"Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band"

Acrylic on Canvas: 32 x 16 in.

After doing so many realistic portraits I felt like doing something a little more colorful and fun.  Originally I had Paul in front, but I decided to add some green to his jacket to give it more ambiguity, and to create a sense of tension, as if John and Paul are competing to be in front.  And George is trying to nudge his way forward too, while Ringo looks content to stay in the back.

"Guitar Man"

Acrylic on canvas: 18 x 18 in.

"Guitar Man" is a Jerry Reed song that Elvis recorded in 1967.  It was a real struggle for me to capture the expression on this one.  Even now I'm not sure what he's feeling.  Is he angry, or is he sad?  I think there would be a sense of loneliness when you're as famous as he was--not being able to live a normal life and do the things that most of us take for granted, like going out to a restaurant without getting mobbed.

"Voodoo Child"

Acrylic on canvas:  12 x 14 in.

This was originally to be a 24 x 36 inch painting of Jimi playing his guitar.  I was about 5 hours into it when I suddenly remembered that he was a left handed guitarist, and I was painting him playing right handed.  My reference picture was backwards.  I didn't want to finish the painting knowing it was wrong, so I just cut my canvas down and painted the face.  It like how it turned out, but I'd still like to paint him with his guitar someday.