5x7 Nude With Red Background - by Derek Cadena

I painted this small figure study last week.  At the time, while I was painting, I wasn't pleased. I was even a bit angry that I had painted it... or, I was just in a bad mood.  I threw a tiny little tantrum and walked away without signing it.  The next morning, after a good night's rest, I looked at it with fresh eyes and it made me happy, very happy. I really liked the minimal brushstrokes in the face, LOVED the glowing red background, and the very angular curves were just right... so, I signed it.  The paint was still fresh.

This painting is listed in our ebay store.

New Humming Bird

This 8x10 mixed media piece on wood turned out beautifully.  It features a brightly colored jewel like humming bird all up in some daisy's business.  The bird was drawn from a photo taken by a friend's Costa Rican Jungle adventure.  Shannon, thanks for letting us use your fabulous pic!

The original artwork is currently hanging at Bliss Salon, located at 2845 Wyandot Street
Denver, CO 80211.  The 8x10 mounted print of "Humming Beauty" is available in our Etsy store.

Bamboo View

I just finished Bamboo View. This lovely Geisha has been screaming for a view, and now she has one. Thank you, Willie, for letting me photograph your wonderful collection of lovey ladies. Look for "Bamboo View" to hit our Etsy and eBay stores Thanksgiving week.

Happy Holidays!

Brent

Location:Elm Ct,Denver,United States

Upright Red - New Small Oil

I painted Upright Red on 11 11 2010.  I really like this little 5x7 painting, especially the reddish orange strokes.  She kinda looks like a mermaid with implants... Maybe I should change the title to "Sofa Siren".  What do you think?
 
See the ad for this painting on ebay.

Garden Planning - by Brent Rodgers

If only I had these classy ladies to help me design my dream garden!  "Garden Planning" is the latest image from my Fruitville Series. The background is from the beautiful Paulino Gardens, and, I have to say, some of my favorite childhood memories are going there with my Mother.  I still visit Paulino's every year, spending lots of money on lovely plants that may or may not survive. There's a learning curve to gardening...

Visit our ebay store to see all from this series!

How 'Bout Them Apples -

Brent and I worked on this piece together, it's a mix of photography, drawing, and painting.  We didn't have to go far to find inspiration for this illustration. Our apple tree is dripping with bright red fruit and the backyard smells like hard cider. Most of the tree has wormy apples, however, I picked a big bag of pretty unblemished apples that will be perfect for worm-free pies and other treats.

Here's the link to our etsy store for a 6" mounted print version of "Delicious"

Sparky the Chipmunk Seeks Fame

Sparky was very interested in our group hiking near Fraser, CO. He would scurry in circles around a rock chattering at us, then he would stop and hold a pose for the cameras. He did this several times! He clearly wanted fame and his camera hogging seemed rather desperate, however, we indulged Sparky's fantasy. He is now immortalized in art.

Although a friend of ours bought the original Sparky painting at our last show, I believe little Sparky will return in the near future.  We have created a fame monster!  

8" mounted prints of Sparky are available in our etsy store.

Walk The Line - Everyday Adventures

We rocked this piece out about 24 hours before the art show opened this past 3rd Friday.  If you missed the show, here's a look at our super sweet new tightrope/powerline walkin' elephant.  Walk The Line was the clear favorite of the night by the gallery guests(and us), however, we didn't sell it and it's still available... See the ad in our ebay store for the original 23 x 14.5 x 1.5" artwork by 2LF.

Amorous Grasshoppers and Other New Art

We've been working overtime this week to get at least 15 new small artworks finished for the next art show this First Friday evening, 10/01/10 at CoArt Gallery located at 846 Santa Fe Dr. Denver CO. 

Flowers, bugs, and animals illustrated or altered photography, are hand-colored with acrylic paint and then transferred on to 6" colorful wooden backgrounds.  LOVE this new series and can't wait to show it off!  These pieces will be $55.00 each, and, we'll knock off a few bucks if you buy three or more!  

Select 8" mounted print versions are now available online in our Etsy store.

 Here's a few new images:

Woodsy Wall Flowers

Summer is almost over, and the once lush green gardens are now not so green and lush... However, our aspens are turning a lovely gold, and the apples are almost red.  An Autumn palette is a welcome change! 

These new mixed media floral artworks reflect the rich warm colors seen during our recent backyard adventures.  Afloat (the bluish floating flower), Flying High (tall pink columbine), and Lurking About (red flower with shadow) are the three most recent 2LF works hanging at CoArt Gallery this month.  If you can't make it to the gallery at 846 Santa Fe Dr. in Denver, you can see them here! Contact us for availability.

Female Nude Study

Is it back-to-school time already?  Well, if that's the case, I need to head over to The Art Students League of Denver and drop in on some open studio figure painting classes.

Before I go, I need to warm up with a few small paintings...  Here's a new little Female Nude Study I painted on 08 20 10, my first oil painting since April!  I think she's pretty, and a little scary... 

