local – Page 2 – Rob Medley

Let’s Talk Commissions

May 26, 2017 by Rob Medley

A vibrant collage of various artistic paintings. Images include colorful abstract patterns, nature scenes, a close-up of an eye, a deer, a person with a torch, floral designs, a silhouette of a couple against a sunset, and a woman with a headscarf. Let's talk commissions for your unique art needs!

I do commission work. If you’ve got something in mind, need something big, different from my norm, etc., I will take on the job.

You’ll notice that my art generally is in the 16×20 or 18×24 range. This is due to storage issues. I’ve done two bigger works, each at 30-something by forty-something (below), and have had to store them on my walls since there’s only so much space for keeping these paintings dry and temperature controlled.

Unity, 2016

This isn’t to say I wouldn’t mind painting bigger canvases, but until I get my studio set up, slated for February 2018, I can only take commissions for bigger work.

Firefly, 2016 (A light-based, 3-D Painting / Sculpture)

So yeah, big canvases are not a problem. I use a formula to calculate the price, basically a base of the canvas size times hours invested, plus materials and the dreaded beast – shipping.

If you are interested in having something painted, by all means contact me. If you have a reference picture that would be super-awesome. We can set up a conference call to discuss the work desired.

Note, my Achilles heel is doing realistic paintings of people. Animals? No problem. Concept or abstract art? Also, no problem. I will do portraits but can’t guarantee they will be spot on. Let’s go to the studio for a reference (below):

Now, granted this was painted two years ago when I was just starting (hopefully I’ve gotten better), but there are things I would do better/different now. Luckily, payment sort of fell through (they broke up), so I don’t feel bad about the work.

So actual portraits are a roll of the dice, enhanced portraits (kind of like Hollywood – based on actual people / events) are doable. Landscapes, flowers, animals, or abstract? The sky is the limit.

If you’re interested in hiring me to do commission work, send me an email using the contact form.

Wildflowers

May 24, 2017 by Rob Medley

I lost another long post (hint to WordPress, fix your app), so I will again give the short version.

I’ve been doodling. Over the last few days I’ve been trying to replicate the way the eye will focus on one-element, while others are blurred. I’m using flowers for this experiment.

For the out of focus elements, I used spray paint and simple forms. The foreground elements are done using acrylic paint. To achieve light in the background, I used metallic paint mixed in with the darker colors.

Like it? Make me an offer. Note: The canvas is damaged on the side. I’ve repaired it with Gorilla Glue and paint. If framed, no one but us will ever know it’s there. I cut the canvas trying to remove it from my table as it was painted onto the surface.

As it looks on the wall. 16×20.

Aurora

April 30, 2017 by Rob Medley

Like most of my paintings, this one started off in another direction. I tend to go where my artistic Muse takes me, so planning is the first thing out the window.

I started playing around on the canvas and eventually ended up with this. The scene in the painting is ostensibly a forest under the night sky, in abstract form, of course. I named it ‘Aurora’ because it reminded me of a bucket list item, seeing the Aurora Borealis.

A variety of techniques went into the creation of the artwork. I assume they have proper names in the art world, but I used a combination of wet canvas / color bleed, spatter (as the result of playing air-drummer while my favorite music was on), and using black gesso to fill in the branches.

Overall, I’m going with a win for the rescue of the painting. 18×24, acrylic on canvas, April 30, 2017.

Night Light

April 28, 2017April 27, 2017 by Rob Medley

A glowing paper lantern illuminates a dark, vibrant night scene with bright light. Surrounded by tree branches and leaves with hints of red and orange, the night light creates a striking, cozy contrast against the deep, colorful background.

Night Light is the first attempt to create the scene I was envisioning as a painting. I realized too late, that I had made the street lamp too big relative to what I wanted to happen around it. I would have needed a canvas three times the size to keep the perspective of what is in my head. I therefore made the reluctant decision to leave it as is and start another canvas using the street light theme.

In the meantime, I hope you like the results of this one, as it has a few quirks to it. Also, I hope you stick around for what will be the ultimate realization of the vision I have for the scene.

The scene here is reminiscent of what I see when I go for my evening walks. I’m infatuated with light, and any unusual display of it will stop me in my tracks. It’s kind of like “Shiny Object Syndrome”, only literally. There’s a tree and street light combination on the corner of my block that inspired this painting.

This is 18″x24″, acrylic paint on canvas, April 27, 2017.

Monarch Sangria

March 25, 2017March 25, 2017 by Rob Medley

A vibrant painting showcases a close-up of several monarch butterflies with their characteristic orange wings, black veins, and white spots. The butterflies overlap, creating a striking and dynamic composition against a reddish-brown background reminiscent of Monarch Sangria.

It’s not my worst, there’s a couple I haven’t shown anyone. Still, I’m putting this one aside. I can’t think of how I can make it work, so I’m moving on. On the positive side, I have done something for March; which has not been the greatest month for me.

About it? It started as a concept called Fruit Fly. I was going to do oranges with gossamer wings – don’t ask, sometimes I don’t know where my ideas come from. I eventually abandoned that, and went with Butterflies, since it’s Spring. The title evolved from the original fruit (sliced oranges), the wine-like background, and the beverage I was drinking at the time.

Squareset

February 6, 2017 by Rob Medley

Squareset is an abstract representation of a sunset using strictly horizontal strokes (kind of a thing I’m developing). This is mostly a test set for color, but I think it stands on it’s own. I don’t know if no-impressionism is a ‘thing’; if not, I’ll plant that flag. If you like it, let me know in the comments, and I’ll make more.

#Abstract #Landscape #Acrylic #Painting

Eater of Worlds

February 9, 2017February 3, 2017 by Rob Medley

An abstract painting featuring a large, blue face with a wide-open mouth, from which a trail extends. Figures walk on the trail towards the eater of worlds. Red and pink flowers surround the scene. The background is filled with swirling blue, green, and yellow patterns.

