Just off the easel and great for the holidays. I was inspired by my good friend and author, Todd Casey who wrote "The Art of Still Life" and "The Oil Painters Color Handbook". He also illustrated a cute little cocktail book with about 60 cocktails called "The Art of the Cocktail".

My concept was to highlight a cocktail theme and combine it with Christmas. This resulted in the Red and Green Holiday colors such as the red-striped martini glass, red and green olives,  and a red ornament.

I love the design of this painting with the center of interest being a COLD (shaken until you can skate on it) martini with supporting players looking in towards it. I had to pull out my favorite new Trekell brushes with fine points to get all the various shapes and angles just how I wanted them. I also strived to get the lusciousness and the color of the olives and the feeling of an "iced" martini shaker -- which I think both were a success.

If you have an interest in this painting, let me know. It's 12" x 9" framed in a silver frame and perfect to coordinate with holiday decorations! It's not varnished yet, but by Christmas it should be!

Anyway, enjoy, Happy Holidays to you and yours!