oil on panel, 32″x48″, 2414

Well, I’ve decided that I’m going to try and update this thing every Friday so I’m back again. Today I gave a commissioned piece to it’s new owner. I don’t usually share commissions, but I’m pretty happy with how it came out. It was also really open commission, I was given the freedom to paint pretty much whatever I wanted so I ended up with a painting that I really enjoyed making and fits right into the work I’m doing. It’s kind of a special treat to be given this much freedom to make something especially for someone. It was really nice getting to know John and putting pieces of him into the piece.

Tonight is First Friday in downtown San Jose, and since I’ll have a piece in the Giese tribute show, I’ll be at KALEID Gallery for a bit before I go check out a few of the other exhibits. It’s really something seeing a huge sampling of sign pieces of Rey’s up on the wall, little bit’s from a career of over 70 years painting signs. You really get a feel for the person he was through his work. I like his sense of humor! The contemporary artists in the show all did fantastic work with their tribute pieces, too. There’s a write up on the show in the Metro and in the Mercury as well if you’re curious about it. The opening night is going to have a line up of cars (and a fire engine) that were painted by Rey taking up the whole left side of the street as well. Wee!