Old Dog New Tricks Illustration

Bulldog

2012-02-06T06:33:00.000-08:00

Latest work—Bulldog.

Three Portraits

2012-01-20T11:58:00.000-08:00

The company has created three awards for a some former employees who passed away. They were going to use badge photos, but I was able to convince them to let me have a crack at creating something suitable.

The two men were good friends of mine, so I was happy to do this. I didn't know the woman very well, but she is remembered fondly as well.

House Drawing

2012-01-18T11:48:00.001-08:00

Drawing done for my Mom to give to my Brother and his wife. I hope they have seen it. It was for Christmas.

Anna Doing Her Thing

2011-12-15T10:57:00.000-08:00

This is a quick sketch for one of my lacrosse players who is leaving high school early for college to play field hockey. I usually do a drawing for each of my seniors and she was disappointed that she wasn't going to be playing this spring and would miss out on her drawing. Hockey is her main sport anyway.

Great kid, very happy for her.

Latest Commission—The Woods

2011-12-04T09:12:00.000-08:00

Commission work for my friend's daughter as a gift for her boyfriend.

New Drawing—Recovery

2011-11-28T06:37:00.001-08:00

This is the second boat I have drawn for this client.

An Opportunity to do Something Good

2011-11-22T10:07:00.000-08:00

I had a great opportunity this summer to work with a friend of mine in Chicago on a project for Father Flannigan's Boys' Town. My friend Erin was looking for an illustrator to create images for the annual fund raiser and she chose me to to do the work.

This was a treat for me. I got to work with Erin (great person, great designer) who I met along with a group of other designers at the HOW design conference 10 years ago. Our group has maintained contact and we often collaborate or discuss projects. The ultimate customer, Boys Town is a great charity and the founder, Father Flannigan, is a fellow Mount St. Mary's alumni.

Here are the original sketches along with the finished illustrations. In another entry, I will post Erin's final designs, which made my pictures look great and made them effective stickers and promotion graphics. Way to go Erin! If you get these in the mail, you will know the back story. Don't forget to give to Father Flannigan's Boys' Town.

Holiday Card Art

2011-11-22T09:41:00.000-08:00

Just finished the illustration for this year's company holiday card. This is a Photoshop painting. I will upload stage images to show the process later. For now, here's the picture

The Arts in Easton Banner Program

2011-11-16T11:26:00.000-08:00

2011 Marks 10th Anniversary
New This Year - Online Bidding

Press Release from Avalon Foundation about the banner program. Come bid on my banners! or go online and make a bid

EASTON, MARYLAND – October 28, 2011 – Enjoy Easton as an outdoor gallery. One of the most distinguished art opportunities is on display again this year with fresh artwork in downtown Easton, MD. Artists, art enthusiasts, locals and visitors may stroll through downtown Easton and enjoy the original works of art hanging from the lampposts. Each banner has two sides of unique art for all to enjoy. Placards are located at eye level on the lampposts to help identify the artists and their banners.

Celebrating its 10th year, The Arts In Easton Banner Program has 45 artists participating who have created 88 pieces of fine original artwork on banners of canvas material. Whether amateur or professional, their work adds depth to the experience and enjoyment of this charming small town.

The artists who participate in the program are representative of the hundreds of working artists in the area. This year we have expanded the program to include new banner artists to better demonstrate the talent in the community. There are artworks available this year from artists who have never participated in the program as well as returning artists.

Posters with all of the banners represented are available at the Avalon Theatre (40 E. Dover St.), Banner & Auction Guides (with map) will be available November 1 at the Avalon Theatre, Talbot County Visitors Center (11 S. Harrison St.) and the various galleries in Easton. Pick up a free guide to help you identify the banners and corresponding artists.

New this year – online bidding
Banners may be bid on in advance of the auction! Visit the newly developed website, theavalonfoundation.com/bannerprogram/ to learn all of the details about this fun and exciting community program. Follow the simple instructions to start bidding on your favorites!

