Eggplant & Cream

Series #023 completed in 2013

Media: Canson Paper
Size: 11" x 14"
Collection of Chris & Kiki Perrini

Chris, my fraternity brother and friend, commissioned this piece for their One Year Anniversary.  Kiki had no clue.  Fortunately, she loved it!  I used a striped paper as an abstract take on the steps and their wedding color of Eggplant in place of the bricks.  This gave the piece a pop of color while not distracting from the couple in a way that a replication of the bricks would have.

The Wire

Series #022 completed in 2013

Media: Canson Paper and Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 16" x 20"

Sold at the 2013 Fells Point Festival

8" x 10" Prints Available.

This one was a big hit at the festival.  In fact, it was the first original work that I've sold to someone outside of my friends and family.  That's awesome, and encouraging.  
I might need to reproduce this one.  In the meantime, I'm doing a spinoff in a Black & Purple motif... 

Core II

Series #021 completed in 2013

Media: Canson Paper and Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 24" x 24"

For Sale

10" x 10" Prints Available.

This is my take on a horizontal cross section through planet Earth.  Can you decipher all of the landmarks??

Ravenstown

Series #020 completed in 2013

Media: Canson Paper and Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 18" x 24"

For Sale

9" x 12" Prints Available.

This was by far the most painstaking assembly to date.  All of the thin lines demarcate the neighborhoods in Baltimore while the larger gold areas represent the public parks, which I dare say I'm an advocate of.  Charm City, gotta love it.

Phanatic

Series #019 completed in 2013

Media: Canson Paper and Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 18" x 24"

For Sale

9" x 12" Prints Available.

Originally done as a commission, but has yet to change hands.
For those unfamiliar, this is a representation of the Philly Phanatic mascot.

Hooters

Series #018 completed in 2012

Media: Canson Paper, Mylar, and Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 18" x 24"

Collection of Emily Smith

9" x 12" Prints Available.

I gave this one to my loving and supportive girlfriend as a gift.  She doesn't have a special affinity for Owls or Pink for that matter, but she does seem to like this composition.  People at the festivals are often drawn to it too.  

Camden Style

Series #016 completed in 2012

Media: Canson Paper, Printed Paper, & Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 24" x 30"

On Display at Moby's Bar on South Broadway in Fells Point!

8" x 10" Prints Available.

Claire & Olivia

Series #015 completed in 2012

Media: Canson Paper
Size: 18" x 24"
Collection of Matt & Heather Morraye

After seeing 'A Dozen Blues,' my cousin Matt asked me to put together a piece for his wife.  He chose a picture of his two daughters laying in the grass for the subject matter.  Now even as cute as these two little rugrats are, this turned out to be a bit of a challenge to generate into a good looking piece of art.  My biggest issue by far was the contrast in their faces.  Both girls were so fair in complexion that they became washed out and mostly featureless when i first tried to generate the layers.  After some tweaks to the brightness and contrast, I finally found enough detail to make the girls recognizable.  The second greatest obstacle in a portrait like this is the hair.  I could easily have spent days cutting out strands of hair and different highlights.  The trick really is to keep the detail of the hair on the same level as everything else so as not to make the hair distract from the rest of the composition.   In the end, I am pleased with the result, though I was nervous for a while...

Golden Bell

Series #014 completed in 2011

Media: Canson Paper
Size: 18" x 24"
Collection of Greg & Gini Bayor
Gini asked me to do a piece based and Augusta National Golf Club.  This was to be my first attempt at a landscape, and it proved to be a challenge.  I had to find that fine line between minimalism and detail so that the landscape had enough depth and texture.  In the end, there were 11 layers and it took a lot of time, thought, and patience, but I am very pleased wiht the result.







A Dozen Blues

Series #013 completed in 2011

Media: Canson Paper

Size: 18" x 24"

Collection of Tim & Gina Pearson

My cousin Gina asked me to put together a piece starring her four kids and her family's boat.  She wanted to present the piece to her husband Tim for Father's Day.  For me, this meant a deadline, and a little added pressure.  Fortunately though, she provided me with a great photo that instantly inspired me.  The flag, coke bottles, and lei provided just enough color for interest without taking too much focus away from the kids.



The Kiss

Series #012 completed in 2011
Media: Canson Paper
Size: 16" x 20"
Collection of Ian & Katie Dexter

Honestly, I've been a little lazy with my artwork this winter.  A little busy, but mostly lazy and uninspired for that matter.  That is until I was looking at some of my friend's wedding pictures from earlier in the Fall.  I came across one of my buddy Ian and his beautiful bride Katie that got me fired up to create again.  Though this is certainly the least masculine of my works to this point, I'm okay with that, and I think it's one of my best.  Big thanks to the photographer, Maria Vicencio, who composed the picture that inspired me.  Now I can only hope that Katie and Ian find a sweet spot to hang it in their new house!

New York New York

Series #009 completed in 2010

Media: Acrylic and Canson Paper on Canvas

Size: 15" x 30"

Collection of June Marshall

Though this was not my first comissioned piece, it was certainly the most specific and challenging in terms of the subject matter.  My Aunt June, a big fan of the arts, asked me to compose a piece that represented her three favorite venues in New York City.  Architectural elements from the three places are represented and read from left to right as the Metropolitan Art Museum, Radio City Music Hall, and the Metropolitan Opera House.  I attempted to depict iconic and easily recognizable elements of each while combining them in a way that makes for an overall strong composition.  Definitely a challenge, but I'm please with the way it turned and I believe she is too.



