College Work - Jazz Musician - Gouache Technique

This was a piece done during College. Using the gouache pick off technique and colored pencil. The image was from some photos taken during a jazz performance that one of my friends did at the 6th marketplace. This was prior to them tearing it down and revamping that area. Sounded great and it was a really good opportunity to get some great reference shots.

Jean-Claude Van Damme Portrait

This was a piece done back in school. I was working on technique taught by Alex Bostic. It involved putting Gesso down in a slightly heavy fashion. Allowing brush strokes to be seen. You would then do your under drawing. The next step would be to seal your pencil drawing with matte medium and then glaze a almost opaque wash of Gouache over the drawing. The objective was to use a darker color that would ultimately serve as your shadow color. The next part was the most fun. You would just use your brush, sponge or paper towel with just plain water and pick out the highlights. Sort of like erasing the paint. The final parts would be adding color using color pencil and airbrush. It gave a really unique effect and I was totally into it for everything after I learned it. I have included a close up to show how the surface took the color pencil and the effect it gave everything.

Avoiding Market Pitfalls Illustration

I honestly can't remember what this was for. I believe it was after college so it may have either been for a small local magazine or maybe just a test piece. Editorial in nature. I just remember it being very literal. The guy in the suit is me. It looks to use the same techniques I used for the Wrapped up in Paper Illustration. Acrylic, Colored Pencil over Matte medium with Gouache airbrushed over and picked off with water.

Baseball Billboard Concept

As you can tell I am and was really into Baseball imagery. While exploring a new technique I was thinking of a concept for a billboard. It was really never fleshed out fully, but I like the extreme horizontal nature of it. Being the a Braves fan, the only issue I had with it was that I used Wade Boggs for reference. I used Acrylic, Gouache, Colored Pencil and Matte Medium for this piece. If you note the bottom right corner, this was a variation of my signature, of which to this day I still have not found a signature for my work that I like. In some cases you will see no signature and in some cases I used to hide the signature within the painting.

Whitby Pharm Advertisement Illustration

This was a piece for Whitby Pharmaceuticals. Imagery for advertising in overseas region. One of my friends and also member of Pencil Pushers, Pete was the model. The medicine was for gastrointestinal maladies. Gouache, acrylic and colored pencil over gesso.

Self Promotion Piece & Illustration Technique Test

This was my first attempt at trying to really meld several different media types. I remember going into a panic when I sprayed it with matte varnish and it the guache started to speckle up. That is what gave me the idea to pick off the paint around the figure. I would just use a brush with water and brush around the figure or put droplets and pick them off with a paper towel. This picture took a very long time. It was submitted to the Richmond Arts Contest unfinished and won best of show. When I found out, I told the jurors that I was not finished with it and asked to have it back to finish it. They were reluctant, for worry that I would alter it too much. I had to clear how I was going to finish it before the would let me have it back. Years later it was repurposed for magazine cover as well as a local magazine.

Eddie Perez Richmond Braves Trading Card

This one again was for the Richmond Braves. Eddie Perez, the catcher. Oddly enough, this was one of the fastest pieces as it was only about 5.75 x 7.75 inches. It ended up winning an award in the Beckett Sports Art Gallery and was printed in their Beckett Baseball Monthly May 1995 issue. The spread from magazine is shown above. I was lucky enough to get the picture in the issue signed by Eddie Perez before he was called up to the Braves. One of my favorite pieces. I used some of the finest brushes I had ever used on this one. Along with being sent a couple issues, they sent an Award of Excellence. Friend and Pencil Pushers colleague, Pep Freeman took the artwork and the award to his father, Richard Freeman.  He is a Founder and Lead Framer at Freeman-Victorius located in Charlottesville. They have been professionally framing pictures and selling prints since 1938. Incredible work. The Framed picture and award are shown above.

Barry Sanders Detriot Tigers Illustration

Posting some older work. This was one of my last really super detailed paintings. Barry Sanders. Did this one right before he retired. Exciting to watch his skillful running. Sometimes I look back at it and wonder why I spent so much time in details. Updated this post 1/14/12 to post a closer up shot of the detail and texture of the board.