The New-ness

The Paintmonkey is expanding the empire! Okay, we just got a dedicated website that combines everything in one place, but it feels like a big step. But one thing that isn't changing is the work!

I have a project I'm working on that requires a tree. I've not focused a lot on trees in the past, so a little research was required. I had to renew my library card so I walked to the local branch and took some sketch supplies with me. Here are the results...

Not a bad start...but not EXACTLY what I'm looking for. It's getting there. I'll find it.

And I hope you enjoy this new platform for Paintmonkey art.

Quickie Dino Fix

Just a quick one tonight.  I've got many things coming but this will have to do for now.  My latest submission to Prehistoric Times.  Baryonyx is the dinosaur.  I call this "Morning Fishing".

Enjoy!

Busy busy busy...

...which is no excuse. Unfortunately, lots of things are coming at me so postings may be even farther in between. But follow me on Facebook or Twitter or Instagram. I get stuff on those pretty regular. And this page will be undergoing a MAJOR transformation sometime soon...stay tuned.

But quickly here are some things I've had going...

Firstly a record sale worthy of the history books:

My friend Travis asked for an ad. That is what I came up with.

Secondly, the internet auction for the Art Gone Wild work that didn't find homes at the reception will be over on July 31st. Bid now! Follow this link.

And lastly, I did this to get people to donate to a worthy cause. Follow this link to see details.

Enjoy and keep watching!

A Muggy Whirlwind

So the last couple of weeks have been an absolute vortex of painting and trying to let as many people know about WHY I was painting so much.

As I mentioned before I was a part of Zoo Atlanta's newest event, Art Gone Wild.  It was an absolute blast!  Aside from purposefully setting aside AN ENTIRE WEEK JUST TO PAINT (seriously, I NEVER have time to do that), it was an absolute joy to be at one of the nation's best zoos and painting animals you just don't get to see every day at the local dog park.

On Wednesday, I looked up from painting at the gorilla habitat and there is John Lemley host of "City Cafe" on the local NPR station with a giant fuzzy microphone asking if they can interview me!  The interview (as well as some photos including some of me) can be found here.  The local ABC station came down and filmed that day, too.  Here is the video from that segment.

Now then...on to business!  Here are the pieces which I submitted for the silent auction!

First up is Utenzi, the big male rhino.  (Listen to my interview to see why I liked him so much!)

Next is Zuberi (I could be wrong on this.  The giraffes move around a lot but I THINK this is the guy I was painting.).

Here is Taz, the guy I was working on when radio fame came a'knockin'...

I love warthogs so I had to go see the newest members of the zoo.  Along with Shirley (Mom) and Vernon (Dad) there are little Eleanor and Lex now.  They seemed to know I needed a good pose.

And finally is one of my all time favorites at Zoo Atlanta, Kelly the elephant.  She and Tara have been my muses and models for years (see previous entries about the children's book I've been working on.)

If you would like to purchase any of these or any of the other fantastic artists' work who participated, go here to purchase tickets to the event (Saturday, June 14th, 2014)!

It was a wonderful experience but I would be remiss if I didn't mention the part that made it all COMPLETELY worth being out and painting in the humid, Georgia heat for a week straight and that is the tremendous zoo staff.  From the volunteers who brought us all water and snacks to the docents who we got to learn from during our sessions (did you know that Willie B's ashes are in his statue?) to the staff people like Julia and Lauren who wrangled cantankerous and sweaty artists all week and made us all feel at home, I give a very big thank you and I cannot WAIT to come back and do it again!

Fundraising Paintmonkey Style!

I've been asked to participate in Fernbank Museum's silent auction again this year for the annual Lost Oasis.  I kind of knew what I wanted to do but last night I hit upon the right idea and stayed up until 2:30 for this:

I will be posting more on the Paintmonkey Facebook page as it gets closer to completion.

Then a few weeks ago as the missus and I were planning a trip down to Zoo Atlanta, I noticed on the zoo's website a call for artists to participate in a plein air event called Art Gone Wild.  I've been wanting to paint at the zoo for awhile so this was perfect.  I applied, got accepted, and went down a week or so ago for what they called the "Find Your Muse" day.  The artists sketched and started getting the feel of the zoo.

Here's a few of mine...

Now unfortunately both of the events and silent auctions are on the same night (June 14th), but if you want to help out some very important institutions in Atlanta...just pick one and go!  You can't go wrong!

Oops! May the...7th be with you?

Forgot to post this the other day.  I put it on Facebook and Twitter but forgot to put it here.  Oh well, here it is now.  Hope everyone had a lovely Star Wars day or May the 4th Be With You day or whatever it's supposed to be called.

P.S.  I thought of this after I'd drawn it but I should have put as the headline "Exhaust Port Malfunction!"  Darn it, I always think of it too late.

