Video Demonstration of the Painting of Nim

This is a time lapsed video demonstration of the painting of Chimpanzee Nim which was done for Bob Ingersol, one of Nim's caretakers.  Nim was the chimp featured in the HBO documentary film, PROJECT NIM.  The film is about 24 minutes.  High quality giclee prints are available of the painting will all proceeds going to benefit chimpanzees, other apes, and monkeys.  If you receive this by email please click on the title as clicking on the image will not play the film:

http://youtu.be/v8TQHMiClnM

Making High Quality Canvas or Linen Panels with NO liquid Glue - NO MESS!

Here is a video I made explaining how to make high quality, archival, painting panels using no liquid glue ... thus, no mess!

Portrait Study

Painted this 8" x 10" portrait study on my layover in Dubai yesterday.

Available

Click to access auction for this painting.

After Weistling's HOMEWORK painting

Morgan Weistling has a four DVD set in which he walks the viewer through his entire process for painting one of his complete works, this one called HOMEWORK. Morgan's technique emphasizes painting with tiny tiles of color. Mixing a bit, checking the value and temperature, and then applying it in the right place.  Color is less important than the previous variables. I am following along with the video virtually brush stroke by brush stroke which is very time consuming but I think well worth it. This is the loose, painterly style that I have been hoping to achieve someday. I have about 15 hours in the painting so far and am about 3/4 finished with the second disk. I will post more progress as I go. The face still needs work, especially the bottom half but I am really enjoying this and loving the painterly, rich textured look.

This is what the painting should look like when finished.

Rick's Mill

My buddy, Rick, is a Master Electrician who helped me wire my new workshop.  He also helped me wire my house when I bought it back in '94 (1994, not 1894).  He asked me to paint this scene for him.  So I had to learn to paint and it took me almost twenty years to get this to him.  Thankfully he's still alive.   

I tried to work fast as if I were painting plein air, and without paying too much attention to detail except where necessary.   

Rick's Mill

11" x 14" 

oil on stretched linen

Ashmiya's Daughter

There is a customer service agent in Kuwait who is one of the best on the airline that I work for.  Her name is Ashmiya.  One day I was particularly anxious to get the airplane going as soon as possible so I could get home to help my father with a medical appointment he had.  The problem was that due to Daylight Savings Time I had only 15 minutes to make my connecting flight in Washington, if we were on time.   I asked Ashmiya if she could get us out early.  She said she would try.  I told her that if she got us out 15 minutes early I would paint a portrait of her daughter for her.  I was astounded, the station had everyone boarded and ready to go twenty minutes before scheduled departure.  I made my connection.  

 This is Ashmiya's painting.  

11" x 14" 

oil on linen panel

Making Giclees

Today for the first time I used the new Epson 3880 to print a giclee on canvas.   It worked great.  I didn't have a scan of the painting, Geri, so I used the file of a photograph I had taken.  The painting was, however, scanned professionally and I should receive the file soon.  I printed on a canvas from the Breathing Color company, a product called LYVE canvas, and am very pleased with the result.  Once it's dry I will varnish it with a UV protection polyurethane coating which should really make the colors pop.

The idea is to print giclees for The Center for Great Apes and Bob Ingersol (Project Nim) to sell with all proceeds going to benefit the animals.

The Life of an Airline Pilot

I have to admit that one of the great things about my job is that once I set the parking brake on that big ole' Boeing 777 jet I don't think much about it.   This leaves a nice amount of time to pursue other interests, even while technically "at work."   Plein Air painting while on a layover in Guam today makes an otherwise pleasant and relaxing day something that much more enjoyable and productive.

Even from a hotel room balcony one can paint.

