Almost forgot! I made a video of the stages of my work. Let me know if you like this by commenting and I’ll do more. 😁
Demo
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Category Archives: art
Everyone Needs
Sorry about the background. I’d left the transparency, instead of adding a layer of white. For some reason, it’s expressing as black.
Weird.
Anyway, here’s my first digital picture in awhile. My process is pretty simple, all things considered.
A line drawing by pencil, transferred to Photoshop as a layer, copied over as line work then filled with an establishing color.
It was a bit easier; I guess my skills have improved quite a bit, which makes me happy.
The work on this was relaxing for me. It was a nice return to why I loved drawing in the first place.
I wasn’t trying to please anyone. I just put myself in the moment and did my best. Seems like great advice and definitely the kind I should take.
The final result actually garnered me some interest with a gym interested in making shirts and stuff. The owner is a professional bodybuilder who likes my style.
So being myself paid off.
Consume
Okay, I’m writing this after not sleeping since 0200 Sunday. It’s Monday. So if I seem a little loopy, I’m kinda always that way.
This is my #earthburger. It’s an idea I came up with as a teenager in the 80’s and my original garnered me a few blue ribbons as a teen.
Wondering why I didn’t post it?
It was stolen. And as it turns out, my art teacher was the thief.
It’s a little complicated… first thing you need to know is that before I ever took a class, I could make my own art. The REAL reason I took her class was because my future ex-wife took the course.
I was a jock. And a metalhead. And black in a small Alabama town. So my interest were all over the place! But art was my first and best love.
My “teacher” saw my potential. After realizing that she’d never get the best out of me drawing bison skulls and old boots, I finally got to do what I wanted. And sit next to my girl.
My life was perfect.
I made the town paper for winning state awards. I got to travel. Had you asked me, I would have told you that I was going to the Art Institute of Atlanta after high school. Or the army, which was the family business.
So when I started asking about possible scholarships and letters of recommendation, she surprised me. She told me no. She said that she didn’t feel that I was right for art school. That it was a waste of time.
And that she wouldn’t recommend me.
I have/had a great poker face. But that hurt went through me. Seriously, it went through my feet. I felt like I was sinking, even though I wasn’t moving.
I stopped drawing. Completely. So she flunked me.
Fast forward a year and a half. I’m walking down the hallway of my Alma Mater, after coming home after Desert Storm. I’m a paratrooper, so I get lots of accolades from teachers and friends. And then I see it.
A Ferrari F40 that I drew. It was one of my first experience with Prismacolor pencils and I used ALL the red, lol. I had been told that my art was stolen. And yet there it was, with a ribbon on it from a couple of months prior.
I learned later that she never sent any of the African American artist in her program to college. Had a few tell me that she said that they weren’t “good enough”. A few are professional artist.
I learned from that. I’m sure that current me could definitely get over self doubt; there’s a lifetime of experience. But I always remember that part of my life and I try to encourage those with gifts to believe in them.
No matter what.
Vistas
I suppose I could just occupy myself with work and get through this the old way. Honestly I don’t feel like drawing right now, but I also can’t stop, lol.
Figured a landscape would make me feel less cooped up, but the only thing I could think of was the ride to work. Scenic train ride is definitely missed.
I have a few parts of my day that are fun though. So this particular view is one that I have every morning; the station at New Carrollton,MD. I’m pretty good at this one because I’m always staring at the side facing the morning sun.
Now this parking garage I almost left as a silhouette. But I knew that wouldn’t work…
Although once I finished it I regretted it. It’s so hard for me to stay interested, but I need to get better at it!
So I cleaned up the image and darkened the building so that it wouldn’t stand out so much.
Now I feel better about being stuck at home.
Blur
FINALLY got another set of non-photo pencils. Thanks Blicks, you guys are a life saver.
It’s been an interesting week. I’ve been so busy! And I’ve been asked to do a piece based on another amazing female bodybuilder (what else).
I have to admit, I wish prismacolor had more lighter shades of brown that were warm. It’s as if the idea of them being skin tones never occurred to them, hahaha.
