Painting Process | Dr. Bill Venkman Starring in the Kick Ass Actors Series

Dr Bill Venkman by Borbay

When I was a kid, I built a proton pack out of Construx, and fired vigorously into the clouds on an overcast day. My inspiration? Dr. Peter Venkman… a scientist that didn’t suck. So, 28 years later, I paid homage to one of my favorite characters (and actor) with this painting: Dr. Bill Venkman.

Murray Source From Movie Still

This is the cropped and desaturated source image used for this painting. Bill Murray has evolved so dramatically throughout the years, so an exploration of greytones with an emphasis on the a dark side was in order.

Have your cake and eat it too… in just over a minute. Soundtrack from “The Project Ambershift” by the ever-talented Nelson Downend, Jr. and Ahmed Mahmoud.

Bill Murray from Ghostbusters

Here is the photograph of my TV, paused mid-Ghostbusters… bonus points if you can guess the exact scene used in this painting. OK, on to the process.

Painting Process Dr. Bill Venkman by Borbay

Starting out with the basic collage… the headlines were really stream of conscious here… based on a notion.

Painting Process | Dr. Bill Venkman Starrining the Kick Ass Actors Series

Blasting out the hair and shadows in pure, unadulterated Ivory black. I very rarely use the non-color in a painting, but it felt right here.

Painting Process | Dr. Bill Venkman Starrining the Kick Ass Actors Series

In with the titanium white, laying out the bright highlights. It’s always a challenge when you have reflective highlights on the dark side of the face, but I like challenges. And faces. And Titanium White.

Painting Process Dr. Bill Venkman by Borbay

Beginning to take form. The collaged images are of the hanging gun sign down in Little Italy. There are many reasons for applying this picture twice, but one is a shout to Murray’s role as Hunter S. Thompson in Where the Buffalo Roam, a highly underrated flick.

Painting Process Dr. Bill Venkman by Borbay

Making it’s first appearance in any of my paintings? Parchment white… I was mixing the alternating tones with Paynes Grey and Titanium White… then Payne’s and Parchment.

Painting Process Dr. Bill Venkman by Borbay

He’s starting to find his way… time to whack into the other side of the face.

Painting Process Dr. Bill Venkman by Borbay

Lately, I’ve found myself diving deeper into the shadows on portraits… something about the duality of persona. Also, note to self, time to paste a Borbay logo on that Under Armour box, I’m not sponsored by them.

Painting Process Dr. Bill Venkman by Borbay

Oh yes… what are we going to do on the right side of the face? I don’t know. I don’t know. I’ve been in the private sector, they expect results!

Painting Process Dr. Bill Venkman by Borbay

Background is parchment white.

Painting Process Dr. Bill Venkman by Borbay

There we go… it’s almost impossible to perceive in a non-professional photograph, but the letters are still discernible on the ‘dark side’.

Dr Bill Venkman by Borbay

Dr. Bill Venkman. He will be part of my Kick Ass Actors in Kick Ass Roles exhibition coming this fall.

This Painting is Available Click to Inquire

Joining Dr. Bill will be:

Adam Kesher Theroux by Borbay

Adam Kesher Theroux

Bill The Butcher Day Lewis Painting by Borbay

Bill The Butcher Day Lewis

Mickey O Pitt Painting by Borbay

Mickey O’Pitt

Hunter S Depp Painting by Borbay

And Hunter S. Depp… up next? Only time will tell…

The flowers are still standing!

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