Raymond Bonilla

"Off The 220" mixed media on panel

2012-01-28T00:08:00.002-05:00

More Experiments

2012-01-20T22:35:00.002-05:00

Trying some stuff out. I'll be posting some new illustration stuff that I am working on soon. The mediums are prismacolor,gouache and acrylic. Enjoy

Selections From The Sketchbook

2012-01-11T17:49:00.009-05:00

Happy New Year everyone! While Taking some time off and visiting family and friends I bought along my moleskine and some paints to keep my hands moving. To do these I mostly prismacolor pencil,gel medium, gouache and acrylics. Enjoy

Additional note: I also just received word that I my piece High plains Fandango was selected for this years Society of Illustrators LA!

Dance Ensemble Final Poster

2011-12-21T13:40:00.001-05:00

Here is the final poster with typography ( Designed by Ashlee Bueg)

Dance Ensemble

2011-12-11T10:33:00.004-05:00

Hey Everyone,

Sorry for the lack of updates. Between working on NDA stuff and another teaching semester wrapping up my blog has been neglected. Here is a poster I just finished up for SUNY Fredonia's 201-2012 theater and dance season. Enjoy!

The Baron Vladimir Harkonnen

2011-10-31T23:37:00.011-04:00

Duncan Idaho: Sword Master

2011-10-24T22:24:00.013-04:00

head study for Duncan Idaho

2011-10-10T17:17:00.005-04:00

A quick head study in preparation for my next piece based on Frank Herbert's DUNE

"Shai-Hulud"

2011-10-07T16:13:00.006-04:00

Here is the final version of the new DUNE painting I was working on. Enjoy!

"Shai-Hulud" in progress

2011-10-06T16:00:00.004-04:00

This is an in progress pic of the next DUNE piece I am working on. Enjoy!

High Plains Fandango

2011-09-30T11:20:00.003-04:00

Here is the final pre-type painted version of the latest theater poster that I am doing for SUNY Fredonia's Department of Theater and Dance 2011-2012 season. I'll update the post with the final poster once the typography gets approved. Enjoy!

Duke Leto Atreides

2011-09-26T21:01:00.005-04:00

This is one piece in a group of illustrations that I am plan on doing based off of Frank Hebert's DUNE . I just finished reading the novel and its loading with awesome imagery.

Thanks again to T-Bone and EJ for the feedback

Welcome Back Bonilla and Sketches for Upcoming Poster Illustration

2011-09-23T23:42:00.003-04:00

Hey everyone ,
Sorry about the lack of updates. Taking a minor vacation in August, Teaching season starting, and attempting to finish a bunch of gallery paintings/illustrations, has left my blog unattended to. But fear not, I'm back and to kick off my return I'm showing some early stages of a new theater poster that I am illustrating. More to come soon.....

The Wizard Battle

2011-08-10T21:52:00.022-04:00

EDIT: After some great feedback from Tyler, Eric, and Jamie I worked on this one some more.

Macbeth

2011-08-04T09:17:00.008-04:00

This is the second of the five posters that SUNY Fredonia commissioned me to do for their 2011-12 theater season.

Thanks to my buddy Tyler for his feedback with these

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

2011-08-03T10:15:00.002-04:00

I was recently commissioned to create theater posters for the SUNY Fredonia Department of Theater and Dance 2011-2012 season. This is the first of five.

The Collector

2011-08-02T00:50:00.014-04:00

Sketch for The Collector

2011-07-31T22:03:00.003-04:00

sketch for the next pulp piece I am working on. Enjoy!

Tales of a P.I.

2011-07-28T11:05:00.008-04:00

Jack Black

2011-07-22T21:32:00.004-04:00

The Night Raid

2011-07-18T19:35:00.019-04:00

Phillip Seymour Hoffman

2011-07-13T23:01:00.005-04:00

Editorial illustration

2011-07-13T09:00:00.002-04:00

Illustration based on a article discussing the Casey Anthony Murder Trial

Experiment

2011-07-11T23:14:00.001-04:00

color study for "Tabernacle"

2011-07-08T08:38:00.000-04:00

Experiment

2011-07-06T09:52:00.003-04:00

Experiment

2011-07-04T09:31:00.000-04:00

"O"

2011-07-01T15:45:00.004-04:00

after many false starts this one is done.

