The Night Shift

Friday, October 25, 2019

A fresh batch of Metro card paintings in the works

First up, the ubiquitous NYC taxi........

NYC Metro Card Taxi No. 22
2' x 3.5" Oil on Metro Card
SOLD

Although this painting has sold, you may find other paintings available for sale here.

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Thursday, October 24, 2019

Oil Portrait Study " Peter" with Process

This final 5"x7" oil painting came to be after a lot of stops and starts, scrape downs and wipe offs, re-shapes and adjustments but I'm content with this result:

First steps were sketches in charcoal and some light washes :

Gradually building up layers:

I was pretty happy at this stage, since it was very loose and expressive:

I revisited it the next day because I wanted more detail and also felt there wasn't enough volume to the head, the darks and highlights weren't quite right yet - I wiped down the forehead and neck/shoulders:

And then attempted to bring the shadows/highlights back in but it was still a mess:

I also felt the likeness was off - I was working from my own reference photo and knew it was off. I took this last pic of the painting into photoshop and compared it to my source and could see where the position of some of his features were off and the width of the face was wrong. Had to wipe elements away - that was scary but I knew instantly that it was the right thing to do:

As I re-worked the face, I could see it coming together - the head was more of a 3/4 turn (as it should be) whereas the first efforts had mistakenly flattened the face to the viewer:

And done:

"Peter Study"
5" x 7" Oil on wood panel

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Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Basquiat

NYC Metro Card Basquiat No. 1
2" x 3x25" oil on Metro Card

Available here.

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Dreadnought - Dread Knot - Dreadlock

Dreadnought: a type of battleship armed with heavy-caliber guns in turrets: so called from the British battleship Dreadnought, launched in 1906, the first of its type.

Yep, that pretty much sums him up.

Dreadnought - Dread Knot - Dreadlock
9”x12” charcoal on paper
Prints available here.

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Gem Spa

The venerable East Village institution, Gem Spa, located on the corner of St. Mark's Place and 2ND Avenue, painted on the surface of a NYC Metro Card.

Metro Card Gem Spa No. 1
2" x 3.25 " oil on Metro Card (plastic)

Available here.

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Orange is The New Black is The New Art Opportunity

One of my paintings appeared on the set of the final season of Orange Is The New Black.

In the 4th episode of the season, Gloria's final flashback finds her speaking on the phone with one of the daughters she left behind in Puerto Rico after having left for the United States many years ago.

If you don't blink, you can catch a glimpse of this watercolor on the rear wall of the set!

Thank you again, #ladyprisonproductions !

Bromeliad No. 1

12" x 15" watercolor and charcoal on paper

Print available here.

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Saturday, July 13, 2019

Engagement At Haystack Rock

I recently received a wonderful request: to commemorate a memorable moment for a couple, which would be given as a birthday gift. I've no familiarity with this spectacular scene, "Haystack Rock" in Cannon Beach, Oregon, but I learned quickly!
The request was to create a painting in the style of my pen and ink renditions of many New York City scenes - Brooklyn Bridge, Guggenheim, CBGB's, Central Park Vendor, Chrysler Building.

My customer was pleased and sent me this photo of the framed painting - thank you!

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