Wednesday, September 02, 2009

The Sitter

Last evening

Last night I took a detour and decided to paint something loosely in acrylic. I painted exclusively in acrylic for years in my commercial illustration days, eventually adding colored pencil and airbrush for blending... I never could get the blending I desired with just brushes and acrylic.
This was an experiment with Atelier Brand acrylics. It was an enjoyable experience, and I was able to get a whole figure painting done in about 2 hours.
StartStage 2Finished
The Sitter • 7" x 10" (18cm x 25cm) • acrylic on gessoed paperboard
Click each for larger views

Giclées

The original painting has been sold, but for a limited time you may get an 11 x 14 signed giclée for $39 and free shipping in the US. This represents a total savings of about 20% off Dave's regular prices. (I accept checks via snail mail, or you can purchase now with Paypal)

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Masai Warriors, Progress

Current Painting on the Easel

If you haven't been watching lately, I am busy with an 18 x 24 commission, Masai Warrior Initiation shown below at exactly the stage it is as I write this. I will be continuing during the day today and this evening on the broadcast. (click image for a larger view)

Road Trip: New Mexico

Teresa and I will be attending the Artisan Art Materials Expo in Santa Fe, New Mexico from September 17th through 20th. More info at their site: http://www.expoartisan.com

Signed and Matted Giclée Reproductions Sale

Ends (after) August 31, 2009 - See available works and sale pricing here:

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Good Tip

Sunday, May 10, 2009

David R. Darrow's 2nd GoFigure™ Online Workshop

I will be holding my second online portrait painting workshop, May 30 and 31, 2009 (the first one, May 23 and 24th filled up fast) from 8:30am each day, Pacific Time. That's 12-hours total. The second workshop will be the same as the first, except better most likely, since I will be learning from the first. The online workshop will be limited to 16 people due to time constraints related to regular reviews of each participant's work. Participants will view the instructors work via the "over his shoulder cam" and work on the same painting, using the same reference (shown at right), with step-by-step instruction from beginning to end, along with helpful assessments along the way to keep each participant on track. There are still a few spots left. Click here for detailed information on David R. Darrow's GoFigure Online Workshop

Thursday, March 19, 2009

John Warby

Just finished John and Bunty Warby -- these are 5" x 7" on panel... I will post the other soon. These were painted on my Paintcast™ Dave the Painting Guy, live.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Alan C. Campbell Portrait

Alan Campbell by David R. Darrow 11" x 14" (27.9cm x 35.6cm)
Oil on Canvas Panel
SOLD Collection of Alan C. Campbell
San Diego, CA – USA

About This Painting

This portrait of my client Alan Campbell was started with Alan in the studio watching while I painted during the broadcast of Dave the Painting Guy.

I asked him if I could paint him because I like his face and I like him. He balked at the idea at first, but I talked him into posing for photographic reference for the painting, and then he became interested in obtaining the painting for his office.

So, what started out as a Fine Art piece for me to paint and sell, became a portrait commission. Either way, it was fun to paint.

Alan is a recognized, award-winning architect in San Diego. Visit the website of Alan C. Campbell.  ◙


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Tuesday, January 06, 2009

Captain Nick

Captian Nick by David R. Darrow 14" x 11" (35.6cm x 27.9cm)
Oil on Canvas Panel
SOLD Collection of Simon Wickstrom
Alameda, CA – USA

About This Painting

I first met Nick at North Coast Calvary Chapel in Carlsbad, CA. He was a 'morning greeter,' welcoming people as they walked in the front door, greeting them with a big smile, friendly eyes... and something you just could not help but notice: the biggest hands you've ever felt giving you a handshake.

My own hands are large; Nick's are massive.

When I moved my studio to Oceanside in 2007, I discovered Nick was my new neighbor, and we chatted from time to time. He'd had to retire due to a heart condition, the treatment of which seemed to be barely tolerable. His weight increased rapidly over a few months, and this once grizzly, hulk of a human was reduced – by increased size – to a man at the mercy of distances, stopping to catch his breath every 15 feet or so when merely walking. He was always kind, generous and jovial, with endless stories of days in Hollywood as a stunt-double, or other bit parts.

A few months before Teresa and I moved to Encinitas, Nick told that me a good friend in Costa Rica had invited him to come down there and help him out with his new Club for mostly American tourists, right on the beach, free grub and free rent and a small paycheck.

I asked him if I could come, too.

One day, in those last weeks, I dropped by with my camera and asked him if I could shoot some pictures of him for a painting.

"Me?" he gasped. "I thought you wanted to be a successful painter," he winked. A moment later he was up scrounging around in some of his packed boxes for his hat collection, and pulled out this delightful captain's hat. I suggested that he'd look official if he had a pipe. "Oh, I have one right over here, he said, turning around to get one out of his china hutch.

I snapped about 10 shots and left him alone, thanking him for the inspiration. A week later his apartment was empty, and Nick was on his way to Costa Rica.

I have not heard from him since.

Nick left me several hats as costume props, and several Hawaiian shirts, most of which I wear on my broadcast, my favorite being the one I was wearing in last night's broadcast – the parrot one. Thanks Nick!

* * *
This is the painting I completed January 2nd – my first painting of 2009. I began it on the Dave the Painting Guy broadcast on January 1, 2009, and finished it the next evening. Most of it was recorded as a public clip at the uStream location. ◙


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