A Painting for Will

acrylic on board, 24x18", 2010, NFS

My wife and I have some very special friends and a few of them are the Prestridge family. The patriarch of the family, Jesse, is an old friend of mine. We use to be room mates for a time after I came home from serving a two year proselytizing mission for my church. Over the years I have really valued the blessing of having a friend like Jesse in whom I can share my thought and seek advice when needed. Unfortunately as life sometimes goes, I find it hard to stay in touch like I should and regret the days that fly by without hanging out with old friends. Fortunately for Jesse, the guilt of not keeping in touch often leads me to giving a nice piece of art to him and his family. This painting kinda falls into that category.

Jesse's wife called me and wanted to know if I could put together a simply jersey painting to be placed in his son-on-the-way's room before May. She described something very fitting for a newborn's room but I instantly thought about giving them something that hopefully the son, Will, would love to have hanging throughout all his years. So I developed this composition based from various photo references. The numbers on the jerseys represent all three of little Will's initials. Now the only job left to do is to ensure that Will grows up to be a War Eagle fan; anything less will be very offensive! Here's to meaningful friendships - Jared

Lilies on the Rocks

Lilies on the Rocks, watercolor, 9x16", NFS

Private collection of Rep. Mac Gipson, Montgomery, AL

This is a piece that I recently finished amid a few additional commission works. The Charleston House Gallery will be displaying this piece in preparation for an exhibition of J. Sidney Kelly works tonight. As I have mentioned in previous posts, I am fascinated with patterns and fabric design. I attribute this fixation partly to my wife who make awesome purses and purse accessories, using a large collection of patterned fabrics. I never know what she'll be putting together on any given day.
In doing this particular piece I drew the initial wall pattern on grid paper and used transfer paper to trace it to the watercolor paper. After doing all this, I realized that I had wasted all my time. The thought hit me that I could have transferred the original drawing to a linoleum block and carefully cut-out the design. Then I could have used masking fluid to stamp the design over the entire background, allowing me to apply a wash to the background without painting in the areas of the motifs. Once the wash had dried I could have gone back and removed the mask layer and added the darker sage green to the pattern. Of course this is classic for me; always learning after the fact.
Anyhow, I am really pleased with how this piece turned out and I have bigger ideas for the next few watercolors. Enjoy - Jared.

New Watercolors

Little Boy, watercolor, 6x6", 2009 SOLD

The Ascent, watercolor, 6x8", $100 (scroll below to purchase)

Patterned Blooms, watercolor, 5x8", $100 (scroll below to purchase)

The Watchmaker Watches, watercolor, 8x6", $85 (scroll below to purchase)

Pet Portrait Commission, watercolor, 16x9", 2009

These are some of the pieces that I have been fortunate to work on as of late. My wife and I like to work a booth at the monthly Santuck Arts and Crafts Market where she sales her totally sweet purse organizers, checkbook covers, and handbags and where I sale my artwork. These watercolors were completed for this Art Market. If you are interested in purchasing one of these, contact me immediately so that someone else doesn't snatch up your favorite.

I will honestly be saddened greatly once The Little Boy watercolor sells. I am really fond of that painting. Though it is small, only six inches square, it is emotionally intriguing. I wonder what could have had this young boy so festered and pensive? I will truly miss it.

Let me know what you like. Keep up the creativity
- Jared

Choose which watercolor

The Ascent $100.00 Patterned Bloom $100.00 The Watchmaker $85.00