This painting is about #depression. I could waste words trying to be eloquent about it but depression is a soul-killing illness that people joke about but don’t really understand or think is a real illness (as recently observed at work). The flowering trees represent the beauty of the world, the ladies on promenade humanity, and the force in the background? Churchill’s ‘black dog’, that force which is the destroyer of worlds.

I was inspired by Edvard Munch’s ‘The Scream,’ although I did not borrow from this great artist per se. What more is there? This is an #acrylic #painting on canvas. 18 x 24. Available.

In other news, I’ve planned it out, I should have a studio by December 2018. I’m working for the man to pay off my divorce debt, so that is why it will take a minute to get set up. All my fans will be invited to stop in and share a glass of wine. However, I won’t know you’re a fan unless you say something 😉

God Bless!

Blessed Be!

Alhamdulillah!

Sukhi Hotu!

Have a great day!

Postscript: Apparently a major social media company isn’t impressed with art or maybe is anti-depression. Regardless, my promotion was canceled. They (the company) would not say exactly why, save that it didn’t meet with their guidelines.

This is the first post since I’ve been doing this that has been rejected. So if someone complained that it wasn’t happy enough, thank you! Depression is a serious topic. Maybe my art is nouveau-degenerate, but then again, art is supposed to make a statement.

Here’s the cryptic messages they sent.

Majesty

January 22, 2017 by Rob Medley

A colorfully painted depiction of a lion's face, composed of vibrant brushstrokes in shades of orange, blue, green, and yellow. The lion's eyes and facial features are abstractly represented, blending into the textured background to convey its majesty.

The interesting thing about this piece is it was accomplished with nothing but short horizontal strokes of the brush. I also limited myself to metallic paints. This limits choice to blue, green, purple, copper, bronze, gold and white; so lighting was also a challenge.

I’m happy with the painting, it’s a good first step into a style I would like to pursue for a while, but am really unhappy with the way this artwork presents itself on film. If you are standing near it, the natural light does really wonderful things that photographs can’t capture and the metallic feel is lost in the transfer to film. I’ll have to invest in bettering my skills.

Majesty refers to the Lion and it’s place as the ‘King of the Animals.’ Even lounging in the grass of the Savannah, the lion exudes comfort in being the Apex Predator. Conversely, humans are only a 2.2 on the 1-5 scale. The fun fact is that we humans maintain our perch over the animals due to our rational thinking and technology. Without these two things, we are grouped with the likes of pigs and sardines.

Anyway, this is 16″ x 20″ and is an #acrylic #painting on canvas.

Being Koi

January 18, 2017 by Rob Medley

A close-up photo of a mosaic artwork featuring two green shapes resembling organic forms, possibly cells, amidst a background of multicolored, reflective, broken glass pieces. Red fragments are scattered between the green shapes, adding contrast.

This started as something else, then I had the idea to use crushed glass, self-leveling clear gel, other gels, and acrylic paint on canvas board. It really just came together as a pond with a Koi fish inside.

Top Down View

I started with a base of deeper color, then laid the crushed glass, and held it in place with clear gel.

(Viewed at an angle)

The lillies were originally rocks but morphed into the former when I went away from a flowing river concept.

(Lilly closeup)

The lillies are made from gold and metallic colors, filled with clear gel, and dusted with a translucent white gel to represent reflection.

(Close up of Koi)

In full light, I’m sure that it will sparkle more.

11″ x 14″ and is currently available.

Midsummer Knights Dream

January 22, 2017January 8, 2017 by Rob Medley

A painting of a woman with long, curly hair, closed eyes, and blue lips. She wears a necklace with a circular pendant. Her serene face is bathed in warm light against a swirling background of deep blues and reds, creating a mystical atmosphere reminiscent of Midsummer Knights Dream.

This started out as something else, but my art rarely goes where I want it to – which is not a bad thing; it’s part of the adventure. I originally was going for a take on Munch’s ‘The Scream’, but somewhere along the way blended the surrealistic aspects of his work and more traditional painting – probably because I wanted to practice shading. As a fantasy piece, the story is of a knight, a Paladin or otherwise, who takes a moment to rest. The scene captures that moment that the borders between the dream-lands and the world we live in blur; where sleep takes over our thoughts. In the background, are they the swirling mists of her dream or a sinister portent of battle to come?

#Art #Painting #Knight #Midsummer #Dream #Acrylic #Empower

Portrait of a Chicken: Still Life of Captivity

January 22, 2017December 24, 2016 by Rob Medley

I’ve become bored with it, so I’m moving on. This painting evokes the confinement all beings find themselves in, hence the reds. The chicken represents humanity shackeled by our desires, and the eyes seek to capture the emotions connected with the human condition.

Acrylic on canvas painting 14″ x 18″.

Lost Souls

January 22, 2017December 11, 2016 by Rob Medley

A vibrant, abstract painting features a green gas mask with bright pink eyes, set against a swirling backdrop of blues, purples, and reds. The mask's intense colors and the dynamic, flowing background create a sense of motion and tension.

Earlier, I was reading a book on Otto Dix and his experiences in the First World War. I had a doodle I’d started yesterday with swirls of red. I looked at it after reading the book, and saw a man in desperate fear within the swirls. I tried to turn what I saw into what you see. I kept the eyes I’d seen in the red swirls and put them behind the mask of the man advancing in a cloud of poison gas.
Here’s a close-up

Although it’s what I call a filler piece, until I get my next big idea, I wanted to convey raw, unsettled emotion; fear, creepiness, the hopelessness of war, and so on.
I’d like to hear your opinion.