Monday, November 29, 2010

Discover a Muse book is out



The book from the "Discover a Muse" contest I entered back in May has been released. And yours truly is on the cover. Okay, not exactly yours truly... the world isn't quite ready for that... but the next best thing: a painting by yours truly did end up being chosen for the cover. Big thanks to Jon and Veronika for making this happen. All the info on how to order the book can be found on the Art Order blog.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Illuxcon trip report



What a weekend... I don't even know where to begin to describe just how amazing this years Illuxcon was for me. I guess the beginning is probably the best.

E.M. Gist, Lucas Graciano, Tom Babbey, Ryan Schutter and Arthur Loftis and I all flew into Philadelphia on a Tuesday night red eye. We rented a minivan and drove to Philadelphia Museum of Art. While there were a few notable paintings, the highlights for me were the extensive armor and flintlock collections and the completely immersive rooms full of rebuilt ancient architecture.

From there we drove about an hour to the Brandywine museum. Seeing the enormous collection of N.C. Wyeth's work in person was one of the most humbling and inspiring experiences of my life. The Brandywine museum should be a required pilgrimage for all Illustrators out there... period. If you are ever even remotely close to it, you need to go out of your way to visit.

The convention itself was nothing short of magic. Pat and Jeannie Wilshire have created something truly special out in the middle of nowhere that is Altoona, PA. I was incredibly honored to be invited to exhibit again this year. I spent the weekend surrounded by several hundred amazing paintings, talking to dozens of the most accomplished, yet humble and friendly, artists alive. I got to display and talk about my craft with some of the most unpretentious, bullshit-free collectors out there. I got to chat with and give advice and critique to a few of the students attending the event. After so many years of tracking down and hounding pro artists to look at my portfolio, it was great to begin paying it forward. And.... in some respects the least important, and in other ways the most: Sales were outstanding, I sold 4 of the 6 paintings I brought with me, a few drawings and a handful of prints as well.

The dates for next years show have already been announced: November 3-6, 2011. I am already counting down the days...

Photo Credits: Cynthia Sheppard and Noah Bradley


Sunday, November 7, 2010

Inheritance



And here is the final piece I will be bringing to Illuxcon this year. This was also done as a book cover sample portfolio piece. Big thanks to my nephew, sister and father for donning all the costumes and letting me take pictures on a particularly hot day. 16" by 24" oil on paper on board.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Anticipation


A simple, personal piece done to add to my line-up for this year's Illuxcon. I painted it alongside a larger, more complex narrative-driven illustration. It was great to be able to switch back and forth between two paintings with very different goals. 16x 20 oil on paper on board.

Stay tuned, I will post the "Inheritance" in a few days, the last of the new Illuxcon paintings. As well as a shot of everything framed just before I shipped it off.