September/October Progress

Currently I'm working on a mask for an upcoming art contest at the store. I'm not sure if I'm eligible because I'm an employee but it's always fun to make a mask. Plus I'll have something for Halloween. I plan on using lots of color and other elements to make this mask unique and stand out among the rest. Will post pics soon.

I also finished a landscape for a really good friend. She enjoys wine so I painted a fall scene of a vineyard with lots of fall colors. I believe the perspective and color really make this piece. I think she was impressed. It was her birthday.

I also finished a piece for the Gavin Jack Benefit. My friends' sons' friend Gavin is in desperate need of a heart transplant due to a rare heart disease. The surgery costs 40k, and you have to find a donor. My friend got involved with the Santa Cruz community and held a benefit and sold donated surfboards and surf gear and other items. Pleasure Pizza even donated some pizza. He also asked artists to donate some of their work too. I painted a piece about Jack O'neill, the legend who invented the wetsuit and sponsors the Cold Water Classic surf event. (I was pressed for time so I used Photoshop and a projector to map out my piece before I painted. This is something I usually don't do, but I like I said I didn't have much time.) Not sure what the painting sold for but it went to a good cause.

I also finished a playful piece with found materials. It's called "Catch and Release" about a funky fish. This is a mixed media piece using small pieces of canvas, a found frame and some fishing line, weight and hook. It's just a real fun piece and it's nice how it all came together.

I still have several unfinished paintings that I need to work on. My goal is to finish one of these unfinished paintings every month, plus continue to paint new ones. I have many ideas.

Latest Progress

For the last few months I've been working on some paintings with some clippings of Biblical images. I'm finally coming to a stopping point and have given away almost all of them to close friends. I found these painting humorous and challenging because I painted creative environments which are out of context. I think their new owners found them strange but interesting.

I've also been working on a new piece, a twist on one of my old paintings, "Bambi." This is one of my favorites and I thought it would be interesting to paint it again. I tried to remain true to the original but added some extra flare to make it contemporary. I kept the composition similar, but changed the color to be more identifiable, or true. Very excited about this piece and will post soon.

I also finished another painting that was stuck in unfinished mode. It's more of a fun piece, or exercise, to keep me loose and playful. The title is playful too, "Just You Wait Til I Get You Home." I ripped off a line from a song by the Pet Shop Boys. I not a big fan of the Pet Shop Boys but I like the lyric.

I also finished up some small 5 x 7's for some friends. One is a pitcher of beer with a face wearing glasses with bare feet. Classic. Another is a snail by a flower. Small cute painting exercises.

Tell next time, keep creating, keep painting.

May Progress

It's been awhile since I've posted, but I am making progress.

I've started a series of paintings working with a little collage. I find interesting images (from an old Bible) and paint them in a surreal environment with a little humor. I've completed three and have two more to complete.

I've also been working on the Joan Riversauras, this is box with a dinosaur in it. It's poking fun at Joan Rivers, who can be a bitch. I should hopefully have it done soon and posted on the website.

 I've started a fresh painting with heavy influence on a past painting, almost painting it again. "Bambi" is one of my all time favorite paintings and I wish to recreate it again, but I little different.

I received some interesting pieces of wood from a friend that I'm really excited about. I'm thinking of doing some three dimensional sculpture/painting pieces. I got some inspiration from an art show on how I can make them look interesting and appealing.

I also have a several unfinished paintings that I''m trying to wrap-up and finish. It's always hard to jump back into a painting that you haven't worked on for awhile.

Tell next month, keep inspiring, keep painting!

March Progress

I posted the drawings that I've been talking about for months. There's about 80 drawings with newspaper clippings. (It wasn't too painful.) I've sort-of stopped reading the newspaper since the Newtown, Sandy Hook school shooting.  I never thought something like this would happen in our own country. I don't like to promote violence in my books, it depresses me and makes me sad but the news isn't always positive. I don't like guns and I'm all for gun control. I try to remain true to what is going on in the world and display what stories are meaningful to me. I plan on reading the newspaper more often in the future.

I've also completed 9 greeting cards that I plan to sell at the store. All are original artwork and priced to sell. I don't plan on making a lot of money off these drawings just some good exposure and advertising for my website.

I have also finished a total of three paintings, "My Lucky Rabbit's Foot," "A Birds' Eye View," and another one that I haven't named yet, which is a house warming gift for a friend. (This is part of a series that involves a collage approach with some humor.) I continue to work on unfinished paintings as well. There are quite a few.

The weather is warming up and the Artwalks are starting to pop up. Real exciting time for me to check out new and fresh artists. I've participated in a few of these but I'm more interested in observing the art.

Tell next month, keep creating.

February Progress

I've almost completed two 18" x 24" paintings, one's about becoming a pescatarian. A big move for me but I see it in my future. The other 18" x 24" is about a rabbits foot and some keys. A little spooky. I'm about half way done with the scroll, it's kind of sexy for a teenager but it's all good, I think he will dig it. I'm also still working on scanning the drawings, if I lag any longer I will have to scan two books. (I ran into a computer/web problem but it's now fixed, and works even better, so I will smooth out any bugs I have real soon.) I still have unfinished paintings to work on and will make some progress on those too. Tell next time... keep creating.

January Progress

So here are the 5" x 7" with the phosphorescent material that I was talking about in my last post. You really need to see these in the dark to experience the piece, they will glow by a light stand for hours. The Tigergator is only tethered and can be moved, leaving a dark shadow.

These are two finished pieces, taking stabs at some celebrities. "...In the City" was the first painting that I have ever signed with my middle name, "Art."

I continue to work on some paintings in the unfinished pile and some new ones for friends and family. I know I should work primarily on unfinished paintings but I paint on inspiration, and sometimes the inspiration can't wait. (Inspiration is what fuels the fire to paint.) I should have at least three more finished by the end of the month. two for friends, and one I've been working on for years, The Player. Then I will focus on the last scroll out of 4, for a family member.

I'm still working on updating my drawings. I have one book done and I'm about half way through another. Scanning drawing can be time consuming, but I'll try to have them done soon.

Til next month, keep painting.