Portrait of Past Master Robert Green

Robert Green 24"x18" Oil/Canvas

I had the honor and privilege to paint a portrait of a good friend of mine's father Mr. Robert Green. This is a Past Master Masonic portrait of Mr. Green as you can see by the emblem on his tie and the Past Master pin on his lapel. I painted this over a year ago and it was unveiled this past Sunday at a family reunion in Kiowa, KS. It's not entirely an original work of art because the resource material was a photograph taken by Mr. Green's daughter-in-law, Jaime Green. Jaime is a very gifted photo journalist with the Wichita Eagle. 

I was very please with the way it turned out and the family was please with the results as well. 

"The Best Holiday Ever!" Miniature Art Show

A Ball of Thread 6x6 Oil/Panel

Cheers! 6x6 Oil/Panel

 The above two paintings are going to be included in "The Best Holiday Ever!" Miniature Art Show at SouthWind Gallery in Topeka, KS. The show opens on November 7th and goes through December 31st. If you are in the Topeka area stop in and say hello to Gary Blitsch and the rest of the fine folks at the gallery.

InkTober 2nd 2014 - Happy Birthday Groucho!

Today is Groucho Marx's birthday! I thought I would dedicate my Inktober 2nd drawing to the iconic glasses with the bushy eyebrows, nose and mustache we all have worn at one time or another.

Drawn with Pigma Micron pen and Sharpie.    

InkTober 1st, 2014 - "Valves" from my sketchbook

I decided to try and participate in the InTober Project 2014 started by Jake Parker. This is the first drawing submitted to the InkTober Project 2014. I think this is a great idea to get yourself drawing daily and working in one of my favorite mediums–ink!

This drawing was done in The Art of Watercolor Sketchbook using a Pigma Micron 01 pen, size 3.5x5.5 inch. The InkTober Project 2014 tag was added in Photoshop. 

DEMO - "Ball of Thread" - Part 2

To start with I cut this 6x6 inch panel out of a larger 1/8" MDF panel I had and then gave it several coats of gesso with a touch of sanding in between each coat. I used a spray gesso which worked great, it went on smoothly and evenly. I prefer painting on a smooth surface rather than a surface with brushstrokes or even canvas texture.  

I then toned the panel with burnt umber using thinned down oil paint with Gamblin OMS and I let that dry for several days. I prefer painting on a toned surface just to kill the white and unify the painting a bit.

I worked out the size and placement of the arrangement with vine charcoal and brushed away everything except the lightest of lines; some of the charcoal lines disappeared altogether. 

DEMO - "Ball of Thead" - Part 1

I spent about an hour or so working out this little still-life composition this evening. It is the subject of a small 6x6 inch painting that is going to be exhibited at SouthWind Gallery in Topeka, KS as part of their Holiday Mini-Show. A Ball of Thread is a little bit of a play on words, it's really a Ball jar containing thread...hopefully people will get it. 

I paint most all of my still-life paintings from life and I think it has made a difference in the quality of my work. In this setup the light is from above. I'm hoping I can capture the quality of the light on the various colors of thread in the jar and create a nice atmosphere around the setup all in a mini painting.

SOLD! "Copper Pot with Lemons"

"Copper Pot with Lemons" Oil/Linen Panel 8x10 Inch

This little painting was featured this week on the home decor' website www.onekingslane.com and it sold. I packed and shipped it off to it's new owner in Atlanta, GA. This was my first time painting lemons and copper. It was a fun learning experience. 

114 S Jefferson Wellington KS (AKA The Pink House)

Sketchbook - 114 S Jefferson, Wellington, KS 

This is a very unique home in downtown Wellington just past the First United Methodist Church. It is a landmark of sorts and is commonly know in the area as the Pink House. It has not been a residence for many years but the home is being cared for. I had an opportunity to take a tour of the home several years ago before work was done to preserve it. This is a quick sketch I did in my sketchbook on Sunday afternoon and then added some color using Photoshop.  

