"White Study with Mug"

Oil on 1/8" Gessoboard. Approx 6"x6"

For purchase info, please email michael@mnaples.com

Sometimes you have to go back to the basics. I wanted to do a value study with general light tones while still keep form and dimension to the object.

"Peeled Orange No.3"

Oil on 1/8" Gessoboard. Approx 6"x6" SOLD

This orange feels solid and strong. That's why i like it. I focused a lot on edges in this painting - mainly trying to keep them soft.

Another New Portrait

Graphite on Bristol Board. Approx 8"x11" SOLD

Here's the second portrait. The last for a while. I may take a break from the mountain scapes for some still lifes. Stay tuned for those.

"Untouched Peaks"

Oil on 1/8" Gessoboard. Approx 6"x6"

For purchase info, please email michael@mnaples.com

As we drove through and up the mountains we were pondering the fact that humans may have never stopped foot on the mountains tops we were looking at. That's a deep thought.

"Mountain Ridge"

Oil on 1/8" Gessoboard. Approx 6"x6" SOLD

I wanted to focus on the background more on this painting. Really trying to capture the atmosphere in those mountains.

"Sunlit Church"

Oil on 1/8" Gessoboard. Approx 6"x6" SOLD

Gatlinburg, TN is filled with spirituality. Churches and Jesus references everywhere. What attracted me to this scene was how the sun seemed to peak through the clouds at the perfect moment. Almost like it was shining only on this church. I took a snap shot while in a moving vehicle.

"Black Crow"

Oil on 1/8" Gessoboard. Approx 6"x6" SOLD

In the mountains, we pulled up to a look out point. One of those views where you can see the entire horizon of gorgeous mountains. As soon as I stepped out of the car I saw this crow standing there and I had to snap a photo. It was the good lighting that caught my eye.

"Cloud Study No.2"

Oil on 1/8" Gessoboard. Approx 6"x6"

For purchase info, please email michael@mnaples.com

For the past 10 years or so, I've wanted to paint a ceiling with clouds. I just never had the guts to do it. It certainly would be a 'one sitting' painting. If I did do that it would probably look something like this painting.

"Utility Pole with Mountains"

Oil on 1/8" Gessoboard. Approx 6"x6" SOLD

A couple of weeks ago we went to the smokey mountains. I took a bunch of photos and I started painting the good ones. This is the first.

New Portrait

Graphite on Bristol Board. Approx 8"x11" SOLD

Here is the first of two commissioned portraits. The second one should be posted sometime next week. I wrote yesterday about a blog award. Well two great painters picked my blog to receive this award and I am flattered. Those two artists are Jennifer Phillips and LC Neill. The rules are you list 7 things you love and pick 7 others to pass the award to. So here it goes...

Seven things I love:
1. My wife, daughter, and not yet born baby.
2. My studio
3. Power Tools
4. My iPhone
5. Cheeses of all kinds
6. Doing things myself (as opposed to hiring 'a professional'
7. A pint of good beer

Seven artist who deserve the award (there's many more than seven)
Alvin Richard
Sadie J. Valeri
David Jon Kassan
Mike Barr
Jeremy Geddes
Jason Seiler
Stephen Magsig

"Baby Shoes"

Oil on 1/8" Gessoboard. Approx 6"x6 SOLD

Here are the third challenge paintings. The subject this month was your favorite shoes. Mine happen to belong to my daughter, Lucy. I can't believe she will be one next month. Time flies.

Single Samoa

Oil on 1/8" Gessoboard. Approx 6"x6" Sold

Who doesn't love Girl Scout cookies? I think there are 5 seasons; Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring, and Girls Scout Cookie Season. Samoas are one of my favorites along with the peanut butter ones.

I recent have been chosen by a couple fellow daily painters to receive a blog award. When I have more time to type will follow the rules of receiving that award. Stay tuned tomorrow when we post our new challenge paintings for April.

"The Proposal"

Oil on 3/8" Gesso Board. Approx 6"x6" SOLD

This is a custom commission for a couple who is about to be engaged. The baseball player and his soon to be bride. I must say the ring is a beauty. I felt a little paranoid having it in my possession.

"Formal Apple"

Oil on 1/8" Gesso Board. Approx 6"x6" SOLD

I'm back from our road trip '09 and can't wait to paint some of the pics I took. We went to the smokey mountains in Gatlinburg, TN. Great time down there.

I am trying out a new board. It's an 1/8" gesso board that is primed in the same way as my other boards...with black acrylic. It is thinner to work on but I like it.

"Lime with Glass"

Oil on Board. Approx 10"x8" SOLD

This is a commission. I can't really find much to say about it. I like the composition and how the glass looks. There, that was something.

"Corked"

Oil on Board. Approx 6"x6" SOLD

We all post about those paintings that just flow off the brush. Well this is mine. I felt like every stroke I put down was a keeper. A few highlights in the right spots and it was done. I really like how the cast shadow was the color of the bottle. Interesting.

