Traveling Trunk 2012

I am participating in the Traveling Trunk Boutique

If you want to get a great deal on a portrait commission, visit the boutique, fill out an order form, purchase the commission, and then contact me at 

arpartworks@gmail.com

In order to receive this special offer, you must purchase the commission at the event.  

Sketches

8x10………………………..…………...$60

11x14…………….……………………...$75

14x18……………………………………$90

16x20………………………………… $115

18x24………………………………….$130

Paintings

8x10…………………………………..$75

11x14…………………………………$100

14x18…………………………………$125

16x20…………………………………$150

18x24…………………………………$175

For group portraits, add $50 per additional person to the sketch prices, and $75 per person to the painting prices.

Make sure you get to check out the rest of the beautiful things there. I've already got some things for myself! 

New Project, Almost Done!

I'm doing a self-portrait to focus on technique, and as a self-analysis exercise. It is still in the works, but I plan to submit it to the Outwin Boochever Portrait Contest. I have hopes, but I'm trying to be realistic about it too. 

Well, wish me luck, and here goes nothin'!

Feelin' like Dealin'

Hello Friends!

I was just sitting peacefully at home, thinking about nothing in particular, when a thought just came to me. It came whilst whistfully gazing at the light bouncing off the leaves outside my window. Yeah. It was cool. But anyway, the point being:


It is time to do another deal.


I've been really digging drawing lately, and I want to do a sketch for someone. So here's the deal:

Comment on this post, or go on to my art process blog, and comment on how you would put a free commission sketch to use. The one that is the most inspiring to me (or that I randomly pick from a hat...) will win.

Also, I am offering a 25% off coupon on an 11x14 portrait sketch to ANYONE WHO WANTS IT. That translates to about $82.50.

How's that?

FYI I'll probably be rethinking my pricing lately because a lot of people have thought my pricing is too low. So now's the time to act! This is probably the best offer I'll have in a while! If you are interested in using the coupon, email me at arpartworks@gmail.com, or comment below. Thanks people!

NEW ARTIST

Ian Cumberland. So amazing.

A few images from my final show: Relative

It Is OFFICIAL!!!!

Design credit goes to the lovely and talented Laura Tait

Dave the Brave

It's getting closer and closer...

I wonder if I'll ever get sick of painting Dave.

Probably not.

Recently Inspired

Right now I've been working really hard on skin and the colors in the skin, along with textures. These are some images I've been inspired by recently

(haven't read the text...I don't advise doing so...)

It is just mind blowing to me all of the different colors that artists can find in the human face. Peach? No... magenta, yellow, green, orange, blue, ten different shades of grey, etc...

I love the challenge! People always got a kick out of the fact that I had to take a color class (red and yellow make orange, right?) and now its starting to manifest it's relevance.

Can Art Change the World?

TED Talks 2011 prize winner.

This is an artist who uses portrait photography to change perceptions in areas of conflict. This talk is beautiful and powerful, and if you enjoy or support art, it is a must watch.

A bystander viewing JR's art project talks to another and says,

"You’ve spent the last few hours trying to figure out what this project means. In that time you haven’t thought about what you are going to eat tomorrow. This is art.”

Sneak Peek #2

Sneak peek of current project...

An Explanation of my BFA Show

As many of you know, I am working toward a BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts) degree right now. In order to graduate with a BFA degree from BYU, I need to have a final show. Another well known fact is that my art revolves around people. I paint portraits and figurative paintings exploring identity, individuality, emotion, and spiritual journeys. I want my show to embody all of the hard work that I have put in these past five years, and to show the sincere devotion that I have toward people and painting them. You're all probably wondering where this is going...

How do I paint a sincere portrait? Do I glamorize my subject like in photo-shoots? Do I make a moody melancholy painting to over emphasize how hard life is? There's got to be something in between. I want to show the people I love in a meaningful, sincere, personal light. This is hard because it involves discomfort, confusion, and reality.

We are all so used to glamming and idealizing ourselves. When we take pictures to record our family, the ritual we go through is "1 2 3 cheeeeeese!!!" We only put up the "cute" pictures on our blogs and facebook. I am guilty of this too (I'm not saying we should be putting all of the personal and sad stuff on blogs, just trying to describe my project...) Our surface image of happiness and prosperity is true in some cases, but only partially true. Life is not all cheese. Life also isn't all depressed either. It is emotional. It is a roller-coaster. It's main purpose is growth, and growing always involves growing pains along with the satisfaction of progression. Life is not perfection.

Life is not perfection.

Yes, in the Latter Day Saint religion, we are commanded to be perfect, but not by our own power. Christ relied on the Father and had the Father's spirit with him in almost every moment of his life. Why do we always expect and require perfection of ourselves? This is something I've battled with all my life.

I have a feeling I'm not connecting my thoughts very well. I'll try to explain how all of these things relate. I want to produce a body of work of portraits that convey something deeper than surface happiness. I want to paint what people look like everyday when they perform their daily interactions and labors. I want to portray them with the sincere feelings and moods that they are having when I take the reference photographs. I want to show emotion that is not posed or pre-thought. It has been very hard for me to explain this to the people that I love that I am painting. I just want you all to know that I'm not trying to slight anyone I'm painting by not doing the standard glamour shot that we are used to. I just want to produce a painting of you that shows true emotion, that shows what people really feel and look like, and maybe to even help people realize that...

