Boat painting in progress...

I started this boat painting on a linen canvas mounted on panel. I also skipped the under painting step and I'm just jumping right in (it's more fun this way). I'm working from the focal point outward and finishing as I go along. Before I laid down any oil paint, I covered the canvas with a liberal wash of Burnt Sienna acrylic paint, let it dry and then did an ink line drawing of the boat and dock using a number 5 Pigma pen (with archival ink).

I hope to lay in the water and dock and finish this soon.

Green Pear #2

I painted this small study of a pear pretty quickly (quick for me anyway). I'm feeling more comfortable with my process but aware that I should always leave room for flexibility. This is "Green Pear #2" it's (6x4") oil on wood panel. It looks a lot different in style and technique from the green pear that I painted last year (See archives for April 09, 2006)

Bow (finish)

Finally finished this last night. It was simply a matter of finding the time and I'm glad I did, I think I learned a few things from this painting. For one, I like to apply the paint to the surface with a pallet knife and then go into it with a brush. By doing so, I discovered an appeal in the variety of brush work and pallet knife strokes. When it came time to paint the snow on the dock, I realized the snow worked better left as is, with the pallet knife strokes. Variety and contrast in shape, color and value are all important to add interest to a painting, it only makes sense that variety in brushwork can also contribute to the beauty of a finished work.

"Bow" is oil on gessoed medium density fiberboard. (11x14")

(Click on image for a larger view)

Ball Player #3 (sketchbook)

He lives! Hi all, I haven't posted in a week, I've been busy being sleep deprived by Max. Actually, I've been putting a few hours in daily on my "Bow" painting and will likely post that progress tomorrow. Today I am posting a drawing I did today from my sketchbook, this is "Ball player #3". I love these nostalgic looking characters, there uniforms and there gestures that scream that turn-of-the-century genre. He looks like he should have one of those classic baseball names like "Spittin Bill" O'Sullivan or "Eddie "The Crab" Cochrane...

Feels good to put pencil to paper too.

Bow

I'm working on a bunch of paintings to drop off to the Art House gallery by the end of the month. This is the underpainting of an 11x14" piece I'm working on in oils. I'm calling it "Bow". I was thinking maybe "Morning Bow" too. Clearly it's the bow of a boat but the mood of this piece is quiet and reverend, it could be a respectful nod or bow to the warmth of the light coming from the rising, early morning sun. Surely, the new day will melt that snow on the dock.

Key

I spent the morning in the studio and did a small oil painting of a key hanging off of a nail. I didn't post the under painting because I went right to finish with this one.

I'm using a new surface, linen canvas mounted on wood panel. I'm not sure I'm in love with them yet. Perhaps it's the awkwardness of switching from wood panels to this surface, I don't know yet, I'm going to do a few more paintings with them and figure it out.

One of the most significant differences is the visible weave of the linen on the finished surface. Compare it to Mondays post of the Mandarin orange which was painted on wood panel. It's a personal preference I guess, I'm just not sure which I prefer.

"Key" (6x4") Oil on linen canvas mounted on wood panel

(Click on image for a larger view)

Mandarin Orange

I placed this Mandarin in a small wooden box and adjusted the light to create some dramatic lights and darks.
"Mandarin Orange" Oil on wood panel (6x4").

Icon Button illustrations

I just got this quick turn-over, spot illustration assignment to do these button icon pieces for a small publisher. Real fun for me, I can bat them out pretty quickly too, so they are easy to do and quick cash. Nice!

(Click on image to see them larger)

Bunny Sketches for 2008

I no longer work fulltime for the Foreside company but on occasion I do some freelance illustration/design for them. Todays post is a few sketches of Bunnies for the 2008 Easter line.
Tommorow I will be in the studio under the stairs doing a small oil still life painting I have already set up. I'm thrilled to lash some paint on canvas again.

The Art House Gallery, Brewster, Mass

I'm happy to announce my new representation relationship with the

The Art House Gallery

in Brewster, Massachusetts. I took a short trip to Cape Cod earlier this week and dropped off six paintings that will be hanging on the walls for the opening of the Spring 2007 season on the Cape.

I'm posting the six paintings that are in the gallery (I'll be sending four more by June). If you are interested in the purchase of any of these paintings, feel free to contact the gallery (info above).

Dairy Cow

Here is a small oil painting I did of a dairy cow from the Great Bay Farm, just down the road from my house here in Greenland. It's 4x6" oil on gessoed wood panel.

(Click on image for a larger view.)

Family Tree

Just finished this color illustration for Houghton Mifflin book publishers. This is for a book that will have a spread with a family tree, the designers will add photos to this painting to complete the image.

This was a scanned sketch, drawn very loosely and tightened in Photoshop and then completely painted in Photoshop using a wacom drawing tablet.
(Click on image for a larger view)

Soon (Finish)

I finished this small oil painting of a boat that I'm calling "Soon". I actually finished it on Friday but have been waiting for it to dry before I scanned and posted it. It's oil on gessoed wood panel(6x8").

(Click on image for a larger view)

"Soon" (underpainting)

I did a quick oil under painting on a gessoed wood panel of this little boat study. I'm calling it "Soon" because this boat looks like she's patiently waiting for something or someone. There is a boat to her left but an empty spot to the right, maybe she's next.

That's Silly illustration (Finish)

Finally finished painting the "That's Silly" illustration for the Highlights spread. (Click on image for a larger view).

The Veteran

I finally finished this painting after a gruelling week of sleep deprivation, illustration deadlines and battling dried paint...uugh! I think I'm beginning to better understand the subtle abstract designs in moving water.
"The Veteran" is oil on Masonite. (10x8)

click on image for a larger view

The Veteran (In progress...)

I'm laying in paint on this little study whenever I can sneak down into the studio. I'm working from the inside-out on this painting because it's really a simple composition and I have a good under painting to follow the values with. It also helps avoid smudging. I'm hoping to complete "The Veteran" sometime this week, I've got a few illustration deadlines to sidetrack me.

"The veteran" (Underpainting)

I love the character of this boat, it looks like an old veteran who still has some good years left. This underpainting is done with a Burnt Umber oil wash on gessoed masonite.

That's Silly illustration revisions

The editors from Highlights asked for some changes to the sketch I gave them for the "That's Silly" spread. They wanted the cow moved inside of the dairy shelves handing the milk to the women...amongst other small changes. You can click on any image to enlarge it but I am including a close-up of the Cow revision anyway.

The Golden Hour (Finish)

I'm learning to adjust my work days with a healthy balance of baby Max time. What normally takes me a day to complete in the studio now takes roughly three days, give-or-take. No complaints, I'm actually happier than I've ever been.

I finally finished this painting I'm calling "The Golden Hour". Oil on Masonite, (10x8")

(Click on image for a larger view)