Oil on 3/8" Board. Approx 8"x8" SOLD
Yet another commission. I painted this one a while ago. I'm still making great progress on the complex commission I've been working on. Was hoping to finish it this week but it will definitely go into next week...but well worth the extra days.
Oil on Gallery Wrapped Canvas. Approx 36"x42" SOLD
This is the full size version of the sketch I posted about a month ago. I has been shipped and delivered safe and sound. That was a relief. I was pretty nervous letting this go to the shipper even though I wrapped it up well. Anyway, This one was a biggie and I'm glad it has been checked off the list. I have another commission that is long over due in the works right now...and I can't wait to deliver that one.
Oil on 3/8" Board. Approx 8"x8" SOLD
My favorite part of this painting are the two lighter wood stripes on the cutting board. I think it was what this composition needed to keep thorough interest throughout.
Oil on 3/8" Board. Approx 8"x8"
I was so excited to start this painting. The problem with that is I didn't even make sure the hanging groove notched in the back was lined up with the top of the painting. SO the hanging groove is on the side. It could be "modern art" if you hang it that way...or it could be displayed a variety of other ways. With all that said, the starting price is a bit lower for this size.
Oil on Board. Approx 8"x3.75"
For purchase info, please email michael@mnaples.com
I loved the cloud formation and colors in this scene. I wanted to capture the seclusion of the building structure.
Oil on 1/8" Board. Approx 6"x6" SOLD
Here is another commission. I love to revisit the avocado theme. I have a larger painting in the works with this subject. I can't wait to get back into a groove of solid painting. It's killing me being away from the studio but I am loving the time with my kids. That's for sure.
Graphite on Strathmore Bristol Board. Approx 6"x6"
For purchase info, please email michael@mnaples.com
Here is a different offering today. This is something I was able to work on while being on baby duty since there was no mess and fumes. Safe for all new borns. This will also serve as a value study for a large version of this that I have in the works. Stay tuned for that.
Oil on 1/8" Board. Approx 6"x6" SOLD
This was a challenging painting but I tried to keep the expressiveness in the brush strokes. It was also a challenge to get the egg yolk to stay in the center of the flour. I don't really know my way around the kitchen so I was out of my element setting this one up.
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Oil on 1.5" Gallery Wrap Canvas. Approx 18"x18" SOLD
Yet another commission. This time it's of a painting I did a couple of years ago, except it 18" square. I have a few large painting in the works and I really like the increased amount of space to paint. The small paintings are always great but these are a new greatness. I still need to work out a method of photographing bigger pieces.
Oil on 3/8" Board. Approx 8"x8" SOLD
Here is another commission. I was nervous starting this one because I'm not one to paint logos, type, etc. but I really enjoyed the details in this one. It makes me rethink my position on painting logos.
Oil on 1/4" Board. Approx 7"x12" SOLD
I can't believe another month has gone by. Here is the next challenge painting. The subject this time was pantry shelves and/or cabinets. I sat at my kitchen table to paint this corner of my kitchen that I am most familiar with...the corner with the coffee maker.
Oil on 1/4" Gessoboard. Approx 7"x9" NFS
This is a sketch I did for a large commission I received from a wonderful lady in Oklahoma. When I say large, I mean it's the largest painting I have done to date at 36"x42". That justified me doing a sketch first. I will post the finished large one sometime in the near future. In the meantime, since painting is a little slow because of the new baby and getting into a new schedule, I will be posting a few auctions for work that has recently become available again. You may click here to view the first.
Baby Lola is here. Two weeks early but Mother and baby are healthy and home. She was born last Thursday, 9/3 weighing 8lbs. 2oz. Lucy is a proud big sis who loves giving kisses to her new baby sister. She still doesn't like sharing her space and toys but soon enough they will be best friends.
Oil on 1/8" Gessoboard. Approx 6"x6"
For purchase info, please email michael@mnaples.com
I love how the cast shadow from the mug hangs over the edge of the mantle. Also I very much like the "log cabin" feel in this composition. On a side note, I am scrambling to finish things I have in the works because in about two weeks our second baby will be born. I can't wait. Time has been dragging and flying by all at the same time. Do you know what I mean...?
