A Proud Moment

Posted by Jerry Cave
John and Debbie, 22” x 28” original acrylic on canvas.

Everyone who knows me knows that I have a fondness for really good tequila. Several years ago a close friend gifted me a bottle of Señor Rio añejo tequila, and it was signed by the owner, John Gach – an Arizona man! Señor Rio is locally owned, but made in Jalisco, Mexico. It was a very special gift. Fast forward, I met John’s wife, Debbie for lunch to find out that, sadly, John had passed away about a year ago. Debbie had seen my work at Los Dos Molinos in Mesa, and asked if she could commission me to paint a portrait of her and John. It was an honor to do so.

Portraits can be difficult, especially if you know the person (or people). I had never met John, but Debbie provided me with a number of pictures of him, and her, and them together. John was a dynamic man – an avid body builder with a variety of tattoos on both of his huge arms, which made the painting interesting and challenging. Getting both John and Debbie just right was a struggle, and I also incorporated a bottle of Señor Rio – per Debbie’s request. In the end I was pleased with the result, and Debbie was as well. She recently had the painting framed and sent me a photo of it. She knew exactly what end result she wanted, and the framed portrait looks amazing. The right frame can totally change a painting’s look.

Debbie was featured on Fox 10 news in Phoenix. Señor Rio is a great success story, and a very happy reminder to me of the process of painting John and Debbie’s portrait.

One Thing Leads To Another

Posted by Jerry Cave
Sweet Brandi
Title: Sweet Brandi
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 12″ x 16″
Buy Print: N/A
Buy Original: N/A

The last few months have been rather exciting and a bit crazy at Lazy K Studio. I’ve had quite a lot of commission work, and I’m really enjoying it.

Prior to Christmas, a good friend asked me to paint a portrait of their family dog, Brandi, who sadly had recently passed. I did the work, which was a real joy as it was to be a surprise for the husband. The painting came out nicely, and when I posted it to Facebook, the response was amazing.

Since then, three other people have asked me to paint portraits of their dogs, and another asked for a portrait of a cat. So, it’s been rather busy, and thoroughly enjoyable. I have the opportunity to paint completely different subjects–call them portraits–and now I’m wondering: Where do I go from here?

Continue reading →

It’s Always the Fine Print That Gets You

Posted by Editorial Staff
Dickel 142
Title: Dickel #142
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 12″ x 16″
Buy Print: ($135)
Buy Original: N/A

George Dickel nine-year whiskey is an excellent liquor, and the hand-written label makes it even more special.

This was a commission piece for some friends to give their son for his birthday. The 12-inch by 16-inch size of the commissioned work required that the lettering of the label be extremely tiny, making it particularly difficult to paint. It was a challenge to get just right, but worth the effort.

Hither and Thither

Posted by Jerry Cave

I’m fortunate, and feel honored, to have my work in so many places, both here in the United States and internationally. Below are some recent shots of my art that I’m thrilled to see in peoples’ homes and offices.

Jim and Gail Shaner

Shaner ReservaJim and Gail are great friends, and we each have several pieces of each others’ work in our homes. Jim is a very talented metal sculptor, and Gail creates beautiful custom jewelry. This is a shot of Jim with Reserva, a milestone birthday present from Gail, in their home in Gilbert, Arizona. Thank you Jim and Gail for your endless encouragement and friendship! Continue reading →

This One Turned Out To Be a Dud…

Posted by Jerry Cave

Milk Duds
Title: Milk Duds
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 16″ x 20″
Buy Print: ($200)
Buy Original: contact artist

I’ve always loved Milk Duds. It is nearly impossible for me to watch a movie without them. I know exactly what they taste like, and I thought I knew what they looked like; however, the close scrutiny required to paint them revealed not only that Milk Duds are not round, but that they are not uniform. They have dents and scuff marks that make each unique. That uniqueness made this painting a bit more difficult to get right. I wanted the effect to be as dimensional as I could muster, and the shadows made everything kind of pop. The Duds were intended to be the star of the painting, but the box got my attention, too. The box offered much more detail than the Milk Duds themselves.

These Milk Duds are yet another kind of shiny, and I hope that I’ve captured them well. The last thing I’d want to do is to disappoint another Milk Dud fan.

Now to find the perfect movie…

Who Are They?

Posted by Jerry Cave

I’ve made many references to the wonderful people who make it possible for me to offer fine art giclée prints of my work–some of them are Eric and Lynn at Image and Frame, as well as Davin at Method Art–all in Scottsdale. However, there are some others whom I want to mention and thank.

John Gabaldon and 1942
John Gabaldon of Los Dos Molinos (left) and 1942

One day, while I was having lunch at Los Dos Molinos in Mesa, I just happened to have my iPad open with my artwork on it. John Gabaldon, Los Dos Molinos general manager, stopped at our table (as he always does) and on a whim, I asked if he would ever be interested in putting some tequila art up in the restaurant. He looked at a couple of photos of my work, and said, “You painted that? Absolutely! I’ll give you this entire wall.” I asked how many pieces he wanted me to bring in, and he said, “All of them!” That began a whole new friendship between me and John, and a new relationship between me and Los Dos Molinos.

A few months after selling some of my prints, John asked if I’d be interested in displaying in another restaurant–one he owns in Gilbert–called La Ristra New Mexican Kitchen and Tequila Bar. Of course I agreed, and soon visited his son, John Jr., bringing with me a number of pieces to display there. And that John also began selling my work. Needless to say, I am so grateful to these folks for what they do to promote my work without expecting anything in return, I’ve donated a couple of pieces to them here and there. I would never have the exposure I enjoy today without them. So a HUGE thank you to both John Gabaldons and the crews at Los Dos Molinos and La Ristra. Your support and encouragement means a great deal to me.

If that weren’t enough, those two restaurants also deliver some of the best New Mexican cuisine in the Valley. Please help me return the favor and have lunch or dinner there if you haven’t already. Their food is excellent, and the salsas (Hatch chiles) are exquisite.