Jeff Legg Taught Me Something Today

Recently I was asked how I learned to paint.  The answer is that I haven't learned to paint, I'm learning to paint which is a lifelong process.  I wish I had started a little earlier but it is what it is.  Having not had the benefit of a formal education in art, and not being geographically located such that I could study with those I'd like to study with, the real answer to the question is; via videos.   It is amazing to think that today we are able to watch and learn from living masters who we can paint along with in the convenience, privacy, and comfort of our own homes.  Imagine if Monet, Rembrant, Manet, Pizarro ... pick your master, could link up with you via video and allow you to paint along with them brush stroke by brush stroke.   That's how I'm learning.  Below is a phot of one my today's masters, Jeff Legg, painting in my studio (sort of) and allowing me to stop him whenever I feel like it so I can learn by mimicking, replicating, feeling, ... painting right along with him.   I'm not sure how Jeff feels about this but what he and about a dozen other artists are doing for me is invaluable.  Clearly I cannot call such a finished painting done in this manner my own.  But I can keep it, learn from it, and study it.   What I do is try to apply the things I learn from working by video with today's masters in my own work, which I have seen evolve and grow since 2009 when I started.  I am nowhere near where I want to be as a painter, not even close.  Most of what I'd like to be doing is being hampered by what I think is probably fear.  Oddly enough, the best paintings I do (in my opinion) are those that I just let go on and try to tap into something that just feels right... but I'm always afraid of screwing something up, of wasting paint, of wasting canvas, of failure.  I know intellectually that I should let that go, but it's there.  I suspect that with time it will get easier.  If you are interested in learning to paint there are so many great artists sharing via videos and DVDs.  They are too numerous to mention but if nothing else I owe a debt of gratitude to them, some are (and this is not an all inclusive list) Kathryn Stats, Jeff Legg, Elizabeth Robbins, Morgan Samuel Price, Mark Carder,  Dan Edmondson, Quang Ho, Joyce Ortner, Buck Paulson, Hall Groat, Matt Smith, Scott Christensen, Richard Schmidt,  David Leffel, Morgan Weistling, Zahoming Wu, and many more.  I have spent time with each of them and appreciate what they are teaching me.  Each has something to offer that will improve your work.   I think we sometime take for granted the privileges that technology can bring us.  There is no way that my work would be 25% of what it is today without having had the benefit of these videos.  Similarly there is so much at our fingertips making almost anything we want to do possible.  I can only imagine it will get better in the future.  So I guess the real answer to the question, how I'm learning to paint is, I study with all of those people listed above.  My hat's off to them.

Nim Liberated

Nim was painted for Bob Ingersoll who was featured in the HBO film PROJECT NIM (which I recommend).  Nim was the chimp who starred in that film.  Bob loved him very much, was one of his caretakers, and he has dedicated his life to improving the lives of primates.  It is Bob's intention to make reproductions of this painting and sell those reproductions to support the work of chimp sanctuaries here in the USA; The Center for Great Apes, Chimp Haven, Save the Chimps, Wildlife Waystation, and Primarily Primates. Bob plans on making giclee prints in both paper and canvas.  He plans to sell them on the store site: www.nimchimpsky.net in the next few months.  Bob is a good man and I salute him.  

 Nim Liberated 

20" x 24"  oil on canvas.  

The actual Nim was a bit larger.

Carrie

Our good friends, Jim and Evelyn Hall recently lost their dog, Carrie.  This painting of her is for them.



Carrie
11" x 14"
oil on linen panel

Avocados, Teapot, and Vase

As I previously mentioned, my mom was ill last year and was taken care of by Dr. Gustavo Fernandez at The University of Miami's Sylvester Cancer Center.  Dr. Fernandez' compassion was only outdone by his Physician's Assistant,  Elizabeth Fontao.  Elizabeth loves avocados so this will be for her.

Avocados, Teapot, and Vase

6" x 8" 

oil on linen panel

Kathryn Loves Her Ultimate Taboret - REPOST

(I am told that the photos did not come through yesterday so here is a repost of this)

Kathryn Stats Loves Her Ultimate Taboret

For those familiar with artist Kathryn Stats, you know that she is one of the top selling artists in the U.S.  

