This is an image that's been sitting in my "rainy day" pile for a while. I found it calling to me this evening. The lighting in this one gave me the opportunity to focus on the big planes. It was a nice way to loosen up at the end the week. Hope you have a wonderful weekend. Thanks for looking!
Oil on Panel - 6" x 8"
I was in the mood for something a bit more formal today. Here's boy lounging and playing with one of his video games. It surprises how hefty this sysetm is. You really think they'd design them to fit a kids hand. Who knows, maybe it's made for the invevitable impacts...Fun stuff, though, shapes abound! More soon. Thanks for looking!
Oil on Panel - 6" x 8"
Another study for the Thresholds series. This idea came to me while working on "The Post." I've been painting this in my mind for a while...Finaly getting it all worked out. I don't want to spoil the mystery, so I'll leave the rest of the story up to you. Thanks for looking!
Oil on Panel - 8" x 6"
Here's Jazz again in her morning post... Playing Sphinx. She'll usually sit up there and take it all in while I have my morning coffee. When the weather's nice, I'll open the window so she can take in all the scents too. I think I'll be doing a large version of this for myself. I don't hang much in the way of my own work, but I just love the lighting in this one. It was a blast to paint too! More soon. Thanks for looking!
Oil on Panel - 6" x 8"
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This is a study for another piece in the Thresholds series. I pass the "guest room" every day leaving the studio. The light always intrigues me, yet I've never painted it before. I've always been surprised how much the character of the room can change through out the day. After a week of rain, the contrast really caught my eye. The temperature in the color was especially interesting in this one.
Sort of a side note, my Grandfather made most of the furniture in this room. I'm not sure about the chair off hand. But I've always loved the bed and table. There are so many wonderful little touches that give them real character. A great way to start the week! More soon. Thanks for looking!
Oil on Panel -- 8" x 6"
Back to the bench for one last scene. This will be the last of the "Spectator" pieces for a little while. I will be working on a couple larger pieces to round off the series. But it may be a while before those will be ready to post. Hope you've enjoyed them as much as I have.
Hope you all have a great weekend. Thanks for looking!
Oil on panel - 6" x 8"
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Another spectator piece for you today. I have to admit, I was a little intimidated when I drew this one up....alot to handle in such a small space. But, once I got moving, it went quite smoothly! It's nice when things just come together on their own. I'll probably do one more these. I have a few more ideas here, but they'll have to be in a larger format. More soon! Thanks for looking!
Oil on Panel - 6" x 6"
Another Spectator piece for you today. These two, were in a world of their own. As goes for most of the kids that attend the games. They'll always round up in little groups regardless of which team their parents came to support. No judgement at all, just someone to pass the time with. It's refreshing to watch!
I'll probably go back to the bench for a few more next week. A few may have to go a little larger than my typical dailies... But I'm looking forward to the challenge. Hope you have a wonderful weekend. Thanks for looking!
Oil on Panel -- 6" x 6"
Another Spectator piece for you today. This young woman was taking a break from the sun between halves. This was a deceptively tricky piece. I ended up pulling out a few old beat up bristle brushes for this one. As it turned out, they were exactly what I needed to get the feel of the grass in the foreground. I'd like to do a few more of these to come over the next few weeks. I hope you'll stay tuned. Thanks for looking!
Oil on Panel -- 6" x 8"
Been a while! Hope you'll forgive me...Sort of lost the mystery for a little while. It doesn't happen often, but I just hit a wall. Anyway, I'm back on the horse so to speak, with a new piece for you today!
This is a sketch for a new piece in the Thresholds series I've been working on for what feels like forever. I have to say I had a blast with this. I really had to fight my nature to keep this one fresh and loose. It would have been so easy to get lost in the details. In the end, I think the feeling of light really came through. Thanks for looking.
Oil on Panel -- 6" x 8"
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I met this horse just after the Cubs home opener. It was a terribly cold and wet day. Really just an awful day for baseball...Especially to be in the stands. Hurrying to get out of the cold, I came through a large crowd of people, and there he was! Just staring right back at me. It really took me by surprise. I knew immediately it would be a painting.
This is the first time I've ever painted a horse. I really hope I did him justice. More paintings soon. Have a great weekend! As always, thanks for looking.
