Still Life Scratchboard

This is a large 16"x20" Ampersand scratchboard. I just finished this the other day. This is a combination of vintage paper collage and water based oil paint. This is my new favorite piece. I struggled with it for several months. It just wasn't coming together. Once I started slapping the paper on it started to make more sense to me. I love it when it happens that way. I'll be doing a scratchboard demo at Jerry's Artarama in Feb. I'll post more info soon. Also will be doing a day long scratchboard/collage class at Eye of the Dog Art Center in San Marcos TX in April. Check out more info at www.eyeofthedogartcenter.com

Sweet Blue Dog

This is my latest 5"x7" Ampersand Art scratchboard. www.ampersandart.com This is a sweet dog named Blue, a belated birthday present for a friend. These latest scratchboards are stacking up in the studio. This one has a home....but many of them don't, at least not yet. I'll be delivering several new monkeys and dogs to Wally Workman Gallery this week. www.wallyworkmangallery.com Check them out. I am the 'Target' of the gallery...my work is quite affordable, purposely. I want to sell art. Simple as that. I don't make tons of money on these, but they fly out the door and end up on people's walls. That makes me happy!

I'll be teaching a scratchboard class at Eye of the Dog Art Center www.eyeofthedogartcenter.com in San Marcos this coming April (Sunday April 11th from 10-4 lunch included $95.00) This Art Center is one of the coolest places on Earth. Really. And Billy Ray and Beverly are two of the most talented, nicest artists I know. So put this on your calendars and save your pennies. We will be diving in head first into scratchboard and collage. I'll have all the materials and tools. My goal is world domination by scratchboard. It is the most instant gratification art technique that anyone can do.

Kitty Scratches

Just wanted to illustrate the progression of one of my smaller scratchboards. This is a sample size Ampersand Art board. www.ampersandart.com Started out on the far left with the basic outline of a kitty. Then I added the fish bones, and finally some color. There you have it, a 'Kitty Scratch'.

I'm on a brief interview on KUT radio here in Austin. Jill Carver, Suzanne Lewis and myself talking about the art work at Wally Workman Gallery. www.wallyworkmangallery.com It's a hoot. Had a lot of fun doing it. Click on the link to hear it. http://media.kut.org/sounds/blog_00019476/AE_329.mp3

Another Day, Another Dog

My latest scratchboard dog. The usual, Ampersand Art http://www.ampersandart.com/ scratchboard, 5"x7" with acrylic paint. I love this doggie head. Based on a photo of a friends dog, got to say though, it looks nothing like her. And yet, it is totally her. How can this be?

I've started a new blog, my continuation of a "Monkey a Day". Check it out at http://monkeyaday.blogspot.com/

Dog oh Doggie

This is my newest 5"x7" Ampersand scratchboard. http://www.ampersandart.com/ This dog, Scout, belongs to a couple of friends of mine and she is always so laid back and calm compared to their other two doggies. This is curious, because she is so big and kind of scary if you don't know her well. I would not push my luck with her if she were having a bad day...
I used my favorite scratching tool for this (the basic nib ampersand provides) and gouache paint for the eyes and background. There is a group show I'm in at Wally Workman Gallery here in Austin http://www.wallyworkmangallery.com/ . It opens this Saturday from 6-8pm. Everything is priced under a 'grand'.

Scratchboard Dog

Here is the finished 'Luna' scratchboard. I used gouache paint on a 5"x7" Ampersand Art scratchboard, http://www.ampersandart.com/ sealed with Krylon Workable Fixative. I will frame this and get it to Wally Workman Gallery. http://www.wallyworkmangallery.com/

All good here in Central Texas. Windy and Cold, just like Winter is supposed to be!

New Year, New Scratchboards

Happy New Year all y'all! I've been traveling a bit for the holidays, headed back to Austin tomorrow. Thought I'd post some of what I've managed to work on while on the road. Here are two shots of the progress on a 5"x7" Ampersand Art www.ampersandart.com scratchboard of Luna the dog. I will add some color when I get back...spray it, frame it, post it here, and call it done. I'm planning to start up the 'Monkey a Day' blog again soon. Haven't decided if it will be here on this blog or have it's very own blog spot. Any ideas? Suggestions? 2009 was a very fine year for me, I'm feeling like 2010 is going to be as good or even better. Imagine that!