"Vrooom" (Tin Blue Car)

""Vrooom" (4x6") Oil on Masonite.

When I posted my oil painting of the red toy car "Vintage" last month, my friend Nina sent a comment that said, "Vrooom". I said to myself, "That would have been a much cooler name for the painting". Thanks to Nina's comment it became easy to title this one.

The rusty paint-chipped patina is what originally attracted me to this subject. To me, it suggest the stories and history that lie deep in the venerable spirit of this object.

First day of the rest of your life

I finished this oil painting last week and I am just getting around to posting it. it was a commission for a fellow who turned 40 on July 20, 2008. I put his birth date on the boat where the boat ID number would normally go. He is from Massachusetts and the boat tags in Mass always start with "MS" and then the number. In this case, "M" and "S" happen to be the initials of this man and his wife (the one who commissioned the painting) Perfect! Just for fun, I added the initials of his two sons in Morse code somewhere in the painting ("N" and "T") can you find them? The most important thing to me is the finished piece, it trumps the intentional placement of added elements like dates, Morse code and initials. In this case it just happened to work out.

This boat is from Chatham, Mass (on Cape Cod) and is resting on shore in the early morning hours, about 6am. The sun is beginning to rise from the east and casts a reflective shine as this boat begins a new morning. This element helped to give this painting it's title and the appropriate message to any man turning 40.

Overall, I am really pleased with the minimal pallet and the warm and understated feel of this painting. There are a lot of dabs of paint on this that I feel helps to add interest to the surface and unify the piece.
If you would like to commission a painting, feel free to shoot me an email at tmbonita@gmail.com. Click the image for a larger view.

Vintage (Cast Iron car) finish

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I finished this small painting of a Vintage Cast iron toy car. I love the chipped paint and over all worn look of this little antique and was excited to paint it. My idea was to add drama to it by the use of the faded dark background contrasting the almost-spotlight effect on the car itself. My way of elevating this ordinary object to iconic status. This also simplifies the design and focuses on the car and chipped paint..it's character. These small compositions (in this case 4x6") force me to become more intimate because of it's scale. A totally different experience than painting a larger canvas where I'm standing and stepping back. These small ones require me to almost hunch into this little micro world...I love them.
*SOLD*

YouTube Video Slide Show of my Paintings

I put this together through my Daily painters gallery for YouTube.

Key #6 (finish)

I finished this small commission of "Key #6" in the series.

Three Cherries (under painting)

I completed this small oil under painting of three cherries.

Toy Car

I bought a bunch of old antique toys on Ebay with the intention of doing some oil studies. I was looking for aged surfaces and worn patinas. I found this wonderfully paint-chipped, tin car for $3.95...I love Ebay.

Anyhoot, this is the first of the small oil studies of toys. This is the monochromatic under painting (what's that?)....The monochromatic under painting is the first stage of my painting process. It's where I use only one color, in this case, Burnt Umber to establish my values (lights and darks) and to get a feel for the overall composition before I add a full range of colors. I used this stage to also explore some varied brush work (note the soft lost edge on the top of the car as apposed to the harder line at the bottom of the car) It's a compartmentalized way of doing things that divides the process into thoughtful little steps. I didn't make it up, this process is more than 500 years old. I'm looking forward to slapping some color on this when it dries.

The New Day (under painting)

This is a monochromatic under painting of a boat I'm currently calling, "The New Day"...unless I change my mind and call it something else. I'm thinking of painting this almost entirely in earth warm colors like Andrew Wyeths pallet. It's almost there but if you look at Wyeths work, you'll notice there are plenty of cools and blues beneath the surface to give it a balance...whatever works really but I'm feeling a strong pull towards a minimal pallet statement here. The piece is sort of dictating that as it evolves, we'll see where it goes.

