Living History / Plein Air Demo at Fort Fisher

Bernie Rosage Jr steps back in time at Fort Fisher.
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Saturday, January 12, 2008, I had the privilege of attending the 143rd Anniversary Commemoration of the Second Battle at Fort Fisher. The Living History program included artillery and infantry demonstrations, period music, fort tours, and a living history/plein air demo by yours truly. I have migrated from soldier to civilian in my hobby of Civil War reenacting... actually I have taken on the role of a period artist. My impression is based on a combination of two artists... Alfred Waud (probably the most noted of period sketch artists) and Winslow Homer who painted scenes from the war and became one of America's most famous painters. One of his most famous works was "Sharpshooter on Picket Duty" pictured below.
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Alfred Waud


Winslow Homer


"Sharpshooter on Picket Duty" by Winslow Homer
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After a down pour the sun came out and I set up my French easel and began to paint. I positioned myself to paint Shepherd's Battery with the palisade making for an interesting composition. Shepherd's Battery was where the main brunt of the attack occurred 143 years ago. Here I am posed (seated) with my pards at Shepherd's Battery in 2004.

Fort Fisher during the war was known as the Gibraltar of the South. It was important to the southern cause because it protected the mouth of the Cape Fear River where blockade runners would travel to deliver supplies to Wilmington. From Wilmington they were distributed throughout the Confederacy. When the fort fell January 15, 1865... it only took 3 months for the Confederacy to collapse.

I spoke with several people about the history of plein air painting and how the invention of the metal paint tube in the mid 1800's made it possible for painters to go outside and paint "en plein aire" for the first time... a French term which means "in open air".

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"Shepherd's Battery"... 9x12" Oil on gallery stretched canvas, painted en plein aire at Fort Fisher, Carolina Beach, North Carolina. 1-12-2008 (Click on painting to enlarge)

I met many interesting people while painting like Carl (who restores old paintings), a nice lady from Belgium, Mrs Marshburn from the Fort Anderson site... to name a few. If you were there please sign the comment section of this post... I'd love to hear from you.
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Another GREAT day spent reenacting and plein air painting....
Bernie

"NC Landscapes: From the Mountains to the Coast" exhibit at the Baydsen Gallery

The art exhibit, "North Carolina Landscapes: From the Mountains to the Coast", is currently on display in the Baydsen Gallery at the Council for the Arts. The exhibit opened Monday, January 7th, and will run through the 31st.

The exhibit is made up of works by local artists who were invited to share their works of our beautiful state. I was very fortunate to have four oil paintings accepted... all mountain works... I may live of the coast but the Blue Ridge mountains sing a special song to my heart.

"Blue Ridge Splendor"... 20x30" Oil on Stretched Canvas, 11-2007, $500.

The quilt is a symbol of comfort and family... Barns are symbols of our heritage and community... together they make a great art project and visual treat for the folks in Ashe County, NC. This old barn scene is set in Ashe County where the local arts council there had various artists and art school classes design and paint these quilt patterns and had them affixed to barns throughout the county as a visual treat.

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Three of my recent plein air works were also accepted...

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"The Lin Cove Viaduct... a view from Rough Ridge"

9x12" Oil on Panel, en plein aire, 11-20-2007, $200.

"Blue Ridge Lane in the Winter"...

5x7" Oil on Panel, en plein aire, 11-20-2007, $40.

"Blue Ridge View"... Fleetwood, NC

6x8" Oil on Panel, en plein aire, 11-21-2007, $40.

Be sure to support the arts and drop by the Baysden Gallery before the 31st and see the show...

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Gallery Hours: Monday - Friday from 8:30 am - 4:30 pm and by appointment.

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The gallery is located at 826 New Bridge Street, Jacksonville, NC.

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910/455-9840