Original Art by Des: Working in acrylics, oils, and mixed media. Combining modern techniques with old world tradition and form. Paintings, murals and commissioned pieces. Select pieces are available in limited edition Museum-quality Giclee Reproductions on canvas.

 

From impressionism to rag art, portraits and photorealism/hyperrealism paintings. "I’ve been trying to get these right for over 40 years" and yet each day that passes I just say, “there’s so much more to learn." Some of the artwork I do can take just a few hours to many hours to complete. Depending on the style of art, type of paint used e.g. acrylic, traditional oil, or my own custom blended pigments and oil using a glazing style of painting for portraits and some commissioned art pieces.

 

A French writer 1613-1680 by the name of Fransors, Duc de La Rochefoucauld once wrote “A man who cannot find tranquility within himself will search for it in vain elsewhere.” My personal tranquility is found when I have merged art, love and life into one. For me art lives in all places, all things and all matter. It is that relationship that created my healthiness in my own individual life. As a young artist many would say I needed to conform to one type of art! Or I should act this way or that way I always asked why? “Because that was not who I was!” The truth in that was much skewed!

 

“Never lose your identity or compromise your character for anyone.” It’ was then I knew, when I knew who I was, I would know what I could do as an artist and in life as there is no secret of man’s being! “It is, not only to live, but to have something to live for.” As for secrets… “Soh mehkot sampan soh kin sansal” Do not worry about secrets…

There is nothing in the world that is unknown.

 

My thoughts: If you look too hard you will miss it. But, if you open your eyes to see with your mind, and soul you will see the beauty in not just a painting, but in all things.

 

I was fascinated by artists like Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, and Vermeer. Their glazing technique was revolutionary. The light passing through the transparent layers gives each of their paintings, depending on the lighting this glow which shifts and shimmers. It is the depth of this type of art that becomes so very real.

 

What is the glazing method and how is it achieved?

Glazing was a signature method of painting by the above referenced artist. They glazed because the pigments in their palette would turn black if they mixed them directly. If they wanted a purple, first they would lay down a layer of transparent red, let it dry, and then put down a layer of transparent blue to visually blend the colors. The more layers the more colors equals more depth. The end result... masterpieces!

 

What is Rag Art?

When I was little I wanted this really expensive brush, what I got was a ten cent brush and it was not working for me so I decided to use a rag instead. Although the results were not what I was trying to achieve I felt I had discovered a new form of art.

 

Impressionism Paintings

Impressionism, whatever is on your mind and whatever you see can be painted. It is not perfect! It is your concept and how you decide to lay down your paints. Many times it is what a client envisions and I work from that.

 

Photorealism Paintings

Photorealism is a little more difficult. It is everything you can see in a photo or in a sitting.

Painted exactly like you see it.  It requires intricate detail and patience, a painting like this can take hundreds if not thousands of hours to complete, depending on the size of the painting.

 

Hyperrealism Paintings

Hyperrealism is a genre of painting resembling a high-resolution photograph. Hyperrealism is considered an advancement of Photorealism by the methods used to create the resulting paintings. The style focuses much more of its emphasis on details and the subjects. Hyperreal paintings are not strict interpretations of photographs, nor are they literal illustrations of a particular scene or subject. Instead, I utilize additional, often subtle, pictorial elements to create the illusion of a reality which in fact either does not exist or cannot be seen by the human eye.

 

My Commissioned Portraits? Are they all Photorealism?

No, and they depend on the style, size and type of painting the client wants. Some people wish to have a more brush stroked painting. Some want a different depth. Some clients wish to have different backgrounds. It really depends on the clients themselves. Then the size of the painting and the time they are willing to wait for their piece to be completed.

 

What about nudes? Do I paint them?

Of course I do! Some of the most well-known and highly valued pieces of art are nudes. I’ve done walls, ceilings, portraits you name it I have done them. Some are graphic in nature, some are more subdued. Many are for couples who wish to hang behind their beds. Some people just want beautiful artwork in their own galleries or homes.

 

Privacy and professionalism are very important to me.  I will never display or show any nude private artwork to anyone other than the client.  After the piece is commissioned and finished, the client reserves all rights to display the artwork as they please.

 

Impasto Painting and Imdesto Paintings.

What are they?

Impasto paintings are where the paint is actually lifted off the canvas of the painting using a brush stroke or a palette knife. Normally it is only a slight lifting of the paint. What I call imdesto paintings (“yes” that is my name in there!) is where the paint is lifted off the canvas, sometimes up to a couple of inches for a different depth or 3D type of art. Back in the 60s and 70s, I searched for a name of artwork like this and could not find one so I named it myself.

 

Murals do I do them?

On occasion, when time permits. This past year I have done one. A mural of an old painting. It was also the last mural I will paint with the AKA name

Lost Child. A name I used on some murals or graffiti artwork.

 

I Want to Commission a Painting?

For any commission artwork you would like me to do, please contact us.