quick sketch "Brussels Griffon"

9'x9' watercolor on 140lb coldpress paper

My Mom walked in on while I was painting this and said "oh my goodness, that is the ugliest dog! what is it!?!"
I told her it was a Brussels Griffon, and that I planed on getting one. She proceeded to tell me it has a "spider face" LoL.  

"The Lean In"

9'x12' watercolor 140lb cold press paper

"Chuck"

Black Lab "chuck"  9'x10' watercolor on 140lb coldpress 

I have been working on a "pet portrait poster" in order to take to dog parks in my area, hoping to generate a local pet portrait following. I painted pets I know personally, and also googled images of dogs. This painting of a Black Lab I am now calling Chuck, is from one of those random images...so I thought. A couple days after painting him, I saw a family on the news whose Black Lab named Chuck returned home, four years after he had gone missing. Of course I immediately connected my painting to the story, and knew this painting now had a name. The timing was just too perfect. 

commissioned portrait "CT"

9'x11' graphite on paper

Alas! I post! I hope all is well, I am glad to see I have a couple of new followers, thanks, and welcome. 

Once in a while my craigslist ads actually bring in work, this was one of those times. Portrait of CT from Queens, NY.  Artist often have to live on a lot less than one may think, as in some cases people live from paycheck to paycheck, the majority of us artist live from painting to painting (or in my case portrait to portrait) and then hope we can buy more materials. So free advertising is a real blessing.

Here, play this...

http://www.malevole.com/mv/misc/killerquiz/   ugh! so sorry I haven't had time to post any new paintings, but , here is something that may distract you. Try it and post your score in the comments. Yes its sort of involves serial murderers but, it also confirms that you should indeed, "trust your gut" (my score 6/10) 

"Ruffles" (work in progress)

"Ruffles" 11'x15' watercolor (work in progress)

This is Ruffles, she is our 9 yr old Shih Tzu (who is convinced she is human) taking one of her eleven or so naps during the day. 

Melancholy Conan

"Conan O'brien" 9'x11 graphite on paper

I have been busy working on a commissioned painting that, as a matter of  fact, I should be finishing right now but, I felt the urge to post, especially now that I have my first follower (Hi John). In going through my sketch book I realized I had this drawing of Conan hidden away in there. It is evidence of  how I began to miss Conan about 3 months into the year that he had to take off  between his shows, and from his demeanor and expression in this photo, as he drinks his coffee and sat on a fence against the brick wall of his new set, it looked as though he missed his old routine as well.

Thom York - work in progress

"Thom York on stage" 8.5'x11' acrylic on canvas 

"John Lennon with spoon"

9'x11' graphite on paper
I've stared doing a series of musician  inspired works.  I came across  this photo of a young  Lennon, being photographed having lunch, with this silly,  mischievous gaze, and I couldn't resist sketching it right away. There will be a  few paintings and a few more drawings (in charcoal not graphite) to follow in the weeks to come. Comments welcome.

Art and Music

I was looking at this photo that is on my website today and I realized, I know what music I was listening to while painting every single one of these. I wonder if any other artist look at their paintings and hear the music they were listening to while they were painting. I am sure music is as important to most painters as it is to me, almost seems it should be included in paintings description..."Smoky Cafe"/18x24 Acrylic on canvas/Rolling stones. Although, mine would mostly read Prince. 

"High Gloss"

8'x10' acrylic on panel

Here is my submsion for the first Daily Paintworks Challenge. I heard about this through Carol Marine's Painting Blog. You can find a link to her blog in my blog list below, I don't usually paint in this fast n loose style, but I was excited about submitting a painting for this kind of challenge, I have always seen them but never actually tried it. I first sketched the car out in a watered down ultramarine, not really intending to start painting until morning, as it was already late, but, I just kept picking up paint with my brush, and then this happened. I am semi happy with the result, most importantly, I really had a good time with it. Try it if you have a chance!

Patrick Skoff is a cool guy

I came across this video of artist patrick Skoff, he is great and It got me thinkin about I how never felt like a "real" artist, and definitely did not fit in the art world. I never wanted to show my work, afraid of being judged and critiqued...such a waste of time. As I get older I realize that most of us feel like outsiders where ever we go, why is that? I don't know, but to know that is sort of comforting. I do realize now, it is not just artists that feel like aliens, but if I could go back and talk to my seven year old self, I would say, shyness will get you nowhere. You have just as much a right to anything in this world as anyone else...also don't forget to dig up the Star Wars toys you buried in the backyard, before we move.