Oil on 1/4" Gessoboard. Approx 4"x8" SOLD
I was in the mood for something colorful yet simple.
Oil on 1/8" Gessoboard. Approx 6"x6" SOLD
This is a view from downtown Glen Ellyn. My wife and I spent some time down there this past weekend. The weather was great, too. We finally have some Summer temps.
Oil on 1/8" Gessoboard. Approx 6"x6" SOLD
From sunny sunsets to rainy rainbows. This was my view from my driveway. My main goal was to capture the density in the air, the humidity, and the misty rain coming down. Don't forget...you can't have a rainbow without the rain. Another note - I painted this whole painting with a #10 flat brush. It was huge and that made the painting go quick..and I don't feel I sacrificed any detail either. It's one of my favs right now.
Oil on 1/8" Gessoboard. Approx 6"x6" SOLD
This is a photo I took when I was visiting my friends in LA over Memorial Day. They took me to Santa Monica beach which is a place I will never forget for a number of reasons. On our way back to the car the sun was setting and you could see the slight haze over the mountains. Incredible view.
Oil on 1/8" Gessoboard. Approx 6"x6" SOLD
This is a building in downtown Wheaton. I have really enjoyed summer nights on the weekends walking around the downtown area with my family. Good times.
Oil on 1/8" Gessoboard. Approx 8"x8" SOLD
Here is the next challenge painting. The subject this time was an unmade bed.
I love how you can see both halves of the avocado reflected in the blue bowl even though only the seeded half is showcased in the foreground. I hope to use this bowl more predominantly in the near future. It has a cool look to it.
This poor little lemon. About to get sliced and diced. He sure will taste good squeezed into some iced tea, though.
This is a church from downtown Elmhurst. It is a older upscale neighborhood. We were visiting our friend who just had a baby at the hospital in Elmhurst and I snapped this photo at a stop light.
Here is the second Alaska painting. What a perfect shot of the glowing cruise ship next to the moon.
For purchase info, please email michael@mnaples.com
From palm trees to an Alaskan sunset. A co-worker went on an Alaskan cruise a few weeks ago. When I was flipping through her photos, I just had to paint a couple. There may be another from the alaskan series soon.
Another shot from LA. I don't get to see many palm trees. Maybe every few of years or so. To me, they are a mysterious tree. So thin and tall yet so strong. They sway like crazy without breaking. And are a pleasure to paint with their expressiveness.
This painting kind of had a slow start to it. It wasn't until the last half hour or so when the intensity and drama really came out. At that point it was like "achieving flow". Runners talk about that sort of thing (at least I did when I was a runner). When you're on a long run, at 8 or 9 miles of an 18 miler you just hit a groove where the rest of the miles just flow right by. Now that I am reminiscing about those day I really miss it. Any other runners out there reading this?
This is a scene from LA when I was there over Memorial Day weekend. I was driving in my friend's car and saw this bug on the side of the road. I wiped out my camera and took this photo. He probably thought I it was strange since it wasn't a major landmark or a tourist attraction. Oh well, I like how this painting turned out.
The whole time I was painting this I kept thinking about an artist's blog that I always visit. Jeremy Geddes. He paints cosmonauts and these reminded me of the helmets. Check this guy out. His work is deliciously morbid and super realistic. I love it.
Oil on 1/8" Gessoboard. Approx 6"x6" SOLD
Here is the next challenge painting. This time it was my turn to choose the subject. I wanted to pick something I haven't painting in years...self portrait. I picked a pose that didn't show my receding hair line.
Oil on 1/8" Gessoboard. Approx 6"x6" SOLD
This darn utility pole again. I love it tough. I could walk out into my backyard any day of the week and see this in a new way each time. This time I caught a bird perfectly perched on the wire.
Oil on 1/8" Gessoboard. Approx 6"x6" SOLD
A little different take on the same strawberry. I have never painted a strawberry in such detail before these. They are crazy little things. All those seeds, highlights and reflecting light. It is a plethora of value and color transitions.
