Countdown - the process

Just for fun, here is the whole process from my recent painting 'Countdown'. 

 Thumbnail studies (bottom right was the chosen one to develop)

 first rough

 rough with text and numbers added. (Getting the text how I want digitally and then tracing it later saves a lot of time.)

 final rough

 cleanup

 tonal study

 color studies done at a small scale digitally to save time. I like to see many varieties on one page. (Bottom right was chosen to expand upon.)

 Premixing the color palette for the painting.

 underpainting (blocking in the darks and lights)

 painting in process

 final painting!

Countdown - all done!

"Do you have anything... uh... not so scary?"

That's a question I was asked (twice actually) late February at The Artist Project, a large art fair in Toronto I exhibited in. It was asked to me on separate occasions by two Mom's looking for something gentler. For a nursery.

You never know what will generate your next idea...

It did get me thinking about what I found gentle when I was very young. I can't imagine life without Sesame Street. I know many feel the same way. I always liked The Count. It was his laugh mostly. (I'm also a fan of Oscar the Grouch.)

I have trouble waking up early... 

I'm a very deep sleeper. At one point I had 3 alarm clocks. The most effective of them all was my twin hammer bell alarm clock (those classic looking alarm clocks - there's a reason they've been around so long). Until it stopped working, it was most effective in accelerating my heart rate each morning. I was thinking about what it felt like to get so abruptly woken up each morning. What would that look like in a painting? 

Combining the two:

The new painting above is called 'Countdown'. In it, The Count, under moonlight is laughing famously as he counts down the remaining seconds of an alarm clock so loud it shatters itself under the arrival of the day's first light! The Count's cape also acts as a veil between the separation of night and day. (Inspired by Greek mythology of merging the abilities of Nyx (goddess of night) and Eos (goddess of dawn). Though he is a vampire, in the show Sesame Street, The Count circuits the day unscathed.)

But is it GENTLE and FIT for a nursery???

In my quest to bring this painting to you, I seem to have strayed from the realm of affable baby decor once again... I guess I just like painting "scary" things...

'The Devil is in the Details'

Here is the final painting at last!

 'The Devil is in the Details'

 acrylic on wood panel 10"x12" 

 $ available (contact me here if you are interested)

The painting was inspired by the old adage that is also the title of the painting. (If you look closely, the pen the devil hands you to sign with is dripping blood. Always read the fine print...)

What am I saying, that ALL contracts are evil?? 

NO. Contracts are a useful and recommended draft of legal terms of a deal to protect BOTH parties. What I'm saying is (and the nature of the adage above) you want to read the details thoroughly. 

What else can you do to protect yourself? If there is something written in the contract that you don't understand, it's OK to ask for clarification. Don't sign anything unless you really do understand it and agree to the terms. You may also want to hire a lawyer to look over the contract with you, albeit, for a fee.

The Devil is in the Details - tonal study preview

The tonal study for my latest painting, 'The Devil is in the Details' is all done! Here is a sneak-peek. Continuing on with wanting to make more original works at an affordable entry rate, it's not a large painting, just 8"x10". (The original tonal study is the same size and will also be for sale after I release the painting.) The image is of course inspired by the old proverb.

YES Montreal Art Expo 2015!

I've been selected to participate in YES Montreal's Art Expo coming up March 19-21! You can expect to see 60 artists from multiple disciplines selling and promoting their work. I will have prints, drawings and paintings to sell and will AT LAST present the COMPLETED painting of 'THAT LAUGH!'. To learn more about the Expo and see the others artists involved, click here: http://www.yesmontreal.ca/en/artists/library/1339

Yoda says...

So here's something I can share with you all now: this past Sunday November 9th, David, one of my best friends growing up, married the woman of his dreams. I was unable to attend the wedding in person in Australia, but I DID send this little doozie half way around the world to the newly wed Star Wars fans.

 Although it resembles an internet meme the piece was actually inspired by famed Illustrator James Mongomery Flagg's famous 1917 'I WANT YOU' United States army recruitment poster. (Yoda's quote also seemed like suitable advice for any married couple.)

James Mongomery Flagg's famous poster. It has been a VERY popular subject of parody over the years.

Cereal Siege - color studies

I've started work on the 'Thoughts & Progress' booklets for the 2 new paintings ('Cereal Siege' and 'Sunny Side Corrupt'). What stage of the process would you most like to see? What questions about the paintings would you like answered? Please let me know and I'll make sure they're included. (You can see booklet examples here: http://jonodoironstudio.storenvy.com/collections/117461-books )

 

Above: professional Illustrator, Charles Vinh, whom I learned from during the making of 'Cereal Siege', added on a stage in my process called 'color studies' (or, color thumbnails). Small studies to come up with a color scheme  for the image that will then be expanded upon in a larger format. Bottom left is the final line drawing and next to it is the final tonal.

Last sneak peek of monster painting

Back in June, I started to release preview images of an upcoming monster painting. Next week (October 22), the 'monsterpiece' will finally be revealed in the ghoulish group show presented by DECOVER Magazine. Here is the LAST sneak peek... (Not scared of the Grinch? Oh, YOU WILL BE.)

