Jon McAuliffe

2011-02-28T12:03:00.000-08:00

Pin Up

2010-12-02T06:27:00.000-08:00

When doing large scale work, sometimes you have to stop and work on something light and fun...

Goose

2010-11-29T07:56:00.000-08:00

This was in honor of a truly succulent dinner I attended... I cannot say enough about how good the food was, however, I will write little...

study for fun... that's my motto

2010-08-19T06:15:00.000-07:00

Something to look at...

Shipping News

2010-06-02T07:34:00.001-07:00

For you salty sea dogs.

Sugar

2010-02-28T07:31:00.000-08:00

Had a few extra minutes before I had to bring my bulldog to the vets, so I decided to give myself the challenge of creating a quick, loose sketch in the time I had... I wanted a feeling more than details... this is the result. Called it sugar because, well... I haven't a clue why, but that's what it is!!!

...

2010-02-11T14:25:00.000-08:00

The Key To Writing A Compelling Artist Statement

2010-01-21T07:48:00.000-08:00

First you must throw out all the facts and start fresh! Make sure you don't feel obligated to represent yourself accurately, and be bold with embellishments to your history or your character. Never let the fact that the things you say in your artist statement will be checked by someone, or that most people who read it won't believe you anyway. A good Artist Statement lets the art community, prospective clients, and the the rest of the world know just how spectacular you are, so by no means let them know the truth!

Here is an example I have written for myself:

The spark of natural artistic creativity was present in Jon from a very early age. At five years old, Jon spontaneously began creating meticulously realistic sculptures of the family's Border collie out of piles of laundry. By age twelve he could frequently be seen making impromptu landscape paintings using only a paper plate and a few condiments left over from lunch. (When possible, he would tint a portion of his mayonnaise with blue food coloring in order to obtain a full primary pallet…) Sadly, most of Jon's early work has not survived; being either washed away or licked clean by the dog.

In Jon's development as an artist, he turned away from less permanent forms of expression to favor more traditional media, such as charcoal and oil paint. This transition occurred during Jon's pilgrimage to Italy, where he learned the techniques of the Great Masters. Returning home to New England with a much-broadened view of his artistic possibilities, a great big bushy beard and an affinity for Pasta alla Puttanesca, Jon immediately set to work feverishly, and with alacrity, creating the nuanced and often volatile art he since has come to be known for.   

Following Jon's success as an artist he has become increasingly reclusive. Those close to him claim that he now frequently paints in the dark or blindfolded. When pressed, Jon maintains that he is attempting to generate spontaneous and uninfluenced creation, and often shouts, "Out of nothing came…(then speaking more to himself)…something…"

Those fortunate to catch a glimpse of Jon, recount witnessing the staggering genius of an average man, or at the very least, an average man staggering around hoping for a stroke of genius…

For now we can only anticipate the future for this life long artist!

Chopper

2010-01-08T06:49:00.000-08:00

Tragic how time flies! The new year is now in full swing, and I have, like many others, used this as an opportunity to realign my lifestyle and goals!!! What fun... what work! Mostly I have put my thought into how to live more healthily of mind and body. So, this means a more regimented schedule of exercise, diet and contemplation/meditation... I've even decided to cross my fingers despite my utter lack of superstition. With any luck these changes will lead to a more balanced and productive existence, whatever that means.
My thoughts have also been on my work and what direction it shall take in the new year... That seems to be a more difficult undertaking. It feels a bit like walking into a dark room and stretching my eyelids as wide as possible to make out the objects around me. I'm hoping that all the things I'm attempting to better in my life combined will help my eyes adjust to a different way of seeing!

The image above is a small commission that I completed in time for a holiday gift... It's an oil on linen. Hope you like it!

Caricature

2009-12-02T07:14:00.000-08:00

I did this caricature for a little competition going on right now... Just found out about it on monday and drew this up quickly in order to take part. The competition is to do a caricature of this dude, Jason Seiler, who is a fantastic artist, and someone I admire. You should take a look at his blog, it's very entertaining and inspiring! http://jasonseilerillustration.blogspot.com/

War

2009-10-29T09:59:00.000-07:00

I've just begun to read the book "Hiroshima", and a close friend sent me a tragically poignant quote that I thought I would share...
In reference to WWII:

Many intellectuals and artists were disillusioned by the war. The
philosopher Bertrand Russell said,

"All this madness, all this rage, all this flaming death of our
civilization and our hopes, has been brought about because a set of
official gentlemen, living luxurious lives, mostly stupid, and all
without imagination or heart, have chosen that it should occur rather
than that any one of them should suffer some infinitesimal rebuff to his
country's pride."