Bolillio y Agua (Bread and Water)

Bolillio y Agua 8x10in Oil/Canvas $240

Bolillio is a Mexican bread readily available in the stores here in Kansas. I don't recall seeing until just recently though. I painted this on stretched canvas, which I usually don't paint on any more but I had it so I thought I would use it. This painting is available either through my website www.skeetsirmons.com or www.zatista.com.

   

KAOP Exhibit at Wichita's City Arts

The Kansas Academy of Oil Painters is exhibiting at City Arts on Mead Street in Old Town across from the Warren Theater. Tonight is Final Friday in Wichita and the artist's reception is from 6-8pm. Come see us. 

Cartoon and Caricature Blog

I have started a new website www.ObviToons.com it's actually a blog. Anyway the purpose of the site is to have fun posting cartoons and caricatures that I do on occasions, usually several times per week. Go over and check it out. Let me know what you think. 

You're Not A Tree

Sometimes we just want to sit around and complain about things rather than get up and do something about it. Is it time to make a change? The next move is yours!

My Art on the One Kings Lane website

Copper Pot and Lemons 8x10 in Oil/Panel

I am excited that four of my paintings were selected to be a part of a special offer from the online art gallery Zatista on One King's Lane which is an amazing home decor' site. My paintings will be available on this site through the next two weeks. Check out the website.  

"Arrangement In Cream With Chocolates" Wins People's Choice

Arrangement In Cream With Chocolates

I want to thank everyone who voted for my painting "Arrangement In Cream With Chocolates" as your favorite. Just so you know the chocolates were Cocoa Dolce and they were delicious.  

"Giddyup" Takes 3rd Place

Giddyup

This painting took 3rd place in the Downtown Art Exhibit this past week in the Kansas Wheat Festival in Wellington, Kansas. It was a fun show judged by pastel artist Cris Chapin of Lawrence, KS. 

I Recommend Reading: "Starving" to Successful - By Jason Horejs

If you are an artist and you have a goal to someday get you work into a gallery then this is a book you need to read. The author, Jason Horejs is the owner of Xanadu Gallery in Scottsdale, AZ. and he has worked and owned galleries for more than twenty years. This is a "cut-to-the-chase" kind of book that I believe should be read by anyone who calls themselves an artist. You can get a copy by clicking on this link: "Starving" to Successful

Thank You Robert Genn and Maya Angelou

Robert Genn (1936 - 2014)

On Tuesday one of my favorite artists passed away. I admired him not so much for his paintings, he was a master painter, but for his kind and gentle heart and his wisdom. He arrived in my in-box twice a week for these past few years and I listened like a disciple sitting at the master's feet. Sara, his daughter is the keeper of his spirit and will continue his work eventually making it her own. She has the gift. I morn with her and her family. I celebrate a life that has left a brilliant and vibrant stroke. In the weeks and months ahead I will wait for echos from the past and listen for a new voice as we all move toward the horizon. Thank you Mr. Robert Genn.

Maya Angelou (1928 - 2014)

Dr. Angelou once said, "A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song." Maya Angelou gifted the world with the poetry of her heart and soul. She illuminated her journey and her experience in a world filled with prejudice and always recognized the blessings in spite of it. On Wednesday she passed on but what she left behind is the treasure of a life lived with grace beauty. Thank you Dr. Maya Angelou. 

   

My mix of Bronze Radio Return's "Mister, Mister"

I recently finished mixing a song called Mister, Mister by the band Bronze Radio Return. The mix is part of a contest on indabamusic.com. The song was recorded by the folks at Telefunken featuring their fantastic microphones. 

I've mixed and participated in several of these mix contests with the idea of having a great time mixing and not necessarily winning. There are a lot of killer mix engineers out there participating in these contests. It's fun to throw my mix out there and see what happens.  

Give my mix and others a listen by clicking here. Tell me what you think.  

RIP XP

Jason Boyd in Concert with 3 Way Stop RESCHEDULED

SOLD! "Key On A String"

I shipped this little painting to a collector in Virginia on Tuesday. It's one of my favorite pieces and I hated to let go of it but I can't hold on to all of them.

Jason Boyd In Concert with Special Guests 3 Way Stop