Plaster Master by Mike Bailey – Watercolor

Mike Bailey. One word… amazing! Truly. Mike’s website is out of this world. It’s visually appealing and contains so much wonderful information! A lot of time went into this and it shows. It’s fabulous, personal, and a treasure for those who take the time to read it. Also check out Mike’s Blog – more great info! I’m not kidding you, this is a treasure of a website that you can spend a great deal of time perusing!

I love the shadows in Plaster Master. The orange vest… striking! I swear most paintings just need a little pop of color, even if it’s the tiniest little bit. The detail in the wrinkles of the man’s jeans, the knee pads, helmet… so well done! Every painting of Mike’s is equally as well done. He is very versatile, I urge you to take a peek!

Mike is teaching some amazing workshops this year all over the country – interested? Check out Mike’s workshop schedule! From reading about him on his art blog, I think he would be fabulous to take a workshop from. Someone REAL. It’s nice to take a workshop and not feel like every painting has to be a winner. We know that isn’t the case for anyone! It’s nice when you take a workshop to not feel that added pressure.

Self Portrait by Mike Bailey

I had to include Mike’s self portrait! This painting caught my eye right away. FABULOUS!

Read a bit about Mike, from his website:

Approximately 100 miles south of San Francisco, California, on the coast, is Santa Cruz . . .where Mike resides. A graduate from San Jose State University, he majored in Engineering and Business.

In mid-life, Mike answered a long-percolating desire to paint. A few lessons, lots of books and an occasional workshop got him started. His intense curiosity led him to learn and study design and composition, which led to his being called to teach that aspect of painting. What paid off most, he says, was the late night sessions at his easel.

He developed “Painting Beyond the Obvious” as a college level course and offered  it at the University of California at Santa Cruz (UCSC). Many painters now credit him and that class with their own breakthroughs to artistic understanding. Mike’s art career has put him on the “workshop circuit” all over the U.S. His work has received national and international recognition via awards, magazines and books and assorted international exhibitions. Click here to continue…

All images via mebaileyart.com, used with permission…

Images are not for reproduction, they are property of the artist.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Bakery Girls by Eric Bowman  20×24″  Oil

Normally I feature at least one of Eric’s landscapes just because those fabulous trees just get me every time, but I heard that he has a workshop coming up, so I didn’t want to miss the chance to share that info with you just in case you’ll be in the Eugene, OR area in May?

Eric has the uncanny ability to paint the figure with so much feeling. It’s as if you’re right there in the kitchen with these girls. There is movement, they aren’t just posed, they are working… the painting is fabulous and believable, from the folds in the shirts and bandanas, the creases in the pants, the way the fingers are pressed against the mixing bowl, the reality is there. On top of that there is wonderful light and INTEREST! Interest is so important. You may be able to paint a certain scene, but it has to hold interest and Eric’s always do. Every. Single. Time.

Under the Weather by Eric Bowman 20×20 Oil

Isn’t this the sweetest painting ever? Perfect title for this painting “Under the Weather”, you can (once again) feel that this sweet girl is feeling under the weather. She is passing time with a good book, fluffy pillow and fabulous blankets. The folds in those blankets are fabulous, I love the dark color underneath peeking through. The shadow and light on her arm and hand are fabulous. Eric doesn’t miss the details, but he also doesn’t paint in every little thing, which is refreshing. This is just plain sweet!

Check out the feature on Eric in the May 2016 Plein Air magazine, great article by Steve Doherty!

WORKSHOP ALERT! Looking to take a workshop? Well, this is going to be fabulous – two days with Eric – learning the detail of how to bring your painting from good to fabulous! Here are the details…

Figure in Oil

Read a bit about Eric, from his website:

Eric Bowman was born in Pasadena and grew up in Orange County, CA (back when it actually had orange groves). Essentially a self-taught artist, Eric had a knack for drawing as far back as he can remember, always the class artist throughout his elementary and high school years. Various art-related jobs such as silk screen T-shirt printer or surfboard airbrush technician led to a lengthy and successful career as a commercial artist, eventually transitioning to fine art painting. As a painter, Eric has garnered many awards in national & regional exhibitions in some of the country’s most prestigious galleries and museums.  His paintings are in collections around the world, including England, Australia, Canada and Mexico.

Eric Bowman is a Signature Member of both the American Impressionist Society and the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association, and an Out-of-State Member of the California Art Club. When not traveling to various plein air shows or visiting his beloved home state of California, Eric resides in northwest Oregon with his wife and daughter, and their dog, Mucha.

All images via EricBowman.com, used with permission…

Images are not for reproduction, they are property of the artist.

Catch you back here tomorrow!