Only Heaven Knows…

Heaven Knows – 24″x20″ – Acrylic on canvas – Completed 5/15/12

©2012, Don Michael, Jr.

I started painting this Over the Under-Schmeerings (OTUS) painting this past Saturday at the St. Judes “Affair of the Heart” Gala in the Four Seasons Hotel in Las Vegas. I was one of three artists invited to paint live during the meet-and-greet section of the event. It was a wonderful event and I wish I had remembered my camera so I could share. Regrettably, my lovely wife and I realized as we were pulling into valet that we had left my camera sitting on my computer desk at home. A lot of good it did us there! Thankfully, my good friend, Niki Sands, was kind enough to take a couple photos of me at work. As you can see, I at least remembered all the items necessary to create a painting: Canvas – check; Paint – check; Easel – check; Palette – check; Brushes – check; Palette knife – check; Bowl for water – check; Ice cold beverage – check…

Man-at-Work

Thanks for the photos, Niki!

I found out recently that the Ginormous Heart I painted for this event was sponsored by Wells Fargo. My understanding is that the sponsorship of these hearts starts at $20,000! What a wonderful feeling to know that a creation of mine was able to generate this type of money for such a worthy cause!!!

I’ll close this post by sharing the sweet little plaque that I was given for taking part in this wonderful event. I couldn’t be prouder! Bless you, St. Jude!!!

‘Thank you’ Plaque

Now it’s back to the studio… Happy Creating!

]]> http://www.donmichaeljr.com/blog/2012/05/15/heaven-knows/feed/ 7 http://www.donmichaeljr.com/blog/2012/05/11/maggie-and-mums-the-word/ http://www.donmichaeljr.com/blog/2012/05/11/maggie-and-mums-the-word/#comments Sat, 12 May 2012 04:49:17 +0000 Don Michael, Jr. http://www.donmichaeljr.com/blog/?p=5093 As I mentioned in my last post, I have been working on masks which will be donated to this year’s Un-Masking the Mind charity gala and auction. The proceeds for the masks auctioned off at the event will help pay for books and supplies for Innovations International Charter School of Nevada. I’m proud to say that this year will be my fourth with this event.

A major part of my process in creating these masks is to experiment with different materials and concepts. Although I have not finished the masks that I will be donating, I do have a couple of successful experiments that I’d like to share…

My new material of choice this year was burlap. I’d never used it with my mask creations before and I thought I’d see what I could come up with. For my first experiment I cut the burlap into several small strips and adhered them to a mask mold as I would paper mache’. I knew before I was even half-way done that this experiment would not be one I’d donate to the school – but it would be one I’d have some fun with… I think the results speak (pun intended) for themselves…

Mum’s the Word – Burlap, Acrylic Medium and Acrylic Paint – Completed 5/10/12

©2012, Don Michael, Jr.

This next experiment primarily revolved around the use of translucency in the application of paint to the mask. I’m really happy with the results, but realized that she didn’t lend herself to the use of burlap. She’s just too dainty and elegant… I like the use of contrasts, but I knew this wasn’t a time for that design element.

Maggie – Acrylic on primed plastic mask – Completed 5/11/12

©2012, Don Michael, Jr.

I am really thrilled with how both of these experiments turned out. Now if the other masks will only turn out as nicely… We’ll see.

Happy Creating!

Don’s Studio 5/6/12

Creating these masks is always a fun adventure. I try to do something entirely different each time. One of the materials I’m experimenting with this year is burlap. More on that when everything is complete… but, for now just know that I’m having some fun!

This Saturday is the long-awaited St. Jude’s Affair of the Heart Gala and Charity Auction at the Four Seasons in Las Vegas. (There are still a few tickets available. For more info click here.) The ginormous heart that I painted for the event will be there, as will I – with brush in hand. I have been invited to paint live during the early part of the evening. As you may imagine, I’m honored and excited!