"Two Corks"

Oil on Board. Approx 6"x6" SOLD

Here are a couple of corks I recently acquired. I wanted to really focus on the details of them such as the nooks, cracks and textures.

"Lime Slice"

Oil on Board. Approx 6"x6" SOLD

Well here is a new painting. I just got over a cold a couple weeks ago and then came down with a sinus infection that leveled me all last week. I finally went to the doc for antibiotics because I wasn't getting any better. I guess it's the season. Enough germy blabber, I have a few more paintings this week to finish off the month. Stay tuned...

"Eggplant"

Oil on Board. Approx 6"x6 SOLD

Here are the second challenge paintings. The subject was eggplant...any way you like it. I went more traditional as usual but it was my first time paint this subject.

"Fruit Pastilles No.2"

Oil on Board. Approx 6"x6"

For purchase info, please email susan.brownlow@artunderamonkey.co.uk.

And this is the commission painting. Actually it's kind of a commission. It was requested to be painted to then put up on an online gallery that is in startup mode right now. If you are interested in purchasing, you may do so direct from the site's creator, Susan.

"Fruit Pastilles"

Oil on Board. Approx 6"x6" SOLD

I am back in the studio and feeling 100%. I almost forgot how it felt to be sick but it all came back to me really fast. Anyway, this is a candy from the United Kingdom. It was a commission (which I will post tomorrow) but I thought I would do a composition for myself...I mean to offer for sale. I didn't even eat one of these little candies.

"Hanging Key"

Oil on Board. Approx 5.5"x11.5" SOLD

I have painted this key in the past, but this one is by far my favorite. One thing I was concentrating on was getting the 'hanging feel' to this. Showing how the center of gravity shifts when the key hangs to the right.

On another note, I am coming down with a cold (first one in 27 months) and might take a few days off.

"Red Sky"

Oil on Board. Approx 5"x6" SOLD

What's the saying? Red sky at night, sailor's delight. Red sky in morning, sailors take warning. Well I guess this would fall under the delight category.

"Twist Off"

Oil on Board. Approx 6"x6" SOLD

Simple but detailed. There isn't much else to say about this except it was a good beer. Also I can't believe February is just about over. That's nuts!

"Espresso with Mug and Spoon"

Oil on Board. Approx 20"x20" SOLD

Here is the reason why i didn't post anything last week. It's 20" square and took a bit longer then I thought it would. Now I have to get to work on a commission that has been sitting around way too long. Coming up in early March (which is next week already) I have a couple more of these 20x20's planned.

"The Line Up" (challenge painting)

Oil on Board. Approx 6"x6" SOLD

This is the first month of a new challenge I was approached about. Diana Botkin coordinated this and we all get to pick a new subject each month. It's a fun little project to paint what you may not usually paint.

"Utility Pole In Sunset Moon"

Oil on Board. Approx 6"x6" SOLD

I love when the sun is setting and the moon gets that glow about it. Also this is my first attempt at a utility pole. I really liked painting the power lines. Implying them but not making them too perfect. It was a good exercise to stay loose yet controlled.

"Pink Mary Janes"

Oil on Board. Approx 6"x6"

For purchase info email susan.brownlow@artunderamonkey.co.uk.

Here is the different take on the mary janes I promised a few posts back. This one was requested to be painted to then put up on an online gallery that is in startup mode right now. If you are interested in purchasing, you may do so direct from the site's creator, Susan.

"Bottle Top"

Oil on Board. Approx 6"x6" SOLD

I got this unique bottle from a lady I work with (thanks Cindy). I couldn't resist this topper with the combination of the glass and metal. Last week i started work on a 20"x20" painting that I hope to post this coming week. We'll see, but I can't wait until I can call it done.

"Pear-tini"

Oil on Board. Approx 6"x6" SOLD

"Baby Janes"

Oil on Board. Approx 6"x6" Commission SOLD

I received this commission based on my other Mary Janes painting. These shoes were actually shipped to me to be specifically used. That made it personal for the collector. Also, I have another Mary Janes painting coming up. It's kind of the opposite of the first 2.

"Antique Silver Creamer"

Oil on Board. Approx 6"x6" SOLD.

Another new still life item. This looked medieval to me. Also, for whatever reason, when you touch this creamer your skin picks up some sort of funk on it. The silver doesn't have an odor by its self but if you touch it your hand will smell. Weird.

"Silver Lining"

Oil on Board. Approx 6"x6" SOLD

I just bought this silver bowl last week even though I said to myself that I wasn't going to buy new still life items until I painted more of my current (but not yet painted) stash. I really like how it looks and will definitely use it in the future.