...they are loved and accepted and embraced as they are every day.

I hope this explains what I am trying to do for those of you who have been confused. I am trying to do 12-15 paintings, and still need a few more subjects, and I was wondering if anyone would be willing to go on this emotional journey with me to promote the truth that, as the classic song says, we don't need to change "to try and please me, I love you just the way you are."

Nick Peterson

Here's to cousin Nick! Hip hip hooray! We had so much fun with you this weekend. Thanks for being Dave's friend and for your consistent kindness, and example of hard work!

Tribute to Vickie Wilson

Today I want to honor Vickie Wilson.

This woman has touched countless lives, including my own. She has more spunk and pizazz than anyone I have ever met, and enough optimism to make an eight year battle with illnesses (yes, plural) one that can teach all of us something about meekness, humility, faith, and trust.

I had the honor of being able to spend afternoons during the summer months painting with Vickie. She had a wonderful, accurate artistic eye, and a gift to make anyone laugh no matter how stiff or serious they might be feeling. She was free with her compliments, and always genuine in their communication. She taught me how to serve, and be served.

She loved life, and her family fiercely. No one could be more loyal. She put her heart into her home and her loved ones. Every time I visited, she always talked lovingly of her family. I am humbled by the blessing it has been to know her. Words cannot express how wonderfully happy I am that she is free at last, though we all will miss her sorely.

This is for you Vickie. I love you. I am praying for your family.

Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise

Watch this video

http://www.theavettbrothers.com/us/video/head-full-doubtroad-full-promise

oh yeah and this commentary on it

http://www.theavettbrothers.com/us/video/making-head-full-doubtroad-full-promise-video

That's all...

Sculptures

These are sculptures I've worked on this semester for my figure sculpting class. I tried to take each assignment and to form all of them into a cohesive body of work.

These two works are about the fragility of the relationships that we maintain.

The beeswax bust comments on the relationships that we have with ourselves, and how it takes consistent effort to keep it a healthy one, to hold ourselves together and to examine ourselves with proper perspective and knowledge.

This second piece is about relationships to people with which we are very closely connected, those that see all sides of us, the good and bad. The connection between us and them is one that must be monitored and where the environment we create is crucial to the strength of the bond.

Although these two are solidly connected and grounded in wax, if it gets too hot, they will disconnect and topple over.

I am so glad I chose to take this class, so that I could study the figure three dimensionally, and so I could explore concepts that are relevant to me.

To All You Wonderful Traveling Trunkers...

This post is for all you wonderful women who I have been able to meet this weekend so far at The Traveling Truck Boutique event. Thanks for checking out my personal process blog!

This blog is a journal of my visual endeavors, portraiture or more abstract concept based work. If you are looking for specific info on pricing for commissioned portraits, check out my portraiture blog:

arpportraits.blogspot.com

If you'd rather not, here is my basic pricing list.

Feel free to email me at arpartworks@gmail.com.

Pricing

Oil Painting Prices:
11"x14" .................. $150.00 14"x18" .................. $250.00 16"x20" .................. $320.00 18"x24" .................. $430.00

Pencil Prices:

	11"x14"	..................	$110.00
	14"x18"	..................	$185.00
	16"x20"	..................	$240.00
	18"x24"	..................	$322.00

Charcoal Prices:

	11"x14"	..................	$90.00
	14"x18"	..................	$150.00
	16"x20"	..................	$190.00
	18"x24"	..................	$260.00

Side Notes on Pricing:

* All projects are considered individual, personal and different, and as such are individually priced. This table gives standard pricing and sizes, and is used as a guideline, but each project pricing is discussed between client and artist individually to find a fair price for their specific piece.

* Special projects with unique specifications are very hard to categorize under a pricing table, so their pricing is completely between client and artist.

* If the client is unhappy with their piece, they may negotiate a price reduction or decreased pricing on a replacement commission (they will still receive their first piece).

The Traveling Trunk

I will be participating in a Holiday Boutique in Salt Lake City called "The Traveling Trunk." I'm offering a 20% discount for those who arrange a commission with me there. I'll also be displaying some commissioned portraiture, and selling small prints. There's going to be a lot of other beautiful stuff there from other artists/crafters/etc, so come check it out!

Ashleigh Braithwait

Everyone, this is Ashleigh. I may have posted my earlier version of this painting...can't quite remember... but here is the finished version.

Ashleigh and I have decided that we are roommates. We live in our painting studio at least 20 hours a week, if not more. She has a very exciting and funny personality, yet a thoughtful, deep part of her that I love to see when she chooses to show it.

Thanks, Ash, for protecting my sanity.

Peruvian Spoon Seller

This is a colored pencil drawing that I still haven't finished, but I loved working on the face. This woman sold wooden spoons on the street. When I asked to photograph her so I could draw her, she was so funny, she kept saying how she felt like a movie star :)

Those eyes have so much wisdom and life experience behind them, I wish I could have talked to her more. She was very sweet and had the most endearing laugh.

Hopefully one day I'll finish the background. This has been one of my very favorite portraits that I have done. I wish I had more control with a paintbrush so I could do more stuff like this. Until then, back to the grindstone.