Dreaming of Art and Other Things

Growth

2012-02-12T20:25:00.004-05:00

©Sam Nagel

Is it new life or weeds? Do I let this grow, root and mature, or pluck it and change my surroundings? I decide what I want. I decide.

photoshop cs5

Beautiful in Red

2012-02-05T16:09:00.002-05:00

©Sam Nagel

I can't help but go for red whenever I paint hair, it just happens. I did try to tone it down to a more natural hair color, as you can see in my screen shot. But alas red prevailed, it was the original colors anyway. I really enjoy the warm tones and the bright yellow birds... birds and hair is another thing I always want to paint... birds in hair, what's up with that?... in reality would freak people out, but in art it's pretty :]

Unravel

2012-01-28T09:52:00.000-05:00

©Sam Nagel

The knots she's kept around her are in the process of unraveling, unveiling her true self.

Letting Go

2012-01-14T18:25:00.001-05:00

©Sam Nagel

I definitely pick favorites and this is my new one! I absolutely loved painting it. I also think it's funny that I came up with this idea and already realize it's been done... many times. Oh well, it's my own spin on the dove and hands thing. I still really like it. :)

See the meaning of this card and others at: Intimacy Without Responsibility -The Conscious Evolution of Love facebook page

In My Hands

2012-01-12T15:00:00.000-05:00

©Sam Nagel

here's another card... I stole my own mandala drawing from a different card and reworked it here. I guess because it took me so long to make the mandala the first time, I figured I should use it more than once... recycle! I love how the two hands are transparent and either one could appear above or below the other, or both.

See the meaning of this card and others at: Intimacy Without Responsibility -The Conscious Evolution of Love facebook page

Baby Blossom

2011-12-26T21:57:00.000-05:00

I'm getting quicker at these... I love the simplicity of this one and decided to leave it. Anyway, it's a baby on a flower, enough said.

See the meaning of this card and others at: Intimacy Without Responsibility -The Conscious Evolution of Love facebook page

Betta Fish

2011-12-26T09:49:00.000-05:00

Some fun watercolor paintings I made to give as Christmas gifts this year. I love how organic I have to paint with watercolor vs oil or digital painting... even if I have a drawing, it's always overpowered by where ever the paint decides to go. Or when the paper bends and warps because I never prep it and water puddles in inconvenient places because I add way too much water. I just have to go with it and it works out. I want to try more fish like this in different colors, maybe get more fancy with the scales, use less water, more patience... a challenge for me :).

I gave the originals, but I have a huge file for making some really nice prints to put up on my Etsy and Society6 stores. Look out for those soon!

watercolor 8x10"

©Sam Nagel (not for use or altering in any way) thanks

Mind Circuit

2011-12-10T21:18:00.001-05:00

I blasted this one out today... started with a sketch that turned into an entire painting, funny how that happens. Thanks for looking!

See the meaning of this card and others at: Intimacy Without Responsibility -The Conscious Evolution of Love facebook page

tools: photoshop cs5, intuos 3

©Sam Nagel (not for use or altering in any way)

Celestial Drift

2011-12-08T20:39:00.001-05:00

I made this.

See the meaning of this card and others at: Intimacy Without Responsibility -The Conscious Evolution of Love facebook page

tools: photoshop cs5, intuos3

©Sam Nagel (not for use or altering in any way)

Aaron's Girls

2011-11-28T20:14:00.001-05:00

the latest commission... I combined my beach painting style with my portraiture painting. It's probably one of the largest paintings I've done so far... 20x36" (I don't normally paint very big)

oil on canvas 20x36"

©Sam Nagel

available for commissions, email me at: sam_sgn@hotmail.com

Bear Bear

2011-11-13T09:24:00.001-05:00

18x18" oil on canvas

The latest pet portrait commission. His name is Bear, he's passed on, but we were able to find some pictures that I could work from, and I created a portrait to remember him by. The owner is very happy, and I'm glad I was able to do that for her. I decided to use the same color palette as my previous painting of the white dog... for some reason that green with the whites and grays pop really well. This picture is not the greatest photo I've taken of a painting, I wasn't able to scan this one, so the quality isn't so good.

