John Mullane Art

Tiger Cub

2011-09-03T13:12:00.001-07:00

Another big cat! It seems I can't get enough of these guy's. Sorry there are no wip's, I just finished this for the Labor Day Show at Decoy's and Wildlife in Frenchtown New Jersey.I think he's catching a few more rays before the Summer's over.

Young Lion

2011-05-28T11:41:00.000-07:00

Here's the finished painting.It's for the Small Works Show in Frenchtown NJ this weekend. It's based on a previous sketch of a lion that I saw while on safari in Botswana. It brings back very fond memories because it was the first lion I encountered in the wild.

Young Lion

2011-05-28T11:39:00.000-07:00

In this painting I've skipped the very beginning stages but you can see how the background and foreground are blocked in. The lion is almost there. I'm working mostly on the front legs but also small details all over the cat. I've lightly drawn in some grasses with a white charcoal pencil as well.

Peregrine Falcon Portrait

2011-04-29T12:41:00.001-07:00

This is a study for a larger painting I intend to do. I have a few friends that are falconer's and they let me observe their bird's up close which is a real treat.

Tiger Cub Portrait

2011-02-26T12:06:00.000-08:00

I just finished this portrait for the Decoys and Wildlife Show this weekend in Frenchtown NJ. I'm sorry there are no wips, I basically just found out about the show last week. I started it 3 days ago and just finished in time to deliver it. Despite the short deadline I'll never get tired of painting these guy's.

House Sparrow and Roses

2011-02-22T18:09:00.001-08:00

I know I skipped a few steps but I thought it was getting tedious. I basically finished the foreground and finally added the rose which I was really looking forward to paint. That being said,I'm calling this done.

House Sparrow and Roses

2011-02-20T03:33:00.001-08:00

I'm still gradually building forward in the foreground. I also enjoy painting the light on top of and coming through the leaves.

House Sparrow and Roses

2011-02-19T08:32:00.000-08:00

I've added the background roses which are in the shade and I'm slowly working my way forward to the sunlit ones.

House Sparrow and Roses

2011-02-17T15:09:00.000-08:00

I'm continuing to refine the bird and I'm also starting to add the background and foreground leaves and petals

House Sparrow and Roses

2011-02-16T17:56:00.000-08:00

This painting is for the Gallery One Masterworks in Miniature show in March. I've sketched out the composition lightly with a white charcoal pencil. I went right into the bird to establish my lights and darks.

Revolutionary War Re-enactor Studies

2011-02-03T18:54:00.000-08:00

I really like painting these guy's! I was drawn to this actor in particular by his naturally exaggerated features. He looked to me as though he had just stepped out of a Norman Rockwell painting, one of my all time artist heroes.

Siberian Tiger Cub

2010-12-04T13:28:00.001-08:00

Sorry, I know it's been quite a while since I've posted anything. This portrait is part of a group show I'm a part of at the Allan Nederpelt Gallery in Greenpoint Brooklyn. It comes from some visits to the Bronx Zoo where I got to study this cat and his brother and sister up close. They're just about my favorite of the big cats. I enjoyed painting the background and foreground as much as the cub. Something has caught his attention, I had to fight the urge to add a butterfly or something else, I felt it would be too cutesy then. They're already too cute but even this young they can be so regal looking.

Single Fare

2010-05-14T21:01:00.001-07:00

I recently participated in a show in Brooklyn called Single Fare where a bunch of artist's from all over New York City created images on MetroCards. I found out about it the day before the art was due, so it was quite a rush job. I painted this lion ( I know....... another lion? ) it's roughly the size of a credit card. The show was a big success with 100's of cards being sold. I would like to thank artist's Jean-Pierre Roy and Michael Kagan for hosting this cool event.

Lion Study

2010-05-12T20:11:00.000-07:00

This lion is the father of the cub in my previous post.

Lion Cub Study

2010-04-11T13:08:00.001-07:00

Kestrel Study

2010-02-25T06:52:00.000-08:00

Study of a male kestrel.

Cardinal and Rhododendrons

2010-02-13T09:52:00.000-08:00

I was able to finish this in time to ship out today.

Cardinal and Rhododendrons Update

2010-02-12T11:21:00.000-08:00

I'm just about finished with the flowers, not much more to go on this one.

Cardinal and Rhododendrons

2010-02-11T11:02:00.000-08:00

This painting is the polar opposite of my previous one. A spring time setting of rhododendrons, one of my favorite flowers and the brightly colored cardinal. I'm working on the funnel shaped flowers with opaque and transparent washes of color and rendering the leaves with dark to light layers. It will be going to the Gallery One Masterworks in Miniature show next week. Got to get to work!!