Oil on 1/8" Gessoboard. Approx 6"x6" SOLD
Simple but detailed today. I really enjoyed painting this strawberry. From the reflected light to those very specific highlights.
Oil on 3/8" Canvas Board. Approx 8"x8" SOLD
Here is something that is not so typical of me...and I like it. I used an 8x8 board with a groove for a hanger already cut in the back so framing is optional.
Oil on 1/8" Gessoboard. Approx 6"x6" SOLD
I took this snap shot on one of our road trips to Tennessee. I think I spent more time on the background then on the water tower itself. I tried to keep the trees simple but detailed enough to not be recognizable.
Oil on 1/8" Gessoboard. Approx 6"x6" SOLD
This setup seemed to defy the norm when it comes to light and shadow. The tomato didn't really have a shadow area. Instead that area was close to the local color and light/midtones were lightened to accommodate. I hope that makes sense. Just know that it was weird but interesting to view.
Oil on 1/8" Gessoboard. Approx 6"x6" SOLD
I have a larger painting in the works of a composition very similar to this. I hope to get it done in the next couple of weeks. We'll see. I liked how these pears seemed to be cuddled together nice and cozy.
Oil on 1/8" Gessoboard. Approx 6"x6" SOLD
If you were following my auctions you may have noticed that ebay removed ALL of my paintings. They accused me of breaking rules and regs but I simply didn't. It's too late now, they took the auctions down. All the bids and watchers..gone. On top of that, they suspended my account from auction style listings for the next 2 weeks so I can only do fixed price listings until then. SO I relisted my current paintings as fixed price listings so now the first bid wins. I apologize for all the inconvenience and hope that the interested parties return. Thanks!
Oil on 1/8" Gessoboard. Approx 6"x6" SOLD
This church is located in downtown Lombard. Right on Main Street if you didn't guess that already.
Oil on 3/8" Canvas Board. Approx 9"x12" SOLD
This painting took two days. It just so happens that those two days were about a month apart. It's something I couldn't drag myself back to to complete. Finally yesterday, I dug my heels in a finished it. I really like the result. Typically my paintings are done in one sitting so there is essentially one layer. Having two layers on this one helped judge the values and color to be more accurate and attractive...at least to me. Sorry for the glare on the photo, I have trouble shooting anything bigger then 6x6. I need someone to come teach me how to photograph.
Oil on Board. Approx 8"x8" SOLD
I missed the challenge from last month but I am back on track this month. The challenge was to paint something shiny from your kitchen...right up my alley. I revisited these two items from my arsenal. Next month is my turn to choose the challenge and the gears are turning.
Oil on 1/8" Gessoboard. Approx 6"x6" SOLD
I painted this utility pole once before. It is just at the edge of my back yard. I couldn't resist this with the pink sky. I don't use much pink in my paintings so this was a nice change. I really like how the power lines turned out.
Oil on 1/8" Gessoboard. Approx 6"x6" SOLD
And here is the fortune cookie from that night of chinese take out a while back. Any guesses as to what the fortune says?
Oil on 1/8" Gessoboard. Approx 6"x6" SOLD
I have a large pear painting in progress so wanted to use this one as a little study of the color and value variety of the pear. I watched a short you tube video from Richard Schmid and he said "It's better to have put a color in then to not have put it in at all". I think that is because once it's in you can adjust it, but without it there is no basis to start from. Those words stuck with me and this painting has more color variation then my usuals...which I like.
Oil on 3/8" Canvas Board. Approx 8"x8" SOLD
It didn't dawn on me to paint the left over chinese food box until I opened my fridge a couple days later. It was like a light from above shining down. I was instantly inspired. I felt compelled to use a larger board for this one. It is a 3/8" thick board that has a groove for a hanger already cut in the back so framing is optional.
Oil on 1/8" Gessoboard. Approx 6"x6" SOLD
This is actually a Mother's Day gift for my Mom. It's a bit late but I couldn't find cherries anywhere at that time. Anyway I hope it's worth the wait, Mom.
