Creating Color Harmony in Oil Paintings Using a Limited Pallet

 

Most beginning painters want to solve the problem of color choice by buying as many colors of paints as their budget will allow. Before buying all of those paints, why not try the limited pallet that so many great artists use and are very successful with. Try these colors: titanium white, ultramarine blue, cadmium red light, cadmium yellow light, and I add one more paint to the list--transparent oxide red, or some companies call it transparent red oxide. I use the transparent oxide red for my darks and grays. By mixing transparent oxide red with ultramarine blue, I get very close to a transparent black. When I mix white with my darks and more ultramarine blue, I get a cool gray.  When I mix my darks with more transparent oxide red, the result is a warm gray. Mixing cadmium yellow light to these darks and grays gives me a whole series of greens. By using this limited pallet, you can mix virtually all of the colors in nature with the exception of some colors of flowers. If you are painting flowers, you may need to add alizarin or some purples. Remember that your computer printer uses red, yellow, blue and black ink. The color of the paper adds the white. The advantage of using this pallet is that you can very easily go back and remix any color that you have previously mixed.


"Tuckered Out," 11x14 Oil on Canvas by Tommy Thompson

An art gallery director remarked that this painting illustrates color harmony. I created "Tuckered Out" depicting a farmer carrying water to his little cabin in the foothills of Tennessee. Country life figures prominently in my paintings because of my childhood. Art critics have told me that my painting style resembles that of the Barbizon school. The Barbizon school of painters were part of an art movement toward realism in art. The Barbizon school was active roughly from 1830 through 1870. It takes its name from the village of Barbizon, France, where many of the artists gathered. Some of the most prominent features of this school are its tonal qualities, color, loose brushwork, and softness of form. The Barbizon painters preserved a rapidly disappearing rural life style and focused on painting working people as they went about their daily life. Two of the noteworthy Barbizon painters include English painter, John Constable, and the French painter, Camille Corot.

Ingram Hay Bales

"Ingram Hay Bales," 6x8 Oil on Panel by Tommy Thompson

I painted "Ingram Hay Bales" at a farm in Leiper's Fork, TN. I have conducted two oil painting workshops in the quaint little village that counts among its residents some of the most recognized names in the music industry. We enjoy visiting the area to partake of the delicious food, seeing the pristine farms and viewing the excellent artwork available in the village's galleries.This painting is now in a private collection. If anyone is interested in purchasing a giclee print of this original, you may do so at this link:
http://tinyurl.com/mssqw7r

Radnor Lake Evening Solitude

"Radnor Lake Evening Solitude," 30x40 Oil on Canvas by Tommy Thompson

Radnor Lake in Nashville, TN, is a favorite painting location for many plein air painters in Middle Tennessee. Members of the Chestnut Group, plein air painters for the land in Nashville, have participated in paint-outs at this lake for many years. My daughter, Michelle Rideout, and I have painted there on several occasions. My latest painting, "Radnor Lake Evening Solitude," captures a view of the lake that is special to many. Giclees of this painting are available in various sizes; email tommy@tommythompsonart.com if you are interested in purchasing a less-expensive giclee.

Memphis Pink Palace

 "Memphis Pink Palace," 24x36 Oil on Canvas by Tommy Thompson

After visiting the Pink Palace in Memphis, I painted a 24x36 inch oil of this historic landmark; the original is now available for sale via my web site. Headquarters for the Pink Palace Family of Museums, the Pink Palace was originally designed to be the dream home of wealthy entrepreneur Clarence Saunders. The Museum derives its name from the Mansion's ornate pink Georgian marble facade.

Saunders, an entrepreneur and founder of the grocery chain, Piggly Wiggly, began building the house in the early 1920s, but due to a legal dispute with the New York Exchange, he had to declare bankruptcy, and the unfinished building was eventually given to the city of Memphis, TN, in the late 1920s for use as a museum.

Memphis Pink Palace Museum

The "new" addition and main Museum building is called the Pink Palace Museum. It houses the Bodine Exhibit Hall, exhibiting a variety of special temporary exhibits each year, and permanent exhibits, which include natural science on the first floor and cultural history on the second floor. Notable among the Museum collections are the mechanized Clyde Parke Circus, created during the Great Depression by Memphian Clyde Park, and the first self-service grocery called "Piggly Wiggly," developed by Pink Palace Mansion builder/owner, Clarence Saunders, next to the Clyde Park Circus. First-floor natural science exhibits include geology, fossil and animal exhibits.