If anyone is interested in a commission email me: sam_sgn@hotmail.com

pricing by size as follows:

16x16" $350

18x18" $400

20x20" $450

All images ©Sam Nagel

Digital Portrait

2011-11-05T21:38:00.000-04:00

Practice painting in photoshop... I got a new computer and can finally paint in Photoshop without waiting for it to catch up. I've been wanting to try a digital painting without the crutch of so much linework, but on my old mac something like that was not worth the frustration. So finally tonight I decided to paint something for myself, not work related or commission, just to see what I can do... not bad for first try... I think I will be sketching like this more often. I love my new computer!

tools: NEW macbook pro! yeah!! ...photoshop CS5, intous 3

Daisy and Ajax

2011-10-20T10:52:00.001-04:00

I want to call them "Daisy White" and "Ajax Black" ...their names sound like paint colors. Pet portrait commissions, better images now that they are dry... I actually stuck these into my scanner, had to stitch it all back together, but worth it. Better than my camera. If anyone is interested in your own pet portrait I'm taking on commissions. Email me at: sam_sgn@hotmail.com ...Thanks for looking!

18x18" oil on canvas

©Sam Nagel

Pet Portraits

2011-10-16T22:34:00.002-04:00

Come to think of it, I think these are my first dog paintings ever... huh, wow. Well, these two are commissioned pet portraits that came out pretty awesome in my opinion :P ...I will take better photos in a few days once the oil has dried up some, the green one is at an angle because the glare was awful straight on. I posted some of my progress, because I always like to see other artist's work in progress I think it's cool to share mine. The first progress shot are both prob 15 min each of painting. The second pic is at about half finish.

The white dog was pretty easy to paint, which I thought was going to be the more difficult one... turned out I was like wtf I am doing? the whole time I painted the black dog, lol. Not until the very end did I feel like I pulled it all together... even turned the lights off to paint through the 'speed bump' I encountered, it was like painting color blind... not sure I recommend that, but it helped me loosen up and get back into it.

Thanks for looking!

18x18" oil on canvas

Many Moons

2011-10-03T22:36:00.001-04:00

Isn't it just so nice? being old? ... I don't know. Anyway, I am allowing myself to be more loose in my brushstrokes and keep going until it works. I'm really diggin the red glow... I had to stop myself from over doing it. ...and uh, I know that normally you can't see the dark side of the moon, but thought I would throw in that little twist.

See the meaning of this card and others at: Intimacy Without Responsibility -The Conscious Evolution of Love facebook page

tools: photoshop cs4, intuos3

©Sam Nagel

Enter the Forest

2011-09-25T13:35:00.000-04:00

I've been doing so much digital only painting lately that I felt stuck and unmotivated... it still feels somewhat limiting to me, but that could be that my computer is getting slow and bogged down, not helping...

I started this out as a digital sketch, printed it, fashioned a light table with a glass coffee table (which worked amazingly well), transferred the drawing onto watercolor paper and PAINTED WITH REAL PAINTS AGAIN! lol, Then I brought it back into photoshop, redefined the line from my original sketch, slapped some textures, and viola! ...phew.... and somehow that took me half the amount of time than a photoshop only painting.

©Sam Nagel (do not use my artwork without my written permission)

Mandala

2011-09-18T11:12:00.004-04:00

Making a mandala takes a lot more time than I thought... but it was kind of therapeutic.
See the meaning of the card and others here: Intimacy Without Responsibility -The Conscious Evolution of Love facebook page

©Sam Nagel (not for use or altering in any way) thanks

Take Root and Grow

2011-09-03T10:22:00.002-04:00

So I think my idea for the color involved more green and teals... but somehow deep royal purple made it in there instead and I made the executive decision to go with it. I really dig it along with the red, those are two colors I rarely like together, but right now red and purple get along (the yellow tones help that relationship). I also scrapped the fallopian tubes... my hurting body said that particular detail was unnecessary. Right now sitting at my computer is painful on my back and arms, and of course I'm right-handed, and so my luck it's my right arm. Right now I'm sitting on a really big yoga ball instead of my computer chair... it gets tiring but helps. Maybe the next card I pick out will have something more to do with radical healing or enlightening, change your brain change your body... I don't think that's in this deck (so I may sneak it in, lol).