Hip

2009-10-26T13:13:00.000-07:00

Finally got around to finishing this happy guy up...

Quick sketch before more work!

2009-09-24T06:55:00.001-07:00

This is on a bizarre kind of vinyl material... it's very smooth, like masonite, but can be stretched over board or on stretchers. It would certainly need a varnish to protect it, and over all I don't trust it's stability, but it's good for a quick sketch!

TIGERCITY - Shell

2009-08-21T10:28:00.000-07:00

Here is a little drawing I did for the band Tigercity, who, with the release of their new album, 'ANCIENT LOVER', are about to rule the world... Honestly this album is amazing, and anyone would be a better person for owning a copy...

Here's a blog that talks about Tigercity, their new album and has a track you can listen to... check it out...

http://stereogum.com/archives/mp3/new-tigercity-fake-gold_085161.html#more

Thanks to Casimir Krupinsky, the hauncho responsible for all Tigercity's artwork, for letting me be a part of this project...
For the sake of full disclosure he and I have been nude together, but to be fair there was also a life-size cut out of Britney Spears and about ten other nude people... I regret nothing.

http://casimirkrupinsky.com/
Try to convince him to get his shit together with this site...

Cheeks

2009-08-13T14:50:00.001-07:00

Little study I started... never finished - bad habit of mine!

I Just Read That People Are No Longer Afraid Of The Term "Global Warming"

2009-06-24T11:53:00.000-07:00

Here is my sardonic illustration of the world policy towards global warming!!! Yeah!!!

Dad

2009-06-11T12:34:00.000-07:00

I had so much fun with the self portrait I just did, that I thought I would do a few more little portraits. So... I thought it would be neat to do one of my father, and maybe another of my brother, or my mother... or all of 'em. So here is the charcoal sketch of my Dad. It's the same size as the self portrait I just did. I decided to leave this sketch really loose, I can correct any details in the painting. I've got to get back to other work today, but tomorrow I'll start painting on this one, and post the progress as I go...

Finished

2009-06-11T07:28:00.000-07:00

Well, I got going and finished it without thinking again about documenting... That's my problem, my mind wanders away and leaves me here doing something, then comes back later and gets all indignant about how I didn't do what I was supposed to be doing! Anyway, I spent about three hours on this little guy... so there you have it! Questions?

Continued

2009-06-11T07:25:00.000-07:00

So I started by laying in a background color... This being a quick painting I didn't want to put anything other than a solid color. I started to block in colors into the hat too before remembering to document what I was doing. So there you have it: step two.

Self Portrait in Progression

2009-06-10T12:02:00.000-07:00

I thought I might do a little 4X6 painting, and put up a progression of it as it goes... So this is the first step: a quick charcoal sketch on a piece of primed board. I used compressed charcoal, a smudge stick, some beer, and a kneaded eraser. I'll be posting each step I do through the process!

Hip Hippopotamus

2009-06-08T07:45:00.000-07:00

A small sketch, one sitting, about a ton of fun. Still working on commissions so not a lot of little goodies to put up... and it's looking like this trend will be continuing for a while. I'll do what I can though. With an upcoming project I'll be posting the whole process of creating it; starting with the pre-sketches all the way through to the finished piece. so check back all of you!

Cheers!

Not To Mention...

2009-05-19T04:49:00.000-07:00

In theory this was/may be an example of a comic strip for a local news paper... this was the sort of thing envisioned anyway. It's only a mock up, and only half of the project at that, but the concept was to do these wonkey cityscapes of local towns set to interesting non-sequitur style writing... in this case you are only seeing the first half of the image and the writing, so it doesn't quite make sense... if it ever will!

Destroy The Symbol

2009-05-14T07:45:00.000-07:00

I’ve gathered you all here: symbolic.
A wish, suspicion, unknown, yet knowing,
The doors between us, paper-thin, absorb,
And find us finding and putting to sleep: a candle,
Gently blowing.

