Here is the result of a past figure drawing session. Figure drawing has been crucial to building skill and confidence as an artist. As I started my figure drawing education at The Center For Cartoon Studies it was rough and every drawing was a sketchy rush to get done. Now I take more time and I like my result more. Good to take more time? I don't know, I just know what's been working these days. I also remember a nice experience early on when I began noting that the figure models poses were more beautiful and the lighting set up more delicate than when I started. Eventually I realized that it was the same models from the beginning of class. And the same person was setting up the lighting. It was me who was changing, as I grew as an artist I could see more beauty. 

Here lies my latest illustration! This is an art piece I completed for my record producer Kenny Siegal of Old Soul Studios! Like myself, after pursuing his art passions he has decided to go back to school for a degree. He is attending Bard College and will be playing a concert there this month. I'll be making a trip back to Old Soul Studios in December to record my untitled EP. Look for that on sale in the upcoming year! Hope you enjoy the picture. Leave a comment. :)

Here is my latest illustration. A watercolor family portrait that I was hired by the Recording engineer and producer of "The Greenbeans" album, Kenny Siegal of Old Soul Studios in Catskill, NY. It's special for me to be able to make an art piece for an artist of a different craft, but it's also scary as he sees all the fine details and won't let me get away with any short cuts. I appreciate the business and look forward to recording at his studio again in the near future.

This post is a little late. But I feel I need to write about the new friends I made performing a play this past summer in Essex NY. The play was Next To Normal. It's kind of a psychological story about a disfunctional family. I like it. I enjoyed the experience of performing in a theatrical setting again, over seven years for me. What struck me most about the play was the people in it. These people I drew were some of the nicest, caring, and loving people I've met. The bond the theater group has is special and I was lucky to be part of it. So, at the last performance I was happy to be able to share with my fellow cast a token of my appreciation, a drawing of the cast with some quotes that were conjured up from backstage chatting. Some of the quotes were a little too edgy for the rest of the world. 

So... I think it's okay that I post more than simply my art on this site, and hey, this is my culinary arts, which I perform once a year! I just wanted to take a second to share this event and concept for a charity I'm starting up. I recently hosted a run/walk in support of people who suffer from depression, anxiety, and OCD. We raised $150 that is being donated to two foundations that support the cause. You might ask yourself, what inspired this?... And to get deep with you, I've dealt with all three of these for quite some time, and I want to do what I can to help others that have as well. You can feel really alone when you are suffering from any of these conditions, and I think one of the best ways to overcome these bad feelings is to wrap your head around the fact that YOU ARE NOT ALONE. If the charity concept speaks to you, please like it on facebook at www.facebook.com/youarenotalone222 And if you can! Participate in some of the events that will be raising money for those who suffer from these conditions. Thank you.

So here is a collection of the same illustration that I did over and over trying to get it to where I wanted it. I guess that's the trouble of having a strong image in your head that you want to capture, you can never really do it.... But I am this ink wash that is at the bottom, my fav... so far... no it's the one... I think... 

So... It's been a while since my last confession, I mean blog post. Seems I've been busy with other things... or maybe just procrastinating and running into mental blocks over posting and continuing my momentum in the field of art. Since I posted last I went abroad to Ireland! Ireland was my dream place to visit and finally after years of saying I wanted to go, I did it. And unlike many occasions, the trip and country lived up to my built up expectations. It was a great freeing experience and taught me a lot about myself... mostly good things :) Coming back from the trip I've felt more excited about my art again and again feel the pull to share it with the world. Whether it's a career or just a passion, being an artist is something that I identify myself as and will continue to hone my craft and share with the human race as long as I can. Please do yell at me if when I falter in the future. Anyways, thank you for reading this, I'm glad I'm not just sending my thoughts into a black hole. Below is a screen print I did in Dingle Ireland. Dingle is a beautiful place by the way, great for improv sing alongs in the Irish pubs. This art piece is inspired by the warm comfortable family feeling I get in my grandmother's house in Willsboro. 

I tell ya what, there aint a whole lotta things more fun than making an illustration jus' for fun or to give to a friend as a gift! Yep, I'm attemptin' to use the accent this here farmer would have if he was publishing this drawin'. Jus' watercolor, not being too fussy about it, kinda layin' it on as I feel! Give me a comment so I know I aint the only one that looked at this! Har Har!

Well. It seems I'm on a bit of a roll creating new work these days! This picture came about as I have recently decided I'm going to collect frames that were built by my ancestors! Here lies an illustration of my late Grandfather(Gerge) for lack of ability to pronounce George at a young age, we cut the "o". I had a frame of his which I had drawn a color pencil portrait of him for. It hung on the wall for years until recently as I decide I was going to collect these frames I realized I needed some quality art inside them. So here lies my revised drawing of Gerge, 2nd attempt at the same portrait, this one is post Cartooning school as opposed to the last!  I enjoyed making it, and I'm happy with how it came out! The two most important things. Thanks for reading. Have you ever drawn a picture of your grand parents or someone you love? 
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I love when I'm doing art that I'm suppose to do, like a paid job, then I get side tracked, nope, not a bad thing! Because that side track goes from being just some freaky guys nose on a scrap piece of paper to being a body with flailing arms playing a piano! Splash some water color on top of it, and we have a spontaneous illustration that I'll remember fondly. As fondly as this guy seems to be of the song he is playing on the piano! Yes, when I scanned it in I forgot the black keys on the piano. I added them in later. Thank you!