Spring is close! And I’m ready for it!!

I’m sitting on my porch, enjoying a nice cool breeze, and beverage. The sun is shining, and I’m soaking in the good vibes that spring weather in Tennessee can bring.

Gallery Updates:

Lately, I’ve been working on some new paintings for The District Gallery. This is the gallery where I recently won a contract, and I’m thrilled to be creating two series of work: one featuring guitars and the other showcasing Knoxville architecture. Both of these subjects are dear to me, and I’m excited to bring them to life through my encaustic process.

“Lucille”
24 x 24″

I’m also preparing new panels for Kore Gallery in Louisville. Just like with The District, I’ll be focusing on a series of architectural pieces, highlighting some of Louisville’s iconic landmarks. Every time I visit Louisville, I take photos of places that inspire me, and I’m eager to translate them into paintings. Hopefully, they’ll be well received!

I can’t forget about The Copper Fox in Leiper’s Fork (Franklin, TN). I’ve had a great experience working with them over the years, and I’m still considering what series I’ll take to them next. My Nashville and music-themed pieces have always been quick sellers, as have barns and farm animals. My architectural work has also been well-received—just like my bee paintings. And I certainly can’t forget the bees! I’ll continue creating bee-inspired paintings for all locations. With spring just around the corner, I’ll have plenty of opportunities to capture new bee photos. I’ve planted several blooming plants around my house and studio, hoping to attract some new buzzing friends for inspiration this summer.

If you find yourself in the area of one of these galleries please drop in and say hi. All of them are well curated. Plus they are extremly friendly and love to talk about the artists in thier space.

Outdoor Adventures:

Working stuff is fun but another exciting adventure Tracy and I are undertaking is hiking the Smoky Mountains as often as possible. We’re on a mission to hike all 900 miles of trails in the Smokies, and so far, we’ve covered around one hundred. This will likely be a ten-year journey! Right now, we’re tackling the five-to-eight-mile trails to build up our endurance for the longer fifteen-to-twenty-mile hikes later. I’m grateful that Tracy takes charge of planning—I just show up and walk! Along the way, I’ve been capturing plenty of photos, which may find their way into future paintings.

YouTube Videos:

Lastly, I want to share a bit about my YouTube channel. Over the years, I’ve collected numerous videos of my process, and I’m currently editing them into five-to-twenty-minute clips with voiceovers explaining each step. If you haven’t already, I’d love for you to check out my videos and follow me on YouTube—I’ll include the link here! Watch My Videos

That’s all for now. Thanks for reading, and I’ll be back with more updates soon!

Take care, RLP