Rob Rey Sketchbook

[alexson]

Impressive stuff :O Just keep feeding us great art please :)

[dleoblack]

I love the portrait for your brush strokes motly but I really love the pencils sketches!
Cheers
:)

[goodoldayz]

i love your colors and your brush strokes are real nice as well.

[MacTire]

Wonderful stuff Rob!! I love the vibrancy and the confidence in the strokes!

[-mime-]

Great clean paintings. Funny thing, when I first saw that guy in green shirt I thought it was digital painting.

[RobRey]

Coffee shop sketches...

1010307

1010308

1010309

Thanks for all the comments everyone!!

[Ostroponis]

this is just amazing, absolutely amazing, how do you paint the smoke ? its brilliant

:yayca:

[Nutella]

Well isn't she fancy: with her pinky out.

I can't stop looking at your method of shading using line along with value. I wish there was a background to that third figure; my mind would be blown.

[RobRey]

1014685
Francisco, Oil, 16 x 20 inches


Thanks for the comments! The smoke is done very carefully, Ostroponis, in long fluid stokes. Good point about the background Nutella, that gives me an idea.

[HumbleEgo]

Your brush work is marvelous, man!

[RobRey]

A little one, I prepare my own boards for painting on, and this week I had run out of the 16 x 20 inch boards that I usually take to portrait painting. All I had ready to go was this 9 x 12, but it's always good to mix things up when they become too routine. I like the ratio of brush stroke detail to the outer dimensions, so I should do some more little ones.

1019061
Julie, Oil, 9 x 12 inches


Thanks HumbleEgo!

[RobRey]

Another little one...

1024916
Aaron, Oil, 8 x 10 inches

[RobRey]

Another small one

1033131
Hedi, Oil, 8 x 10 inches

[thinairart]

Really like the portrait sketches! Such vibrant color and fluid brushwork.. I'm guessing the board you like to use is quite smooth? And the painting medium(s) you prefer to work with? Full of questions I am! ;) The results you achieve are very intriguing, so you've peaked my curiosity.

[Nettle_Mountain]

damned nice oil paintings, how much time you usually put on one painting?

[Nubian_Greene]

enjoying the work in here!

[RobRey]

1044392
Chris, Oil, 16 x 20 inches



Thanks for the comments everyone!
Thinairart - I like just a little bit of texture on my board, a little bit of tooth holds the paint in place. My medium is just refined linseed oil and a little Gamsol, nothing fancy.
Nettle_Mountain - It varies, the portraits are all done at a group session where I have 2-3 hours to work. Other paintings tend to vary from about 1-3 days.

[Dipz108]

You're amazing at oils! I really like the strokes used!
Are there any tips you could give? My oils lack.... something.

[RobRey]

1059138
Kevin (again), oil, 16 x 20 inches



Thanks Dipz108! I don't know if I've got any tips that would be all that helpful. Just practice a lot and look very carefully at other peoples work. Good luck :)

[Istmin52]

Hey Bob,

Great new updates. I need to do some more oil painting. lol

[RobRey]

I just keep playing around with this one. First it was a sketch (on page 6), just an experiment in design. I liked it, so I did a digital color version of the sketch (also on page 6). Well, I was still curious what it would look like as an oil painting, so here it is. If I can come up with more designs like it I may do more.

1063121
Tangled Thoughts, Oil, 11 x 24 inches



Thanks Istman52!

[red123456]

#271 - Wow i thought it was done digitally until looking a the description that is was done in oil. I wish i can paint like you :(>:|:nohope::upset::lifedrawing:

[RobRey]

Sketches from the local coffee shop...

1069427

1069426

1069428



Thanks red123456!

[Jonas_D]

Your sketches are rad! actually your sketches would be finished line drawings to me :D Really love it and your painting style is cool too!

[Brahimpag]

ohh , so nice ^^

how longu started drawing ?

[RobRey]

I got another chance at a 3 hour nude pose not too long ago, it's nice to paint a little more of the figure. This fall the portrait group is planning to do these once a month, so hopefully there will be more to come.

