Auction at Z Mansion Tucson

This new painting of the convento is an Oil 9x12. It will be auctioned off for charity on Tuesday October 17th at the Z Mansion in Tucson, AZ. I had the oppourtunity to meet with Doug Gann this past week who is the man behind the redesign of this complex for the Rio Nuevo Project. He asked to come visit the auction to see the painting sell.

Patagonia Tree 12x16 Oil on Board

A giant Sycamore Tree in the Patagonia Mountains, Arizona. This is from Winter of 2006. I painted this one for my mother and never got around to finishing it until this weekend. I went back to the mountains after Monsoon rains had turned the entire area green including this tree. It was remarkable how different it looked.

Some Paintings I did for my Kids.

A few years ago I did a ton of acrylic paintings of Winnie the Pooh characters for my two boys William and David. Now, with our third, Steven being almost 3 months old now, I'm about to begin on some new ones this time in oil.

24x30 Acrylic on Stretched Canvas. This one features Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, Rabbit, Piglet, and Kessie. It was originally taken from the cover to the movie Pooh's Grand Adventure and then I took an artistic liscense and added Kessie and changed other areas.

Acrylic 8x10 on Stretched Canvas. Tigger Pounced on Pooh.

9x12 Acrylic on Stretched Canvas. Tigger bouncing with Roo in Tree.

9x12 Acrylic on Stretched Canvas. Tigger bouncing and Pooh getting hunny pots down for a party.

Halo 2 Master Chief 9x12 Oil Step by Step

In this third update, I have added the gold reflective face mask and shading to the underside of the visor. The gloves and SMG guns have also been painted. In the next phase the helmet and areas of upper torso will begin to be painted.
Decided to get some painting in today. So in the start of the laying system I began with just the background and boulder at bottom. Once dry I'll begin several layers for the actual character!!


Here is a preview of a painting to come. It's the Master Chief from Halo and Halo 2! This is just the sketch on the canvas board to show where my values will be laid. I will first begin with a monochrome underpainting and then work up from there. Not sure if I'll add a background or do a marbled look to the back. I've been wanting to paint the Chief for a while now. It took several hours today to get him all sketched out and his shading in place. It's modeled after teh cover to the Xbox game. And to show enthusiasm towards to soon to be released Halo 3 on the Xbox 360. It's on Canvas Wrapped Tempered Board 9x12. I will begin painting it sometime late next week. Click to Enlarge.

Saguaro Cactus and Creosotte Bush 5x7 Oil on Board

I have here a Saguaro Cactus and Creosotte Bush (which smells like rain) behind a fence. I'm a little more happier with this one. I'm still trying to learn the eroded dirt aspect of painting. Maybe doing a thinned out underpainting and use thin paint for it. Sometimes straight from the tube ends up giving me more mud than anything. I hope that I have achieved a slightly better understanding of the contrasting of colors. I feel I have learned a little more with this one. Hope you all enjoy!!!

Saguaro Nat'l Park Sunset 16x20 Oil on Stretched Canvas

Here is the Saguaro National Park East at sunset. This was done around 8:00pm in early July. Part of Twin Hills is seen in the distance.

Sailboat and lighthouse 16x20 Oil on Stretched Canvas

Here is a sailboat sailing by a small lighthouse.

A few from the past year or so

Here are a few paintings that I did within the last year. The first one is Sabino Canyon, AZ during an august monsoon storm. It was only my second painting all knife. 11x14. The second was of a Silhouetted Saguaro Cactus and Creosotte Bushes, 9x12. And lastly was my 8x10 Cowboy after the draw. Everyone in my family wants that one. These three were done on horrible canvas wrapped cardboard as they were all within a few months of my starting when I was still buying my stuff. After these three I started stretching my own. I now use 1/4" tempered hardboard. I know that 1/8" would have worked but wanted extra care against warping in our hummid summers. I had found the Rabbitskin glue wasn't to my liking and that I had little kids. Thanks to an artist named Larry Seiler I found that Acrylic Medium worked as a great bonding to size my canvas to my hardboard. Thanks larry. Enough about the boards, just wanted to get some old paintings up onto the site. Cheers everyone!!

Catalina Highway, Tucson, AZ - 9x12 Oil on Board

Last day of August and I'm finally able to start painting again. Here is the Catalina Highway. The scenic byway that stretches 30 miles from Tucson to the top of Mount Lemmon. I had been in a funk for nearly two months and hadn't painted at all. It was nice to pick up the brush again. I felt as though that the painting didn't turn out as well as I had hoped it would. The mountain in background is not the focal point so it's blurred a bit, however I wanted the cliffs more accented on the mountain. Can't have your cake and eat it too I guess. I figure that coming in from a 2 month break I have to pick my pace back up and get back into my normal swing of things. I have about 20 paintings I'd like to get done soon so let's see where these lead me. Thanks for looking! :D

Arizona Route 66 Signpost - 9x12 Oil on Board

A sign post from Arizona Route 66 from Twin Arrows Arizona. painted july 06

Stargate SG-1 8x10 Oil on Board

I had a little fun about a month ago late at night and decided to do a quick painting sketch I guess you could call it. It was only 40 minutes worth. Not the level of detail normally in a painting but wanted to focus on a favorite of mine!

Roosevelt Lake, AZ 9x12 oil on board

The bridge near the damn at Roosevelt Lake, Arizona. Painted in June.