Her landscapes are stunning.  www.kathrynstats.com 

In the first photo below we see the "taboret" that Kathryn has been working on for years.    

The second photo is Kathryn with her brand new Ultimate Taboret.  Kathryn reports that she is thrilled with the taboret.

If you or someone you know is interested in The Ultimate Taboret we can build one for you, or you can build one yourself with our thirty-eight page plans/instruction manual.  

 www.theultimatetaboret.com

Kiwis

Dr. Gustavo Fernandez is both a brilliant oncologist and an incredibly warm and kind human being.  He works at Sylvester Cancer Center at The University of Miami.  He was my mom's oncologist for five years until she passed in November.  My mom loved him and trusted him deeply.  Dr. Fernandez loves kiwi fruit.  This painting is for him.

Kiwis

 5" x 7" 

oil on panel

Portrait of Maz Jobrani, Comedian

I finished the painting I did for my friend Maz.  He is a very kind, very sweet, very funny man.  if you haven't had a chance to see his special "Brown and Friendly" on Showtime this month you should record it.  Maz was the creator and brains behind The Axis of Evil Comedy Tour a few years ago.  You can hear him as a regular on NPR's weekend quiz show Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me.

A friend asked me what my palette looks like after a painting like this.  I've included that below.

Portrait of Maz Jobrani
16" x 20"
oil on stretched linen

Palette for Portrait of Maz

Wine Glass Strawberries

About six months ago I was on my break on the way to Dubai.  A flight attendant had these strawberries sitting in a wine glass on her work station.  I thought they looked so cool I shot a quick photo and today I painted them on my layover.  This will be the third and final painting for this trip.  

What a life.

Wine Glass Strawberries

6" x 8" 

oil on panel

This painting is available for bid:

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/garry-kravit/wine-glass-strawberries/121867

Brussels, Outside the Hotel After The Rain

8" x 10"

oil on linen panel

In Kuwait again at the hotel painting ...  tonight a quick study for a larger painting of a scene I photographed outside of our layover hotel in Brussels after the rain.

Liliacs and Grapes

Liliacs and Grapes

8" x 10" 

oil on canvas panel

I did this for a class I'm taking.

I'm in Washington at the Dulles Marriot getting ready to fly to Kuwait tonight.  Since I'm traveling I'm limited to an 8"x10" panel.   This was very difficult because I couldn't achieve some of the effects I wanted in the background because of the canvas.  I should have used linen.   Also, with the 8x10 I had to paint small.  

Children, Pallet Knives, and Toy Airplanes

So here I am, sitting in Kuwait in a hotel room with a small linen panel, a photograph of a cast metal DC-3 that I love, a palette knife that is waaaay to large, and a couple hours to kill.  I started out wanting to paint this thing in realism but sort of got lost along the way and thought it would totally suck.  

Ya know, I kinda like it.

Toy DC-3 

6" x 8"

oil on linen panel

Plein Air (no pun intended) & Maz

Last week I was working on a portrait for a friend, comedian Maz Jobrani.  Here's the progress so far.   Below that is a photo I took at work holding a painting I did in the hotel in Kuwait last night.  

All of this to simply acknowledge the fact that as Caesar said, "painting is good." 

 Paint here, paint there, paint everywhere, en Plein Air!

Krispy Kreme Cherry Pie

Krispy Kreme Cherry Pie

5" x 7" 

oil on MDF Panel

Pansies in Tin Can

Pansies in Tin Can

12" x 18"

oil on linen

Happy New Years Taborets

The first day of 2013 was a good one for two lucky artists.  Yesterday I completed these two new taborets for customers.  One is being shipped to Utah and the other Daytona Beach.  Now I need to get back into the studio and do some painting myself.  

Bran Muffin

Not long ago I was at the Washington, DC Dulles Airport Marriot waiting to fly to Dubai.  I had a Bran Muffin for breakfast so I painted it.

Bran Muffin

6" x 8"

oil on linen panel

This painting is available for auction.  

