Upcoming Portrait Painting Magic

February 17, 2022 in YouTube Videos, Studio

I’ve been working hard on finishing up my first 3D painting of 2022, and along the way I’ve ben creating little teasers for Instagram and YouTube.

One thing I’m especially excited about is that this is the first painting of a man I have done in quite a while, and this particular guy happens to be a good friend of mine from all the way back to the days of mixed tapes and beepers. The photo is so striking and I’m thrilled with the painting thus far.

This first video is the drawing phase…

These two share Chris’ facial features coming in.

And this last one shows a bit of the process painting chicken of the woods mushrooms as well as some tiny white mushrooms on Chris. They actually weren’t in the initial design, but I decided it needed a little something else.

At this point I’m all finished painting it, but now I’m waiting on global-supply-chain-issue resin to finally come in the mail. Fingers crossed it’s not too far away now!

2.17.2022

Siren of the Palms :: New 3D Oil Painting

October 17, 2021 in Oil Paintings, 3D Paintings, YouTube Videos

Oh my goodness! Now you know I'mma Bird who loves to oil paint sooo much, but even my patience has its limits! There were so many challenges, obstacles, and learning curves to creating this work of art that I almost though it might not actually happen!

Luckily, a few people and some serendipitous events magically aligned to allow me to make a truly captivating work of art that I honestly can't wait to show off in person. Time to get to work on making that happen next!

Here is my lovely ‘Siren of the Palms’. She measures 15x15” and I could not be more thrilled with how each and every layer turned out. I’m thinking I’ll probably do a limited edition print run before the holidays…

oil painting of a blond woman with no top standing under a palm tree with dark palm tree shadows going all across her body with real palm leaves in the painting under layers of clear acrylic resin

Want to learn all about oil painting? Check out my Complete Guide to Oil Painting playlist on YouTube or as a totally free course on Skillshare:

Here are a few vids on my Layered Resin Art techniques:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxmP_I9gEvM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LK3LYCG_G9k

A huge Thank You to my collaborator @greatcrea torvision

10.17.21

What's Preventing Your Art Career?

August 01, 2021 in Ask an Artist, Art Biz Advice

Are you a career artist yet? Why not? Do you even know what questions to ask to get on the right track?

Today I'm inviting you to brainstorm a little bit with me. What's the one thing standing between you and the next level of showing and sharing your art successfully? What kind of roadblocks, or lack of information, is in the way of you reaching one more rung on the 'professional artist' ladder? There's no 'one way' to be an artist, and sometimes it can feel like a total crapshoot who succeeds and who doesn't... but I assure you, it's all about skill, knowledge and dedication.

So go ahead and toss a few of your most pressing questions in the comments either here or on the video comments on YouTube today for the opportunity to have an upcoming video dedicated to exactly where you need help the most.

Here are all the materials I used today. If you purchase anything thorough my special links it helps to support my channel at no extra cost to you. Thank you!!

Material List:

Odorless Mineral Spirits

Princeton Size 1 Round Brush

Da Vinci Size 2 Filbert Brush

Bristlon Size 4 Flat Brush

Kneaded Eraser

Map Eraser

Mono Zero Eraser

9x12 White Sketchbook

Carbon Paper

*I couldn't find the exact painting panel I used online (I bought mine at a local art store) but here are gesso panels that I think are close.

8.1.2021

'The Dreaming Witch' 3D Oil Painting Demo

March 21, 2021 in 3D Paintings, YouTube Videos

I'm so excited to share my latest 3D oil, mixed media, and resin painting with you! I've been working on 'The Dreaming Witch' for months now and was finally able to ensconce her lovely ferns, petals, and gold leaf flakes in resin just last week.

This is an oil painting on linen with an aerosol background. I used dried ferns and other plants I collected in Hawai'i and Florida, as well as a cruelty-free reproduction moth, with gold leaf flakes scattered about.

I'll have this painting available as a limited edition print with hand embellished gold leaf accents in my Shop for a short time. You can grab yours here.

These prints will only be available as a pre-order for a limited time, and each one will be hand embellished with gold leaf. Grab on today!

3.21.2021

Coronavirus :: Artist Tips for a Global Pandemic

March 28, 2020 in Oil Paintings, YouTube Videos, Studio, Art Biz Advice

Well folks, I would have to say we are pretty much smack dab in the middle of the most uncertain of times... who would have thought that the biggest enemy of 2020 is shaping up to be human contact?!

The good news is that you are absolutely not alone and so many other artists are having to brave and navigate this strange new COVID-19 world right along with you. You know I've firmly believed that we can all work together as artists to come up and now it's imperative we do so to rise above as well.

You've got this. I promise.

Go learn some new skills! Free Skillshare membership for two months here!

