Another Commission!

Just finished this up. Its another one for a retiring executive from the company I work for. It marks a milestone for me because up to now I've been worried about doing professional work on a deadline. I did this one is less than 5 days with only working on it a couple of hours a day. So, I'm pretty sure I could do that in less time if the deadline demanded it.

My direction was that he's a lifelong New York Yankees fan and Yogi Berra is an idol of his. So, I went with that look, trying to make it look like an old weathered photo.

EDIT: after received a very enthusiastic phone call from my subject a couple of weeks ago I just received this e-mail today 1/8/10:

It's hanging in my game room, next to the painting of Thurman Munson and the aerial photo of the new and old stadiums that Sullivan gave me.

You really did a great job.

Thank you again!!!

I love getting feedback from the subjects/clients!!

Happy B-Day John Kerry

John Kerry is the subject for the day at the ISCA forum. . .

Happy Birthday!

Dogs!

This is a piece that I've just finished up (well, I may fiddle with it a bit more . ..) for a friend. WAY back in May (or April??) I offered up a digital caricature or portrait as an auction piece for my son's pre-school fund raiser. One of our friends won the bid and said she'd let me know. I figured a caricature of her husband or portrait of her kids was in order. BUT, she surprised me by asking for a portrait of her sister's dogs! I was very nervous as I haven't ever really painted dogs but a deal's a deal. I'm quite pleased with the result and went for an oil painting look with warm tones, trying to keep it loose like an actual oil painting. I think it came out pretty well. It will be printed at 11x17 just in time for a Christmas present. I hope she likes it!

By the way, these dogs are all world class agility competition dogs and have won numerous awards, and now they've been painted :)

EDIT: I presented the print to my friend yesterday and she freaked. Loved it! What a feeling that is, I could get used to that. She immediately commissioned me for another.

Tod Schmidt

This is a caricature of my boss, Tod Schmidt. I did it for him as our gift from the office that I work for. I've worked for Tod for a decade now and he's truly a great manager and friend. Always willing to help with personal life questions as well as being an advocate for his "underlings" like myself :) Tod is from Ohio, but has been living in the "deep south" for 10 years and still has this weird affection for the Cincinnati Reds and Bengals. .. but, as a consolation he will sometimes utter such regional colloquialisms as "ya'll" and "jeet yet?".

I presented it to him last night at our Christmas party and hoped he wouldn't punch me! He didn't and even seemed to like it so that's a big plus, but I could be fired on Monday so we'll wait and see.

Thanks Tod for being such a good friend.

below is a face detail and my main ref pic.

I do still sketch . . .

Maybe I'll post some more. Here's a small one of Jeff Bridges who's birthday it is today. Tough to not draw him as the "dude". . .