Pug Feast!

I was unable to complete both paintings I wanted to for christmas, but this is the one I did complete for my fiance. It is 11x14 oil on panel.

Saint Bernard Commissioned

Saint Bernard Continued

Back to the Saint Bernard painting

Positano Italy Complete!!!

Now I said I would finish today. After an all nighter it is complete!!!
Measures 30"x48" oil on canvas

Positano Italy almost done!!!!

Ok so I am painting through the weekend. The painting should be done tomorow!

Positano Italy commission continued...

Positano Italy continued...

Positano Italy continued boat

So it turns out that the dock I thought I was painting is actually a lifeguard tower turned on it's side. I am slowly working my way down.

Positano Italy continue dock

So now we are to the more interesting part of a painting. Painting the oblects in the painting and not having to gray them out as much.

Positano Italy cont..

Positano Italy. Started the water!

So I started the water which I was unsure which way i wanted to attack it. I was thinking of layering but worried about the drying time.

pasitano italy commisssion cont... about done with background!!!

So I am about done with the background.

Positano Italy commission cont..

Positano cont.

Positano Italy Commission Continue

So today I corrected the sketch a little bit and started with paint. I have worked the sky quite a bit. There is a hint of pink that it doesnt show at all in photos. But it will atleast give you an idea. I had some texture in the sky at first but didnt like the sky popping out so I smoothed it out hiding the brush strokes. I hope this was the right idea but I will see later once I get away from it for a fresh look.

New Commissioned painting of Positano Italy

So as you can see I have decided to put the painting of the saint bernard on hold. Today I recieved another commissioned work which I have accepted. I have a few paintings now that need to be finished before Christmas so I have my work cut out for me. I have started this work now instead of working on the others because this work needs to be in New York before christmas. I am worried about having the time to paint it, let it dry a week or two, and have time left for the shipment. It is very large. 30"x48". Matt (the man who is commissioning) will be giving this to his wife for christmas. She actually took the photo I am using for the scene. I had trouble finding a canvas to match the ratio as I did not want to cut anything out of the image.  All I have done so far is the charcoal sketch getting everything hopefully placed and measured where it needs to be.

First steps commissioned painting of a Saint Bernard

I have currently been working on the starts of a painting. This work was commissioned to me by a neighbor. They recently lost their dog. They are quite torn up over the loss and have asked me to a painting for them to give to their son for christmas. When I asked them for more details of what they wanted as in size or style. They generally have intrusted the decisions upon me. I feel this is a very smart thing to do when commissioning an artist to do a piece. You should always give general preferences, but we have the experties to predict how the piece will look best and know when the piece will miss its full potential. We chose to go with realism as you just can't go wrong with realism. It does take more time, attention, and a different painting approach. They did not seem to want to go large so I have decided to go right in the middle 16"x20" on stretched canvas. It will not be too big but will allow more room to work the details of the portrait. This being a common size will also make it alot easier for me to find a propper frame and eat up less of my profit.  The photos I've been given to work from aren't the best. They are limited and were not exactly taken by anyone experienced with photography. So I looked through them and finally chose one. None of them had in great lighting, postitioning, or great angling on the subject. The one I chose seemed to be the best pose of the dog. The thing I am not happy about is that she is laying on grass. I hate painting grass. It is very time consuming if you dont want it to look rushed, but I will worry about that part when I get to it. I have decieded to exagerate on the lighting and colors in the painting as i feel this is the one thing that can bring the scene to life. I had done a pencil sketch where I worked the positioning and tried to match it up as well as possible. I then painted over that with umber and have just finished the charcoal sketch. I will be starting with the paint tomorow. Here are 2 photos of the pencil sketch with the umber layer over it and the charcoal sketch then after. I have always found it funny the way I draw. I am always very shaky and can't make strait lines. When i draw somthing i just start putting the lines down and correct them with another line until they measure out right. anyways....

ACEOs: Pomegranate, Lemons, Berries, and Strawberries

The last couple of days I have been a little busy sorting out a framing job I had done. Unfortunately the frame had been scratched which I had not noticed untill I got it home and immediately took it back to the framers. Anyways, I was able to do some ACEOs last night.

Bella and Gypsy

Finished!  12x16 oil on panel.

Bella and Gypsy in the works

Here is a painting I am working on of our pugs. It is 12x16 oil on panel. I am choosing not to hide any of the brush strokes. This painting is taking a little more time due to it being under the portrait category i guess you could say. Basically Since it is something living I have to spend more time making each characteristic, shape, and form correct. So even the beginning sketch requires more time and attention in acuracy. The reason is that I focus on making the painting of my pugs, not pugs in general. This makes for a better end result. It's kinda like... anyone can draw a picture or paint a painting of a person... but to make it a painting of a specific person requires more attention and accuracy. If the begining sketch was off on the nose location or eye distance, the subject would not resemble the specific being being captured. I have had a ton of practice with this doing commisioned portraits. When doing those works the most important thing was to make the painting look exactly like the person they wanted painted or drawn. Not to just look like the person or resemble them. Here are some photos of the painting during it's creation. I will post the finished work upon its completion.

Tomatoes Mushrooms Garlic

Here is another oil on panel 8"x10". For years I had never done still life paintings or enjoyed them. Lately I have been painting a ton of them. I just opened the fridge and took out some of the fresh veggies from the store and the loaf of bread, placed them on the counter and there's the painting!

Grapes and Golden Spoons

Here is another oil painting on 8"x10" artist panel.

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Huntington Beach Pier

Oil on 16"x20" stretched canvas.

I am going to post the finished painting first followed by photos showing the painting process.

Pomegranate Slaughter

And yet another panel still life. I just love these scenes and the pomegranates. The contrasts in the colors is so great as opposed to a landscape. I really like the feel these scenes present. Also pomegranates just work so well in paintings. I chose to leave the knife and plate in this scene as it really brings alot of action to this still life. The puddle of juice from the pomegrante resembles a puddle of blood under the knife. You can see the bits and pieces also remaining from the pomegrates scattered along the plate. It almost (well does) makes you feel sympathy for the poor pomegranates.

Strawberries and Pomegranate

As I said before, I really enjoy painting on panel. I usually get bored and have to change subjects or what I am painting on, but with this continuing interest there will certainly be more. I just love the way the panel is so smooth and allows each brushstroke to stay in is natural form. They are great for realism paintings and making the subject look perfect, but they are also great at leaving each brush stroke just as you would apply it. It leaves this raw/pure look to the painting. As I started this painting I again chose to allow each brush stroke to show. I just love not hiding anything. I was thinking about adding more detail, but at times during some paintings you just need to stop and leave the work how it is.

Strawberry Lemon

Seascape Paintings

Here are two seascape paintings I just completed. The one with the man doing a handstand is a picture my brother had. He is the one doing the hand stand in the painting. The second painting looks like a photograph from a distance but as you move closer it is clearly a painting. I like the imperfections in paintings.