Portrait Painting part 2

This is the underpainting for my portrait. The figure will be monochromatic in this painting ( similar to my larger charcoal drawings). This neutral kinda leans toward the warm side.

I've been listening to my Yes albums in my studio lately. I had a little touch of the feeling I had when I was a kid , and would draw pictures at home and listen to my records. I wore the grooves off of some of them ( Spike Jones' Omnibust and The Coaster's Greatest Hits come to mind). Pin It Now!

Portrait painting

This is the under-drawing for a portrait I'm working on in a series for a show in March. I tend to be "sketchy" in the drawing ( I like to get to the action quickly). The next step will be a glaze over the entire painting which will obscure some of the drawing, but give me enough info to build on. Alla Prima ( painting that's done all in one shot ) has an immediacy that adds a real element of life, but glazing layers of paint allows for a more subtle tonal range ( at least for me). Pin It Now!

Iron Pear commission

"iron pear", 2008

12" x 12", oil on hardboard

private collection

This was an interesting commission piece that took some noodling around with to figure out. The idea was to join separate elements ( pears and iron) within the parameters of the fusion of two people ( and the little guys that followed). When I was painting the smaller pears I kept fighting the urge to make them alike. As I was "nearing the finish line", I ended up removing all of the little pears and thinking in terms of children. The "revelation" that nobody's kids are exactly alike ( with the exception of the Village of the Damned ) is one that I feel slightly stupid about now. Pin It Now!

tomato plant

"tomato plant" ,2008

6" x 6", oil on hardboard panel

private collection

This is the first one of my tomato can series. I actually transplanted the little plant to this can a couple months ago and it took off. I was at my local "home store" ( they always say that on This Old House...even though Lowe's is a sponsor) and it was an impluse buy. I like all that little crap they have at the checkout. My favorite products-that-never-should-have-been-made-things are usually there. My current fave is the toothbrush that plays music. As if to say, "at no point in my busy day will music not be a part of my life...AT NO POINT!! Do you HEAR me?". I realize that it can be somewhat of a challenge to get a 4 or 5 year old to brush his/ her teeth, but this was an adult toothbrush. Do I really need to hear the Black Eyed Peas perform "My Humps" while I brush my teeth? Pin It Now!

bit O honey... bees

There's some chat about the fact that the supercollider in Geneva could cause a black hole or some sort of other physical anomaly . Maybe this could unravel the fabric of time and space, and thus open up a pathway to alternate dimensions ( see "supersymmetric string theory". Things could be like the Star Trek episode "Mirror Mirror" where we are transferred to an alternate universe where we would meet our "alternate" selves. I imagine that my "Evil Otto" would:

- wear lots of yellow gold jewelry

-listen ONLY to Folk music

-wear sleeveless shirts ( like evil Kirk did) or have a little well-groomed beard ( like evil Spock did)

I romanticize my evil counterpart, but more than likely I end up just being the same guy ( with a great head of hair... this would be the "evil" part).


"bit O honey... bees", 2008

6" x 6", oil on gessoed panel

private collection Pin It Now!

pixie stix commission

"pixie stix", 2008

12" x 12", oil on gessoed panel

private collection


This is a commission I recently completed. I had a problem finding Pixie Stix to begin with, but another issue was that the label had changed from when I was a kid ( we can thank the good folks at WONKA candy for that). Wasn't there some kind of elf guy on the label? I also added back the flavors that WONKA candy removed ( they have it down to three).

While I paint, I like to have either music or a movie playing while I work ( the screen isn't in my view, but I like to hear it). I was watching / listening to one of my favorite movies Our Man Flint. I know its a spy spoof in a sea of those kinds of movies, but James Coburn is fantastic as the super cool Derek Flint. One of the highlights is when he actually "speaks" dolphin. Also the awkward fighting is great ( imagine falling down the stairs...with another person). Awesome!

The best part is the music ( Jerry Goldsmith... This is a great OMS to have in any record collection). Leslie Bricusse actually wrote lyrics to "Your Zowie Face"? Nelson Riddle covered both the Flint theme song and "Your Zowie Face" ( one of my favorite songs ever! )

Oh, and he lives with three women that share him ( and oddly have no jealousy issues whatsoever). See? Super spies even have move evolved interpersonal relationships than "regular" people. That's why they're called "super" spies.

