Waiting For The 6 - by Cadena

Tuesday, around noon, I grabbed the Nikon and jumped in the car following an impulse to capture an anonymous figure to paint.  Within 10 minutes I was back home drawing an image of a girl I had just photographed. It was a drive-by shot at the corner of 48th and Pecos. The startled girl glanced apprehensively at me as I "clicked" and drove on. She really had a Kung Fu grip on that bag, either she thought I wanted it or the number 6 bus is super shady.


That was SO much damn fun!

Waiting For The 6

2 Nude Back Studies by Cadena

Here are two new little 5x7 studies that I painted last week for a friend. Both figures ready to greet the day, the man sleepily pausing just before getting off the bed, and the women about to step into the shower, once the temperature is agreeable. 

Thank you, Kari!!

Merge Left - New Painting by Derek Cadena

I painted these cars yesterday from a photo of Matchbox, Hot Wheels and other old toy cars that fill a shelf at a nearby antique shop. I'm pretty sure that little Derek had that black Trans-Am with orange and yellow stripes and maybe the pimp-y green Lincoln, too. 

"Merge Left" is a 8x10 oil on panel available in our Etsy shop.

Jiu Jitsu Love Story - Derek Cadena

My working title for this painting has been Matt's Practice, although a more appropriate title like "Jiu Jitsu Love Story" or "Couples Therapy" may be in order, since I ended up painting two sparring figures, Matt and his wife Rachel.  I painted this for Nordstrom's consideration, they passed on this one and choose the boxer, "Ramon".  I love this painting and I am glad to still have it, although I should be polite and give Matt and Rachel a chance to buy it before I decide to keep it or sell it to someone else.

I painted this image from a still video on YouTube.  In the video the couple is demonstrating Brazilian Jiu Jitsu defense techniques to a crowded room.  I heavily edited the scene, getting rid of people and other distracting elements that took away from the focus on the couple's practice. The light filters into this space beautifully, enveloping the figure by the window. The painting, in person, looks and feels as if I was actually in the room painting this scene.

The Howards for Nordstrom

I'm packing and getting ready to ship the paintings off to Nordstrom's Seattle office.  I thought I would show off the three 16x20 Howard paintings.  The original 8x10 Howard was the first painting they bought from me two years ago, they really love him...

I also painted a boxer "Ramon", which they are still considering on purchasing. I hope they do!

Beefing Up Nordstrom's Walls!

I've been so busy that I haven't posted in a month! I've finished most of the work I'm doing for Nordstrom. Their store planning and architecture department purchased a painting from me two years ago, which I was very excited about at the time! Then, just a couple months ago they got back with me and commissioned 7 paintings for a few of their remodeled stores.  My paintings will hang with a collection of other work, mostly vintage male portraits and landscapes completing a wall collage in each men's sportswear department. Shown here is an example of a wall they had previously done sans Cadena...

The designer wanted a more youthful and cheery wall layout and liked my cheesy beach boys pumping iron by the sea and said that these paintings would be perfect for some of their beach town stores, one of the stores being Westside Pavilion in LA.  So, I painted two of Beach Flex and two of Beach Pump, all 18x24 oil paintings. The two Beach Flex are the first image.

 I gotta get back to work, I'll show the rest in my next post.

Tuff the Dog - Pet Portrait by Cadena

For the last 8 or 9 years, usually starting in October, I get calls for people wanting pet portraits by Christmas.  I painted one for a friend long ago, and her friends called me, and their friends called me, and on and on.  Some years I paint several, however, this season I only painted one. This is Tuff the Dog, an adventurous black lab who resides in Summit County because he loves the mountain life. 


If you love your pet, and need a cool portrait to show just how much you love your pet, then contact me.  I'll be happy to paint for you! 

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.

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.

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... 

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 - 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 - 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.

Growing Inspiration From Seed

Hungry for inspiration, I looked in the unruly backyard veggie garden... And I have found that bugs, snails, and/or slugs have been feasting on the enormous crisp blue cabbage leaves... Leaving me no choice, but to illustrate! I imagine a glutenous orgy of slimy translucent moonlit critters gorging themselves (while I sleep). So I have made a quick "shop-sketch" to base a large oil painting from, I have so many creatures to create, I can't wait to get started! I will keep posting as I work through this FUN new project!

Cheers,
Derek

"Lime Light" a new A.M.S. painting by Derek Cadena

Here is the latest and greatest 18 x 24" A.M.S. painting listed on ebay, visit the "Lime Light" ad for more info and/or to purchase.

Thanks,
Derek

"Karl" A new painting by Derek Cadena

This new male study is part of my American Manhood Series. I've painted around eighty paintings in this on going series. You can see all the available A.M.S paintings for sale by visiting the 2LF store on ebay.

To purchase this painting click HERE.


Cheers,
Derek

"Eloise" A New Oil Painting by Derek Cadena on ebay

I'm finally back in the studio after being sick for a week. All the cold medicine slowed me down a bit, however the "meds" kept my brush gleefully loose. This female nude oil study turned out very cool... I think she looks a little sickly, with her pale gaunt face and that vacant stare. Someone should put a shirt on her so she doesn't catch a cold!

To purchase click here!


Cheers,
Derek