Randy McQuien, Jr.

I was 18 years old when I moved to Memphis, TN to attend an art college. I was just beginning to realize that art was more than just being creative and drawing pretty pictures. It meant much more to me. My feeling about creating art evolved to an emotional, mental, and sometimes spiritual level. Around the same time I took a music appreciation course that incorporated rock and roll, doo wop, rockabilly, and blues. I loved it. I began listening to B.B. King, Aretha Franklin, Elvis, Muddy Waters, Wanda Jackson, Buddy Guy, and Etta James, while drawing and painting their portraits/caricatures. I felt that I was creating a better likeness that captured an essence of who these musicians really were at that time.

I still occasionally listen to the likes of Memphis Slim, Big Mama Thorton, and John Lee Hooker while I’m working on art. I think after today I will be listening to much much more. Rest in Peace Ms. Etta James.

“Etta James, whose powerful, versatile and emotionally direct voice could enliven the raunchiest blues as well as the subtlest love songs, most indelibly in her signature hit, “At Last,” died Friday morning in Riverside, Calif. She was 73.” – The New York Times/Music

I am just finishing up a few drawings of a pretty cute dog named Seamus for a Holiday Card. This is the first of three drawings that I’m working on now and I wanted to share it with you. If you are interested in a portrait of your dog, cat, snake, or flying pygmy squirrel for the holidays contact me. Thanks for checking out my blog. Happy Holidays!

Recently completed commission. Thanks Tricia. I hope you’re as happy with it as I am.

For those of you who have been lucky enough to visit Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum you will know that this is one of the most beautiful and peaceful location in Tennessee. For the artists out there, each direction you look there is another vision waiting to be photographed, drawn, or painted.

This past Father’s Day I had the opportunity to set up my easel, paints, and palette knives and start a painting in the Herb Garden. It wasn’t long after I set up, children and entire families came up to me to see what I was doing. It was a fun experience talking with the kids and parents about painting and art. A couple hours later I finished my painting, packed up and headed home with a piece of art that captures a small glimpse of what Cheekwood has to offer. I’m sure to be back again and again.

A couple of weeks ago my fiance and several friends of ours visited a vineyard outside of Nashville, TN called Arrington. We enjoyed a few bottles of wine, several games of dominoes, and beautiful weather. Here is a picture and a painting of that occasion.

It might have been back when I was in college during a Thanksgiving Break, before The Passion of the Christ was released in 2004, my grandfather approached me with a challenging and specific request to paint a crucifixion. He asked me to depict a realistic image of Jesus Christ on the cross with torn flesh and a blood covered body. I told him I’d think about it, but to be honest, I did not want to do it at all. Not until a couple weeks ago when I had a dream. I was watching myself paint on a huge canvas with a tiny paint brush with my nose inches away from the surface. I felt annoyed and walk up, throwing the brush aside, I grabbed a large palette knife and said, “not like that, like this.” It was like the other me never existed as soon as I touched the canvas. And that was it, when I woke up I needed to paint. It has taken me over 7 years to begin this painting and three weeks to finish.

I did not paint in a realistic and detailed style my grandfather wanted, but in a more energetic manner that I think he’ll like nontheless. The smooth and somber washes of the background contrasts with the body and cross, scratched and scarred, layered with thick paint that I applied using a palette knife and my hands.