Sneak Peak!

This is likely going to be the last photo of me with my sanity intact until June. Until then I'll be doing ten paintings this size, with a central piece that's as tall, but almost three times as wide.

I don't know what I was thinking, or why I thought it was a good idea, but there you have it. I'll see you all on the other side.

Bamf. Again.

I've been kind of a busy little bee over the past few weeks. I've got a grandiose project I'm working on for myself, and a book project I've had on the back burner for longer than I can remember on deck. Both projects call for a wider range of color, so I'm saying goodbye to my limited palette for a while, and getting reacquainted with my full spread - as it were.

To that end I've been doing a lot of little paintings in preparation. I think this is my favorite so far. The Amazing Nightcrawler! (I'm sure there will be more on the way.)

oil on linen. 4" x 6"

(Nightcrawler copyright owned by Marvel. Obviously.)

...What I am is a man in a mask

"Voilà! In view, a humble vaudevillian veteran, cast vicariously as both victim and villain by the vicissitudes of Fate. This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is a vestige of the vox populi, now vacant, vanished. However, this valorous visitation of a by-gone vexation, stands vivified and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin vanguarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition. "

Just a quick and dirty study tonight. I guess I jumped on the band wagon a little with this one. Oh well. Worse things have happened.

Oil on linen. 5 1/2" x 8 1/2"

Harlowe's Halloween Hullabaloo

My friends' band performed last night, and though I hadn't thought to bring my brush pen, I did have my good ol' trusty Hi-Tec C Cavalier on me.

Yes, that's my friend dressed as Mario playing the violin. He was dressed up for Halloween, though I think he should dress like that all the time.

Pen on paper. 3 1/2" x 5 1/2" each.

I have a brush pen! I'm a real artist!

Two weeks back my friends' band was playing a show at a venue called The Old Church. The space was beautiful, and the bands were amazing. As I was sitting there, feeling all inspired and stuff, I took out my sketchbook, brush pen, and started doodling. This is what I came up with. It was kind of the night of f-holes, and I couldn't help but smirk to myself as I layed the last one down.

Of the four bands to perform that night my friends were the only ones to escape undrawn. Next time. Next time.

Sauvie Island

There's an island nearby, that's apparently all the rage. It's called Sauvie Island. All I've heard about it since moving to Portland is that it is the place to go pick some amazing berries. Which, reading between the lines, tells me that it's a great place to hang out in nature. Which means a great place to do some painting. I was intrigued.

Last week I received an order of casein. I aim to expand my experiments in that medium, and as it turns out, my friends were planning a berry picking excursion. I hitched along to get my paint on! All of my casein setup fits nicely in a little shoulder bag I carry (which is a nice change from lugging a french easel and a backpack full of gear), so I figured it would make for a fine recon mission - so to speak.

It was a hot, dry day, so I had to fight the paint a little (I was constantly reminded of why I love oils) to keep it from drying up too fast, but I think I was still victorious. All in all I think casein is slowly winning my heart over.

Kruger's Farm. Casein on paper. 8" x 5"

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

They're a lot easier to draw that way.

I recently discovered these Rembrandt - polycolor pencils by Lyra, and they're fantastic. They're delightfully buttery and rich in color. The dark sepia pencil is my favorite so far. Thankfully I had one (and my sketchbook) within reach the other night when my dog passed out in my lap.

Painting at Goat Island

Last week I set out into the world hoping to get some plein air painting done. I had intended to paint a particular field, one that I had driven past on my move up here, but I missed my exit. Instead I ended up near the Willamette River, which I figured was for the best. After all, it was an adventure, wasn't it?

Though they were entertaining and abundant, I resisted the urge to include the jet-skiers wake-boarders and focused on the humorously named Goat Island.

Goat island.
3 1/2" x 5 1/4". Oil on linen.

And when that was finished I turned 180 degrees and painted what was behind me. This painting was done with more urgency as the light was changing rapidly, and I was now racing the setting sun. But I think I pulled it out and I walked away with another delightful little study.

Northward Willamette.
3 1/2" x 5 1/4". Oil on linen.

It's the Little Things, Really

While I was out running errands on Thursday I popped into a local art store to take a look around. A friend of mine discovered this place a few weeks back and told me I would absolutely love it. Once again, he was right. I was totally smitten with this place, and I thought it was simply the bee's knees.

Then I found their plaster models.

I bought a little bust and spent the rest of the evening just looking at it. It's so pretty. Tonight I set up a desk lamp and started sketching. I look forward to the journeys we shall take together. I'm so excited to finally have some plaster in my life.

It's the little things that make me happy.

Outrunning the Storm

Another little study as I gear up for something a wee bit more engaging. This time it's a lone BF-109 Messerschmitt, possibly trying to get back to Berlin before the coming storm. (Or perhaps I'm reading too much into things.) Hopefully I can tackle this beast in the immediate future.

Oil on (oil-primed) cotton canvas. 12" x 4 1/2"