Elstabo's Canvas

This be the season where I get the most requests for family portraits, being that its the holiday season. One of the things a professional artist must be ready for is those last minute clients that need it by tomorrow. And you better deliver the quality goods on time and budget, after all its your reputation that is on the line. So of course I say yes to a client a week before Christmas for a family portrait .  All I need is a good reference photo, well like most things in life, things never go as easy as one would like. Three days later the client brings me a print- out of the reference material, Ideally not what I would use but at times like these one has to do what they got to do, plus (I take these type of requests as a personal challenge ). My schedule is all ready tight as it is working a full-time job, but none the less I take the print out and make due with it. Here is the process and the final product which is 12x16 oil on canvas board. The art work took me exactly 30hrs

This year I will be showcasing my art at the Damned art show in Detroit. 10th Annual DAMNED Exhibition of Enlightened Darkness Art + Performance + Dining + Masquerade October 26th through 28th 2017 VIP 7pm to 9pm - General 9pm to 2am - 18+ Tangent Gallery / Hastings Ballroom 715 E Milwaukee, Detroit, Michigan www.thatdamnedshow.com www.facebook.com/thosedamnedfans www.instagram.com/thatdamnedshow/ www.twitter.com/thatdamnedshow

Yoanny- sketch paper 9x12 I would be misleading you if I said that the muses I collaborated with in my past didn't play a major role in my Life. Regardless if that time has been short or long, they have introduced some experiences that could never be replicated again. God only knows I try and try again, but there were times that pure magic has manifested in front of me. I am always seeking that inspiration, that excitement, that tease, that hunger to recreate that moment, that feeling, that awe of unity with another person. You can some-what reach it with sex, but its only lasts for a moment, The creative process is one that leaves you returning, going over all the details in your mind, collecting all the ideas that spring up from what they do and say. It spills over to other projects, expanding those ideas and fueling that want to create. For me the relationship between an artist and his muse is the most perfect love that exists, from that collaboration, life springs

So a few weeks back I was contacted to do a commission of a beautiful woman who was pregnant and wanted a portrait of her self done before giving birth. This was a first for me and I was very honored to do this portrait for her. She had a special location in upstate New York at of a huge body of water near Congo,NY. She was supper excited to have her pictures taken and decided to wear some high heels in the process.Since I had no desire on rushing a 8 month pregnant woman with broken ankles to the hospital, I took the shoes away from and shot her standing in the water. After that was done I completed the portrait 2 weeks later. The painting was done on a 18x24 stretched canvas. She was very happy with her painting as you can see here in this video sent by her lovely sister.

So my mother received this later today. Nothing weird looking about this, with the exception of two thing. A Company like Verizon was sending money back for over charging...red flag #one. Red flag number# two...She doesn't have a Verizon account!. These scam bangs are getting better at their approach, but common sense has to be utilized here people. If you you cash any of these checks that you know you shouldn't be getting, Do not do it because your account will get wiped out once your bank account processes it. And the banks are not responsible either because at the end of the day its your responsibility. And knowing is have the battle!

So I was asked from a friend of mine to do a design for the Brooklyn's chili pepper festival https://www.bbg.org/visit/event/chile_pepper_festival_2017 I designed this for it, and of course it was deemed too sexual....lol one of the things I learned over the years, is when it comes to marketing ( sex sells)...what makes me laugh about this design, is that I actually toned it down from the other ideas I had for it...oh well, back to the drawing board

I always had a thing for them Italian women. Sofia has played a role in that obsession. She had a natural sexuality that can freeze you in your place. I started painted her this week and she is coming along very well..the Italian muse has been fueling my imagination intensely. More of her soon...

So a few days ago..what I thought was a client...reached out to me when he found me on #thumbtack a website that caters to artist. The guy gave me a sob story about being in a hospital as a cancer victim, and that he was moving out of the U.S. and wanted to get his wife a birthday gift for their anniversary. yada yada yada.... he sends me a check I got the check with in a few days of sealing the deal...Fedex- ed to my house! I  was rushing to get to the bank before it closed (Saturday) but something seemed off once I opened the package. 1st. red flag ....was the name of the check...the check was under a different name!. I thought maybe it was the guys assistant which he did mention was going to handle his affairs , (since he was in the hospital..) 2nd. red flag was the check paper it self.. The paper itself felt a little light,, and the signature was digitally printed in a different opacity than the rest of the print type. Being a freelance artist for almost 2 decade