An Affair of the Heart 2012 – Invitation and Hearts

Then, next weekend five of my paintings will be a part of the Grand Opening of the Gina M. Woodruff Gallery in Long Beach, CA. I plan to attend the night of Saturday, May 19th. Any of my friends who will be in the Los Angeles area are invited to come out and see some great art while meeting the artists.

Gina M. Woodruff Gallery – Invitation and Artist List

Sometime in the next couple weeks I’ll finally be able to announce a new book release with a cover that I created. I’m really looking forward to this one since it’s really a change of pace for me. You’ll soon see what I mean…

Until then, Happy Creating!

Cracker Jack – 5″x5″ – Acrylic on canvas – Completed 4/24/12

©2012, Don Michael, Jr.

Having this much fun is probably illegal, but I just can’t stop myself!

Happy Creating!

The only negative to our trip was that I came home with a horrible cold that ended up lasting a full two weeks. To add insult to injury, a couple days after we got home I tweaked my back, effectively slowing me down considerably for a while. As you may imagine, that was no fun at all – (cough, ouch, sneeze, ouch…). Well, I can finally move around without groaning and breathe without sniffing. Thank God!

As I’ve implied on recent postings, I’ve still been quite busy during this time. There are two book covers coming out in the next couple of months. There have been several video shoots that will result in commercials in the near future. There have been demos. There have been gallery negotiations. And, there was even a convention thrown into the mix…

Now that I’m finally back to something similar to a normal schedule I decided it was time for a new piece of Eye Candy. Here’s what my palette knife and I came up with…

Pez - 5″x5″ – Acrylic on canvas – Completed 4/22/12

©2012, Don Michael, Jr.

The mask in Pez is one that I created about a year ago, but have avoided painting for fear of all the blue. Her name is Francis and I think she’s a beauty – just a difficult beauty.

Francis – ©2011, Don Michael, Jr.

One last thing. If any of my blog readers happen to have Facebook accounts I would sure appreciate it if they would click on the photo below and then click “Like” on it in Facebook. There were 12 ginormous hearts painted for the St. Jude’s Affair of the Heart Gala. The 5 hearts with the most “Likes” will be featured at the Gala. It would be cool if mine were one of those five…

Hope – Photo Credit: Geri Kodey

OK, I’ve bored everyone enough for now. I should probably get back to work…

Happy Creating!

Turning Point - 20″x24″ – Acrylic on canvas – Completed 4/15/12

©2012, Don Michael, Jr.

I apologize to all my online friends that I have been VERY remiss in keeping up with everyone. It’s been a very busy Spring. With that said, I’d better go get a little shut-eye. Tomorrow is another busy day…

Happy Creating!

When we first got to the event my wife and I had to go check out the painting I did last year of Mr. Bill Marriott that was purchased by the SpringHill Suites. It was our first time to get to see it in its permanent location…

Don with Warm Regards in the lobby of the SpringHill Suites

The night kicked off with some great music provided by youngsters from the Las Vegas Academy high school. They did a wonderful job and kept a beautiful sound flowing all evening…

Teenagers with Amazing Talent

Then it was time for the first demo. Las Vegas artist, Steve Talbott, demonstrated how he created his stained glass masterpieces. Here he is showing the pattern he created and was working from for one of the pieces in his Humpty Dumpty series…

Steve Talbott with work and designs

Steve then showed us how he cut, ground and soldered his glass pieces together.

Steve soldering

Here are a few of the pieces in his Humpty Dumpty series which were on display…

Humpty Dumpty series by Steve Talbott

Then it was time for the unveiling of the new logo for Palette’s Gallery and Bistro.

Unveiling Ceremony

Several local artists had contributed designs for this, including me. None of us knew who’s design had been chosen until this moment. Here’s the one they chose…

Palettes Gallery & Bistro logo – created by Daniel Rhees

Congratulations to Daniel Rhees for his wonderful design! (To see the other entries click here. Mine is #17)

Once the design was revealed it was time for the next demo to begin. That demo happened to be featuring me! Here I am ready to begin…

Prepped, Ready and a Bit Nervous

I had been asked to demo my Over the Under-Schmeerings style of painting. As you can see I had several of the pieces in this series arranged behind me to reference as I was working. Below I am hard at work with both my brush and my mouth…

Artist at Work

Here’s another shot as I was finishing up my 20 minutes (they actually encouraged me to go long, so I took 30). You can see my mouth still hasn’t stop, but neither had my brush…

Time’s Almost Up

At this point the evening was coming to a close. All-in-all it was a wonderful night of art. Thank you ThinkArt! for making it happen.