You grew me, enlightened,
Side beyond side, hand beyond hand.
You spoke to me, my voice, a ghost whisper,
But faintly faded and folded unfinished,
Awaiting my welcome: a new flame,
Well fanned.

We are the snake, the taste of tail,
The sense of de ja vu in search of departure.
You are here to feast with me, the future,
Digest the present, destroy the circle,
In this moment: life and light are simple,
Together, alive, destroy the symbol.

They follow: a cipher, a sound misplaced.
Believing, silent, estranged and strangers,
All cling to a solid: All cling to the base.

Dinner with only one N

2009-05-05T06:52:00.000-07:00

Here is a piece of a larger drawing I started but may never finish... It's meant to be a fun illustration, and the plan was to match it with some text, unfortunatly I just don't have the time to work on it. I haven't posted anything for a while, so I thought I would put something up!

A Simple And Quick Sketch

2009-04-10T15:25:00.000-07:00

This was done in a short sitting... just for fun. It's a small painting done on linen stretched on a board.. I left it unfinished because some things should be. Thats all for the moment. Working on portraits, not a lot of time to work on other things right now....

A Fool for Flying

2009-03-31T14:13:00.000-07:00

Snow Storm

2009-03-17T07:31:00.000-07:00

Another little sketch... still playing with styles. I decided to use the snow storm as a way to push all my colors towards a blue-green value, and I washed it out to simplify it.

Spooky....

2009-03-17T07:26:00.000-07:00

This is a little sketch I did last week. It's an oil wash. I was playing with styles that I might use for a graphic novel I'll be participating in soon (a zombie story...spooky)... This is a little loose for the final product, but it's a rough idea.

Asleep.

2009-03-11T12:29:00.001-07:00

Fin.

Yawning Continued...again...

2009-03-11T11:37:00.000-07:00

I've sent the kitties to the background, where they will pine over their fruit forever. Always just out of reach.

Almost done now... I'll show those of you waiting patiently to see the final soon...

Yawning Continued

2009-03-10T16:34:00.001-07:00

The first pass at it... A slight change in design - these things sometimes must happen. Soon you will see the finished product, so stay tuned all of you... Every last none of you.

Fortussimus Quisque Tantum Superest

2009-03-10T16:25:00.000-07:00

This the sketch for a new painting called, "Fortissimus Quisque Tantum Superest (Yawning At Fruit)". I think it speaks for itself.

The Aerodynamics of Hope

2009-03-02T13:58:00.000-08:00

This is the final painting, of which you were introduced to a small part previously... our birdie is still perched.

The Circus

2009-02-17T13:36:00.000-08:00

I remember watching a circus man standing in the sawdust circle, shifting his heavy weight from side to side, too concerned to be truly delighted, yet he smiled and waved. Not too long after the cannon had been rolled out to join him, the crowd was silenced by a clap of thunder.

Today i am that memory. Although, now I am the sawdust on the floor, and the cannonball is the day racing to meet the giant who is standing on my face. In truth, I admire the tenacity of this gullivarian creature, though I much admit, if I where more than the faint dusting of a once arboreal life, or at the least of lilliputian stature, I would tie this giant down after he was toppled.

Corruption is both learned and innate, and everyone seeks trophies to prove that they have learned otherwise and that they have overcome what is...

Tonight I hope to be the circus tent.

Finch

2009-02-17T13:26:00.000-08:00

This is a close up of a larger painting, of which our finch friend here is but a supporting role... Check in for the rest of the story soon...

Vacancy

2009-01-26T14:45:00.000-08:00

Here is what's on the easel today... 12" x 12" . It's my commentary on the current housing market...

2009-01-22T07:28:00.000-08:00

Here's another little study - didn't have time to finish this one. I found these old binoculars at an antique shop sitting next to a old fifties style illustration of a small dog pulling down the paints of a child, and although the image wasn't suggestive in any way, I felt it was inappropriate to have a pair of binoculars looking right at that picture, so I bought them...

2009-01-21T07:02:00.000-08:00

This is a little painting from life that I did of a snowman hanging out with a bowl... It took about two hours before he melted.