Elana

Oil, 11 x 14 inches

The NeverEnding Story

I began this illustration for fun as part of a challenge on CGHub.com. I got distracted from it by other projects during the challenge but I eventually got back to it and then took my time varnishing it and getting it digitized. So here it is, a cover illustration for The NeverEnding Story.

Oil, 18 x 23 inches

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I would like to say, I got excited about painting an illustration for The NeverEnding Story not only because the movie is a cherished childhood memory of mine, but also because I think the story is particularly effective for teaching kids how to understand metaphor in storytelling. If you remember the movie (or not), the main character is a troubled little boy, named Bastian, who reads a book titled The NeverEnding Story who's main character is a boy just like him in a fantasy land on a mythical quest. Through the story, Bastian learns to confront his problems in real life. Quite over-obvious to adults and there are many stories that are also obvious in this regard, but great for kids to learn that this metaphor is present, at least to some degree in all stories, even the ones they are told are "True."

Sketching

at the coffee shop as usual...

Rachel with Process Photos!

Oil, 16 x 20 inches

(click to zoom)

I've gotten several requests to show my painting process on these portraits. Now, I don't have a great camera, but took a few shots during the model breaks of this portrait. It's a three hour session, during which this model took two breaks, so here is a picture of where I was at each break. The first is only a little more than a drawing in oil, the second has most of the planes of the face blocked in. Other painters tell me I tend to "pull it all together at the last moment", so in the final (above) you can see I've put in all the final details and highlights.

Nude

I got another chance at a 3 hour nude pose not too long ago, it's nice to paint a little more of the figure. This fall the portrait group is planning to do these once a month, so hopefully there will be more to come.

Oil, 20 x 16 inches

Coffee Shop Sketches

I haven't posted many of these for a while. Just some drawings from the local coffee shop...

Tangled Thoughts

I just keep playing around with this one. First it was a sketch (bottom right), just an experiment in design. I liked it, so I did a digital color version of the sketch (bottom left). Well, I was still curious what it would look like as an oil painting, so here it is. If I can come up with more designs like it I may do more.

Tangled Thoughts, Oil, 11 x 24 inches

Kevin

You may remember him from other paintings such as... this one.

Oil, 16 x 20 inches

OPA Eastern Regional Juried Exhibition

I've posted this one before, but I just received notice that it has been accepted by the Oil Painters of America to this years Eastern Regional Juried Exhibition! The exhibition will feature accepted artists from the eastern half of the United States and will take place from October 15th - November 13th, 2010 at the Walls Fine Art Gallery in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Nightcap Chickadee, Oil, 16 x 20 inches

India Point Park

For something a little different, I went and painted this little scene "en plein air" a little earlier this summer. It was a beautiful day, but a little windy right on the river. One of the extra things to keep in mind while painting outside is that everything must either be held on to or taped down.

Oil, 10 x 8 inches

Hedi

Oil, 8 x 10 inches

Aaron

Another small one...

Oil, 8 x 10 inches

Julie

A little one, I prepare my own boards for painting on, and this week I had run out of the 16 x 20 inch boards that I usually take to portrait painting. All I had ready to go was this 9 x 12, but it's always good to mix things up when they become too routine. I like the ratio of brush stroke detail to the outer dimensions, so I should do some more little ones.

Oil, 9 x 12 inches

Francisco

Oil, 16 x 20 inches

Coffee Shop Sketches