Alumni Weekend and Plein Air Practice

This weekend was alumni weekend at Young Harris College which is my spiritual home. I needed to get in some plein air practice for an upcoming event (details to be revealed very soon) so what better place and time than to go see old friends at my very favorite enchanted valley.

I got there right around 10ish so I parked and grabbed my gear and set out for the patio in front of one of the dorms.  I love the Susan B. Harris chapel but everyone always paints it from the same couple of places.  I wanted a different view so I chose the one that most people know but I don't feel they think of as often.

Here's the photo from where I set up...

And here's the painting I got from this vantage point...

So after this, I met up with a couple of friends and we headed over to the gym where we were being served lunch.  Had a lovely time chatting with friends and talking to some students about school and then it was back out into the sun for more painting!

I crawled up the back of campus (holy crap, I am not as young OR in shape as I used to be) and found what everyone pretty much said was the best view of the valley and campus.  After finally wheezing my way up there, I am inclined to agree.

The view...

And what I took from it...

So once again, I had a great time at my alma mater and got some pretty decent pictures out of it.  Not bad for someone who used to be TERRIFIED of landscapes.

Official Business

I had a random day off again yesterday. I took the opportunity to go and get a business license for Paintmonkey Studios. And like most days I had a sketchbook with me. I just feel more productive when I can work from life and get some practice in.

These two gentlemen came into the office right before me. They were standing at the little desk where you could fill out paperwork waiting for their number to be called. I took a spot a little further back from the windows so I could watch everyone.

The guy on the right kept talking with his chin up like that which is what drew me to them. It was such an interesting pose I HAD to draw it.

And I got the license. Paintmonkey Studios is official!

Zoo Sketching

So the wife and I went to the zoo for our anniversary on Friday. I wanted to flex my on the spot sketching muscles a little so instead of a camera I took the trusty Moleskine, a pencil and some Copic pens. Here are the results.

Giraffes wiggle a lot more than you would think. Very hard to try and get the patterning down before they move away.

That lion is just like a big house cat. I picked this pose and the minute I started sketching he rolled over onto his back. Jerk.

I have done many sketches of Kelly for a children's book. I love drawing elephants.

I was drawing the cassowary and it kept coming to the fence right in front of me where it would just stop and stare. Creeped me the hell out. Stupid dinosaur...

And this guy was my best model. He just sat his vulture tail on the faux zebra corpse for about 10 minutes while I sketched away to my heart's content.

There may be news of zoo painting coming in the near future. Stay tuned and I'll let you know when I know.

Action Ideas

Sometimes I jot down quick little things that come to me.  This is one of them.

It was just an idea I got since I've been re-reading the Tarzan novels my grandfather bought me a long time ago.  Also inspired (not a little) by the Frazetta sketchbook my wife got me for my birthday.

Education Public Service Announcement

I meant to get this up last week but I've been sick and it kind of fell through the cracks. So here it is now...

At some point I'm going to take on the meaningless-ness of "No Child Left Behind" but we'll start with this...

Whale Coloring!

I helped out the folks at work with some coloring pages for a family event about the new exhibit about whales.  These were some designs I had submitted for something else that weren't used so I let them be used for this.  I think they're pretty fun.

And this next one was originally a vertical design but I felt it worked better horizontally.

Enjoy!

First Plein Air of the New Year!

Thanks to the psychotic weather this year we are a little over a week out from being snowed in last week and today it was 70 degrees out.  So I took advantage to get in the first outdoor painting of the year!

There is a tree next to where I park at work that I am obsessed with.  It is a gnarly, bent, kudzu covered old thing that is just fascinating.  This isn't the first time I've painted it and it probably won't be the last (perhaps a nice pen & ink?).

So I did that this afternoon. 

Snow-cation 2014: The Icening

We're stuck inside for Atlanta's second go-round of wintry bluster this year.  Today's contribution is simple: snow makes me think of Young Harris College and my fantastic friends from there and getting to stay inside means I will inevitably start sketching.  So then I get this:

Easy connection to make!  Stay warm, everybody!

Aaaaah! I Wasn't Sleeping...I Swear!

It's February already!  And I haven't posted ONCE this year!  I swear though, it is because I am swamped with projects.  Work, a couple of family projects, and the infamous book I've been working on for FAR too long (but I am very close to completion).  But I figured I could show a couple of things I'm doing so as to not let my lease on this space expire.

 Sketch-ey goodness for the coming year!

First up, a work-up for a niece requested painting...

Next, the first idea I had for a new series that I will begin work on shortly.  (It probably needs an explanation, but I'm not going to.  It's more fun to leave it as a mystery.)

And finally a new sketch of my best model recently...Jasmine.

I'm gonna try her in watercolor soon.

All in all looking to be a good year!