One of the finalists...

This is one of the design finalists for my wine themed painting. I have 7 days until the Quick Draw. This one is 16 x 32 inches. It took 62 minutes. I could have finished it sooner had I rushed it a bit.

I am looking forward to putting a lot more time into some of these paintings. Next week.

Speed Painting...Still...

Alright, I know I said that we had decided to go with one of the wine theme works for the "Quick Draw". But I like to paint women.

Yes the wine work would have more of a general appeal, but is this about what I can sell or what brings me pleasure. It's not like I am making my living off of my paintings at this point. The people who collect my work (and yes there are a few) have come to accept my variations of styles.

Sure the women take longer and they don't fit in as well as a bottle of wine in most homes. I torn...

Here are two works I just painted. The blond is 33 x 41 inches. She took about 75 minutes. Too long.

The red head is 14 x 18 inches and took about 135 minutes. Way too long.




You're right, you're right, I know you're right.
Wine theme for the Quick Draw, women for me and the gallery.

It is about what would sell for the most money at the auction.
It is charity after all.


Back to the studio...Feel free to help me with giving names to my girls. I need titles.

What's New in Art...

"The Joyous Leaping of Uncanned Salmon" by Dr Seuss.

One of my personal favorites.

This is from the Secret Art of Dr Seuss. A collection put together by his widow, Audrey Geisel. She will not sell any of the original works. They are all going to The University of San Diego in La Jolla California when she passes. She allows two or three of the works to be reproduced as limited editions every year. Ted Geisel painted for almost 70 years. He did not share these personal works with anyone other than the family and a few close friends. Hence, "Secret Art".




"The Watcher" by Frank Gonzales.
A young man from New York who is just getting started. I have known Frank for years and sell a lot of his works in my gallery. He also paints abstract, organic landscapes and very edgy, urban portraits.

Christmas in October?

For the last week, Precious and I have been driving up and down the coast trying to find a Halloween costume for Mr. Man.

We both love Halloween. Growing up in small towns in the mid west and northwest, Halloween was a great time to be a kid. I will remember trick or treating and parties for the rest of my life.

It wasn't about Devil worship. (and for those of you who get all bent about Halloween being about all things evil, you can suck it. I am more worried about you freaks than kids who just want to trick or treat and have fum with their friends while getting free candy.)

Anywho, for the last week we have gone everywhere within 50 miles to find a costume.

What have we been finding?

CHRISTMAS.

Don't get me wrong, I like Christmas. But WTF! IT'S THE MIDDLE OF OCTOBER!

Do these greedy bastards(aka retailers) not remember Thanksgiving?

Two and a half weeks until Halloween and everything is friggin Christmas already.

Sure we could put him in the same totally cute Cow outfit he had last year. He's not old enough to care or remember. But I am.



Slow down people. There is always plenty of time for all of the materialism, over shopping and lack of good will toward man, that goes on for the holidays. It's not like Christmas comes as a surprise.

Just for those of you who don't realize this, Christmas comes every year at the same time. Instead of ruining Halloween and Thanksgiving in the name of maximizing the amount of crap sold as cheesy gifts. How about we try to think ahead. We have a whole year to shop. Halloween costumes on the other hand are only around for a very short time. And getting shorter every year!

GIVE ME HALLOWEEN BACK!(for the kids)

More Study...

Here are a few more of the speed painting studies for the "Quick Draw". This has been a great exercise. I do not usually work this fast. It makes me let go a little bit more. Not so much thought, more instinct. It's kind of fun but I wont be making it a habit.

This one is 24 x 32. It took about 50 minutes.



This one is 8 x 27. 40 minutes.


This one is 23 x 32. 47 minutes.



This one took me too long. 78 minutes. I got carried away with the label. Too much detail. I had the bottle done in about 40 minutes.



I changed one of the photos in the last post. The last one with the bottle and flute glass. I added the label design.

Sometimes I just can't let things go.