For The Dean - Gene Colan 1926-2011

2011-06-28T01:23:00.000-04:00

Master Copy

2011-06-27T11:42:00.001-04:00

Did a master copy ( which paels in comparison to the original) of an beautiful Walter M.Baumhofer painting. I had learned alot on this one.Enjoy!

Experiment

2011-06-25T20:40:00.000-04:00

Sketch for "Tabernacle"

2011-06-22T09:44:00.001-04:00

Experiment

2011-06-18T16:44:00.000-04:00

I've trying to take time out to experiment with different approaches to creating images. I'll be posting them every so often. Enjoy!

Some paintings in progress

2011-06-08T16:03:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone, sorry about the lack of updates. I am finishing up a bunch of paintings and I will be posting them as I put the finishing touches on them. In the meantime here are pics of three paintings in progress. Enjoy!

R.I.P Kazuhiko Sano 1952-2011

2011-05-31T22:57:00.000-04:00

I just received word the great artist Kazu Sano passed today. I only met him a few times but those chance meetings with Kazu made an impact on me that I will carry on for the rest of my life. I first saw Kazu's artwork while in undergrad at SUNY Fredonia. A friend of mines bought in an old National Geographic from the 90's with "some awesome paintings of dinosaurs". Seeing those paintings blew me away. I later found out that Kazu was also the poster artist behind Star Wars:Return of the Jedi, another image that ignited my imagination and propelled me into my eventual life as an artist.

During my graduate studies at the Academy of Art University ,Kazu was on the approval committees from mid-term and thesis. I will always remember how kind and soft spoken he was. I was flabbergasted on how such an unassuming gentleman was responsible for the legendary illustrations that dominated a good portion of the illustration world especially during the 80's and 90's.

One of my last memories of Kazu came at the end of my thesis approval committee. While I was proud of the work I had done I was heartbroken by the lukewarm response I received from some of the committee members on work that had taken me an year and a half to complete. While packing up my things in order to allow the committee members to go to lunch Kazu calmly came over to me were I was gave me the one of the greatest compliments that I have ever received he told me that he really enjoyed my work and that it" made me want to tell stories of my own" he said. After that I thanked him and realized that I was going to stop at nothing at making my dreams come true.

Kazuhiko Sano was a great artist and evermore a great man. Anyone who has ever had the pleasure of meeting him will tell you the same. The world has truly lost someone great. My condolences go out to his friends and family.

Below are some of Kazu's powerful work

THOR THURSDAY

2011-05-05T21:54:00.000-04:00

I was very honored to be Invited by killer artist REAU to contribute to his blog THOR THURSDAY. Above is the sketch and final piece in Acrylics. BE sure to check out the link for the AWESOME group of artist that were asked to contribute, I was happily humbled by the greatness that was assembled. Thanks again to REAU for the invite.

NOTE:Both items are for sale if anybody is interested.

8x10 mixed media Sketch : $65 plus shipping
16x20 acrylic painting:$250 plus shipping
If you Buy Both: $300 plus shipping

Feel free to shoot me an email at ray@raymondbonilla.com if you are interested.

The Three Kings

2011-04-22T14:23:00.001-04:00

Just finished a three painting series chronicling interviews with the Three janitors that work at the building I teach in. All three paintings are oil on Masonite roughly 18x24in. Enjoy!

Sketch for "Untitled 2 (lazarus)"

2011-04-11T01:33:00.000-04:00

Sketch for "Untitled 1 (upper franklin)"

2011-04-09T12:52:00.000-04:00

The Beast

2011-03-30T00:53:00.000-04:00

Colored the Black and white human/animal hybrid piece using the process of glazing with acrylic washes and scumbling with colored pencils.This was a process made famous by the artist Richard Amsel .