To read the meaning behind this card go to the facebook page Intimacy Without Responsibility -The Conscious Evolution of Love . 'Like' the page to stay updated and see more cards w/ meanings, until the deck is complete and ready for sale.

tools: photoshop cs4, intuos 3

for Wendyne Limber's "Intimacy Without Responsibility" card deck

Take Root and Grow WIP

2011-08-30T10:42:00.001-04:00

It took me a while to get back into the next card. I wanted this one to be more womb like and earthy. I decided to use a bulbous plant for the womb, with a detail that is representative of the fallopian tubes in a woman (which I still need to refine that linework)... also see my love for art nouveau.

©Sam Nagel

Self Deception

2011-08-15T19:38:00.001-04:00

I brought back the color palette I normally use when painting with oils for the skin, fleshy tones with cool grey blue, and pops of salmon pink... and my painting technique with a square brush, ahh I love my square brush. <3 I also played with the lense flare... hope that's not a no no... but heh whatevs

To read the meaning behind this card go to the facebook page Intimacy Without Responsibility -The Conscious Evolution of Love . 'Like' the page to stay updated and see more cards w/ meanings, until the deck is complete and ready for sale.

tools: photoshop cs4, intuos 3

for Wendy Limber's "Intimacy Without Responsibility" card deck

I think I love you

2011-08-06T16:40:00.001-04:00

Catchy title huh? Another one of the couples cards... I am very happy with the colors and how it turned out. I love the subdued palette I'm using right now. I think it reminds me of something vintage. ahhh love.

To read the meaning behind this card go to the facebook page Intimacy Without Responsibility -The Conscious Evolution of Love . 'Like' the page to stay updated and see more cards w/ meanings, until the deck is complete and ready for sale.

tools: photoshop cs4, intuos 3

for Wendy Limber's "Intimacy Without Responsibility" card deck

The time we spend together

2011-08-04T15:10:00.000-04:00

I absolutely love this one. It's my new favorite, and finally feel like I have a grip on photoshop painting and in a style that I like. I think I achieved one of the most harmonious color schemes I've done so far, and it still has somewhat of a traditional look... and best part: it was not difficult. yay!

To read the meaning behind this card go to the facebook page Intimacy Without Responsibility -The Conscious Evolution of Love . 'Like' the page to stay updated and see more cards w/ meanings, until the deck is complete and ready for sale.

tools: photoshop cs4, intuos 3

for Wendy Limber's "Intimacy Without Responsibility" card deck

Couples Love

2011-07-29T21:12:00.001-04:00

So I've been working on cards with couples, since it is all about intimacy and stuff... yeah... it's about time. I still feel sort of immature about it, like a 10 year boy thinking ewww they're gonna kiss, gross. The word intimacy still rubs me the wrong way... But I'm getting over it. I really like these so far... and what I'm drawing is kind of the feeling of my ideal relationship, lovey dovey easy breezy chillaxin in the wind, ahhh.... love.

okay so on the technical side of things, the top is the cleaned up version of the sketch below it. The bottom one linework is final except the wind part... I think i'm going to paint that out, rather than keeping it line.

~photoshop
©Samantha Nagel

All this time it's been a dream

2011-07-10T22:19:00.001-04:00

Go to and follow the facebook page Intimacy Without Responsibility -The Conscious Evolution of Love to see more new cards and the meaning behind them. They will be posted until the deck is complete and ready for sale.

tools: photoshop cs4, intuos 3

for Wendy Limber's "Intimacy Without Responsibility" card deck

In the making...

2011-07-09T23:10:00.001-04:00

another screen shot... it's so easy to hit command+shift+3, i'm getting lazy....

