Gorbachev Sketches

Mikhail Gorbachev sketches, graphite&charcoal, 12x15", 2011

This painting will display the prominent red Soviet Flag in the background, however my client hasn't completely embraced either sketch here..... you may see a younger Gorbachev sketch soon. Maybe that will be the winner?

More Bob Hope

Bob Hope sketch #2, graphite&charcoal, 12x15", 2011

Here's a younger Bob Hope. The sketch is nice but if this one makes the cut for the painted portrait, the microphone will have to be moved to the left for balance in the composition. I think a little gold-leafing on the microphone will be nice in the painted.

Trump

Trump sketches, graphite&charcoal, 12x15", 2011

This is part the the Levin Series I am currently working on. I think I like the "You're Fired" sketch the best, but it's up to the client. 

The Levin Project

Bob Hope sketch #1, graphite&charcoal, 12x15", 2011

Now that I am moving on from the oh-so laborious UpperDeck paintings, I am feeling extremely happy! I had the wonderful opportunity to be contacted by Fredrick G. Levin (google it!) about doing some portraits. I was able to visit him and his staff in Portofino Island, FL to survey the hanging space for the several celebrity portraits that he wanted painted. His home was spectacular!!! But before I go on, I have to tell you that Portofino Island is a best-kept-secret in the Florida area. The Portofino Resort (the only one on the Portofino Island, I believe) is a set of 5 towers flanked on either side be miles of undeveloped real estate. From your balcony, it appears as though you're floating atop a white sand bar, largely because the water is visible behind and in front of the resort. This is because the island is shaped like a very thin peninsula. The wife and I were there in February and on a given hour we could only count a dozen souls on the beach as far as the eye could see. Very exclusive!

Now about the project - The Levin series will feature significant individuals that have made the acquaintance of Mr. Levin during his lifetime. These range from athletes & celebrities, to politicians & world leaders. The sketches will be presented on this blog for you to view. I will be painting these all on aluminum panel which will be lines with copper edges. It should be an attention getter. Enjoy - J

The UpperDeck Presidential Project

UpperDeck commission series, acrylic, 2.5x3.5", 2011 - In stores July 5, 2011

The UpperDeck Trading Card Company contacted me last August about doing a series of hand painted trading cards featuring all 43 presidents. I received the cards in late November and began painting at the first of this year. Each president had to be painted 10 times for the limited edition, which is part of the selling point. That was a total of 430 individual portraits! Due to rigid deadlines I was not able to do all 430 myself and sent UpperDeck 220 finished president cards on April 20th. That was 220 portraits in a four ½ month period! Each card took approximately 4 hours from start to finish, with the layout having to be hand drawn first, then several series of glazes and layers before it was completed. I have posted images of all 220 paintings on my FB page - Works by J.Evan Kelley - check it out and leave a note. I hope to start back on the regular blog postings here now that the burden of micro-painting is out from over me. Enjoy - J

Elaine's Sign

Elaine's Sewing Room, acrylic on board, approx. 11x30", 2010
(Our arts & craft booth snapshot - 2010)

I had the recent pleasure of producing a custom sign for a local artisan in Prattville, AL. During an arts and craft show in October, a gentleman approached me and wanted to know if I could do a customized antiqued sign, similar to the John Deere sign shown in the booth snapshot above. I pulled a couple scraps of wood from our property and put together the Elaine's Sewing Room sign. My client, John, told me I was free to make it as I pleased so long as it had "Elaine's Sewing Room" on it. I love that kind of freedom and confidence from a client. In the end, the wife and I really loved the way it looked. About 10 days later, my wife and I were at a sewing supply store ourselves looking at sewing machines when the employee at the counter said that she recognized my name. John had been there just hours earlier and mentioned to the employees that he had just commissioned a local artist to do a special sign for his wife's sewing room. He even had the sign in his car and showed the staff the actually sign. It made me feel good to know that my client loved his sign enough to keep it in his car for show & tell - 10 days after I gave it to him! Very funny. Happy New Year - Jared

Chaplin, the Funny Man

Silver Screens & Tarnished Hearts, acrylic on board, 24x24", 2010 $1200
(free shipping)

This is the newest addition to my celebrity portraits at the Chop House. I will be delivering it with Conan's portrait - which I think is very appropriate. I loved the idea of incorporating elements of the silent picture screen into this vintage portrait. The script and pin-striping were done in platinum tined metallic paint, chased over with a dirty antique glaze for an added aging effect. I was drawn to this image of Chaplin because if the irony elicited by the photo; a comedian in pain. This led me to the text which is an additional pun and also adds to the "vintage" redundancy throughout the piece as a whole. Also, during the painting process I noticed that I overlooked one small drip that occurred in the corner of his left eye. You can see this serendipitous drip better by clicking on the image to enlarge it slightly. Normally I would paint over such an error but I thought it was too a propo. Make it yours today - click below to purchase. FREE SHIPPING! - Jared

End of Year Pillow Commissions

Customized pillows - acrylic on raw linen, 2010

Here are a few examples of my pillow commissions of recent. My wife will take the painted fronts (shown above) and turn them into pillows. They look awesome! Thought y'all would like to see these before the new year. These pillows look great in any contemporary living room setting. Contact me for prices if you're interested. - Jared

Giving thanks for the Curls

Private Commission for Bill & Cathy Perry, approx. 10x11", 2010

It's been a while since I was asked to do a child's portrait. Actually, it's been less than a year but it seems much longer than than. My wife and I were fortunate enough to meet a nice couple at one of our many arts & crafts events this year who asked me to do this portrait for them. They made life so easy for me; they told me EXACTLY what they wanted, gave me a crystal clear photo in the exact composition that they desired and told me to go from there. Of course the main feature is this tot's wild curls! I have never had to do such fine lines in a graphite portrait before. To get the bulk of the curls completed I used various erasers, some which were custom cut for fine detail work. The last step, after darkening the background, was to use an X-Acto knife to scrape away individual curls floating around the child's head. This was a great technique and I am absolutely pleased with this portrait. I just love the innocent look on the boys face! Thanks to the Perry's for lending me this opportunity!!!! - Jared

Hail the Hair!!

Conan, acrylic on board, 24x24", 2010 $1200

I am back! It's been a busy couple of months. I have been in talks with Upper Deck to do a limited edition series of the American Presidents for early 2011, talked with various clients for commission pieces, was laid off from one of the funnest jobs I've ever had, and have been vending at several arts and craft festivals around Alabama. In addition to all of that, I have started up the celeb portraiture for the Chop House restaurant while my schedule briefly permits. I like to hear folks talk about these portraits after they have eaten at the Chop House. Moreover, I like it when I sell them!! The more the merrier, right? I was happy to add Conan to the mix. We were excited to see his arrival back to the tube earlier this month. I thought that I could have done just the hair and still have it a recognizable piece but a little more was added for good measure. Let me know what you think and stay tuned for more updates, more art, and more news very soon! Happy Thanksgiving too. - Jared