The year of 2013, I was in the mode of starting and finishing a painting in one night. I had just graduated so I had these skills and knowledge I acquired and couldn't get enough of painting whatever I wanted, no guidelines or restrictions. I was living next to the separate garage on my dad's property figuring out my next move, so I also had the luxury of being free from the worry or making rent as well.
I got a little ambitious one night with a big 36"x48" canvas I got on super sale. I was also just dipping my toes in social media and started posting artwork on Instagram for the first time. I was using the people I was meeting as inspiration for my work. I saw this photo by photographer Billy Sukoski and immediately knew I had to paint it. The model ended up being another talented photographer that I befriended and collaborated with as well, Henry Bruington, and the painting landed into my "Humans of Social Media" project I was working on at the time. They were both excited for me to translate it into a painting, and I was so overjoyed to have permission to get painting!
I started the underpainting in the afternoon and knew it was on. Painting it was everything I wanted it to be. I picked this photo because I wanted to paint the glasses and the shadows cast from them, his mustache, the embroidery and folds in his shirt, and the Squirt can. And those colorssss!
And I worked through the night. Back then I did this almost every night. I still go on late night painting binges when I'll paint basically non-stop for 12-14 hours often greeting the sun. The focus of the night helps me slip into a great flow state.
While I love this painting and parts of this detail shot, I can definitely tell my perfectionism has gotten the best of me now and also why I don't call a painting finished after one night. I've also gotten better at hands after painting a whole solo show of them in 2015. I'll have to write a post about that one!!
This painting had been hanging alongside "Strawberry Martini," the painting that I shared the other day also at 417 Taphouse. Last month, one of the owners informed me that it sold and I had a check waiting! Selling a painting is one of the best feelings knowing that it connected with someone, and I hope the new owners enjoy Henry and bring a bit of fun and color to their everyday lives.
