120 Paintings

#334 - Ms. Super Star

2012-10-08T16:23:00.000-04:00

6" x 6" oil on hardboard $85

Ms. Super Star was working a concession stand at the Back Porch Music On the Lawn Concert Series at the American Tobacco Campus. She wasn't up on stage but kept striking poses for the camera anyway. The least I could so was to put her in paint.

#333 - The Last Beignet

2012-10-07T15:52:00.000-04:00

6" x 6" oil on hardbord Sold

This painting (commissioned by my cousin) was made from a photograph I took, the last time we were together in New Orleans having coffee and beignets. I hope it's not really the last real beignet I ever have. No one makes them quite like the Cafe Du Monde.

#332 - Pooped-Out Pups

2012-08-22T16:40:00.001-04:00

18" x 18" oil on hardbord Sold

This was my biggest commissioned piece yet. The size was kind of daunting for me at first but I really liked the way it turned out (and most importantly so did the client). To keep up with my broad brush stroke technique I went out and bought the biggest brushes that I could swing at this puppy (no pun). It was lots of fun and I look forward to the next one. Never met a dog I didn't want to paint and these two tired cuties were no exception.

Side note for myself: It was surprising how much simpler and how much better (stronger) the composition became once I took out the background behind the pups and substituted a simple supporting color to help pull it all together and focus on the subject. Also, now this newly created color palette helped give it all a bit of an americana kind of feel that I'm digging. I think the framer keyed into this because I really like the frame he chose for it:

P.S. (or S.P. for Shameless Plug) I've always got time for another so don't be afraid to ask me about a commission folks. :)

#331 - Kind Kia

2012-06-29T15:25:00.002-04:00

12" x 12" oil on canvas Sold

This is a commissioned piece of a sweet miniature pincher named Kia. Once upon a time I had a minpin and although she wasn't as kind as kia, I loved her very much anyway. All dogs go to heaven and so I like to imagine she's getting plenty to eat in her pampered afterlife.

I've done a few checkered backgrounds in the past and I'm really enjoying doing them again (+ per client request)

Again, apologies for the small photo, but next week I'll have my fancy photo apparatus up again.

#330 - Serendipity Path

2012-06-24T18:13:00.000-04:00

5" x 7" oil on hardboard Sold

I was just about to write that I wish every path was like this (frozen in time), as if it would be great to know how light and dark the path is and exactly where it leads. But would it be great? Why do we remember the past but not the future? Is that just the real nature of time or is that the only way that we can experience time (and our lives)? What if forgetting the future was simply an evolutionary selection for humans? Perhaps at one point humans could, but those humans died out because knowing the future simply isn't as bearable. What place would hope and serendipity have in a set future? It would be like reading a book when you already know what will happen. It's just not as interesting.
So, on second thought, I'll take not knowing. I'll choose hope, serendipity, and faith that you are where you are supposed to be and that you are going where you are supposed to go.
It's a more interesting story (and path), don't you think?

#329 - Aquaman (Bill)

2012-06-15T11:35:00.000-04:00

9" x 12" oil on canvas Sold

And this was number 2 of 2 portraits commissioned of a handsome couple in Maui Hawaii. Since I called the first one Superman, this second one just had to be called Aquaman. Once again, Congratulations on the new home, Bill and Niko. :)

Again...please forgive me for not getting a better photo (glare), but my fancy photo setup is out of commission for the time being. I'll fix it soon I hope.

#328 - Superman (Niko)

2012-06-14T15:11:00.002-04:00

9" x 12" oil on canvas Sold

This painting was 1 of 2 portraits commissioned of a handsome couple in Maui Hawaii. I called this one Superman because he looks like the man of steal to me. He has a great chiseled square jaw that seems to echo the structure of the old ironwork building around him. Niko and his partner Bill (who's portrait I named Aquaman, which I'll post tomorrow) just bought a new home together. Congratulations guys. :)

Please forgive me for not getting a better photo (glare), but my fancy photo setup is out of commission for the time being. I'll fix it soon I hope.

#327 - Playful Peabo

2012-06-13T14:45:00.000-04:00

6" x 6" oil on hardboard Sold

This painting was for a commission of an uber cute little puppy named Peabo. It was fun because I also enjoyed doing the checked backgrounds that I use for some of my paintings (though I'm a fan of the flat color backgrounds as well).

