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I started painting relatively late in life, but always had an interest in art.   Shortly after September 11, 2001 (a time when many of us re-thought our lives), I picked up the paints my Dad had given me years earlier and created my first watercolor of a beach scene.  It looked pretty good and I surprised myself.  Soon after, I sold a painting for a whopping $25.  I then got requests for custom pieces (and let's just say, I would never do a commission today for what I charged back then!).  After taking workshops with well-known artists, I started to feel confidence in my painting.  I specialized for a long time in marine-life art, moving from watercolor to acrylic, to my current medium of choice, oil. 

Then in 2006 I was drawn to mid-century illustration and Gil Elvgren, Albert Vargas and Norman Rockwell were a few of the great artists I researched.  Over many months I sketched hundreds of pretty mid-century styled girls, but when I asked my wife Nicole to be my model she thought I was crazy because I was taking time away from marine-life work. Fortunately she gave in and I painted my first 'pinup' girl. That image started my journey toward this retro style and I haven't looked back.  Nicole acts as my primary model, gathers historical research and helps with compositions.  We make a good team.

My mission is to not only create these fun images, but also to pay homage to great illustrators/artists.  I create paintings that evoke a smile, and that's all I need to keep me going.  Enjoy my work!  -- Brendan Coudal