The banners will be auctioned at a lively free event with light fare, drinks and music, at the Waterfowl Festival Building, on Saturday, December 10th from 7pm to 9:30pm. Most of the artists attend the auction offering a great opportunity to talk shop with the creators of your favorite works. Kathy Hanna, Avalon Foundation Events Manager, said, “This is a most exciting and fun community event with exhilarating art available for purchase…a happening you do not want to miss.”

The banners are 30” x 40” and may be displayed or framed with or without the wording at the bottom (examples on website). They can be used indoors or outdoors and make great gifts. Patrons purchase banners for many reasons, the civic pride element, a chance to own unique original artwork, they are collectors and for gifts. Don’t miss the opportunity to support the community and own one or more of these fine pieces.

The Arts In Easton Banner Program is the work of the Avalon Foundation and is designed to help promote local artists, the arts in Easton and Easton as an arts destination. Proceeds from the auction benefit participating artists and support the work of the Avalon Foundation.

Banners may be previewed in advance of the auction (see website for times). Stopping by to see the banners prior to Saturday’s bidding frenzy is a great idea. People are often surprised by how many banners they have never seen before. Silent auction bids may be made during preview hours.

For all the particulars about The Arts In Easton Banner Program & Auction, visit theavalonfoundation.com/bannerprogram/…open 24 hours a day!

IF: Silent—Beagle at Rest

2011-11-14T11:42:00.000-08:00

Haven't done Illustration Friday for a while. I needed to sketch a little today so that I could warm up for some commissioned drawings I need to get started. Baylee is our new beagle pup. She is often very noisy, but—as most babies do—she crashes hard. For a brief time she is SILENT, but then starts to snore contently.

Drawing was done with China Marker on white card stock. Pretty basic stuff here. The Old Dog goes Old School.

New Banner Website

2011-10-27T07:50:00.000-07:00

The Avalon Foundation has added a new website for the banner program at http://www.theavalonfoundation.com/bannerprogram/ You have to click through to view the banners. The auction is coming up December 10th and I have two banners for bid. If you can't come to the auction in person, you can go online and make a bid.

If you are in Easton, my banners are outside Gracies on Goldsboro street near Out of the Fire and General Tanukes. Take a look. The oriole would be a great gift for the bird lover or O's fan in your life. I'm banking on some of my lax friends to make a great sale of my lacrosse players. If you want to have the number changed or team name added to the jerseys, I can paint over what is there at NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE! Customized art! what a great Christmas present that would be.

Make a bid today or come to the Waterfowl Festival building in December for the live auction.

BFA is just around the corner

2011-09-06T05:42:00.000-07:00

Come out to Wilmington, Delaware this weekend for the Brandywine Festival of Arts. Go to http://www.brandwinearts.com/ for all the details. My booth will be along the railroad track, just in front of the music venue (it was a great spot last year). I have lots of new work that I have been posting here, so come out and see it (maybe even buy one!).

Irene Activity—Oriole painting

2011-08-27T18:39:00.001-07:00

Hunkered down in the house to ride out Irene. Here's what I painted today. We'll see what tomorrow brings.

Sunny Morning Dog

2011-08-15T06:14:00.000-07:00

After a tough weekend of trying to get inspired, I settled on this subject for the latest painting. I took some pictures of dogs playing in the surf at Dewey Beach on vacation. I thought this made a pretty good image. I included a couple of step photos to see it develop.

Another Beach Painting—Although Not of the Beach

2011-08-03T07:02:00.000-07:00

I have been holding on to this idea for a while and wanted to get it done for the BFA. I had some source photos, so I took them down with my portable easle to the beach last week and put paint on canvass. Som of my observers were a bit confused wondering where I was seeing a river scene with a heron while looking out to the Atlantic. Made for interesting conversation.

Beach Painting--last week

2011-08-03T06:45:00.001-07:00

I painted three paintings at the beach last week. One I gave to Barbara—The Don of Dewey. This is one for BFA (almost here!) of the dunes. Got to get busy!

