Oil on Board. Approx 6"x6" SOLD
It's been a couple of weeks since I have posted but I have been quite busy. First off, I have been painting a number of commissions. This is one of them. A small collection of Mad magazines from over 40 years ago.
Second is, our third daughter was born on December 15th. She looks just like her 2 sisters when they were new borns. Cute as a button. Photo is courtesy of Julie Ferenzi Photography. Click the link and "like" her page.
Oil on Board. Approx 10"x10" SOLD
This is another piece that sold at Susan Powell Fine Art before I could even post it here. I really like how this one turned out. It is what I strive for in my work. A balance of warm and cool, light and dark, and tight and loose.
Oil on 1/4" Board. Approx 6"x6" SOLD
I fixed yesterday's auction. I was finally able to upload the photo. It was a real joy painting all the grooves in this pumpkin.
Oil on 1/4" Board. Approx 6"x6" SOLD
This is a painting of my kids' drawings. The flower was drawn by my 3 year old, Lucy, and the drawing on the top was done by my 2 year old, Lola. Tomorrow (Monday) is my wife's birthday so I gave this painting to her. She is also due next week with our third girl who will be named Lyla. I guess I will have to redo this painting next year to show drawings from all three daughters. I'm a lucky guy.
Oil on 1/4" Board. Approx 6"x6" SOLD
My wife spotted this leaf and waved me over for a look. She has a good eye.
Oil on Board. Approx 10"x8" SOLD
Another painting for the Susan Powell Fine Art Holiday show. This is the second to last pear painting for a while. I am exploring some new still life objects and compositions. I have 6 more commissions before Christmas but I can't wait to get into some new work. Busy, busy!
Oil on Canvas. Approx 18"x18" SOLD
Another fresh piece for Susan Powell Fine Art. This is one of 3 NEW pieces I have hanging in her Holiday show. I am honored to have one of my paintings on the back of the promotional postcard for the event. For information on other available pieces, please contact the gallery at 203-318-0616 or visit their website at www.susanpowellfineart.com.
Oil on 1/4" Board. Approx 6"x6"
For purchase information, please call Randy Higbee Gallery at 714-546-2156
This is one of my painting hanging in Randy Higbee's 6" Squared Show that Opens tomorrow. I have 3 paintings accepted in this show. It should be a good one...like usual.
Oil on 1/4" Board. Approx 6"x6"
For purchase information, please email michael@mnaples.com
It's been a while since I painted this subject. I almost forgot how much I love capturing these power lines.
Oil on 1/4" Board. Approx 6"x6" SOLD
I got a new antique crate from my parents. It has all the ware and tare I love to capture. Love it.
Charcoal on paper. Approx 11"x14"
For purchase information, please email michael@mnaples.com.
This is from a portrait night a couple weeks ago. It was about an hour of vigorous drawing. You can see 2 other progress shots on my Facebook page if you click on the photo album "2 Hour Portrait Night".
Oil on 1/4" Board. Approx 6"x6" SOLD
If you grew up in the Addison area, then you know all about the North Park Mall. As a kid it was the coolest place to go and our parents loved it because there was one of every store there. They had a pizza place called Garibaldi's and the decor there hadn't changed for decades..classic. This is the exterior sign on the building. It was a commission (for someone who grew up in Addison). A pleasure to paint.
Oil on 1/4" Board. Approx 6"x6" SOLD
I'm in pumpkin mode right now. I had my first pumpkin donut of the season just yesterday...and I liked it.
Oil on 1/4" Board. Approx 6"x6" SOLD
I feel a series coming on! It may take a while to get through them because I have 14 paintings to get done before Christmas. Yikes. Just hearing that makes me nervous.
If you are looking for a cool Christmas gift for yourself or anyone else, let me suggest my newest book "SQUARED". It is available in soft or hard cover and if you order before November 30, you can use the promo code BIGTEN for $10 off your purchase.
Oil on 1/4" Board. Approx 6"x6" SOLD
I showed this painting to my 2 year old, Lola. I asked if she knew what is was and she said "punkin". Hence the title. I love how kids articulate.
Oil on 1/4" Board. Approx 6"x6"
This apple was in our fruit bowl. One look at it and I had to hide it in the studio until I was ready to paint it. That's how it works. Food, silver wear, cups and booze randomly disappear.
Oil on 1/4" Board. Approx 6"x6" SOLD
I received an email from Michel Oosterhout. He has a website called "an apple a day". He asks artists to create a piece of art featuring an apple and email it to him to put on his website. As soon as I finished reading his email, I knew I wanted to include my iPhone in the painting. I really liked capturing the dark sleekness of it as well as the color shift across the Honeycrisp. Fun painting to do.
Charcoal on paper. Approx 12"x19"
For purchase information, please email michael@mnaples.com.
I did the math earlier today and it turns out I haven't used charcoal since college...which was 10 years ago!!! Yikes, that went fast! Anyway it felt great to spread the black dust around for a change.
Oil on 1/4" Board. Approx 6"x6" SOLD
Well, it's pumpkin season in full effect. Pumpkin everything; ice cream, coffee creamer, flavored coffee, pies, muffins, donuts...all pumpkin. And I think we ate all that in one week.
On a side note, if you are reading this via email subscription, I want to let you know I changed the design of my blog. First time in five years! Very exciting...for a geek like me.