Screen Shot: New WIP

2011-07-07T10:02:00.001-04:00

---- New work in progress, in my Photoshop work space... Look at that messiness! This is generally how I start out the color process. One deviation from the norm is that I have not established the final line-work on the dreamcatcher and strings... I'm trying to figure out the glow/lighting and how that creates or hides line and where that might be?? The line-work for that part is going to be white or near white. But, who knows, it could be completely different by the time I finish. Right now I'm pretty happy with it. :)

The Alchemy of Perception

2011-07-01T22:32:00.001-04:00

Another photoshop painting... this one was quick and easy for me. I'm trying to tone it down on the detail considering these are going to be printed as cards. I love the subject matter of this one, and had to draw a mind of gears. I find it very thought provoking to reflect on how perception becomes our experience, and in the end it's all a memory anyways... a phantom.

©Sam Nagel (not for use or altering in any way)

From the Heart ...progress

2011-06-12T18:56:00.000-04:00

Alright, so I'm kind of liking the progress shots... I usually don't capture my process, or save it like this, but I think it makes for something interesting on the blog. If you look at my sketchbook post below you'll see the original pencil sketch. The softness in her face got lost in the final linework; I'm totally bringing that back... Color is next, I actually have a thought out color scheme this time, wow!

Sketchbookin

2011-05-29T18:23:00.000-04:00

These are some drawings pulled out of my sketchbook. The top page is my most recent stuff, the second page is actually kind of old, like last year or later... Well I don't sketch enough and have been trying to get myself into it again. I managed to go through four years of art school without filling up even half of one sketchbook lol! Don't ask how I got away with that! I think I was still rebelling from my sketchbook assignments in high school, and in college it kind of turned into a fad, every art school hipster kid slaved over filling up their sketchbooks... and I being myself, did the exact opposite.

When Time Was Pulled

2011-03-31T21:20:00.003-04:00

I'm really happy with this one. I didn't know I would love those colors together so much. Sometimes I can spend too much time playing around with the many different ways to combine colors and making slight change after change which inspires another change and another... ugh, my downfall in photoshop is having too many choices. But I think it was worth it this time.

for Wendy Limber's "Intimacy Without Responsibility" card deck

Process

2011-03-26T22:07:00.001-04:00

thought I would share some of my process. so basically it is a crappy sketch to refined line. Yep that's about it. I don't do thumbnails, but because I'm drawing directly in photoshop I work in a lot of layers so I can easily select and move elements around until I'm happy. I was messing with that hand in front of her chest for a while and it just never looked right, then I realized it was not anatomically correct, her thumb would not be on the outside unless someone broke and twisted her arm D: ...Anyways, this is very Mucha inspired, very very, + Tibetan mandala thrown in. Color comes next... I have no plan.

Be Yourself

2011-03-06T17:29:00.004-05:00

©Sam Nagel

playing with a chalky look in photoshop. This is going to be another card for Wendy Limber's "intimacy without responsibility" deck.

Rain

2011-03-01T17:39:00.005-05:00

©Sam Nagel

I love the red. It was a new challenge to paint cloudy mist. My past attempt to paint clouds was in second year of art school, and that painting failed miserably. I haven't tried again in years (or had to). But I thought it has been enough time and I've probably improved a ton since then, so I gave clouds another chance. Much better!

for Wendy Limber's "Intimacy Without Responsibility" card deck

Unfolding Evolution

2011-02-16T16:39:00.003-05:00

I am very excited to being doing this kind of art... so soulful to me, it matches up with everything that I am and want to be. I having been making the move to digital art, and finally feeling comfortable enough with it to like the outcome. I think it took me longer to get used to painting in photoshop than it had for me to pick up any sort of traditional medium. But I do have high standards for myself, soooo...

SO, this is actually one of the first pieces of artwork for a deck accompanying an already existing book "Intimacy Without Responsibility"written by Wendyne Limber. More to come, BUT you can't see them ALL unless you buy it :) (and it might take a while I still have 47 more to go... :-O

© Sam Nagel, not for use or altering in any way. thanks!

Fish Tattoo

2011-01-01T19:17:00.002-05:00

My brother is going to have this tattooed on him. He requested that I use watercolors and do that splashy thing a lot, which I do enjoy. Will be interesting to see how it turns out as a tattoo.

The Sunday Before Christmas

2010-11-17T16:58:00.001-05:00

"The Sunday Before Christmas" is the second of Evett Simmons' children's book that I illustrated. This book is filled with colorful pages illustrating a story that brings us back to the essence of Christmas with the gifts hope, courage, patience, family, and love.

