Robyn

 Robyn

oil on masonite, 10"x12"

Nao+Atsuko

Nao+Atsuko

12x16 in. oil on panel

This one took a while, but I finally finished it.

Azumi

The mighty, mighty Azumi posing with the painting I had done of him earlier this year.

 

Keira

6x8in., oil on masonite

Wwa: what makes you happy?
K: Seriously?
Wwa: yeah.
K: OK. Right now, I feel happy when I give or contribute to other people making a personal discovery they feel good about - whether that is finding a Lego piece for Emile so he can finish his Millennium falcon, supporting my actors though previews as we come to our opening night, or seeing Emile's friends excited at the storm trooper costume we stayed up till 2:00 a.m. making...too cheesy?
Wwa: nope. Thanks

Mouse

 Kimchi and I have been living together for 3 years. This is the first mouse she ever caught in that time. IT happened last Friday.

As a proud papa, I thought I'd either bronze the mouse or paint it to immortalize the moment. I went with the latter.

oil on masonite. 8x10in.

I couldn't leave well enough alone. I had to be an "artist". I spent way too much time on this one, which was meant to be a quick study.

Renata

 Some process images leading to the completed portrait.

Renata
oil on masonite, 18"x 24"

Paul

Oil on masonite, 6 x8 in.

Q: What makes you happy?

A: To be stress free.
Q: Have you achieved it yet?
A: No.

 

Paul is a general contractor… good luck with the stress, Paul.

Anita

Oil on masonite. 6 x 8 in.
Q: What makes you happy?
A: A good movie that makes me cry. Not like a tear jerker flick, but a film where the story and writing is so seamless that the beauty of the actions that unfurl on screen move me to tears. Catharsis.

Lina

Lina
oil on masonite, 18 x 24 in.

Q: What makes you happy?
A: A force of will and peace of mind.

 

And so it begins…

 

A process shot was taken after each session.

Lina holding the final image.

I can't say enough good things about Lina. We spent the last 4 Sundays getting her portrait done. She was amazing. A mountain. Didn't budge. Thanks, Lina!

Family 1: wife/mother/daughter/sister

Q: What makes you happy?
A: My family, my fur babies, knitting, sleep, sunshine, good food, good friends!

Hidetaka

Q: What makes you happy?
A: Knowing that I have people who care about me… or pizza.

Twins: Rick 1 + Rick 2

Q: What makes you happy?
A: The unexpected. Contradictions, broken stereotypes, people out of the norm are what make me smile.

Azumi, the mighty, mighty titan

Julia

My largest painting yet. I learned a lot from this process and hopefully my next painting at this size (or larger), will go faster. At times, it was frustrating and other times, I put down some pigment that really made me think I was getting somewhere with it.

Propeller Gallery Salon Group Show.

Tonight was the opening night of the Propellor Gallery Salon Group Show. I spoke to an artist a few weeks back who is a member of this gallery and she invited me to enter this show. I'm glad I did because I sold one of my pieces. Feels great. It's officially my first gallery sale. Here's to a better 2016, art wise.

On the easel tonight…

On the easel tonight…
I'm revisiting "Fuzo", a piece I started a few months ago. I find this one difficult because there isn't much contrast in his face so defining it by shadows is difficult. Looking hard at the reference photo for any foot hold into his face.

Another piece that's on the go is, "Julia". It's been the piece I've been working on the majority of the time over this holiday break.

Father and Son, finished

 

Process stages including framing.

13x16in. Oil on masonite.

I think I could finally post this. My sister has delivered this to her in-laws, so I think it's safe to post. Neither my sister nor her husband has seen the finished piece, so I thank them for having faith in me to complete it to their satisfaction.

The Smudge

Painting is still a painful process for me. A case in point. I've been working on a portrait this afternoon and the only redeeming part about it is this smudge. A smudge that was created, as Bob Ross, would say, by "a happy accident".

The battle continues.

Jennifer

oil on masonite. 6x8in.

Or as I like to call her, "Iron Woman Tendokai".

I haven't had a chance to ask her what makes her happy, but I suspect one of things and from the glint I see in her eyes, is her beating the crap out of me when we practice together.

This also is my last 6x8 before the QWAC show. I was aiming for 30, but ended with 21 paintings. Not bad.

Frank

oil, 6x8 in.

 
This is probably the quickest I've ever finished one of these small portraits. It's looser than the previous one and I like it like that.
"Frank"

"Besides your family, what are you most proud of?"
"My vineyard."

(Frank works as a fulltime bank teller but hopes to get out of it in a few years to devote all his time to his vineyard.)