1073151
Oil, 20 x 16 inches



Thanks Jonas_D and Brahimpag! Your asking how long I've been drawing, Brahimpag? I've been drawing about 12 years I guess, but I got more serious about practice about 3 years ago I think. I hope that answers your question.

[Nutella]

Just wanted to drop in and tell you that I have been peeping in every now and then, I just don't feel like I can really contribute much...

I still remember post 271 from a few days ago. It's a wicked idea. The painting is beautiful. This latest figure drawing is SICK! Nice work, really!

[RobRey]

1078406
Rachel, Oil, 16 x 20 inches

I posted some process shots of this one on my blog (http://robreyart.blogspot.com/2010/10/rachel-with-process-photos.html) for anyone that is interested.


Thanks Nutella! I know what you mean about contributing, but it's nice to hear even just the praise.

[AndreRuben]

Hi, first time that i come across your sketchbook. I just love the portrait session results! And i think you are really good at oils!
Maybe i'll start some kind of friends/portrait sessions also, it just seems really exciting.
keep it up!

[Istmin52]

Hey Bob,

Nice new paintings. I was kind of curious for post #271, did you use reference for that at all or was that just out of your head? I mean the person. Sometimes I find it hard to get the exact reference I need.

-Ian

[RobRey]

Sketches from the coffee shop...

1083913

1083915



Thanks AndreRuben! Istmin52 - That painting began as a coffee shop sketch just like the ones in this post. So the drawing was from life and I pulled the color from imagination.

[Mikko Voipio]

Awesome paintings my man!!! Five stars from me.

[Wr00m]

Beautiful work man!

[conte]

i like how you simplify the shapes, you're taking a lot from it, its visible in stable progression in techic.
and that design experiment in post #271, so lovely. can't say more.
keep this thread alive, Rob!

[Benjy]

Brilliant sketchbook. Thanks for sharing it!

[RobRey]

I began this illustration for fun as part of a challenge (http:///forum/showthread.php?t=3294) over on CGHub. I got distracted from it by other projects during the challenge but I eventually got back to it and then took my time varnishing it and getting it digitized. So here it is, a cover illustration for The NeverEnding Story (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088323/).

1094801
Oil, 18 x 23 inches

I would like to say, I got excited about painting an illustration for The NeverEnding Story not only because the movie is a cherished childhood memory of mine, but also because I think the story is particularly effective for teaching kids how to understand metaphor in storytelling. If you remember the movie (or not), the main character is a troubled little boy, named Bastian, who reads a book titled The NeverEnding Story who's main character is a boy just like him in a fantasy land on a mythical quest. Through the story, Bastian learns to confront his problems in real life. Quite over-obvious to adults and there are many stories that are also obvious in this regard, but great for kids to learn that this metaphor is present, at least to some degree in all stories, even the ones they are told are "True."


Thanks everyone for the comments!

[Wr00m]

simply beautiful!

[Goldenstripe]

you're a very good oil painter! make more such fantsy pictures, i love them!
by the way: 1012 should come a remake of the neverending story ;-)

[raminafshari]

Awesome drawings , i like your last fantasy work .

[RobRey]

Another Monday night portrait, I came back and added the leaves to this one later on.

1103033
Beverly, Oil, 16 x 20 inches



Thanks Wr00m, Goldenstripe and raminafshari!

[Nubb]

Thank you for the "Never Ending Story" piece. I've watched it just recently (again) and your work is a fantastic bonus :) Great painterly style!

[Aryeh]

now i want to grab my oils and start painting :p

what surface are you using?

[RobRey]

1108204
Mauna, Oil, 16 x 20 inches



Thanks Nubb and lolbbq! I'm painting on gessoed MDF panel (very similar to masonite)

[oma]

wauw.. love ur oil collours!!! 5biggies!!
im stunned..
i really are.

[Jai Kamat]

your colors are absolutely gorgeous!!!!!!

[brentos8]

First time here, love your work man! Colors especailly and the painterly style, and you obviously have a great sense of the charachter of faces. The one with border at the top of this page is cool, its interesting, reminds me a bit of Brom, if you've heard of him. Look forward to seeing more!