Here's a taste:



Pin It Now!

candy-o

I remember cutting the grass at my Mom's house when I was 13 listening to Candy-O on my 14 lb Sony Walkman. Even then, I thought it was cool being able to listen to the song I wanted to listen to as many times as I wanted. It took a while to convert to the CD from vinyl ( and cassettes... which I never liked but...). Now, I'm getting the feeling that the push is being made towards MP3.

No more album art?

I thought that I was "settling" when I was getting the japanese mini-album versions of my favorite LPs ( there are some spectacular versions of the ELO catalogue).

-Fun Fact: The soundtrack to Xanadu has on the actual record label a "ELO side" and a "ONJ side". ONJ being Olivia Newton John. You don't get that sort of thing with an MP3 download.


"candy-o", 2008

6" x 6", oil on gessoed panel Pin It Now!

October Challenge

otto lange ( me)

"trick AND treat", 2008

6" x 6" , oil on hardboard panel

private collection



M Collier

"greed", 2008

6" x 6" , oil on hardboard panel



Jelaine Faunce

"like cats and dogs"

6" x 6" , oil on hardboard panel


For the October challenge we ( M, Jelaine, and I...this time we were sans Neil) picked the pumpkin. I love carving them, but I get the most satisfaction out of the "traditional" triangle eyes / "Sleepy Hollow" mouth.

I have to say, I always think of the 1958 Disney The Legend of Sleepy Hollow during the Halloween season because...Bing was our narrator! "Ichabod...Ichabod Crane" ( Bing's voice was so low that only certain small animals could hear it in parts of the movie).

My little niece's elementary school has banned Halloween and substituted it for a "Fall Festival" in an effort "not to offend certain religious persuasions". Okay, I live in the "deep ( this is debatable) South", and the "word on the street" is that Halloween is...yes, "the Devil's holiday!".

Okay, I go out of my way not to discuss religion or politics, but seriously!

Really? The Devil ( an actual guy ) has some maniacal plan that hinges on children dressing up like "Hello Kitty" or "SpongeBob" and going door-to-door and asking for candy? Really? Grown-ups (people who operate motor vehicles and vote for Presidents) believe this? Really?

The only argument against Halloween would be that you teach your children that its okay to disguise yourself and pander for food ( incidentally, that other people have touched...when you weren't looking ).

Happy Halloween!!

Mine is sold, but contact the other artists for info on purchasing their work. Pin It Now!

metropolis

The Adventures of Superman T.V. show from the mid 1950's is my version of "comfort food". There's a minor problem. Then, after much silly behavior by Lois and Jimmy, Superman comes in and fixes it. This painting is actually a little version of one that I was actually going to paint for myself ( eventually...).

How is it that every villain in contemporary cinema has a mastery of the martial arts equal to the skill of the hero? Not only is this totally retarded, but very unsatisfying. Ben Gazzara was actually a real challenge to Swayze in Road House? Road House being one of those truly exceptionally bad movies that you save for "special occasions". Some highlights:

-great dialogue where the gorgeous blonde female doctor marvels at the extensive wounds ( that the guy sewed up himself...) of an incredibly attractive male professional bouncer/ bar-straightener-outer-guy.

-scenes of the same guy doing tai chi outside while communing with mother nature ( and glaring at the villian across the lake).

- blind musician Jeff Healey "senses" Swayze through the sound of his fighting ( some guy actually wrote that scene down on paper). Healey also divulges to the audience that Swayze is "known" for his bar bouncing skills throughout the U.S. ( and I imagine parts of Canada).


The stars aligned when the writers of Road House penned this 1989 classic. Also, we get acting from Elvis Memphis Mafia alumni Red West ( this is his MySpace page...and coincidentally also the reason why I do not have one), Sam Elliot, and that guy from Emergency!

I realize that the first part of this little writing and the second part have very little to do with each other ( well, other than the fact that they are totally self-indulgent ramblings...).

However, I'm right about Road House.



"metropolis", 2008

6" x 6", oil on gessoed panel

Click HERE to bid on this painting or to see my other work listed on ebay Pin It Now!

Tootsie Roll...There's more than one way to skin a cat

Sammy Davis Jr. sings EVERY SONG like its an epic! Like its gonna be the last song every sung by anyone...ever. His "The Lady is a Tramp" is, in my mind, the ONLY version. What every happened to the "triple threat" ( actor, singer, and dancer)? Is that what Richard Gere is supposed to be now?

Last week my little Chiquita got kicked off of a reputable online auction site due to its "mature themes". I suppose you don't need to be Freud to find something in naked lady and banana . To be honest, that composition came together kind of accidentally.

