New Sebbie

Things have been busy in the studio. I'm working on a commission of a large floral still life, starting a full length portrait I've wanted to do for ages, working a lots of little floral studies because it's that time of year and I love them, trying to keep up on the Sebbie demand without losing the joy of painting them, and I'm plotting to get back into etching because I loved it so much. So far all parts are going well--it's an exciting time. Below is an image of the latest Sebbie, I haven't decided on a title just yet, but I was thinking about Antoine de Saint-Exupéry while I was working on it (the baobab tree started it, but something about the rest of the piece kept him and The Little Prince in mind,) so I'm thinking of calling it "Night Flight" as a rather roundabout tribute. 

Salon International 2014

The 2014 Salon International hosted by Greenhouse Fine Art opens this weekend in San Antonio, Texas. It looks like a great show, hope you stop by if you're in the area! Sebbie will be there, if you can spot him, wish him luck!

Incognito

New Gallery

I'm delighted to announce that I now have the privilege of being represented by Marine Arts Gallery in Salem, Massachusetts. It is extra exciting to be adding a gallery close to home as I'll able to attend the special events and openings I usually miss out on at the galleries further afield. Sebbie and Friends at the Shadow Play is the first piece to take up residence in the gallery, more will follow soon!

It looks alright if you squint

I spent a bit of this afternoon doing quick studies of roses on panel. It was a lovely reminder of why I don't usually work alla prima, but also a great exercise in preparation for the larger composition floral still life I'm about to start in earnest. I'm mostly disappointed with this study, but it does look about right if you squint at it--which is how I'm always telling my students their paintings should be after their first day, so I thought I'd share it anyway. Bigger and better things to come soon!

Drawing...

I'm teaching a drawing workshop the next two Saturdays. It's been a long time since I've taught any drawing other than academic figure drawing, and even that was awhile ago. I thought I should get back into the drawing mindset by doing some drawing myself in the studio--I usually just skip right to the painting part. Thus the little drawing below came into existence. I liked it a lot more before I started adding white chalk--I kind of made a mess of it--but I didn't take a picture at that stage, so I'm sharing this version. I know I don't spend enough time drawing, so it was wonderful to spend some time focused on it just for the exercise of it without worrying too much about the finished piece, as I do so often in painting.

Sebbie's hanging out in Charleston

Wild! Life! opens tonight at Principle Gallery in Charleston. Sebbie will be there hanging out with some awesome paintings, I wish I could join him! The show's open through March, stop by if you're in the area.

Salon International 2014

I'm happy to announce that this will be my fifth year showing at Greenhouse Gallery's Salon International, as this little painting made it through the jury: 

Also, here's a day two progress picture of my lemon tree portrait: