Sketches: "Young Girl in Pink", Tamara de Lempicka, DYM, 12/2024

So many fantastic Art Deco portraits at the De Young Museum. Get out to Golden Gate Park and enjoy the Tamara de Lempicka exhibit.

Young Girl in Pink, Tamara de Lempicka, DYM 12/2024

CowaBunGA
 

Sketches: "Amy Sherald: American Sublime", SFMOMA, 11/2024

Check out the Amy Sherald exhibit at the SFMOMA. In addition to the Michelle Obama and Breonna Taylor portraits, there are approximately 50 portraits of Black American life. "All Things Bright and Beautiful" caught my attention and I felt compelled to sketch:

"All things Bright and Beautiful", Sherald, SFMOMA, 11/2024

The portrait has a Japanese pop energy and the colors are vibrant (although not presented in my sketch). Another portrait that got me to sketch was "Guide Me no More"

"Guide me no More", Sherald, SFMOMA, 11/2024

I enjoyed the mystical composition of the floating ship with the subject in the portrait. Go see the show if you are in SF.

CoWaBunGA!   

Black Friday Sale: Mini Masterpieces at RCW, through 12/31/2024

Looking for Humpback whale or Surf otter art this Holiday? Look no further, Bill Jeng Studio started its Black Friday Sale tomorrow through the end of 2024. The works are on exhibit at Rhythmix Cultural Works at 2513 Blanding Avenue in Alameda California. The whale and otter original paintings, framed, are ALL on SALE:

"Fisherman encounters Whale", now on SALE

 

"This is Easy" now on SALE

HappY ThanksgivinG everyone!

CoWaBunGA!

Cafe Sketches: Sobo Ramen, Oakland 09/2024

Nestled in Oakland Chinatown, Sobo Ramen has been serving traditional ramen since the mid 2000's. This was one of my go-to lunch spots when I worked in downtown Oakland. The standard tonkotsu is wonderful, with tender char-siu and perfectly cooked soy marinated egg. Now that we are in the middle of Fall, it's a great time to warm up with ramen.

Sobo Ramen, Oakland, 9/2024

 Happy ThanksGiving everyone!

CoWaBunGA

Mini-Masterpieces 2024 Show, 11/8 through 12/20

Feeling that Fall chill in the air? Maybe, it's not only the cooler air but also your need to soothe your soul with art. In any case, it's time for the Mini-Masterpieces Show, 2024, at Rhythmix Cultural Works in Alameda California. Join us for the Opening Reception on November 8, from 6:00 to 9:00 pm.

Bill Jeng's display

Alice Dockter's display

Fitz's Display

Artist Jodi busy at work setting up

Sometimes, even the Artists do not have the answers...

But, Artists keep on working through all the haze!

Hope to see you there.

CoWaBunGA!!!

Art Commission: Beanie the Cat, 11/2024

Busy with art commissions this Fall. My college classmate Galen contacted me to see if she could commission me to create an artwork for her daughter. The image is of her daughter's cat "Beanie". Here is the finished artwork and the progress GIF.

"Beanie the Cat", acrylic and color pencil on wood, 11/2024

 

In-progress GIF of the various layers for "Beanie the Cat" commission

Thanks Galen for supporting local artists and not AI art-bots!

CoWaBunGA!!

Halloween 2024

My wife noticed that our Halloween decorations were getting stale. Here are a couple of creatures to freshen up our fright...

"DeAth DoG", cardboard, tape, acrylic paint, 10/2024

 

DeAth DoG is not your best friend... BeWaRe

DeAth DoG in progress

"Sponge Death Square Pants", cardboard, tape, acrylic paint, 10/2024

Sponge DeAth Square Pants in progress

CoWaBunGA!

Art Commission: Old Oakland, 8th & Washington, 10/2024

Back when I was working in downtown Oakland, my favorite destination was the neighborhood of Old Oakland, with the Victorian buildings, cute cafes and restaurants, and Swans Market. So, when my former co-worker Michelle S. asked if I could paint her a scene of 8th Street, I was delighted. Here are the finished painting and the GIF showing the progress:

Old Oakland, 8th & Washington, 20 x 16, acrylic and pencil on paper, 10/2024

Michelle's Commission in progress...

Painting those Victorian details can really open your eyes about how much craftsmanship goes into constructing one of these old buildings. Like people say, "they don't build them like that anymore"

CoWaBunGA

Sketches: "Her Sadness", Tamara de Lempicka, DeYoung Museum, 10/2024

Fantastic show at the DeYoung Museum: Tamara de Lempicka. I was blown away by the luscious colors and art deco styling by Lempicka. The portraits portray a stylized vision of the subject but also capture the subject's personality and quirks. I'll be going back for sure. 

CoWaBunGA!

Cafe Sketches: Mikomi Sushi, Alhambra, 9/2024

Mikomi Sushi was a delightful find for us. We were seeking a Japanese dinner in SoCal and found Mikomi in Alhambra. The interior was dramatic with colorful lighting and great wood slatted paneling. More importantly, the sushi was very good.

Mikomi Sushi, Alhambra, 9/2024

 CowaBunGA

Construction Series: Corner Column-Beam moment connection Sketch

There are so many beautiful connections that the public will never see because they are buried behind the architectural finish. Engineers will just have to draw them for you to appreciate what's behind the wall.

