I used a 60's GI Joe for the diving suit reference and wound up painting this mermaid three times. In the first she was more feral which in retrospect was perfectly fine. The second had a new face and was topless but felt unfinished. The third take includes the pearls and not very original shell bikini which at least breaks up her coloring. I think she's creepily pretty so I'm ultimately satisfied with the piece but sometimes the first idea is worth sticking with. Stop me if I start repeating any of these. I'm sometimes forgetful with the lead poisoning and all.
Acrylic 9X12
--starchie
Oh... this is SO pretty...
ReplyDeleteAs usual, of course, but this one I really like it ^^!
The mermaid is what I like most.
ReplyDeleteNo repetition yet Steve, please keep 'em coming :)
ReplyDeleteI love how you spend the ENTIRE post talking about the sketches of the mermaid, but THOSE COLORS are the heart of the piece!
ReplyDeleteThe sky is a brilliant shade of yellow/orange which pushes the greens in the waves to blue. THEN you back the shadows up with a purplish brown!
This might be my favorite of your paintings. Your color choices here are astounding.
... and it goes without saying that TOYOBX is always a welcome subject!
First ideas tend to be the right ones, as they come from the artist mind, not from cognitive rationalizing. You sorta have to "feel the force" and trust it.
ReplyDeleteThis is totally unrelated, but this was the easiest way to tell you: my best friend Matt (who may write to tell you this) just had a kid (well...his wife did) who he named after one of your most famous creations (and one that's not yours at all): Max Akira!
ReplyDeleteYour ToyBox pictures (and with most of your work) never cease to amaze me. Apart from your wonderful grasp on color, I can look at one and pull a story out of it. They are never boring.
ReplyDeleteAs wonderful as always, but this one is my favorite so far. I keep saying that about every Suda & Ernie painting, but there you go.
ReplyDeleteToo bad the only thing there's ever been of Toybox is two short comics and some pin-ups.
ReplyDeleteDare I say, I'm sometimes way more interested in seeing what's going on in the Toybox world than Sam and max.
Sean Lane--
ReplyDeleteActually there's a lot going on in the Toybox world. I just haven't made the time to see many of the ideas through.
This painting is bee-yoo-tee-ful! Do you sell you originals at all? Would I have to sell a kidney to afford one? Cause they are fantastic.
ReplyDeleteted--
ReplyDeleteI have sold a few Toybox pieces and given a few as gifts. I'm thinking of doing a print of either this one or the Sunflower piece or a new nautical one I have in mind.
Well I would love to see some Toybox anything one day. Comics, animation, or even a video game series from Telltale!
ReplyDeleteA print of this illustration would be amazing!
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