Wiggle Room

"Wiggle Room"

5 x 7 oil on panel

SOLD

Living in a rural area means that whenever we need to do anything of any significance, like the kids school shopping, we need to drive a couple hours to do it.  Luckily, the drive isn't dull and takes us through the historic mining "ghost" town of Jerome, over the Mingus Mountains, through Prescott Valley (where the painting above is set) and into Prescott.  Locals tend to take the winding curves at breakneck speeds, but this just provides me with the opportunity to pull over, let them by (my wife and son get car sick so I have to take it easy on the curves), and enjoy the scenery.

Oblivious Brunch Bunch

"Oblivious Brunch Bunch"

5 x 7 oil on panel

SOLD

I'm getting some wicked glare in this photo off the wet, thicker paint in the sky, but I'll upload a higher-quality scan once it's dry.  Despite my earlier dislike of flat brushes (I've been using brights), I decided to give them another try and did this painting with #6 and #4 Bristlon Silver flats.  I take back the mean things I said as it was a different, but enjoyable experience.

07/25/10 Update: I've replaced the image with a high quality scan.

It All Started With a Misunderstanding

"It All Started With a Misunderstanding"

5 x 7 oil on panel

Purchase this for $75 + $6 s/h

I departed from the usual (such as "usual" is thus far) with this piece and experimented a lot more with paint and texture layering using various rough, old brushes and credit cards.  My illustration style has always incorporated textures (as I love texture) so I figured it was high time to start working some textures into my painting as well.  This piece was a blast to work on, but I can tell for future paintings there's going to be a lot of drying time involved to get the look I'm aiming for.

07/22/10 Update: I've replaced the image with a newer one after making some changes to the foremost cow.  The photo is still far yellower than the original though.


07/24/10 Update: I've replaced the image with a high quality scan.

Understudy

SOLD

"Understudy"

7 x 5 Oil on panel

For whatever reason, I was compelled to tighten up with this piece.  The next one will be looser...promise.  ;)

07/24/10 Update: I've replaced the image with a high quality scan.

Next Week

My apologies for the lack of work posted this past week.  My father left on Saturday morning after spending a week visiting.  A hiking trip up the San Francisco Peaks, walks, a visit to the Grand Canyon and Northern Arizona (note to self: visit Cameron, AZ again soon for delicious [and gigantic!] Indian Fry Bread), and numerous other tiny events sucked away the time I usually spend painting.  However, I have one piece about 80% completed and another at 50% that I should have done by Monday evening.  I'm behind in our latest "75 for 75" project that started on the 15th but I'm hoping to catch up by the end of this week.  So much to paint and so little time to paint it!

If you're on Facebook, feel free to follow along with our project adventures by joining the "75 for 75" group.

view from the Snowbowl entrance on the San Francisco Peaks

Little Rascal

SOLD

"Little Rascal"

5 x 7 oil on panel

This isn't the best photo of this painting, but once it's dry I'll upload a higher quality version.

Update: I've replaced the image with a higher-quality scan.  Huzzah!

Where the Trail Went Cold

"Where the Trail Went Cold"

5 x 7 oil on panel.

Purchase this for $75 + $5 s/h

As It Turns Out, the Answer to Sam's Problems Lay in the Valley Below

"As It Turns Out, the Answer to Sam's Problems Lay in the Valley Below"

6 x 8 oil on panel.

SOLD

My lengthiest title yet.  See yesterday's post for an in-progress shot of this piece.

One a Day?

Man.  Trying to get a painting done every day is a huge challenge for me.  Often times I'm not done with my illustration work until 6pm, then it's riding bikes with the kids, playing legos, helping clean up, or other somesuch.  7pm to 8pm is dinner.  8pm to 9pm is reading books and getting the kids into bed.  By the time I can get back into the studio and rolling again its nearly 10pm.  I'm looking forward to when school starts again and bedtimes get moved an hour earlier.  Curse you Earth rotation!

I blocked in a piece last night and will finish it up tonight.  Here's a quick snapshot of the in-progress 6 x 8 with a ways to go yet:

While a daily painting remains a challenge, I'm committed to giving it my best shot.

The One Less Traveled

"The One Less Traveled"

5 x 7 oil on panel.

Purchase this for $75 + $6 s/h

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

The picture of this piece isn't the best, but once it's dry I'll get a scan of it.

Update: Now that the painting is dry, I've updated the image above with a higher-quality scan.