Red Alert Complete

2010-02-06T12:34:00.001-08:00

With the completion of that wing and some added grasses, I'm calling this one done. It's an acrylic 17x27.

Red Alert Update

2010-02-04T14:25:00.000-08:00

Getting close to finishing this one. I chose not to paint the rabbits feet that were sticking out from under the wing but I couldn't resist a smear of VanDyke Red on the beak suggesting a kill.

Red Alert Update

2010-02-02T16:43:00.000-08:00

I'm slowly working my way forward now. Before tackling that outstretched wing I wanted to paint the snow behind it.

Red Alert (detail)

2010-01-30T11:40:00.001-08:00

It's easy to become overwhelmed by so much detail, so I try to complete small sections to keep up my enthusiasm.

Red Alert

2010-01-30T11:29:00.001-08:00

It's been a while since I've posted anything. I don't know about anyone else but 2009 was pretty tough for me. I did a semester at school and I've been freelancing to pay the bills. Anyway, I'm painting this for a birds of prey show at the Decoy's and Wildlife Gallery at the end of Feb. I went out with a few falconer friend's of mine and was inspired to paint this red-tail from that experience. Red-tailed Hawks are one of my favorite raptors and the mantling posture really shows its beautiful plumage. Because of the intricate patterns it's also very time consuming to paint! But I made my bed so I must lie in it.

Chickadee Study

2009-11-23T13:06:00.001-08:00

This study came from a recent birding walk I did. The chickadee's seem to be everywhere this time of year and I always enjoy their company

Indian Giver

2009-10-09T17:45:00.000-07:00

I was inspired to paint this study by the colors and shapes of this woman's dress and the expression on her face.

Bull Ele

2009-09-25T15:24:00.000-07:00

This is a bull elephant I've been working on lately. I've got some more grasses to add and refine and about another 6 inches of water in the foreground to develop.

Ducklings!

2009-09-16T09:22:00.000-07:00

One of the cutest baby animals ever. I think they bring out the little kid in everyone.

Peek-a-boo!

2009-09-12T16:44:00.000-07:00

A recent sketch of a black-crowned night heron.

Woodcock

2009-08-27T10:59:00.000-07:00

These long-billed game birds, also known as timberdoodles, spend much of their time in the damp bottom lands where the flora is lush and thick. It's exactly the kind of place that I stumbled upon him while birding one afternoon.

Tawny Study

2009-07-22T14:42:00.000-07:00

Tawny eagles are found throughout Africa but my real inspiration for this study was actually the backround. I liked the contrast between the fallen tree and dried grasses, it reminded me a bit of Yellowstone Park which is one of my favorite places.

Woodcock Update

2009-07-16T13:22:00.000-07:00

Small update here. Due to a recent death in the family I've had to put my work aside for a while so I'm trying to get back on the saddle.

Woodcock Update

2009-07-03T15:47:00.000-07:00

Woodcock

2009-07-01T14:31:00.000-07:00

I'm enjoying working on this woodcock. I find his plumage very interesting. It has some very subtle cryptic markings that were challenging to paint. I still haven't completely made up my mind about the foreground.

Great Horned Owl Sketch

2009-06-13T15:31:00.000-07:00

The setting is Yellowstone National Park. It is one of my favorite places. I enjoyed driving through the park on days like this and could easily imagine many other birds of prey in the same spot.

Great Horned Owl Sketch

2009-06-10T16:29:00.000-07:00

Great horned owls are among my favorite birds. I've had this idea for a while and was inspired to flesh it out by my friend Kelly Singleton who does amazing owl portraits. I'll continue to work down the tree adding more limbs, branches and pine needles.

Female Cardinal and Roses

2009-06-04T13:13:00.001-07:00

With the right side of the painting completed, I'm calling this one done.

Female Cardinal and Roses Update

2009-06-04T13:11:00.000-07:00

Female Cardinal and Rosebush Update

2009-05-27T15:19:00.000-07:00

I was able to spend some time this week on the roses and now I'm starting to see the the finish line.

Female Cardinal and Rosebush Update

2009-05-21T10:00:00.000-07:00

I'm working my way across the painting. Lots of adjusting color and value to go but I feel like I'm starting to get there.

Female Cardinal and Rosebush

2009-05-13T06:23:00.000-07:00

This painting is a study of light and negative space. I saw this beautiful rose bush hanging in a dark corner of a garden that I frequently visit. It was lit in a theatrical way that screamed "look at me, look at me." I did look at it and with the familiar whistle of a cardinal in the backround I thought she'd really compliment the picture. I've lightly drawn the rest of the bush with a white charcoal pencil. I'll begin blocking that in today.

