Before

Check out this sketch:  it's very raw, crude and loose. There is nothing tight or clean about it and it shouldn't be. This part of the process is about "mapping" things out and just getting to know the subject. I believe all of my students should get comfortable knowing and using basic lines and shapes because as you can see you never really abandon that. 

After

Here is the finished oil painting. It took me a year to finish this piece. Of course I wasnt just working on this piece I had several other works going on at once. Not only does putting the piece aside give me time to think about where it needs to be but it also allows the paint to dry. 

Notice how everything looks full and finished compared to the initial sketch. I didn't do everything at once, it was all painted in layers. One step at a time. It's all part of the process.

Commissions

As an artist I don't just work on things for myself sometimes I get hired or paid to design or paint things for people this is called a "Commission". Here is a large mural that I worked on for the Mighty Yellowjackets that measured 20x40 feet. It took me two months to finish this work while using a mechanical lift to move around. I was up past 2 stories...I was terrified!

I've been working as a professional artist since I was 15 years old.  It's never been easy but I always knew nothing would be given to me.  And working on commissions like this  does not mean I like what I'm hired to paint but it does mean I have to paint to the best of my ability.