My Latest Charcoal Portrait!

My Most Recent Charcoal Portrait

You may have seen my last drawing of Ethan. The cuties below are his cousins! These drawings will be Christmas gifts for my customer’s sisters, so it’s sure to be a special holiday for his family.

Want to Give a Sentimental Gift This Christmas?

Tis’ my busy season, so I can only accept 2 or 3 more commission requests to complete in time for Christmas. If you’re considering a portrait this year or next, go ahead and get on my waiting list for 50% off to save! Otherwise, spread the word and earn some Referral Love Cash ($100-$300 per referral).

Thanks for stopping by! It means a lot.

Kelly O’Neill Featured on the Today Show!

It’s not every day you get a call from an NBC producer, asking you to create a special piece of artwork to use on the Today Show.  When you do, you say “YES.”  Oh, you need an extensive drawing planned, completed, recorded on HD video, and delivered within 28 hours? “I’ll make it happen.”

And make it happen, we did! “We” refers to Ryan Osborn (@Rozzy and @TodayShow onTwitter), the tireless producer who had the vision for this project after he saw my speed drawing of Ellen Degeneres on YouTube, and my amazing husband, who came home from work early and stayed home the following day to make sure it got done. Nate is the video expert of this outfit. I’m just in charge of the things that involve pencils and paint. All in all, we spent the better part of the given 28 hours on this project, and rolled into bed at 5:00 am this morning, just 3 hours before the clip aired.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

So what that I’ve had 10 hours of sleep in the last 50?

Hearing Matt Lauer call me a “great artist” on national television, and watching Meredith Vieira and Al Roker admire the completed piece printed on a huge poster in Rockefeller Plaza was more than worth it.

To see more of my speed drawing videos, visit my YouTube channel.

To see my portraits, fine art, and graphic design work, visit TheArtistOfLife.com.

I am available for custom portrait commissions, logos and branding, and of course, high profile custom projects for major television networks.

The completed drawing, 18×24:

The Perfect Mother’s Day Gift!

Mother’s Day is just around the corner. Mark your calendars for May 9th!

You may be wondering what to get the mother in your life this year. Have you thought about your wife and mother of your own amazing kids? What could a loving husband possibly give her to say “thank you” for the countless hours of love and nurturing that she gives to your family, for the sleepless nights, and tender care?

This year, I would like the husbands reading this to consider a gift that will blow your wife away and likely produce the good kind of cry. A custom, timeless portrait of her children!

Every year, I get requests around this time for Mother’s Day custom portraits. They are some of my favorite projects. Get some of my recent drawings below, and keep reading to find out how you can save over $150.

The Big Giveaway!

This year, I’d like to offer $30 off and 4 free 11×14 prints of a custom drawing to one lucky person. The prints alone are valued at $125, and they make great gifts for grandparents and other family members! I will have a third party choose the winner randomly from the visitors who comment on this post by March 31.

If you prefer, you may purchase a gift certificate for the amount of your portrait to present to your wife so that you can choose the reference photo together!

If you’re still looking for more gift ideas, you can find lots of additional Mothers Day gifts at 1800Flowers to find the perfect compliment to your custom portrait.

Watch me work in this entertaining video:

I have several more speed drawing videos here if you’d like to see more.

A Time-lapse Speed Drawing Video!

For years, people have asked me things like, “Did you really draw that?”, “Do you trace?”, and “How do you do it?”

Now, you have the answers, all wrapped up in a nice, neat 2-minute video! Enjoy, and take a little dance break if you feel the urge.

There will be many more of these to come, so I’d love for you to spread the love and share this on your own blog or Facebook page! Even Tweet it – you know you want to… *smile*

A beautiful note from a little boy

I just returned last weekend from a big art show that I participate in each year, the Holiday Mart in Jackson, TN.  An eight year old named Connor came through with his mom.  He was quite taken with the work that I had displayed, and he asked me lots of questions.  He reminded me of myself when I was little.  I was always enamored with artists that we ran across at fairs, amusement parks, and on vacations.

I asked Connor which piece of artwork he liked best (this is always a fun question to ask young art connoisseurs).  He said that it was “Eternal Song,” my painting of the old master playing the violin.  This is an unusual favorite for a kid, but it turns out that he’s a little mini-master himself!  He’s been playing for four years.  So we chatted about him and eventually he and his mom had to leave.  On a whim, I decided to give him one of my matted prints of “Eternal Song.”  He beamed and was so excited.  His mom was grateful.   Somehow  they tracked down my mailing address, and I received this tear-jerker of a note from my new little friend yesterday:

His mother appended to the letter, pretty much sealing the deal that I would need to re-apply my eye makeup.  Who knew that such a small gesture could mean so much?  I will now look for opportunities to make these “WOW” moments at future shows.  It was my favorite part of the weekend.  See the pastel drawing that Connor drew for the front of the card below: