It's a lonely life...that of the necromancer, er freelancer

A blog by a designer and illustrator, for designers and illustrators which may contain musings on art, movies and random weirdness.

Wednesday, December 26, 2018

Edwardian Couple

Another quick sketch done in gouache on paper. An Edwardian-era couple frolicking in the surf.







Tuesday, December 11, 2018

Newburyport Steeple

Another recent painting. This one is acrylic on an 4" x 12" x 1.5" deep canvas. It is a painting of the First Religious Society Unitarian Universalist church in downtown Newburyport, MA. It was painted from a photo taken at dusk.


Here is s shot of the painting in progress. I started with a thin brush and black liquid acrylic, drawing it like a pen and ink drawing and then gradually roughing in the color. 









Thursday, November 29, 2018

Portsmouth NH

Latest painting-in-progress. An early evening, winter view of downtown Portsmouth, NH.
It is in acrylic on a 6" x 12" Masonite panel.

Here is the painting in progress. It started as a black and white drawing done with a very fine sable brush and liquid black acrylic paint.



Saturday, November 17, 2018

The Proposal























Today's gouache painting which was done from a photo I took about 8 years ago at the Fezziwig's Ball in Salem, MA. I was taking pictures when I spied this young couple having an exchange in the background, who looked like they stepped right out of a Jane Austen novel. You can practically hear the dialogue; "Miss Bennet, I have been granted a commission in the Queen's navy, and before I left, I wished to inquire, if you are not previously engaged, if you would perhaps agree to become my fianceƩ."

Update: Another gouache sketch of the same couple, different view.

Wednesday, November 14, 2018

Angels with Dirty Faces






















A 3-color(black,white and red)  vector-based, graphic version of a scene from the 1938 film "Angels with Dirty Faces" starring James Cagney and Jean Harlow. Just fooling around in Photoshop and Illustrator.

Sunday, September 23, 2018

Pirate Sketch

A small gouache painting of my friend Edward Syracusa, dressed in his pirate finery.


Saturday, September 15, 2018

More 5" x 5" Paintings

Some recently completed 5" x 5" acrylic paintings. They are small and quick to do, usually only taking an hour or two.























The Sky 























The Beach























The Gate






















The Red Chair

Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Small Watercolor























A small (4" x 3.5") watercolor done on my vacation in Maine. It's a species of wildflower called a Bunchberry, (which sounds like a type of breakfast cereal).

Friday, February 23, 2018

Small Acrylic Painting























A recent, small ( 5" x 5" panel), acrylic painting. Done at the February Artscribblein
meeting. Just to show I can still paint.