Bleeding Heart - Needs Good Home

We still have a couple of mixed media floral pieces from our Spring show at CoArt Gallery.  The Bleeding Heart is one of Brent's favorites from this series, however, we have no more room on our walls... So, he would like it to go to a good home.  We now have it listed in our ebay store.  Here's the link: Bleeding Heart

New Woodland Critter Art

At last weekend's family trip to Estes Park, CO, we found ourselves on the scene of a woodland critter parade.  Across the road from the notorious Stanley Hotel, a very patient deer and her fawn put on a rather lengthy, and very adorable show.  The fawn repeatedly danced and pranced, ran and jumped, and then, would tumble to a brief rest.  The mother kept an eye on us, and I swear I heard a faint call from her... it totally sounded like "redrum".

Brent photographed the deer, some circling hawks, and bugs.  These creatures can be seen in the new woodland inspired art.

We have created a few new art works since last weekend, and, are presently making more.  The Fawn and other new 2LF art is currently available at CoArt Gallery, located at 846 Santa Fe Drive in Denver.

Western Spaghetti - By Derek Cadena

Western Spaghetti is a grouping of four mixed media paintings commissioned by a friend of mine.  She and her husband had just painted their living room and were in need of wall art.  I decided the painting(s) should start with a horse and a cowboy.  She grew up with horses, and I thought it would be fun to incorporate a graphic image of a running horse.  For the cowboy, I used an image of the 40 Ft. concrete cowboy that guards the entrance to the Rustic Ranch trailer park on Federal Blvd. here in Denver, CO.  This big bow legged horse jockey has made his appearance in a few recent art projects.  I must have a bit of a crush on him...

Here's a picture of Western Spaghetti.  And, the rustic ranch guardian cowboy.

June's Mixed Media Floral Art

The June First Friday art walk was crazy busy! If only the art sales flowed as much as the wine... The wine bar had a line all night!  Brent and I were in that line a few times. Then, later, sat out in front of the gallery harassing people for our amusement.

We showed our latest co-pieces inspired from a day at the Denver Botanic Gardens, and got great feedback from the crowd.   Brent did most of the photography and digital composing of these designs, then, I hand colored the images before we transferred them to their supports.  They turned out very cool!  We sold one that night, and a couple since the show.  Once the art comes down from the gallery walls, we will have them available in our online stores.  Here's Sumac, Lupine, Iris, and Peony.

The Welcome Shower - Joe Enjoys The Denver Rain

"The Welcome Shower"  a mixed media delight by Derek Cadena and Brent Rodgers.

Here's another one of the Joe illustrations we showed at CoArt Gallery this month.   We photographed the image of Downtown Denver from Diamond Hill.  This spot has to be the most popular location for shooting the Denver skyline, the view looks like a postcard or a screen saver.  The Welcome Shower is one of our faves!

View the ad for the original on Ebay here!

The Goose Tamer - Whip it good

The Goose Tamer is a new mixed-media acrylic photo transfer original that Brent and I both worked on. We showed this Joe for the last First Friday art walk.  Brent spent a day at the park rolling in crap to photograph the image that was used to make this piece... I hope you like it. Mounted 8" prints available on etsy and ebay!

Atomic Grotto - A 2LF Co-Creation

"Atomic Grotto"  features our favorite hero, Joe, chewing over the other half of the battle.   The original acrylic/mixed media piece by 2LF is hanging at CoArt Gallery in Denver (contact us for availability).  We are selling the mounted print version of Atomic Grotto online, visit our etsy or ebay stores to see more!

A Rainy Day Drive - Brent Rodgers

I love Spring!  The cloudy wet cool mornings that glow with rich green plant life are some of my favorite moments of Springtime. A Rainy Day Drive is the latest in the Fruitville Girl series, illustrating that perfect moment.  I imagine she is zipping down the road, rockin out in her VW with not a care in the world.  Check out her ad on etsy here!

2LF at CoArt Gallery in Denver - by Derek Cadena

If you're just visiting or you live in Denver, you have to stroll up and down Santa Fe Drive's art district.  First Fridays (every first Friday of the month), are Denver's busiest nights for art gallery patrons and collectors to see what's fresh and new. 

We have joined CoArt Gallery at 846 Santa Fe Drive, between 8th and 9th street.  We will have new works hanging every month, and there are 20 more artist members, so, there's plenty of art to look at, and buy... Come on down, enjoy some refreshments and help support the arts, and the artists!

The March Harvest Oddity - By Derek Cadena

Last weekend, after the snow had cleared and the ground thawed, Brent and I pulled some forgotten root veggies that had been sown last Spring.  The parsnips and carrots were boiled together and pureed, it was delicious.

One huge beautiful freakish parsnip was saved from the boiling pot, it was a perfect subject for me to paint! I even dressed up the still life set with draped red fabric, creating a proper stage for exploiting my subject. 

The March Harvest Oddity

Mighty Tonka Giclee Prints - by Derek Cadena

The original "Still Mighty" recently sold, however, I have two sizes of Still Mighty stretched canvas giclee prints now available in our online stores.  The sizes are: 8x10 and 16x20.  Each size of this print series has a edition size of 25.  The retail prices are: $75 and $149.  Contact me for purchase info, or click here to visit the 8x10 ad.

