Old Faerie

No, not me, this is a painting I did back in college. He was originally circumcised but people kept saying "I didn't know Faeries were Jewish". So I did the first uncircumcision and gave him his foreskin back! His expression and the leaves are my favourite parts. "Leaf Fall", 24 x 36 Acrylic on canvas. Original and prints for sale.

Scroll, Now Wih Words

Here is the finished scroll (it is a commission backlog so no need for it to be secret), it has the calligraphy and capital now. I hate calligraphy and this is far from great...but it is what I can do. The illuminated capital is mostly made up as I could not find a good example from the right time and place. The calligraphy is done with oak gall ink and the capital is gold leaf and egg tempera.

Teachers, Good or Bad?

http://www.stonekettle.com/2011/04/teacher-bashing-101.html?spref=fb

This is a well written, on target article that I agree with about as much as is humanly possible! I have many friends who are teachers or are going into teaching. I fear for them all!

Double Trouble Scroll

Here is the illumination part of the latest SCA scroll I am doing. This is a combination Award of Arms and Silver Osprey. The circle with the birds and sword abouve the kings head is the Silver Osprey (a fighting award) and the sheild with the 3 frogs is the Arms of the person this is for. This is based pretty directly from "The Book of Kings" also known as the Morgan picture Bible. It is from the 13th century and is a very extensively illuminated book. This is based on Folio 46 verso and is 8 1/2 x 11, done in egg tempera and gold leaf on velum (the hide not the paper). I did cheat a bit and had to use some micron pen and som Acrylic, but 99% of this is authenticaly correct for it's period. Calligraphy is yet to be added. I HATE gold leaf! Picture 22.

Sinus Issues and Gold Leafing

Well I would be posting a new picture, a scroll I am doing for the SCA. But I have been sick with sinus problems for the past few days and now I am trying to do real gold leafing on this scroll. I HATE gold leafing! It is a pain and a half! So maybe, sinus's and gold leafing cooperating, I will have something new to post tomorrow!

Bad News

Well, my sons mother has cancer. She just had surgery and they don't seem to think it was all gotten. They don't know for sure yet, but she is not doing well and it is very serious. Of course the fact that our son is NOT in touch with us and has no idea about his mother does not help her any! I know exactly how she feels since I went through my cancer and surgery without him knowing about it!

If anyone in the world who happens to see this knows my son, Joe Gravelle and has ANY way to contact him, please tell him he really needs to contact his mom!

Finished Fight

I hope the person who commissioned this likes it, if he does, it is done. I never thought I would ever need to paint a dumpster and garbage, but I did for this. I am happy with how it came out and it is good for an artist to be stretched to do things they have not or would not normally do. All these fight pictures should make me a better artist for many reasons. If you are tired of these pictures, commission something yourself and I will do what you want to see. "Alley Fight", 8 1/2 x 11, Acrylic on Canson board. Prints available. Picture 21.