drawing and painting

Yesterday I went to the Arboretum to make a drawing of Marcela Liniero's garden. She's an artist I met at the Hive gallery, but also an amazing gardener with one of the most beautiful spots in the whole Arboretum. This is a pen and ink drawing but it's when I move into color and paint that it'll really come to life! Then that evening I went to a painting event called artAboveGround in North Hollywood. I did some quick 20 minute portraits there and like how these two came out. It was the first time I'd been to this event, it wasn't super crowded but maybe it'll get better with more people in the future.

THE HIVE: voted BEST gallery downtown by the Downtown News

The HIVE kicks ass! Last night was the 'best of' party. Lots of luminaries and politicos, movers and shakers, a beautiful scene at the Hotel Figueroa! The Los Angeles Downtown News readers voted the HIVE the BEST gallery in downtown Los Angeles. What a coup! I like to think of it as recognition for the new Salon des Refusés. Here is a classic picture of Nathan with Huell Howser.
We also met the LA Town Crier Don Garza who was there and blogs about downtown. He posted a great picture of Nathan, and has lots of awesome pics of the event on Flickr: click here.

the fun continues

I was back at downtown Summer Camp with my sketchbook and camera with the intention of adding more people to the painting I'm working on of that scene. Here's another pic of the piece, very work in progress. It's still acrylic, but I feel like I'm at the point where I'll transition to oil based media so I can add refinement which, because that's all about subtle value and edge control, is easier in oil than acrylic. Mixed up, mixed media, that's me! The scene downtown is amazing! There is such an energy and momentum, a real feeling of avant garde, the cutting edge, the zeitgeist. I've lived in LA since 1987 and I've never felt anything like it. Great times!

animals

I'm going to be in a three artist show at Art Murmur gallery and the overarching theme is animals. I've decided to do paintings of the "wild" animals that live in Los Angeles. I've been going out with my camera and taking pictures here and there which I've been using as reference for these pieces. They're very expressionistic, almost drawings, almost paintings. It's my idea of a mash-up between Chinese brush painting and Manet. They are acrylic on paper and between 18" by 24" and 24" by 48".

SUMMER CAMP!!

I brought my mobile painting unit (MPU) to Summer Camp! and had a good time painting folks interested to sit. I painted four people and drew another couple. One of the paintings left with the sitter which I neglected to take a picture of, but I did remember to take a picture of the drawing of the girls. It was a super fun time! Here are Rodika, Anika, Justin, and a painting of a guy and drawing of two girls whose names I forget! I gave you my card so remind me and I'll edit my post!! One of the paintings left with the sitter so I hope she'll contact me and I can take a picture.

15 minute portraits

Last night I was at the Bagavagabonds summer music/art/performance party out in Venice Beach. The Hive gallery is the art contingency and we're invited to show painting for sale as well as make "live" art. So I brought my mobile painting studio and did quick portraits of people interested to sit and be painted. I did four over the course of the evening, and sold one right on the spot so I didn't get a picture of it. Here are Becky, Mary, and Suilma... three babes from the Hive! I've always had the idea to make quick acrylic portraits at these events, but have lacked the confidence until recently, I am really grateful to have gotten to try it and to have had such success with it! Now I'm going to do the same thing tomorrow for downtown summer camp!

summer camp

I blocked in a painting of summer camp today, I really like how it's looking. It's funny but the more I paint the more I like my paintings in the earlier stages. I'm leaving a lot of room on the lower left and right of the painting, like I said it would be fun to paint people live there. (24 by 36)

three graces

I went to this downtown event called "summer camp" and made a bunch of sketches which I've composited into this particular composition. I like the way it looks and it leaves blank two "sweet spots" on the lower left and right to paint people "live" at the next day-camp event!

11:45am

I went back on location and drew a little on the painting while keeping an eye on the time. 11:45am is JUST when the shadows all change. I'm going to bring the painting and my paints back at that time and brush on some new color... I think it'll look even better! Here's a photo of the piece in progress, I'm really pleased with the balance between painterly expression and feeling "real"... (work in progress)

los angeles st

I went downtown this morning with the canvas and my paint setup and put color all over the piece, obliterating the drawing and blocking in the major color shapes. I think it turned out good, but I don't feel that the time of day that I layed in the piece had particularly interesting light. I think I'll go back with the painting and some vine charcoal and spend the day re-sketching the line drawing and take note of what time the light looks good. (48 by 30 work in progress)