The Bellagio, Las Vegas, my first location painting of the trip… and second overall.

For first time viewers, I am here with fellow artists Ari Lankin and Paul Zepeda, painting live along The Strip until May 1st.

Here, you will see the entire Bellagio painting process, stick around for a steamy Broadway Bares recap… Teaser? Here I am with Peepshow Star Josh Strickland… and Lankin gets naked.

Everything in just over a minute, photographic goodness below.

Ready to paint the Bellagio.

Began the painting with this composition in mind.

Kicking things off with a pencil sketch and a hot (mess) wash.

Let’s get angular in the sky, says my brain. Can you feel the heat of the sun in this picture?

Starting to wrangle the foreground into shape…

The Bellagio is now painted (the first of many layers).

Turning off the lights… many people on the streets found this move peculiar.

Zepeda and his awesome Paris painting… wait until you see the gold leaf.

Dr. Lankin, presiding over the work.

Just your ordinary street artists, tagging up pre-purchased canvases.

Hot and cold, feeling dialectic.

A snap to show the lighting I would end up using in the painting.

Painting water in the dark.

And a hotel snap to see what it really looks like after a day in the sweltering sun. Thank goodness for the amazing fountain, which kicked back mist all day long.

Moving the paint outdoors in the sun is near impossible, so I decided to wrap this bad boy up in the hotel room.

Getting in there, refining shapes, repainting the Bellagio, and making the foreground dramatic.

And, here she is, The Bellagio…

Zepeda’s Paris.

Lankin’s Bellagio.

All three, partying on through the day.

And now on to a recap of Broadway Bares, Las Vegas, The Barest Show on Earth. For the past three years, Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS has asked us to paint Broadway Bares… during the show, we are brought on-stage, to live auction our new paintings for the benefit of the charity.

After a long day of painting the Bellagio, I returned to my room only to realize I left my collage materials at home… so, I had to chop up some Vegas rag for a Vegas painting. We did tip the maid.

Blank canvas, and a palette with many, many colors.

Just before showtime, the radiant Paula Caselton informed us we had 35 minutes to paint this year, vs. 45 last year. We were like, oh snap jacks, that’s a short time to make a picture.

Ari Lankin was called up first to auction… at some point, his clothes went missing to the crowds delight.

I wasn’t hiding my face, figured people should focus on the painting, and the draw string on my pants.

The bidding started out at a conservative $100… Host Scott Nevins gets the crowd going, then “$1000!” “$2000!” “$3000!”

Zepeda on stage with his Vegas masterpiece.

And here I am with the incredibly talented Josh Strickland, big star and winner of the painting… Bonus, while on stage, Director and Broadway Legend Jerry Mitchell matched the $3000 bid if I would create another painting — big thumbs up from this guy. So a 40 minute painting brought $6000 to this amazing charity. A big, huge thank you to Josh and Jerry, two wonderful, passionate, talented individuals.

Paul with his new collectors, the hottest couple on The Strip — Murray and Chloe. Bonus? Check this press goodness.

Here is a look at the painting created in just under 40 minutes…

And a flashed out version.

Ari and yours truly with the amazing Paula Caselton… check this girl in the Vegas Sun.

Working it, Vegas style… Borbay, Zepeda, Lankin.

It’s easy to think while surrounded by beauty.

Zepeda is like, “don’t miss next years show, shit is hot!”