Sweet Sushi

The Narita airport in Japan has surprisingly excellent sushi.  

I picked up this nice little selection on a layover not long ago.

Sushi Time

8" x 10"

oil on linen panel

This painting is available

Please visit the following link if you are interested.

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/garry-kravit/sushi-time/188113

Hangered

Many of us have worn these wings for nearly thirty years, some longer.  On December 11, 2013 the pilots of United Airlines will retire it's traditional pilot wings in favor of a new design implemented due to the merger with Continental.  I know that the Continental and United pilots both feel this is a sad day for those of us who hold our respective airlines histories in high regard.  
As they say, ONWARD! 

Hangered

5" x 7"

oil on linen panel

This painting is available for purchase.  To bid please visit:

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/garry-kravit/hangered/178602

Tropical Paradise

Sitting in Guam on a layover ... did this 8" x 10" oil on linen yesterday.   The second photo is the view from my hotel room.  Could be worse, I guess.  

Stryker

Stryker is a chimpanzee who lives at the Center for Great Apes in Wachula, Florida. This painting was done as a gift for Patti Ragan who runs the center and will be celebrating its 20th Anniversary on November 9 in Miami, Florida. Patti has rescued over fifty apes over the last 20 years. Please visit www.centerforgreatapes.org. Please attend the celebration meet Patti Ragan, and Robert Ingersoll from the HBO film, Project Nim. Visitwww.centerforgreatapes.org to learn more. Stryker is 28" x 20" oil on stretched linen.

Stryker 

28" x 20"

oil on stretched linen

Pumpkin

This is Pumpkin.  She lives at Jungle Island in Miami and she is one of two fraternal twins.  This painting is for her caretaker, Linda Jacobs.   

Pumpkin

6" x 8"

oil on linen panel

Prickly Pear

Someone really should have warned me that the prickly pear has its name for a good reason.  I bought this one at a grocery store in Dubai called, ready for this... The Hyper Panda.  My right hand feels like it's been swimming in fiberglass.

Prickly Pear

5" x 7"

oil on linen panel

This is my hotel room studio

This painting is available for bid starting at $45.00

Click here to bid:

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/garry-kravit/prickly-pear/175875

Dubai Hotel Room Orange

We either learn to adapt to our surroundings or we don't paint as often as we'd like.

This 6" x 8" oil on linen panel painting of a peeled orange was done in my hotel room in Dubai on a layover.

Koi, After Cheng-Khee Chee

I saw a beautiful watercolor painting by Cheng-Khee Chee.  I decided to see if I could paint it in oil.

I'm in Dubai so I figured, what the hell.

Koi

8" x 10"

oil on linen panel

Video Painting Demonstration - At the End of the Night - Time Lapsed

A time lapsed video of the beer glass painting.

If the video doesn't show up, here is the link:

http://youtu.be/rlbJ_-cNrcA

 

At the End of the Night

So there was this can of Miller Lite in the fridge, and I would never drink Miller Lite (no offense to those who do, I just like a heavier bodied beer) ... and nobody was drinking it so....

I think I'm going to paint a Guinness next.

At the End of the Night

6" x 8"

Oil on linen panel

Video - Eggplant Painting in Time Lapse

A time lapsed video of the eggplant painting.

If the video doesn't show up, here is the link:

http://youtu.be/qH9l-wKN4zk

Billed with a Highwayman

Never thought I'd be billed, much less billed with a "Highwayman"

They even put a picture of me on the poster.

Pleased Patrons

I just couldn't resist ...

Pleased patrons admire portrait

Eggplants

Labor Day in the U.S., what better time than to paint a couple of eggplants.

Eggplants

5" 7"

oil on linen panel

Available at auction:

 http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/garry-kravit/eggplants/164756

Video Demonstration - Time Lapsed Asparagus, Onion, and Ceramic Bowl

This is a nine minute video demonstration, time lapsed, of the painting of Asparagus, Onion, and Ceramic Bowl.   While I was painting I heard a series of beeps in my hotel room in Dubai.  I thought to myself, "Self, what is that series of beeps?"   Since I was all right brained at that moment the left side was sleeping and I didn't realize that it was the camera asking for more memory.   As such, some of the footage in the middle of the painting is left out, but you get the idea from what is here.  I promise to never do that again. 

In case the video doesn't show up in the email, here is the link:  http://youtu.be/xO8Y-KfJ7OA

Asparagus, Onion, and Ceramic Bowl

This little still life I painted while on a layover in Dubai. It was a 102 degrees outside (in the shade) so what better to do than stay in the beautiful air-conditioned hotel and paint. The ceramic bowl is one of many I've purchased from a fine craftsman, Anthony Rollins. 

Asparagus, Onion, and Ceramic Bowl

5" x 7" 

oil on linen panel

Available at auction:  http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/158222

Video Demonstration - Avocado, Teapot, & Vase

This is the second video demonstration I've put together.  I hope to have a view of the palette in the next video.   

This photo shows the still life and the painting.   

View the video below, and thanks for watching.

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.