I still have a little ways to go before I can call the painting finished, but I hope to be able to show you the final results in the next couple of days. For now, I think I’ll go to my easel and get busy on a totally different project I have in the works.

Happy Creating!

The Palettes Gallery and Bistro is hosting an event to unveil their new logo. Several Las Vegas artists, including yours truly, submitted logo designs for consideration. We will find out at the event who’s logo was chosen.

To go along with the event there is a juried art exhibition. I have the honor of having two paintings juried in.

Finally, as an added bonus, I have the wonderful opportunity to demonstrate my Over the Under-Schmeerings style of painting at this event.

Below is the program…

This event is at the Marriott SpringHill Suites on Paradise Road in Las Vegas.

For those wondering, yes, I had a WONDERFUL Spring Break. It’s hard to believe it’s over already. Now it’s time for me to get back to work…

Happy Creating!

Tomorrow there will be a huge VIP event at The Smith Center to kick off this year’s St. Jude “An Affair of the Heart” fund-raising campaign. All of this year’s hearts have been gathered together and put on display in the beautiful ‘yard’. Here you can see half of the set…

…and here you can see most of the rest.

There are a couple more, but they were not quite ready for display. I hope to get more photos tomorrow while at the event.

For now, I’ll leave you with this last photo of me posing with Hope in front of the Carillon Bell Tower. While my wife and I were there we got to hear those beautiful bells sound the hour. It had been a while since we’d heard bells like that and both of us probably looked pretty silly with the giant grins that invaded our faces. So be it…

This will probably be my last post for a couple weeks. It’s time for me and the family to enjoy a little Spring Break.

Meanwhile…

Happy Creating!

]]> http://www.donmichaeljr.com/blog/2012/03/30/st-jude-hearts-update/feed/ 7 http://www.donmichaeljr.com/blog/2012/03/27/precipice/ http://www.donmichaeljr.com/blog/2012/03/27/precipice/#comments Tue, 27 Mar 2012 05:59:58 +0000 Don Michael, Jr. http://www.donmichaeljr.com/blog/?p=5002 The mountain is high. The climb is arduous. The weather worsens. The doubts arise. The summit is near. The door is open. Your goal is at hand. But, is it what you really wanted?

It’s time to choose.

Precipice – 20″x16″ – Acrylic on canvas – Completed 3/21/12

©2012, Don Michael, Jr.

I will be writing more about this piece in the future. For now I can only say that there will be a book bearing this image soon.

As I was painting Precipice the song “The Man on the Silver Mountain” from the band Rainbow started resonating in my head. It goes something like this:

I’m a wheel, I’m a wheel,
I can roll, I can feel.
And you can’t stop me turning.
Cause I’m the sun, I’m the sun,
I can move, I can run.
But you’ll never stop me burning!
Coming down with fire, to lift my spirit higher.
Someone’s screaming my name.
“Come and make me holy again!”
I’m the man on the silver mountain.
I’m the man on the silver mountain.
I’m the day, I’m the day,
I can show you the way.
And look! I’m right beside you!
I’m the night, I’m the night,
I’m the dark and the light.
With eyes that see inside you.
Coming down with fire, to lift my spirit higher.
Someone’s screaming my name.
“Come and make me holy again!”
I’m the man on the silver mountain.
I’m the man on the silver mountain.

(Lyrics by Ritchie Blackmore and Ronnie James Dio)

Little of this has anything to do with the book. It just seemed to fit nicely with the imagery. As soon as I’m able I will share more…

Happy Creating!