Cirque Final

I've posted some works in progress of this one for awhile now, but finally knuckled down in my free moments for the last couple of weeks and made this piece pretty complete.
See what you think. I've got a story about all of this growing in my mind, so I might pursue it a bit more.

A few things I listened to keep myself in a Circus/surreal mood while painting:

• Rupa and the April Fishes, Extraordinary Rendition
• Beirut, The Flying Club Cup
• Laura Marling, I Speak Because I Can
• Amelie Soundtrack
• Devotcha, Little Miss Sunshine Soundtrack
• Jonsi, Go

Thanks for checking in!

Some Christmas present painting!

On a lighter note, here are a couple of Christmas present paintings I did.

Old paintings of Antarctica

Dear readers, humor some nostalgia and rumination, please.

These aren't new, but are new to this blog, since they're older than it.

I recently went through a lot of old work, especially Antarctic work, for a good, talented friend named Rob Bilek who wanted to do an art trade.

I went to Antarctica in 2005 to paint for three months. It's a huge part of my life, but truthfully I've done very little with the work in about a year. I've been too involved in work with Big Huge Games, teaching, and other artistic pursuits.

Seeing these, looking closely at them, kinda breaks my heart.

I'll never be able to leave oil painting behind for digital completely.

Real media breathes in a way digital cannot, and I say this with full knowledge that I am as much now a digital artist as I am anything else. In another context, I would cry out the virtues of digital work.

Here, though, I get caught up in those little moments of chaotic abstraction happen in landscape paintings with oil or watercolor. They make me catch my breath. I get washed over in it.

And remembering painting Antarctica makes me terribly nostalgic. Looking back at art I did at specific times in my life is like listening to music you listened to in a specific place.
I always return to Antarctica as a subject, and I suspect it's time to explore further, even if it's from my memories and my studio here in Baltimore. That sometimes seems odd to me, since I was only there for three months, and it's been five years now.
But as artists, we have to be honest with ourselves if we're to work honestly, as well, and Antarctica dug deep into me and has never let go.

2 WIPS

It's a bad sign that I have more WIP posts here than finished pieces. I'm in a time of transition, I think, and struggling a little. That's where the lack of focus is coming from, something I should try and remedy, but the struggle and transition aren't bad things. Often, I've found that looking back these are very productive, interesting times for me work and growth.

It also might be that with work going as it is I only start painting at 11:00 pm or later.

Regardless, an idea for a series I've been tossing around in documents and my head for awhile is getting to come out and and play with mixed results. See what you think. Still some drawing problems to resolve I get too impatient with early on. They won't all be girls.

Sketchbook pages

Work has been so hectic lately that I've not really had any time to paint. If I'm at my computer, I'm working on the company project. That's not a bad lot in life, but it does mean I need to find other ways to keep practicing my 2d skills.
Thus, I picked up my first moleskin sketchbook a few months ago and finally broke it out a couple of weeks ago. It's great, and not because it was used by Rodin or Hemingway or it's hip, though all three of those things are probably true, I guess.
It's practical, it fits in my back pocket, and the paper is actually a great surface for drawing.
I've taken to pulling it out in meetings, at coffeeshops, and even at church this morning. Basically, all the places that I never have a full sized sketchbook with me because my 40+ work life isn't always about sketching.
I used to make sure I had three things when I was standing up to leave a place - keys, wallet, and phone. Now I have a fourth. I recommend it.

These are backlogged, and I'm about halfway done with the book. These are only the most recent four spreads. I'll try and post more just to keep myself doing this.

I like trees lately

My sister had her first child last year around this time, and I was supposed to make a tree painting for my nephew. I have it now, for his first birthday, and it's going home for Thanksgiving for him. So this is for Elliot.

I like painting trees. They're not exactly easy, which is surprising considering how often we see them. People can imagine trees very easily, but actually looking at one and drawing it makes you realize how very weird they can be. This a bit of a fantasy tree, so I can make up a lot, however.

Jess told me making the little boy float is weird. I like it, but I'm going to think on it.

Three works in progress

Nothing finished. I've hardly made it to my studio at all in the last month. Work at Big Huge has been great, but incredibly busy.
Still, a small number of things I played with. The more sustained projects will be updated soon.