Northern Mockingbird

Just getting started. I have good feelings about this one which is rare.

totally F'd this one up

Although I was working from a bad photo there are some other things that has caused me to not be into it mentally  so, I stopped here. Well, actually I tried to work on the face again and that's where I fucked up. It's not pictured. I haven't figured out the best way to work with acrylics on canvas yet. I'll have to try some other surface. Then again, I do ok with birds it seems.  But, I'll work on some other subjects for a while until I am better regardless of what becomes of us.

Art books...guilty pleasure

still working

I was watching Shawn Barber's video after i got this far. Now I wish I had waited. I believe this is what he meant by paints being muddy when not mixed well. I'll have to go back over this with some of what I learned from the DVD. I'll be watching that a lot until I'm able to go to some workshops. Still my friend likes it so far and that's what counts for now.

just experimenting. i haven't been trained yet.

yes i can

I emailed a very sweet young artist named Margaret aka M who supplies me with SKB pens thanks to Francis Vallejo. Anyway, I told her how I wish I could draw half as well as she does. She's very hard on herself artistically though. I can relate. I look at her drawings and I'm thinking what is she talking about? But, I've had those moments of doubt and insecurity mostly related to being 36 instead of 26 and feeling like I pissed too many years away. But, Shawn Barber said on his F.A.Q section of his site that, "age means nothing- desire and the excitement to absorb everything around you with sincerity and a strong sense of constructive self criticism will get you farther than any monkey with a pencil and average skills." So, I try to make that my mantra for now. I really need a better camera so I can share more of my doodles.

guilty pleasure

I love art books. I'm trying to budget but, I just had to go out and grab two of Ashley Wood's art books. One is 48 more nudes and the other is Dos Tarino. The only draw back to following my favorite artists online is that many times they will post finished works on their blogs which end up in the books that I in turn kick out money for. If they were just unfinished sketches that would be different. 

I had an artist do me that way once. I commissioned him for 3 pieces of art. He told me what type of paper it was going to be on and so fort. As weeks past I saw where he had posted two of the drawings on deviantart.  I didn't think much of it until the day we met to do business and he was standing there with a cd in his hand. I'm thinking where's the paper? I asked him, do you not sell original tangible art anymore? His reply was, No. I asked, are you afraid of someone stealing your work? His reply was, Yep. I was offended since we had done business several times before and I thought we were cool. Well, no more commissions from me. Not paying for something I've already downloaded.

Anyway, how did I get off on that? This is about art books and how much I love them. I really want a Digital SLR and I have been tempted to sell my James Jean Process Recess first printing to help with that. I still keep it wrapped up.  I dunno, it took a long time to get that one. We'll have to see.

another year

So @ 1:30 pm today I had been breathing on my own in this world for 36 years. I am so far from where I had planned to be at this point. However, I am still single with no children so there isn't anything in the way of me becoming the illustrator that I've always dreamed of. There are still certain fears to deal with but, I will get over those.
Dad called today and I had a long conversation with my mom also. I feel better about a lot of things. She said that I am a wonderful son. I don't always think so. But, i'll take her word for it. I love you mom. I love you too dad.

self portrait

i had never really drawn myself before. i did quick sketches in my journal years ago but, never anything with detail. i had five shots of my face on one page but it didn't come out the way i wanted. the two that you can see now are my favorites. people really love the one of me doing my best gene simmons impression..lol. i'll have to redo the original project. it was supposed to be the first of 10 new pieces of work for art school submission. these were done with a .05 lead pencil.

sketch from cell phone pic

it was done during one of my many "bored certified" moments at my job. the mugshot is me. the half torso was from the ol' noggin. i'm planning to get a better camera to share my work with. ballpoint pen on the back of a company envelope.