Sunflowers by Tommy

Every one likes to paint sunflowers. The painting shown here is my take on sunflower painting using a lot of color, large shapes and a strong background color. Give it a try. Bring the major shapes forward to cover the picture plane, paint the background in a strong complementary color and crop the painting to give the imagination a chance to fill in what ever it would like to see.

Apples and Wine Bottles

Sometimes you just paint a painting that is not that hard to do. I did this piece after a painting done by another artist. Just how difficult is it to paint five apples in a row? Well, I made a few changes that make the composition mine. The table that the apples are sitting on is just a piece of canvas glued the the larger canvas. I changed the background color and then painted the apples the way I wanted them to look. The painting now lives in my youngest son's home in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The wine bottles are his. I have my own.

Lloyd at White Wagon Farm

Lloyd was our model at White Wagon Farm (art studio and plant nursery). I painted Lloyd in acrylic...Pat White did him in oil. Both of our paintings turned out alright. I am thinking of submitting Lloyd to the Conway(Arkansas) League of Artist show in November, maybe.

Philip Sleeping at the Aquariaum

Philip was not sleepy just wanted some attention. That's O.K. for someone his age. I took the photo and I like it.

Yazoo Pass Where I Grew Up

Here is where I grew up in Mississippi. The Yazoo Pass has a long history from the civil war to the present. Not much to see or do now but to get on your boat and cruise Moon Lake. At age 16 it was a lot of fun to catch turtles and knock the snakes sunning in the tree over hangs into the water. I have done one painting of a flat bottom boat sitting along side the Pass. I may do another of the scene shown here but without the boat

House at Amy's Studio

Oil painting is not my primary medium. However, I try to paint one or two a year. This small painting of a house across from Amy Imler's studio was done on a plein air painting day in May. David Cook and I painted on a hot day. I don't remenber what David painted?

Garden Gate at White Wagon Farm

I painted this small oil painting during the spring show and sale at White Wagon Farm located near Maumelle, Arkansas. Good try for an alla prima painting on a warm day in April. Each of the artists that paint at Sage House (White Wagon Farm) did a demonstration painting during the show and sale.

White Wagon Hydranga

The first Tuesday in the month is reserved for still life paintings at White Wagon Farm where I attend a life drawing session. The painting shown here is my effort to paint a painting like one I saw in a book of paintings by David Hockney. Since my painting was done alla prima I did not have time for as many details as David Hockney put in his paintings. That's O.K. I am more interested in what I can do in about two hours with strong color, good shapes, and simple subjects.

Tree at the Arkansas River

The view shown in this painting is from the south bank of the Arkansas, River near the lock and dam in west Little Rock. The view is looking north toward North Little Rock.

Here's Jack

Jack is the newest dog on the block. He's a rascal and a lot of fun. His Cousin Willie is not sure how he feels about Jack; however, they have become great buds. We look forward to many more years of Jack and Willie as our companions and doggie friends.

Tree of Life

I really don't know what this one is all about; but I do admit that I painted it. I guess it is a "Tree of Life" painting. I like it-What do you think?

Pinnacle Mountain and the Arkansas River Bridge

I shot this view of Pinnacle Mountain and the Arkansas River Bridge from The Big Dam Bridge during Easter Weekend. I would guess that there is a painting in there some where. Now all I have to do is find it.

Sunflowers I want to paint

Here is a painting I have been trying to decide how I want to paint in watercolor or acrylic. Any suggestions?

I did finally get around to painting this one in acrylic. Not the one you see here but one I painted using this painting as a compositional guide.

Garden Path at La Romita, Italy School of Art

I have just finished a painting of the garden path at the La Romita School of Art in Terni, Italy where I studied in 2007. I did the painting in pastels to be shown at the spring garden show at White Wagon Farm located near Maumelle, Arkansas. Each of the artists who paint at Sage House (a neat studio and teaching facility) show their paintings in the spring and fall during the opening (spring) and closing (fall) of the White Wagon Farm plant nursery. This painting has special meaning for me since I walked the path several times during my visits in 2001 and 2007. I did a painting in 2007 of the La Romita Art Studio for a location in the garden. I hope to visit La Romita again soon with paints and brush in hand.

Barn at Bisco, Arkansas

Bisco, Arkansas is where my wife and I stop to buy vegitables on our way to the Mississippi Delta where my mother in law lives. I asked the lady who operates the vegitable stand if I could take a few photos of her barn. Well, here it is as a watercolor painting. I am submitting this painting to the Mid-Southern Watercolor Society annual exhibition. If it gets in the show that will be great. If not, it was a good try. Wish me luck!

La Romita Sunrise

This little painting was painted at the end of my stay at the La Romita School of Art in Italy. I tried to capture the essence of my visit in one small painting. I would be interested to know if anyone likes it. More of this type of small painting to come.

Arkansas River Backwater

David Cook and I painted at this location next to the Arkansas River on the North Little Rock side of the river. It was a difficult site to get to but worth the effort. What a great location to paint out of doors-that is plein air.

Willie and Jack... Christmas Finery

Willie Nelson and Jackson T. Herrin are all dressed up for Christmas. What a pair of corgi hams.

La Romita Bell

The bell shown is from the La Romita School of Art in Terni, Italy where I studies in 2001 and again in 2007. I look forward to ringing this bell again before too long. Wish me luck.