Painting of Marvin

                                       Here is "Marvin"

 This painting is really fun and unique- I haven't seen anything like it (and I have seen a lot). He has been painted in oil paints on Mylar, you know the stuff they make helium balloons out of and some wrapping paper. So the background is really shinny and it makes it look more 3D because it appears to move in the light.
 I attached the Mylar with glue to a gessoed board and sealed it with acrylic gel medium and  UV archival varnish.  He measures 12"x12" ready to frame or display on a shelf.

clay projects in the works

 Here are some clay projects I've been working on. The first is called "Fin and Feather" (unless I come up with something more clever). I finished it yesterday. It is made hollow by forming it kinda like a coil pot-like you might have made in grade school. She will sand on the legs on the fish when it's done. I thought it would be stronger if I epoxy her instead of fire her on there.
 She will dry for about a week. Then I will add color with underglaze which is colored slip. This is really tricky. You have to make sure it doesn't break because it is really fragile in its unfired state. Then she will be stuffed in the oven (kiln) and fired to cone 04. I will add more underglaze if she needs it and apply transparent matte glaze.  The transparent glaze makes the colors brighter and helps protect it and make it a bit stronger.
 She is fired again to cone 06. Hopefully I'll take her out and she will look fabulous. I'll do the finishing touches and attach the wheels and stuff.

Here is another one I'm calling "Giddy-Up Duck". It is dry and I will apply underglaze today. I know he looks extra creepy but he will look better after he gets his eyes in.

I was thinking of a Calvin and Hobes type figure ridding one of those playground ducks that rock back and forth. After he is fired I will attach him to a base made to look like a spring.

This one has been fired once. It's called Flower Beard? Anyway I am stumped as to how to finish him. That's what happens when I don't have a clear plan before I start. I've been thinking of just glazing a white crackle glaze with pastel-pink flowers and a few gold accents. Or I could just paint him with oil paints and color all the flowers blue...  just don't know, I'm probably over-thinking it. But if I glaze him there is no turning back.

Painting "Brian"

Here is another fun small portrait called "Brian" . I really like the loose brushwork and the green really makes it pop. It has been painted in oil on a cradled board with thick sides the dimensions are
6"x6"x1 1/2 the sides are painted brown. It comes safely packed and ready to hang or display on a shelf. 

Small portrait

I absolutely love painting these small portraits. I feel I can really experiment with them and I don't feel compelled to paint every detail. This is another painting where I am experimenting with different grounds (support or whatever you call it). I like the way paint goes on a slick surface because it doesn't absorb as fast as canvas so it's easier to move it around more. So this has been painted on aluminum flashing which is really cool because it has little sparkles (I love sparkles) where the paint didn't cover or I scratched off.

I sometimes have a hard time coming up with titles. The last post should have been called "Golden Boy" but I don't know how to edit my post...If someone could kindly give me a clue I's appreciate it!!

I think I'll call this "Attitude" (for now)

   It measures 6"x6"x 3/4" painted with oil paints and epoxied onto a cradled board -ready to hang it will be featured in a Daily Paintworks auction

My First Blog

I guess this is it. I've thought about blogging for years but never got around to it. Well truth be told I'm not a big fan of writing-I would rather make stuff. But I'm hoping this will be inspiring to others and I hope to learn a few things about myself as well.

I'm a professional artist living near St Louis MO. I'm largely self taught (I have a degree in commercial art way back in the day). I consider myself a figure painter but a few years ago I rented an art studio with some friends of mine who were potters. The clay looked so inviting, you can smash, bang and smoosh it. The first time I tried it I was hooked. Now I divide my time between painting and ceramic work.

Lately I've been experimenting with different supports and mixed media. For instance painting on glass or aluminum and also different papers that I attach to boards with acrylic gel medium. This painting I started with a paper they use for those photo books and applied it to a board.

I call this one "Gold Tim" I really like the way the gold leaf shimmers in the light. It is painted on a board and it measures 12"x12"