Craggy Red Boat

First Light

I did this small oil painting for a series of works that I sent to The Art House Gallery on the Cape.

I'm calling this "First Light". It's an image of a fisherman rowing to his larger craft as the first light of morning emerges. I like adding figures to my paintings and hope to include more in future canvases. This is oil on wood panel (6x8")

Key #5 (under painting)

I just did this oil under painting of a Key for a commission. I like the look of the Jack Daniels wood advertising in the background of this Key. Definitely an area I will explore in future paintings.

Max's Ride (Plein Air)

First of all, I'd like to apologize to mother nature for all of the terrible things I've said about her since November..my sincerest apologize madame. Today was a about as perfect a day as you could ask for.

Max took a nap in the afternoon so I set up my paint box and did a little plein air painting of "Max's ride" in the back yard. Just me and my paints, the sound of spring birds singing and the baby monitor cranking.

One of the challenges of plein air painting is the moving sun..you can see how much it shifted the shadows from when I began (in the first photo) to only an hour and a half later (the second photo).

One of the challenges of a stay-at-home dad plein air painter is a waking child. This one was cut short in less than two hours.

Magazine pumpkin sketches

How goes the great struggle? Alls well here thanks! I recently got an illustration assignment from my favorite children's illustration client, "Highlights for Children" magazine. They have a magazine for younger children called Highlights Hi-Five that I've done work before. Fun assignments, great deadlines and professional/trustworthy art direction...Thank you again Highlights, I love you.

this is for the October 2008 issue and they've asked me to do a bunch of Jack-o-Lantern paintings. I did some pencil sketches, scanned them in to Photoshop and added some value..viola!

They gave me the go ahead to add color, so I'll get cracking on that asap.

The Venerable Spirit

I finished this small (6x8") oil painting of a dinghy I'm calling "The Venerable Spirit". OK maybe this is just the current working title because it doesn't sit well with me after re-reading it here. I think it's the "venerable" part. Maybe this boat deserves a simpler title. The word venerable seems like I'm trying too hard to have a sophisticated title or something...

Just thinking out loud here.
Anyhoot, let me sleep on it.

(Click on image for a larger view)