Hi All!

Sorry that I haven’t posted anything new in a little while but I’ve been very busy with some of my other projects, namely revamping my painting technique so it doesn’t take me 200 hours to finish a painting! I’m finding the time investment a little hindering when it comes to producing a body of work. I’ve given myself a new deadline of 40 hours, that’s one regular work week’s worth of hours to finish a piece. So far, the experiment is going well! I think you’ll really like what I’m coming up with.

In related news, one of my other projects House of Scratch Online Gallery of Surrealism and Imagination is having a fundraiser this month instead of a show. We’ve recently been informed that we’ve now got a physical venue and date for our House of Scratch Inaugural Physical Gallery Group Show! It’s going to be at the Hang Man Gallery in Toronto’s historic Riverdale district between the dates of October 6th and October 25th, 2009. Click here to see more details about the gallery and show.

In order to make sure that everything goes off without a hitch we’re rasing some funds for the exhibition and the opening. To do that we’re offering the opportunity to own an original painting of surrealism for only $2! That’s right, $2. And shipping is included!

Welcome to the first ever House of Scratch Raffle!

The piece is entitled “Pumpkin Portrait” and can be yours for only $2. Pop on over to the website and take a look at what we’re offering on the auction block. It’s easy, safe, fun and could be yours for the cost of a large cup of coffee. Don’t delay! Click the picture below to go to House of Scratch to get your ticket today!

Good Luck!

Recently, Cath and I had the opportunity to head down to New York state to attend the opening of “Emerging Artists 2009″ at the Limner Gallery in Hudson, of which I was a contributor. They’d picked a rather risque piece of mine and, since the gallery was just a drive away (7 hours), we thought we would go there and see how it fit in with the rest of the show. Here’s how things went…

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Here’s a new painting for you to look at.  After I did ‘Vignette #1: Skies and Eyes’ I decided that some of the ideas in the different sections needed exploring.  This new piece is the second section from ’Vignette #1…’ expanded and explored to a further degree.

It’s  always the goal of my artwork to have a voice, after all this is how I communicate with the world, so this painting asks the question ’What is beauty?’ Here we have two interesting characters which may be considered ugly, even horrific because of the way they look coming out from behind their protective barrier to ask that very question. When I initially came up with the idea, it gave rise to the question ‘If these ‘monsters’ do decide to show themselves, what would they be doing?’ So I’ve painted them embedded in their investigation of what it means to be Cute. Cuteness is indicative of something that is naive but beautiful all the same and is therefore lovable. I used a rubber duck as their subject figuring that rubber ducks have universal appeal as things which are considered cute. Because of their curiousity, I’ve tentatively titled the piece “An Investigation of Cute”. You can find a larger version of it in this gallery.

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Hi all!  Thought I’d update my blog with my latest artwork.

Now i know how Leonardo Da Vinci became an expert at painting…that’s all he did!  If art was all you did all day you’d be as good as Da Vinci too and let me tell ya, being off of work for the last 6 months, doing nothing but art and art related things, I’ve noticed a huge difference in the way I’m able to translate my mental ideas to the visceral world of painting.  I’m really proud of this work!  It’s titled “Vignette #1: Skies and Eyes” and I’m hoping it’s the first in a long line of works showcasing small, descriptive, surrealistic scenes.

It’s 18″ x 24″, painted in acrylic on canvas, and I’m hoping to produce a limited edition poster print of it.  Here are  a few close ups showcasing parts of the work I’m really proud of.

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Welcome to the brand new site of Sean Chappell’s Fine Art and Illustration!

If you’d kindly look to your right you’ll see new links posted for my painting work, my artist resume and what I’m hoping will become a long list of personal movie reviews!  The site will also feature a few rants by yours truly, just a few rambling writings on subjects that annoy or intrigue me. 

A big personal thanks goes out to the lovely Miss Cathrene Gehue for all of her technical help and expertise.  With Her, all things are possible!  Stroll through the new site and please, enjoy yourself!