Be there or be square!



The big quilted grid painting I've been working on recently is almost done- Go Big or Go Home.  It will be ready for it's debut next Friday in my Lobby show at Artspace.  Here are some details-












I have some paintings up at Marbles-  I tried to get a good shot of the show but my model was a bit reluctant.  Some are purely my work, others are collaborations with the kids I worked with during my residency there.  

Here is a shot of my finished commission, a surprise birthday present for some one.  I hope she liked it!




Commission in progress



I've been working on a commission- a house/cat portrait combo.  At this stage in the painting, I have the framework of the house and yard completed.  I am concentrating on the details that will give this painting its personality.  I recently added the mockingbirds, squirrel and ladybug.  There is a lot of commotion going on around the cat, who remains stoic.  







Hard working artist hard at work.

This grid painting is for my show in Artspace's lobby in April. This Saturday it went through a few compositional changes . A cow had broken through the grid, but I restored order by bringing the grid back. Sorry cow!The commission I'm working on- tidying up the house a bit, I mixed a new awesome yellow. I'm mainly trying to get the cat right now, his face is smiling in this picture but ultimately he'll have a more serious expression.



Let 'em work, let 'em live.

This is a new commission I'm working on. It's a combo house/ pet portrait featuring a historic bungalow. I love the rythym and symmetry in the proportions of historic architecture. They create an innate balance in the composition of the painting. The geometric shapes are a framework for more abstract color brushwork.
Here are some small ones in progress. Tigerfish is a brand new character.
Gerbil on TV, a dog with wavy ears, business elephant, ladybug, piranha and rhinos. Not random at all....
Snail cat ladybug. Owl Flying Pig Dog. Painting stack.
And another painting stack.
Wide angle.

You are now watching Gerbil TV.

Rough beginning of a gerbil on TV. I think he wants out.
A commission I'm working on of someone's cute dog. He's got crazy eyes...
Ladybug and mug, small ones in progress.

Some more small ones I just started...
A tiny quilted grid series in the works.
Seamus looks like he's reaching for the mug sitting on the table.
Another commission just about finised- Angry Squirrel.

"Oooh Oooh Son" finished, Small and cute, Commission Madness round #2.

Oooh Oooh Son, finished! I took this picture on Artspace's exterior wall, it shows brighter out here in the sunlight.
I've been working on some more small ones, some inspired by larger works. If I made 48 of these and glued them together, it would be like my Oooh Oooh Son.

One of the commissions I'm working on right now- Novio- a dog with an incredibly long tongue.


Commission Mania, Marbles Residency,and a big painting almost almost finished.

Commissions-I'm happy that a lot of people got Norval paintings under the tree this season, it means I've been busy in the studio. Commissioned work ranged from large to small this year and I enjoyed every minute of painting them. Now that I've met the big deadline, I can breath a sigh of relief.



Marbles Residency-
I had the privilage this December of doing a residency at Marbles Kids Museum. I spent two weeks painting and creating with the little ones, and it was a blast. Such creative minds at work! My daughter, Ingrid, also enjoyed helping out at her favorite place to play. From painting wooden boxes, to creating animals out of tape, to painting huge canvases together, we did it all. It was a real highlight of 2011 for me.


LARGE canvas almost done!!

Here's some detail shots from my newest large painting yet to be titled. I wanted to show lots of action and bright colors. It's part of my quilted grid series.



A small grouping that's up right now in the studio, on top a board meeting, below a commissioned painting for a couple flanked by Nugget and Square dog.
Everyone have a happy new year! 2012- the year for art!!!