on the drawing board: eye of a camera

I decided to add a little something to the background. Since Mike is a photographer I went with a camera lens. Often peripheral elements balance out composition and can draw the eye more toward the subject.

We needs some Ugly Betty, right this very minute...

on the drawing board: up close and personal

With a few good solid days of working on the portrait, it's really starting to come together. Mike Ruiz saw the last in progress posting of his portrait and said "Wow! That already looks awesome!" Which is great to hear. It's a very different feeling working on a commission, because I'm not the only one I have to please, add to it that it is a portrait too and I realize why it is I don't do very many. I couldn't handle the pressure doing them all the time.

My Work & Playlist Top 10: September 25, 2009

1. "With Every Heartbeat" - Robyn
2. "Heartbreak (Make Me a Dancer)" - Freemasons ft. Sophie Ellis-Bextor
3. "Celebration" - Madonna
4. "Love in July" - Sally Shapiro
5. "Shining Light" - Annie Lennox
6. "Wonderful (Radio Edit)" - Gary Go
7. "Season of Love" - Shiny Toy Guns
8. "I’m Coming Out" - Kristine W
9. "In the City" - Cocktail Slippers
10. "Quicksand (Mad Decent Remix #1)" - La Roux

on the drawing board: the look

My latest project is a commission of and for celebrity photographer (and former model himself) Mike Ruiz. He found my work on facebook and then asked about commissioning a portrait. Inspired by his profession, I came up with the idea for his portrait, to base it on the famous photo shoot of Marilyn Monroe in which she is nude and playing around with a sheer scarf. Mike was on board and took a very sexy pic of himself for me to work from.

Just Because...

Dennis Quaid (1979)

New Release: "Trick-or-Treat"

You've donned your best Halloween costume yet and head out into the night, hoping to frighten the town folk into giving you delectable confections. All is well until you ring the bell of the hunky neighbor at 13 Sleepy Hollow Lane. You stumble back as he opens his door, offering you to sample from his candy bowl. At first, you are floored by his stunning costume, that of a half man half goat, then frightened as you wonder if it/he is real. Before you turn to run, you gaze upon his naked animal physique and catch his wicked smile. Whether or not the vision of the Satyr is a trick, it certainly is a treat!

The original, as well as limited edition Gallery and Studio prints, are available for purchase at the Special First Day Price through Midnight ET tomorrow.

but it's tradition!

My Work & Playlist Top 10 - September 18, 2009

1. "Celebration" - Madonna
2. "With Every Heartbeat" - Robyn
3. "Shining Light" - Annie Lennox
4. "Season of Love" - Shiny Toy Guns
5. "Love in July" - Sally Shapiro
6. "Heartbreak (Make Me a Dancer)" - Freemasons ft. Sophie Ellis-Bextor
7. "#9 Dream" - A-Ha
8. "I’m Coming Out" - Kristine W
9. "In Summer" - Anastacia
10. "In the City" - Cocktail Slippers

on the drawing board: 'you rang?'

Along with the fun of painting slightly non human figures, such as devils and werewolves, when I do my Halloween piece, I also enjoy the richness of the colors that are synonymous with the season; a palette of bright reds, yellows and oranges paired with deep browns, purples and blacks.

'Fat Head'

This documentary looks at health and obesity, the myths about fat and cholesterol, and how the nutritionists and the FDA got so off track.

MS Challenge Walk 2009 - Success!

My 'Keep on Dancin' team mates doing jazz hands, Jenny, Edward, Sheila, Mary Ellen and Annie.

Yesterday I crossed the finish line in the MS Challenge Walk on Cape Cod. I and my team walked 50 miles over three days to help find a cure and fight multiple sclerosis. We had sore feet, sore legs, aching knees and ankles, a few blisters. Sure we complained along the way, but when we are greeted at the end by those who have MS and can only walk a few yards, or not at all, or realize we are walking along side someone with MS and who faces the prospect of one day not being able to just walk across a room, all that pain and complaining is dissolved with their smile. That's when you realize why your walking and for whom.

I want to give a big thank you from myself, my team and everyone living with MS, for your thoughts, well wishes and certainly your donations.

I walk especially for and with my friend Jenny who was diagnosed a few years ago. She's really into ballroom dancing. She loves it, and I walk so she can 'keep on dancin''. She's also a veterinarian, and though the numbness and tingling she gets in her hands keeps her from doing surgery she keeps going, having dedicated herself to helping our furred and feathered friends.

