Fall Classes

See my teaching page for details on fall classes.  I am teaching portrait drawing and painting at my studio and beginning oil painting at BAYarts in Bay Village.

Untitled, 36"x24", oil on canvas

This is the latest work to come off my easel.  I'm really struggling to get good digital images of my work.  I get a surface glare no matter how I set up my lights.
There are a few title ideas I'm kicking around, but haven't settled on one yet.

Study for untitled composition, oil on linen, 12"x9"

This study marks my return to the subject of the human figure.  The final composition is a full-length, seated pose.
Painting people presents different challenges than my urban landscapes.  I'm very excited to get back to my roots.  My first serious study of art was under  portrait artist Bill Kufahl.  Figurative work has always been my passion.

Old Fashion, 24"x36", oil on canvas, 2012

This is a commisioned piece for an old high school friend. Thanks, Leisa!

The Hot Dog Inn on Cleveland's west side.

SOLD

Son of Fig, 14"x11", oil on panel 2012

Homage to The Son of Man (French: Le fils de l'homme) a 1964 painting by the Belgian surrealist painter René Magritte.
SOLD!

Brick block prints, 4.25"x6.25"

Studio Open House this Saturday Dec. 17

This is the biggest event of the year at The Screw Factory. I will be there from 10a-6p.

I have art starting at $10!

I'm on the 2nd floor, studio 296.

Details:

http://lastminutemarket.blogspot.com/

1997 Rooster Border

I was amused to find this on ebay. It's the first wallpaper border I designed in 1997. It was for Brewster Home Fashions. I wish there was a photo of the whole repeat. I've linked it, just in case you want to buy a roll...LOL.

http://www.ebay.comROOSTER

'Darth II,' Block Print, 6"x4", on Canson Paper 2011

This is my second Lego minifigure block print. This went through 4 pressings to get the image you see. I will be selling these through the holiday season. I will have them on ebay ($25) and at my studio for $20. This image is watermarked. Obviously the art will not have my website watermarked on it. This is an edition of 47.

'Stormtrooper III' Series of 18, Hand Linocut print

This is my first of a series of Lego minifig linocut prints. I'm also working on a Darth Vader print. This is the perfect gift for the young, or just young at heart collector.

4"x6" matted (mat not shown) print only $20.

Above, 9"x6", oil on wood

I hang the show tomorrow! The opening is this Friday, Sep. 9 from 7-9pm

http://www.bayarts.net/gallery/gallerydata/jeff-yost--martin-o'connor-new-paintings.aspx

TR, 8"x6" oil on wood

My latest.

SOLD

EC Gas, 18"x24", oil on canvas

There is alot of loose painting knife work in this piece, with more detail showing up in the structure. I think this is the last painting I will finish before my opening September 9th other than perhaps a few small works.

Gus' ,10"x12", oil on wood

May Co. 8"x6", oil on wood

This is a little study of the old May Co. water tower on Payne Ave.

SOLD

Leff Electric, 20"x16", oil on linen

This is my latest work. It will be part of my exhibition in September at Bayarts in Bay Village, Ohio.
http://bayarts.net/gallery/gallerydata/jeff-yost--martin-o'connor-new-paintings.aspx

The Palette

This is a palette that I've been using for the past several years. There is no specific brand of paint that I use. As for colors, they vary depending on the painting. I place no limit on the number of colors on my palette at a given time. I may be using a limited palette with 2-5 colors, or I may have as many as 24 colors.  The following is a list of colors that I have on my painting table to choose from:

• Titanium white
• Titanium/Zinc white
• Flake white
• Naples Yellow
• Yellow Ochre
• Yellow Ochre Transparent
• Hansa Yellow
• Indian Yellow
• Cadmium Yellow Light
• Cadmium Yellow Medium
• Cadmium Yellow Deep
• Cadmium Orange
• Cadmium Red Light
• Cadmium Red Medium
• Cadmium Red Deep
• Cadmium Maroon
• Alizarin Crimson Permanent
• Quinacridone Red
• Quinacridone Violet
• Manganese Violet
• Ultramarine Red
• Cobalt Violet
• Dioxazine Purple
• Ultramarine Blue
• Cobalt Blue
• Cerulean Blue
• Prussian Blue
• Phthalocyanine Blue
• Manganese Blue
• Phthalocyanine Green
• Viridian
• Chromium Oxide Green
• Permanent Green Light
• Sap Green
• Terre Verte
• Burnt Sienna
• Burnt Umber
• Raw Sienna
• Raw Umber
• Indian Red 
• Venteitan Red
• Van Dyke Brown
• Ivory Black
• Lamp Black
• Payne's Grey
•  a few more that slip my mind at the moment. 

"Morsel's" oil on canvas, 24" x 36"

Morsel's

Where else would someone eat after bowling a few games at Ambassador Lanes.

Ambassador Lanes, oil on canvas, 26" x 39"

Ambassador Lanes is a painting 22 years in the making. I used an old Ektachrome slide that I shot an of this sign in 1989 for reference. The sign is long gone. Again I used painting knives as much as possible only resorting to brushes for areas too fine to make knife work practical. This painting will be a part of a show of landscape paintings that I am having in September 2011 at BayArts.

Natural light is key. This is a photograph of me in the studio.

Unique Beauty, oil on panel, 7" x 5"

This storefront is a real "Unique Beauty."

SOLD

Late Sunday Afternoon, Oil on Panel, 8"x6"

This is one of the small scale Cleveland landscape that I've been working on. I'm using painting knives for paint application in most places. The title is a reference to a famous painting of a similar theme.

Can anyone name the painting and artist?

More Abe Lincoln Sketches from my Moleskine

more Abe Lincoln Sketches

Lincoln without his iconic beard at age 37.

Abe Lincoln Sketches

These are a few pages out of my Moleskine sketchbook. Abraham Lincoln is a hero of mine and I'm considering doing a portrait of him.

The Minifig in the Golden Helmet, oil on panel, 10"x8"

I've been working on this little painting for a few days now. It is my rendition of the famous painting The Man in The Golden Helmet. I always have great fun trying to get a Rembrandtesque feel. It is painted in oils on an Ampersand panel. The minifig head is taken from a Lego Viking figure.

PRINTS AVAILABLE!!!

Website Update!

I have finally got a beta version of my website published. Please take the time to check it out and give me your feedback. I have many more paintings that need to be added. I will continue to use this blog for more up to the minute announcements and works in progress.

http://www.martineoconnor.com

Jack 'n' Meg ,oil on canvas, 17.25"x25.75"

I started this painting way back in January. I finally put the finishing touches on it this week. I usually avoid narrative but had some fun with the Lego minifigs in this piece. Elements of the composition have been appropriated from a popular photograph of Jack and Meg White of the garage rock band, The White Stripes.

SOLD