New Work

Here are a couple of images from the SWG set from Sony.

On The Shelves - "The Orientalists"

Here's the start to a new section of my Blog. Each week I will post a book from my shelves or a book I would like to add to my shelves. I'm starting with "The Orientalists" by Kirsten Davies. One of my all time favorite books. I first pick up this gem on a trip to NY back in 2005. I think it was at the Met. There are dozens of artists in this book that I guarantee you have never heard of, and are all amazing! Among some of them: Jean-Leon Gerome, Edwin Lord Weeks, Frederick Arthur Bridgman, Charles Bargue, and many more. The book is out of print, but you can still find used copies for around $60-$70, but not for much longer.

Those of you who know me, know I'm a huge fan of the Orientalists paintings. I collect almost every book I can find on them. I even went as far as doing a master study from one. I chose to do "Arab Merchant Among His Antiques" by Charles Bargue. I've always loved that painting and learned quite a bit from copying it. The original by Charles Bargue is only 13" x 9.5", which is WAY too small for me to try and copy. The copy I did is twice the size at 24" x 18" and is hanging at The Watts Atelier. I don't know where the original is. If anyone finds out, please let me know, I'd love to see it in person.


Study after Charles Bargue , oil on masonite

The Undead Step by Step - Draugr

Here is another undead step by step process for an assignment I was given for the "How To Draw and Paint the Undead" book. The character is called a Draugr. A Daugr is an undead creature from Norse mythology. In short, they are dead vikings.

Here are some sketches for the conceptual phase of the project. I started to try and get a feel for the character through loose sketches. In this phase I will do a lot research about specific armor, clothing, and weapons. I will also look at inspirational artists and movies. This gets my mind moving in a direction I might not have taken initially.

A character turn-around. I believe this was done with a prizmacolor black pencil on regular printer paper.

...and the final painting. The assignment didn't call for any specific background, so I decided to keep it very subtle. The final was done on gessoed massonite in oil. I had a lot of fun with these undead assignments. Who wouldn't want to paint an undead viking!

Watts Atelier 2009 Fall Schedule

The NEW Fall 2009 class schedule for the Watts Atelier is available. We are nearing the
end of our Summer term, and recommend early registration for the next term. Classes fill up
quick. Classes start October 12th. Here is a list of classes I will be teaching:

COMPOSITION AND PICTURE MAKING
Tuesdays
2:30-5:30pm

HEAD DRAWING
Tuesdays
7:00-10:00pm

PAINTING FROM THE MASTERS
Wednsdays
10:00am-1:00pm

PORTRAIT IN OIL
Wednsdays
2:30-5:30pm


Click on a class above to be directed to the class page.

Figure Studies in Oil

Here are a couple of figure quick studies done in oil. Each are an hour.

IlluXCon Preview 4 - Forest Elf

Forest Elf was done for Sony's online card game, Legends of Norrath. It's 20x16 oil on masonite and will be available for purchase at IlluXcon in Nov.

WoW Illustrations

Here are a couple of older World of Warcraft illustrations. The first one I donated for charity and is hanging in the Laguna Museum of Art until Oct. It's part of a silent auction.

Oil Demo

This was a demo done for an oil painting class I taught a few months ago.

IlluXCon Preview 3 - Brace

Here is another piece that will be available at the IlluXCon this November. This was done for Sony Online Entertainment's - Legends of Norrath card game. It's 18 x 24 done in oils on masonite.


A couple of detail shots.

The Undead Step by Step - Cihuateteo

Here is a step by step (sort of) process for an assignment I was given for the "How To Draw and Paint the Undead" book. The character is called the Cihuateteo. She's a woman from the Aztec mythology who died while giving birth. She haunts crossroads at night stealing children.

The first image is part of my sketch book pages, my ideas on paper.

The second is a character turn around. Most illustration clients don't care for this kind of thing, but since the book was a "how to" the client felt that it was important to have the turn around.

Right about here is where I would post the photo reference I shot of Meadow's face for the final painting, but she would kill me!
Lastly, the finished painting.

Wizards of the Coast - D&D Illustrations

These were done for a Dungeons and Dragons game book that was just released. Both done in Oil on hardboard.

Still Life Studies

Here are some fruit studies from a still life class I took a while back.