I once had a pet turtle named Jack. I feel guilty for having kept him for so long, but Jack was released into a park pond later in his life. He was just one of many unusual animals that lived inside my family’s suburban home.

I loved all of my pets, even the slimy ones like Jack who weren’t as lucky as some other species to receive cute looking fur. Jack was also lucky, to some degree, to live the rest of his life in a natural environment. I was recently contacted by a group called the Turtle Rescue Team, a non-profit organization run by veterinary students at North Carolina State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. They provide medical, surgical and husbandry services free of charge in the hope of releasing rehabilitated turtles back into the wild. I was invited to submit a piece of artwork to donate for their 2nd Annual Turtle Team Rescue Benefit Sale. You can take a look at the other artwork submitted here.

I have to admit that I didn’t see how I could give up one of my new paintings so early on in my new business venture, but I also didn’t see how I could say no. This was such a good cause, and it was a way I could finally help do something that didn’t involve time or money I didn’t have. I thought about donating a print, but I couldn’t because my turtle painting was designed in such an awkward shape as to not translate well to print form. Finally, I decided to let it go. Once I made that decision, it was easy to follow through.

The auction was scheduled for January 25th – January 29th. I’m happy to report that the painting sold within the first few hours of the benefit! Not only did I get to participate in such a wonderful event, but I helped raise money that will go to take care of medical and surgical therapies for quite a few injured turtles.

http://www.turtlerescueteam.com/

Please go check out this amazing organization and help out in any way possible. The world is a better place because of the team. I know the turtles appreciate them.

This year has been one of transition for me. This time last year I was mentoring 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders, living in Texas, and working on my artwork at a level I was proud of. Now, at the end of 2011, I am living in central Virginia, socializing with my wife’s new peers at law school, and starting a small business centered around inexpensive animal paintings.

If you haven’t had the chance, head on over to my facebook page and my new online store. I’d like to revamp my website in the future so I can merge my portfolios and update it without using Flash. I think the new life style change hit me today when I ordered my new business cards and mailing labels. I’m now a brand, and that’s something I have to get used to. In the past it was solely about making great art; now it’s sorta blended in with making a living.

It hasn’t been easy, but it also has been about as smooth as it could be considering we’re living in such a bad recession. I don’t know how next year will go, but I’m hoping my business continues to grow so that I can be able to fund the passion I’ve fought for all these years. Happy Holidays!

This is definitely a unique one. I’m very pleased with the color choice and the way the patterns turned into a mosaic. Giraffe!

Alright, so my new hobby has turned into an Etsy shop. I couldn’t help myself. I started designing nonstop, and I’ve come up with a whole bunch of new designs. Here is just one of the many I’ve painted so far. I will continue to post them as I make them.

We’re still getting settled into our new apartment here in Charlottesville. I left most of my artwork in Austin so I’ve had to find ways to decorate our very bare walls. I came up with a few different designs to match the color of the opposing wall which is a very bright yellow. This is the design that I went with – owls!

I’ve been dabbling with simple design work as a kind of hobby in contrast to my highly detailed paintings. I’ve always loved silhouettes, and I love the chance to be very bold without risking too much.

These paintings are dedicated to my sister-in-law who loves owls. I had so much fun working on this that I’m experimenting with some other similar designs.

What do I do with leftover paint at the end of the day? Occasionally when my wife is free I like to let her play with the paint. She mixes and mushes like a little kid, and it always brightens my day.

With all of the new activity going in my life, I haven’t had the opportunity to work or post.  However, I figured now would be a good time to show my new painting, although this painting was completed last September.  It is up at the Wally Workman Gallery, framed and hung.

I will post my newest painting soon, the one I’ve had laying around since last Fall.  Thanks for the support, and I hope to return to my series soon.

1. Brush my fingers over the bristles of the brushes I used the day before.  This gets rid of the dry soap I leave in for conditioning.  It’s also a way to initiate my tired body into work mode.

2. Pull out a new rag.  I fold it in half to better absorb the paint.  If I don’t, it immediately bleeds through onto my fingers.  I am a neat freak and hate to get dirty!

3. Pour a little bit of medium into a small metal cup and move it to the left of my easel onto a side table.

4. Squeeze my paints onto my wooden palette.  It never fails that I get angry at how hard one of the tubes of paint is to open even though I used it the day before.

5. Uncover my turpentine can.

6. Pull my mahl stick off of my pegboard.

7.  Push my chair back so I have room to walk back and look at my painting.

8.  Pull my easel up to my painting area.

9.  Stand and stare until the urge to paint comes out!  This part usually takes the longest and is the most frustrating.