A quick canvas...

Here's a little (9"x12") thing I did from a found photo.  I really liked the idea and was thinking of going for one of those late 60's early 70's illustration styles, but I always end up as myself.  Go figure.

Poster Contest

Here are the stages of my work on a design for the Marin Sonoma Concours d'Elegance.  All they wanted was a rough idea, so...


I started off with my rough, duh.

Then I decided to use acrylics on paper.  Why? Because I'm broke. That's why.  Not as much curling on the paper as I would have thought.

At first I sketched out the car free hand, but I decided to check myself with the projector.
Which showed that while I had the proportions right between all the elements I had put a bit of a bend on the car that just wouldn't do.  So I traced over my sketch.  Hey, If it's good enough for Vermeer and Ingres, It's good enough for me.  The original photo had different highlights and reflections so I got to make up my own.  Not too bad for someone who hasn't drawn a car in ages, I thought.  Then came choosing the background color.  the step above shows that red didn't work, and cream wasn't doing it either.

Neither was green so I got the image into photoshop and after cleaning up the background I decided on this grey/blue thing.

I sure hope they choose my design.  Fingers crossed.  Total work put in: 6 hours.

Look what I found...

Seems that google dude is on to something.  Since there is no way I've found to search within blogspot to find other artists I found this http://artblogs4u.blogspot.com/  I'll let y'all know if it works. 

In other news I'll be starting more sketches tomorrow but for now here's one from the files.  Then comes a sketch for a Concourse d'Elegance thing.  It's only $500 if you win the competition  to paint the poster but, hey,  money is money.

My other Bible...

Samuel Welo's Hand lettered reference book of typography.  When I first was shown this book while working as a paste up artist my jaw dropped and I have used this for many, many projects.  Also great just to look at.  I was finally able to get a first edition after 35 years.  I love this book.

 Studio Handbook

My other, other Bible...

Creative Illustration If I had only found this book 30 years ago...

duh...

Here's a recent piece...Acrylic on canvas. I painted on top of some thrift store floral landscape, y'know the kind with those lurid almost fluorescent pinks and blues.  Great way to save money on supplies, I tell ya.

Hello

Howdy, y'all.  New blog thingy as I, unemployed, am trying to get my art out there as much as I can.  Let's see if this works.