Sleuth

Series #007 completed in 2010

Media:  Acrylic and Canson Paper on Canvas

Size:  20" x 28"

Collection of Michael DeGrandis -

In high school, it was noted that Mike was generally big, slow, and kinda lazy.  These traits were eventually defined as "characteristics of a sloth."  Thus, his nickname was born.  As is the case with many nicknames, it progressed and evolved into the current version of "Sleuth."  Anyways, I decided to create this tribute to Mike because his love of creativity and artistic expression motivated me to start painting again.  In addition to that, I have adopted a few of his works into my collection and feel the need to return the favor.  My inspiration for the background came from the digi camo that our military currently uses.  Its basically a pixelated interpretation of the forest canopy and sky beyond.  The layered paper effect used for the sloth was something I picked up from Dudecraft.com

 

Marlin

 

Series #005 completed in 2009

Media:  Acrylic and Dark Papyrus on Canvas

Size:  24" x 24"

Commissioned by Chris Perrini -

Soooooo Chris asked me to whip something up for him back in the Fall.   I did.  It's now February and he still hasn't picked it up.  In fact, he might be seeing it now for the first time!  Anyways, I was at the art store and came across a selection of crazy paper types and textures.  The one I chose for this one was Dark Papyrus, you know, like the Egyptians used.  The paper is very fibrous and tends to curl up on itself.  Cutting was not a problem, but pasting it in place was an issue.  The background of the piece is a sunburst based on a Japanese design everyone has seen at one time or another.  I used painter's tape to mask off the areas and get straight lines.  I might have a little bit of OCD in me, but im alright with that.  Overall, I'm happy with how it all turned out, and most people seem drawn to it.  Well, everyone but Chris to this point...

Watley

 

Series #006 completed in 2009

Media:  Acrylic and Dark Papyrus on Canvas

Size:  12" x 24"

Collection of Adrienne Gregorio -

Traditionally, I've never been much of a cat person.  I grew up with a dog and never had any friends or family with a cat.  At least not that I can remember.  Over the last few months I've gotten to know one Bengal cat in particular pretty well.  Mr. Watley, as he is formally referred to, is an athletic, graceful, and mischievous little guy.  The painting I did in his likeness depicts one of his favorite pastimes, chasing flies.  Only difference is that he is usually confined to an apartment as opposed to the dripping grass meadow I have shown.  Finally, I figured out how to use the water solubility of acrylics for good!  Oh yeah, and the papyrus begins to represent his uniquely striped coat, which is cool.  Watley is alright in my book, as long as he's not biting my foot or sticking his face in my food.  Then again, I can't really blame him.  He is a tiger...

Raven In Flight

 

Series #004 completed in 2009

Media:  Acrylic and Printed Canson Paper on Canvas

Size:  12" x 24"

Collection of Scott Zielinski -

After I completed a few paintings and established somewhat of a style, people that came through my house began to take notice of them and give me some props.  At some point, in addition to the comments, I began to get some suggestions and requests.  The first of which came from my long time buddy, current neighbor, and average at best golfer, Scott.  Haha.  I kid, I kid.  Anyways, he requested something related to the Baltimore Ravens cuz dem Ravens are real noice.  I decided to base the subject off of a Raven's head logo and then build the rest of the bird around it.  Being that the Ravens were named in honor of Edgar Allen Poe, I printed his famous Raven poem all over the paper.  Definitely an odd poem and weirder poet, but i digress.  The purple background is my new take on the gradient theme.  This was much easier then those before it.

Core

Series #003 completed in 2009

Media:  Acrylic and Newsprint on Canvas

Size:  16" x 20"

Artist's Collection -

Simply put, this is my take on a section through planet Earth.  It shows the various layers of crust and central core seemingly off kilter and out of balance.  Its pretty wild to think of the magma core and intense forces happening beneath our feet.  The first three paintings I've posted all include newsprint.  The print is taken from the Wall Street Journal... because that's what my roommate subscribed to and rarely ever read.  I sure as hell wouldn't pay money for all of that nonsense.  Anyways, the first two newsprint sections were selected for their layout and textural effects, while this one was specifically chosen to show stocks and bonds which in a way, really do form the world we currently live in.  I wouldn't call that a political statement or anything.  I just like it when art forces you to think or evokes some kind of emotion.  That's all I'm tryin' to do.

Can you tell what all the sectional elements are?  I have listed them at the bottom...

Clockwise from the top:  Manhattan Skyline, St. Louis Arch, Grand Canyon, Rocky Mountains, Pacific Ocean, Great Wall of China, Black Forest, Eiffel Tower, Atlantic Ocean...

Angler

Series #002 completed in 2009

Media:  Acrylic and Newsprint on Canvas

Size:  16" x 20"

Artist's Collection -

I have always been fascinated by nature and all the living things that inhabit it.  One really cool creature is the Angler Fish.  This fish has adapted to develop a glowing appendage which it uses as lure to attract its dinner.  How cool is that?  Anyways, this is my representation of an Angler Fish with a little tweak on size and proportions.  The sailboat helps provide scale and a little bit of whimsy.  I like to think that the Angler Fish is considering the boat as an appetizer.

 

Birch

Series #001 completed in 2009

Media:  Acrylic and Newsprint on Canvas

Size:  16" x 20"

Artist's Collection -

This was my first formal painting in a while.  Over the last few years I have completed a pretty intricate Beer Pong table and constructed a custom trellis, but have not painted on canvas probably since High School.  My inspiration for the tree came from typical section graphics used by Landscape Architects.  I decided to do the background as a simple gradient.  As it turns out, Acrylic is not very conducive to this.  Damn paint dries out quickly!  Through trial and error I found that a misting of water helped extend the time I had to work with.  Overall, I am pretty pleased with the result.  For whatever reason, I haven't been able to recreate such a smooth gradient since.  Go figure.