a quick master copy of chinese artist zhang lu..  taking a stab at his photoshop method.  Took it about 60 percent of where he does.  love the method, lots of layers

I once heard someone say the only safe investment is in yourself.  The market is all crazy, not that I understand it, or even care to when its stable… So I’m investing… in my painting… by renting a studio.

Its in Lincoln Heights, near downtown LA..   going to be a gallery / party space when its finished as well..  I waited out evening rush hour there with a painting…  my shoes:   f’n onitsuka tiger..  best shoes in the world.

a few pictures of the studio space:

This area will be the gallery… roll up door allows for some giant work to be hauled in and out.

Thomas Martin used to paint from movies back at Ringling..  its great to study color and composition..

this is from Before Sunset, and yeah the likeness is off…

temporarily titled “east coast/west coast love”..  this is a proof print of some full color sketches of a book I’ve been hammering away on for awhile.  These sketches are all digital.. done in painter but the final thing will all be done in oils on board.  Any feedback is appreciated… pages shown in order, sort of like you might be paging through.

printed via blurb… which pretty much rocks…   www.blurb.com

schulgasse

Back in 2004 after Polar Express wrapped I went and wandered around central Europe for a few months… drawing and painting in a little water color book with some Japanese water pens and a set of guache.

villa

the prater

hostel

shonbrun

and one quick study from my own neighborhood, Hermosa Pier, California

hermosa

I drove on out to Alhambra this weekend to check out Kid Koala’s music to draw to, a little gathering of sketchbook and music fans.  I loved it, sat there for a few hours, drew, drank lemonade and stuffed down a few of those trendy fresh baked red velvet cup cakes.  Took a few minutes to draw some of the kids hanging round.

A few nights before I left Burbank late after a few drinks on the patio to go draw at the now re-located late night salon…  the theme; tokyo pop..

and a little in progress of those two still unfinished paintings… the city is starting to suck.. need to loosen it up again.

First, a painfully slow cityscape from angels flight down in the historic core of downtown LA facing east. (work in progress)

Second, a reworking of an earlier painting i hadn’t gotten around to posting yet.

Third, 7 little character drawings from the friendly fires’ show at the troubadour last night while I waited at the bar for friends to show up.

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