Here’s what Guinness looks like on paper, along with some interesting facts I discovered about one of the world’s most famous brews:

Arthur Guinness first brewed beer in 1759, and there was almost no advertising until the 1930′s.  Despite that, the company had become one of Great Britain’s top three breweries.  But finally the ads did come, and among the most familiar is:

Dorothy L. Sayers, mystery writer and friend of C.S. Lewis, actually sketched the Toucan and worked on the ad campaigns.  I like her books and had no idea she was connected to Guinness!

People often ask if I paint using mediums other than coffee.  Yes, though not as often.  I started out as a colored pencil and watercolor artist, then got into oils a bit.  About 3 years into my coffeepainting journey, an interior decorator hired me to paint oils for an Oklahoma restaurant called Rib Crib.  The subject matter was quite different from my usual classic masterpieces- this time it was cowboys and old west themes.  We quite a few of these restaurants together throughout the Southwest, and now it looks like we’re at it again.  This job has to be done in 2 weeks!  Here’s a bad phone-pic of yesterday’s work.

This store will be in McAlester, OK.  The founder of the town, J.J. McAlester, is one of the characters in True Grit, interestingly.  Now the town is where the state prison is, and they have a prison rodeo!  So one picture shows that, and we’ll have a train scene, and J.J.’s old storefront.  Yeehaw!

This summer the charming town of Astoria, Oregon celebrates 200 years of existence.  I’m doing several paintings relating to it’s history (with coffee twists, of course!) and will be visiting during several art fairs and events.  Here’s one for all the hardworking fishermen!

Sometimes I still do oil paintings, and I really enjoy the chance to use more than one color in a painting! Here’s a painting commissioned by my brother.

Another successful test for Curb Media- this time it’s all Guinness.  Looks remarkably like coffee, doesn’t it?

And here’s my family crest:

Yum, I got to paint with chocolate as a test for Curb Media.  Cadbury’s had a successful commercial involving this gorilla, so here he is made entirely from chocolate!  More chocolate paintings to come, for sure.

And here’s a little video of the work in progress:

I had drawn the gorilla using a bar of Cadbury’s Dairy Milk and then painted him in with sauce.  Definitely a project in which I sampled the paint throughout!

I’m doing some painting tests for a company in England called Curb. Here’s mud!

Boticelli’s “Birth of Venus” is itself reborn as “Birth of the Coffee Break”.  I’ve had this painting in mind since the early days of coffee creations, so I’m glad to finally finish it.  This original is 11×17″ and available, along with prints and greeting cards.

Here is the picture you all helped me create.  Thanks for the ideas of adding viewers and a coffee handoff!  The original is 11×14″ and available, as are prints and greeting cards.

Well coffee fans, here comes another painting!  Venus has just been born, emerging from the cold sea; what better time for a hot coffee?   Her friends assist by blowing to cool it down a bit, and bringing a blanket to snuggle in.  I will be completing this painting soon, along with the Tour de France one.   Check back to see the results.