New Mural Design

Step 02 - Oil sketch

Step 01 - Undercoat Wash

My Lil Bush

Little girl

Inspired by aliveinbagdad.com

Alicia and I were out walking through our neighborhood, when we happened upon this plant that had these beautiful leaves. It was fascinating to me how the over all shape of the leaves immulated the shape of the smallest leaf, and so we took a little memento for scanning. I wouldn't be surprised to find it turn up in future paintings. Its odd what things can inspire you, when you take the time to just look. I've probably walked past that spot a hundred times and never noticed anything.
If anyone recognizes this plant, feel free to enlighten me.

Starting a Painting: I begin the process of an oil painting with the first wash undercoat. I use warm neutral tones and brush in gestural marks with a windsor newton mob brush. Very abstract, I know. This is one of the most freeing and exciting parts of the painting process for me, because I'm just having fun slopping around paint to upbeat music. I was talking to my friend Nathan Jenson (www.natespace.com) the other night after a last minute art opening at 5619 Gallery that we both participated in... he had reminded me about how he liked to immulate the music with the brush and I had forgotten that I used to use that approach in painting. Inspired by watching him paint later in the evening, I sought to really try to bring back that positive energy and vitality to my work. This piece is one of about 16 pieces I did in this endeavor.

This is an oil sketch I painted on masonite, which is an untempered hardboard. I had never used this kind of surface to paint on, though i had often heard it is great for getting a lot of detail. Unfortunately, I didn't apply enough gesso to the board during preparation and I had to deal with my paints soaking in. After I built up a couple layers and allowed time to dry in between, it was responding more like my canvases.

AliveInBagdad.org
A while back I stumbled upon this website and was intrigued to see they published weekly video interviews with ordinary Iraqi people living in Baghdad. You hear first hand what they are facing right now? What are their opinions, thoughts, fears? What is their message to the American people? They interview mothers, fathers, doctors, teachers, christians (yes, there is a large christian community there who are not white americans), etc. etc.
Watching it was a breath of fresh air to me. It challenged me to put myself in their shoes. Think what it would be like.

Adam Florzak contacted me recently about doing a portrait of him for his website http://blog.pactamerica.com.

Holly Jones is the "new" manager extroardinaire at Harts N Crafts (my wife's giftshop). Alicia has been asking me for a while to illustrate her picture for the wall of employees, and I finally found a picture that captures her awesome smile. I worked this up in grey scale to get a better idea of the tones and then I'm going to swap it out for color. If you want to see the final result, you'll have to visit the store location in Waco. Believe me, it's worth the trip!

White Water Rafting. Today we returned from our vacation in Colorado for the "Radical Nautical" art show at Gallery Lombardi. Good news, the Mermacrabicorn won best in show. Thanks to everyone who came out and voted to show your support. It was close apparently. We had a terrific time on our trip and will be leaving again for a family reunion in west Texas. I can't wait for the driving to be over!