Zombie Peeps...

Zombie Peeps

watercolor, 6" x 6"

Chris Beck

Last Easter, I found a box of oddly shrivelled green Peeps on the shelf at one of the local stores and initially rejected them as too creepy for Easter. But when I shifted my point of view, I decided that they might be just the thing for Halloween, so I went back and bought them. (I laugh to recall that I was worried they might not be there when I went back, two days after I first saw them. Guess shrivelled green Peeps don't say Easter to anybody else either!!)

Despite the fact that I had all the "ingredients" for a funky Halloween painting, I had a lot of other things going on and pretty much had abandoned the idea of a Peeps painting this year. But yesterday, I woke up with a bolt of inspiration.  I didn't actually get at the painting until mid-afternoon and I finished at midnight (with time out for dinner) -- quite possibly a record time for me.

So, for your Halloween viewing pleasure, Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you: Zombie Peeps!!

Mugs, mugs, and more mugs!!

There's a sale going on in my Zazzle store this week -- 40% off on all mugs until Thursday night at 11:59 PDT.  This is a great opportunity to buy your favorite mug or give one to a friend!!  Use code LUCKY4CLOVER at checkout to get the discount.

(In addition to the mugs shown above, there are four more -- two feature vintage ceramic critters and two feature coffee beans on a background inspired by African mudcloth designs.)

3rd Annual Peeps Challenge...

Hope Springs Eternal

watercolor, 6" x 6"

Chris Beck

Pod Peep-L

watercolor, 10.5" x 8"

Pablo Villicana Lara

<...cue trumpet fanfare...>  The 3rd Annual Peeps Challenge, now posted for your viewing pleasure!!  

Sugary candy, zany ideas, and painting -- what could be more fun? And if things bog down a bit, the sugary candy comes to the rescue! Thanks to Pablo for suggesting we do this again. You can pop over to his blog to read all about his marvelous Pod Peep-L.

I have to admit that a fondness for foil-wrapped chocolate eggs had a lot to do with my idea.  And having an excuse to hunt down the perfect tiny Easter basket and some great shredded paper "grass" was another point in its favor. Add to that the opportunity to pay a visit to the fabric shop for just the right piece of background fabric and you have all the things that make these challenges so much fun for me.  I took some liberties with the colors in the fabric and my edible subject materials didn't quite make it to the finish line, but who's keeping track?

Hope you enjoy our little bit of spring silliness!!

Spring Peepers - now supersized!!

 Spring Peepers
watercolor, 10" x 13"
Chris Beck

These days, everything gets supersized -- even the Peepers painting!! (OK, so supersized may be a bit of an exaggeration, but hey -- all things are relative!!) I revisited this subject this past week because the original challenge painting was a tad small for exhibition purposes. And actually, this is the second go at this size -- the first one met a sad end when I added a wash without thinking it through beforehand. We never become immune to these little "oops" moments I guess!!

I'm painting away, glad to have broken through the block that has been stifling me for quite a while now. It feels great to be back in the studio.

2nd (annual?) Peeps challenge...

Spring Peepers
watercolor, 6" x 8"
Chris Beck

Bunz
watercolor, 8" x 10"
Pablo Villicana Lara

Jackrabbit
oil on hardboard panel, 6" x 6"
Jelaine Faunce

[...drumroll here...] Ladies and Gentlemen, I am pleased to present the results of our second Peeps challenge! A big thanks to Pablo for instigating the challenge this time around. You can read about his fun and zany painting on his blog. Jelaine had some technical problems, but finally joined the fun. Go to her blog for more info.

Spring peepers were a familiar part of life in Wisconsin -- their high-pitched peeps were ubiquitous in the marshy and wooded areas as winter waned and spring sprung! As I was brainstorming my challenge painting, I glanced over at my little collection of vintage tin toys and this little froggy jumped right out!! My search for the perfect piece of background fabric yielded this silly froggy medley -- can't you almost hear them peeping??

Peeps challenge...

What Did You Expect from Marshmallow Eggs? - 6" x 8"
watercolor by Chris Beck

Me and My Peeps - 7" x 9"
watercolor by Pablo Villicana Lara

Late Bloomer - 6" x 6"
oil on cradled hardboard by Jelaine Faunce

There's nothing quite like a challenge to get the old brain cells fired up for painting -- doesn't matter if it's a serious subject or something as silly as Peeps. I've been wanting to do something with these critters for years, but I really needed some co-conspirators. Enter Jelaine and Pablo -- the best compadres you could ask for. It's such a treat to see their inspired creations!!

Like Pablo, I struggled with this painting -- some defective paper set me back not once, but twice -- and like Pablo, I wondered if my original title had somehow offended the universe. We won't go into details here -- just in case!!

For purchase information, email me: chris@chrisbeckstudio.com

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