Lily Pads on Ice Lake

Charcoal on Paper, 8x10 inches, Private Collection

Above is my latest artwork, Lily Pads on Ice Lake,  the first drawing (other then studies and sketches) that I've done in a long time. This work will be featured in our upcoming exhibit in October, Capturing Realism, and also in the new instructional Ani Art Academy DVD titled The Language of Drawing coming out early next year.

Art Kudos 2011 Finalist

My artwork Ice Lake featured in the Art Kudos Exhibition

I'm proud to announce that my painting Ice Lake has been chosen as a finalist in the Art Kudos International Competition. Other featured works include Brian O'Neill's Safe on Arrival and Michael Hockenbury's Unforeseen Predicament.

Art Renewal Center Competition Winners

Selection of winning artwork from the Art Renewal Center

The Art Renewal Center recently announced the winners in their annual competition. Above are some of my favorite pieces. From top left: Breeze by Grace Kim, A March School Day by John Pototschnik, and Asunder by Julio Reyes. To see more award winning work, including work from artists at our studio, visit the Art Renewal Center 2011 Salon Competition.

Dawn

Oil on Masonite, 5x7 inches

I hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful summer! Besides spending as much time as I can outside, I've been involved in some new creative projects. I hope to share the details of this with you soon.

Above is my latest oil painting titled Dawn. I hope it's one of my most expressive pieces. The inspiration for this painting was a room in an abandoned house. I imagined what the space would look and feel like if it were livable again.

Summer Afternoon

Oil on Masonite, 8x10 inches, Private Collection

This is my latest experimental piece. It's the first painting I've done that is based on a completely invented location. Previous works have been based on actual places, although more recent works have been combinations of the real and imaginary.

I've been going through a lot of personal changes and I'm noticing these changes being reflected in my work. It's both scary and exhilarating to try these new approaches, and I feel it's just the beginning!

September by Brian O'Neill

Pastel on Paper, 16×12 inches

Here is a beautiful pastel painting by our friend and colleague, Brian O'Neill. This work has recently won second place in the 12th Annual Pastel 100 Competition. You can see his work along with the other winners in the April issue of the Pastel Journal. More of the winning works can also be viewed online on the Pastel Journal website.

March Thaw by Jeffrey T. Larson

Oil on Canvas, 20x24 inches

I'm excited to see the first signs of spring. The temperature is slowly starting to rise and the snow is almost melted. This painting really captures the feeling of being in between seasons. I really love the indication of the sun in the sparkling water.

You can see more work by this artist on his website, www.jeffreytlarson.com. You also may be interested in my earlier post, Mother's Bouquet II by Jeffrey T. Larson.