Roll Cap Cowboy - by Cadena

I've started a new series based on nostalgic toys and their packaging.  Roll Cap Cowboy is the first finished piece.

I had one of these smelly snappy cap guns when I was a kid. I definitely remember the painful sparks shot into my eyes from way-too-close face to face duels with neighborhood kids. It's a wonder that we even survived, especially during the roman candle fights! Where the hell were our parents?

The original and mounted prints of Roll Cap Cowboy and others in this series are available in the 2LF Etsy store.

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!!

Grandpa Harold - by Derek

My Grandfather passed away this week.  He was so adorable, always joking and laughing with a jolly twinkle in his eye. He will be missed very much.

Love ya Grandpa.

                                          "Harold"

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.