"Golden"

Oil on Board. Approx 4"x7" SOLD

Here is another one of the still life items I purchased quite a while ago that I never got around to painting...until now. I really like how this turned out with the warmth of the subject against the cool background.

"Milk Bottle On Sill"

Oil on Board. Approx 6"x6" SOLD

It was perfect when I saw the sun hitting the window sill like this. I had to capture the moment with this antique milk bottle.

"PB and J Knife"

Oil on Board. Approx 7"x4" SOLD

A little bit of a different take on my favorite subject...the peanut butter and jelly.

"Reflecting on the Reflective"

Oil on Board. Approx 8"x8" SOLD

I have a large number of still life items in my studio. I have bought a bunch but have yet to paint them. This creamer is one of those that I am finally painting. It a challenging subject because it's so reflective. The color is a bit brown, purple, blue...it all depends on how the light is hitting it.

"Early Risers"

Oil on Board. Approx 8"x8" SOLD

Well I've said before that I love coffee and the mugs that go with it. My favorite is this thick diner mug. This is a bit larger then my usual daily paintings. I have some boards that are different sizes that I will be painting on in the near future.

"Side By Side"

Oil on Board. Approx 11"x6" SOLD

"Clementine with Reflection"

Oil on Board. Approx 3.875"x6" SOLD

I tried pulling a Carol Marine today. What does that mean you ask? It means you crank out a painting while your child is napping. I really didn't have much time because I knew it would be a short nap. But I still managed to complete this small study of a clementine.

2008 has been a great year for me. I sold my old house, bought a new (better) house, had my first baby, and did 171 daily paintings. Not too shabby. I have some big goals for the new year to come and when I'm back from holiday break I will get started on those goals. Happy New Year to everyone who's reading this.

"Sunlit"

Oil on Board. Approx 10"x4" SOLD

I've said in the past that I'm not much of a floral painter but I think this painting could be my all time favorites. It was one of the quickest too, which is always a good thing.

"Holiday Drink No.3"

Oil on Board. Approx 8"x6" SOLD

I hope every had a great Christmas. I know we did. Here is the third and final painting of this drink series.

"Holiday Drink No.2"

Oil on Board. Approx 6"x6" SOLD

Here is the second version. I do have a third version in the works but may not get that one done before the Holiday. I thought I was doing good on time and now al of a sudden I'm in a panic. Shopping, wrapping, etc.

"Holiday Drink No.1"

Oil on Board. Approx 6"x6" SOLD

I actually painted this one on Thursday but haven't had a chance to post it until now. Busy, busy. The no.2 version of this is coming tomorrow. Stay tuned...

"Holiday Spirits"

Oil on Board. Approx 9"x12"

I noodled over a title for this piece with my wife. A few suggestions were "The Happy Couple", "Holiday Spirits", "BFF's". Anyway this is the last Christmas commission for the year. I'd like to say that I am done for the year but i will be posting at least 5 more paintings this month. Going into the new year, I have three or four larger paintings I am planning out. I really can't wait to get those in the works. Soon it will be time to recap 2008 and collect my thoughts on the year to come. It should be an exciting year.

Another New Portrait

Graphite on Bristol Board. Approx 8"x11"

Last portrait before Christmas. I still have one painting commission left then it's back to a normal schedule. I kinda can't wait. I have a few ideas waiting to go and I'm getting anxious to do them. Anyway the next painting is a 9x12 and it's detailed. Stay tuned...

New Portrait

Graphite on Bristol Board. Approx 8"x11"

Another portrait. This is the second to last one for the holiday season. I can't wait. I count them down every year. The truth is I don't enjoy doing them. I used to years ago, but now I'm only interested in painting. The process is so much quicker and more satisfying. At the same time these are jobs and I appreciate having them so I should stop complaining.

"Spoon Study"

Oil on Board. Approx 6"x4" SOLD

I did this little spoon study in my typical gray palette. I have received a few emails lately asking about how I achieve the grays that I do. Well, first I mix burnt sienna and ultramarine blue to get as close to black as I will go. Then I can add titanium white to get the grays. If I want a warmer gray I'll add more burnt sienna or maybe yellow ochre and if I want cooler grays, I'll add more ultramarine or maybe cerulean blue.

"Taffy Apple"

Oil on Board. Approx 6"x8" SOLD

This is the first time I've painted a taffy apple. My favorite part is the reflective nature of the caramel. The color almost goes to a deep purple in the shadow on the caramel. Truly a fun one to paint.

New Portrait and Book News

Graphite on Bristol Board. Approx 8"x11"

When I think of artistic challenges this portrait would probably be number one. It was borderline torture at certain times but absolutely satisfying when I completed it today. It is actually a gift for my Aunt and I can't wait to show it to her.

In other news, I put up an auction for my book of my Daily Paintings. It's a 56-page full color book that features the first 300 of my daily paintings. A great holiday gift idea. If you're interested you can click here.