Hickman Bailey Studio

Hi everyone! My children’s book, “ Clara and Cecil, Best Friends Forever” is now available on Amazon!

I want to give a huge thank you to all who have supported me with this adventure. I have had so much fun with this little book and I hope your little ones enjoy it as much as I enjoyed creating it.

I’m now working on two more books.

Hello everyone! I’m already doing Christmas portraits for this up coming Christmas! If you are interested in me doing one for you, this year, please contact me. I would love to do one for you.

All painted portraits need to be commissioned by October 1st.
It takes a while for me to paint portraits. Weather and timing is a big factor on how soon I can finish one, not to mention drying time and being able to seal it before Christmas. Contact me very soon, if you want one painted.

Drawings need to be commissioned before Dec 1. I can do these a bit quicker, but I usually have several and I do them in the order received. The sooner yours is commissioned the earlier I can do it and get it to you.

I can work from your preferred photos, but your photo CAN NOT have a copyright on it. If you have a question on the photo you would like to have done, please ask me about it. In most cases, I can use your photo. I am also more than willing to take my own photos of your special person or pet.

I would love to create a wonderful Christmas present for your someone special or for yourself.
Contact me soon if you are interest!

[email protected]

I’m about to start to work on illustrating a children’s book. In doing so, I’m doing some research on what children notice most. My question is,....... can you guys help me out??

I’m just trying to come up with characters that captures little eyes and imagination.

Moms, Dads and/or Grandparents of kids 0-5 years of age, what are the books your little ones love to look at, by them selves, on their own? I also want to know, what books they want you to read them over and over again?

I’m trying to figure out what colors are most attractive. What catches little eyes most. Is it simple illustration or very bold and vibrant? Is it books that rhyme and have rhythm, or books with a simple story?

Thank you all so much for helping me out in advance!

Today’s share is absolutely beautiful little “CK”. She is drawn in graphite pencils and white charcoal, on 16”x20”card stock. She was such a pleasure and joy to draw.

“CK’s” drawing and photo reference I used to create her sweet portrait.

Happy New Year everyone!!

I’m starting a whole new year. I had someone to ask me to share where I get my ideas, for my artwork. It got me thinking, I think more of you would like to see this. You all might enjoy seeing more of a beginning to end result. So.... I’ll begin with little “Q”. He was drawn from a photo. I can’t exactly go back to show the process, being I’ve finish this one.

From now on, I’ll definitely show my work as I go. I can’t always show a photo, because not all my work comes from a photo. I use photos, but I usually work from life and sometimes, it’s totally imaginary (like something for commercial use or children’s books). If I am working from life, I will now try and at least get a snap shot of what I’m working on.

I hope to share lots of new things this coming year!

I am now open for new commissions! For any questions on pricing please email me at [email protected] or message me.

I’ve finally got something to share that’s not Christmas!

I remember back in the day, as a college student, loving to go out with a group to go plein air painting. I absolutely loved driving out to a farm, to old home places or even in town to find that place we would all meet up at and ask for permission to paint landscapes of interesting buildings. We were a group made of all different ages totally filled with excitement to get to work. Everyone had a different take on what we were all painting and it was fun to see each others take on the subject of interest. There were never ever two paintings that looked a like even though we were all painting the same thing. I absolutely miss those fun exciting days.

Remembering those fun days, I’ve decided I am going to get started at that again. Fall just seems like a fantastic time to get started at it again.

This is the first one I’ve painted in a long time. This practice piece is ‘Fall Barn’. It’s painted in oil, on a 12x16 panel.

It’s not great but I’m so pleased with it all the same.

Happy Halloween everybody! I hope everyone has a wonderful day.

I’m sorry I still have nothing to share, as everything I’ve been working on for the past few weeks has been Christmas and I’m not giving anyone away. Ha Ha!

Everyone be safe and have fun! 🎃

Hello everybody! I’ve been busy doing some incredible commissions! I can’t share any because every single one is Christmas.
I’ve delivered some already, some are in progress and some are waiting to be created.
Which brings me to this..... I decided to put an end date on Christmas commissions, to insure everyone gets their commissions in plenty of time for Christmas.
Dates are as follows....
Painted commissions- I need what you want commissioned by November 1.
Drawings - I need what you want commissioned by December 1.

Make sure you submit your commissions if you are wanting them for Christmas. I want to insure you have them in plenty of time. Doing these take time and I cannot guarantee one if you wait after these dates, as I have many to do. Commissions are worked on in the order they are received.
There are quite a few wanting them but have not submitted specifics of what they want done.
So please don’t wait to long. I absolutely would love to do them for you!

Thank you so much for all the good compliments on little “Q’s” portrait. I absolutely love drawing. It’s the first building block of everything I do in my art career. I very seldomly get those requests to stop at just a simple drawing, it usually gets much more elaborate than that. Simple is always better and I adore the simple drawing.

I found myself getting lost in doing little “Q’s” portrait. One morning I started on his portrait at about 8:30 AM and the next thing I knew...it was 5:30 PM. I had worked the day away on him.

I’ve had many question on drawing portraits. If you would like a portrait drawing, I can draw from a clear photo. The photo CAN NOT! be from a professional photographer due to copyright laws, unless I have written permission from the photographer. Your photo doesn’t have to be elaborate at all. I usually tell people to just use your phone. Turn off the flash, a flash takes the shadow out of the face and the very fine details are lost, I need details. Take the photo outdoors in the shade or indoors with a window to the side, and that’s it. Send me your photo.

If you are interested in a portrait drawing and have questions, you can message me or email me at [email protected].

I absolutely would love to do a portrait you!

Just finished one of the sweetest drawings! This is little Q. This is a graphite drawing on 18x24 sepia card stock. This was such a sweet commission for such a precious boy! ❤️❤️

This drawing is also today’s blog post. Visit hickmanbaileystudio.com.

I haven’t posted, a ‘WHATS ON THE EASEL’ post in a while. For everyone asking, and to those wondering, I’m sorry I haven’t done that in a while. I’ve been really busy lately. But...... here is two I’m working on.

The first one is titled “Story Time”. This is an oil on 16x20 inch canvas. I’ve really been enjoying this one! I still have a few details left In order to finish up, but I’m really loving this one.

The second one is “Santa and Oliver the Cat”. It is also a 16x20 inch oil on stretched canvas. I still have quite a bit more to do on this painting, but it’s going well. I was hoping to have this one finished in time to create some Christmas ornaments with, but I’m thinking it may not be done in time, so he may end up just a painting and he may become one for next year. I should have started this one sooner but you know... it’s so hard to paint Christmas during the summer. LOL!

Also, I have recently started blogging! I hope to blog a post every day. I’m in hopes to share more about my work and my process in creating art, stories of what’s behind some of the art I do and generally what’s on my mind, as I work in this art journey of mine. This is a challenge a dear sweet friend suggested me do and I’m not sure how that’s gonna go, as I’m new to this, but I’m off and writing! I added it to my website, so if anyone is interested in following. Visit hickmanbaileystudio.com to follow.

New prints now available on hickmanbaileystudio.com!

I only have 11x14 inch prints, printed on linen card stock, at this time. These are the only ones available, but I have several more art prints coming, as this is a very long slow process. If you live local to me (LOCAL ONLY!) and would like to purchase one, please let me know before you purchase!! I can save your Shipping $$!!

So keep checking in!