Banner Website

2011-07-23T17:14:00.000-07:00

The website for this year's Arts in Easton Banners is up and offers the ability to bid on-line prior to the end of the program. There are some really fantastic paintings to see. If you are in the Easton, Maryland area, it is a lot of fun to walk around town and look at the artwork in person.

Go to http://www.theavalonfoundation.com/ and click through to the banner program. Hope you come and see them.

New Painting—Oxford Path

2011-07-18T08:22:00.000-07:00

Latest painting finished. Have to get going on creating stock for BFA! September will come quickly. Working on several other projects and now lax is done for the season. Getting busy.

Banners are done!

2011-06-13T07:25:00.000-07:00

Finished up the other side of the banner for the Arts in Easton Banner program. I need to hit them with some varnish before delivering tomorrow or Wednesday (deadline). I love lacrosse and this is a bit indulgent. The Oriole side is the real money side, but hopefully these will both get me some attention around town. I hope I get a nice shady spot!

Pick 3 Plein Air Entries

2011-05-31T04:43:00.000-07:00

I came across the entry for this year's Pick 3 Plein Air competition in Easton almost by accident. I have been really busy and didn't decide until the last moment to enter. With my schedule in mind, I purchased two 11 x 14 canvases with the intention of keeping things small and simple.

When I took my whopping $15 entry fee and my two canvases to the Talbot Arts Council gallery, the lady working there was almost smug about the size of my entry. My original thought was to keep it small and simple. However, my inclination is always to get too detailed. Although I fought myself, the images are still a bit jammed.

The first was painted on a Saturday at the local Farmer's Market. I drive by this daily, but Saturday is the day when all of the color comes out. I intentionally left out any people—thinking that would simplify things. Of course I included every flower and shingle. I am very happy with the outcome.

The second I painted yesterday in Oxford at Cutts and Case Boatbuilders. This scene has been painted many times by local and national plein air painters. So perhaps it is a bit trite. I don't care. I was joined by a little 6 year old girl on her bike "Daisy" for a good bit of the time. Ed Cutts came out later in the day offering great conversation and the best bottle of water I've had in a while. We went to the same high school and caught up a bit.

My wife observed that I really enjoyed the social aspect of this kind of painting. I agree. I mostly work alone and this is a refreshing change. I had lots of interesting and delightful conversations.

The show begins on Friday, with awards at 7pm. The big prize is that the top 3 get entered into the big Plein Air painting competition later in the summer. Check out the Avalon Foundation for more on this.

Very Busy--Annual Lax Drawings

2011-05-24T09:10:00.001-07:00

Each year I give the senior girls who play for me a pencil drawing from an action photo of them. My friend George provided the source images and I drew them. Here they are...

IF:Stir--Oriole on a Dogwood

2011-03-17T04:51:00.000-07:00

This little bird will hardly stir on the branch waiting for a meal or hiding from hunters. This is an oil painting that I finished last night as one of two sides for our town's banner arts program. I can't believe that it will hang on a post outstide for six months in all kinds of harsh weather before being sold!

I am really happy with the finished result. The piece is 24" x 22" oil on canvas.

Finally Delivered

2011-02-07T11:35:00.001-08:00

One of the projects I was working on was finally delivered, so I feel comfortable putting it up here. I wish I had a better picture because I really liked the finished product. These are two dogs of a co-worker/friend. She loves them very much and told me that I captured all the right things. That makes me happy.

Here are the Jones boys.

The role of a graphic artist

2011-01-25T06:07:00.000-08:00

For the most part, I have been able to accomplish goals I set when I was younger through the first half (wishful thinking) of my life. In most cases I've had to take the "road less traveled" to get there and the picture was often a blurry resemblance of my vision. But I've gotten close.

As a kid, I wanted to do two things—become an Air Force officer and make a living as an artist. I wanted to be a pilot, but ended up as an Aircraft and Munitions Maintenance officer where I worked around aircraft and on the flightline.