"O" in progress

2011-03-27T14:07:00.000-04:00

This is an acrylic Underpainting for an portrait I am working on for my portrait portfolio. Now on to glazing

The Day before Thanksgiving III -14x24 -oil on canvas

2011-03-14T10:05:00.000-04:00

The Day before Thanksgiving II -12x20 -oil on canvas

2011-03-13T13:28:00.000-04:00

The Day before Thanksgiving I -12x20 -oil on canvas

2011-03-12T13:40:00.000-05:00

SUNY FREDONIA Birthday Card

2011-02-28T23:03:00.000-05:00

Recently was I asked by the art department in the university I teach at to design a birthday card for the students. For those wondering, the cake is the art building and the cupcake is a sculpture that sits permanently outside.

Life Drawing Demo

2011-02-13T13:36:00.000-05:00

EDIT: Took a better photo of the portrait. The last one had some camera distortion.

sketch for "O"

2011-02-04T12:25:00.000-05:00

Illustration Demo

2011-01-28T15:45:00.000-05:00

Had some fun with an Illustration demo that I did to show my students how to use multiple sources of reference to create an imaginary picture.

Life Drawing Demo

2011-01-26T20:44:00.000-05:00

Here is another demo I did last semester for my Life Drawing class

Fitz-acrylic/digital

2011-01-23T22:27:00.000-05:00

Portrait of NFL quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick based on an Article about the him emerging as the Buffalo Bills starting quarterback.

another sketchbook quick study

2011-01-20T00:49:00.000-05:00

Apple Time -Acrylic

2011-01-16T00:55:00.000-05:00

Since I couldn't go paint at the University were I teach ( they have ventilated rooms where I paint ) I painted this quick apple study in my sketchbook to keep my hands moving.

New Website

2011-01-12T19:58:00.001-05:00

I am happy to announce that I just finished up my new website. With the exception of my most recent portraits ( which I will be posting once I finish the last one ) it has all of my work plus information on where to purchase it. So come one and come all to www.raymondbonilla.com!

color sketch for WIN / PLACE/ SHOW untitled

2011-01-11T14:41:00.001-05:00

Here is a scan of a small color sketch for a new painting I'm working on. I'll try and update it with a better picture.I've been reading alot of Harvey Dunn's notes: An Evening in the Classroom and am learning a ton about picture making. I'm looking forward to getting the final canvases painted to see if what I have learn shows hope in them.

sketch for "The Day before Thanksgiving"

2010-12-29T18:22:00.001-05:00

Selections from the Sketchbook

2010-12-27T03:00:00.000-05:00

Selections from the Sketchbook

2010-12-26T03:00:00.000-05:00

Selections from the Sketchbook

2010-12-25T22:03:00.000-05:00

color Sketch for "The Day before Thanksgiving"

2010-12-19T00:16:00.001-05:00

Dan _____ 17x23 oil on panel

2010-12-16T03:00:00.000-05:00

Dan is a janitor from Buffalo,NY.

When I interviewed him, we talked about the accents and surnames of polish families in western New York. He told him me in his case he doesn't actually know what his last name is . In fact, no one in hi family knew.

Apparently right before the start of World War II, Dan's family fled the country after learning that the Russians were invading the east side of Poland where they lived. After arriving at Ellis Island the family where almost in the country when the customs officer asked them for their surname. Terrified of the repercussions they would have to endure had the Russians found out they fled the country ,they said nothing. But just when they thought they were going to be refused citizenship the customs officer revealed himself to be Polish, asked what town in Poland they were from and used that as their new surname.

After years came and gone and Dan's family members that immigrated from Poland passed away the true surname of his family was kept secret .

He told me that the last person to know the surname was his grandmother and even on her death bed decades after World War II she never revealed the family's true name for fear that the Russians would find out....

The Three Kings :Pete (Randy)- 17x23 oil on panel

2010-12-14T20:37:00.001-05:00

Randy is janitor from Minnesota but lives in the small blue collar town on Gowanda,New York.