October 22 at 1151 rue Alexandre-de -Sève in Montreal. Door creek open open at 5:00pm and cost is $10 which includes a copy of the magazine. 

http://decovermag.com/

FREE Saint Felix Thoughts & Progress booklets!

Happy Thanksgiving weekend to my Canadian friends! I have a very special promo on my online store right now: I'm giving away FREE signed Thoughts & Progress: Saint Felix booklets until October 27! All you pay is shipping - THAT'S IT.

I've worked hard creating the image and compiling the booklet and would love to share the process with you! I also welcome your feedback on how I can continue to improve these booklets.

You can order your booklet here: http://jonodoironstudio.storenvy.com/products/2937837-free-thoughts-progress-booklet-saint-felix

LAST DAY of Low Brow exhibition!

Today is the LAST DAY to see the Low Brow group show at Cinema du Parc I curated! http://www.cinemaduparc.com/english/low-brow-group-show.php

The Boastful Ghost - SOLD!

SOLD! - 'The Boastful Ghost' - the ORIGINAL painting - has now been sold! If you LOVE the image, I do have some of the giclee prints left - but only a few and then they're permanently gone - so don't wait too long... available on my online store with the companion booklet or just the print: http://bit.ly/18I0oad

 Found this in my inbox this morning: here's what the collector who bought the original 'The Boastful Ghost' painting had to say about the accompanying Thoughts & Progress booklet I gave him with the painting (names and E-mails blocked out of respect for privacy): http://bit.ly/18GpsOL

New Brow - now on iTunes!

For those of you who missed the Montreal screening of the New Brow art documentary (or wish to see it again), the film is now available on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/movie/new-brow-contemporary-underground/id606959744

A reminder: the group exhibition is up till the end of the month! http://www.cinemaduparc.com/english/low-brow-group-show.php

 

New Brow film - TONIGHT!

TONIGHT is the Montreal New Brow screening! FILM STARTS AT 5:30 at Cinema du Parc!

Event info: http://www.cinemaduparc.com/english/prochainemente.php?id=newbrow#top

CultMTL - Here's why Low-Brow art matters

CultMTL published an online article about the group exhibition and film screening I'm organizing that will take place tomorrow! You can read it here: http://cultmontreal.com/2013/08/heres-why-low-brow-art-matters/

NEW - Thoughts & Progress concept art booklets

NEW to my online store: ever wonder about the process I go through to make my paintings? Starting with one of my most popular images 'The Boastful Ghost' - I assembled the first in a new series of booklets called Thoughts & Progress. Inside I disclose where the idea came from, all the planning involved and show all the drawings during the process - no steps have been withheld!
(Think of it like the audio commentary or 'making of' featurette on your favorite DVD's!)

You can order your copy here: http://jonodoironstudio.storenvy.com/products/1993695-thoughts-progress-booklet-the-boastful-ghost

Don't have the print yet either? Pick them both up in a bundle and save!: http://jonodoironstudio.storenvy.com/products/1999042-the-boastful-ghost-giclee-print-thoughts-and-progress-the-boastful-ghos

  NEXT NEWSLETTER will be sent out TOMORROW (Wed. July 31st) to sign up and be among the first to find out about a special offer, click here: http://jonodoiron.us5.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=68cf3129b702e7e5b997ad486&id=b0e873f938

New Brow - ONE WEEK AWAY!

New Brow - ONE WEEK AWAY! Hope to see you next week at the screening of this amazing film - which also includes an art show by incredible local talent!

Event info: http://www.cinemaduparc.com/english/prochainemente.php?id=newbrow#top

New Brow - 2 WEEKS AWAY!

Montreal screening of New Brow film - just 2 WEEKS AWAY!  

screening info: http://bit.ly/13QLQGM 

New Brow: Contemporary Underground Art

Montrealers: coming to Cinema du Parc one month from today - 'New Brow: Contemporary Underground Art'! I've generously received permission to organize another screening of this documentary and will do so alongside an art show featuring local talent who's work will compliment the film. You can find out more info about the film here: http://newbrowfilm.com/index.htm

The film is also on my list of MUST SEE art documentaries. To see the list, click here: http://www.jonodoiron.blogspot.ca/2013/01/art-documentaries.html

ECHRA

Thanks to the people who came out to the 'les écrivains de demain' (the writers of tomorrow) group show with Illustration Quebec Thursday night! As mentioned the work will be on view till July 25th. Below is the illustration I did (12"x12" acrylic on wood panel) to compliment the story 'EHCRA' by 15 year old writer, Vincent Vaslin. The story is about a misunderstood alien abduction.

There is also a book, les écrivains de demain 2013 (the fouth edition) that collects all the illustrations and stories from the project together. In a later post, I will provide info for anyone interested in picking up a copy, but do note: the text is entirely in French. The painting I did is also for sale (and even framed), contact me if you're interested.

les écrivains de demain

Tonight is the opening of the 'les écrivains de demain' (the writers of tomorrow) group show with Illustration Quebec at Le Grande Bibliotheque from 5:00 - 7:00. I have one new painting/illustration that will be on display till July 25 and published in a book of short stories along with other illustrators. Hope to see some of you there!

Le Grand Bibliotheque: http://www.banq.qc.ca/accueil/index.html

photo: James Dow, Patkau Architects Inc.