The Piper

2009-04-14T15:47:00.000-07:00

I saw this guy at our local St. Patrick's Day Parade and couldn't resist him. He was fun to paint because I got to use colors like phthalocyanine green and phthalocyanine blue to recreate the uniform. I may never get to use them again!

Tiger Study

2009-03-30T10:51:00.001-07:00

A little sketch of a Siberian Tiger. Also known as the Manchurian and Amur tiger, it is the largest of the big cats and one of my favorites. I was able to study him up close at the Bronx Zoo.

Onions

2009-03-18T21:44:00.001-07:00

Another still-life from life. I think doing these little paintings every now and then is a good exercise.

Backround in Progress

2009-03-18T21:37:00.000-07:00

A backround I've been working on. I keep changing my mind about what animal or bird to put in there. I was originally inspired by a kestrel I saw hunting for mice.

Pied Kingfisher

2009-03-01T20:05:00.000-08:00

I started this yesterday. I have more of the branch to render but I'm debating whether to continue or leave it as is.

Sandpiper Study

2009-02-26T14:34:00.000-08:00

I put a little more time into this sketch today. What started out as a simple drawing took me 2 days. See what happens when you take your kids for a walk.

Sandpiper 3

2009-02-26T10:34:00.000-08:00

I've established most of the values and elements, now to just tighten them up a bit

Sandpiper 2

2009-02-25T18:05:00.000-08:00

I took my son for walk on the beach to go crab hunting and the low tide inspired me to develop this sketch. I'm not sure where this is going.

Sandpiper

2009-02-25T13:46:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the poor photo. This was supposed to be a pencil sketch but I couldn't resist adding some color

Strawberries

2009-02-12T17:52:00.000-08:00

A small still life from life.

Troglodytes troglodytes

2009-02-03T07:48:00.000-08:00

I enjoyed painting the various textures in this piece. The flower petals,leaves,weathered brick and wren.

Wren Update

2009-01-30T20:21:00.000-08:00

I'm slowly working my way across the painting. Most of the time I tone my board before I start to paint but because much of the painting is very bright and vibrant I kept it white.

Winter Wren

2009-01-29T13:05:00.000-08:00

I watched this little wren creeping amongst these nasturtiums and filed it away, knowing I would eventually paint it. I was almost half way through it when I decided to take some progress shots.

Verreaux's Eagle Study

2009-01-20T21:01:00.000-08:00

Verreaux's Eagle also known as the African Black Eagle is a large bird of prey found throughout the mountainous regions of Africa. I love birds of prey and had the chance to study this guy up close through a falconer friend of mine who was taking care of it.

Female Goldfinch

2009-01-14T15:30:00.000-08:00

This is a little study of a female goldfinch. I saw her feeding on these sunflowers in a parking lot near my house. I wanted to capture the late afternoon light.

" Red Fox "

2008-12-21T15:13:00.000-08:00

I fell in love with this stone wall in upstate New York. I invisioned a fox sculking along it in search of a tasty meal, perhaps chipmunk or squirrel.

" Elk Painting "

2008-12-12T17:04:00.000-08:00

I'm just about done with this one. Some minor details left but nothing that will make it look much different. On to something else.

" Elk Painting "

2008-12-11T10:42:00.000-08:00

I'm continuing to add more grasses, pushing and pulling their values with washes and I started to add the strip of water in the foreground. I'm beginning to see the finish line on this one.

" Elk Painting "

2008-12-09T18:18:00.000-08:00

I've been very busy with some other projects but managed to put some time into this. I'm basically just working my way forward and refining the sections as I go.

" Elk Painting "

2008-12-07T14:52:00.000-08:00

I've started working on the elk and I'm continuing to refine the mid and foreground. The grasses are built up gradually working dark to light saving the lightest lights for last. It's starting to get there.

" Elk in Progress"

2008-12-05T12:13:00.000-08:00

Technically not a wip but I thought I'd show this one in progress. An elk will be painted somewhere in there.

"My Studio"

2008-12-05T12:09:00.000-08:00

This is where I spend most of my time. On the easel is one of my current paintings.

" Mockingbird and Apples "

2008-11-09T18:00:00.000-08:00

I was birdwatching recently and saw this mockingbird catching insects near this apple tree. His pose is what really made me want to paint him. I usually observe them with their tail down, the tail up makes him seem more alert.