Forgive me for not having a better photo but my fancy photo taking setup is out of commission for the time being.

More commission paintings on the way. Next up are people (not pooch) portraits.
:)

P.S. (or S.P. for Shameless Plug) I've always got time for another so don't be afraid to ask me about a commission folks.

Painting Thumbnail Generator = Fixed

2012-05-31T16:47:00.000-04:00

Sweet Jebus Feet!!
Finally fixed my painting thumbnail generator (turns out my link to the .js javascript file was broken). So anyhoo, now my pages full O' thumbnail generated goodness should be working again (e.g. my first 120 all paintings, sold paintings and available paintings). Please give me a shout out if it's not working for you (or you see any other problems)!

In other news, I've got a bunch of commissions I'm working on right now that I'll post up real soon (BTW-I've always got time for more so don't be afraid to ask me about a commission folks).
:)

#326 - Hal

2012-03-14T13:49:00.001-04:00

5" x 7" oil on hardboard Sold

This was a portrait of a friend's father that I really enjoyed painting. It's a real joy playing with the temperature changes in the human face. I think I'd like to do some more of these.

#325 - Mr. McCap's Morning

2012-03-08T17:47:00.000-05:00

6" x 6" oil on hardboard Sold

This is my favorite painting in quite awhile. I don't know if the digital version was able to capture the colors right but I know I hit the color key as I look at the real painting in front of me. This is the color truth of that morning light as it fell on this guy and his cap.

#324 - Red Bellied Bandit

2012-03-07T21:38:00.000-05:00

6" x 6" oil on hardboard Sold

#323 - Backroad Shed

2012-03-06T23:45:00.001-05:00

5" x 7" oil on hardboard Sold

#322 - Retro Chair

2012-03-05T22:43:00.000-05:00

2.5"x 3.5"(ACEO) oil on artboard $40

I couldn't resist painting the colors of this retro chair. This chair wouldn't go in my place, but sure was fun to paint though. :)

#321 - Red Roof Shed

2012-02-22T17:40:00.001-05:00

8" x 8" oil on hardboard Sold

I'm starting to get my workshop together which is nice because when I decide a painting needs to be a certain size, I can just go cut the size I need. Because of the big strokes I wanted to fit into this painting I wanted it to be a bit larger than my usual 6" x 6" size. The extra space was fun to play with and I really like the way this one turned out. :)

#320 - Orange Slice Belgian

2012-02-19T14:16:00.000-05:00

2.5"x 3.5"(ACEO) oil on artboard Sold

If the painting god came down and told me I could only paint only one subject, this would be it: Light shining through a drink. I never get tired of it and I'm always captivated by the sight if it. If there's a bar in heaven I imagine every drink that angels order would have light shining through it like this. Ideally they would also be as tasty as this particular belgian beer. Conversely, bars in hell serve wormwood stout through which no light has ever passed.

#319 - Smiling Sata

2012-02-17T13:08:00.000-05:00

5"x 7" oil on masonite Sold

This is my friend Greg's handsome dog Sata commissioned as a birthday gift to him by his sweet lady Laura.

I'm very happy with how it came out. I love the way that dogs always look like the are smiling when their mouths are open just a bit. It's the face of love and it reminds me of a quote (from an unknown source):

"Be the person that your dog thinks you are."

Updated Template

2012-02-15T17:41:00.000-05:00

You know your blogger template is old when you can't add newer widgets because your old template is "not supported". Anyhoo, I updated to a newer one and then changed it a bit to suite my taste. I'd love any constructive feedback you have to give. Let me know what you think. :)

#318 - Sid’s Siesta

2012-02-09T12:55:00.001-05:00

6"x 6" oil on masonite Sold

This is number two of two commissioned paintings for my Uncle Mike. This is Sid, beloved kitty of Mike's daughter Susan.

edit: forgive me if I confused you by mixing up the painting/posting names yesterday. Got it straight now. Yesterday was #317 - Obedient Oliver. Today is #318 - Sid’s Siesta.

