In Fives Studies

I would have been a fool not to have taken advantage of the weather yesterday....TOTALLY DELIGHTFUL! My original idea was to make a painting spot in the backyard but after clearing an area I realized it would require a pack mule to lug out my paint gear. Solution...make a sketching spot. (Much more travel friendly).

When working on my In Fives series I began sketching studies on the old mark-filled 24"x36" sheets of butcher paper that I use as drafting table "drop cloths". (5 subjects per sheet of course). I really love the unintentional marks and random notes scribbled on each sheet. Perfect project to break in the ole outside sketch zone!!

I began the study of this Great-horned Owl about a year ago and decided to continue.

Bare-headed Rock Fowl

My first completed sheet of studies for the In Fives series

More Progress

Landscape III stage 4

Landscape III stage 3

Making progress. Finding it wicked difficult to stay focused. I need to chain myself to the easel. I turned off my computer and phone. Rocking the ipod but find myself everywhere but in front of my painting. Dear proper studio, I'm ready to have you in my life. I will take good care of you and show you much attention. Where are you located? How do I get to you? Sigh....

Landscape III Progress

Once again I apologize for the janky quality of the photos. Having said that, here is the progress of Landscape III. This postcard was sent to LP. It is one of the beautiful dirt roads I saw when we went on a ranch tour in WY. You can't see it in the pic but the wallpaper design is in the sky.

Landscape III stage 1

Landscape III stage 2.5

Between Stage 1 and 2 there was a very dark and angry stage which was semi covered in stage 2. (I went ape shit with some charcoal action - it felt good). But that is what this series is about - just different layers being covered or revealed. Not too concerned with the image being seen as "accurate". I truly love getting lost when painting the rocks. It's fantastic and much needed.

Turkey Vulture in Yo Face

Tukey Vulture, oil on vintage wallpaper, 8"x8", 2010

Installation. Check.

So last Saturday I installed my show at Casa Grande Art Museum. The paintings and I hit the road for our hour long journey and we made it without incident. I dragged my loot inside, locked the door, and cranked up the tunes. It was nice to have the place to myself. After 4 hours my mission was complete. Installation. Check. In case you can't make it, below is most of the work...

The Facade of Dorian Gray and The Character of Dorian Gray...the ones that started it all. These 2 pieces were assignments while at ASU. Midway through the project I had a mountain of ideas and painting birds and wallpaper together became my obsession for the past 3 years.

It looks like Spotted Thick-knee in Icebucket and Magical Meat Carpet are not on speaking terms.

The Yellow Wallpaper - in yo face!

Thanksgiving. Gobble. Gobble.

Happy Hour. Cheers.

Bird Brain, Home Alone, and Waiting for the Train: Friday...keeping the print rack of sketches company. So sweet.

Here's the main dude, Bashful. He was chosen to be the frontman for the show. Be brave Bashful!!

Barcelona Chair and Hover are my latest larger scale babies.

A Night in 1982 is one work from my first solo show. (That little kid is yours truly).

These 8"x8" little numbers have been my latest projects. If you don't have the space, tone down the size.

Stay tuned for pics from the opening which is this Saturday, October 16th from 4pm-6pm!!

Fancy Pigeons cont.

Fancy Pigeon IV

Fancy Pigeon III

I can't get enough of these fancy guys! I mean come on, look at them...I have no doubt that they are on their way to pigeon prom. (Mom, do you recognize the top dude? He's a Taganroger Tumbler). There will more to come in this series. I just got back from re-checking out the stellar Extraordinary Pigeon book.

Fancy Pigeons

The below sketches are inspired from this AMAZING book. I mean, Extraordinary Pigeons?! And indeed they are extraordinary.

Fancy Pigeon I

Fancy Pigeon II

Let's face it...pigeons have a bad wrap. They are the dirtbags of the bird world. Or are they? After reading this book (filled with about 200 amazing images) I see pigeons in a new light. They are truly lovely.

DISCLAIMER: SORRY FOR THE POOR QUALITY OF THESE SKETCHES. ALL OF MY TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT IS OFFICIALLY JANKY.