Get 20% off my entire Shop while supporting this lil Bird:) Use code PANDEMIC

Helpful Resources:

https://www.varsitytutors.com/

https://www.makingsenseofcents.com/2019/11/online-tutoring-jobs.html

https://www.fiverr.com

https://onairvideo.com/model-index

Own Your Instagram for Artists: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEiBtAnS58WG2Mz2vPsOkSp1IYMGld_a7

Real time painting of part of this hand: https://youtu.be/8kfUf7CnjWI

Yep, I'm available for art mentoring via webcam! I'm happy to help fellow up-and-coming artists with anything from technique to small business advice, as well as with perfecting your portfolio or thesis. **See my lower pandemic rates**

Art supplies purchased through these links help support my channel:):)

Golden Taklon Brush Set: https://bit.ly/2JiEfIH

Canvas Pad: https://bit.ly/2UM5C3c

Titanium White: https://bit.ly/2Uqiugo

Naples Yellow: https://bit.ly/2UKShbB

Yellow Ochre: https://bit.ly/2vTIlE8

Cadmium Orange: https://bit.ly/3dAtRdl

Napthol Red: https://bit.ly/2WO7DP7

Burnt Sienna: https://bit.ly/39qVu5s

Raw Umber: https://bit.ly/2xrsAF5

Turquoise: https://bit.ly/2QQ84EU

Payne's Grey: https://bit.ly/3arumV1

3.28.2020

3D Oil Painting Demo :: Orange Daggers

March 07, 2020 in 3D Paintings, YouTube Videos, Studio

This latest 3D oil painting features plenty of my favorite plant life media: ferns! There are four different kinds in this work collected during my hikes in O'ahu and while strolling around the grounds at my Artist Residency at the Highlands Art League in Florida. In order to use plants in my work I first press and dry them for at least a month, and I'm always delighted when they keep their color for so long.

The 'orange' part of the 'Orange Daggers' is a certain type of bird of paradise flower that I saw abundantly on da 'aina, however this one that I photographed and painted I actually found on top of a yard waste refuse pile while I was on a morning run. I love the way their super solid petals cup up to form teeny ecosystems of collected rainwater and delicate insects when found in their natural environments.

Last but certainly not least, there is one beautiful and stately French preying mantis surveying the scene. And how do I know this particular preying mantis is French? Well because he unfortunately expired in my apartment while I was staying in Argenton-Chateau for an intensive figure painting atelier in 2015. This lil guy was collected three years before I even began creating my 3D paintings! I'm not sure what I was thinking at the time, I must have just known a perfect specimen such as this would play into my art one day.

Yes! This piece is available for purchase here

3.7.2020

Full 3D Oil Painting :: Seana's Secret

November 22, 2019 in 3D Paintings, YouTube Videos

Alrighty now I’m sure you remember this 3D painting from a few months ago from my ‘How to Paint Sheer Lace’ and ‘How to Paint Gold Jewelry That Really Shines’ videos (if not, check ‘em out!), but since I never posted the whole process I figured folks might be interested, especially since there is a tattoo featured on my subject which can be a real challenge to paint!

Seana McCarthy, my muse in this work, is a lovely and unique artist living in New Hampshire. She discovered my work on Instagram probably around a year or so ago and reached out to tell me how she connected with a certain painting in a deep way. Our conversation was so meaningful that as soon as I checked out her page and saw here contemplative, quiet and deep self portrait photography I knew we needed to do a collaboration. Lucky for me, Seana agreed to take a series of new portraits utilizing some dramatic shadow play I love so much, and let me take pick of the litter to paint from before sharing any online.

We are both body-positive artists trying to help foster a world where realistic beauty standards and adoration for each other’s natural selves is celebrated and cherished. It’s been amazing to befriend someone so far away and be able to see eye-to-eye on an artistic venture right from the start. I look forward to meeting one day in person as vanlife brings me around!

See Seana’s work here @theillustratr

This will be the last video created in my Hawai’i studio (kinda bittersweet) so enjoy that little space one more time. I’m actually already moved out of there and am looking forward to picking things back up on the mainland. Cheers to new adventures!!

11.23.2019

3D Oil Painting :: Delicate

October 25, 2019 in 3D Paintings, Studio, YouTube Videos

Welcome to my latest 3D oil painting, 'Delicate' featuring one seriously creepy scene. The figure and white plumeria flowers are painted in oil, with an aerosol background. The bugs are actually shed cicada exoskeletons (whoa!) and the faux orange flowers spilling down the front made this a super fun piece to create.

How to mix caucasian flesh tones:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfVn2X2NpN8

My vid on making these frames:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJcIFE__tlU

How to layer acrylic resin:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxmP_I9gEvM&t=415s

And if you need help photographing your resin work, check this out:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OHu47Ezguw&t=182s

10.25.2019

3D Oil Painting Demo :: Fern Tummy

September 26, 2019 in 3D Paintings, Oil Paintings, YouTube Videos, Studio

Well the name pretty much says it all with this new cute lil piece. At only 4x3 inches I believe this may be the smallest oil painting I’ve ever created, and certainly the smallest 3D one for sure!

I incorporated some of my favorite ferns I see on all my Hawai’i hikes. fractal ferns. They are especially sturdy and they seem to hold some color fairly well even after being dried for a few months. I can’t wait to use fern more in the future for these works. There are so many varieties and are some of my fave plants for sure!

Here’s my tutorial on frame-making:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJcIFE__tlU

And here’s all you need to know about pouring resin:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxmP_I9gEvM&t=415s

9.27.2019

New 3D Oil Painting :: Flower

August 24, 2019 in 3D Paintings, Oil Paintings, YouTube Videos, Studio

Welcome to my latest 3 Dimensional oil and mixed media resin layer painting (whew! try saying that three times fast!). I've been working on 'Flower' for a few months and I definitely learned some new things while working on her.

This oil on linen on wood panel painting includes gold leaf Calla Lilies with aerosol on the background and amazing plants I found in the PNW earlier this year. It was really exciting building this piece up and with the success of the incorporated plant life I can't wait to discover more wild things to ensconce in future works!