OT - For Maddafinga and the others...

This is mainly for Madda, but for all of you who contacted me, my apologies for taking so long on this...

By the way, Madda, I've seen your stuff and I must say that you're advanced a bit further than I. Great stuff!

As regards the issue of selling and commission work, I started off by doing things for friends, then friends of friends etc. Entering a few competitions and gathering some awards for your efforts will also do wonders in gaining potential buyers. (The black cat was one of three pieces I entered in my first competition, winning best in section. (!) Had all sortsa inquiries after the show, but I put a bit too much time into it and couldn't part with that particular piece. All the stuff I still have is rather special in one way or another.)

I've never made a truly concerted effort to sell, it just kinda happens. The closest I came to making a real effort was securing a series of commissions for a local veterinary office. But I haven't done any illustrating like this for quite some time now, I've been doing mostly reproduction USAAF unit patches. The modeling has also put the art on a back burner...

Here are direct links to the images:

Doc's P-40 - This is a VERY early effort from high school. One of my first serious attempts and the first piece I did that I was actually somewhat satisfied with. (At the time!)

Mustang - I was really happy with this one at the time I did it, but have since come to dislike it some; I made several mistakes, some unforgiveable. But, as is usually the case, the artist is most critical of his own work...

F-16N - This one ain't perfect either, but I still like it.

Zero! - I drew the inspiration for this one from Keith Ferris' painting. This was the first time I tried doing an aircraft with Prismacolors. (There's also a bit of Floquil Model Railroad Paint in there!)

MiG-3 - This is one of my overall faves, and, in my opinion, the nicest aircraft piece I've done. It has some glitches, but everything just fell together with this one...

Plain-Jane '68 - I've got a love affair with the '68 Chevelle - Malibu. My Dad had one and it turned into a minor project car; awesome paintjob, rebuilt engine/tranny and who knows what else. I was too young to remember anything but the paintjob and the sound. OH what a sound!!! Someday I'll draw the actual car, and maybe model it too...

Suzanne - This is from high school and is the first portrait I ever did, and the first color piece of any kind that I ever did. Thought it was great at the time, now it just kinda sucks! There are things in this piece which I'm still quite proud of though, and that's the only reason I continue to show it.

Suzanne revisited - The drawing above started out as a b/w piece, but my teacher urged me to do it in color. I guess 'ole Mac had faith in me! Anyhoo, I always wanted to go back and draw this girl in b/w. Here 'tis...

Leblanc - This is a drawing of Ray LeBlanc from one of the Olympic Hockey Games from... '92? I forget; that's when I drew it, anyway.

Sheena - This is the only drawing I've ever done of one of my own cats, although several others look similar to some of my FFF's. This was Sheena, we found her in the bushes at a movie theater and she made an immediate impact upon her first trip into the house. Boxed the dog's ears, let our existing kitty know who was boss (she wasn't foolin' nobody!) and climbed right up the living room drapes. Later we began to build our collection and she got along with few of the new additions. From thereon in she was known as "The B**ch". LOL I miss this kitty...

The Mask - I love Birmans, have never had one and probably never will. This piece ain't perfect and I got lazy when finishing it off, but I like the overall look of the face.

Curiosity killed... - This kitten looks a bit like one of ours and maybe that's why I drew her. I'm especially happy with the eyes on this one. I tried to get that fuzzy look that all domestic longer-shorthairs have when they're kittens, but came up short...

The Eyes Have It - This is my favorite of everything I've ever done. I dunno why, it's just kinda striking. There's really little about this one that I don't like. It was also the big winner at my first competition.

Inprog - This is the last thing I started a couple years back. Have yet to finish it and may not do so, I kinda like the look of it...

Hope ya'll enjoy! I'm getting in the mood again...


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