New Painting- "I'm not who I was"

I finished this painting last night! I'm super happy with it. It's approximately 11 by 14 or something like that. It's my part of a trade I did with Nickhole! Love her.

I have fancy prints made of these- a limited edition run of only 20. Once they're gone, they're gone! No more prints will ever be made, unless Nickhole the owner of the original, for some reason decides to copy hers. :)

Prints are only $20, each is signed and numbered. $5 for shipping if that's applicable. email me for availability if interested! hollymaria25@yahoo.com

Thanks guys!

Hand tattoos are awesome!

I got to do this fun tattoo today on a walk in! I wish everyday was like today! Thanks Ian!

New Painting!

This is a horrible photo, since it's too large to scan I just took a cell phone pic (and I've got an old phone, back when they only put 1 megapixel in a camera phone ^_^)
I'm really happy with how this turned out, and had a lot of fun drawing it and painting it. I'm getting a lot faster at drawing up things and kind of having more fun because of it.

Been getting a lot of shit for liking traditional. I really don't care. I have never knocked on some one for specializing in something that isn't traditional. I don't plan to ever do so, either. To be honest, I really don't care. Some one told me when I started my apprenticeship that I can do what I like- if you like portraits, do portraits, if you like new skool, do it. If you want to specialize in traditional, fucking specialize in traditional.

All I know is that I have more fun drawing traditional, I like the way it looks, I like that it's classic, and there's a simple look to it, although it's complex in a way, and has a great deal to do with composition. Clean lines. It's not the same imagery over and over again, like most people think. You can take any image and make it traditional. And from what I've found out, the assholes that dog on me for liking this style, will admit it's only because they don't understand it.

Ok I'm done ranting.

More paintings soon. Cause it's what I like to do. And I'll probably keep doing it.

Background Walk Through

I just remembered I had a blog, so here's a little update!

We finished with the 30 in 30- I stopped posting paintings so there are a few mysteries. Or did I post them all? Can't remember. Either way, look out for a mini book we're publishing. And prints, as always, blah blah.

Today I'm going to do a quick walk through of one of my favorite backgrounds I like to do for my paintings. Go dark, why not?

Here's a design I drew out this morning when I couldn't sleep. On Arches cold press block.

I usually always paint wet on wet anyway- but first I wet the entire area- and I mean really get it drenched.

Slap some black on it. I use Talens black for my backgrounds- so it wont pick up while you're painting. Pretty much I just get all the outside super black, and bring it in. Even if it's entirely black, which it will be at some point, don't freak out because it's wet you can lift it up with a paper towel.

Dab a little dab a little in the middle.

Drip a few little clusters of Talens from your bottle at the end, pat it with a paper towel so it doesn't take 14 years to dry, and you're good.

I'll play around with it for a few washes. Re-wetting the entire area, re-applying more Talens, getting ink all over my desk and hands. I usually always prefer to do my backgrounds first, then finish painting. Some may argue with me, but whatevs. Do what I want.