Working on a selfish portrait

It's freezing in the studio today!  The heater dries my palette out, so I bundle up to paint.  And yes, I crocheted the hat.

I'm working on a new painting, a reflection of my grade school self playing a game of cat's cradle.  Although I haven't painted the string wrapping around the fingers, yet, the subject will be inviting you to play.   I guess he's saying "it's your turn".  A simple piece of string can become a complex formation, with a little help...

I'll post more when I'm done.
 -Derek

Zombies Love Brains - A Halloween Treat by Derek Cadena

I created this piece earlier in the year, after I heard news of a Texas highway road-sign that was hacked. The sign(s) read something like "zombies ahead" and "run for your lives". So inspired by the story, I had to paint! The original small artwork is one of my faves, however, I am making 8x10" mounted digital prints for our etsy and ebay stores.

Thank you - Derek

Finishing touches on - The Golden Judge

I'm almost done with this mixed-media painting that I've named The Golden Judge. A piece inspired by last week's project and the book Some Exits by Travis Cebula.

Thanks,
Derek

Finished Autumn Landscape Made With Cabbage Leaf

Although this project started with Tuesdays post with images of the painting progression, start to finish... I don't have the images of the last few steps. I had pictures of finger painting the clouds and adding glazes of ocher, red, and blue... Well, I accidentally deleted those images. Oops!

Here is the finished landscape that started with a dried cabbage leaf and grass that I varnished on to a wood box canvas (see previous blog post). I am very pleased with the finished piece!

On Wednesday I made Vietnamese pork served on a bed of shredded cabbage (the very same cabbage) with a delicious carrot pickle, fresh mint and peanuts. Delicious!!!

Cheers,
Derek

Autumn Tree - A Mixed Media Journey

I am starting on a new mixed media landscape with leaves and grass pressed and varnished on to a wood box style canvas. A friend who liked some of my past works of grassy mixed media abstracts recently commissioned me to do a piece with a Autumn theme. So, I thought it would be a good idea to share the creative process of this project.

I began by searching for organic materials that would work for a landscape design. I collected leaves from my garden and grass from the park. I pressed a large cabbage leaf until dry and flat and trimmed the grass that had dried and seeded in to shapes and sizes that would work for the design I had in mind. I want to convey a breezy Autumn moment, with a swaying tree and swirling grass or leaves floating off the canvas and out of view, imparting a lot of movement. I arranged my found materials in to a pleasing composition and varnished them in to place with poly-urethane (it dries quickly). Next I started laying in color on top and around the grass and cabbage leaf, which is now a tree.

I will finish this piece over the next couple of days and post the last steps with a image of the finished painting on Friday.

Cheers,
Derek

Jack Maggot - A Dark Hour Doodle by Brent Rodgers

Meet Jack Maggot, a moody know-it-all with a phony French accent. He is a mixed media artwork that is included in a new series of drawings called Dark Hour Doodles. Brent has been tickling his sketchbook at night creating new creatures that he later digitally places in to scenic backdrops. Trees, buildings, nooks and crannies are the usual places of interest that he photographs on weekly weekend adventures. Once the artist is happy with the composition of the black and white image, it is printed, hand painted, and then transferred with a acrylic transfer process. It's a lot of work for just a doodle...

Click here to visit our etsy store and see more of Brent's work!

Thanks,
Derek

Sexy Aliens Invade Red Rocks!! By Brent Rodgers

While enjoying a peaceful day hike near Colorado's Red Rocks Amphitheater, my partner Derek Cadena and I had a close encounter with three little green Martian Mamas or Venusian Vixens (we're not really sure of their origin). Pictured here is actual proof of the alien visit, via mobile upload of image taken with iPhone.

Here are links to our ebay and etsy stores to buy your very own mounted print documenting this extraordinary event!

Thanks,

Brent Rodgers