The Cellist

To Impart Her Soul
Oil on Canvas 24 x 30 inches

This is my second painting based on my favorite cellist Zoe Keating. It's not actually supposed to be her in the painting. I was looking for reference photos and found this one. I liked the composition which I stuck to as much as possible but I more or less did things my way with everything else. It took me shorter time working on it than I would have imagined.

I'm on Amazon!

I don't have any art to post this time but I do have some exciting news. A while ago I illustrated a cover for a novel. I met the author while working in Long Island a few years ago. While we worked in the same building, it was at different companies. We became friends of sort because we saw each other everyday. She asked me to do a cover illustration of her book and so it was published soon after. I more or less lost touch after I stopped working there despite the once in a while email. However, it was brought to my attention on Friday that my friend's book is on Amazon.com and I listed as the illustrator. How cool is that?!

The book is called The Cost of Love by Leroia and here is the link - http://www.amazon.com/Cost-Love-Roia/dp/0978532007/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1226691684&sr=1-1

The Hallway

While in VA on vacation last week I visited a museum with my friend and her three year old son. While the museum was interesting to us, it bored the three year old. He was more into the inclines in the main hallway. I took a few photos and decided to paint this shot. When I finished I was thrilled to find out that he knew it was himself rolling on the floor earlier that day.

Birds Again

These 8" x 11" color pencil sketches were done on watercolor paper while I stayed at Kissy's. I had only taken my watercolor pad and the color pencils. Luckily Kissy had some black acrylic for me to fill in the background. These were fun to do and I took my time because of the details. As with most of my drawings I don't always start with a particular thought in mind. It's a complete departure from my usual style and I realized that I like it this way. It makes each piece even more unique.

Pygmalion and Galatea

In Greek mythology there is a story about Pygmalion, a sculptor who falls in love with the statue he created. After refusing the women of the village, Pygmalion sets to work on a statue. As the days pass he falls deeper and deeper love with the emerging figure. When the statue is completed he prays to Aphrodite to make her real. She gives in and the statue becomes a living breathing woman named Galatea.

Now, you're probably wondering where I'm going with this. I have a friend E who is a constant muse and inspiration to artists all over. She is without a doubt one of the most intriguing people I have ever had the fortune to meet. Unlike Galatea however, she is flesh and blood. It is an opposite situation, where after meeting our friend E, artists try to create and capture her in all her enigmatic glory. Others try time and time again to snare pieces of her, myself included. My attempts fall woefully short but the process is always fun no matter what.

"her poses change with her every mood"

Owen

Just a quick sketch of Kissy's boy done on watercolor paper with Staedtler pencils. I think I got most of the resemblance.

Doodle Doodle Doo

Untitled
pencil on paper, 8" x 11"

It started as a doodle and became something else. The commissions were frustrating to work with so I stopped for the night and tried to do something relaxing. But I was drawn back to paper and ultimately this became my relaxation.

Slipping Into A New Skin

Slipping Into A New Skin
16" x 20", oil on canvas

I can't pretend to know what I am talking about all the time. The simplest things inspire me but when asked I can't seem to find the right words. Pictures come to me and all I can do is paint and when finished I can only hope to interpret correctly. But everyone knows there is no right or wrong way to interpret art.

'Slipping' is contradictory because it is accepting who you are, who you were and finding a way to merge the two into someone/something new and different. Personally I can relate to this because I'm not only seeking to be a better artist but a person as well. Many artists plot and plan their pieces before they even get to a blank canvas. The outcome is incredibly thought provoking as well as visually pleasing. I don't think my paintings will ever be so cerebral though, they feel like they come from the gut more than anything else. Especially this one.

The Providing Woman

Once upon a time(perhaps about two years ago), I bought some canvases and some supplies for a would-be commission. The woman changed her mind and at the time I was a bit angry at what happened. Eventually I moved and that bunch of supplies ended up in my closet in the back. I was cleaning the other night and when I found this stuff I was so thrilled. I found two unused 16" x 20" canvases, still in their wrapping, some smaller canvas boards and that is 12" x 24". I also found the 18" x 24" canvas of the would-be commission.

At one time or another I may have sketched a still life onto the12" x 24" board but when I removed it from the closet I saw something different. Anyway, last night, I grabbed a piece of charcoal and set to work drawing in some bold lines which I later went over with a fine brush. I finished this piece quickly because it was a small canvas to begin with and I didn't have to worry about excruciating details. I'm pleased with it the way it turned out. It's definitely different looking.

Commiseration

I try not to be a sentimental person but sometimes sentimentalism has a way of just taking over. I've even been called 'a sappy b@#$%' on one occasion. I couldn't help but laugh true as it is. The idea for this painting came about during a somewhat maudlin moment. Sometimes a friend can help you get through a moment without knowing how much they've done. The inspiration came from Kissy who has a few links of her own to contend with.

A week or so after I started this painting I lost my birds. I plan on doing a painting of them eventually but I decided to somewhat paint them into this as well. It felt right and it also completed the painting.

I also had friends comment about me going back to my old style and while it does look like the old stuff it feels different for me. Maybe because I feel like I'm not just 'creating' anymore. It's starting to feel as if I'm putting pieces of myself down on canvas.

I don't think that's such a bad thing at all.

The Riveter

The River Nymph

It seems like a long time has passed since I updated this blog. I've been working on stuff here and there but I haven't been rushing myself like I used to. This piece was created for the eventual Cafepress account. I say eventual because the urgency to get lots of work online has left me and now instead I suppose it's just plain old laziness.

A reflection

Reflection*

One day while cleaning I happened to look through one of my old sketchbooks. I had quite a few unfinished ballpoint pen drawings. Half of the drawings/paintings I have ever done are probably unfinished simply because I lost interest or I got lazy. I dared myself to do a complete drawing. It took me a few days but I finally finished.

* - Note on Reflection along with previous and future pieces. I've had some people tell me my work is definitely sexual. And even blatantly BDSM themed. Okay, so maybe it is that. But when I'm creating or looking over these I don't really see sex. It is merely a representation of my state of being. A naked woman or two is just thrown in to make it a bit more aesthetically pleasing. ;)

Duality

My friend E is most unexpected in manner and everyday appearance. Duality is my attempt at delving under the surface.

Hope and Faith

Cthulhu Awaits

Tonight I finally finished the painting that I started in my head at the beginning of this blog. It's a lot closer to what I saw in my head than the sketch but not close enough. I actually wanted to add some glinting scales here and there. I also wanted to add the impression of something asleep and unmoving, partly covered in moss perhaps...I will try again sooner or later. After finishing this, I decided I want do more Lovecraft inspired paintings/drawings.

More Digi Things and Some News

The order of the pics - 1. Jeff Kromer, 2. Lana Gentry, 3. Breana , 4. Cathy McShannon

Today I worked up the nerve to ask C at The Lost Gallery what I needed to do to become a featured artist. His response was, 'You just have to ask.' So, as of tomorrow I will be one of the Lost crowd. This is really exciting because from the moment I was aware of The Lost Gallery on myspace I wanted to be a part of it but I never thought I was good enough or that my work was relevant. Friendship and support can go a long way however and along with support from friends old and new I have begun to see that yes, I am good enough and getting even better by the minute.

I'm thrilled because this means I will have more exposure and hopefully more commissions/sales. It's a step in the life I want to create for myself.

Cringeworthy

...is the word my friend used to describe this drawing. This one is called 'buttonboy'. Based on Joe Hill's short story "Best New Horror" in 20th Century Ghosts. I received 20th Century ghosts for my birthday last year and I devoured it immediately. It was sitting on my bookshelf until today. A friend and I were having a conversation and I mentioned this book, recommended it in fact. While we were chatting I got the idea to do a simple drawing but I decided to re-read the story first. Now I'm stuck reading the other stories as well. They're just that good.

Digital Things

This one is a tattoo design called 'liberty within the confines'. I'm not sure yet if I'm going to actually get this as a tat or design something else but the concept itself is very personal to me. The second digital piece is a quick portrait of a new friend of mine.