Mist in the Distance

I grew up walking through the woods and wading in the creeks around my home in Longview, Mississippi, near Mississippi State University. I had the good fortune to have an uncle who enjoyed it even more than I did, and I enjoyed following him. He took me duck hunting, and generally exploring. I never knew what he would come home with--ducks, rabbits, snakes, and even a donkey. We robbed bee trees and went on wagon trips to the saw mill to get a load of "wood slabs" to use around the wash pot. He was great at telling a tale that for a brief moment you would believe. I miss him but this creek brings back memories.

"Mist in the Distance," 30x40 Oil on Canvas by Tommy Thompson

Setting Sail

"Setting Sail," 36x24 Oil on Canvas by Tommy Thompson 

To find subjects for painting, my wife Marie and I use  a different method of navigating between destinations. We look at a map and if the next town is southwest from the town we are in we turn off the main road and sometimes travel roads that are not on a map. We travel west until we reach a road turning south and then back west, alternating back and forth until we reach the next town. This is what we were doing when I saw a boy with his sailboat next to a creek.  He was afraid to put his boat in the water in fear of losing it. The day was too cold to get in the water and he knew the current could take his boat away. You don't forget this type of scene. Off in the distance is the kind of barn that was a part of my childhood. I am pleased that I was able to preserve this scene in the oil painting, "Setting Sail,"  for many to enjoy.

Paul Rasch, Paul’s Home Improvement Service, Florence, AL

If you live in the Shoals Alabama area, are remodeling your house, and need an experienced, professional painter to help you achieve the look that you want, we have a name for you--Paul Rasch of Paul’s Home Improvement, Florence, AL. We assure you that you will not be disappointed. Paul Rasch is the kind of person that you will welcome into your home. When he arrives at your home, he will be dressed in neat clothing--blue shirt featuring his logo and khaki pants. When he leaves, he will look just as neat, without a drop of paint on his clothing.

We have never encountered such a fine craftsman as Paul Rasch. He tackles every job with the same determination and skill to create the very best result. We were amazed at the amount of preparation that he applies to every step in a job. He pays special attention to using the very best materials and equipment--whether it is primer, caulking, brushes, sandpaper, or paint. He holds a light to inspect every aspect of his preparation (repairing, caulking, and sanding) to make sure that every surface becomes as smooth as possible. We were amazed as we watched Paul hold a light in one hand as he painted with the other. After the project is completed, Paul works to ensure that he leaves your home as neat as he found it by scrubbing every surface with clean cloths and vacuuming every floor.

If you need an expert painter, whether inside or outside your home, be sure to call Paul Rasch, Paul’s Home Improvement, at 256-762-8125 to receive an estimate on your job.

Leiper’s Fork, TN Gets New Fine Art Gallery

The quaint village of Leiper’s Fork, TN, now has a new fine art gallery. The Upstairs Gallery is located at 4208 Old Hillsboro Road, Suite 6 in Leiper’s Fork, TN. The Gallery’s hours are 10 to 5 P.M. Wednesday through Saturday and 1 to 5 P.M. on Sunday.

Bob Jones, Owner/Director of Upstairs Gallery, Leiper's Fork, TN

After a lifetime of experience in all phases of art, artist Bob Jones has opened Upstairs Gallery and invited some of his friends to join with him in the Gallery. He served as Graphic Design Director for Thomas Nelson Publishing of Nashville, TN, for more than 20 years. Jones also designed album covers for Sun Records of Nashville for many years. In the beginning, he studied art at Harris School of Advertising Art.

Jones’ pen and ink originals depicting the famous and the not-so-famous exhibit a meticulous attention to detail. “The pen and ink medium allows me to create textures and detail in a wide range and lighting that can be striking in contrast or quite subtle,” he says.

“Black and white is my focus,” says Jones. “It is elegant, clean, and honest. Many people think of pen and ink as a rigid and hard-edged medium, but I find that to be untrue. With patience, an artist can create an image whose range of effects is unsurpassed.”