This was another three month project for myself. Now the book is in print and ready to purchase. These are a sampling of the illustrations, mind you the words are omitted here. To read the story you must buy the book! Only $9.99! Purchase "The Sunday Before Christmas" at the Bunniewise Store

Sun Goddess

2010-10-27T18:13:00.000-04:00

I felt the urge to paint in oils again after nearly 7 months of only digital painting... that's wayyyy too long, how did that happen? oil + some acrylic 16x20" ...email me if interested sam_sgn@hotmail.com

Breathing Underwater

2010-09-26T00:26:00.000-04:00

Something new... I am experimenting more with painting in Photoshop. I love using the gold texture. I've always loved the vector look, but hate doing it, so I found a way to use the paintbrush rather than the pen tool to achieve that look anyways. Everything is the same basic calligraphy brush, except of course those orb/bubbles. Just playing with opacity and gradients on top of flat colors.

A Special Bowl Of Oatmeal

2010-08-08T10:41:00.003-04:00

"A Special Bowl of Oatmeal" is a children's book written by Evett Simmons, Illustrated by (me). It's a cute heartwarming story of an abandoned little girl rediscovering what a mother is.

I began the illustrations back in April and completed it three months later... Now the book is ready for sale and available to order online ...I've posted a sampling of the illustrations, if you want to see more, and know the story behind it you must get the book!

Order "A Special Bowl of Oatmeal" here for $12 ---> Bunniewise Store

Receive a 20% discount off the retail price of $14.95 + shipping & handling when you purchase all books online

Digital Painting

2010-06-27T20:19:00.002-04:00

I guess this is an experiment using my new wacom tablet and photoshop. This came out a little morbid, didn't plan it, just happened... sketching. I've had the wacom tablet for a couple months now, but I'm still trying to get used to the difference between traditional and digital painting. I like it though, it's fun :] and way too easy to waste a lot of time.

So far I'm just using the brushes already on photoshop, figured I'd play around with those before I go and overwhelm myself with too many choices. It's a problem, there are too many choices. I'm used to being extremely direct in painting, but the feeling is so different and so many different ways to paint. How do you do it!???

My NEW Etsy Store

2010-03-21T20:10:00.004-04:00

I am announcing the official opening of my etsy store: Art by SamNagel!

As of today I have limited edition, signed (by me) prints available for purchase. I'm thinking about listing the originals soon, but want to see how my prints will do first.

So go check it out! I made it super duper easy!

made with love www.etsy.com/shop/SamNagel

Shapeshifter: Crow

2010-03-17T14:01:00.005-04:00

Crow: sacred law, ability to bend laws, shape shift,
illusions, denotes change.

I am continuing a newly developing technique. I'm always looking for a way to apply texture, and gain precision at the same time. I love the way it looks AND enjoyed the painting part too. (usually it is one or the other)

Acrylic on canvas 14x18"
$395.oo

email me at: sam_sgn@hotmail.com

I'm developing (another) new technique

2010-03-09T23:10:00.009-05:00

Three Angels
14x18" acrylic on canvas, $250

Black Bird
(sold)

New experiments. I painted with acrylic... that almost never happens. But now that I have developed a technique that I like I prob will be using a lot more acrylic in the future. The bird painting is my first go at it, just practice to see if it would work. My second painting I went a little further with, but next time I will make the background less distracting... learning as I go.

For sale if anyone is interested email me at: sam_sgn@hotmail.com

Release of "Who Is That Woman?"

2010-02-04T22:18:00.005-05:00

Linda Miller's book "Who is That Woman?"is now available for purchase, $35 +tax/shipping. The book is "A compilation of poems, ponderings, musings and meanderings of some of the most intimate and most intense moments in life." -Linda Aileen Miller

Accompanying her poetry are my illustrations, 30 in total + one by the author. A hearty sample of featured illustrations from the book can be found if you scroll down and look at my previous posts, or on my Website.

