Dorette and the Red Dress

I painted Dorette the second Monday night portrait that I attended almost a year ago, and it's still one of my favorites (post here). Now she's returned, and in a dress like that I couldn't just paint her head, so here is her 3/4 figure.

Alla Prima, Oil, 16" x 20"

A Nice Mistake

More coffee shop sketches. In this first drawing, the girl already has the body language of being pushed up against a wall, so I love that I happened to end up running into the binding of my sketchbook.

Angela III

My girlfriend Angela came and posed for the Monday night group. I think this is the third time I've painted her portrait, but it's always fun, I'm just going to start losing track pretty soon. Apart from her upper lip being a little bit too long it's a pretty good likeness.

Angela III, Alla Prima - Oil, 16"x20"

In other news, I'm headed to the New York City Comic Convention this weekend! It should be a good time and there should be plenty of great work to see. If you're also going, let me know in the comments, maybe I'll see you there.

Keeping in Practice

Somehow in the last month I got distracted by a few things and I hadn't gotten out to do much drawing. I was feeling a bit rusty but I'm getting back into it now. It's a constant endeavor, use it or lose it.

ImagineFX Magazine & Illustration West 47

Just a quick post here to note a few exciting things that have happened recently. ImagineFX, a great digital art magazine that is still inclusive enough to have a little section for traditional painters like me has just published a two page feature on me and my art. It's an international magazine and these features are usually only one page per artist, so it was exciting to find I had a spread. It's in the current January issue, so check it out if you find yourself in a chain book store in the near future.



Also, I forgot to mention, earlier this month I was notified my paiting "Four and Twenty" (pictured left in the above spread) was chosen to be included in the Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles upcoming annual Illustration West 47!

OK, I think I'm done with the self-aggrandizment for the moment. I'll post some art next time, I promise.

Tish II

Local jazz singer Tish Adams was back again for a Monday night portrait, this time in a great antique hat! You can see my fist portrait of Tish in this post.

Alla Prima - Oil, 14" x 18"


And thanks to paintblog.ca for the feature!

Anna

This is a Monday night portrait that I hadn't gotten around to posting for a while. I ran out of time on this one, so the composition is a little sparse.

Anna, Alla Prima oil, 14" x 18"

And a recent sketch

Travel Sketches

Here are a few sketches from my holiday trip to Chicago. People in the airport...



And this is my sister's dog Brandy. I know three pit bulls very well and despite the stereo types, they are all the nicest, most calm dogs I've ever known.

The Regulars

Just by chance, I happened to get on a drawing spree of several of the people that frequent my favorite little coffee shop. Everyone in the first two images goes there at least every other day.

Mike

Back to model again, I painted Mike the first time that I attended the portrait night group, posted here. He brought his 16 year old Italian greyhound, Gretta, with him to pose this time. She was sitting in his lap and I had originally wanted to fit her into the painting after I had Mike taken care of, but I decided not to at the last minute. I think it would have crowded the picture a bit too much and I'm happy with this one the way it is.

oil on board, alla prima, 14" x 18"

Sketches

This one is from my head (not the coffee shop, could you tell?)

Svetta II

It was one of those nights, I got off to a bad start. I wasn't getting it down fast enough and the feeling of running out of time was only causing me to make hasty mistakes. I thought for sure it was one for the trash pile.
But then, in the last half hour session, determined not to give up, I slapped down paint to fill in the neglected skin tones, painted over misplaced eye lids, smooshed everything around, and ...I think it came out alright. Despite a few minor issues I'm pretty happy with it.

Svetta II, (same model as in this post) Oil on board, alla prima, 14"x18"

A Few Things

I've been working on some illustrations that I won't be able to show for a while so I haven't gotten to do as much drawing for myself lately. But, here are a few things.


I've been trying out some new pencils and while I was at it I got some blue lead too, just for fun.

Denise

The Monday night portrait strikes again! These have been a ton of fun lately and I feel like I've been improving at least a little. Always a good thing.

Denise, Oil on board, alla prima, 14" x 18"

Erisha

Here is the next Monday night portrait. Erisha (I hope I spelled that correctly) came back the next week after being the model to attempt her first oil painting and she's off to a good start.

Oil, 14" x 18"