John Mullane Art

Woodcock Update

2009-07-03T15:47:00.000-07:00

Woodcock

2009-07-01T14:31:00.000-07:00

I'm enjoying working on this woodcock. I find his plumage very interesting. It has some very subtle cryptic markings that were challenging to paint. I still haven't completely made up my mind about the foreground.

Great Horned Owl Sketch

2009-06-13T15:31:00.000-07:00

The setting is Yellowstone National Park. It is one of my favorite places. I enjoyed driving through the park on days like this and could easily imagine many other birds of prey in the same spot.

Great Horned Owl Sketch

2009-06-10T16:29:00.000-07:00

Great horned owls are among my favorite birds. I've had this idea for a while and was inspired to flesh it out by my friend Kelly Singleton who does amazing owl portraits. I'll continue to work down the tree adding more limbs, branches and pine needles.

Female Cardinal and Roses

2009-06-04T13:13:00.001-07:00

With the right side of the painting completed, I'm calling this one done.

Female Cardinal and Roses Update

2009-06-04T13:11:00.000-07:00

Female Cardinal and Rosebush Update

2009-05-27T15:19:00.000-07:00

I was able to spend some time this week on the roses and now I'm starting to see the the finish line.

Female Cardinal and Rosebush Update

2009-05-21T10:00:00.000-07:00

I'm working my way across the painting. Lots of adjusting color and value to go but I feel like I'm starting to get there.

Female Cardinal and Rosebush

2009-05-13T06:23:00.000-07:00

This painting is a study of light and negative space. I saw this beautiful rose bush hanging in a dark corner of a garden that I frequently visit. It was lit in a theatrical way that screamed "look at me, look at me." I did look at it and with the familiar whistle of a cardinal in the backround I thought she'd really compliment the picture. I've lightly drawn the rest of the bush with a white charcoal pencil. I'll begin blocking that in today.

The Piper

2009-04-14T15:47:00.000-07:00

I saw this guy at our local St. Patrick's Day Parade and couldn't resist him. He was fun to paint because I got to use colors like phthalocyanine green and phthalocyanine blue to recreate the uniform. I may never get to use them again!

Tiger Study

2009-03-30T10:51:00.001-07:00

A little sketch of a Siberian Tiger. Also known as the Manchurian and Amur tiger, it is the largest of the big cats and one of my favorites. I was able to study him up close at the Bronx Zoo.

Onions

2009-03-18T21:44:00.001-07:00

Another still-life from life. I think doing these little paintings every now and then is a good exercise.

Backround in Progress

2009-03-18T21:37:00.000-07:00

A backround I've been working on. I keep changing my mind about what animal or bird to put in there. I was originally inspired by a kestrel I saw hunting for mice.

Pied Kingfisher

2009-03-01T20:05:00.000-08:00

I started this yesterday. I have more of the branch to render but I'm debating whether to continue or leave it as is.

Sandpiper Study

2009-02-26T14:34:00.000-08:00

I put a little more time into this sketch today. What started out as a simple drawing took me 2 days. See what happens when you take your kids for a walk.

Sandpiper 3

2009-02-26T10:34:00.000-08:00

I've established most of the values and elements, now to just tighten them up a bit

Sandpiper 2

2009-02-25T18:05:00.000-08:00

I took my son for walk on the beach to go crab hunting and the low tide inspired me to develop this sketch. I'm not sure where this is going.

Sandpiper

2009-02-25T13:46:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the poor photo. This was supposed to be a pencil sketch but I couldn't resist adding some color

Strawberries

2009-02-12T17:52:00.000-08:00

A small still life from life.

Troglodytes troglodytes

2009-02-03T07:48:00.000-08:00

I enjoyed painting the various textures in this piece. The flower petals,leaves,weathered brick and wren.

Wren Update

2009-01-30T20:21:00.000-08:00

I'm slowly working my way across the painting. Most of the time I tone my board before I start to paint but because much of the painting is very bright and vibrant I kept it white.

Winter Wren

2009-01-29T13:05:00.000-08:00

I watched this little wren creeping amongst these nasturtiums and filed it away, knowing I would eventually paint it. I was almost half way through it when I decided to take some progress shots.

Verreaux's Eagle Study

2009-01-20T21:01:00.000-08:00

Verreaux's Eagle also known as the African Black Eagle is a large bird of prey found throughout the mountainous regions of Africa. I love birds of prey and had the chance to study this guy up close through a falconer friend of mine who was taking care of it.

Female Goldfinch

2009-01-14T15:30:00.000-08:00

This is a little study of a female goldfinch. I saw her feeding on these sunflowers in a parking lot near my house. I wanted to capture the late afternoon light.

" Red Fox "

2008-12-21T15:13:00.000-08:00

I fell in love with this stone wall in upstate New York. I invisioned a fox sculking along it in search of a tasty meal, perhaps chipmunk or squirrel.