Arkansas River Valley Fall Colors

Arkansas River Valley Fall Colors
Originally uploaded by Tommy the Artist.

I painted this watercolor on a plein air outing with David Cook. The fall

colors are shown beautifully If I must say so myself.

OffKey

OffKey
Originally uploaded by Tommy the Artist.

OffKey is a painting I recently finished using a technique I learned in John
Salmanin'S Workshop in New Orleans. First you define shapes using arbitrary
materials you find in magazines such as Architectual Digest, or other design
oriented magazines. Then you transfer the design to a sheet of watercolor
paper using one of several methods to enlarge the design. I use my computer
because it is easier for me. Next you decide on a center of interest and
paint your shapes with colors which assist the eye to fine the COI. Finally,
I use collage to enhance my painting in and around the center of interest.
There is much more I will explain in my workshop this next April. I hope you
like OffKey - notice that the seventh note fell out of the COI.

Uploaded by Tommy the Artist on 7 Nov '06, 4.14pm CST.
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Untitled-Abstraction#3

Untitled-Abstraction#3
Originally uploaded by Tommy the Artist.

Untitled Abstraction#3 is a work I recently completed using the principles of design. The small section shown is near the center of interest of the painting. Principles used include line, shape, value color, movement, size and pattern. I did a randomly generated under painting using mostly red and yellow in acrylic paint. The texture shown comes from covering the painting with plastic wrap, bubble wrap, string, and wax paper. After it dryed for 48 hours I removed the various wraps, string and wax paper and then took a mat 16"x20" and looked for a painting with abstract design as the primary goal. Later I painted over the under painting with acrylic paint to develop a pattern of colors and shapes. Finally, what you see is what you get. Try it, you may like painting using abstract design and principles.

Gulpa Gorge Bridge

GulpaGorgeBridge
Originally uploaded by Tommy the Artist.

This could be a beautiful painting. I admit it would be really hard to paint. I am considering taking a shot at this one next. We will see what happens.

White Wagon Farm Field Sketch

WhiteWagonFarm(rev)
Originally uploaded by Tommy the Artist.

This little sketch looks great as a note card. Try using your small sketchs on note cards or as miniture painting, usually 5x7" or smaller

NewMexicanPot(Web)

NewMexicanPot(Web)
Originally uploaded by Tommy the Artist.

This painting of a New Mexican pot I saw in Santa Fe is all about the beautiful colors in the background. Just what you would see in the sky and earth in this lovely corner of the universe.

Sailboats

Sailboats(rev)
Originally uploaded by Tommy the Artist.

The color/value study show here was used to develop a painting of the sailboats at Jolly Roger's marina in west Little Rock. The painting turned out to be different but that happens some of the time.

Yazoo Pass-field sketch

YazooPass-(field-Sketch)
Originally uploaded by Tommy the Artist.

Some artist do value studies, other color studies, or just line drawings. I prefer what I call a field sketch which combines a value study with a study of color and line work. It is obvious from this sketch that the major contrast in the painting will be from the boat, to the trees and the water. When you see the final painting you can tell me how well I did.

Yazoo Pass Flat Bottom Boat

FlatBottomBoat(11x14)
Originally uploaded by Tommy the Artist.

This is the final composition for the Yazoo Pass Flat Bottom Boat painting. The idea was for the eye to have a path to follow from the boat along the reflection of the cypress tree to the reflections in the water on the upper left of the photo. The day the photo was taken was hot and sultry thus the choice of dark and warm greens and yellows contrasted with the cool blues and grays in the boat colors and in the water in the left lower portion of the panting. A small amount of sky reflection was included in the water in the lower left of the scene to be painted. The painting is complete and will be shown here soon. Stay tuned.

Yazoo Pass Flat Bottom Boat

YazooPass(gb+db)
Originally uploaded by Tommy the Artist.

I took this photo while visiting at Moon Lake, Mississippi for my Mother-in-Law's 87th Birthday party. The day was hot and sultry so I took my sketch book and camera down to the Yazoo Pass which runs to the lake. The pass was dug during the Civil War thus has a lot of historic value. The flat bottom boat was floating low in the water beside a large tree. You can also see a cypress tree reflection in the water. I have already painted the boat in oil and watercolor. I hope to get the paintings posted soon for all to see.

New Mexican Pot

NewMexicanPot(revweb)
Originally uploaded by Tommy the Artist.

This photo was taken in Santa Fe during a watercolor workshop with Barbra Oline, a very good Arkansas painter, who has recently moved to Taos, New Mexico. The photo provided a reference for a watercolor I painted at Amy Hill Imler's studio where I paint each Thursday. I will post the painting as soon as I get it finished. Hope it's soon.

KatyRoadPink Buds

KatyRoadPink Buds
Originally uploaded by Tommy the Artist.

This photo is of my back yard Katy Road Pink Rose. The buds were just opening as I took the picture.

Katy Road Pink

Katy Road Pink
Originally uploaded by Tommy the Artist.

This Katy Road Pink Rose from my garden provided the subject for a recently completed oil painting. I think it is just beautiful. It was painted on watercolor paper and finished using liquin as a medium and top coat. However, I was recently told that I should also varnish the painting after the paint cures. It takes about six months for the oil paint and liquin to cure.

Jackson Square Final Painting

Jackson Square Final Painting
Originally uploaded by Tommy the Artist.

The painting shown here is the final version sent to the framer. Note the strong vertical and horizontal forms that lead the eye around the painting.

Jackson Square...New Orleans

Jackson Square
Originally uploaded by Tommy the Artist.

Jackson Square is a watercolor painting of the heart of New Orleans. I took a photograph on a recent trip to the City which I used to compose the painting. I will be back in the City next month for a workshop with John Salminen and plan to visit the square. I plan to submit the painting to Watercolor USA this year. Wish me luck.

Jackson Square

Jackson Square, originally uploaded by Tommy the Artist.

Jackson Square is at the heart of New Orleans. This full sheet 30"x22" painting was composed for a photograph I took on my last trip to the City in 2002. I will be back in the City for a watercolor workshop next month with John Salminen.

OneTree

OneTree, originally uploaded by Tommy the Artist.

Study of a tree.