go here to Buy the Book or email me and I will forward your order to the right place :)

sam_sgn@hotmail.com

Waves Mini Series

2010-01-28T13:05:00.006-05:00

I had to come up with something fast for my submission for an exhibit coming up this April. Last summer I did a small watercolor painting of a big wave and swirling sun called "Facing East" and it has been very popular, so I wanted to try it in oil and much bigger.

top: "Morning High Tide"
bottom: "Big Wave"
20x24" oil on canvas $495 each (discount if you want both... ask me)
sam_sgn@hotmail.com

Mural

2010-01-28T12:36:00.004-05:00

This is an office mural I worked on last September... I know it has taken me too long to get it posted here, but finally, here it is. Dolphins and a bird were the requirements, and in keeping to a limited budget for paint and time I chose to use flat bold colors. I love the way it looks in person, with the lighting and room decorations, it all came together very well. Ahem, please excuse my sorry attempt at putting together two photos, but you get the point...

Child's Portrait

2009-12-15T20:40:00.005-05:00

A commissioned child's portrait, of course I have to put my square strokes in somewhere. I'm a little disappointed with the picture here; the original painting looks much nicer... but that's what happens when I take a photo instead of scan it. It's been a while since I've done a figure in oil, and know it will always give me a nice painting session... portraits are fun, always different, and I've done so many that by now I don't even have to think too hard and I just enjoy the process.

oil 12x16"

Sketch Faces

2009-11-10T23:26:00.002-05:00

Portraits I've recently made in my sketchbook. top is watercolor, bottom two are gouache...

When life throws us around

2009-11-06T09:19:00.005-05:00

New piece, one of my recent contorted ladies, style inspired by my latest browsing of fashion and watercolor images online... I'm trying to get the clothes right, it's a bit harder to conjure up in my mind how clothing fits on a person with no reference to work from. I've been sketching more portraits lately as well... it has payed off here. I will post some of those sketches next time...

Will be printed in Linda Miller's book "Who is That Woman?"

Prints available, email sam_sgn@hotmail.com

The Rain is Getting Closer

2009-10-11T13:04:00.004-04:00

I'm working on a series of these. This is the third one so far, and a bit larger than last time. I do love florida weather, especially the afternoon thunderstorms - the way they build in ominous plumes, swirling up the wind sweeping away stagnant air right before the down pour... mother nature's AC in the hot summer heat.

18x24" oil on canvas $495.00

prints (matted):
8x10" $15
11x14" $25

inquire by email: sam_sgn@hotmail.com

Beach continued...

2009-09-23T20:22:00.006-04:00

There is something about rain clouds that I love... Florida's mountains.

14x18" oil on canvas $395.00

prints (matted):
8x10" $15
11x14" $25

inquire by email: sam_sgn@hotmail.com

Jensen Beach

2009-09-08T21:15:00.008-04:00

This is an oil painting of the coast on Hutchinson Island in Jensen Beach, FL. I went out last week and shot some photos on the beach, something simple, but I loved the clouds and the sharp waves cutting out of the glassy calm water; quite beautiful. I haven't touched oils since I finished my senior project back in April, and OMG it feels sooooo good to paint with them again. Truly it is my favorite medium. During the last four months I've only been working in watercolors and I think it has loosened me up a bit somehow with the oils... which doesn't make sense. Watercolor is a much more tight and restrictive technique and requires the planning that I oh so love to ignore. But somehow I really felt the difference and enjoyed this painting completely.

14x18" oil on canvas (sold)

prints (matted):
8x10" $15
11x14" $25

inquire by email: sam_sgn@hotmail.com

Who is That Woman?

2009-07-26T11:59:00.008-04:00

All of my recent 9x12 watercolors are soon to be in the book titled "Who is That Woman?" Each painting accompanies a piece of poetry written by Linda Miller. The book is finally near completion and will be available for sale soon! Continue to come back for updates on the release date.

"Interconnectedness"

"Surrendering"

"Journey of Now" (sold)

"Sacred Fire"

All artwork is for sale. Originals are 9x12" watercolor,
in a 14x18" frame. $350 each.
8x10" matted prints $15
11x14" matted prints $25

contact me at: sam_sgn@hotmail.com

Post Art School

2009-07-08T20:06:00.006-04:00

It has only been two months and I've already taken a completely different direction from what I was doing my senior year at Ringling... I guess it takes graduating, the lifting of the pressure to finally allow myself to paint just for pleasure, explore different media, realize I can draw from my head, and not care what others think about it... artistic freedom, finally.

