A Commission and the OPA National Show!

Here is a private commission that I finished recently. The client requested a performance magic themed painting so I created this piece of a magician producing a dove, inspired by some of J. C. Leyendecker's arrow collar illustrations from the last century. I think I'll call it "Grand Illusion."

Oil, 16 x 20 inches 

(click to zoom) 

 

Also, I've just been notified that my painting, Ukulele, has been accepted to the Oil Painters of America 21st Annual National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils! The show will take place from June 22nd - July 21st at Evergreen Fine Art Gallery in Evergreen, Colorado.

Ukulele

My friend and musician, Amanda Penecale, came to visit a while back. While she sat on my couch in the window light playing a few songs on her ukulele, I couldn't help but take the opportunity to plan a painting. For the full experience, go take a listen to her music here!

Oil, 18 x 24 inches

(click to zoom)

Julie

Oil, 9 x 12 inches

Michael

Yet another portrait from the weekly sessions. I've been doing these for almost four years now and it has taught me so many important lessons. There is always something to learn and I feel like I've found something new recently that this portrait is a pretty good example of.

Oil, 9 x 12 inches

Dana

Oil, 9 x 12 inches

I recently heard from the Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles about the Illustration West 50 competition. Tangled Thoughts (right, and also in the last post) was accepted to the Gallery category and The Haunting Presence (left) was awarded an Honorable Mention in the Entertainment category! I am honored again to be included in another great competition.

Chistin

Happy new year to you!
It's off to good start, for me. I'm honored to have recently been chosen by the selection jury of IlluXcon, the annual symposium of fantastic art, to be an exhibiting artist at the event this coming November of 2012! I'll join a formidable list of 60 of the top talents working with traditional media in the field of fantastic art. If you haven't been to the show before I highly recommend it, but don't wait until November to decide. Tickets are limited and it's limited size it what makes it such a amazingly concentrated group of talent and cheerful comradery.

Oil, 11 x 14 inches

Karen

Oil, 11 x 14 inches

Nick

 Oil, 11 x 14 inches

"Present Company Excluded" has recently been selected as one of fifty finalists in the annual America China Oil Painting Artist League (ACOPAL) competition! Take a minute to head over and take a look at all the finalists, there are some great paintings. And if you feel so inclined, please take minute to give my painting, or others, a star rating.

Also, if you are looking for a nice gift, I have a few little paintings in a holiday small works show at the Jamestown Art Center in Jamestown, Rhode Island. Each painting is 5 x7 inches, already framed and $195.

The Haunting Presence

Spectrum 18 is soon to be released and I realized I still had not posted by accepted illustration to the annual fantasy art publication. Well, my piece is more appropriate to the current season now anyway. This is The Haunting Presence, a poster image commissioned for an independent film. You might be able to guess the genre of the film from the title, if not from the image.

Oil on Board, 24 x 36 inches

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You can see a preview/flip through of the book at this link. My image appears at 1:04.

Nude

 Oil, 18 x 24 inches
(click to zoom)

200th Post!

Should have happened a little earlier this month, but I just moved into a new apartment so things have been a bit busy while I've been getting settled and getting my new studio arranged! When it's set-up maybe I'll post pictures. For now, here's a portrait...

Lauren, Oil, 11 x 14 inches

SouthwestArt Magazine - 21 Under 31 Competition

My painting, "House Mouse," has been selected for SouthwestArt Magazine's annual competition, 21 Under 31. Every year the magazine selects 21 artists under the age of 31 and recommends that collectors and enthusiasts start watching them. The competition and my painting appear in the current, September issue of this year, so take a look if you find yourself near a newsstand or have a subscription!

Top Left: Magazine cover, Top Right: Article title page, Bottom: My section of the article

Click here to see a larger image of just the painting.

Steve

Oil, 20 x 16 inches

OPA Online Showcase

More good news. The Oil Painters of America recently held their first Online Showcase competition. There was a lot of great work submitted which you can see at the competition website. I was awarded an Honorable Mention for my painting, Present Company Excluded!

Present Company Excluded, Oil, 18 x 24 inches

ARC Salon

The results of the Art Renewal Center's 2010-2011 Salon are posted and my painting, Elegant Enigma, has received an Honorable Mention in the Still life Category!

Elegant Enima, Oil, 14 x 18 inches

I've also recently been notified that my painting, Drafting Pad, has been accepted to the Oil Painters of America Eastern Regional Exhibition! The show will take place at Addison Art Gallery in Orleans Massachusetts, from September 17th to October 15th, 2011. The opening reception will be Saturday September 17th from 5:30-7:30pm.

 

Drafting Pad, Oil, 8.5 x 13.5 inches