[purplegoat]

Enjoying your sketchbook immensely. I'd like to give portrait painting a go some time in the future and your work is inspiring. Good to see the traditional work on this forum as there mostly digital (not knocking digital though!). Hope to see more in the future. Thanks for sharing!

[NickyBeats]

wow!! beautiful work man! im shocked that these arent digital!! you are masterly with oil paints sir! simply beautiful.

[RobRey]

Sculptor in welded metal rod and glass, Brower Hatcher (http://www.midoceanstudio.com/the_work/work.htm) posed for the portrait group.

1123047
Brower Hatcher, Oil, 16 x 20 inches


Thanks everyone for the comments!

[badass]

WOW.

your work reminds me of richard shmid, but awesome in a unique way. very inspiring!

[J@n!t]

Absolutely love the illustrative yet not comical line work in the coffee shop studies :-)

[RobRey]

1122433
Elana, OIl, 11 x 14 inches



Thanks badass and J@n!t !

[hücumkedi]

omg so dynamic

[ladyknowles]

You're an inspiration!

[purplegoat]

Your brush strokes really bring these paintings to life. Keep updating!

[RobRey]

Happy Holidays!

1127196
Oil, 20 x 16 inches


Thanks everyone for the inspiring comments!

[NITISH KUMAR]

its great....i love your painting...bt ur drawing is really superb..

[RobRey]

1144236
Caroline, Oil, 16 x 14 inches

[Rhubix]

I really like how painterly all your work is. Even your pencil sketches have a wonderful stroke to them.
You also capture the expressions really well. Lovely stuff.

[Dope Fiend]

I love the style you have going for you on the paintings, the brushwork is so smooth and fluent.

My only suggestion i saw for the pencils might be to push your value range a little more to make them pop more

but i can't say much, keep posting!

[Zae]

Wow, you have got the most beautiful traditional paintings I've seen in a while.
Your brush strokes are so fluid and expressive and your subjects are beautifully rendered and full of character. You make it looks so easy and spontaneous.

[marioucci]

I wish I could paint personality like you do.

[RobRey]

Sketches from the coffee shop...

1162073

1162075

1162076



Thanks everyone for the comments!

[Velocity Kendall]

super refined stuff
5

[surus]

I also like 271. Reminds me of Alphonse Mucha. Beautiful piece! And keep on posting these coffee shop drawings!

[RobRey]

1167460
Raphael or The Goblin King (http://www.imdb.com/media/rm3622738176/ch0011179) (with less hair spay), Oil, 16 x 20 inches


Thanks Velocity Kendall and surus!

[purplegoat]

Your coffee shop sketches caught me off guard! They look like they were done by a different artist. They are rendered using fine hatching lines that look controlled where as your oil paintings are loose with bold strokes. Both are appealing and well executed. Very cool indeed.

[p sage]

You have a great ability with oil paint... and in general your oils are miles ahead of your pencils.

Don't want to be to crit-y on your stuff because in general it is great; I do think the head proportions get away from you in some of the pencils, and you tend to put a lot of dark outlines around things like ears and chins and the side of the head... which flattens out the pieces.

But your oil paintings definitely read much better as 3D, so maybe the crit is moot. Take it for what it's worth, I guess. I would just like to see you pull off the same illusion of depth with your pencils as you achieve with your oils.

[Lightpunk]

Very nice work!

[matejkovacic]

Great! I love the brushstrokes and life in paintings!

[Yor]

man you've really got a nice flow with your oil paintings, i'm in love with them!

[RobRey]

1178015
Oil, 9 x 12 inches


Thanks for the comments, everyone! Glad you're liking them!

[RobRey]

1185593
Nadia, Oil, 9 x 12 inches


I'll have two portraits in the Connecticut Society of Portrait Artists (http://csopa.homestead.com) national juried show, "Faces of Spring (http://csopa.homestead.com/FacesofSpring2011.html)" opening this Friday March 11th, 6-8pm at the Lyme Art Association in Old Lyme, CT. Come see if you're in the area!

