Painting in Cleveland

Brick block prints, 4.25"x6.25"

2011-12-20T16:58:00.000-08:00

Studio Open House this Saturday Dec. 17

2011-12-13T13:57:00.000-08:00

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

2011-11-20T06:51:00.000-08:00

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

2011-11-16T18:14:00.000-08:00

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

2011-10-29T14:40:00.000-07:00

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

2011-09-05T16:44:00.000-07:00

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

2011-09-03T08:09:00.000-07:00

My latest.

SOLD

EC Gas, 18"x24", oil on canvas

2011-08-31T07:10:00.001-07:00

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

2011-08-05T07:32:00.000-07:00

May Co. 8"x6", oil on wood

2011-08-03T06:10:00.001-07:00

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

SOLD

Leff Electric, 20"x16", oil on linen

2011-07-30T06:28:00.000-07:00

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

2011-02-19T08:43:00.000-08:00

This is the palette that I've been using for the past several years. I don't have a specific brand of paint that I use. At this moment I have at least 10 different brands of oil paint on by painting table. 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.

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

2011-02-14T16:05:00.000-08:00

Morsel's

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

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

2011-02-09T14:40:00.000-08:00

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.

2011-01-20T14:08:00.000-08:00

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

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

2011-01-15T13:55:00.000-08:00

This storefront is a real "Unique Beauty."

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

2011-01-09T12:46:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-19T17:54:00.000-08:00

more Abe Lincoln Sketches

2010-11-18T14:59:00.001-08:00

Lincoln without his iconic beard at age 37.

Abe Lincoln Sketches

2010-11-12T07:35:00.000-08:00

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.

2010-11-12T07:31:00.000-08:00

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

2010-10-28T14:08:00.000-07:00

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.

Website Update!

2010-10-26T13:48:00.000-07:00

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"

2010-09-17T18:36:00.000-07:00

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.

I'm Back

2010-09-03T09:27:00.000-07:00

No, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth. I will be back to blogging as usual this month. You can't expect to see several new paintings and drawings posted before years end.

Rock Totem

2010-05-18T14:11:00.001-07:00

I hope this totem helps me find my way.

Fire Chief, oil on canvas, 18" x 27"

2010-02-16T16:25:00.000-08:00

Chief comes from an era before Lego developed the transparent flame piece. Never the less Chief is brave and hasn't forgotten where he came from.

Portrait in progress, oil on canvas, 18" x 27"

2010-02-15T08:38:00.000-08:00

This is an in-progress, full-length oil portrait of the fire chief for the LLFD. During the course of this painting I've come to respect the him as the most knowledgeable fire chief I've met. I will post the progress of this painting.

Lorain at W.68, oil on panel, 5"x7"

2010-02-07T12:39:00.000-08:00

This is a very small study of a decaying residential structure on Cleveland's west side.

Bass Player, oil on canvas, 25"x32"

2010-02-03T13:57:00.000-08:00

I've been working on this painting for a long time now. I finally put the finish on it today.

2010-01-04T14:55:00.000-08:00

Some preliminary sketches for my Art Tatum portrait.

Unfinished Skull, oil on canvas, 8"x10"

2009-12-30T14:16:00.000-08:00

This is a little skull that never made it to the finish. I still think it has some interesting attributes.

I hope everyone had a great holiday season. I had a great Christmas this year. I have taken a few weeks off from the studio to spend with the family. I will be back to posting regularly after the first of the year.

Skull, 9" x 12" oil on canvas

2009-12-15T17:25:00.000-08:00

Skulls, skulls, skulls! I enjoy studying this form. The subtle tones of bone are always a challenge.

Shop Duster, oil on canvas, 9" x 12"

2009-12-11T06:52:00.000-08:00

Two Pears, oil on canvas, 9" x 12"

2009-12-10T07:10:00.000-08:00

There is no narrative here, but if there were it would be:
"Hey,... a little help here! I've fallen, and I can't get up."

Special, oil on panel, 6" x 12"

2009-12-08T09:30:00.000-08:00

I'm starting a series of Cleveland based urban landscapes that I plan to publish into book form. Can anyone guess what sign this is? Hint: Lorain Rd., west-side.

Yellow Bulb, oil on panel, 5" x 7"

2009-12-07T03:20:00.000-08:00

Two Lemons, oil on canvas, 9" x 12"

2009-12-05T14:03:00.000-08:00

When life hands you lemons, paint them.

Red Vessel, oil on canvas, 9" x 12"

2009-12-04T10:15:00.001-08:00

No attempt at narrative here. Simplicity and honesty were the goals.

Skull #2 oil on canvas, 9" x 12"

2009-12-03T13:47:00.001-08:00

Thanks to the grey Cleveland sky it was too dark in my studio to work from one of my usual still-life set ups. This is a painting I completed in the early spring.

Two Fuji, oil on canvas, 9" x 12"

2009-12-02T06:34:00.001-08:00

Two apples for your consumption.
I wanted to create a simple graphic composition while maintaining my usual approach of modeling form. There is no attempt to hide brushwork or other "art marks."

Hymns, oil on canvas, 9"x12"

2009-12-01T08:45:00.000-08:00

I picked up this 19th century Lutheran Hymnal at an estate sale for $1. It is a beautiful object that I really enjoyed painting. Most of it was completed with a painting knife. No use of "the mighty fan brush" in this painting.

Skull in Profile

2009-11-30T07:08:00.000-08:00

Skull in Profile, oil on canvas 9" x 12"

The grey Cleveland light filtering through my studio window reveals the subtle tonal shifts across the bone white surface.

I often leave the edges of the work unfinished. This creates a tension between the three-dimensional illusion of form and the reality of a flat canvas.

2009-11-29T17:00:00.000-08:00

Rhino 5"x7" oil on canvas.

I picked up this toy rhino at Target.

SOLD

Blue Light special on Black Friday!

2009-11-27T16:49:00.001-08:00

Blue Light Bulb oil on canvas, 9"x 12"

I hope everyone survived today's "doorbuster" deals.

Hello. Welcome to my Blog!

2009-11-25T13:10:00.000-08:00

I've started this blog to keep my collectors informed about new work and future exhibitions. I will also be offering original works for sale online. I will be posting several times a week, so check back frequently.
This first painting "Brush#1" is 9"x12" oil on canvas. It was painted with a combination of brush and painting knife techniques.