Artists Exhibiting in the Upstairs Gallery:

Bob Jones, Spring Hill, TN Pen and Ink Artist
Tommy Thompson, Florence, AL Oil Artist of Landscapes
Michelle Rideout, Brentwood, TN Artist in Oil, Watercolor, and Pastel of Landscapes
Wanda Wright, Franklin, TN, Oil Artist of Still Life and Animals
Wendell Short, Photography

On your next visit to Leiper’s Fork, be sure to stop by to visit with Bob and enjoy the original artwork in his gallery. For more information regarding Upstairs Gallery, call 615-293-5299

Upstairs Gallery Location, 4208 Old Hillsboro Road, Suite 6, Leiper's Fork, TN

Upcoming Event:

Cork in the Fork in Historic Leiper’s Fork Village, Saturday, October 6, 2012
Time: 7 P.M. to 10 P.M.
Wine, Fine Catered Cuisine, Live Music--$75 per person
To benefit activities, festivals, and concerts of Downtown Leiper’s Fork Association

For more information and to purchase tickets online go to:
http://www.corkinthefork.com/

Always Pet the Cat

One day when our daughter, Melanie, went outside to water our flowers, she was distracted by “Blackie” the cat who had other plans. Blackie, the neighborhood cat, likes to sun himself in our backyard swing because there are no dogs to bother him in our yard. The only other creatures nearby are those that cats love to pursue like chipmunks, squirrels, bluebirds and coi in the fish pond. Whenever a human being enters the backyard, old Blackie ambles forward to get his back scratched. Tommy Thompson could not resist preserving this scene in the figurative oil painting, "Always Pet the Cat," 18x24 inch oil on canvas. 

Perfect Graduation Gift

"Preserving Bell's Bend" 20 x 24 inch Oil on Canvas by Tommy Thompson

Perfect graduation gift idea--Start a fine art collection for your favorite graduate. Bethany Reiser at Laurel Leaf Gallery (4208 Old Hillsboro Road in Leiper's Fork, TN) has several examples of Tommy Thompson's oil paintings to choose from. "Preserving Bell's Bend" is one example; this 20" x 24" oil on canvas would make an excellent beginning to a graduate's fine art collection.

Father's Day Gift Idea

"Afternoon Hunt" 10 x 20 inch Oil on Canvas by Tommy Thompson

A great idea for a Father's Day gift is Tommy Thompson's "Afternoon Hunt," a 10" x 20" oil on canvas. Don't miss this one-of-a-kind creation at Laurel Leaf Gallery in Leiper's Fork, TN. Thompson paints every day, and collectors are wise to add this talented painter's works to their collection. Invest in great art rather than gold; you can enjoy artwork everyday as it enhances your life.

Demonstration of Wide Range of Values Observed in Light and Shadow

Observing a house across the street from my house, as I squinted looking toward the house, I noticed that the sun shining on the black roof caused it to appear lighter than the white carport in shadow. I had always known that a white piece of paper appeared black in a dark room, but I had never thought that black in bright sunlight would appear to be a light gray. A painter must always keep this in mind because your mind tells you that white is white and black is black. To produce a good painting, you have to paint what you see in this case rather than what you know. Notice the matboard device that I made to demonstrate the wide range of values that I observed between sunlight and shadow. I use this device in talks presented to art groups.

If other artists would like to use this demonstration in their art talks, they can receive a high resolution image to use in their hand-outs by emailing me at tommy@tommythompsonart.com.

Reception for Tommy Thompson and Michelle Rideout

The Father/Daughter Artistic Team of Tommy Thompson and Michelle Rideout was honored with an Opening Reception to mark the beginning of their exhibition of oils and pastels at Belle Meade Plantation's Art Gallery on Thursday, February 4, 2010. Ms. Joanne Hostettler-Floyd and her staff did a remarkable job of organizing the reception featuring "Valentine Wines" from West Meade Wines and Liquor Mart and hors d'oeuvres from Belle Restaurant. A delightful evening of art, wine and food was enjoyed by everyone.

Sandra Harris, Brentwood artist, visits with her friend and fellow artist, Michelle Rideout.

Nashville artist, Jennifer Padgett, views the paintings by Tommy Thompson and Michelle Rideout.

Tommy Thompson with Nashville art enthusiast, Sue Ann Moore.

