Owl & Pussycat

 This is a work in progress.  It's a digital sketch for a painting that will be done using acrylics.  These are original character designs of mine for an Illustration for The Owl and the Pussycat from the poem by Edward Lear.  I've started working color, design and compositions digitally before committing to canvas these days.

Latest Paintings...

 I keep forgetting about this blog so I don't post too regularly.  The latest painting I did was a modified copy from an unknown artist I did for a friend who has been on me for years to do.  I flipped the image and removed a figure making a total of 14 people.  I also made it monocromatic and used acrylics because color and oils would have taken for ever to do.  They were happy and that is what matters in the end.

Happy Birthday!...

 I don't keep this blog up consistency, but thought I would include the painting I did for my granddaughters birthday.  She's just turning 11 and is into aquatic life, so I did a painting for her room to celebrate her birthday with an aquatic theme.  It's a bunch of reference material from the internet composed in Photoshop which I transferred to canvas and then painted using acrylic paint.

I'm still getting used to acrylics and approaching it like watercolors. I blocked off the critters using a latex matte and then did a wet wash for the background in blue, then added the critters after removing the mask or matte.  Hope she like it!

Will Vinton Turned 70

I don't know how I forgot to post this but my old boss, Mr. Will Vinton had a 70th birthday celebration this year that I was not able to attend.  I did however paint this portrait for Will with a sculpture of Mark Twain from the celebrated Claymation feature film The Adventures of Mark Twain as my present.

Will is one of the nicest people I've been fortunate enough to meet and so many opportunities were given to me at the Vinton Studios.  I hope Will enjoys many more happy birthdays!

  UPDATE: Unfortunately this was Mr. Vinton's last birthday: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/will-vinton-dead-oscar-winning-legend-claymation-was-70-1149596

Fake Gnus

Fake Gnus

 Click on image to enlarge

This is my latest painting based on an incredible photo I ran across.  I wish I knew who the photographer was so I can give him the proper credit but I chose to do this at the prompting of my wife and the challenge of painting all those textures.  This is another combination of acrylic and oils where I struck in the background with acrylics and to get the foggy haze I did a wash with a thin layer of white.  I did the animals as far as I could in acrylics but turned to oils for more control.  One day I may learn how to use acrylics totally but I'm not there yet.

Acrylic & Oil Portrait in The Works

I've done my first acrylic painting (it's the flowers and hummingbird picture somewhere on this blog), and found it hard to get nice blends.  Other painters I know said you can paint over acrylic with oils, (but you can't go acrylic over oils!). This is my first painting where I struck it in with acrylics and then ended doing a finish in oils.

I'm liking the speed I could do the blocking in and most of the detail.  It's nice to know I can always jump in with oils over the top and will probably work this way from now on. There's more to do but I  think this is promising.

Acrylic Painting Number One

I've expressed my frustration with the drying time oil paints take, and many fellow painters recommend acrylics.  If you paint, you know the expense involved. You really should keep your brushes separate for each media and not cross over from water color to oils, or oils to acrylics.  I already have an extensive oils set and didn't want to buy something I may not use.  Fortunately I was blessed with acrylic supplies by a friend who was giving up painting.  Now I had no excuse and did this painting for my daughter.

I need to do more to really get a technique down and do better blends.  I may have to do a finished past over the top in oils to get what I want, but this is a start.

Smallest Portraits Received

Finished 14"X11" Portraits

Framed Painting

I just received word that the 14"X11" double portrait arrived safely and also a picture of it framed.  Nice choice! 

Smallest Portraits to Date (Work in Progress)

I'm just about done with this 14"x11" commissioned oil painting.  It's been a challenge not only because of the small size, but also because the source photo given to me for reference was aged and color faded.  The client is happy with the likenesses so now I can finish this up soon!  

14"x11" Full Figure Portraits

Detail to Show Scale (Need to clean up areas around brides head)

The Happiest Dogs in the World

The client just picked up their oil portraits of Jessy (little girl dog), and Maverick (big Dane guy), and were glad to get it for the Christmas giving.  This was an almost life sized painting and very fun to work on.  I love Jessie's sweet smile and Mavericks goofy grin!   

I hope the owners enjoy this painting for years to come, and that you all have a Very Merry Christmas!

Maggie and Her Painting

I just received a lovely notice that Maggie MacLean is well pleased with her portrait and so is her owner Kevin. I'm so pleased they both are too. Kevin is a Disney animator now and has many screen credits under his belt. I first met him at the Will Vinton Studios where he was the youngest animator barely out of High school. Go Kevin, go Maggie!

