Commission

5" x 7" - watercolor - 2013

This is a commission for someone in Alabama, it's going in a little girls room.

Henry

Henry - 4 1/2" x 5 1/2" x 1 1/2" - acrylic on wood - 2013

This is Henry, he's one of the newest snowmen I've made. I'll be selling Henry and a whole bunch of his friends at my Etsy shop SnowmenandSanta and at several Holiday Craft Markets this season.

Here's the process I go through to create one of these snowmen.

First, I draw several snowmen on a piece of luan wood.

Next, I cut out the snowmen with a scroll saw.

Then the luan is lightly sanded and painted with gesso.

I then have to redraw some of the details that have been covered by the gesso.

The snowman is then painted.

Once the snowman is complete I cut a piece of wood for the background, then it's sanded and gessoed.

I paint the sky and snowdrift and when that's dry I add the falling snow.

Once everything is painted it has to be assembled; I add a sawtooth hanger then glue a wooden spacer to the front of the piece. When the glue is slightly set I also add a coarse-thread screw to permanently affix the spacer to the background. 

Later I glue the snowman to the spacer and the piece is nearly complete. 

The last bit of business is choosing a name for the snowman and signing my name to the back of the piece.

Keeping Busy

3" x 3" - oil paint on canvas - 2013

Stockpiling Snowmen

Two Trees - watercolor - 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" - 2013

Taking a second look at this piece and the simplicity of the image I achieved,

I have to think it's the best painting I've ever done.

5 1/2" x 4 1/4"

watercolor - 2013

Some experimentation going on with this group. I particularly like the horizontal format and the subtle atmospheric look I managed to get on the second one.

Starting on Monday November 25th and for the next three following Mondays, I'll be selling Snowmen at the Holiday Market in downtown Jersey City.

Historic Downtown Holiday Market

An evening visitor

4 1/4" x 5 1/2" - watercolor - 2013

Snowflakes - yesterday morning

Looking North

Enjoying the weather

4 1/4" x 5 1/2" watercolor - 2013

Yesterday morning on the walk to work from the train station, I experienced some of the first flakes of the season.

& Santa

4 1/2" x 5 1/4" watercolor - 2013

I found this sepia toned watercolor paper in my drawer and thought I might put it to some use. I forget what I originally intended to do with it but I like the way it makes Santa look.