It’s been a while since I did an update on the art I’ve been working on. I don’t know if it’s the holiday season or what, but I’ve been painting a lot more recently. Mostly small sketches, but it’s been fun to paint and relax. Maybe that’s it, I’ve needed to relax more and subconsciously knew that painting would help with that. Whatever the case, I have enjoyed the paintings I have done.

One thing I find interesting as I have painted longer and longer is the amount of time it takes to finish a painting. My most recent painting is one I would consider “full size” but it only took me 2 1/2 or 3 hours to paint. I remember when it would have taken me at least double to produce the same painting.

I also see progress in my ability to break a picture down and paint it. When I first started I would have to totally remove from the reference photo anything I didn’t want in the painting, with photoshop, before I even started sketching. Now I can look at multiple reference photos and combine different elements from each to make a final painting. And details don’t throw me for a loop as much as they used to.

Most of these pictures are just simple sketches, some are better than others. While I see marked improvement over the years, not everything is a finished product per se, nor are they all masterpieces. But I learn from each one and enjoy the process, I think more so now than ever before. Anyway, without further adieu:

Of the above pictures, the man was the hardest because I don’t usually do people. The jar of pickles was the most fun to paint and I like how it turned out. But my favorites from these 9 were the caribou and the hot cocoa. One more, and this one is my favorite of all I’ve painted recently:

All of these pieces of artwork are always for sale, although all these are smaller pieces. I also am always willing to make prints in a variety of sizes, and of course they cost less than the original! Don’t hesitate to ask!