" The Fiddler "

2008-11-04T17:56:00.001-08:00

I saw this street performer in front of the National Portrait Gallery in London. After viewing all of the amazing art there, I was really charged up and inspired and I knew the instant I saw him, I would eventually paint his portrait.

" Lion Around " Study

2008-10-22T08:46:00.000-07:00

I usually never center the main subjects in my paintings but in this study I felt compelled to do so.

" Lamar Bison "

2008-10-16T16:24:00.000-07:00

This was from a very memorable morning I spent watching bison in Lamar Valley as the sun was rising.

" Bear Mountain Bull "

2008-10-16T12:40:00.000-07:00

Fall is my favorite time of year.This sketch was inspired by a drive I took through Harriman State Park this past weekend and some recent sighting's of moose in New York. I find this fascinating since they were not very far from where I live in the Bronx.

" Sunset Prowl "

2008-10-03T14:08:00.000-07:00

While returning to our camp from an evening game run, we suddenly found ourselves in the midst of an enormous elephant herd. We were literally surrounded, our guide estimated it to be in the hundreds. It was too dark to shoot any useful photos so I sat there taking it all in. Out of nowhere, a pair of lions emerged from the bush. They strolled alongside our Land Rover for a short distance, bathed in the colors of the landscape, completely silent and disappeared into the night. I think I will repaint this composition in a horizontal format and add some elephant.

" Scarlet Study "

2008-09-28T17:23:00.000-07:00

I had a little fun with this sketch. I liked the contrast of the misty muted backround and the intensity of the scarlet macaw in the foreground.

" Yellow-rumped Warbler "

2008-09-28T17:19:00.000-07:00

" Barred Owl Study "

2008-09-03T10:30:00.000-07:00

I just got back from Victoria BC and was inspired to paint this owl. I love the old growth forests there and I couldn't wait to get back to my studio to paint something from this experience.

" Coyote on Yellowstone River "

2008-08-16T17:16:00.000-07:00

A little sketch of a coyote I saw while exoploring Yellowstone National Park with my 2 artist friends Matthew Hillier and Julia Rogers. I was able to get a few photos of him before he vanished into the brush and use them to recreate this back in my studio.

" Young Male Lion "

2008-08-12T14:11:00.000-07:00

This is a little study of a young male . One early morning game run in Botswana we spotted a small pride and this was my first wild sighting of lions. Like all of my memories of Africa I'll cherish this one. I hope to paint a larger version of this in the future.

" A Simple Still Life "

2008-08-12T13:35:00.001-07:00

This is a simple still life of a gourd that I had sitting around and yes the backround is my shirt. Sometimes the simplest things are all you need.

" Sri Lankan Girl "

2008-07-29T17:50:00.000-07:00

I saw this cute little girl at a Hindu Festival in London.

" Bongo in the Bush "

2008-07-29T17:46:00.000-07:00

A recent sketch of a Bongo. I was after the atmosphere in this one. I liked the contrast of the bright backround and the sort of shady foreground.

" My Materials "

2008-07-29T17:23:00.000-07:00

I've been asked a few times what I sketch with. I use Daler and Rowney sketch pads that I got on a trip to London. They're black hardcover and stichbound. I love the paper, it's great for pencil and heavy enough for paint and comes in different sizes like this one 11 3/4 x 16 1/2. I also use all types and brands of acrylic paint, mostly Liquitex and Golden.

2008-07-20T10:04:00.000-07:00

A little sketch of Marabou and Painted storks. I got to observe these amazing birds down in the Okavango Delta along with many other animals. The Marabou in particular is a huge bird standing 4.9 ft with a wingspan of 10.5 ft. In flight reminds me more of a Pterodactyl.

2008-07-16T17:09:00.000-07:00

This is a sketch of a male white-throated sparrow. I enjoy painting simple sketches like the goldfinch and more involved ones such as this.

" Goldfinch Sketch "

2008-07-16T16:24:00.000-07:00

" Hailey "

2008-07-11T14:51:00.000-07:00

This is a little portrait of my niece Hailey. My sister adopted her when she was about a year old from China. I was inspired to paint her because she sometimes reminds me of a little American Indian princess, minus the designer jacket of course. She's a very sweet little girl. Because my family is Irish, when people ask what she is, she says " Chirish".

" Lenny's Castle"

2008-07-11T14:46:00.000-07:00

The finished painting.

" Castle Sketch"

2008-07-11T14:36:00.000-07:00

I recently finished a painting in the trompe l'oeil (literally, "fool the eye") style. The client wanted a large stone window overlooking a European style landscape with a castle. It is a very large painting for me about 40"x60". I did a few thumbnails and he picked this one.