Pet Portraits

Yep, I'm doing oil portraits of our best friends.  My introductory prices are set low to grow the business so you may want to take advantage now before Christmas!

Working off of your favorite picture or photo session.  Prices based on one head, and 50% on each additional head.

Canvas Sizes

8 x 10    $175
11 x 14   $275
16 x 20   $375
20 x 24   $475

(503) 659-2872 or (503) 839-9235

 joelbrink2003@yahoo.com

Miss Daisy Dauschund

Last posting I mentioned finishing up on a pet portrait of Miss Daisy and here she is.  Along with doing humans, I'm offering pets as well.  Now would be a great time to order one for Christmas.

Family Portraits

It's been awhile since I've blogged.  That's a good thing and means I'm busy.  A few portraits have come in and this one was still wet when I took its picture, that's why the screen left upper corner is a little shinny.

I showed the client , (the mother),  work in progress and she started to cry, never a good sign.  It turns out they were happy tears and she cries at everything.   What a relief.

I'm also offering pet portraits and will post Miss Daisy Dachshund soon.

Copying an Ancient Painting

This is a work in progress, and I will update the finished picture when it's ready.  I have this enlargement of an ancient Chinese painting as a background on my computer and my wife liked it enough to want a copy for our house.  The original is fairly damaged and I think it's a water color, so I'm doing mine as a water color.   The original is also deceptiveness full of intricate brush work, and I wonder how long it took to do the whole painting as this is only a small portion?  I'm learning much from doing this.

New Painting_Snowy Owl

Here's an oil painting I just finished and mailed out to it's new owners. The lighting is cheated quite a bit but I call it poetic license, perhaps the bird is flying up to a hidden bounce card that's just off screen?  I did smooth out the background and made the stars more varied but I didn't photograph the finished picture.  Shame on me.

Hummingbirds.

I did a decorative piece on wood for some friends.  They wanted hummingbirds for a picture to be mounted above their newly painted garage which has an overhanging roof over the door. This was way out of my comfort zone because I just don't do decorative paintings.  Anyway, they like it so I'm happy.  This is an oil painting on wood which I sealed with Satin Helmsman Indoor/Outdoor Spar Urethane.

The tail going over the border is a trick I picked up from my mother who would paint hands, or a feather in a hat or something, breaking outside the picture and over the border.  She did one of me as a kid where my one arm looked like it was leaning on the border and my hand hung over and cast a shadow.  I wish I had that painting now, and wonder where it is.

 

Oil Portraiture Price List

Sprinkled throughout this blog are oil portraits I've done, and I considered putting together a brochure to see if there might be some interest. Well, here it is, my price list for portraiture. After doing a lot of price comparisons with other artists, figuring in the cost of shipping and materials, I think this is a pretty good value.

To clarify what I hope the brochure says, I will work off your favorite photos, or do a photo shoot depending on your location. I can work off good quality digital images, if you choose, or scan hard copies you send, and return the originals after scanning.

Please call or email using the provided info, if interested, and we can set up a consultation. There is a payment of half down/half on delivery to ensure the cost of materials, and shipping and handling after completion. I estimate a four to six week turnaround to do the actual painting once images and other considerations have been met. If complications arise, you will be notified. Other considerations are covered in a contract for both of our satisfaction. I'm excited about creating for someone a family treasure and personal heirloom.

 Better quality pictures can be found here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/29289570@N00/

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Oil Portraiture

Here's a new painting of a great couple who have become family.  This is a 20 x 24 inch canvas, the largest I've done to date.

Water-color Roos

I found this old water-color of mine which dates back to the 70's.  I remember this was done after reading about Maxfield Parrish who had experience with color printing.  He painted in color separations like a printers plates, using a layer of varnish to separate each color layer.  I don't remember if he had any order to which color got applied first, but essentially he did a blue, yellow, red, and black layer, all separated by the varnish. It allowed him to wipe off or alter a color without disturbing the color layer below. Then he would commit the whole thing by sealing it with a last coat of varnish.  I guess to see one of his painting was almost like looking into a 3D image because of the depth achieved by the many layers he used.  Pretty cool, huh?

Well, now, back to my picture.  I tried a quicker version using a translucent water color and doing a red, yellow and blue wash just to see how it might work.  I did the kangaroos and laid in the background but never felt inclined to finish it for some reason.  Anyway, having rediscovered this picture, I kind of like the dreamlike quality to it now, so I'll frame it and hang it on my wall.

I tried two other water-colors using this technique and they have appeared elsewhere on this blog, but here they are again.  I'm not sure if it's more effective than mixing colors using water-color, but I think it may be cool to try in oils, like Parrish, and using the varnished layers.  Maybe one day I will finally try it.