Portfolio

"Mr. Bee Poses For His Portrait" by Lesley Spanos. Acrylic painting on Ampersand Aquabord, 7" x 5". Copyright ©2012 Lesley Spanos, all rights reserved.

I don’t know why I love the Bumble Bee Bop so much. I guess part of the reason is because these guys are always cheerful, and just so darn cute.

Then there’s pure artistic admiration. The designers managed to create believable personalities from basic shapes that remind me of a giant billiard ball stacked on top of a giant yellow golf ball. The simplest designs can be the most effective! These bees have no moving parts – the head doesn’t turn, and the arms are stationary – yet from every angle they present a different expression. Sometimes it’s “Ta Da!” or “Peace, brother.” This one’s my favorite, the humble “Oh, gosh, you want to paint little ol’ me?” look.

There’s a new Angry Birds theme park in Finland. Their version of the Bumble Bee Bop features the Big Brother bird from the game. Too cute!

"The Hunter" by Lesley Spanos. Acrylic painting on Ampersand Aquabord, 5" x 7". Copyright ©2012 Lesley Spanos, all rights reserved.

His prey drive is off the charts. He’ll hunt relentlessly, even in knee-deep January snows, stalking small animals until he has icicles growing on his whiskers. He’s the King of the Back Yard, but indoors, he’s just our big, cuddly boy.

"Blind Side" by Lesley Spanos. Acrylic painting on Ampersand Aquabord, 7" x 5". Copyright ©2012 Lesley Spanos, all rights reserved.

He’s not really blind, just blinded by blinders. Trainers put all sorts of interesting contraptions on these harness race horses so they won’t get distracted by things – real or imagined – during a race. Some setups look like they were cobbled together with baling wire.

This one is posted in the Daily Paintworks Up Close Animal Challenge created by artist Taryn Day

"Chomp, Chomp" by Lesley Spanos. Acrylic painting on Ampersand Gessobord, 6" x 8". Copyright ©2012 Lesley Spanos, all rights reserved.

Artist Carol Marine says in her Daily Paintworks Horsing Around Challenge  that she and her family woke up one morning while camping in Missouri to see this horse grazing near their tent. She snapped a photo of the scene, and posted it for artists to interpret.

I’m not a relaxed camper. If I heard a “chomp, chomp, chomp” from inside a tent in the early morning hours, I’d freak out. What else could it be but the Langoliers?

"18" by Lesley Spanos. Acrylic painting on Ampersand Gessobord, 16" x 20". For personal use only, not for sale. Copyright ©2012 Lesley Spanos, all rights reserved.

The Superbowl has come to Indianapolis, and to commemorate it, I present my first football painting, ever! I’ve always longed to paint the game, but the NFL is extremely protective of their rights (as they should be), so that’s a line I’ve never crossed.  I’m able to take my camera into games, so I have hundreds of tempting references I can’t use. If you’re an artist, you know how frustrating that can be. Finally, this week, I decided I’d go ahead and do a painting, just for me. I think it’s okay as long as I don’t sell it. I hope. NFL lawyers, if I’m wrong, kindly email and I’ll smash it to bits for you.

Number 18 is the Indianapolis Colts’ Peyton Manning, one of the greatest quarterbacks, ever. He’s more than just a sports celebrity to the city of Indianapolis. He’s a civic-minded hero who has done great things for our city. He won’t be playing in the Superbowl on Sunday, but he’s on everyone’s minds as he tries to regain top form after surgery on his neck. We wish you the best, Peyton, and hope to see you around Indy for many years to come.

"Portrait of a Parisian Waitress" by Lesley Spanos. Acrylic painting on Ampersand Gessobord, 14" x 18". Copyright ©2011 Lesley Spanos, all rights reserved.

I couldn’t resist painting  a portrait of this lovely waitress from a photo taken by artist/photographer/traveler/blogger Lee Brown. Lee generously lends some of his travel photos to artists in the context of his ADNW painting challenges. Participants get one month to submit their interpretations of his image.  There’s some cool stuff already posted. Go see it here.

I don’t know what I liked more – the quality of the light, or the shape of her hair and all those wispy tendrils. Both were tons of fun to paint.