ArtisticPhoenix

ArtisticPhoenix True art creates an emotional connection and artwork is a gift we give to the world.

I've also been quite busy with my Brushes... lol.I buy and sell brushes, especially vintage ones or Sable. Your more hig...
03/10/2026

I've also been quite busy with my Brushes... lol.
I buy and sell brushes, especially vintage ones or Sable. Your more high end stuff.

Those Escoda Optimo brushes are around $30 each, retail. There probably one of the best brushes on the market. I love Escoda anything, just the weight and balance of their brushes... lol... i could tell you that it's Escoda blind folded just by how it feels.

Been so busy with my 'real' job. AI is really taking things over.In any case haven't had much time for Art. But I have b...
03/10/2026

Been so busy with my 'real' job. AI is really taking things over.

In any case haven't had much time for Art. But I have been slowly making progress on these

Comming along.His body is in the underpainting or blocking in stage. I'll add some texture using transparent oranges an...
01/08/2026

Comming along.

His body is in the underpainting or blocking in stage. I'll add some texture using transparent oranges and browns. He doesn't need much texture due to the short hair boxers have. It's easy to go overboard.

His face is a bit dark yet do I may lighten that up yet and then there's some overlap of the orange to add in and break up the lines.

His eyes are B&W and then I glaze color over them which enhances the depth, instead of directly painting them in opaque colors.

I have these really nice Escoda Optimo Kolonski brushes for fine details.

Finally experimenting with these washable oils. I never use them before. Traditional oils paint I've used before, but i...
01/01/2026

Finally experimenting with these washable oils. I never use them before. Traditional oils paint I've used before, but it's been a long time..lol

Blending is much easier than acrylics, which is the whole point here.

This is a study for verdaccio underpainting.

Two paintings in the works. We'll technically 3, but the last one is going to be in oils...
01/01/2026

Two paintings in the works. We'll technically 3, but the last one is going to be in oils...

Two new acrylic paintings in progress. Something to do over the holidays.I have at least one more of him I'd like to do...
12/24/2025

Two new acrylic paintings in progress. Something to do over the holidays.

I have at least one more of him I'd like to do. But that one will have to wait for a bit. I have a couple other things in the works.

This is my 2nd and 3rd painting of him. I've done him in 2x charcoal and one time in soft pastels.

I might have a few too many brushes right now... lol.
12/10/2025

I might have a few too many brushes right now... lol.

Got some new brushes.Most of these l'm going to resell.I'm really excited about these Escoda brushes, I'll have to hang ...
11/17/2025

Got some new brushes.

Most of these l'm going to resell.

I'm really excited about these Escoda brushes, I'll have to hang on to these for a little while... lol

There's some nice Robert Simmons brushes in here. A really good set of R.S. Sapphire watercolor brushes. Some simply Simmons.

There's even a nice set of flat W&N Winton hog brushes.

A few of them needed a good wash and some straightened. Only one had a loose furrel that required some work.

Doodles
10/31/2025

Doodles

Start a fall painting tonight.On canvas panel, this is just a practice piece to try so new things.
10/31/2025

Start a fall painting tonight.

On canvas panel, this is just a practice piece to try so new things.

Just finishing doing the backing on this gallery wrapped stretch canvas.The way I do it, it's really easy.I use Strathmo...
10/17/2025

Just finishing doing the backing on this gallery wrapped stretch canvas.

The way I do it, it's really easy.
I use Strathmore 400 mix media paper (18x24)
White glue (PVA)
And a little water.

Basically you just get both sides of the paper just slightly damp. I use the mister and then a dry sponge to pick up any excess water.

Then you just put some glue on the back where the bars are. Don't worry about the edges at this point. Just work around the damp paper carefully removing any wrinkles or air pockets. One your happy let it dry.

Then I trim around the canvas with a sharp xacto. This will leave a little lip where the back curves that's not glued down. So I just finish it by using a brush and some glue to secure the final edges. It's much easier once the paper is fixed to the canvas to do the trim and glue the edges. The brayer ( rubber roller ) comes in handy for this.

Then you let that dry add your D rings and wire and I like to put a little sticker on the back with the title, my name, date and varnish used.

I use golden isolation coat (2 layers) and then 2 coats of Winsor & Newton professional acrylic varnish. Which is a removable varnish that cleans up with just soap and water and doesn't really have a smell even.

If you're going to varnish a painting it's best to use a removable varnish and the isolation layer helps protect the paint if/when the varnish is removed. It also gives a better finish to the varnish.

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Grand Rapids, MI

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