[brentos8]

Love your oils likewise, they have a great fluidity and rythm to them, looks like ur using huge brushes must be fun. I was wondering how u transfer them to screen your darks are very matte, I always get glare and crappy color reproduction when I photograph my oils. You might try larger pencils on you graphite stuff, and try holding the pencil like you would charcoal with your wrist turned down so u have more flewibility in your wrist and arm(shoulder) This seems to help me with the fluidity of my pencil work, because I also paint in oil and am used to charcoal. Obviously only, if this is a concern of yours. Take it as u will, your work is beutiful.

Keep postin:)

Thanks, keep it up

[Lyno]

Lovely colours and brush strokes :)!

[Loathsome]

I love the brushstrokes. It all looks very confident!

[RobRey]

I've recently been notified that my new painting titled, "Present Company Excluded," has recieved a Certificate of Excellence Award in the Portrait Society of America's (http://www.portraitsociety.org) 2011 International Portrait Competition! I'll be traveling to Atlanta the last weekend of April to accept the award and attend the annual PSA conference, which looks like a lot of fun. The competition recognizes only 35 paintings out of over 1,750 entries this year so I feel highly honored to receive this award. You can see some of last years award winners here (http://www.portraitsociety.org/home#!__international-portrait-competition).

1210356
Present Company Excluded - Oil, 18 x 24 inches

Also coming up, tomorrow I will be an guest artist at Montserrat College of Art, north of Boston, to give a short talk about my work. I don't know if it is open to the public.



Thanks brentos8, Lyno and Loathsome for the comments! I usually scan my paintings, brentos8. I still get glare, but I try to remove it from the file manually if possible.

Update 4/13/11: replaced the image with a better scan

[PHATandy]

Congratulations, you deserve it.
Your work is continuously amazing and always getting better.
Keep up the great work.

[RobRey]

I've made it into Spectrum 18! I don't yet know which of my entries was accepted (it wasn't the piece below,) but I'll let you know when I find out.

Below is an illustration for an issue of the Dungeons & Dragons magazine, "Dragon," that was recently released. It's for an article about "Athasian familiars" or magical wizard pets in the desert land of Athas.

1205453
Oil, 11 x 24 inches




Thanks PHATandy!

[Elophant]

WOW! Lovely stuff right here! ... soo beautiful .. love the colours.. i m just amazed!

[RobRey]

1210363
Dorrett, Oil - 9 x 12 inches



Thanks Elophant!

[RobRey]

A recent commission.

1215151
Devon and Declan - Oil, 14 x 11 inches

[kuumehike]

Your paintings are just..wow.the values etc, even the detail in some places..huge inspiration

[RobRey]

Another Monday nigh portrait.

1230293
Oil, 8 x 10 inches

I'm back from the Portrait Society of America (http://www.portraitsociety.org) Conference. I had a great time and met a lot of great people!

I also have a show of 30 paintings going up in Bristol, RI (http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&rlz=&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=525+Hope+Street,+Bristol,+RI+02809&fb=1&gl=us&hnear=Providence,+RI&cid=0,0,3400831324553162208&ei=pxPMTYfjGKjj0QHlhvDXBg&sa=X&oi=local_result&ct=image&resnum=1&ved=0CBcQnwIwAA) this Friday, May 13th until June 2nd at the Rodgers Free Library (http://www.bristolri.us/government/library/index.html) and curated by the Bristol Art Museum (http://www.bristolartmuseum.org/). A selection of portraits and still lives will be on view and for sale.


Thanks kuumehike for the comment!

[RobRey]

1236652
Nico, Oil, 8 x 10 inches

[RobRey]

1243606

Ron, Oil - 11 x 14inches

[yogeshj25]

wow great paintings you have! Great website as well. You have great concepts. My favorite works are your fantasy paintings. best of luck to your future

[RobRey]

1266295
Marly, Oil, 8 x 10 inches



Thanks yogeshj25!

