MAIN STREET MEDLEY

18 X 36

Oil on canvas panel

This painting took way longer than I care to admit.

 Now I can get onto another project - hoping for a more speedy process. 

Thanks for waiting - MB

RING A DING DING

 

                                                               MERRY CHRISTMAS

Some Christmas entertainment for your listening pleasure(or not)

MUD “LONELY THIS CHRISTMAS “  https://youtu.be/

MILEY CYRUS,MARK RONSON & SEAN OKO LENNON “HAPPY XMAS” https://youtu.be/

DEF LEPPARD “WE ALL NEED CHRISTMAS “https://youtu.be/H9UkvOrDx1M

WZ - SKI

 

36 x 36

I brought this painting into the gallery yesterday and it just sold! Made my day - hope yours is going well too - MB

WE THE PEOPLE

 

OVER THE MOON

                               36 X 36 oil on canvas panel

New work for November 

The gallery requested another VW painting too

I’m working on that one this week then I 

have a Rabbit Ears commission after that.

It’s great to get some positive feedback and 

some requests. I also am going to be featured 

on the Steamboat Guide. Not sure what that really 

means - I’ll let you know when it happens.

Stay safe and think 💭 blue!

Thanks MB

SHADOW LIGHTS

 

                                           10 X 10

                                       Oil on panel

NAKODA CREE FIRST NATION ELDER

Lake Louise, Alberta 2019 

I’m painting but it’s been slow.

We had a wildfire raging behind our house and

my anxiety level was a bit out of control.

It snowed and got cold so I’m feeling better 

about the fire. Not so anxious.

I thought it would be fun to post some photos 

from our Canada trip last year.

Remember to VOTE!

Thanks MB

UNBELIEVABLE

 

STORM MOUNTAIN 

24 X 24

SOLD!

We have a new gallery director and I’m in awe!

Sold another one tonight - yeah

I can’t tell you how much this means to me. 

Gotta get to work - paint on!

SKI-BUG

 

30 X 30

SOLD 

It’s been a great week for sales, I’m so lucky.

Later MB

DOWNTOWN SAMPLER

 

18” X 36”

SOLD - YEAH!

It’s called Downtown Sampler because I squeezed in 

LYON DRUG, FM LIGHT, the SPACE STATION 

and 

RABBIT EARS MOTEL. 

That pretty much covers the downtown landmarks.

Thanks for looking MB

HULA KITTY AGAIN

First Friday demo - I was a hit with the 5 year old set! 

If you’re interested in the Hula Kitty painting 

drop me a line. I’ll put your name in the hat.

My treat - I’ll send it to you when dry.

I think it’s a good deal.

Later MB

SOLD YEAH!

5” X 8”

5" X 5"

Some sales are better than none. I'm so happy to see some action after a long dry spell.

The Gallery is going through some positive restructuring.

Thanks for waiting and following I appreciate all the notes and comments.

On another note Gayle won the Cow painting and it's in the mail.

Sent USPS Priority mail might get there in 3 weeks - time will tell.

I love the USPS, I depend on the USPS - I really can't function without my local USPS.

I sincerely hope this gets straightened out sooner rather than later. 

I hope to paint some more give aways but I can't guarantee anymore cows.

Stay tuned!

DEMO FIRST FRIDAY

CUTIE PIE
 I attended First Friday and painted Cutie Pie.
I was nervous because it had been over a year Since I’ve painted any cows.
I’m giving this painting away. If you’re interested send me a line 
If there’s more than one follower I’ll put the names in a hat a draw one winner.
No catch just thought it could be fun I’ll pay postage too. 
Thanks a bunch MB

HOW MANY DOGS DOES IT TAKE TO CHANGE A LIGHTBULB?

I THINK WE HAVE PEOPLE FOR THAT!

Stop Children

Stop Children What’s That Sound
https://youtu.be/vRdMa5U8M-0

SELF PORTRAIT

Miami or bust!

Out the studio second story door 

It was a good idea to install a door to no where - came in handy

Stay safe out there and thanks for all the correspondence 

in these difficult, trying times. MB 

SLEEP CHALLENGE

I’m melting!

Could I be any cuter?

I can’t control my ear - it’s bugging me to no end.

SWEEPA CHALLENGE - cheap entertainment 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAyKw2MA0XG/?igshid=tnhepqq0wezg

SHOE BANDIT

Guilty

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_iR5g9jNlK/?utm_source=ig_web_button_native_share

DEVIL PUPPY

Who me?

I’m not being bad

I’m not chewing the knob - no - not me

I’m not crazy  

I could chew on my box but I’d rather chew on your jeans

Shhhhhhhh!

DR. PEPPER

Dr. Pepper he’ll cure what ever ails you!

For video click the link

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-u4Tj5DXRf/?utm_source=ig_web_button_native_share

WHEN I GET TO HEAVEN

https://youtu.be/JKPDFQRmG_M

ANOTHER BIG SURPRISE

New addition to family - we think he’s a little 

Pepper Corn aka.Pepper - Peppy - Zippy 

Not really sure he’s been with us for 3 days so things could change.

I was having difficulty attaching a video so here’s my 

Instagram Link for video of Pepper in action(below) a little comic relief 

We love him and if you want to see him we can meet in our driveway 

Email me or text or call - he’s excited to meet new friends 

My neighbors stopped by from a safe distance in the driveway 

today so he got some socializing which I’m grateful for 

because I want a well adjusted dog 

If you love corgi puppies please stop by and say hi!

https://instagram.com/p/B-nBMZiDZT1/

RABBIT EARS MOTEL

60 X 72

Oil on canvas

SOLD

I was going to have a viewing party - we all know how that’s worked out.

I tell you I didn’t think it was possible not only to finish but to be ecstatic with the results.

It’s hard to see all the details but it’s painterly where it needs to be.

The Motel lettering was the hardest. I think the bottom third

changed colors approximately 6 times. I was getting so discouraged,

I had to let the painting sit for days before I could proceed without failure.

I had to get out of my head - long walks really helped the process.

I should’ve documented all the changes because it was interesting what ideas got dropped 

along the way. It just didn’t happen. 

I guess you’ll just have to trust me that this final version is the best.

This painting will eventually get taken off the stretchers 

rolled up(which is kind of a nightmare scenario for me) and shipped to Florida. 

Of course it has to dry - then get a thin layer of varnish - dry some more then carefully roll!!!

 Which, the thought of rolling is probably going to keep me awake most nights. 

I’ve read extensive gallery articles on how to achieve the perfect roll.

It would probably be a good idea to find an old painting and give it a try.

Thanks for waiting - MB

NOTHING LIKE A BIG SURPRISE

I want to introduce you to a friend of mine. He’s a great musician and stellar songwriter, Jim Spillane. Below you can read a story about the song he wrote for his newest CD “Nothing Like a Big Surprise”. You can also click the youtube link and hear the song along with some pretty inspiring visuals.
Thank goodness for good friends - they make this time so much better. They inspire me to be not so sad and a little more hopeful. Thanks for all the emails too I appreciate all the thoughts sent my way.
Enjoy!

This song was written during the time that I was recovering from my cancer treatments; but, I did not want the song to focus specifically on that.  I wanted it to be more about big unexpected, life-changing experiences in general.  About a week ago, it occurred to me that this song applied really well to this whole coronavirus thing and I mentioned that to my musical partner, Brad Thrower.

As Brad spent his professional career as an audio/visual specialist and has made countless videos... mostly for General Motors; the notion of putting the song to a video evolved pretty naturally.  Within a few days he had constructed it and we decided to release it publicly.  That is how it wound up on You Tube.  

It is our hope that people will enjoy it and maybe be motivated enough to share it with others.  Brad and I are simply hoping more people will hear our music this way.  You can access the video with this link:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SlvqYRCyB8.  If you are so inclined, please feel free to click "like" and leave a comment as well.  

Thanks for listening!

Jim

RABBI - - -

RABBI

Love that post title? 

It’s going - had a rough patch but I hope I’m through with that nonsense.

So much doubt. 

New favorite colors Holbein’s Kings Blue Deep

Gamblin quinacridone red

Can’t explain how much I love them or why but they are now on my palette everyday 

On another note - I’m thinking about all of you everyday 

Drop me a line anytime to let me know you’re OK

Please stay safe and healthy because I need you!

I know that’s selfish but hey it’s the truth. 

Till next time all the best MB

BIG BUNNY

                     

                                          Good for scale - having a bad hair day as usual.

For the background I had to use some large house painting brushes.

It took 3 tries to get it right. I also breathed a bit too much Gamsol yesterday.

Over exposure to chemicals is something I try to avoid normally.

Large scale painting has been a challenge in more ways than I can count.

I’m using my Bristlon Silver brushes. My cheap brushes work great for small

details but I needed to break out my better brushes for this painting to work.

A lot of trial and error going on. Can’t believe how many changes I’ve made it’s hard

to see the progression. I haven’t been keeping track because the changes seemed so minute

at the time. I’m happy to be off the ladder! Can’t tell you how many times I forgot I was on the ladder. I don’t know how painters work on ladders - not really something I care to do on a 

regular basis or perhaps ever again. 

         

It’s hard to see the details so here’s a closeup.

Thanks for waiting MB

PROGRESS

Here’s acrylic underpainting finished.

It’s super general and quick to get the ideas out and cover the white canvas.

I’ve already changed my mind on some color choices.

So glad I did the acrylic first to work out some thoughts.

Technical note - you can paint in matte acrylic first and then add oil,

But you cannot reverse the process. Acrylic cannot go over oil

doesn’t matter if the oils are matte or not. Just won’t work.

I started painting with oils yesterday and that’s another story!!###&&&$$

Thanks MB

RABBIT OUT OF A HAT!

Surprise!

Here’s a first look - acrylic underpainting see notes below for 

technical explanation if interested. I covered the entire canvas today

I have to let the dust settle before I show that version.

Acrylic underpainting notes

I had to cover all that white and figure out the main colors at the same time.

I added Golden Fluid Matte Medium to the acrylic colors. 

The medium does not change the intensity of the colors it just helps the 

paint flow and adds a matte finish.

Acrylic can dry shiny and I wanted a matte surface for the oil to 

adhere to properly. I am happy with the results so far and if need be I can 

use Golden matte sealer before application of the oil paints.

You can see all my reference photos on the table as well. 

I think I printed 15 photos to tape to the painting while working on that area. 

The next step is oil! Yikes! 

I’ll start at the top of the rabbit and work my way down. 

The sky will be the last thing painted - in theory.

Working on a ladder is a challenge in itself - I’ve fallen off once so far.

I’m used to stepping back to take a look but not while a couple of feet off the ground. 

Acrylic paints - I like Nova color the best. You can’t buy them in a store

you have to buy them direct from the factory in California. 

They’re pigment load is quite incredible and the colors are so clean.

I’m also using an old set of heavy bodied Golden acrylics.

If you have any questions about process you can always 

email me. I’d like to say I’m really excited about this 

project but it’s a bit overwhelming. Hoping that once I start painting

with oils that all my fears will evaporate.

Thanks for waiting and waiting and waiting MB