computers certainly make generating strong images a breeze, but they do not make the process of capturing emotion and honesty in art any easier.

Although I try to make the kind of images that take the mind to a places that language cannot, I love storytelling and I'm currently working on a few multimedia picture story projects. Also, I continue to develop a series of plein air painting tutorials that I call "The Portable Artist".


Techniques:
I paint using watercolors, acrylic and oils and most of my paintings include all three.  Using 100% rag paper or cotton canvas, I begin with watercolor and acrylics, working "wet in wet" color washes into the soaked raw cotton canvas or dampened paper. When I'm happy with the washes that serve as my under-painting, I apply two coats of acrylic matte medium. I lightly sand each coat when dry. Now my canvas or paper is thoroughly encased in acrylic and subject matter is blocked out.  On top of
the acrylic ground, I paint in oils, alternating between Impasto (thick) and glazing applications using standard resin oil glazing mediums. I gather information for my paintings with my sketch book, watercolor block and
cameras.

I find that there is no substitute for painting outdoors, "en plein air". When outdoors, I can more easily establish a connection to the source of creative material, that is Nature. Because of the longer time span spent observing and painting on site, I notice visual arrangements that I cannot contrive, and easily miss when searching for a camera shot.

About The Artist         

George Buchanan, born in Roxboro, North Carolina in 1956. Buchanan's endeavors as an artist began as a youth when he apprenticed and assisted professional artists in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, and he continued his training in Art/Illustration at Alamance Community College in Burlington, North Carolina. Mr. Buchanan's professional career began in the mid seventies and his work has received numerous awards. His oil paintings, watercolors and etchings are exhibited in corporate, university, and private collections throughout the United States.

George Buchanan has also developed a unique technique for plein aire painting - painting out in Nature. To encourage and assist others in becoming "Portable Artists" he has created a teaching curriculum available on VHS. Please check out this instructional video called  THE PORTABLE ARTIST . It's a painting adventure that takes the viewer into the field to learn how to paint using the basic materials.

Please email George with any Questions or Comments

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