Stink Eye

This was a scene before my cousin Fred's wedding years ago. I like to capture images before, during and after a wedding.

Inquisitive Eyes

This is a new addition to our family. He is my sisters first grandson. Of course he is being spoiled rotten. I caught a shot of him as he was being held by his grandfather. His eyes are what drew me to the image.

More Faces

Happy New Year everyone. I hope this year came in as quietly or as noisy as you wanted. This post should put me at about seven portraits. These were all done on Artist Tiles that I purchased on Amazon. These are people that were around during our recent holidays. I kept a stack of artist tiles handy to capture a face or landscape and to practice quick sketching.

Family Conundrum

This piece is one that has many meanings for me. It is about family and symbolism. I initially posted this image to instagram. As you know, the application crops your image to a certain format. This is the full picture. The images are from Commerce.

He Pays Attention

This young man is my oldest nephew. He is having a conversation with one of his sons. I like how he interacts with them. I primarily worked with graphite and grey pastels on gesso covered charcoal paper.

A page from my sketchbook.

Blue Moon

My youngest Aunt passed recently. I couldn't go to her funeral. This drawing was inspired by her. The portrait of her is from a photo I took during a family reunion. She always had those sultry eyes and she could sing. I have not seen her in years. I will miss her.

Sketchbook page. My Stepfather preparing his pit.

Card Player

This is a family friend that I have painted often. He photographs well. When I captured this image he was playing spades with the family. I did this drawing yesterday while hanging out in my gallery space during the West Austin Studio tour.

Cousin Drawing

Recently my family reached out to our family in the Sulfur Springs, Texas area. We have had reunions, holidays and just plain fun this year. I, being the artist get an entirely new group of people to paint and photograph. Plus it adds to my family series. I have painted Laroyce quite a few times. He is one of my cousins. I wonder if we were friends as kids. I find him to be funny plus he cooks good. He makes a great painting like all of my family.

Snowflake Drawing

The study for the painting of my brother's dog that I posted previously. I like the drawing more than the actual painting. Snowflake was trying to get someone to throw one of his chew toys.

Drawing Modern Childsplay

These two are clearly enthralled by a smart phone. Its amazing the amount of attention we give our phones. I try not to carry mine everywhere. In the actual photo a little blue from the screen was reflected on their skin.

Drawing Floating Neighbors

This drawing is not associated with the current painting by the same name. I must have the title on my brain again. This is a scene from the El Granada Pier. I think the first painting will be in watercolor. Its the medium I am into lately.

Drawing The Cook (In Progress)

This is definitely a two drawing image. The angle of the face and the hat pose a challenge. So more than likely another drawing will follow before I pick up the brushes or the pastels. This is a family cousin that I recently met again as an adult. He has interesting features so of course he had to be drawn.

Drawing Hairdo Time

This one is an addition to my "Doing Hair" series. The patron is my niece and the stylist is my nephew's significant other. I took this photo during our Christmas holidays last year.

Miles Study

The charcoal/graphite study that I worked on before the small watercolor. I worked in my Toned Tan sketch pad. This young fellow was fun to draw as well as paint.

The Beard

A drawing study for a future pastel painting. This is a family cousin with a distinct beard.

Current Drawing In Progress

I'm currently working on this drawing. Its inspired by a young lady blowing bubbles at a recent family event. It was hard to photograph the bubbles they were blowing but that wont stop me from adding them to the final paintings.

Braids

Another in my People of Commerce series. The standing figure is my niece Elizabeth and the seated one is my baby sister Karen who hates posing for me. I did this quick study while home for the holidays this Thanksgiving. Elizabeth is a licensed beautician. I used the new Graphite Aquarelle pencils.

J W

This holiday season I intend to work on my People of Commerce series. This is my brother-in-law. He sat for me for about 30 minutes this weekend.

Hope

This is a quick drawing of my brothers wife Hope. She did me the honor of posing for me during my last visit to Commerce, Texas.

Springs Bounty

Yes I am still playing with the hay bales. I just love the shapes. I'm working with a view catcher and 8 by 10 color photos to design my composition along with a value sketch. I usually work with copic markers for my studies. I decided on pencil just to change it up a little.