#317 - Obedient Oliver

2012-02-08T15:06:00.001-05:00

6"x 6" oil on masonite Sold

This is one of two commissioned paintings for my Uncle Mike. This is Oliver, beloved pooch of Mike's son Steve.

edit: Whoops! I accidentally mixed up the name of the next painting onto this one. "Sid" is the next one (another pet painting). This one is "Obedient Oliver" (notice the I changed the post heading, but it's still painting number #317). This is another good argument for dummies like me: Number your paintings and your always be able to reference them no matter what your title. :P

__________________

“You're late.” -Frodo Baggin
“A wizard is never late. Nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to.” -Gandalf the Grey

Happy New Year! Wait…what? You say I’m over a month late on that? That’s just like me to be late, but as I like to think, it’s never too late to start a new day (or a new year). So, I’ll just call this day (Feb 8th) the start of my new year.

I know I haven’t been posting lately but I have been painting and so I’ve got bunch to post up (animals, landscapes, still life etc). I’ve also got a new painting setup that is pretty eccentric but works great for me. Hopefully I can get around to sharing that soon also. In short, I'm back in production.

#316 - House of the Autumn Sun

2011-11-25T15:09:00.001-05:00

5"x 7" oil on masonite Sold

Fall is almost over here in Durham. It was lovely. I painted this from a photo I took in the evening when the leaves were just starting to turn.

#315 - Yellow Daisies

2011-11-23T18:27:00.001-05:00

6"x 6" oil on masonite Sold
I love about anything backlit. Yellow daisies are no exception. I always get intimidated anytime the shadow side of something yellow needs to be painted. Yellow in shadow has been problem for me in the past, but if I stayed away from it then I never get to paint much yellow would I?

Clawed Monet - Pet Portraits

2011-11-10T11:43:00.001-05:00

Speaking of cute puppies, I'm happy to say that I will now be offering pet portraits through the California based non-profit organization Clawed Monet. Here's a little bit about them from the about us page:

"Clawed Monet came about as a result of a desire to help both artists and animal rescue! You can get a wonderful portrait of your pet worthy of hanging on your wall while at the same time knowing a percentage of all sales goes to United Hope for Animals, a rescue group out of the Los Angeles."

#314 - Vigilant Veda

2011-11-09T15:33:00.001-05:00

6"x 6" oil on masonite Sold

This is a portrait I made of Veda, Jim and Jenny’s dog. She's a sweet little sausage and such a pretty girl. I made for them as a house warming gift for their new home and life together. Veda is of course the baby of their little white picket fenced home. Happy new home guys!

I never met a dog I didn’t like. Or at least that’s my version of the old Will Rogers quote.

#313 - Super Fly Jr.

2011-10-13T23:51:00.000-04:00

5"x 7" oil on masonite $85

to purchase, email jeffmahorney@gmail.com or
I got a quick picture off of this kid walking down the streets of southpoint mall. He couldn't have been maybe 14, but he was looking (and strutting) like he owned the place. He was definitely super fly.

Speaking of feelin super fly, I'd like to thank artist and instructor Larry Seiler for featuring some of my work (and blog) in a recent Wetcanvas live Webinar (and soon to be DVD). Larry's work and wisdom have always been an inspiration to me. In fact, the name of this blog is taken from his oft quoted mantra that it takes around 120 bad paintings before you know something about painting. Larry's beautiful work, advice, wisdom etc. are part what influenced me to commit to this little experiment in learning to paint. I can't really discribe what it's meant to me (which is everything). So, I wanted to say thanks to Larry. Thank you for sharing your experience, strength and hope over these many years. Thank you for passing it on to the rest of us. :)

Webinar Session #2 "120 paintings" is where Larry describes this idea that no matter what you are learning, the path to success is built on failure. You have to put in your time and show up. The bad paintings that you make on the way aren't unfortunate mistakes, they are equally necessary parts of the journey. The bad paintings are the foundational bricks on which the good paintings stand. It's all connected, the pain and the joy, the bad and the good, even if we can't see it at the time. Have faith that these seemingly random dots will connect and trust that the universe will take you were you need to be. So, relax, take a breath and pick up the brush again. You can't control or predict what will happen, but that's not your job anyway. Your job is just to show up and head in the direction of what you love.