Enjoy!

"Peaceful Slumber"

"Come Out and Play"

"Spooning"

All artwork is for sale. Originals are 9x12" watercolor,
in a 14x18" frame. $350 each.
8x10" matted prints $15
11x14" matted prints $25

contact me at: sam_sgn@hotmail.com

"Saturday Morning" and "Facing East"

2009-06-18T17:13:00.003-04:00

"Saturday Morning"

"Facing East"

All artwork is for sale. Originals are 9x12" watercolor,
in a 14x18" frame. $350 each.
8x10" matted prints $15
11x14" matted prints $25

please inquire at sam_sgn@hotmail.com

Illustrations for Linda's Book

2009-05-22T15:58:00.010-04:00

"Rain"
(sold)

"Sands of Time"

"Who is That Woman?"
(sold)

"Thank You"

All artwork is for sale. Originals are 9x12" watercolor,
in a 14x18" frame. $350 each.
8x10" matted prints $15
11x14" matted prints $25

please inquire at sam_sgn@hotmail.com

Feels Good...

2009-05-11T21:07:00.000-04:00

"Angel"

(sold)

"The Wind Makes Me Giggle"
(sold)

"Sit Quietly"

"Love Weaves a Web"

dd

All artwork is for sale. Originals are 9x12" watercolor,
in a 14x18" frame. $350 each.
8x10" matted prints $15
11x14" matted prints $25

please inquire at sam_sgn@hotmail.com

Senior Thesis work

2009-05-02T18:34:00.005-04:00

2009-05-02T18:13:00.002-04:00

All artwork is for sale.
Originals are Oil, 12x13" and 30" tall with varying width,
2.5" gallery wrap, ready to hang. $300 and $600 each

(prints not available) contact me at: sam_sgn@hotmail.com

Senior Thesis work

2009-05-02T17:58:00.006-04:00

(sold)

2009-05-02T17:20:00.001-04:00

All artwork is for sale.
Originals are Oil, 12x13" and 30" tall with varying width,
2.5" gallery wrap, ready to hang. $300 and $600 each

(prints not available) contact me at: sam_sgn@hotmail.com

Thesis Artist Statement

2009-05-02T11:58:00.000-04:00

My involvement in community workshops utilizing the interdisciplinary arts as a method of healing has shaped my view on what is art and how it affects those who perceive it. Through my experiences I have become acutely aware of the nuances of our individual realities, how our thoughts unconsciously create the tangible worlds we live in, and the interactions between those realities. It is the reaction of multiple perceptions that I have attempted to visually illustrate as my senior project.

I conducted an investigation, break down and reconstruction of the image women conceive for themselves, focusing on women’s body issues, visually breaking down skewed self-perceptions and transforming them into subtle expressions of truth and beauty. I chose the female body and the space she inhabits as a channel to concentrate the broad scope that the self-perceived world could encompass. Body image lends itself to a variety of differing perspectives; how one sees one’s self is most often askew to the view of another. By subjecting women’s harsh, distorted, and critical self-image to such an inaccurate construct, a threshold is created where truth, clarity and her inherent perfection is granted emergence from the depths of obscurity. Through the physical medium of oil, I created a visual collision of multiple perceptions, a reaction between the relationship of the subject’s self-image, and my artistic perception as an observer of the world in shapes, color, and form as well as one who penetrates beyond the boundaries of sight, unearthing human obscurities as aesthetic beauty.

Senior Self-Portrait

2008-12-05T16:32:00.002-05:00

Welcome to my Kitchen

2008-11-18T22:38:00.004-05:00

This painting is for sale.
Original in Oil, 12x24" gallery wrap style
ready to hang. $450

(prints available upon request)
sam_sgn@hotmail.com

And we meet again

2008-10-29T21:24:00.006-04:00

Yes, the bathroom scene... there is something fascinating about it. It has been recently brought to my attention the amazing architecture contrived for the disposal of our waste. And if I think about it too much I am led to the assumption that if I were alien I would say humans are weird.

