Don Draper in my living room. AT LAST!

[grammardog]

I whipped up this quick acrylic on canvas painting tonight.  I've been watching Mad Men (currently on Season 2 - no spoilers, please!) and can't get enough, especially of that beautiful title sequence (by artists Steve Fuller and Mark Gardner).  I have this ugly thermostat in the middle of a giant wall, so I bought a canvas deep enough for the thermostat to fit behind, and I can easily lift the painting off when I want to change the heat.  Hopefully this won't interfere terribly with the thermostat's functioning?

Aaaaaaaaanyway, here it is:



Where's the thermostat, you ask?  YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.  Works like a charm.

I didn't do the best job of blending the grey background... I just had a square, unbendable sponge that was all blocky and didn't work very well for that purpose, so I kind of scrapped that plan, and may try it again if I ever run across a sea sponge or something. 



Thanks for looking in!

[samma42]

i'm currently obsessed with the show as well (just finished season 2) and i'm in love with the opening scene too!! i'm totally going to have to steal this idea. did you freehand the silhouette or did you manage to trace it?

[grammardog]

Thanks, samma42!  I started out with a paper printout that functioned as more of a guide than a stencil, although I did cut the shapes of the white parts (the shirt and the cigarette) out of masking tape, as I wanted them to be crisp.  That technique ended up not working so great and the paint seeped under the edges of the tape a bit, but I fixed it up pretty well, I think.

[skaborsk]

what a great idea! i may make of these for myself!

[LimeBoonana]

Awesome!! I too watch (and lurrrrve) the show and have wondered how to replicate the smoking man in my house - wonder no more! Excellent job

[cowspots]

I think the grey background looks great-  What your eye sees as a mistake may look groovy in others eyes.  He could be looking at an art installment of chunky wall.... whatever.

You did a great job!

[Ramona Q]

I'm wisting this! Love Mad Men and love the opening credits. I was also thinking of doing the silhouette, but I'm not much of a painter. Great job!

[grammardog]

Thank you, everyone!  Ha ha... I don't know what "wisting" means, and the internet won't tell me!