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This was an interesting one. While I was working on it and realized I made a mistake. A big mistake. A mistake not in the work itself (even though the photo I took doesn’t do it justice) — but the moment in the story that I chose to freeze. Currently the paining is unfinished and might stay that way, but it was going to be called “Wrong Answer” Right now, the painting shows the woman beside the button and the man sitting in the tank, but neither is actually doing anything

As you know not only has the work shifted but I'm working on redesigning the site as well as a full personal rebranding. Love to here what which one you think is best, and for what situation. And any other thoughts you might have. #1 Ian Kabat is a contemporary realist painter whose work bridges technical precision with symbolic storytelling. Trained through a disciplined approach to figurative realism, he has evolved beyond portraiture to create narrative paintings that expl

One of the enduring mysteries of making art is that no amount of skill guarantees success. Sometimes a piece feels alive, while others feel merely competent. This one I worked on for some time, and it never felt like it was working. It is the second time this has happened since I restarted. For me, a work of art "works" when every decision seems to belong. Composition, color, value, gesture, symbolism, texture, and scale reinforce one another rather than compete. This one jus

My progression into this new style feels less like abandoning realism, and more like expanding what realism can accomplish. My earlier black-and-white work was rooted in contemporary figurative realism, drawing heavily from photography and cinematic portraiture. I intentionally removed color, allowing value, light, and composition to carry the emotional weight of the image. That work remains an important foundation. But over time, I found myself asking different questions. I

It was so nice to hear from so many people. A few people asked about the last two points, so I thought I quickly post what I was thinking. "Paint how you see it."This emphasizes my or your unique perspective. Two people can look at the same landscape and paint completely different pictures because they notice different details, moods, or meanings. It's an invitation to trust your own vision rather than trying to match someone else's. And "Paint what is real inside of you."Thi

As some of you know I have stopped working full time to focus on painting full time. Or as full-time as time allows. It’s funny because when I thought about writing this “blog,” which I don’t know if anyone is going to read anyway, I had a ton of ideas of what I was going to say. Now that the laptop is open, I’m blank. It’s very different from writing the two fiction books I have done and harder than the non-fiction I’m working on about my travels and adventures. (This will b

By Artists & Illustrators 1. Errors are highlighted When working in monochrome, it is far easier to spot errors – the contrast is...