I have been making my living using my artistic ability for most of my adult life when I wasn't in the Air Force. When I was in the USAF, I used my talents as much as possible as well. My vision was to be a painter and illustrator working in a studio full-time. The reality is that I have made it work being a graphic artist for a health care company while working on the side as a designer and illustrator. I have also worked for a long time as a fine artist drawing and painting.

Recently, I've been working harder on my painting and drawing.

I was describing my approach to my work to a co-worker recently. I said that when I work as a fine artist, I do what I want in the style that I want. People who commission artwork, do so seeking my style and my vision to their subject. When I work as a graphic artist, I have to put aside my own vision and become the conveyor of my client/customer's vision.

This creates a tough situation. Often, my customer presses for a solution where the message and the visual aren't in synch, or for an inappropriate or outdated approach. I give them my best thoughts, but they usually just want what they want. This leaves me with the task of creating my best effort to provide the wrong solution. This illustration is a perfect example.

In this setting, I hope it is a cute cartoon. I am not inclined to create trite images in my old age, but the cartoon is not too bad when removed from the context it illustrates.

I have been working on some paintings and drawings that I have to wait to post until they are delivered. I also want to post some illustrations I did for a book, but I need to see if the authors are concerned about putting something out before the book is created. I have been busy, but need to get more busy.

Beau's First Hunt

2011-01-04T04:55:00.001-08:00

This is a drawing that I did from a photograph of Beau's first hunt for my daughter's boyfriend for Christmas.

More Christmas

2010-12-27T07:45:00.000-08:00

Here is a sign that I did for my daughter's boyfriend's mother to give to her father. Fun sign and painting of a rainbow trout.

Busy Christmas

2010-12-27T05:39:00.000-08:00

I had to wait until after Christmas to post a couple of pieces that I completed. This is Dover. I have used another pooch from this customer for a long time—Normandy, the black lab. I also did another dog—Beau—for my daughter's boyfriend. I will post that later as I don't have the picture downloaded yet.

I also did a house drawing, but had to do it so quickly that I wasn't able to get a scan. Bummer.

I've been working on an illustration for a book, but I will have to see if anyone will be bothered by my posting the illustration before the pitch.

So, very busy, just not able to share much visually. I will be firing up the painting effort with my new easle! (Christmas goodie from my girlfriend of 31 years) I have a commission first, then start working on paintings for next year's BFA.

IF: Prehistoric

2010-12-03T12:13:00.000-08:00

I haven't done Illustration Friday in a while, although I follow it in lurker pretty regularly. I had the need to do a little drawing, so here are some beasties following the kill by some prehistoric hunters. Its good to draw--even badly.

Long Time No Post

2010-12-01T07:55:00.000-08:00

It's been a long time since I posted. I finished the Marine Corps Marathon run and did some hiking in the Adirondacks this past month. I haven't been painting because I've been replacing my windows (almost done). It's time for our company holiday card and the illustration I created is here.

What's been taking up my time

2010-10-15T11:54:00.000-07:00

Ok, hopefully none of your screens broke when you opened this post. I have been a little behind in creating any artwork because I have been focusing on my sentinal event for my 50th year--training for the Marine Corps Marathon on Oct 31 in DC. That's my chunky butt in the middle of my 23 mile training abuse last weekend. I don't know why I feel obligated to put that here, but I do. Perhaps someone will take pity on me and give me artwork to do rather than allowing me to be out on the street looking like this!

The group that I am training with, Marathon Rocks, is a part of Easton ROCKS, which raises money via marathon for after-school activities for kids in our area. We raised $25,000 for the YMCA to put toward construction of an after school facility. A drop in the bucket, but a knoble effort none the less. So, two more training runs and then the big event. I am dressing up as a scary, hairy, marathoner for Halloween. BEWARE if you are in DC!

Chesapeake College Art Show and Sale

2010-09-21T09:37:00.000-07:00

I dropped off the Grazing Belties yesterday afternoon for the 33rd Annual Chesapeake College Art Show and Sale. They were beginning to get the 131 pieces of art together and hang the show, so I breezed around seeing what was there.

