J. Richard Gentry

Watercolor Artist

“I paint things that make me happy and try to share my inner feelings with my viewer. My favorite series include emphasis on historic preservation—inspired by my move to Mobile, AL — pet portraits and animals, flowers and landscapes, and a fun series of cocktail paintings.”
Richard Gentry

I am a Mobile watercolor artist in addition to being self-employed as an author, researcher, and education consultant in literacy education with a focus on beginning reading, spelling and dyslexia. It’s interesting that successful writing and watercolor artistry are similar processes in my brain based on creativity, self-expression, and an urge to share my personal experience with others. I hope that some of my watercolors and writing will last longer than I do.

My watercolors often include mixed media, gouache and pencil work on Blanco Natural 150 LB Arches cold press paper. I paint things that make me happy and try to share my inner feelings with my viewer. My favorite series include emphasis on historic preservation—inspired by my move to Mobile, pet portraits and animals, flowers and landscapes, and a fun series of cocktail paintings—a great addition to any home bar.

I have been an artist since childhood but took my first drawing course as a student at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Sixteen years ago, before moving to Mobile, I did a series of plein air watercolor classes at the Bonnet House Museum and Gardens in Fort Lauderdale with the late watercolor artist Karen Eskesen whose work was internationally recognized. Karen inspired me to create a unique personal style.

I never know what the final watercolor painting will look like once I start. I rely more on intuition and the feel of it than planning. Karen taught me to let the water on the paper sometimes take charge. That makes the magic happen because what the water and pigment decide to do is often unpredictable, unplanned, and sometimes unimaginable. When I complete a piece that I’m pleased with I sometimes say to myself, “I can’t believe I painted this!”