Bedside doodles

I keep a sketchbook on my nightstand and sometimes I doodle before I doze off. Last night I drew some mindless charicature doodles. Just having some fun.

Fishermans shack (still in progress...)

I worked a little more on my Monhegan Island painting, I slapped some paint on the fishermans shack. I'm thinking this composition needs something, perhaps some flying gulls in the distance to give it some tension, maybe a suggestion of some boats in the backround harbor. Maybe the fisherman is working on his traps?!...we'll see how this develops.

Afternoon Break (Cape Cod sketchbook)

These boats were at rest in a Chatham cove, hanging loose before they go back to work. The backround is completely made up to add additional depth, balance the composition and help complete the visual story.

Perkins Cove Dinghy #4

I finally finished painting this Dinghy...and I spelled "Dinghy" correctly too! Quite an afternoon.

I think I'm going to try and loosen up more with the next painting, maybe use a larger brush. Dinghy #4 is an oil on wood panel, (8x6").

Chatham Lobster boat (Cape Cod sketchbook)

This is another drawing from the cape Cod sketchbook of a small Lobster boat in a Chatham cove. it's probably not really a Lobster boat but a small pleasure boat designed to look like a sleek Lobster boat. Can there be such a thing? Anyhoot! I liked the lines of this boat and the reflection of it in the water. I wonder if this composition would work better with a few smaller boats in it's vacinity.

Quiet Time (Cape Cod Sketchbook)

Here is another drwaing from my Cape Cod sketchbook. The original drawing is more crudely sketched, I traced it and tightened it here. My original intent was to capture the silent, reflective feeling the boat gave me when I came upon it. I had to sketch quickly because the boat was constantly and slowly drifting. The original sketch did not capture that but provided enough information to take it to this level. I have a few more sketches that I plan on tweeking as well. It's tricky going through them and trying to figure out which ones will make interesting paintings. More to come...

Children's poem "Home" (Sketch #2)

This is the second and last sketch for the illustrated poem "Home" that I'm working on for a book publisher.

The original is 11x17" drawn in graphite, scanned and played with in Photoshop.

I have to wait for client aproval before I color these so I will likely finish some of the oil paintings I've started in the down time.

Catcha later...

Todd

Children's poem "Home" (Sketch)

I've been bussy with a new assignment from a book publisher to illustrate two spreads for a poem called "Home", which will be in a book collection of illustrated poems.

This is a graphite drawing, scanned and manipulated in photoshop. I have to wait for client aproval before I finish with color.

Superstar! (Cape Cod sketchbook)

Chatham Dinghy (Cape Cod sketchbook)

Here is another image from my Cape cod sketchbook...wait...could that be another dinghy...he's Mad I tell you. I think these lone dinghy's are an editorial about the artist state of being. Might they be a reflection of the lonely persuit of an artist trying to make it on his own. A small boat in a big sea of yachts, scooners and sails?

Nope. I just like these dinghy's.

another Dinghy painting in progress

Stole a few moments to slap down some paint on this dinghy painting, hopefully I'll finish it next session.

Wait for me! (Cape Cod sketchbook)

This Provincetown saltbox building was painted orange and looked like a finished canvas against the blue sky. It has a seagull weathervane on top. As I was looking at it, squinting, thinking maybe this could be a cool painting, a small flock of gulls flew by in the distance. For a moment it looked like the weathervane was trying to catch up to the pack..."Wait for me man"!

I did this sketch and added a few gulls in the backround, I think it may work in a small series of saltbox/weathervane paintings. We'll see, I got a lot on the plate right now.

Quahogging Chatham (Cape Cod sketchbook)

Here is another sketch from my Cape Cod Sketchbook that I may do a painting of. I may refine this drawing before I paint it or maybe I'll leave it the way it is, don't know yet. I kind of like that guy in the foreground.

Sailing the North east wind (Cape Cod Sketchbook)

Here is one of the sketches from my Cape Cod sketchbook that I think I'll do a painting of. There were dozens of these weathered saltbox houses with nautical weathervanes that kept stopping my eye. I'm trying to discipline myself to try and capture imagery that stops me, rather than fixing on the more cliche vignettes.

Eastham, Cottage (Plein air)

The sun finally came out on our last two days on the Cape, I felt like a bird out of it's cage. I did a quick plein air study of the cottage we are staying at in Eastham.

Stage Harbor Light, Chatham, Mass. (en plein air)

The rain stopped long enough to hike the Chatham shore to a spot accross the inlet from Stage Harbor Light. This is no longer a working light house, it is now occupied by a private residence. Life must be good when your living in your very own lighthouse.

Tip for Plein air painting on the beach: Clam shells make excellent pallets for mixing color. If you look close, you can see one with blue paint in my paint box. Easy clean up too.

P.S. I'm extending my visit here on the Cape for the weekend, I'll be back on Sunday, June 11.

Cape Cod Dunes, Truro, Mass (en plein air)

It's been raining and overcasty every day since I've been here, I really can't remember rain this bad in New England in my lifetime. This has put a damper on my plein air painting but I used the time to visit art galleries and introduce myself to a lot of gallery owners. There is so much talent on the cape, very inspiring. I've been taking a lot of pictures to do some studio paintings later, They will likely be foggy and moody imagery as a result of the conditions.

I did manage to do a quick study on the dunes in Truro. the rain was off and on, clouds were spotty and the sun would peek and hide every few minutes. the constantly changing light, mosquitos and gnatts made for a challenging painting study. It's a beatiful place here, even with the rain, I can understand why so many artist make there way here to paint.

Artist gone paintin' on Cape Cod

I'm going on a five day painting trip To Cape Cod, I'll be back on Wednesday, the 7th. Looking forward to doing some Plein air studies, introducing myself to Gallery owners and painting in the cottage in the evenings. I'll be totally emersed and I'm elated. Some of my oldest and best friends live down there, so I'll be drinking good Scotch, eating Lobster and laughing too.

I may post while I'm away, feel free to check back, otherwise I'll put some stuff up from the trip when I return.

All my best,

Todd

Portrait (Illustration Friday Submission)

Todays

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY

topic is "Portrait". This is a small acrylic study I did on a piece of old barn wood that I cut to shape. The image is from a childhood photo of my late uncle Paul.

Children's Magazine Illustration (color finish)

Viola! I colored my second sketch for the Children's magazine assignment. I will now jump back into some oil painting.