Project 2268: Mexican Beach Boy

This in-progress page is for all regular Members of my website. Here you’ll find all fresh-from-the-studio progress reports on this Project, including in-progress photos and the artist’s thoughts and comments as he creates the art. (For more detailed and more timely reports, plus videos, upgrade to Premium Content.)

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The updates below are in reverse chronological order, so the most recent is on top. To start from the beginning, go to the bottom of the page.

Report 6

Project 2268: The Painting is Complete

February 2, 2026

The artwork is complete! Thanks for following the creation process of “Mexican Beach Boy.” The finished work has just been added to the Collector Preview Gallery. As a subscriber to the Simonson website you have access to this gallery and a limited-time option to purchase this artwork -– just click on the button below.

Collector Preview Gallery
Report 5

Project #2268: Fourth and Final Painting Session

January 31, 2026

In the final painting session for Mexican Beach Boy, I did something I’d been putting off: adding the lighter fleshtones and highlights to the body. I put this off because it’s the most fun and I was saving the best for last! It’s the most fun because it totally transforms the painting and brings it to life with just a few brushstrokes. I also re-did the lower left corner because I wasn’t happy with the beach and the water. Now I am–and the painting is finished!

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Report 4

Project 2268: Third Painting Session

January 29, 2026

I’ve got the background more or less in place now, so I’m focusing on the face and figure in this session.

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Report 3

Project 2268: Second Painting Session

January 28, 2026

In the second painting session I focused mostly on the background. This took a lot of time because I had to mix a lot of different colors to capture all that’s going on with the tropical beach setting. At the end of this session I started working into the body.

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Report 2

Project 2268: First Painting Session

January 27, 2026

After transferring the basic big shapes of the composition to canvas with pencil, I put an acrylic wash (burnt umber + dioxazine purple) over the whole thing. Then I begin applying the basic colors. I usually start with the darkest darks, and that’s what I did here.

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Report 1

Project 2268: Mexican Beach Boy

January 26, 2026

I’m just starting a new painting, working from the image shown here. Working title: “Mexican Beach Boy”. I’ll post images/video from the first painting session in the next day or two.