Oil on 1/4" Board. Approx 6"x6" SOLD
I've been in the mood for a wine themed painting lately. If you go on my Facebook page (you can find a link on my menu bar on the left of my blog) to see a 30 minute block-in of this painting. I have a few gallery paintings on the list in the near future. Stay tuned...
Oil on 1/4" Board. Approx 10"x10" SOLD
The second commission. These will find their new home in Australia.
Oil on Canvas Board. Approx 11"x14" SOLD
Great model tonight. I had the pleasure of meeting Janice Skivington. She is a fellow blogger and lives in my town of Wheaton. We were bound to meet up sooner or later but it took about 3 years. It's actually her son who modeled. It was a good crowd tonight.
Oil on 1/4" Board. Approx 6"x6"
For purchase information, please email michael@mnaples.com.
I started out with the background much warmer...you know to get that perfect gray? BUT it wasn't working with the warm amber bottle. When I cooled down the background for a better temperature balance, it started to come together. This bottle has such nice detail that I wanted to almost make it a portrait. Capturing all the interesting features including the dust on top and the peeling stickers.
Oil on 1/4" Board. Approx 6"x6" SOLD
I still have three commissions left but since I am caught up on gallery paintings for the time being, I thought I would get back to a small painting. I've been dying to paint this one for about 3 weeks. I think it's currently my favorite. I've been tinkering with gray colors lately and this back ground is right where I want to be. It is on the edge of dark tan and gray. I love it!
Oil on 1/4" Board. Approx 10"x10" SOLD
This is the demo I did last Wednesday night. Thanks to those who came out. It was great to see you. I only got about an hour and twenty minutes of paint time that night but put a little studio time in to finish it.
Oil on Board. Approx 12"x12" SOLD
This piece sold at Susan Powell Fine Art before I could even post it here. In other news, I have a live still life demo I will be doing Wednesday, Sept 28 at the Elk Grove Village Library at 7PM. Come on out and watch me work.
Oil on Canvas. Approx 20"x20" SOLD
Another fresh piece for Susan Powell Fine Art. I aquired a couple of stained glass windows that are quite old. They have layers and layers of paint cracking off. That is what drew me to them. They have character.
Oil on Cradled Board. Approx 12"x12" SOLD
I was invited to participate in a group show that opens this Friday at Mason Murer Fine Art. It is an event for the top shareholders of Coca-Cola so the artwork needed to be coke related. I borrowed this old crate from a friend. I loved all the character it had to offer. A real pleasure to paint! For purchase information, please contact info@masonmurer.com or call the gallery at 404-879-1500.
Oil on Board. Approx 8"x10" SOLD
This is a commission. The younger brother of a girl that I drew a couple of years ago. It's a short week this week which isn't exactly a good thing. I have a lot of things to do and less days to do them in. On that note, it's up to the studio.
Oil on 1/4" Board. Approx 6"x6" SOLD
I can't beieve it's been 10 years since 9/11. It's weird thinking back about that day and the days to follow. Do you remember where you where that morning? I can recall it like yesterday.
I made a time-lapse video of this painting which you can view HERE.
Oil on Board. Approx 8"x8" SOLD
This is a commission. It was a Christmas gift from her son. The customer took her time thinking about what specific items would represent her and her husband. It was a fun one to work on.
In other news, I have officially become apart of the twitter family so please follow me by clicking here. Thanks!
Oil on Board. Approx 10"x8" SOLD
Another fresh piece for Susan Powell Fine Art. I bought these books at the resale shop and I gut them for the ripped up condition they were in. I felt like I was doing a portrait of them by wanting to capture the character they had.
Oil on 1/4" Board. Approx 6"x6" SOLD
I absolutely loved painting the detail in this crate in the background. This is kind of a warm up to a 12x12 I am doing for a group show in Atlanta in September. Now I can't wait to start that one. Too bad I have a couple of others in line before it. Oh...any ideas what kind of crate that is in the background? Or is that a dumb question?
Oil on Board. Approx 9"x13" SOLD
Another fresh piece for Susan Powell Fine Art. For information on other available pieces, please contact the gallery at 203-318-0616 or visit their website at www.susanpowellfineart.com.
Oil on 1/4" Board. Approx 6"x6" SOLD
I absolutely love the shape of this cherry. I hope that doesn't sound weird. The antique wood here is actually an old wash board. It was one of my finds at the resale shop and the only reason I bought it was for the look of the wood. That's how the artist's brain works, I guess.
Oil on 1/4" Board. Approx 6"x6" SOLD
I thought these stems looked like a sword fight...hence the title.
Oil on 1/4" Board. Approx 6"x6"
For purchase information, please email michael@mnaples.com.
I found this bottle and a resale shop recently. I've actually picked up a number of interesting items from there lately. I can't wait to paint them all...maybe all in the same painting.
Oil on 1/4" Board. Approx 6"x6"
For purchase info, please email michael@mnaples.com
This is kind of a frosting study. Love the thickness. Almost abstract.
Oil on 1/4" Board. Approx 6"x6" SOLD
I had this painting in mind for a couple of weeks. Then last saturday, I saw the DailyPaintworks challenge was to "paint what you paint with". Perfect timing for me. This painting is a bit looser and that is what I love about it. I think if I tried to paint every detail and make it really tight, I would have lost all of the drama.
