Celebrate...everything!

Welcome to July everybody!  I was busy yesterday, what with mowing the jungle left after "Debby" moved out to sea and helping out a friend with a mural in his guest bedroom.  After doing an errand or two and paying a couple bills, I didn't have a whole lot of time left in the day to paint, but I did anyway.  Unfortunately, I was too tired to notice that I put the hi-hat and snare on the wrong side of the drum kit.  It is an easy fix, though.  By the time I post again, you won't notice the error.

In other news, I wanted to mention my good friend, Tony Ley.  One year ago, he started this crazy mission of celebrating a holiday every single day.  This commitment demanded a lot of time and energy, but it also brought attention to all kinds of causes and silliness and acts of love.  I even participated in a couple of the celebrations.  So, what did he decide to do after that year ended?  He decided to do it all again.  Please take a gander at Tony's ambitious endeavor at The Celebrate! Project.  You can participate as much as you want!

Early mayhem.

The pencils for this Muppet painting were completed before I started Fozzie, but I didn't feel ready to jump into the painting stage until now.  I had to redraw it after applying the acrylic wash because most of my graphite washed away.  Usually, I clean up the pencils with a colored pencil finish since the wax keeps it from disappearing, but I wasn't thinking at the time.  Now, with the colored pencil layer over the acrylic, the pencil pigment blends into the oil paint.  I'm trying to make the most of that effect, but it involves additional layers of paint once the base dries a bit.

Tough Crowd

Here you go, the finished painting.  You may notice a bit of a color difference; chalk it up to natural lighting.  I took this picture outside on the driveway instead of indoors with the iPhone flash.  Big difference.

I call this:
"Tough Crowd," 2012, 16"x20", oil on canvas

More Fozzie

I'm excited to be close to finishing up Fozzie.  He needs to dry a little before I can go back in and do the finishing touches that will make it pop.  I also need to figure out where I can get a really good picture taken of it for my files.  You've been enjoying the photographic quality of my iPhone, but it would be nice to have some clean pictures that better match the actual color of the painting.

Wocka, wocka.

 

Hey, I'm back.  The urge to draw and paint finally overcame my exhaustion with work and I'm adding a couple of new Muppet portraits to my collection.  As always, I like to share the steps along the way, so here is my original drawing on the canvas, a 16"x20" piece I picked up at Michaels' a few years ago.  Next is my first step, just filling in the bricks on the wall.  I want it to look like Fozzie is at an open mike night at the Improv, with less than amused audience members.  A cream pie and a tomato are thrown on the wall behind him.  The last picture here is what I managed to do during the 45 minutes I had between my morning shower and my drive to work.  I'm getting a little better idea of how to recreate the texture of the fur.  More to come.

Can you tell me how to get...?

How do you get to Sesame Street? First, find your way to Astoria, Queens. Beyond that, you're on your own.

This painting is brought to you by the letter "J", and the numbers 1 and 4. The "J" stands for Jasmine, my niece. Her first birthday is coming up in August and I thought it would be amazing if I actually was prepared with a gift for her. I'm so far ahead now that I don't know what to do with myself. The number 4 represents her family, all of whom share the same initials. Jasmine shares her birthday with her big brother, who will be 7, so I guess I have to figure out another painting in the near future.

Oh, for those who are curious about these things, the painting is 20" X 24", oil on canvas. Took maybe 12 hours spread out over several days.

What the...? Another post?

Yeah, I know it isn't expected, but I've actually done more art things lately. I have more on my plate still, but I'll get to posting them as soon as I can.

This image is for the book Stories and Shows from Pinocchio's Marionette Theater. You may be wondering how I could be doing new art for a book that not only was published three years ago, but was also taken out of print almost immediately due to a lawsuit involving copyrights. Well, I am happy to say that the suit was settled and the author, Dave Eaton, is legally allowed to print his book again. Rather than simply starting up the presses again, Dave decided to spruce up the book a little by adding one of the few scripts he left out of the first edition, Peter & Wendy. Dave nearly used some public domain image to accompany his story, but fortunately came to his senses and dropped me an email. And that is the story behind this fun little doodle.

No Foolin'.