New Blog Address

After much consideration I’ve decided to change my blog name to Curious Portraits so that it matches my Etsy shop . It just makes things simpler but I must admit I hate to see Studio Bingo go. So to see the on-going posts please visit :  curiousportraits.wordpress.com     I hope to see you there! Thanks!

Christmas Inspiration

Now that Halloween is over I am trying to psyche myself up for Christmas. Halloween is just so inspiring for me with all the dark, macabre images it brings to mind. But Christmas is supposed to be merry and bright. My work  just doesn’t naturally go in that direction. So I turned to nostalgia which is always a big inspiration for me. I decided to try photographing an old squeaky Santa that my Mother used to put out for the holidays. Seeing his smiling, rubber face brings me right back to my childhood and I thought that might make an interesting portrait.  That got me looking on Ebay for more vintage squeaky Christmas items and it all went downhill from there. I am now the proud owner of a group of wierdly jolly, smiling rubber Christmas toys that are all waiting to be immortalized. I know they are a little creepy but I can’t help myself, that is what makes them so appealing to me. Here is a sample of what might become a curious portrait in the next few weeks…

DON’T BE AFRAID…

Every year I do a Halloween card featuring my poor, long-suffering dog Bingo. This year he is being stalked by a Nosferatu-like shadow while he quietly reads his Ghost Stories for Dogs.  Happy Halloween!

Acorn Man Portrait

I have always been interested in anthropomorphic fruit and veggies. I love giving them faces, arms & legs. Essentially giving them personalities. When I was a kid I used to collect acorns and make little people with them using pipe cleaners and painting faces on them. Well last week I was out jogging by the Hudson and saw the acorns were ready and falling from the trees so I collected a bunch to give to my squirrels. (The ones I feed from my fire escape). I kept looking at the bowl full of them, admiring their smooth brown surfaces and remembering how I used to love them. That was what inspired me to immortalize one in a painting. To honor the humble acorn, a true symbol of autumn.

More Ghoulish Halloween Paintings

Here are the latest installment in the 1920′s german figure-inspired portraits. A pair of black goblin cats. This time of year is so inspiring to me; the oranges and greens, the spooky images. I just can’t get enough of it.

Goblins

In the spirit of the season I am continuing to explore the ghoulish side of my work. These 2 paintings were inspired by german composite (plaster, paper mache…) figurines from the 1920′s. They are all quite unusual and chillingly jolly. I look forward to beginning a new set this weekend.

HALLOWEEN PORTRAITS

Here is the Jack O Lantern portrait finished as well as another figurine from the 1950′s of a cat and pumpkin. I can’t get enough of these jolly yet macabre Halloween decorations!

Halloween Portraits

This is my favorite time of year, I get so inspired thinking about Halloween! I’ve always had a love of vintage Halloween decorations and have a nice collection of things mostly from the 40′s and 50′s (lots of Beistle made). I’ve recently been looking over things from the 20′s, mostly german made that are just gorgeous and soooo perfect for portraits! I must have 20 items sketched out so far but am starting with a few plastic ornaments from the 40′s the first of which is this Jack O Lantern. This is the sepia underpainting, color will follow.

Pieps the Steiff Mouse portrait

I finished up this portrait yesterday and was so happy with it I scanned it with the paint still wet! I loved this mouse when I bought him from Ebay and I just knew he would make a terrific subject for a painting. I am working on the Steiff tabby cat portrait now…

Pieps the mouse

I am so happy to finally be able to start my portrait of Pieps the mouse (by Steiff). I won him on Ebay back in June and I knew already how I wanted to paint him. I love how his arms are outstretched, it gives him so much emotion! I decided to leave the little hole in his ear left by the Steiff button that is lost, I think it gives him character. This is the underpainting done in burnt umber and white but I imagine the final won’t be far from this as he is all beige with just touches of pink in his ears.