Oil on Panel -- 7" x 5"
We were asked to paint a piece about Mothers today. This is one of the few times I've talked my Mom into sitting for me. It was a few years back, right around the holidays. She'd probably feel it is a bit unflattering. But I think I caught a glimpse of something in that gaze. I don't really know how to define it. But I'll take a bit of psychological drama over flattery any day. For me, this has always been a very special piece. Thanks for looking!
8" x 12" -- Watercolor on Arches
This will be the last of the "Expression" series. I have to admit that I'm almost sad to see it end. I found something interesting in every single one of these. There were a few ideas I would have liked to try. But in the end, I think it's time to move on for now anyway. Hope you've enjoyed them as much as I have. As always thanks for looking!
Oil on Panel -- 6" x 8"
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Yet another expression for you today. I thought this would be a nice way to ease back into work for the week. As it turned out, this was the trickiest of the bunch so far. The tilt and twist of the head got me at first. But the difference in the eyes and a slight shift in the jaw turned out to really hold the essence of the pose. I'd like to do a few more of these over the next week or two. But I'll probably cap this series off at 10. As always thanks for looking!
Oil on Panel -- 6" x 8"
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Another "Expression" for you today. This one was alot of fun. There was a lot of really interesting distortion to deal with. Some pretty subtle stuff. Which is always interesting. But, all that aside, staring at that face for hours just put me in a great mood! Hope it'll do the same for you. Thanks for looking. Have a great weekend!
Oil on Panel -- 6" x 8"
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We were asked to paint something "Out of the box" or out of the ordinary for us today. So I decided to paint one of my favorite geckos in a made up landscape. Sadly, I haven't settled on a name for this beautiful girl yet. Though I am certainly open to suggestions. She is a Nephrurus (Underwoodisaurus) Milii, which is a small terrestrial gecko native to Australia. They are a joy to keep, wonderfully friendly with very curious personalities. 
Yet another expression for you today. I was admitedly a bit hesitant about painting this piece. I try to be a bit careful about the energy that I put out to the world. But I decided that this whole series is really about exploring the expressions. I felt that I'd be a bit remiss if I didn't at least give it a go. Thanks for looking!
Oil on Panel -- 6" x 8"
Another Expression for you today. This is sort of a running gag with Tom. If you haven't noticed by now, he's one of my favorite models. Tons of character to latch on to. He has just one occasional minor flaw... The ability to sleep in just about every position I can dream up!
Oil on Panel -- 6" x 8"
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Another Expression for you today. This one was particularly interesting for me. There was some subtle forshortening going on around the chin. I didn't quite get it right away in the drawing stage... After a short break and a few altered lines, it just all came together! It's really surprising at times how the tiniest adjustment can make a huge difference.
I'll probably do another couple pieces with Tom over the next few weeks. I would like to try a few with a younger model some time soon too. It should make for an interesting contrast. Thanks for looking. Have a great weekend!
Oil on Panel -- 6" x 8"
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I had so much fun with the last one. I couldn't resist starting another one this morning. A great way to start out the week. I don't really want to define any of these, so I will leave that up to you. Thanks for looking.
Oil on Panel -- 6" x 8"
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I was looking through an old book yesterday called "Creative Illustration" by Andrew Loomis 1947. (A great book to have on hand if you can track a copy down.) It's probably been a few years since I pulled it out. Anyway, flipping through, I came across a page of reference photos for various expressions. It looked like fun. So I figured I'd try a small series of Expressions. I hope you'll enjoy them. Feel free to send in requests...
Thanks for looking! Have a great weekend
Oil on Panel -- 6" x 8"
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The last few months I've been totally immersed in some larger paintings. I've been pouring so much in to them that I really haven't had time for much else. Anyway, today I decided it was time for a break... And, it felt great!!! It was so nice to just loosen up and let things happen again. It was a fun, fresh subject for me... and at times, I think, we can all relate...
Well, before I ramble on too long. Thanks for looking. Have a great weekend!
Oil on Panel -- 7" x 6"
I was in the mood to do something a bit more formal today. I really enjoy painting hands, though they usually play a secondary role in my work. It was fun to zoom in and do a bit more of a sustained study. It's been a while since I did anything like this. Really should make more of a habit of it.
Oil on Panel -- 8" x 6"
As a painter, I tend to be pretty opportunistic. When I saw how the light fell over this wrap, I knew it would make a nice painting. It was certainly a nice change of pace. I may just try another arrangement with this. Thanks for looking.
Oil on Canvas -- 9" x 12"
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