(sold)

prints available upon request
sam_sgn@hotmail.com

Dreaming Hungry

2008-10-29T21:17:00.006-04:00

maybe I'm just weird, but I have dreams of pastry stores whenever I go to bed hungry...

This painting is for sale
Original Oil 11x22" gallery wrap style
ready to hang. $350

sam_sgn@hotmail.com

At the marina...

2008-10-18T22:43:00.005-04:00

(sold)

prints available upon request

oil on board 1'x1'
I'm trying to do some very fast painting, actually my lack of patience demands it... and it feels good.

playing in my sketchbook

2008-10-08T13:46:00.003-04:00

White Buffalo

2008-09-30T12:00:00.003-04:00

Commissioned oil painting from the summer. Prints available upon request.

new landscapes

2008-09-29T15:28:00.007-04:00

(sold)

Original for sale 12x12"
Oil on board $150

Painted from photos I took in the Bahamas on Andros Island last august, oil 1'x1'.

This Months Figure Paintings

2008-09-29T15:25:00.003-04:00

My last semester of figure painting class at Ringling. My favorite one is probably the top painting. Things were getting kind of repetitive with the lighting and set up, I think my teacher was depressed or something... It somewhat put a damper on my attendance, to say the least, I was very ready for this figure painting class to end.

Self-promotional bookmark

2008-06-01T12:26:00.009-04:00

front and back

Another post of figure paintings

2008-05-13T11:19:00.009-04:00

The last of my figure paintings from this semester. I started painting on top of old paintings and using pastels, just using up what I already had instead of buying new stuff... these are all one day poses (about 2 hours) ...My style continues to evolve, so be sure to check out my most recent work HERE! :)

Mmm... lion food

2008-04-22T15:13:00.001-04:00

Greeting Card

2008-04-19T23:00:00.004-04:00

Something to that extent... last assignment for illustration, probably will change around text, just threw that in for now. Anyways, I love my little giraffe watercolor!

Figure Paintings

2008-04-04T22:26:00.006-04:00

Here are a few of my paintings from this semester of figure painting class.

My style continues to evolve, so be sure to check out my most recent work HERE! :)

Global Warming :-(

2008-03-17T18:00:00.012-04:00

Political issue illustration for Theil's class. I decided to stay clear of the elections right now because I'm just sick of it all. To me this is a more pressing issue. I couldn't decide at which stage I think it is finished... I hardly ever combine traditional and digital mediums, so I guess this can be considered a bit of an experiment.

the original scanned painting
acrylic

hue change and digital painting
photoshop

added layers for a cutout look
photoshop

Where Am I Going?

2008-03-03T17:57:00.005-05:00

I have no idea.

Beethoven

2008-03-03T17:47:00.005-05:00

...Beethoven, and some.

So I've channeled some kind of different style here. It all started with the portrait of Beethoven then I kind of took it from there. It may have already burnt out though, since I haven't done my last few illustrations this way. I am trying to find some kind of happy medium.

I feel like a painter

2008-03-03T16:20:00.003-05:00

Most mornings I feel like I'm going to die of exhaustion. Mondays and Thursdays I am painting nudes and Tuesdays and Fridays I am staring at computer screens, early mornings for both of those activities is not a preferable time of day, but I guess that goes for anything really. I have been neglecting showers and make-up and hair this semester until after class so as not to be late. I usually shuffle to class with my toolbox full of paints and juggling a canvas or too, trying not to get hit by cars when crossing the street or run down on the sidewalk by security in their golf carts, sporting bed-head, fresh sheet marks on my face, and the latest holes in my pants for all to see. Ahhhh, I love the mornings...

and some of those figure paintings I hardly remember doing...

Mastercopy sketchbook pages

2008-03-03T14:48:00.013-05:00

So for my very first blog post... these are my mastercopy studies from first semester junior year figure painting class. For the most part they were a pain to get started, but as soon as I started with the paint I seemed to fall quite nicely into completing each one very quickly. All but two are done in acrylics, the other two are a mixture of charcoal, acrylic, and other stuff... I painted from old masters to contemporary painters and some of those I discovered online.