Concept:

 

I was asked to do a painting demonstration for the city of Louisville Park and Recreation's Art in the Park held July 21, 2022 in the city's Central Park. I had just three hours to complete a painting. I decided to paint one of the two lion sculptures that have been in the park since at least the 1940s.

 

I have a lot sentimental attachment to the park. My wife and I began our life together in a one-bedroom apartment on Fourth Street directly across from Central Park. Not only did I propose to Brandi in the that very park but we would spend countless evenings walking our beloved beagle, Bailey, while discussing our dreams for our future. We lived there while finished our schooling at the University of Louisville, We planned and had our wedding while we lived there as well and  moved away leading up to the birth of our first child. ​

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The reason I chose to paint one of the lions is because of one of my wife's favorite childhood memories. During the summers of her youth, Brandi and her grandmother, "Nana", would walk to the park between breaks in Nana's soap opera shows where she would play on the the park's two lion sculptures.

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There's really something special about painting outdoors. Normally, I take at least several months to to finish a painting unless to do one while teaching my painting class. I'm trying to balance doing more "Plein air" paintings like this one while still doing studio paintings. I'm still a little tight and not as confident as I'd like to be with these speed paintings. But I'm having a lot of fun. 

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Special thanks to Louisville Parks and Recreation Outreach Manager Walter Munday for the location photo.