Monday, April 6, 2009

Another in the Plasma Seller Series


This is Plasma Seller # 1, which is part of a series of portraits of real people taken from photos I took while working in various plasmaphoresis centers around the southern U.S. The identity of the individuals is protected either by abstracting the portrait, or, as in this example, pixilating the features of the portrait.

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Plasma Seller #4


This is number four in an ongoing series of portraits of people who sell their blood plasma for a pittance. The industry booms during tough economic times.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Adrienne


I did this painting back in 2005, from an image I saw by a South American artist named Gomez. I named her after my son's first girlfriend. It is 30" x 40" and hangs above my dining room table. It also appears in my self-portrait 2009.

Monday, March 16, 2009

Happy St. Patrick's Day!


The Piper


In honor of St. Patrick's Day, I thought I would post a painting I did back in 2005 of my brother playing the bagpipes. It is often said that a true gentleman is one who knows how to play the bagpipes... and doesn't.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Portraits in Oil

Woman with Mandolin


Conor C. Parnell


Dean M. Parnell


Self-Portrait 2006



"A portrait is a painting, photograph, sculpture, or other artistic representation of a person, in which the face and its expression is predominant." (Wikipedia) I'm posting four portraits that were done sometime over the last four years. Painting a portrait can be difficult on a number of levels. Can you achieve a likeness? Is the goal a formal portrait or something more expressive of the inner being? John Singer Sargent once said: "Everytime I paint a portrait, I lose a friend." Loyal British subjects were quite prepared to send Lucian Freud to the Tower of London for beheading when they saw his portrait of the Queen. I can see why many artists do so many self-portraits.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

White and Black


(sold)
This is my latest in the black and white series. This one is actually a reverse of the rest. It's black paint on a white painted canvas.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Black and White Portraits

Renee



Brandy

Here are two more black and white portraits. It is a very dramatic effect. The painting time is quick but the set up is arduous. The difficult part is retaining the recognition factor of the individual with very few features.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

New Self-Portrait


This is last nights' effort. I was recently turned on to Picasa 3 and I have been having a blast playing with it. This painting resulted from manipulating a photo that I used in a self-portrait back in 2006. It inspired a black/white positive/negative self-portrait. I really like it.

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Guitar Portraits



If you can't afford to buy one, then paint one!
Here's an idea that didn't catch fire. I saw how many artists were doing pet portraits and thought I could do guitar portraits. I still think it is a good idea, being a guitar player. Marketing has always been one of my many weak points. Anyway, I started with some of the more popular models.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

From Photograph to Painting

It was just a silly picture of me in a silly outfit
After cropping and simplifying...
I couldn't resist changing the gaze of "Adrienne" to look at ME!
This is the finished (almost) "Self-Portrait 2009" 24" x 36" oil on canvas

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Textured Landscapes


(sold)

(sold)
The textured landscapes are a combination of techniques and media. The paintings are comprised of abstract textures and materials combined in an arrangement that becomes a realistic landscape when viewed from a distance. Close up, it is a seemingly random series of paint, media, and patterns. This is not simply thick paint.

The media contains specific aggregates to achieve unique textural, dimensional, and reflective effects. The materials used include marble dust, volcanic aggregates, polymer emulsions and acrylic paint combined to achieve special effects. My background in chemistry and science inspires my experimental approach to art.