When I interviewed him he told me how he was a huge Pink Floyd and Roger Waters fan
and has seen them every time they would play in the area.
One particular time he met Roger Waters and had gotten his signature.
But when Waters asked him who should he make it out to
Randy said "Make it out to Pete".
When I heard this I said "Who's Pete?"
He said "Well I usually got by Pete"
I said "So thats your middle name"
He said "Nope."
"Where did it come from?" I said
He said "My parents would always called me that for some reason"
I laughed and said "For some reason?"
He said "Yeah, and they called my brother "Pistol""....

Color Sketch for "The Day before Thanksgiving"

2010-12-14T07:19:00.000-05:00

sketch for "Bob"

2010-12-12T22:07:00.000-05:00

Sketch for "The Day before Thanksgiving"

2010-12-09T03:00:00.000-05:00

Sketch for "The Day before Thanksgiving"

2010-12-08T03:00:00.000-05:00

Sketch for "The Day before Thanksgiving"

2010-12-06T06:31:00.001-05:00

Hi everyone,

I apologize for the lack of updates. between running around for the holidays,prepping school finals for my classes and recovering from an nasty stomach flu I haven't had the chance to update my blog. This and the next two images will be part of a 3 image visual essay entitled "The Day Before Thanksgiving". Its a reflection on watching my mother and grandmother prepare thanksgiving dinner. It is a tradition that has been going on for quite some time. Enjoy!

Joaquin Phoenix

2010-10-16T09:37:00.000-04:00

"And so the Descent began"

2010-10-09T01:02:00.000-04:00

"You Don't find The Elephant King unless it wants to be found...And pray to God it doesn't decide to... "

2010-10-06T23:33:00.001-04:00

Here is the final teaser painting for a story I am developing....pure pulp

Study for "The Descent "

2010-09-16T07:39:00.000-04:00

coming soon....

2010-09-13T18:06:00.000-04:00

"Mirror Mirror" at the Meyer Gallery

2010-09-06T00:15:00.000-04:00

I have just recently returned from a weekend trip to Park City, Utah for a group show that I was participating in at the Meyer Gallery. The gallery staff: Susan Meyer Tom Cushman and Nancy Samson were extremely warm and welcoming. I also had the pleasure to spend the night chatting with the extremely talented Jim Rennert, Emily McPhie, Justin Taylor, and Brain Kershisnik. We had alot of fun talking art and laughing over spaghetti and red wine .Thank you everyone for the delightful, humbling and inspiring night. Now back to painting!

Here's The info on the show for those interested

Mirror, Mirror Modern Figurative Meyer Gallery
Date : From Saturday, September 04 2010 - 11:00am
To Tuesday, September 21 2010 - 5:00am
Location : 305 Main Street Park City, Ut
Contact Info : 435-649-8160

O

2010-08-25T00:15:00.001-04:00

preview of the early stages of another piece I'm working up. I'll post the final studies and the piece itself soon.

Study for Joaquin Phoenix

2010-08-20T22:25:00.000-04:00

tried some color in this version.

Study for Joaquin Phoenix

2010-08-19T00:12:00.000-04:00

Study for another piece for my Illustration Portrait portfolio

"Liberty Ave" 24x18-oil on panel

2010-08-14T02:18:00.001-04:00

The last of the 5 paintings being exhibited at :

"The Modern Figure"
Opening Reception Saturday September 4th 6pm to 8pm
305 Main Street
Park City, Utah
84060

(435) 649.8160
info@meyergallery.com

HOURS

10am to 5pm Monday - Thursday
10am to 9pm Friday, Saturday 11am to 5pm Sunday

"Repose II" 24x36 oil on canvas

2010-08-12T03:46:00.000-04:00

Meyer Gallery
"The Modern Figure"
Opening Reception Saturday September 4th 6pm to 8pm
305 Main Street
Park City, Utah
84060