There were a couple of interesting paintings in the oil/acrylic category. Two that caught my eye were a painting of an outcropping of river rocks and a painting of a sand dune. Both were very colorful representations of very monochromatic subjects. Both artists embued the images with lots of purples, greens, blues, and reds while maintaining a sense of the greyness. Pretty cool.

I enjoyed seeing some of the watercolors and photographs as well.

The show has a category for computer generated art. I should have entered something in that category, but I was unclear as to what was included. I talked with the event promoter about the criteria, because it seemed that it was about Photoshopping photographs.

She said they really didn't have any criteria, just that it was original and was generated by a computer. She showed me an image that was some bouys that had been run through the watercolor filter. It was ok, but still had very little art applied to a pretty nice photograph.

She invited me to help define criteria for next year's event. I will have to think about that. I told her that my very talented friend Greg would be a good person to discuss this with as well. He is accomplished at both traditional and electronic creation of art.

I look forward to the show. I hope the cows sell, but I would enjoy having them around as well.

More on the Weekend

2010-09-15T04:37:00.000-07:00

Here are some shots I took while at the BFA on Saturday. It was a really beautiful place and a spectacular day.

Two stories

I was sitting in my booth getting used to the whole event and a young mother came in with her child in a stroller and mother in tow. She walked up to the Oxford Cottage painting on the easle and asked where the cottage was. I said Oxford, Maryland. She had a really puzzled look on her face and said, "That was my grandparent's farm." We chatted for a few minutes and I said she "had to have it." She agreed and purchased the painting, asking if she could leave it there while she went around to the other booths.

After a while, when she didn't return, I asked my sister-in-law and BFA volunteer--the fabulous Adrienne Mayberry--to check if she had processed her credit card. She called back about the same time that the woman arrived with a sad look on her face.

She was having some buyer's regret and had seen a photo of the Eastern Shore that was less expensive. I said, no offense to the photographer, but this picture had waited for a year in an Oxford restuarant unpurchased to come here and meet her. With this painting you get the only one--an original--and a story. She was sold.

Second story:

On Wednesday before the event, I was on FB and for some reason was able to see a post that one friend from college left on another former roomate's photo. I reconnected with the old roommate and his wife (also an old Mount friend) and was very happy for that little surprise.

Before leaving for BFA, I posted a general invitation to "come on down and visit" to my wall.

They did! I was overjoyed to see them and Lisa and I chatted it up for about an hour about kids, etc. As they prepared to move on to the rest of the festival, Bill--a man of few words--said, "I want that one." He pointed to the Canoe painting. So it now resides in Wallingford, PA.

This was my first festival in a very long time. I do a lot of freelance illustration and commissions where I make artwork to other people's specifications. This was my largest (althought very small) effort displaying my artwork created to express my point of view. It was well-received and I am overjoyed that the two paintings went to people with a connection to the artwork and me.

Once I posted on FB my reason for doing artwork. I hope that some distant relative is inspired to create artwork because they see a piece of work that I created. I continue to explore what this means to me.

Well, I now have to create many more pieces and maybe even some prints for next year's show. The cows are going in the Chesapeake College Art Show and Sale next week. Hope they sell!

Brandywine Festival of the Arts 50th Anniversary

2010-09-14T05:18:00.000-07:00

BFA has come and gone. I have to start working on art for next year!

It was a great experience for me and I signed up for the same space for next year. The guys on either side of me were super. I was in the international area with Bobby the photographer from Jamaica on one side and Brian Yung from Hong Kong on the other. Our spot was incredible providing great shade and we were in front of the live music (awesome acts). It was loud enough to have impact, but you could hold conversations.

Lots of traffic on a beautiful day 1. Sold two paintings, Oxford Cottage and Canoe. Gave away lots of cards and had some nibbles on commissions. It rained on day 2, but ended up ok for the second half of the day.

I also painted the Mustang Dune painting on site. Live painting is fun.

