Tim ONeill Studios

Nebraska Artist Tim ONeill just published a new mixed media portrait titled, “Johnson Sweeps Four”

Mixed Media Painting by Nebraska Artist Tim ONeill

I have been a racing fan since I was kid. Many who know me are acquainted with our family racing heritage. My father Bob ONeill raced dirt short tracks in Kansas and Nebraska for over fifty years. Dad was still piloting a sprint car a few years ago…he is in his seventies. Anyway I had the privilege of many hours of windshield time cruising the highways with my parents always on the way to another race. For a kid like me it was a dream childhood.  Our family raced frequently, sometimes three times a week. My mother did a stint running 250 micro sprints until a stuck throttle caused an accident that nearly took her life. I raced Sprint Cars, 1200cc Mini-Sprints, carts and even some stock cars. My son Josh showed promise as he came up racing carts. Anyway you get the idea. I am a big fan of racing and Nascar is really the only sport on TV that I watch.

It is surprising that I have rarely created any art to reflect my passion for racing.  When I was a young military photographer we used to get press passes from Navy Times or Army Times and cover many of the Nascar races. I have had the opportunity to watch the sport since the late seventies. With the Sprint Cup Chase this year I was truly enamored with the stories behind the story. A driver with dirt-track sprint car roots, Tony Stewart forms a brand new team and both cars make the chase. A guy my age (considered to be the old timer) Mark Martin makes the Chase and almost pulls off a Championship. My youngest son’s favorite, Jeff Gordon, has a chance of another points Championship and finally Jimmie Johnson three time champion has a chance to make history. No one has ever one four in a row. Incredible. Even if they are not your favorite team you have to marvel that one team can do that in a sport that is hyper-competitive.

So anyway, my tribute to Jimmie Johnson and Hendrick Motor Sports, Four Cup Championships….in a row. AWESOME.

This painting will be reproduced in several ways.  Oil reproductions are available at 875.00, giclee prints on canvas are 325.00, giclee prints on  photo paper are 59.00.  The size is 20×24.

If the cart is not up and running you can email Tim at tim@timoneillstudio.com.

Native American Pigment & Oil Portrait Painting, “Lakota Joe”, by Nebraska Artist Tim ONeill

This mixed media (pigment & oil) painting portrait has been in the works for awhile and is a part of my Limbo Gallery.

A Native American Portrait from Nebraska Artist Tim ONeill

The original is available, a 30×40 oil and pigment on stretched canvas the price is 3,500.00 Giclee prints on canvas are 375.00 and reproduction oil paintings are 875.00.

Mixed Media Oil & Pigment Painting release from Nebraska Artist Tim ONeill

I Miss you Daddy

This mixed media oil & pigment painting portrait is done  from an image that is near and dear to me. The original photograph was shot at the Veteran’s memorial in North Platte, NE several years ago.  The photograph I chose to work with ended up being a spot color. That is, everything was black and white except the main point of interest, the small boy. The silver gelatin print has sold well but I really wanted an oil painting so I decided to create one.  I had seen several stunning images from the famous memorial in DC and was hoping to shoot some stills that I could use for painting.  As the memorial in North Platte sits facing north, that gave me two prime opportunities each day to grab the lighting I was hoping for, in this case cross-lighting so the texture of the sculptures would show nicely. So, sunrise and sunset were my choices which is often the case. I chose to go down at dusk. Noah, my youngest son was 7 at the time and wanted to hang with Dad so we happily schlepped out to the site which is on the south side of I80 in North Platte.

As I was shooting around the site Noah was checking out the relief sculpture carved in brick. It is a beautiful piece and Noah was really taken with it. Like seven year old’s will do he was asking a bunch of questions. Most of them garnered the normal uh-huh, yea and so forth answer that a distracted father would give. Then he asked, “Where are there kids?” …that got my attention. Other questions came up as we talked about soldiers, war and the sacrifice the men, women and families in the military make for us. The question that came up that stuck with me was, “Daddy, are they gone? “  as his hands delicately touched the hard cold brink. I stood back watching and shooting a few frames as I answered his question by telling him that yes these soldiers, these hero’s were gone from this earth and were being watched after by Angels just as the soldiers had watched over us. With a huge sigh he put his head on his arms and crying softly said, “I would miss you Daddy”.  I admit it, I am a softy, I cried.

That became the title and is perfectly fitting. I had not given much thought to what my family might be thinking about me being a combat photographer and going back in during a time of conflict. Noahs words stayed with me.

While the original will stay in our private collection oil reproductions and giclee prints on canvas are available. The oils are 875.00 and the prints on canvas are 375.00 for a gallery wrap. The finished size is 24×30 but larger sizes are also available.

Are You A Hero? A new release by Nebraska Artist Tim ONeill

Oil & Pigment painting portrait by Nebraska Artist Tim ONeill

Many of you know that I am a huge fan of Norman Rockwell. I love not only his technique specific to illustrative painting but more than that, his unique story telling ability. I wanted to portray a soldier hanging out after a parade and show him in the eyes of a small boy. While there are certainly some more graphic and emotional ways to handle this I wanted to keep it light and positive. Noah, the small boy that modeled, is my youngest boy and is about seven in this painting. I had been working on this for awhile and recently completed it for my “Limbo Gallery”. The limbo gallery is a place that I have put the paintings together that I have had in various stages of completion. The goal is to complete all of the paintings before the end of the year 2009. I looks like I will make it.

The original is available for 3,100.00, it is 16×20 on canvas and is already varnished. Gigclee prints and oil reproductions are available for 275.00 and 850.00 respectively.

Lakota Girl, mixed media portrait by Nebraska portrait artist Tim ONeill

Mixed Media Portrait on canvas

I finally decided to go through and finish some portrait paintings that I have sitting around in various stages of completion. I have started a gallery called the mixed media portrait Limbo Gallery,  on my facebook page to put these paintings in.

I actually started painting the portrait of this young Lakota girl a few years ago and became stuck. I couldnt get things worked out like I wanted so I set it aside….way aside. I revisted the image several times over the last few years and decided it was not yet time to dive in and finish her.

I began putting together the pieces of various paintings that were in Limbo and I gain came across this young lady. I decided to go ahead and work through the mental challenges I had in finishing this painting. I dont even remember why I was stuck. I started fresh with no preconcieved ideas specific to background and she finally fell together in a manor that I quite like. I hope you enjoy.

She will remain un-named until I can come up with a suitable title for her.