The Flyers playoff run of 2010 was two wins short of one of the greatest in all professional hockey.  Danny Briere continued to find the net and create incredible chemistry on the ice.  This painting is inspired by one of his goal celebrations during a 30-point surge in 23 playoff games.

Process and thoughts…

A quick sketch of his iconic uppercut to gauge the space.

Had the pose, but had no idea how the rest of the canvas would develop.  Discovery is a large part of my process.

The only way to find out where you are going is to get there.  Reacting to the painting as it develops.

After filling most of the canvas with orange, white, and blue a little black to set the figure.

Some times you have to go backwards to go forwards.  Hey Danny, sorry for engulfing your head in fire.

The sound and reaction of something hot hitting water and it instantly turning to steam is similar to that of 20,000 fans on their feet.

A quick rectangle to help me ground the figure in the atomosphere.  I was thinking about the reproduced image.  We use them to remember things.  Collective and individual memory is cultivated from videos and photographs.  Rectangular media.

Time to get rid  the blue except for the ice and a little bit in the glass.

Get Flyered up! Danny Briere lights the lamp.  The red trim and the yellow dasher make an appearance.

Can you see any subliminal messages in the flames?  There’s a Flyers symbol, and a “D”…

A Flyers symbol, his initials (D and B), and the number 48.  His uppercut fracturing the lens of reality all around him.

Danny I don’t mind if you take it easy during the 2012 season, but unleash the beast come playoffs.

1 of 30 Danny Briere | 18 x 24 inches | graphite, acrylic, and oil on canvas | 2011 | Available

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When the game is on the line, especially in the playoffs, Briere is a lethal weapon.  He probably has the best tight game in the league, and very sneaky. Boom!

Next up…. Claude Giroux #28.

This painting is available for purchase.  I am currently accepting a limited number of new commissions.   If you are interested in a sports player/moment commission, or different type of commission contact me directly.

Recent Hockey Paintings

Chris Pronger | oil, acrylic, graphite on canvas | 12 x 12 inches | 2011

Jaromir Jagr | acrylic, oil, pen, collage, and cloth on canvas | 11 x 14 inches | 2011 | Ari Lankin

Immortal Captain | oil on canvas | 30 x 30 inches | 2011 | Ari Lankin

Lord Stanley's Castle | 30 x 30 inches | oil on canvas |2011 | Ari Lankin

Look up at that Bald Eagle.  A symbolic bird with a majestic presence.

The client and I agreed that the soaring Bald Eagle is a feast for the eyes.  The bird is still, with wings proudly outstretched, gliding through the air at speeds up to 45mph.  Power and grace.

It reminded me of the eagles from my youth in Pennsylvania, to the predator birds on my cross-country trip of Argentina, and  of course the Bald Eagles of my annual summer trips to Maine.

Let’s take a look at how this commission developed…

A loose graphite sketch exploring scale and placement.  Similar to Gaughin’s methods of drawing outlines in blue pencil.

Building from the process in my CMYK paintings I start with magenta. Positive and negative space.

Coming in with Cyan (blue) to divide the space even more, and start to tease out details of the eagle.

CMYK: Y is for yellow.

And K, is for “key“, better known as black.

Filling the foreground to establish a horizon in the background.

A blend of black on the water to accentuate a feeling of flatness relative to the flying eagle.

Now that the coastline is cohesive the space is really starting to be defined.  I’m exaggerating the highlights on the eagle to pop it forward.

Using one of my favorite blues to fill in the atmosphere of the sky.

Building the ocean up with more realistic colors, in the final version you can feel the warmth of the red underneath.

Right before its finished the sea darkens with texture, the mountains crystalize out-of-focus in the background, and the final details are added to the Bald Eagle.

Soaring Bald Eagle (for CZ) | oil, acrylic, and graphite on canvas | 14 x 18 inches | 2011

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The final painting is a realistic portrayal with a signature painterly handling of the paint.

If you are interested in a commission contact me directly info@arilankin.com

The above piece is part of the WISH NYC benefit taking place tonight at Lavo to support the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

I’m very enthusiastic to be part of this worthy cause.

Join in on the fun, and help make dreams come true.

You can make donations here at any time.

EVENT DETAILS

Location: Lavo, 39 East 58th Street, New York, NY 10022

Date: Thursday, November 17th, 2011

Organization: The Make-A-Wish Foundation

Tickets: $150

Event Site: Toast To Wishes

+ - | ink on paper | 18 x 24 | inches | 2008

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