Key #6 (under painting in progress)

This is a commission of a Key painting, number 6 in the series...this time, I'm pushing that chipped paint look in the back ground. So far, I have transferred the drawing, did the monochromatic under painting and just started to lay down some blue in the back ground..that's it so far and it is already beginning to take shape. I like this stage but sometimes come to a screeching halt not knowing how it will evolve...this is a good time to put it away and start something new before I finish it.

The Young Trapper

This is one of the paintings I did for the Diamond Newman Gallery in Boston. It's an 11x14" oil on wood panel painting I'm calling "The Young Trapper". Another painting in a series of lobster men and fisherman in their small crafts.

Botnay Bay poster illustration

I finished this digital painting/design for a local computer company poster. It was great fun to temporarily switch gears from paint brush to digital paint brush.

Key #5

I just finished this small commissioned oil painting I'm calling "Key #5". It's (4x6") on gessoed board (My official favorite surface). I'm attracted to old wood with graphics or lettering on it as a background element in my paintings. I went on Ebay to find some old wood boxes with advertising on them and they are not cheap...I'm not the only one who likes them evidently. I may have to get lucky at flea markets or yard sales.

Makin' for the Bay

This is one of the pieces that I did for the show at the Diamond Newman Gallery in Boston. "Makin for the Bay" is an oil on canvas, 10x20". I like the odd size of this work. I also learned that I prefer working on wood panels rather than canvas. Actually, I know I should give some tighter weave canvases another try before I make this declaration.

The painting is a lobsterman rowing toward the bay. A theme I've painted before and will continue to do until the images stop haunting me. I came up with the title from rewording a line from the Steven Stills (Crosby, Stills, Nash) song, Southern Cross; "She was making for the trades on the outside and the downhill run to papeete"...I love the nautical imagery in that song and thought part of that line would be cool if I simply reworded it to fit the fella in my oil painting who was "Makin' for the Bay". The love is in that gritty slang "Makin". It's exactly how this lobsterman would phrase it.

Diamond-Newman Gallery Boston, Massachusetts.

I'm very excited to have begun a relationship with The Diamond_Newman Gallery
in Boston, Massachusetts. They were on my long term radar and coincidentally, they contacted me about a month or so ago and asked if I would put some work together for the "First Friday show" this June. I have been a fan of many of the artist in this gallery for a while and I am thrilled to hang my work on the same wall. Below is the notice for the show, which opens tomorrow evening in the SOWA art district in Boston at the 450 Harrison avenue studios. I will be there with Alison and then maybe have some dinner in the North End, I'm really looking forward to it. Come by if you can and say hello. There are so many talented artist in this building, it should be an inspiring evening.

Still

Study for "Still" (8x10") oil on wood panel
"Still" (16x20") oil on wood, framed

I was reading about an artist on Cape Cod who does a small and large version of each painting at the same time. She uses the smaller study to experiment and help to keep the larger one loose. it makes sense to me...I already have the paint mixed and the composition worked out, so why not?

This post represents my first attempt at this idea and I must say that I can definitely see the benefits. the top image is the smaller (8x10") version and the second painting (shown framed) is the larger (16x20"). They are both on wood panel. I did indeed approach the larger painting with a looser
temperament and more confidence than I think I normally would have. I think this confidence reveals itself in the brush work and overall feel of the piece. What a eureka moment.

Another bonus was I think I was looser on the smaller piece as well, a complete attitude switch has taken place. I want to recommend this approach to any artist reading this...give it a try on at least one painting and I'll bet you a two pound wedge of cheese that you'll notice an attitude difference that comes accross in the work..and that aint' the booze talkin.

Highlights magazine finish

I finished this illustration of Pumpkins for "Highlights Hi-Five" magazine for children for the October issue. Great fun, as always to work with this company.

Patience

Here is another 6x8" oil painting I'm calling "Patience". This is currently on the wall of The Art House Gallery
on Cape Cod.

It was painted fairly quickly for me..there was a point where I was standing before it with my brush, looking for the next spot to paint and I realized it was done. It's always been hard for me to decide when a painting is complete, I've ruined many by over working them. The great painter William Merritt Chase once said, "It takes two to paint. One to paint, the other to stand by with an axe to kill him before he spoils it."