Joe and the Sisyphean Orange Project - By Derek Cadena

Joe is sick and tired of hauling that damn orange up the mountain!  He's only got one good arm...

I really enjoyed working on this little painting.  For the still life, I used a rock from the front yard for Joe to climb, and then I had to prop-up a rather juicy orange with a chopstick (not painted).  It only collapsed once.

This painting is on a 6 x 12" panel and comes with a black frame.  See the ebay ad here!

A Couple of Joes - by Derek Cadena

My most recent still life painting has two G.I. Joes posing with a P.B.R. beer can. Just a couple of Joes having a beer... in the nude.  I don't see any military policy violations happening...

Click here to visit the Joes ebay ad.

Go Joe!!!

A Quick Study of 1964 G.I. Joe by Derek Cadena

I bought a couple of busted up old Joes on ebay this week.  They have no clothes or guns, and one Joe is missing most of his left arm.  They do have some pretty sweet beards and almost all of their hair, however, they smell like decades of musty basement storage.  I had to have them in the studio, they're great art manikins!  Here is a 45 minute study on a 5x7 panel of the first Joe.  Click here to see ebay ad for Joe!

Easy Rider - Still Life of Potato, Onion, and Limes by Derek Cadena

This produce was born to be wild!  I like to play with my food... I used bamboo skewers to attach two bad limes to a potato, then, I carefully balanced the unruly onion on top of the potato chopper.   I was proud of the food sculpture.  I love that the potato has a star shaped sprout on its side, it helped me form the "Captain America" color palette of the background. 

Easy Rider is for sale in our ebay store.

A Painting A Day - Ants on a log - by Derek Cadena

Celery, peanut butter, and raisins were on the lunch menu last Friday, but of course, it became the focus of my painting session.  I was out of raisins, so, I used currants instead... I made tiny ants on a log.  About three hours later the painting was finished and I was finally able to eat my lunch.  I'm very pleased with this little painting!  See the ad on ebay: Ants on a Log

 

 

A Painting A Day - Avocados by Derek Cadena

Avocados are only 39¢ each at Sunflower Market this week!  I've eaten a few avocados in the past few days... after they pose for me!  A bath of lemon juice keeps them from getting too brown while I paint, and it makes them more delicious for my after work treat.  Here are two of the avocado paintings titled "The Better Half" and "Two Halves". They are both listed on ebay, click the titles to see the ads.

A Painting A Day - Another onion painting by Derek Cadena

"In The Can" was painted on 01 29 2010.  I love the can-y-ness of the can, and the name just makes me laugh.  Check out the ad here: In The Can

 

A Painting A Day - Onion paintings by Derek Cadena

At my last visit to the Asian market, I bought a few plump little green eggplants.  They were so cool looking that they had to be painted before I would later roast them with a chicken.  So, I painted "Mutiny Au Gratin".  The crew of eggplant are tossing the young rebel onion overboard...

The following day I painted "Used", a portrait of a drying cut onion.  The new paintings are listed on ebay, here are the ad links: Mutiny Au Gratin , Used.

 

 

A Painting A Day - Still life of Mighty Tonka by Derek Cadena

A couple of weeks ago, Brent's father dropped off a well used Tonka truck that was, once, Brent's favorite toy.  It's beautiful! And now, it's the studio mascot/art caddy, holding brushes and other art making tools.   I had to paint the Mighty Tonka!  You can see the ad for this original painting listed on ebay, and I will be offering larger Giclee canvas prints of this painting on etsy in the very near future.

 

A Painting A Day - new sexy onion paintings by Derek Cadena

I have recently been painting a new small work a day, M-F.   A painting a day is a great discipline, and let's face it, I lack discipline!   I've really been inspired by the onions sprouting and mingling on the kitchen counter.   My latest work features still life paintings of onions sharing stories of their most intimate, heroic, and terrifying moments...

Here are the first two 2010 oil paintings that I painted on Friday 01- 22 and Monday 01- 25,
 "Fondling" and "Tea Cupping".  See our ebay store.

Summer and Mirabelle's Greek Holiday - Brent Rodgers

My latest work features Summer and her gal pal Mirabelle vacationing in Greece. Mirabelle is a adventurous little Boston Terrier and star of her very own site, checkout www.theadventuresofmirabelle.com.

Summer and Mirabelle's Greek Holiday is available in our etsy store!

Commissioned Pet Portraits by Derek Cadena

The little painting with the Boston Terrier (her name is Phoebe) was commissioned by a friend and Gallery Owner in Delaware.  I have painted three of his Boston Terriers.  Mirabelle is the most famous of them, she was recently featured in the latest image of Brent's Fruitville Girl Series!  We'll post about that next...

The other dog is Maguire, a pretty chocolate labrador.  This painting is 24" and has quite a bit of paint on the canvas.  I had a lot of fun with this piece, even though I had to paint with one eye, due to a brief loss of central vision in my right eye (C.S.R.)  Totally sucked!  However, my vision has returned after 6 weeks. YAY!