If interested, please visit:  http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/91258

Gabriella

While in North Carolina this Summer at the Biltmore Estate and Gardens we stopped with our friends Jim and Jane and their children, Gabriella and Michale for a bite to eat.  I took a photo of Gabriella through my wine glass.  She said, "You should paint that."     

Gabriella

6" x 8" 

oil on linen panel

Geri Orangutan

Here is Geri, the third in the series, The Apes of Wachula.  This painting will be donated, as were the first two, to benefit The Center for Great Apes.

Geri

24" x 30"

oil on stretched linen

This painting, as well as the first two, will be exhibited during Art Basel in Miami next week at a special location to benefit the apes.  It will eventually be auctioned off.  Here is information about the exhibit.  Please attend and support the center if you can:

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/10/prweb10009769.htm

But I Know It When I See It

But I Know It When I See It

6" x 8"

oil on linen panel

Commission

Taboret Finished

Here it is ... finis!

Hopefully back to the palette soon...



The Ultimate Artist's Taboret

If you are interested in purchasing one of the new taborets that I designed, or would like to purchase a set of plans to build your own, please visit

www.ArtistTaboretPlans.com

and

www.TheUltimateTaboret.com

Blue Cheese with Grapes

Blue Cheese with Grapes
5" x 7"
oil on linen panel

SOLD

Avocados

Avocados

6" x 8"

oil on MDF board

SOLD

Small Vase with Garlic

This little painting was based on a small vase I purchased from Mark Karner at The Firey Gizzard Pottery shop in Sylva, North Carolina.

Small Vase with Garlic

6" x 6"

oil on linen panel

SOLD

Because I Don't Want To

Sometimes it seems as if the vegetables are trying to say something.

Because I Don't Want To

6" x 8"

oil on gessoed MDF board

SOLD

Karner Vase with Apple

While in North Carolina I visited a great little Pottery studio and gallery called the Fiery Gizzard Pottery, in Sylva.  The owner Mark Karner throws his own pots on the premises and he carries his work as well as his brother Peter's.   I bought several pieces from both Mark and Peter.   I intend to do a series of paintings featuring the Karner's pottery.  This is the first.

Karner Vase with Apple

7" x 9" 

oil on linen panel

$50.00


If you are interested in acquiring this painting:

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/66655

Oh, Mug...

I purchased this ceramic mug in Highlands, N.C. at the Lick Log Mill Store.  The pepper fell head over heels for it.

 Oh, Mug...

8" x 10"

oil on linen panel

Lick Log Mill Store, Highlands, North Carolina

Peaches with Plum - Two Perspectives

People often say, I could never paint.   I tell them that like most things, flying, writing, you name it, so much of it is a matter of study, concentration, preparation, and experience.  But I think it's also true that sometimes some people are just naturals.

Recently my spouse, Karen, expressed interest in trying her hand at painting.  After a brief discussion about mixing colors, value, hue, temperature, mediums, and brushes, we sat down to a still life that we set up with two peaches and a plum.   The first photograph is my version, and the second is Karen's.   I emphasize that this is the first time she has picked up a paint brush.

Frankly, I like hers better than mine.

Garry's Peaches with Plum, 9" x 7", oil on canvas panel

Karen's Peaches with Plum, 9" x 7", oil on canvas panel

Roma Plum Tomatoes

We had some tomatoes in the refrigerator today so these are what I painted.

Roma Plum Tomatoes

7" x 9"

oil on canvas panel

River Rock at Iron Bridge

Last week I had a great time painting in Cashiers, N.C. with some friends.  We visited many beautiful spots and one of them, a place we call Iron Bridge because of the rustic iron bridge spanning over the stream, gave me the opportunity to paint this rock.

River Rock at Iron Bridge

9" x 12"

Plein Air

oil on linen panel

Asian Vase with Oranges and Berries

11" x 14"

oil on MDF board

available for purchase  $ 125.00

unframed