I have some good thoughts for next year and hopefully will do some prints for sale as well.

New Work: Canoe

2010-09-01T08:06:00.000-07:00

I really strived in this painting to keep loose and impressionistic. As I laid in the sail color, I was worried that the purple was too dark. Amazing what happens when you put green opposite that color!

I like this.

I was watching a biography on Fredrick Remington the other day. He commented about struggling with color after working so long in black and white. It wasn't until he painted night scenes that he felt he really made a successful transition. I grew up looking at Remington prints in our bedroom. Great action, motion, and storytelling. The illustrators of the early 20th century that I grew up looking at—Remington, NC Wyeth, Howard Pyle, Rockwell—all had a bold, colorful way of rendering stories.

Still working on last minute artwork for the Brandywine Festival of Arts. Getting very anxious about getting everything done and making a good impression. Oh yeah, and selling art!

Grazing Belties

2010-08-20T08:31:00.001-07:00

Latest work. I really like this!

More from Saturday

2010-08-15T09:09:00.000-07:00

I worked on this commission for Laura and built a prototype wall for the booth. Very productive day. Got to start a new piece today. Work, work, work, work...

Newest painting--Lick Your Chops

2010-08-13T14:28:00.001-07:00

Just finished this one in my effort to create new work for the Brandywine Arts Festival (last post). I am really happy with this painting. Hope you enjoy it.

Trying to get organized

2010-08-11T09:09:00.000-07:00

I am getting things ready for September 11-12 and the Brandywine Festival of the Arts. I have a booth to try to sell my artwork. If you are in the Wilmington, Delaware area come and see all of the great artwork, crafts, and jewelry while enjoying great food and music.

Go to the website http://brandywinearts.com

New Work: In the Beans

2010-07-23T08:11:00.000-07:00

This is hot off the easle. My latest painting, "In the Beans" is a picture of a white barn in a soy bean field along Oxford Road in Maryland. I hope you enjoy.

IF: Breakfast

2010-07-20T08:01:00.000-07:00

We were having a great deal of trouble keeping the bird feeders from the squirrels and attracting song birds. A friend suggested coating the feeder hook with vaseline and placing it away from anything the squirrels could jump from. That worked for a while until we had some hard rain.

After recoating, the finches are able to enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner without interruption by the furry varmints.

IF: Diary

2010-07-12T12:18:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted in a little while, so I thought I would participate in Illustration Friday this week. The word is Diary, so I've drawn this young girl enjoying her swing after reading her diary. She seems to be enjoying herself.

Two new paintings

2010-06-28T17:20:00.000-07:00

I have been working on the painting of the surf fishing couple for a couple of weeks and finished it about a week ago. My wife and I were sitting in the pool and she pointed to the Martin house and said she thought it would make a good painting. So I did a little plein air on Friday night.

Walk on the Beach

2010-06-21T10:34:00.001-07:00

IF: Paisley

2010-06-18T09:45:00.000-07:00

This week's Illustration Friday word is paisley. According to Undiscovered Scotland : "Paisley lies on either side of the White Cart Water, four miles south of where it joins the River Clyde at Renfrew. Though it takes a close look at a map to realise that Paisley hasn't quite physically merged with Glasgow, whose centre lies several miles to the north east, the town has a distinct background and heritage, and retains an equally distinct identity. "

I have drawn the Town Hall of Paisley for this week's Illustration Friday. Go to the website to learn more about this historical burg.

Just to get things started

2010-06-17T11:15:00.000-07:00

I can't stand not having any artwork up yet, but I am a little distracted right now. I have a new painting, which I will post later, but for now I'm going to post some comfort food.

New Blog

2010-06-16T08:45:00.000-07:00

I spent the last year working on my old blog http://www.365two50.blogspot.com which was a year-long project of creative inputs. I captured my year up to my 50th birthday in terms of illustrations, designs, paintings, and photographs.

Since that blog has come to an end, I needed a vehicle to post artwork as I create it. This is just that blog. So an new blog for this old dog is a new trick.