Celestial Folk Art Series - Cygnus

Next year I will be hanging my art in a nearby coffee shop. Right now I am almost frantically trying to come up with the art that will be on display. I'm calling it a "Celestial Folk Art Series". 

I'm enjoying working with wood, mostly inexpensive plywood, and taking the time to cut out the shapes. My dad's a woodworker, so I grew up with plenty of saws buzzing in my ears. I was super stoked when he gave me a band saw and a scroll saw this past spring. My tool collection has grown with the addition of a belt sander and a jigsaw.

I chose the constellation Cygnus because, well, it's one of my most recent recognizable constellations. And it's been above my house these past few weeks. I'm slowly teaching myself how to read the stars at night. 

These creations require a lot of time and a lot of little brushstrokes. I'm loving how it turned out. Can I admit that I don't ever start out with a specific plan? I can kinda see the finished product in my mind's eye, but I usually just let the paint flow and follow my gut. 

I mean, lots of little brush strokes.

This isn't all the way finished. I still have to seal it and add hanging wire to the back, but I couldn't wait to show it off. 

It's about 3 feet wide, give or take an inch or two.

Check out the other pieces in the series: The Sun, The Moon, and Ursa Major.

There is Always Hope...

Lately, I've been riding a wave of productivity and I'm trying to ride this wave for as long as possible. And I do think the old saying is true: "Inspiration exists, it just has to find you working." (Pablo P.) This painting started as a small sketch, just a blip of an idea for a blank wooden board I had painted and primed and re-painted over again. One morning I sat down, started painting, and a few hours later I was left with this:

I have a to-do list a mile long, but this painting had to just BE, y'know?

I'm really, really enjoying this folk art phase I'm going though. I hope it's more than just a phase, though. 

Right after I posted it on my Facebook, I had a friend buy it. Probably the fastest I've ever gone from creation to purchase. Yay! 

Fizz... Boom... Window Painting!

Every summer I have the opportunity to help out one of my favorite places in town: the Library! The staff just lets me know the general theme of the summer reading program, hands me the clipart, and I get to painting. To be trusted with such an important project is a huge deal, I mean, almost everyone is going to see it so I HAVE to do an amazing job.

I'm quite proud of this year's windows:

Of course, with a science theme I HAD to shout out to Carl Sagan and Neil deGrasse Tyson.

Check out my previous library windows: 2010, 2011, 2012, and I do believe I forgot to post 2013's. 

Fox Skateboard Details

This piece is one of my favorites. I just wanted to show off some detail shots.

I used paint pens, Sign Painter's paint, and acrylic paint. Then topped it all off with a few coats of Polycrylic.

Folk Art Suns...And Moons!

Lately, I've been trying to clean up the studio a bit. I gathered all my unused canvases and decided to just paint, paint, paint. Piant whatever came to mind. And so, here are some folk art suns and moons. They're small, simple, and charming. They're keeping my hands moving and my creativity sparked.

6" x 6" Acrylic on Canvas, 2" Wide

6" x 6" Acrylic on Canvas, 2" Wide

8" x 10" Arylic on Canvas

6" x 8" Acrylic on Canvas

6" x 6" Acrylic on Artist's Board

11" x 14" Acrylic on Artist's Board

Skateboard Art: Wrapping it Up!

Dot dot dot dot dot...And repeat!

I love working in bright, bold colors with a folk art flare. It's a style that I've recently discovered for myself. And to think of it, I believe I was headed in this direction early in my career but somehow got distracted. Oh well, no matter...I'm back! 

This skateboard is getting donated to SkaterAid 2014.

(Click on the photos to see them better.)