Still, they have light peach and peach, so I make do. Maybe next time I’ll show myself making a pallet. I usually throw those away; I’ll try to do better. In the meantime, I hope you stay healthy and have a great week on your personal island.
You can’t isolate a hermit
Meet #maudecharron. She’s a pretty cool powerlifter. After watching her at an international meet, I felt the urge to draw her. Her expression tells a story.
She was about to go for her second clean and jerk and while chalking up she shot the weights a defiant look.
Now you have to understand; up until this point she had been a ray of sunshine. She almost danced with glee on the platform for her first lift. She was so energetic and upbeat that I was happy for her.
But her demeanor changed here. You could tell that she felt that this would be a challenge, but her confidence in herself was unwavering. I love that about athletes. It’s a confidence borne of achievement. “I can because I have”.
Of course she made the lift. And her playful excitement returned, but I CV had seen the steel and conviction behind her grace. So I drew her. Right at that moment when she decided that she would succeed, no matter what. Look at that expression.
You almost feel sorry for those weights.
Safety over Freedom
It reads like a rant, right? It’s not. I’ll always pick freedom. But I also know better than to think things go away because I wish it.
Anyway…
I rarely draw kids. It’s not that I don’t like them; it’s that I don’t want to be trapped in the business of kids and pets. I have no interest in them.
But I do get it. My son was a little cutie, like this one. Curly hair and all. It took a long time to perfect those ringlets.
Drawing loved ones isn’t the same. It’s an interesting challenge, because you don’t really see the person only. You see them through the lens of your affection for them.
That makes it difficult to accurately judge what you are seeing. Even the most ordinary act can seem to be wonderful in such light, to say nothing of the person. To me my mom looks young and has a special glow.
You aren’t able to see that for the loved ones of others. Sometimes your interpretation of a person or pet can actually upset a customer.
People often don’t understand that an artist has developed a style that they may not appreciate. We’re not Xerox copiers and I’ve had a few experiences where expectations didn’t sync up with the reality.
That’s why it’s important to communicate with your client; if they are interested in a commission of any type, find out WHY they think that you’d make a great choice. Are they fans of your work? Did they pick you out of a hat? What are the expectations of the final work? How do they feel about the subject? Can they tell you a story about them?
Emotional stuff is NEVER irrelevant.
Should I?
So a question came up and I have to ask, how do you guys feel about me putting together a book of my art? I had an interesting talk with a fellow artist about it and he said that it could be a theme or a set of sketches, but that I should.
I’m considering it.
Fudge It
My son is back in Afghanistan. He took leave and we took a pretty fun roadtrip. I miss him already.
Anyway…
Things have been… interesting. My art life has been somewhat quiet. I have a few projects lined up, but without a deposit, I don’t start, so that’s a non issue.
Plus I found out that Staedtler discontinued the pencil I use to sketch out my art! I suppose I could just buy an 8H pencil, but I tend to lose the color with my vision issues. Oh well, something will come up.
In the meantime, I’ve resorted to colored pencils. They tend to shade really heavy and it requires me to use a more delicate touch. NOT my forte, lol.
Also… I’ve had a few people complain that I don’t draw many PoC (People of colour). The reason is…
…they don’t ask. Or I don’t post.
My paying customers often ask for a still life from a photo and the biggest hesitation comes from the concern that I’ll post the image. Of course I don’t. I have more than enough who don’t care, lol. And some are made up.
For some reason, most of the ones who say hell no are black.
Now one lady gave me an ENTIRE FOLDER of nudes to use! She only asked that I make a poster for her. Deal.
Cloudy
Last post before the new year! I’d love to lie about being ready. I really would….
As you can see, I’m back to doing digital painting. Believe it or not, this one was fairly easy for me.
Everyone thinks that I have my own special, custom brushes for doing this kind of thing. Nope. I’m doing it the hard way. Opacity on 10%, so most of the brush strokes you see are built up. It’s how I get that feathered look.
As for the details… I’ve gotten a lot better at crossing the finish line nowadays. Those little things are the difference when it comes to your art.
To be honest, I never trusted myself with being able to bring them out.
Anyway, I’m not sure if I’m happy with it. I gave the old background more pop and a 3D feel, but…
…. we’ll see.
Howly Time! 