Give a Valentine Gift of Fine Art, A Gift That Will Be Enjoyed Every Day and Handed Down for Generations

"Harpeth at Fulton Greer Park" 11x14 Oil by Tommy Thompson

A Valentine gift of fine art is a gift that will be be enjoyed every day and handed down for generations. A gift of original fine art gives pleasure to the recipient every day, not just on Valentine’s Day, and it increases in value over time. To make your Valentine shopping a unique experience, visit Belle Meade Plantation Art Gallery, 5025 Harding Pike, Nashville, TN, where a special exhibition of oils and pastels by Tommy Thompson and Michelle Rideout is being displayed for sale until February 28, 2010. The Gallery’s hours are: Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m, and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. As an added bonus to your Valentine shopping experience, one-half of the purchase price of your gift will be tax deductible since the Plantation is a nonprofit organization.

When you visit Belle Meade Plantation Art Gallery to see the Thompson/Rideout Art Exhibit, why not have lunch or dinner upstairs in the Belle Restaurant (http://www.bellerestaurant.com), where you can view Thompson’s beautiful oil painting of the Belle Meade Mansion. This painting is also for sale by the Belle Meade Plantation Gift Shop (downstairs).

After several years as a commercial and architectural illustrator, Thompson moved on to traditional oil painting in 2002. Since that time, the artist has painted onsite throughout the country. With other artists and friends, he has painted on location not only in Alabama but also in Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, New Mexico, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, and Wyoming, plus Canada. His artwork has been featured in national publications including American Art Collector, Southwest Art, Horses in Art; in regional publications like Hills and Hamlets and Greater Nashville House, Home, and Garden; and in Nashville area newspapers, The Tennessean and Brentwood Life. His work has been featured online by Area of Design--In the Spotlight, The Judge's Choice, The Journal of 100 Miles (Natchez Trace), Discovered Artists, Painter's Keys, Chestnut Group, Plein Air Artists, Landscape Artists International, and Oil Painters of America. Thompson’s artwork was recently juried into a special exhibition called “Saving Paradise” of Belmont University’s Leu Gallery, September 1-December 2, 2010. For more information on Thompson’s work, check out his web site at www.tommythompsonart.com

"Biltmore Goose," 11x14 Pastel, by Michelle Rideout

After graduating with a degree in graphic design from the University of North Alabama, Rideout worked for several years for Village Prints (www.villageprints.com), creating hundreds of architectural-style composite pencil drawings of towns across 12 Southern states. After moving to Tennessee, she studied with some of the country's top artists including Carolyn Wright of Chattanooga, TN; Jason Saunders, Leiper's Fork, TN; Dawn Whitelaw, Pat Thompson, and Roger Dale Brown of Franklin, TN; Jeremy Doss of Townsend, TN; and Jeanne Mackenzie of Colorado. Besides painting on location at various Nashville area sites with her father, Rideout also enjoys painting with friends in Nashville's Chestnut Group, "plein air painters for the land." For more information on Rideout’s work, check out her web site at www.michellerideout.com

Pot O' Pansies

Tommy Thompson painted "Pot O'Pansies" after visiting Lake Lure, NC. He saw this pot of pansies outside the Lodge at Lake Lure, one of his favorite places to visit. Lake Lure is the second most photographed place in the United States; the most photographed place is Lake Tahoe.

Harpeth River Snag

Tommy Thompson painted "Harpeth River Snag" during a plein air painting workshop in Leiper's Fork, TN, conducted by Jeremy Doss. This painting represents a departure in oil painting for Thompson since it was done in a more impressionistic style.

Spring Iris

Tommy Thompson painted "Spring Iris" as part of a series of floral originals. The artist has received several kudos for his paintings of flowers recently.

Short Cut to Oscar's

"Short Cut to Oscar's" was created by Tommy Thompson from memory. The painter has traveled throughout the United States over the past 20+ years pursuing a career in art and has accumulated a myriad of images through his memory and with the aid of a digital camera.

Shadowed Plants

Tommy Thompson created the oil painting, "Shadowed Plants," as an exercise in brush work.

Route 1, Box 232

Tommy Thompson painted "Route 1, Box 232" from memories of scenes that he has observed during travels over the past 30 years.