Shadowplay

I figured it was time I played around more with shadows and lighting. Initially I wanted to use paint and I figured I'd try acrylic. So I took some photos of myself by candlelight. However when I started working with the acrylic paint I didn't like the results, I found the paint was drying too fast and I was getting impatient. I thought I'd try something else so I got out the pastels instead and this is my finished product, oil pastels on 14" x 17" poster board.

Even though I like the results I'm not completely satisfied so I will keep on playing around with shadows and such. If anyone would like to submit shadowy pictures for me to use please feel free to. :)

Aging

I'm tired of paint. I love it but I'm tired. It's not so much the smell or the fact that once it's on you you have to scrub pretty good to get it out. I think I'm more tired of the cleaning up after working every time.

I found myself doodling on my tablet tonight without thought or definite purpose. a third of the way through the drawing I hit upon it. So, here's my idea of aging open for your own interpretation.

And There Goes Sanity...

Even though I should be working on my commissions I felt the itch to do something other than paint. Last night I was inspired by one of my myspace artist friends who has a rather Picasso-esque effect to his work. This was done on watercolor paper because I like the texture that appears when pencil or charcoal is used.

When I look of this I think of insanity. Someone who once may have had it all but lost everyone and everything until the last thing to go was his mind.

The Ghostly Counterpart

I'm calling this piece Doppelganger. There isn't a particular reason why I was inspired to do this. I started with oil pastels on poster board but used a bit of acrylic paint at the end. I had to when I realized I had no white pastel at all. It was also fun just to play around with texture.

Gods

Even though I am an atheist I find myself fascinated with gods and their stories ever since I was a child. Growing up surrounded by Muslim, Hindu and Christian religions it was hard to escape learning about these awe-some beings.

Anyway, I came up with the idea to do a group of paintings based on Gods from different cultures a while ago. Unfortunately I haven't done much work for the series. I did complete one, a painting of Kali(the Hindu Goddess associated with death and destruction).

I am currently working on Anubis, the Egyptian God of the Dead. When I did a little research I found that Anubis is the Greek version of his name. He's also known as Inpu, Anupu, Wip among others in the ancient Egyptian language.

But more on the deities later. :)

Butterflies Here, There and Everywhere

I never wanted to finish a painting as badly as I wanted this one to. If I don't see another butterfly ever again it will be too soon. There isn't that much inspiration tied into this one but I'm actually quite pleased with the way it looks.

Call me Cthulhu

I decided I'd see how far I could get with a pencil sketch, which turned into me inking the hell out of it before I thought to put a little color in it. Ultimately, I'd like to replicate this on canvas with oils. I'd also like to add more details. The picture I have in my head of the finished product is impressive. It won't be an easy feat for me to create it but I'm going to try my damnedest.

Lovecraftian Strokes

I thought it would be fitting to start this blog off with something completely different than what I usually do. A while ago I borrowed H.P. Lovecraft's Bloodcurdling Tales of Horror and the Macabre. I'm perhaps a third of the way through the book though I borrowed it over a month or so ago. I admit, it's taking me a long time to finish it but that doesn't mean I'm not enjoying it. All of Lovecraft's tales are first person narratives which, in turn, makes me think of Edgar Allan Poe's short stories. However, Poe's work explores the human psyche becoming unhinged while Lovecraft fills you with unmentionable dread at what lurks in the deep dark depths of the planet. The doorways that lead to these hidden chambers are usually located in the remotest of places. Which is something I wanted to portray.

Which brings me to the most recent painting. I wanted to paint but I wasn't quite sure what exactly. Then it hit me, I could do something related to my reading material. I didn't know how to go about it but I decided to plunge right in. How else can you capture darkness except with the smallest flickers of light? My attempt is rudimentary at best. But considering I haven't done much work with lighting/shadows especially in color, I can't say it came out too badly. However I wonder if working with oils instead of acrylics will have a completely different effect. Next time I will try oils. I already have an idea.