Can you take little children to major art museums to see renaissance artwork? Seriously, are a couple of nipples going send anyone into some sort of sexual whirlwind of debauchery? Aren't "grown ups" the one's cruising the internet for oil paintings anyway ( I haven't sold a single painting to any children yet...). Is it stupid to end every sentence in a question? This brings to mind Harvey Korman in Blazing Saddles when he looks at the camera and says " why am I talking to you?". Man, I really miss him!

Whatever ( this seems to be the only word to use anymore when you throw your hands up and give in...).

This week...I use ribbon to conceal the infinite feminine delights displayed. Yeah, I get it, Hitchcock movies are great due to what you can't see and what you imagine, but...c'mon.

Oh, has anyone ever needed to "skin a cat". Even stranger, has anyone ever needed more than one way to "skin a cat"?

"epic", 2008

6" x 6", oil on gessoed panel

private collection Pin It Now!

chiquita

Word on the street ( or word in this book ) is that the banana as we know and enjoy today will become extinct. I'm a big fan of the banana both as a food and as a cool aesthetic natural sculpture for kitchen decorating for the fiscally conscious.

Orginally, I was going to name this one "banana hammock". This would have been a literal interpretation as opposed to the stylish alternative to male novelty undergarments.

"chiquita", 2008

8" x 8", oil on gessoed panel

private collection Pin It Now!

Candy Stripe

When there is candy on someone's desk in a little bowl or something... is it rude to take one? I always thought it was sort of an "ice breaker" to show that you're comfortable enough with yourself that "Hey, I'll have one of those". I swear, I ALWAYS get the look. You know, the look like, "that candy is here for other more important people!!" I never know that I'm usually not one of those people. Ignorance is bliss.

However, I've noticed the converse is true when candy is placed about in a public place. Chili's, Friday's, Olive Garden or one of those always has the little dish of Starlight Mints by the door or at the register. I love watching people navigate that situation. "Yeah, I'll have mint...or six".

Right? If its free...take a lot of it. Do you think Cary Grant took complimentary mints by the handful at The Olive Garden? Actually, now that I think about it, I'm not sure that the The Olive Garden would have been the kind of place that Cary Grant would be "kickin' it".



"candy stripe", 2008

6" x 6", oil on gessoed panel

Click HERE to bid on this painting or to see my other work listed on ebay Pin It Now!

Four paintings one subject

This is a little side project I was asked to participate in with 3 other artists ( a "moresome" of painting). These talented artists include Jelaine Faunce, M Collier, and Neil Hollingsworth. We were each given an object and 30 days to make a little painting. This is what we came up with ( hint: mine is the one with the white rabbit in it).

Click here to bid on these four paintings! Pin It Now!

food stamp

This is an actual mental image from my childhood ( which also illustrates what a little moron I was). "What? They really have special stamps for mailing food?".

My parents and grandparents used to say someone was "on the dole" or someone was a "poor soul". Right after WWII, my great grandparents would take people in who were "transients" looking for work. My great grandmother Lil' put and end to that when she came home one night to find my great grandfather dancing in the living room with a lady "transient".

Another post WWII story about my great grandmother was that she replaced her front porch light with a red bulb because she "thought it was pretty". After several "transients" showed up looking for the "lady of the house", the red bulb was promptly replaced with the original white one. Sting would pen his classic Roxanne 40 years later.

"food stamp", 2008

6" x 6", oil on gessoed panel

Click HERE to bid on this painting or to see my other work listed on ebay Pin It Now!

Slinky (the commission who cried wolf) $1.00 auction

This is an example of why my Dad gave me the very good advice of "get the money up front!!". This is the first commission where the guy stiffed me. So...I'm starting this painting off a $1.00...

When I was a kid, my dad used to drive to some subdivision in the middle of the night in Atlanta to dump garbage on somebody's front lawn. I remember the story being told to me later that "that guy screwed me otta three grand!!". I think this random garbage dumping went on for a few years. We reap what we sow...and so shall we reap, baby!

I suppose there's something to be said for a certain amount of effort and dedication involved in holding a grudge. This also illustrated to me that anger requires a certain amount of energy. Energy that I need for other things.

"slinky (homemade)", 2008

10" x 5", oil on gessoed panel

Click HERE to bid on this painting or to see my other work listed on ebay Pin It Now!

fruit loops 36" x 36" commission

Here's the underdrawing of a commission for a "really big" bowl of fruit loops. In this pic we get a little peek into the sloppy work habits of Otto. I tend to "tidy up" in the painting and have a loose sketchy drawing for larger pieces.

