more molly...

I cleaned up some stuff that you really can't see at this size and I added some more birds in the background. I also gave her a tattoo on her chest. I was a little reluctant to do it because I have been seeing tattooed women all over the place, and I'm obviously no Shawn Barber. But I thought it would be kind of cool to connect her with the birds a little bit more. She's kind of like the "mother hen" with all the kids tuggin at her dress. I also just thought it would be fun to paint a tattoo and it made the space a little more interesting. I painted a graphic heart in between the wings at first, but then I changed it to a more literal one. And that is that. Look for this pretty girl on a wall near you soon.

time for a change...

I've been wanting to take a break from painting birds. I'm thinking about doing a series of different animals. So I'm startin to toss ideas around in my sketchbook.

lily

grand gesture number one...

nest

can't sleep...

Be Kind, Rewind

We saw a ridiculously good movie last night that inspired delicious sketches of robo cops and pizzas. Watch it when it comes out. You won't be disapointed.

Molly

It seems like I'm always covering up the faces of the people I paint lately. I don't really know why. Maybe it's my way of exploring who I am, by putting different masks on the people I create. Or maybe thats way too deep and I just think it looks cool. Either way, I felt like painting a face. So I grabbed a 2'x3' canvas and went to town.

For reference I used this picture I found of Molly. I chose to paint her because shes obviously a pretty girl, but also because she has this subtly mean expression on her face. These crows are going to be pecking the crap out of her and she looks almost annoyed but for the most part careless. I usually start off a painting by rendering the imortant parts out on the canvas, then work from the background forward. But I was too anxious to get goin, so I started backwards and painted the face first.

I added the background and started working on the hair. At first I thought I messed up. I wanted the hair to be kind of blowing in the wind but then I started to realize I wasn't giving myself any room for the birds. But I thought, eff it...I'll find a place for them later.

So I started shaping out the hair and tried to work out the dress a little bit. At this point I was really annoyed. The dress looked like a moo moo and it seemed to really round her out. So I had to rework it a bit.

I played with the dress and widened the collar. When I was comfortable enough with it, I painted in the crow pulling at her shirt, and started another in the background. I think the crows are comin out better than the portrait, but I havn't had too much practice painting faces lately.

I added more crows and there are a few more to come. I have a couple more things to touch up but for the most part, it'd done. I'll post the finished piece in the next couple days. Then I think I'm going to start another one.

It begins

Alright. So I started a blog. Tessar says its the next best thing to ice fishing in the backyard of your own two story igloo without a polar bear in sight. I think that means it's a good thing. Imagine a young Canadian like him being able to afford a two story igloo. What a dreamer he is.

So anyways, I'll be posting sketches and progress on paintings and news about shows and anything else interesting I feel like sharing. I hope you enjoy.