fruits of the garden

pastel painting

NFS

This is an older painting of vegetables which I had grown in my garden.
I've been busy with my father these days who is going downhill health wise. Because of this I haven't had as much time to paint. I used the photo reference for the February Shoot and Paint art challenge.
Check it out! We already have some great submissions. Artists - come join us. . it's free.

surreal raven painting

"Trapped"
12" x 12" acrylic painting 

surface - stretched canvas, finished sides

It doesn't need to be labeled as a surreal piece. I've seen ravens about this size in Arizona and New Mexico. The room could be smaller than an average room. But it is surreal in that it has a dream like quality.
I was stuck with this painting for a while because I couldn't decide if I should add more detail, but in the end I wanted to suggest a feeling rather than create a photo-real painting.

I seem to enjoy the concept of painting birds in chairs. My painting "Raven" is one you might also want to see.

(photo reference for room from Tulay Palaz)
Thanks to Chelsea for naming this painting ;-)
Next painting - some olives in pastel or possibly acrylic. Please stay tuned!

$200 with shipping and handling included in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

fight SOPA

5" by 7" daily painting, acrylic on clayboard
framed in black

This was my version of week 9's challenge at Different Strokes from Different Folks. In solidarity with  Wikipedia and others of the 24 hour blackout I was going to post a black square. I remembered this painting and it seemed to be an appropriate alternative.
The colors are a tad washed out in this image. They are a bit more vibrant in person.
Wikipedia has a page open For more information on SOPA and PIPA here.

$150 with free shipping and handling in the US
E-mail me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

Tabby Cat - custom pet portrait

6 1/2" x 9" pastel painting

SOLD - commissioned

The commissions for pet portraits are coming in slow yet steady. I'm hoping for more!
The reference photo for this painting was small and provided less detail than I would have wanted but I was able to work it out. The eyes were so dark that I used my creative license to paint them. My favorite part of the painting is the front paw. It looks so soft and strokable.
My least favorite part was the heart. The customer wanted the words placed somewhere in the painting but the area was way too small to work in. A number of times my mantra was "I wish I used acrylics".

Order your pet portrait at pastelpup.com

Wrapped Bagel pastel

5" x 7.5" daily pastel painting

unframed

The bagel painting is back in my possession and for sale. This is one of my favorites from a few years ago.
I hope everyone had a good beginning in the new year! I'm setting some new goals related to my work.

$110 with shipping and handling included in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

Just for fun . . . I devoted a page to furniture and other wooden object restoration and painting.

dog portrait

Mars in goggles
5" x 7" daily pastel painting
SOLD

Meet Mars! Mars is a family dog who lives in Arizona with my son Ben and his wife Samantha. He's a pure mutt. He's so mixed I doubt that any one knows which breeds are in his family tree. He's extremely sweet, tolerant and dumb and we love him!

I had a discussion with a fellow painter recently about finding or having found a niche in your art. I'm not quite sure I've found mine yet although the dogs in goggles theme is one which I've explored with much fun! I'm also working towards painting many more pets. Commissions have been steered my way and they are easily embraced because pets are just fun to paint.

If you are interested in owning a painting of your dog in 'goggles' and don't have the photo just send me a regular shot and I'll add the goggles as I did here. You can visit pastelpup.com to place an order of your dog in goggles or email me.

The Whistle

5" x 7" daily pastel painting, unframed

I have some WIP's I'm busy with so I decided to post one of my early paintings when I first joined the Daily Painters group online. This is a personal favorite.

$75 with free shipping and handling in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

The Long Journey - ladybug painting

'The Long Journey'
30" x22" acrylic painting 

surface - stretched canvas
painted sides - framing optional

I started this ladybug painting a few months ago but other work delayed the progress. I was excited to get back to it this week. I'm getting hooked on painting large again. I'm working on trying to balance all the painting I want to do from small pastels to commissioned work.

The price of the painting is $450. 

I decided not to include a Paypal link because the shipping prices vary depending on the ship location, time, etc. Please email me if you are interested in purchasing this painting and I will get a shipping quote for you. Please include your zip code in the email.

The sample room image to the right represents the approximate scale of the painting above a love seat.

apple slices

7" x 5" daily pastel painting

I took a photo of one of my Mexican themed serving plates with these apple slices. Painting it was interesting because I wanted the apple pieces to seem more realistic than the plate, which would make them 'pop'. It seems I've succeeded.
Have a safe and happy New Years Eve! See you in 2012.

$60 with shipping and handling included in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

bosc pear pastel painting

5" x 7" daily pastel painting 
SOLD

 I was going through my digital photos and found one of this pear which was back lit by the sun through the studio window. I love the play of light.
The holidays are almost past as is 2011. I'll end the year with some simple fruit paintings and start the new year with new commissioned work and some new concepts I'm working on. Stay tuned!
I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and a great 2012!