And one more for you car folk out there. My dad is an amazing mechanic and pretty cool guy in general...he's been woking on a 1959 Mercury Park Lane Convertible for a while now and has just finished detailing the engine. Check out this shiny, gold motor! This car had an engine fire on the side of the road somewhere many years ago and he's bringing it back to life. Dad, I'm still impressed with your skills!

WEBSITE DOWN! Dang it... if you've gone to www.candywild.com lately I'm sure you've noticed that I forgot to renew my domain :( And yes that is the face I'm making right now...grrrr.

Any way - This may turn into a painting at some point. Black pen on the back of a bill, in the backseat of our car while baby Exene was sleeping...

Sketching with my kids this morning...well, one's squeaking and the other is watching cartoons while I draw. Tried to get in a little practice today. If anyone were to ask me what my advice would be be for any young artist all I would say is PRACTICE! I'm always learning and never settle on one drawing or painting being good enough. We all have room to improve on anything that we want to be 'good' at. Today I used what I could find to sketch; A peach prisma pencil and a plain ol' black pen. Fun! Girls in their under-squares! Speaking of underwear, found this fun Maidenform advertisement and thought I would share...

Hi there! It's been a super long time since I've posted. "What's new?" you ask...so many things! New baby, lot's of camping in the Eastern Sierras and I'm finally getting back to painting. Yay! I've decided to share my painting process...in words and pictures. I've never shown how a painting of mine occurs before so I hope ya dig it. 

Let's begin with the sketch...well, one of them. The original is about 3 inches square, pencil on paper. This one's a little larger and as you'll notice started in a completely different direction story-wise. Dead fish, a sea of oil...yep, that all changes once the color study is done. 

Color studies are something fairly new to my process. They're quick, loose and fun to create. I mix colors I wouldn't normally mix and there's no pressure. Making the color study ahead of time helps to minimize the time I spend staring at a painting trying to figure where I'm going with it. They also become kind of a keepsake for me as the original pieces sell. This is all acrylic paint.

Next...preparation. I switched to painting on wood many years ago and haven't painted on canvas in a decade. I don't gesso, just a little sanding and a light wash of color. I usually try to choose a color that will enhance the colors that I've chosen to use. Marigold, turquoise and hot pink are some of my favorites. This is a pretty rough piece of plywood. I was worried the grain of the wood would overwhelm the piece but so far I really like the effect of the crackly surface.

And now to get the sketch on the wood. I never, ever, ever paint without the exact sketch stenciled on. I feel like my sketches hold so much of the movement and personality that drive me to turn them into paintings. As a piece progresses, I find, I lose a little of what I loved so much about the sketch to begin with. 

Blown up, printed out and taped up on the wood. Old school, baby! I use carbon/graphite paper for the transfer.

Once I've gotten a solid drawing on my wood I use a blue-gray to create a map of where the shadows may be. Under painting. I paint in thin, watery layers so this is just the foundation of where the darker areas will be.

Now it's time to get to the colors! I've started with the figure first. Not sure what the plan is for the background quite yet, but that doesn't mean I can't paint what I'm sure of. Lot's and lots of layers so far and still many more to go, but you can see how I'm starting to build up my colors and give Miss Violet some depth.

Got a ways to go yet...stay tuned!

Well, she's all done! 'Strange Do" 19x40" Acrylic on masonite. Check it out at Pistol Magazine's 1st Anniversary Party & Art Show, March 10th at the West End Gallery in Ventura... www.pistol-magazine.com

Happy Friday!

I love Johnny Horton...There's something about his catchy story telling tunes that makes me wanna get up and move. Today I found this neat poster online. Didn't know there was a John Wayne movie featuring Johnny and one of his best songs. Gonna have to check this one out! I'm sure it's awesome.

So, it's snowing on our mountain home today...Woo-hoo! If I didn't have to drive in it I would be extra stoked but ya know...gotta do what you gotta do, right? I'm from Long Beach and have had very little experience with snow but I have to say it is very inspiring!

White is such a strong color, it's the worst tasting paint (go ahead, try it. You know you want to.) and can really enhance anything you may be painting, in small doses. As of late I've been working with a very limited supply of paint tubes and white is one of the colors I've been working with out. It makes for a more difficult painting session but it really has let me get creative with the color mixing.  All I want to say is Hoorway for White Paint and Snow...I think I'm gonna go draw some abominable snowmen in honor of you both.