Around the time of the Oscars there was a shit load of "Best of 2010 movies" lists. I agreed with some of them but hated most of their choices. Then i thought it would be cool to make a set of flash loosely based on my favorite movies from 2010. I have all of the pieces drawn and put on 4 sheets of watercolor paper. Ive never really made flash before but Ive had so much fun coming up with this set and sketching the pieces, the painting process that i think ima become a flash monster. Anyhow heres the first page finished. Might put a border on it but I'm not sure. On to the next sheet
Started on a new set of flash and took pictures of the progress of one of the pieces. Figured id share it with the internet. Its ink and acrylic on Arches heavy watercolor paper. I outline in Sumi ink, do all of the shading with the same ink, water, and some of my saliva (dont judge me). I Color with acrylics that I water down and use like water colors.
I've been able to fight off the superflu everyone got until now. I fucking hate being sick, no gym, no drawing, nothing productive. Just laying around. Of course i catch it right before my vacation and my travelling. Ugh enough complaining, Im gonna watch more batman: the animated series
Ive watched a few movies lately that are vastly different yet they share a common theme - lying, cheating, and stepping on other peoples toes is the only way to get ahead in this world. They got me thinking about what we are bred as Americans to believe and wheither or not there is an underlying culture of fuck the guy next to you over. "Bigger , Stronger, Faster" is a rad documentary on steroids in American culture and the social network is well, the social network. Both great films for sure. I do think as a culture we are all trying to set ourselves ahead of the competition. This is what makes us have that drive needed to make astonishing things happen but i think what we define as the "competition" has become anyone and everyone. Especially in the creative world, there's so much shit and attitude floating around that it can become the focus instead of focusing on the creating. Check this film out if you can.
The last year has been humbling for me in the sense that Ive spent a lot of time thinking about why Ive put so much stock into what other people think about me and where other people think my life should be. As a result Ive pulled myself in various directions to please various people in my life. That's not a bad thing, I love where I am, I love my life, and I love the growth path I'm on. Particularly this year, Ive taken the time to sort out what things I truly want to do and Ive made the focus on me, my growth, what pleases me. Sounds selfish right? It is. Im ok with that, to be any good to anyone else i need to be good to myself too. Lets be real, we all want to be appreciated by the people we look up to and appreciate, we all want that positive attention from others but it cant be at the cost of what you truly want. I became interested in so many different things in the last few years and went in so many paths that there's no way i could fit them all in. A very smart women asked me once if i wanted to be "kinda good at a bunch of things or AMAZING at the one thing". The American in me wants to think i could do it all amazing but those people that are amazing at what they do dedicate themselves entirely to what they love and that's what Im going to focus on. What I love, what I want, and I'm gonna leave all that other noise behind. Oh yeah, I'm starting on a new portrait of my favorite crazy actors. Heres a layout
Its been at least six years since I've painted anything on canvas. I generally like to paint on heavy watercolor paper with acrylic washes (mostly because its cheaper and if I fuck up I'm just tossing out paper). For some reason there is a collection of small canvases in my closet, probably gifts or whatever, so i decided to go back to my roots(high-school) and give canvas another go around. It was more of a forced decision as I'm doing a project with Dave C that requires me to work on a large-ish canvas. He works on canvas almost exclusively and I'm down for the challenge. Long story long, i needed to do a warm up piece to reacquaint me with bumpy old canvas. What better subject than a small "Patrick Bateman" 5"x7" Acrylic on Canvas. Check out that project with dave here.
Heres a sketch of my entry in the Lulu bell Dia de Los Muertos group show. "El Diablo". I just transfered the sketch to an 18" x 24" canvas and I'm gonna start of old drippy here as soon as i can choose oils or acrylics. Im leaning towards oils.
Its been a little bit(months) since I've placed any words in this here blog. Got a lot of things in the works for the art realm. Working on a large painting for the Dia De Los Muertos show at Lulubell gallery in Tucson and have a few small ones l would like to do as well for that show. In my last blog from months ago i mentioned a new painting for the Modern Mythology show in January and here it is:
Good times were had creating and conceptualizing this piece. Enjoy.
This is just a little post to dip my feet back into the blogging world so ill keep it short. Many many many things to occupy my time for the next six months, thought about listing them all here and the thought was exhausting. so, goodnight
The Big Bang Theory is one of the funniest shows on TV right now, if you haven't seen it be sure to check it out. I painted this munny a little while back as a present for kristin and it was super fun. Ive only messed around with munnys twice and both times i had no idea what i was going to turn the blank money into. This cat sat on my desk for 8 months before i spent a few hours making him. Heres another shot
I made a trip up to Westminster today to check out Art Supply Warehouse for some new brushes and paper. That place is A-mazing and cheap, they have everything. Seriously everything, i picked up 5 new brushes, a micron brush tip and some 140 lb Arches paper. Im working on a few paintings for a Modern Mythology group show in Tucson in January. Laid out the composition for the first one today. I'll put something up when its finished.
