Summer Trees

Summer Trees, 5x7 oil on paper

Summer has come and the lush Tennessee landscape is ripe for painting. My wife and I trekked the hills to find this spot in a local park. From this spot there is a wonderful view of the mountains, but I was most interested in this tall tree that became the center of this composition. A few curious bystanders came by to see me begin the painting. Hopefully they were able to find me on Instagram and see the finished product. Follow me @joshpaints.

The Ringleader

The Ringleader, 6x6 oil on paper

click to purchase

Lately I've been paying more attention to my edges, especially the transition between the cast shadow and the ground. Its difficult to get this area to feel right, and in alla prima painting you have only a few chances to achieve the desired effect before your begin to ruin the piece. The goal of alla prima is to get the right color in the right place with the right stroke. The desire to go back into the work with corrections must be suppressed or the loose quality of the painting will be lost to the muddiness of over-working it.

root beer

root beer bottle, 6x6 oil on paper.

Apples Orchestrated

Apples Orchestrated. 6x6 oil on paper

Those coke bottles go well with bright, red apples. I picked up some large sheets of construction paper recently and have been using them to create some new color combinations. I just needed to add a little jazz into the compositions. These saturated colors are great for creating a cheerful mood. Put on some smooth jazz for the perfect painting atmosphere.

two and one thirds onions

two and one thirds onions, 5x7 oil on paper

I love to eat onions! They the perfect compliment to so many different meals. If something is delicious, it will probably make a delicious painting too.

Kitchen Bossa

Kitchen Bossa. 6x6, oil on canvas.

My work has improved over the last few months and I am now painting more and more on canvas. Those of you who follow me will know that I mostly paint on paper because of its efficiency and economy, but nothing beats the presentation of a gallery wrapped canvas. Check out my shop if you'd like to purchase this or other paintings. Ars Vita

des oranges

des oranges, 6x6 oil on paper

sold

Some lovely fruit caught me eye. I wanted to capture their juicy color and bulbous shape. To engage the viewer, I included an playful color palate and a sharp diagonal above the center line. I'm striving for a liquid look.