The interesting thing is the chair. This just might be the very chair that a certain Dan Williams may have used to fight crime in a certain fictional branch of the Hawaiian state police that ONLY answered to the Govenor ( does every state have this?).

One would have to watch an episode to see the actual chair. Hint: its in his little office ( with no door , I might add ).

Oh, season five Y'all!! In season five we get the "V for Vashon" series ( I totally remember this being a BIG deal for my parents when I was a kid), Danno shoots another child, and we get Duke ( Steve pronounces it "DEE-yuke" in one syllable...amazing). Pin It Now!

slinky (homemade)

I was in Lowe's yesterday ( returning items for a project that seemed like a "great idea" at the time). The music they have in my Lowe's is FANTASTIC! I actually could have been out in 2 minutes, but they were playing so many good songs I couldn't leave. Hits like:

-Supertramp's The Logical Song

-Kenny Roger's The Gambler

-and...Chicago's searchin'

Searchin' was actually playing while I was at the register, and it was the end part where everything goes really symphonic and there's a great drum lick. I was so into it that I peeped out the "searchin'" part in the high-sweak-annoying-Cetera voice. Just a little peep. Then, this is the weird part, the cashier says NOTHING. I mean it was kinda subconscious and kinda not, but I also did it like 18 inches away from her face REALLY LOUD. All I could think of to say was "you like Chicago? ... There awesome, huh?"

She looked me like I was retarded and said "$2.21 is your change, thank you for shopping at Lowe's".

There was No Reply at All...


"slinky ( homemade)", 2008

10" x 5", oil on gessoed panel Pin It Now!

Lydia the Tattooed Lady - commission

This is a commission that I just finished and I actually took a few pics while I was working.



The person only specified an interest in a tattooed figure. I, obviously, thought of At The Circus ...right?




"Lydia the Tattooed Lady ", 2008

6" x 6", oil on gessoed hardboard

private collection

I'm finishing up some larger commission and gallery pieces and I'll have some new auction pieces up soon. Pin It Now!

"baby what a big surprise"

One time a guy asked me if I "liked Chicago". I said "do you mean the city or...?" and then I did a little fast high pitched trumpet noise thing with my mouth. He was talkng about the band. We both agreed that Chicago was cool up until the A.C. ( after Cetera) period. Chicago is actually one of my "tools to annoy" with. Doing the trumpet noise thing to the tune of "Twenty-five or Six to four" is one of the more effective tunes.

To be honest, I always like Chicago ( the city and band...with Cetera). I have a penchant for 70's "lite rock" also know by some as...crap. I like a little Gordon Lightfoot, Little River Band, Doobies ( yes, and some solo Mcdonald), and of course the one that I take the real beating for...Ambrosia. Another one that I like ( and like to make fun of) is David Gates and Bread. "I'd like to make it with you"? Good and bad...but mostly bad.

I'm afraid that in my quest to understand my enemy ( Al "year of the cat" Stewart) that I've been seduced by the dark side of AM rock. You win this round Terry Jacks!

"baby what a big surprise", 2008

6" x 6", oil on gessoed panel Pin It Now!

black and blue

I never watch TV just to pass time ( mouth open, bag of Cheet-Os, etc). I usually prefer DVD collections of TV shows. I either :

-use it for a little backround noise while I'm painting

-use it to deliberately make fun of a particular show ( this is often best with a group).

-Or ( and this is the best one) I use it to reunite with an old friend.

My current "old friend" is Cannon . Paramount screws you a little by selling these in 1/2 seasons of roughly 12 episodes ( they figure you'll take less of a financial "risk" if you don't shell out for a whole season), but its totally worth it. Its one of the reasons I work hard. Its fantastic!



I'll go into Frank Cannon later, but I have to say that seeing 1971 in all of its desaturated glory was thrilling. He drove a silver Lincoln Mark IV ( with cool red leather interior) that was roughly 37 feet long. You get to see Tom Skerritt sans moustache and Boss Hogg sans a redneck accent. Awesome!

I love William Conrad from radio shows ( He did a great one where he was a cowboy that had to defend his ranch against a swarm of flesh-eating ants), but Cannon is his masterwork. He uses his fat in an almost charming ( and disarming ) way. He uses a Judo chop to incapacitate his foes AND...he scuba dives.

Here' the best part ( and it gets better and better every time you hear it!):


"black and blue", 2008

6" x 6", oil on gessoed panel

Click HERE to bid on this painting or to see my other work listed on ebay Pin It Now!