Stape portrait by Garin Baker

Here is a portrait of me done by Garin Baker at yesterdays quickdraw event in Cranford, New Jersey. He did it in two and a half hours as that was the time limit given us. I painted a seascape.
Thise is a real fine piece of work. You know how sometimes those baseball players point with their sticks to the bleachers to show where they are going to hit the ball? Garin did that. The night before, he asked me where I was going to be painting and if he could do my portrait. He said I had a peculiar stance and he thought he could get a great picture of me out working. I'd say he did.

To do this is a matter of no little talent, not many people can do this, especially on demand. He was really on the spot there, and I think he knocked it out of the park. It won a prize in the competition. Below is his picture from the opening last night. Sorry it's so grainy but there was very little light.


Garin is a professional painter from Newburg, New York. Here is a link to his website, and to his mural company and lastly to his Carriage House Atelier.
Go check him out, this is an enormously talented guy, and funny too. Born and raised in New York, he has the confident swagger of the urban denizen, even though he has moved a few miles up the Hudson. I have enjoyed meeting the artists at this event. I think that it is so important to get out and know all of the great folks in this field. I don't usually do plein air events, but I enjoyed this one a lot.

Below is a picture I made of a green house and farm store in Cranford. It is a 11 by 14. I almost never paint small, but I did on this trip. It makes me feel boxed in. I like the freedom of a big canvas, but it was a special; event so I painted little "peashooters" as my friend T.M. Nicholas likes to call them.

This afternoon I am driving home to New Hampshire. I am looking forward to going back to work finishing my Texas stuff.