Brothers

"Brothers" 9x12 watercolor on Arches rough

 Here is a painting I did for my oldest son's birthday, he is the one on the left. The reference I used is a snapshot I took as my first and third sons were walking away from me in a crowed parking lot. I isolated the figures quite intentionally and placed therm in a very ambiguous environment. I added a long shadow to help the composition with an uncertain sky the only real background. I used a very limited palette of  Ultramarine, Cad. Red  and Raw Umber. 

"Sunflower"

"Sunflower" 8x8" watercolor

This is a little painting I did of a Sunflower. The colors in the actual painting are so much more vibrant and the splatters of paint are more noticeable but, as with most photos of my art I have such a hard time getting it right. Perhaps the color on my monitor is not right, or maybe I am too picky. How does it look to you?

"Marty"

Another acrylic pop-are style portrait: 

My refrence photo: 

 I did some sketches on my compy

The question beard... or no beard?

  he decided he liked the beard, good choice...

"Marty" 12x16" acrylic on canvas

Buddy

Here is the process of painting of "Buddy": 

Refrence photo:

I began on a white canvas with  a teeny bit of black then added phthalo blue, burnt umber 

Next I added ACRA Magenta, Cad yellow light, and a green background. All the colors I used to paint the dog were not mixed  I used transparent. color straight from the tube.

and layered them so the viewers eye could mix them

Last I added more transparent burnt umber. 

 Budddy 16x20" Acrylic on canvas

Portrait of Sam

Here is a commissioned painting I did of a sweet doggy. I did it very loose and colorful. I know that it looks a little like watercolor but, it is done in acrylic. I did do most of the dog in loose washes and glazes of transparent acrylic paint as though it were watercolor.

"Sam" 16x20" Acrylic on canvas. 

reference photo that was sent to me.

This is the sketch that I came up with. I often do a thumbnail sketch in Photoshop because it allows me to make quick changes to see how different things look. and it is also very easy to email the image to  the client for approval.

Star Light

I did this painting for my brother and his wife for Christmas. When I asked what they wanted as a Christmas gift she asked for a painting that combined both their favorite things, she loves lighthouses and he loves Star Trek. this is the painting that I did. I did put a little Starship Enterprise in the sky.

"Star Light" 10" x 14" watercolor