Yes the 2009 walk just ended and yes I'm still sore, but my teammates and I, including Jenny, already signed up for next years walk! If you'd like to help us get a jump start on reaching our goal, you can make your donation now.

Any amount, great or small, helps to make a difference in the lives of people living with MS. I appreciate your support and look forward to letting you know how I do next year.

Donate to the 2010 MS Challenge Walk.

MS Challenge Walk Starts Today

Today Edward and I begin our 3 day 50 mile walk to raise money and awareness for Multiple Sclerosis in the MS Challenge Walk on Cape Cod. We are walking for and with our friend Jenny. Also on our team is Jenny's mom, aunt and sister.

You can still make a donation by clicking here.

Hey Joe Wilson, 'what would Jesus do?'

I'm sure everyone knows about South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson, heckling President Obama while he was giving a speech on health care reform. Wilson, shouted "You lie!" when the President said the proposed program would not mandate coverage for illegal immigrants. Which Wilson has no proof is a lie, and has since apologized for the outburst.

Ok, so I understand being really passionate about something, causing you to impulsively blurt something out at the wrong moment. But, were not talking about sending our soldiers off to war. Were talking about health care, about providing another human being with medical care. That's the main thing that I don't understand, the rabid reaction from some people regarding the possibility of renovating health insurance and the possibility of a public option.

This is about caring for and providing protection to a fellow human being, (does it even matter where they are from?). Where is compassion? Where is humanity? Would it be that horrible to give a little to help someone else? To even make a little sacrifice in order to do that?

I'm not at all a religious person, but the conservative Republican block that is most outraged about health care reform tend to hold their Christian beliefs close at hand. So when I hear or see on the news people shouting angrily about making health care affordable to the less fortunate, I can't help but think of the bumper sticker adage, "What would Jesus do?".

on the drawing board: the start of something sinister?

After coming up with the idea for my Halloween piece, I've started on it with my pastels. Since it's a full body figure in this piece, the face is kinda small on the paper (it's only 2" from hairline to chin). So of course I wanted to tackle that first, and am really happy with how it's looking.

Forced Government Injections or face fines, internment, seizure of property.

(NaturalNews) The United States of America is devolving into medical fascism and Massachusetts is leading the way with the passage of a new bill, the "Pandemic Response Bill" 2028, reportedly just passed by the MA state Senate and now awaiting approval in the House. This bill suspends virtually all Constitutional rights of Massachusetts citizens and forces anyone "suspected" of being infected to submit to interrogations, "decontaminations" and vaccines.

It's also sets fines up to $1,000 per day for anyone who refuses to submit to quarantines, vaccinations, decontamination efforts or to follow any other verbal order by virtually any state-licensed law enforcement or medical personnel. You can read the text yourself here:

http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/186/st02pdf/st02028.pdf

R.E.M. - 'We Can't Afford to Wait'

Lou Dobbs, Journalist or Old Angry White Man?

Hey Lou, ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country. And in your case, Lou, that's "Shut up".

Lou Dobbs is unbelievable, in the incredulous sense, and in the sense I wouldn't believe a word he says. Isn't journalism supposed to stick to the fact and be unbiased? But I guess he's no longer a journalist just an angry old white republican (surprisingly he's not on FOX - Rupert Murdochs propaganda outlet.)

The the fact that the President addressing school children has been made into some kind of sinister plot to put America's youth under some sort of mind control, is ridiculous, petty and pathetic and these conservatives should be quite embarrassed. If they want to ever be taken seriously again they need to start acting serious. How about some intelligent positive solutions, rather than being the bitter angry little babies that criticize and oppose everything the other side comes up with.

Classic Kristine W - "Feel What You Want"

My Work & Playlist Top 10 - September 4, 2009

1. "Shining Light" - Annie Lennox
2. "Season of Love" - Shiny Toy Guns
3. "In Summer" - Anastacia
4. "With Every Heartbeat" - Robyn
5. "Celebration" - Madonna
6. "#9 Dream" - A-Ha
7. "Love in July" - Sally Shapiro
8. "Heartbreak (Make Me a Dancer)" - Freemasons ft. Sophie Ellis-Bextor
9. "Let’s Turn the Night" - RuPaul
10. "My My! Time Flies!" - Enya

September's Featured Art

For the month of September my featured artwork is 'Coasting'. All prints of this work, including limited edition gallery (full size) prints and 13" x 19" studio prints, are on sale at 15% off through the end of the month. Visit www.breyette.com.

Gay Marriage IS a Defense of Marriage Act

An added note: The states with the highest divorce rates tend to be located in the south and midwest, a.k.a. the Bible belt.