[ian_ruff]

Oh wow man, I really love your portraits! Great stuff, beautiful

[RobRey]

1271562
Suzanna, Oil, 9 x 12 inches



Thanks ian_ruff!

[RobRey]

1277582
Trevor, Oil, 9 x 12 inches

[Aryeh]

ilove the color on the right side of the cheek. its so rich and luscious.

[RobRey]

1308831
Steve, Oil, 20 x 16 inches



Thanks Aryeh!

[RobRey]

1330860
Lauren, Oil, 11 x 14 inches

[Jr.Molcak]

man, you just know how the form flow. Love your brush and line works. Keep up great work.

[RobRey]

1339899
Oil, 18 x 24 inches


Thanks Jr.Molcak!

[p sage]

5 stars & sub :\

[samthemule]

nice oils!

feel very gutsy.

[RobRey]

1355571
Oil, 24 x 36 inches

This is my piece in the new Spectrum (18)! It's a poster for an independent movie called The Haunting Presence.


Thanks, samthemule and p sage!

[Isainho]

very niceeee drawings! Inspiring lol :DDD

[Pedro Cardoso]

gorgeus oils!
that last one is superb!
keep it up!!

see ya

[Mikko Voipio]

The four stars is a joke. Really really great job with this latest painting. *****

[RobRey]

1365121
Lindsay, Oil, 11 x 14 inches


Thanks Isainho, Pedro Cardoso and Placeboast!

[Adam Nowak]

Really liking the latest one, the hair's a great shape!

[Eyecager]

I've been a long time fan of your work since I found your thread on CGHub and it's been really fun watching your work over the last few years. I love the confident brush strokes on your recent work, gives such a fun texture and energy to each of the pieces.

[p sage]

You're certainly becoming a master of oils... damn. I thought that the haunted house piece was a digi.

Great work on this last, too :\

[S Ciaffaglione]

Vibrant and lovely. 5 stars

[RobRey]

1375888
Oil, 11 x 14 inches



Thanks Adam, Eyecager, p sage and Sciaffaglione!

[RobRey]

1383710
Karen, Oil, 11 x 14 inches

[The Fez]

Five stars. Immediately. The quality of your strokes destroys my world.

[RobRey]

Happy new year to you!
It's off to good start, for me. I'm honored to have recently been chosen by the selection jury of IlluXcon (http://www.illuxcon.com), the annual symposium of fantastic art, to be an exhibiting artist at the event this coming November of 2012! I'll join a formidable list (http://www.illuxcon.com/illuxcon2012artists) of 60 of the top talents working with traditional media in the field of fantastic art. If you haven't been to the show before I highly recommend it, but don't wait until November to decide. Tickets are limited and it's limited size it what makes it such a amazingly concentrated group of talent and cheerful comradery.

1393171
Chirstine, Oil, 11 x 14 inches



Thanks The Fez!

[Alrap]

Amazing oils...

[RobRey]

1398308
Nadia, Oil, 9 x 12 inches

Thanks Alrap!

[RobRey]

1404415
Dana, Oil, 9 x 12 inches

[RobRey]

Yet another portrait from the weekly sessions. I've been doing these for almost four years now and it has taught me so many important lessons. There is always something to learn and I feel like I've found something new recently that this portrait is a pretty good example of.

1415267
Michael, Oil, 9 x 12 inches

[Bakker]

Nice oils.

[JesseM]

Holy crap man, kickass portraits. o__o The energy in them, and your decisive and forceful brush strokes... the strong form and subtle focus.. ;__; I adore the one in #363. Absolutely masterful.

[RobRey]

1422204
Julie, Oil, 9 x 12 inches



Thanks Bakker and JesseM!

[GEB]

Wow ! Beautiful work, love your style

[bpic]

beautiful - very atmospheric and intimate. Thanks for sharing :)

[RobRey]

A new fine art painting. My friend and musician, Amanda Penecale, came to visit a while back. While she sat on my couch in the window light playing a few songs on her ukulele, I couldn't help but take the opportunity to plan a painting. For the full experience, go take a listen to her music here (http://www.amandapenecale.com/music.cfm)!

