Wesley Ashworth's Art

 I haven't posted on this account in several years because I frankly forgot about it.  I've been posting on my FaceBook Acct "Collartist".  I plan to upload several of my paintings over the next few days.  Here's a self portrait. Oil on Panel. 12x16

I call this "Oh, ma haya!!". It is done from a photo I took on Third Street in Memphis, Tn. When I asked the young girl if I could take her photo, She grabbed her head and that's what she shouted.  I'm very proud of this and think it's one of the best things I've done. Here's the original photo. Notice I added the awning and c ooler, but it's sti ll true to the original, I think only better. That's the great thing about doing something original, I can choose to make it what ever my imagination tells me. oil on canvas

This is oil on canvas painted in 2004 from a photo I took while standing atop the I-40 Westbound bridge over the Caney Fork River, between Nashville and Knoxville, Tn close to mile marker 262. No, it's not me fishing, but I sure wish it were.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhbPMf9d0yc This is my good friend Mark Free and me playing "Biscuit Bottoms".

Here's a link to a song written and sung by my good friend Mark Free. I'm playing the harp in the background http://www.audiostreet.net/artist.aspx?artistid=60654

This is my maternal grandmother, Eva Gertrude "Wowo" Thompson. Yes, we call our grandmother Wowo! Blame my brother. The photo I painted this from was probably when she was in her mid 80's. She's 97 now and as feisty as can be. She has the best mind. Almost a photographic memory. This is the perfect pose for her, She liked(s) nothing more than to be fishing. She cant get around so well, so she hasn't been in a while. I need to take her.

I visited Europe in 1978. Here are some of the photos I took . It was a great trip. I spent 69 days traveling through 15 countries. I don't have any idea what's going on with the formatting here. I've tried and tried to get rid of all the white space, and am giving up now. Pics from Auzwich

I entered this design in the Memphis River Port Comm ission's call for proposals in 2003. It would sit on the Mississippi River at the entrance to Beale Street. They were looking for an "iconic" structure which would attract tourist from around the world. I got to thinking about a waterfall on the Mississippi and designed this. It would be 257 feet tall making it the tallest waterfall east of the big muddy. Fall Creek Falls is 256 feet tall. The top is an observatory. Water would be carried to the top via a series of Archimed es screws on the interior made of lexan so tourists could visually watch the water going to the top. Unfortunately, it was not chosen , and nothing has ever been built in that location. I created a blog just for this project because I put so much effort into it and have so much data. Here is the web address: http://greatmississippiwaterfall.blogspot.com/

I'm particularly proud of this because I painted it when I was 12 years old. I won a blue ribbon at the Mid south Fair. This is the painting that really got me interested in Art. I painted it during art classes at the Mason YMCA in Memphis. I wish I could remember the teachers name, I have fond memories of her. oil on canvas

This is a meditation garden I designed and built in Navarre, Fl. in 2006 for a place called Life Style Solutions. I built the swing, also. It was a labor of love. I'd love to create something like this again. It was very therapeutic working on it

Here are a couple of triptics I was experimenting with in photoshop. The subject is my son Johnny, again. I like the one with his eyes open, but think I'll try the other one again someday after I learn some more about color theory.

I built the deck and stairs myself when we added onto our home on Hillwood Lane in 2004. The sun is my one and only attempt at a mural. I hate we ever sold that house.

Music is art, so I thought it appropriate to include this photo. I had the opportunity a couple of years ago to play harmonica with Trent Sumner and the New Row Gang on the Gibson Guitar Stage on Beale Street. They had a couple of hits and videos that were on CMT. It was the most awesome thing!!! There were probably 200 people there screaming and enjoying ME.

I drew this picture of Louie Armstrong when I was 16. I gave it to my grandfather, John Wesley Ashworth, Sr. after finishing it. He was extremely proud of it and hung it in his den. He passed away two years ago at age 97 and I got it back. I've always loved his expression. This was done in Pastel from an album cover. I must not have had an eraser, notice the white blotches near his ear and forehead. I remember I slipped and got color where I didn't want it and used the white to mask it. Live and learn.

I did several wood carvings in my early 20's of which this is one. I carved a large "Treebeard" out of a stump of walnut, which I believe my son, Johnny, has. I'll try to photo it and post it sometime. This is carved in basswood. I need to get out the chisels and do something else.

I painted this when I was about 16 years old. I remember sitting in mom's kitchen and listening for the first time to Don McClean's "American Pie". It's oil on Masonite. When I finished it, I gave it to my grandmother who is now 96 years old. She is about to go into an assisted living apartment, so she gave it back last month.

This is my son, Johnny (John Wesley Ashworth, IV). It's oil on canvas and was painted in 2005. This was also painted from a photo I took, as are almost all my paintings. I started to call it "The Eye" because of it's composition. Johnny didn't seem to excited about it when he saw it, but He's pretty shy. I like to think he really is proud that his pappy would spend the time it took to "Immortalize" him.