(435) 649.8160
info@meyergallery.com

HOURS

10am to 5pm Monday - Thursday
10am to 9pm Friday, Saturday 11am to 5pm Sunday

"New Morning, New York" 24x36 oil on canvas

2010-08-10T15:35:00.001-04:00

Available at :

Meyer Gallery
"The Modern Figure"
Opening Reception Saturday September 4th 6pm to 8pm
305 Main Street
Park City, Utah
84060

(435) 649.8160
info@meyergallery.com

HOURS

10am to 5pm Monday - Thursday
10am to 9pm Friday, Saturday 11am to 5pm Sunday

"HELLO... IS IT MEEEE YOUR LOOKING FOOOR?!"

2010-08-03T21:03:00.000-04:00

Sorry about the lack of updates everyone. Between traveling, furiously painting for a group show, and a lack of internet connection between it all, I haven't had the chance to update my blog. I just wanted to assure my millions of viewers (by millions I mean 5 ;) )that I am alive and I will be back to updating the blog soon with new stuff!

color sketch for WIN / PLACE/ SHOW III

2010-07-14T12:39:00.001-04:00

"Bob"18x24-oil on panel

2010-07-09T13:26:00.000-04:00

Color Sketch:"Liberty Avenue"

2010-07-07T19:51:00.000-04:00

Days of Demo

2010-06-29T11:31:00.000-04:00

I recently finished teaching a summer drawing class. It was a small class so i was able to draw with the students and actually finish off some drawings.

"Repose"18x24-oil on panel

2010-06-24T22:24:00.000-04:00

Meyer Gallery

"The Modern Figure"
Opening Reception Saturday September 4th 6pm to 8pm
305 Main Street
Park City, Utah
84060

(435) 649.8160
info@meyergallery.com

HOURS

10am to 5pm Monday - Thursday
10am to 9pm Friday, Saturday 11am to 5pm Sunday

Album art for John Schmitt: Ophelia

2010-06-14T18:28:00.000-04:00

Just finished the painting that will become the artwork for an album my good friend John Schmitt is finishing up. The album is going to have a 3 panel spread. It was a quick dealine but I had a ton of fun doing it. Visit his site for more info!

Left Detail

Center Detail : the Album cover

Right Detail

John Schmitt's Ophelia- WIP-oil on panel

2010-06-13T00:50:00.000-04:00

Here's a peek at the almost completed painting of the sketch below. Enjoy!

Sketch for John Schmitt's:"Ophelia"

2010-06-06T17:03:00.000-04:00

Sketch for "Kait"

2010-06-03T22:45:00.001-04:00

EDIT: wasn't happy with my first pass on this sketch so I went back in and finished it off a little more

Observational Sketch

2010-05-30T03:00:00.000-04:00

WIN / PLACE / SHOW :The Wait -12x18 oil on panel

2010-05-27T00:59:00.001-04:00

Morning at Aqueduct 8x10- oil on panel

2010-05-21T00:50:00.000-04:00

Roman Sketch

2010-05-20T10:37:00.001-04:00

For Frank.....

2010-05-19T17:37:00.000-04:00

Roman Sketch

2010-05-19T04:52:00.000-04:00

love this brush pen...

Sketch

2010-05-18T05:30:00.001-04:00

gooooood morning...

Web site lllustrations

2010-05-17T22:27:00.000-04:00

thought I'd post some website illustrations that I did for an upcoming website redesign that Im helping a friend with. all done with a lovely Brush pen

Roman Sketch

2010-05-17T10:09:00.000-04:00

got some pentel color bush pens and trying my hand in pen and ink..

Oh and thanks to Jerzy Drozd of Art and Story Podcast for all of the info on this awesome tool!

WIN / PLACE/ SHOW: Choir 18x24 oil on panel

2010-05-14T00:09:00.000-04:00

Win/ PLACE/ SHOW - Belmont at midday

2010-04-24T03:40:00.000-04:00

Win/ PLACE/ SHOW -study of a better

2010-04-22T07:14:00.001-04:00