1429789
Oil, 18 x 24 inches



Thanks GEB and bpic!

[Jazsi]

That last piece is absolutely unreal!

[ChaosTheory]

Really loved your last piece. Lighting is awesome, and that atmosphere is really there

[RobRey]

1436719
Laura, Oil, 9 x 12 inches



Thanks Jazsi and ChaosTheory!

[f1x]

amazing brushstrokes!!

[ian_ruff]

love love love what you do with these oils. .. your economy is amazing. Great effect for a small amount of brush strokes!

[RobRey]

1441176
Beverly, Oil, 9 x 12 inches



Thanks f1x and ian_ruff!

[rich4rt]

really nice paintings, thank you for sharing!

[Bakker]

the girl on the couch is really nice. the color of the couch really helps. love the playing hand and the splash of light on her head.

thanks for the updates.

[RobRey]

Not the kind of magic you're used to seeing around here, I know. This is a private commission that I finished recently. The client requested a performance magic themed painting so I created this piece of a magician producing a dove, inspired by some of J. C. Leyendecker's arrow collar illustrations (http://i55.tinypic.com/2vkxgg7.jpg) from the last century. I think I'll call it "Grand Illusion."

1447236
Oil, 16 x 20 inches


Also, I've just been notified that my painting, Ukulele (a few posts back,) has been accepted to the Oil Painters of America (http://www.oilpaintersofamerica.com) 21st Annual National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils (http://oilpaintersofamerica.com/events/exhibitions/2012/national/index.cfm)! The show will take place from June 22nd - July 21st at Evergreen Fine Art Gallery (http://www.evergreenfineart.com/) in Evergreen, Colorado.

Thanks rich4rt and Bakker for the comments!

[jedininjaman]

Truly beautiful work, the stroke consistency nearly makes it look digital at first glance. Thank you for sharing

[RobRey]

1451704
Roark, Oil, 9 x 12 inches


Also, good news! My illustration for D&D's Dragon Magazine shown in this post (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showpost.php?p=3088437&postcount=329) was accepted to Spectrum this year!

[brentos8]

Congradulations on all of your awards they are well deserved, a pleasure as always to view your work. Really liked that magician piece, the design is awsome!

[zeezee1210]

Brilliant work! Love the coffee shop sketches most, wish my many hours in starbucks had similar quality sketches to show for it.

[Tschayssen]

that girl with the guitar! stunning!

[RobRey]

New fine art painting...
1462492
A Glimmer at the Water's Edge, Oil, 18 x 24 inches



Thanks for the comments brentos8, zeezee1210, and Tschayssen!

[Sapphirelullaby]

Absolutely beautiful art. I am considering dabbling in oils just for fun, as Acrylic is far too fast drying and a little muted for my tastes (though ive heard theres some retarder mediums that reduce drying time? i dont know, I'm such an amateur ahah!) so these are especially inspiring. Keep up the great work!

[Fléo]

wow o_o Great work !

[carakhan]

Love the flow of your drawings, and the beautiful light and color in your paints..

[Lux_Aeterna]

woah, these are breathtaking works.
now i know why the smudge tool adds such an oily look to digital works..because the effct of it is very similar to oil. :D I must say - of one picture i actually thought it was done digitally. :bashful:
you are amazing.

[RobRey]

Kate Huntington (http://www.louisagould.com/gallery/artists/19/Kate_Huntington.html) runs the portrait groups where I paint these portraits every week.
1471899
Kate, Oil, 9 x 12 inches


Thanks for the comments everyone! Sorry, I don't know much about acrylics, Sapphirelullaby, I just stick with oil and don't bother with them.

[RobRey]

1481435
Zane, Oil, 9 x 12 inches

[RobRey]

1485988
Crissy, Oil, 9 x 12 inches

I've just received word that my painting "Elegant Enigma" has been awarded an honorable mention in the Oil Painters of America (http://www.oilpaintersofamerica.com) Spring Online Showcase! I am honored to be among the winners which you can see here (http://opa.faso.com/winners/77)