Clinton artist Wyatt Waters paints a Vicksburg landscape water color of a train passing under the bridge connecting Drummond Street and Monroe Street Friday. Waters was painting facing west from the bridge over the railroad tracks on Cherry Street.(The Vicksburg Post/C. TODD SHERMAN)

[06/15/02]Two Mississippi artists made Vicksburg their latest subject.

Wyatt Waters and Ron Lindsey set up their easels on Cherry Street Friday afternoon.

“Me and Ron come here a lot, it’s kind of a buddy thing,” said Waters. Lindsey said that he and Waters live right down the street from each other in Clinton.

Waters said that the two enjoy going to different places such as Vicksburg to paint. They work on separate projects and paint different things but they like the company.

Waters was working on a watercolor painting of the view of the train tracks and the Drummond Street bridge from Cherry Street. The painting depicts a train going under the bridge.

“Ron started a painting down the way and my location was chosen for me,” said Waters, “My philosophy is there is always a view.”

Waters just finished doing 35 illustrations for a cookbook on food in the South. “I’m getting away from my obligation and painting on my own,” said Waters.

Waters owns a gallery with his wife in Clinton and he displays some of his work at the Attic Gallery in Vicksburg. Waters has done Vicksburg paintings before.

Ron Lindsey is also a painter from Clinton. “We’ve been painting over here together since 1986 or so,” said Lindsey.

Lindsey started working on his paintings of the town Thursday. He started on one of Marcus Bottom, and the one he was working on Friday of Cherry Street. Lindsey said that he is preparing for an upcoming show.

Lindsey was working with oil paints on a square canvas. “I’ve been interested in this square format, it gives it a modern feel,” said Lindsey. He said that he has been looking for a way to give his work a more contemporary look.

Lindsey selected the corner of Cherry and Magnolia Streets as the subject of his painting. “I’ve always noticed these two houses and this hill has always interested me,” said Lindsey. He said the corner also worked well with his square canvas.

Lindsey has also done artwork for books. One of his Vicksburg paintings was used for the cover of a Jerry Clower book.

Lindsey also displays some of his work at the Attic Gallery. “Leslie Silver (owner of the Attic Gallery) is very encouraging, she is known to lift artist’s spirits,” said Lindsey.

The cookbook that Waters illustrated was a collaboration with Robert St. John, owner of the Purple Parrot in Hattiesburg.