'Girl with a Pearl Earring'

Oil on canvas-24''x36''.
Johannes Vermeer painted the original in Holland around 1665...a Baroque classic...i just fancied having a go...'comic-book style'.

My Latest Love

This is my latest board. Its a 'Mystery Machine' 9'.1'' by Steve Croft at Empire Surfboards down in St Agnes. I have known Steve for a few years and he is originally from Scarborough but he shapes stuff down there now. It is probably the fastest board i have ever ridden so if you need a speed machine give him a call...you wont be disappointed.

http://www.empiresurfboards.com/index.html

Coolest surf shops on the planet

As a surfer i spend a lot of time in surf stores. These places are not like 'normal' stores. They sell stuff for sure but they are a lot more than that in that they also become something of a focus for the local surfing community...the good ones do anyway. My criteria for the 'coolest' surf shop would be that they sold no crap from the big commercial surf companies like Quik or Bong and they only sold genuine hand-shaped boards. These two are the coolest-
REVOLVER SURF STORE( http://revolversurf.blogspot.com/) Now Newquay is probably the un-coolest surf town in the UK but this place is a gem. Where else can you get a board,cup of tea and a tattoo all at the same time...nice one.
SHELTER SURF SHOP( http://sheltersurfshop.wordpress.com/) Its in Long Beach California...what else do you need to know.

'Sunbathing'

Oil on canvas-24''x36''.

No i dont know what its about either...

Comic Panel Two# 'Self Portrait'

Oil on canvas-12''x16''
Second of my comic panel grabs and most people who have seen this think its a self portrait. Its not. In fact i dont think it looks anything like me but thats what i've called it anyway.

The Clash# London Calling

Oil on canvas-20''x20''.
I was asked to do a Clash painting for a girls 40th birthday present a while back. I loved the Clash. I remember me and my best friend bunking off school to follow the band around the country for their last tour. It was the first taste of independence for both of us and we had the time of our lives. Sadly my friend is no longer with us. I still miss him.
I hope she had a good birthday.

Comic Panel One# 'Fuck You !'

Oil on canvas-12''x16''.
Back to comic book art and the first one of two. This is a panel out of a comic and deserves a bigger canvas...i just like the fury on the guy's face...the title says it all really.

Surfer Three# 'Red'

Oil on canvas-20''x20''.
The last one at my 'Monet' attempt at surf art and back to the cold green north sea...i will do more but how many 'people surfing' paintings can you do before it gets boring ?

Surfer Two# 'Flat...'

Oil on canvas-18''x24''.
The second in my first surfing inspired trio and since we get more flat days than surf days on the east coast i thought i would do a skater picture...in a very 'impressionist' style...

Surfer One# 'Yellow'

Oil on canvas-18''x25''.
Surf art is one those things that you either get or you dont but since i am a surf fanatic i thought that i would have a go. I surf the area around Scarborough mainly and the water fluctuates from been a rather drab grey to cold green so i thought i would try to take a 'impressionist' slant on the subject matter and try to portray it as it is...notice this must be summer...no boots..he he..

Carravagio# Tribute three

Oil on canvas-20''x20''.
Number three and Salome herself. She's glancing away from the gruesome act but you know she wants to look really...

Carravagio# Tribute two

Oil on canvas-16''x16''.
The second character in my 'dark homage' comic book style. I wanted to give this one a more cadaverous look than the original...i think i succeeded.

Carravagio# Tribute One

Oil on canvas-18''x20''.

As you may tell from the header on this blog my favourite artist is Carravagio and one of my favourite paintings is 'Salome with the Head of St John the Baptist'. This is my version. I have taken the three characters of the piece and split them up into three separate paintings. Therefore you can view them as they are on their own or as one piece. Very dark...ha ha ...

Monkey Three# 'Hear'

Oil on canvas-12''x12''.
The third of the 'Three wise monkeys' and also taken from the old b&w strip i found in a old superboy annual. I was getting bored of painting apes by now so this was a rush job...no more monkeys...for a while anyway.

Monkey Two# 'SEE'

Oil on canvas-14''x18''.
The second of the 'Three wise monkeys' and a rather malevolent looking beast i picked up off the internet...finished the back end of '08.

Monkey One# 'SPEAK'

Oil on canvas-18''x14''.

This is the first one of three simian paintings on the 'three wise monkey' theme and my first one back painting since i got thrown out of art school some years ago. Its an image i picked up from an old Superboy black & white book from the sixties.