Heading Home (Top 'O the Mornin)

I finished this small (6x8") oil painting of a Cod fisherman returning to shore at sunrise. I sent this off to one of the galleries down the Cape with the title "Top 'O the Mornin". If you are familiar with this blog, you know I don't like naming paintings, I'm just not good at it and it always seems like I'm trying too hard. Anyhoot, the gallery owner changed it to "Heading Home"..thankfully. Much better and simple.

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)

Cherry

I finished this small oil painting study of a Cherry on a plate. It's 4x6" and is oil on masonite panel.

The Secret Key

I finished this Key painting a while ago too but I wasn't sure if I was going to add something else to it. My better judgement was to finally leave it as is. Sometimes a painting will let you know when it is done..and sometimes they take a while to get that idea across.

"The secret key" got it's name by finally letting me know it was done. The secret is out. This is oil on wood panel and is 4x6"

Key #4

Finished this small oil painting last week and forgot to post it on this blog. "Key #4" is an oil on wood panel and is (7x5"). This takes on a different meaning after reading the critique from my last post.

Art and Critique spotlight #2 (Keys to Desire)

Elija from Artandcritique.com did another critique of my oil paintings, this time it's the series of Key paintings I did and you've got to see the slant he put on them...on me. It turns out I'm a horn-dog..go check it out for yourself, you can read Elijas latest critique of my painting here: Artandcritique.com

Thanks again Elija. Alison read the critique and thought he may be on to something.

Art and Critique spotlight

I recently received an email from Artandcritique.com and they are currently posting an extensive critique of my boat paintings. I would like to thank Elija and include a link to his very cool web sight. You can check out his critique of my work here: ArtandCritique.com

I have to be honest and tell you I'm flattered and my ego is stroked, Elija has an amazing insight and quite a way with words.

Key #4 (Under painting)

I'm trying something new for me..I'm transferring about 20 drawings to 20 panels and will try to work simultaneously on all of them rather than just hammering one out at a time. A few of my art friends have suggested this for several reasons: 1) it will keep the work fresh and you'll be less likely to "worship" the current piece and loosen up 2) If you get stuck on an area simply move to another painting and return later with a fresh eye...and 3) Productivity increase. This is important I think, productivity means you are releasing all those ideas that are bunched up in your head. So, we'll see how it goes.

Today I am posting an under painting of another key, this will be "Key #4". It is an oil raw umber wash with some under painting white in some areas to make the lights pop.

The Heifer (Finish)

"The Heifer" (14x11") Oil on Masonite
I finished "The Heifer" painting last night and put it in this wood frame (see below for detail and framed painting image). I was working on a companion piece to this simultaneously but ended up cursing the counterpart...perhaps later this year I'll revisit the companion. We'll see, lots to do and the limited time seems to fly.

I hope you are all well, the weather is looking better and I'm looking forward to dusting off the pochade to do some outdoor plein air painting soon.


Detail of "The Heifer" (click on image for larger view)

"The Heifer" Framed. email me for purchase inquire: tmbonita@gmail.com

Max eating sketch

Max likes strawberries and can pretty much eat on his own now. This afforded me the opportunity to do a quick pen drawing of him in my sketch book while he ate lunch.

The Heifer (Under Painting)

This is an under painting of a heifer gingerly making her way towards the door of the barn. The light coming from the entrance was what caught my eye..the way it lit the young cow and then timidly begins to enter the darkness of the barn..wonderful and subdued drama..good stuff. It's always more fun to paint something I'm excited about and to me, it's not so much the subject matter here as it is the playfulness of that light.

This was done with a burnt umber wash where I then wiped out the lights with a paper towel and further enhanced them with an under painting white. I'm going to gently build more color on this for the finish.

Max pen sketch

Sketching a thirteen month old child makes chasing the sun in a plein air painting seem like a breeze. They simply don't stay still long enough.

