Red Bridge, Japanese Garden

I dont usually use subject matter that is "cute" or sentimental or "popular". But I can't deny this is a good looking bridge. So...why not?

This is another of a series of paintings from an outing I took last fall to the Memphis Botanical Gardens. The Red Bridge is one of the most photographed locations in Memphis. Lots of folks choose this spot for their wedding.

6x6 in. Oil on Ampersand Gesso board.

Afternoon in the Clearing

Near my church is a wooded area in which there is a clearing. In the clearing we have bonfires and cookouts. While my son was in a meeting in the church building, I walked over and created this sketch.

5x7 in. Pen and ink plus watercolor on watercolor paper.

Japanese Garden

This is the entrance to the Japanese Garden of Tranquility at Memphis Botanic Gardens. I walked out here taking pictures last fall. It is a beautiful place.

6x6 in. Oil on Ampersand Gesso bord.

Walk in the Park

Here is a scene I came across from a trip to Memphis Botanical Gardens last fall. 6 x 6 inch oil on Gesso board.

Spent some time at my mom's house last Sunday as she recovers from hip replacement surgery. We sat outside her front door and I drew this little scene. It is not really a porch. It is just a little sitting area with a couple of benches and some big concrete flower pots. This view is looking straight out toward the street through the front hedges and the zigzag front walkway.

Here is a 6 x 6 inch oil on gesso board of some old gas pumps in Lynchburg, Tennessee.

Frustrated with oils

I am a watercolor person, but I am trying to expand my horizons with oil. I am trying to teach myself how to use oils in a quick "alla prima" fashion, but I am continually frustrated by the medium. Here is my latest effort: 6 by 6 inches on gesso board.

It just doesn't behave the way I want it to behave. Because nothing is dry, it all gets pushed around including the background tone. Its a mess. Then there is all the confusing advice about mediums. Ask five oil painters about mediums and you will get five different answers....including "mediums are for sissies."

Questions for the experts:

How many brushes do you usually use for one small painting?

How do you put one color on top of another color without the first color sliding away?

Any other advice?

As Gomer Pyle would say.... "Haaay-ulp!"

I just uploaded a video to youtube in which I go through the steps in creating my mockingbird nest painting. Here it is:

My first post in my new blog

I will give this a shot and see how it goes. This will be a place to post new paintings...and old paintings.  Daily Paintworks has built a convenient way to connect directly from blogs to their auctions, so I plan to use that functionality.

Just as a test, here are a couple of images of some older unsold paintings I have done.