Self portrait-caricature

Self portrait sketch

"Reflection"
Self portrait - pencil 6x4

Fountain at Blue Jacket Park

This weeks plein air adventure was at Blue Jacket Park
here in Orlando. The park is where the old naval training base
used to be. It was sad to see the base close up years ago but at least the local government saw fit to set aside land for a park.
and it does have a beautiful fountain.

En Plein Air

"Park path" oil on canvas 9x12
My second time out to paint en plein air.

Snow Bird oil on panel 12x9

This was painted from a photo a friend
of mine took this winter.
                                                

Transitions

For most of my life my medium of choice has been the pencil, graphite or color. Heck, I currently make my living using them. However, I'm really hoping to begin painting seriously. I've picked up the brush from time to time over the years but with not much success. I guess it's because of lack of training and just not doing it as much as I do drawing.
So anyway, you can look forward to seeing more of paintings in this blog. Hopefully, I'll post things on a more regular basis. I know I've said that before but I'm going to try.
I welcome any comments or advice on my work. I feel this is the only way I will get better.
I'm a big fella so don't be afraid to be critical if you need to be, I can take it. Hey, I survived art college and some of those teachers made students cry.
God bless.

Cindy's Castle 

acrylic  11x14

  This was done for a dear lady I work with. I'll be the first to admit

I have a lot to learn about painting but I think I'm showing signs of improvement,

it was a joy to work on and the castle is such a great subject.

 I worked from a photograph, it's not the best way for a number of reason

but since setting up an easel and painting in the park is not really an ideal situation

what else could I do. Expect at least one more castle painting from me in the next

few months.

 Making a new friend

You never know who you might meet.

  Over the years that I've worked at Disney I have met literally thousands of people. Most are just quick visits, they buy my sketches and they leave. Some will stay and talk about the park or their vacation. Then there are those who will form somewhat of a friendship with me. They come back every year to visit, perhaps they'll buy another sketch or watch to add to their collection or they might just stop buy to say hi. It's always nice to see them again.

  I've also learned over the years how much of an influence I've been. More than a few times I've been told that from some of the young aspiring artists who visit me.

  A few days ago I had one such experience. A person I've actually never met before came to the gallery to meet me. Linda was a very nice young lady who was a "fan" of my art that she saw here on my blog. When she told me that I thought to myself  WOW! I have a fan. How cool is that. Of course people like my Disney sketches because it's Disney characters. Who doesn't like Mickey Mouse, right. But it was my personal work she was a fan of and that really excited me. That's pretty cool.

 So we talked for a few minutes about her own art and I got a picture taken with her. Linda was so very nice and I just want to say thanks to her and her father for stopping by and making my day.

 Thanks again Linda. All my best to you as you pursue your art.

 I hope to make this a better blog by adding more art soon and on a regular basis.

 Keep visiting!

Cindy's Castle

Cinderella"s Castle at Magic Kingdom

 This is a drawing I did for a great friend to give to his wife as a wedding gift. It has a lot of detail work but it was a lot of fun as well.

concept for new painting

This is a rough digital painting that I'm working on for my mom. The final painting will be done traditionally on canvas

Portrait of a friend

I recently completed a portrait of a friend from work who just happens to be an amazing photographer. His wife maria commissioned me to do it for him as a gift from her. I hadn't done a portrait in quite some time so I was eager to do it and it was a lot of fun. Plus it was nice to take a break from drawing cartoons all the time and do something realistic.

in the upper left corner of the picture you'll see a photo I used as reference. This is obvious a take on the old Norman Rockwell "Self Portrait" painting that has become so famous over the years. By the way Rockwell has always been one of my all time favorite artists.

Study from a painting by Malcolm Liepke

I needed to brush up on some of my
digital painting skills so I took a painting
by Malcolm Liepke to study. Liepke is
an amazing figurative artist. His art has influenced
not only painters but fashion designers, photographers
etc. His works are very expressive and I love his use of
broad brush strokes and patterns in his works.
For this study I used the oil paint brush in Painter
I really have a lot to learn using this
product but I really like the feel of it.

Been busy

I haven't posted lately because I've been busy...well, you know all that stuff we like to call just life. It get's in the way sometimes and it wont let you do the things you want.

New art coming soon

I've got a couple of new illustrations I'm developing  right now
and I'll post soon ( hopefully ). They should be a lot of fun to
create. Hopefully they'll be good enough to put in my portfolio.
Stay "tooned"!

Welcome

To all those, young and old, who come to this happy
blog may your visits be frequent and enjoyable.

Well I'll be

   This is what I might look like if I was
   a cowboy. Get a long 'lil doggies.