Study for Column-beam moment connection, color pencil on paper

CoWaBunGA!
 

Cafe Sketches: 2025 Calendar; Chicago, LA, NY

They are here: 2025 Cafe Sketches desk calendars! The calendar features restaurants and cafes that were sketched in Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York cities. They will be available for sale ($25) at the Mini-Masterpieces show and holiday sale at Rhythmix Cultural Works in Alameda CA, starting in November 2024. 

2025 Cafe Sketches Calendar, 8"x 8", self-standing desk calendar

 

Ming-Hin Cuisine in Chicago, April 2025

China Cafe, Grand Central Market, Los Angeles, July 2025

Juniors, Times Square, New York City, March 2025

I have a limited number of 2025 desk calendars now if you would like an advanced copy. Just DM or email me with "2025CSC" in the subject title and include your name, contact information, and shipping address. For advanced sales, I will cover the shipping costs within the $25 sales price.

CoWaBunGA!

Art commission: Cooper and Benny, 9/2024

My friend, and fellow Art Jammer, Darv commissioned me to create an artwork based on a favorite photograph. The fun part of this project was that Darv asked to incorporate design elements popular in the 80's, similar to Max Headroom. That was a blast from the past...

"Cooper and Benny", acrylic and color pencil on wood, 9/2024

The work was created on wood and textured by carving. The final presentation included a custom stand.

Stand included in the final presentation

Here is a GIF showing the progression of the work.

Progress animation of "Cooper and Benny"

CoWaBunGA!

  

Construction Series: Bay Bridge horseshoe, painting and study

After the Loma Prieta earthquake, the damaged freeways, bridges, and viaducts required complete reconstruction up to the Bay Bridge toll plaza. I was involved with the design and construction of the new structures and was onsite when the horseshoe flyover was jacked into place. It was quite an engineering feat.

Cypress 02, acrylic on canvas, 48 x 48

This is the preliminary study for the Cypress painting, working out the composition and amount of detail to include.

Study sketch for Cypress 02, ink and color pencil on paper

CoWaBunGA!

  

Sketches: Sphinx by Simone Leigh, LACMA, 9/2024

Great show at the LACMA of Simone Leigh's works. These two sculptures captured my attention:

Sphinx, Simone Leigh, LACMA, 9/2024

 

Nice kitties, sitting very still...

CoWaBunGA!

Sketches: Art display, date and place unknown

Getting close to Fall in Northern California and it's a dreary day. I'm not sure when or where I sketched this, but it was a moody art display that complements this day. Enjoy.

Art display, unknown date and place

 CoWaBunGA

Sketches: Night rider, 9/2015

Riding through the mountain roads at dusk or dawn can be exhilarating. This scene is still tickling my painter bone.

CowaBunGA

Sketches: Owl by Lucy Lewis, Cantor Arts Center, 9/2024

Sometimes you just experience love at first sight...

Owl by Lucy Lewis, Cantor Arts Center, 9/2024

 

You can bury me in this with the Owl...

Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University.

CoWaBunGA

Sketches: Seated Girl II, Neri and Brown, DeYoung - 09/2024

One of the niceties of visiting a world-class museum during a random weekday is that you pretty much have the place to yourself. You can just park yourself next to great artwork and admire, or sketch, and not be interrupted.

Seated Girl II, Manuel Neri and Joan Brown, 1963, DeYoung Museum

CoWaBunGA

Fog City Java, 9/2024

During the month of September, 2024, I will be showing artwork at Fog City Java, 580 Crespi Drive, Pacifica, California. Fog City Java is one of my favorite cafes to exhibit my artwork and this show has become an annual event. This September, I am showing recent works depicting our local Surf Otter 841, a hybrid art collaboration with AI, and paintings from my surf archive.

 

If you happen to be in Pacifica this September, stop in and check it out. 

CoWABunGA

Hybrid Art Exploration: Startled fisherman

Partially inspired by watching whales at the Golden Gate Bridge, this was the prompt to Gemini - write a haiku about a fisherman encountering a breaching whale. Here was Gemini's response:

"Ocean giant swims. Breaching water, startled man. Fear and awe collide."

Hybrid Art Collaboration, Whale and Fisherman, acrylic and pencil on paper, 8/2024

 CowaBunGA

Hybrid Art Exploration: Humpbacks at sunset

More explorations with AI. The prompt: write a haiku about whales at sunset.

Gemini's response:

"Ocean giants dance. Golden rays paint playful scene. Nature's ballet."

Humpbacks at sunset, acrylic and pencil on paper, 08/2024

 Nice one Gemini.

CoWaBunGA

Construction Series: K-brace and sketch study

Sketch studies are very helpful for composition and color selection. Here is the final painting and sketch study for K-brace:

K-brace, acrylic on canvas, 5/95

Here is the sketch study:

CoWABunGA
 

Construction Series: Shear Connector painting and sketch study

To study the colors for a final Construction Series painting, sometimes I prepare thumbnail sketches to test out various combinations to find the right colors. Here is an example of the final painting and the initial test sketch:

"Shear Connector", acrylic on canvas, 3/1995

Thumbnail sketch of "Shear Connector" - yes, that's my thumb at the bottom.

CoWaBunGA!