Bayou Boogie

It's been quite a while since my last post but I have not been idle. The below image was originally inspired by my sister Lisa's story about a "pet" alligator that became quite friendly (too friendly) around her husband Richard's fishing camp in the bayou near their home in SW Louisiana.

I'm trying a new thing here, tinting the gesso with a middle ground color and working up a value painting before applying my oil washes. Below you see the final sketch through finish.

Five past Two

And here's the finished painting. Combining both traditional Golden Acrylics and the new(er) open line, I was able to combine dry brush with some traditional blending.
Good to be back home in Ann Arbor. I'm looking forward to reconnecting with my class at CCS today.

Memphis blues

I've spent the month of March on Sugarloaf Key. The trip has become an annual retreat of sorts – some rest, some boating, some socializing, but mostly painting. Picking up where I left off last year, I've been practicing with Golden's Open line of acrylics.
The painting subject this year is Memphis, where we stopped on our way down south. The visit to Graceland was surprisingly interesting. I was a little young to be an Elvis fan, but now have a more respectful understanding of his impact on music and pop culture.

Handsome devil

Wayne Jackson of the Memphis Horns – Just hanging out at the Rock and Soul Museum

 Back to painting. The subject was the Blues City Cafe after the lunch rush. Red underpainting, charcoal drawing, then just working my way around the canvas. One more day and it will be finished.