Fun day plein air painting at Eudora Welty House & Garden in Jackson, MS

 

Eudora's Rose Garden

15" x 11"

Watercolor 

(I used a little gouache too)

An art friend, Feixue Yang, and I had fun painting plein air at Eudora Welty House & Garden in Jackson this morning. The climbing rose on the arbor is called Dr. W. Van Fleet - a beautiful pale pink rose.

#watercolorpainting #watercolorpleinairpainting #eudoraweltyhouseandgarden #drwvanfleetrose

#pleinairpainting #mississippiart #mississippiartist #mississippipleinairpainters

Boatyard

 Boatyard near Old Trace Park at the Ross Barnett Reservoir - Oil on Panel 9" x 12"

Impending Storm

Impending Storm

18" x 18"

Oil on Canvas
The location is south of I-20 in Forest, MS - near Conehatta, MS where my grandparents owned a small farm. My cousins and I spent time there during our summers.

I've been thinking a lot about what my dad is going through with his cancer and the fact that my uncle just died on the 14th. It is true that life isn't the way that generation remembers it. It seems like there is a lot of talk about death and dying but also reminiscing about good times. In the past month, we've seen 3 of my parents' friends die. This painting sets the mood.....like there is a storm coming and maybe it's here.

As I say this and paint this picture I know without a doubt that we are so blessed to have the Lord. He is our strength and our song though sadness and trials. Jesus is our true comforter. 🙏

Vicksburg, MS

6" x 6" Acrylic on Gesso board

These are headstones located in the Vicksburg National Cemetery from the Civil War.

Vicksburg National Cemetery lies on the ground once manned by the extreme right of Major-General William T. Sherman's XV Army Corps, facing the extreme left flank of the Confederate defenses situated on high ground to the south known as Fort Hill. Embracing 116 acres it is the final resting place of 17,000 Union Soldiers, a number unmatched by any other national cemetery. The cemetery was established in 1866 and burials began in early 1867. Soldiers buried here had originally been interred in scattered locations throughout Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi during the campaign for control of the Mississippi River.

Upright headstones with rounded tops mark the graves of known soldiers. Small, square blocks, incised with a grave number only, designate the unknown veterans, and a few graves are marked by other than government-issued headstones.

So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. - Isaiah 41:10

Beautiful Day to be outside painting

Off The Beaten Path at River's Bend
12" x 9"
Oil on Panel

I started this one with a pink background because I knew it's compliment "green" would be the primary color on top and trying to follow Anne Blair Browns's teachings on "notan" and to get the big shapes in without much drawing and then pull and push to correct values before painting.  .....also....constantly thinking about keeping my paint piles from mixing on the palette so I don't make mud...lol...whew lot to keep up with 😉

Two Magnolia Trees - Moleskin Sketchbook

Here is a watercolor sketch on a cloudy day. I have been extra busy with my graphic design work and   have not spent much time at all painting. Whenever I take the time to paint, usually at the end of the day, I'm refreshed because it helps me to unwind. The kind of graphics work I've been doing is super focused environmental graphic design involving bank way finding signage. Pretty much the exact opposite of this. It's a nice balance.
I hope to keep experimenting with watercolor and gouache more and more. This medium takes no time to set up and travel with. My family and I are taking a trip soon up the east coast and I plan to do a little plein air painting if they let me. I want to improve in these water media skills for just that reason.

I'll Be At The Lake - Day 18

5"x7"

Oil on Canvas

Do you see my dad fishing? This is a lake in Pocahontas, Mississippi. When he goes there to fish sometimes I go with him with my plein air easel.