I put on a Baby Einstein DVD and Max watched a little then played with his trucks a little, he went back-and-forth. I used the opportunity to do a quick pen drawing of my young fella in my sketch book. He's growing so fast.

Bow (redu)

I gave this old painting a makeover by sanding out an area that just didn't sit well with me. In the lower right there was a pile of snow on the dock that I didn't manage to paint well and it simply looked odd. After sanding it, I painted in a blue shadow area and these dark shapes/lines that suggest rope. My wife just saw them on the computer screen and said "what's that?", pointing to the rope...I may be back to square one with this painting, we'll see. I have to sit with it for a while. I've included the before image below as well.

Anyhoot, it was a good lesson in repairing a problematic area, I definitely feel more confident in this procedure, which will allow me a little more freedom in knowing it's ok to screw up...I can always bust out the sander.



*Note the color difference in the photos...the actual painting looks more like the redu above.
This is "Bow" Oil on wood panel and is 11x14".

Motorcycle Hog logo

I just did this quick turn-around illustration-logo for an online motorcycle business. it will be used on T-shirts and other marketing material.

It started with a sketch of the hogs head, then I scanned it and painted it in Photoshop using a Wacom drawing tablet. This was real fun, it flowed smoothly and was done reasonably fast for me..I can't say that for every assignment.
Any-hoot, I'm no graphic designer but I slapped together the wrap-around font, motorcycle wheel and flames and put it all together for what you see here.

Tomorrow, I'll be spending the day in my studio working on a large under painting..nice.

Key #2

I finished painting the Keys and mailed them off to England. I had fun with the wood on this one..there is really something to things that are aged and weather worn. This is "Key #2" it's 6x4" oil on wood panel.

Skeleton in the closet (finish)

I worked on all three Keys at the same time which I think helped give them continuity..although, I think I prematurely sprayed the last one with retouch varnish while the high lights were still wet and it bled a little. I'll post it after it dries and I fix it. Here is "Skeleton in the closet" (6x4") Oil on wood panel.

Key #3 (under painting)

This is...drum roll...."Key #3" ladies and gentlemen! This is the final in a series of three small paintings I'm doing for a gallery in England. One of the gallery owners from the Cape just bought a small gallery in Cornwall, England and is including my work and giving it a go across the pond. The Art House Gallery UK..good luck Joan.

Key #2 (under painting)

I'm having fun with the key as subject matter, I like the look of it against this old piece of wood. There is a nostalgic feeling that comes from this old key and the weathered and cracked wood helps to support that. I'm calling this under painting "Key #2" for now...see what I mean about me being really bad at naming paintings.

If you have an idea for the title of this one, please shoot me an email.

American Art Collector magazine add

The February issue of "American Art Collector" magazine has a reproduction of one of my boat paintings in this The Daily Painters advertisement. My painting was reproduced about the size of a postage stamp, not exactly big time but I'm tickled non-the-less. "Ol Red", it's the last one on the end.

"click on image for larger view"

Skeleton in the closet (under painting)

Max officially started day care on Monday (he'll be going two days a week) that means two days in the studio to get cracking on some oils. I layed in an under painting of this really cool skeleton key. I placed it in a shadow box and adjusted the light source to add interest to the composition.

I've admitted before that I don't really enjoy naming paintings but I like this working title so far.."Skeleton in the closet".

Moo

I put the finishing touches on this small oil painting of a dairy cow that I'm calling "Moo". This gal lives about a mile down the road from me. It felt good to finish something. Starting next Monday, I'll have an additional day in the week to paint so I'm looking forward to doubling my productivity and exploring some new ideas with oils.

New Year, New web sight!

Happy New Year!!! I'm very excited about 2008 and eager to slap down some more oil paint over the next 365 days. I just had my web sight re-done by a professional so that means all the pages work again..Thanks Wade.

It feels like a fresh new start for the year, nice!
check it out: TODDBONITA.com