Homework Week 2

I'm not crazy about these two but they are better than last week's homework. I'm trying something I've never done before in pastel and that is using a subtractive technique I use for charcoal and graphite. First, a lay-in the gesture and proportions with my chamois, powdered drawing medium and drawing medium. Second, I pull out highlights and shadow shapes with my kneaded eraser and enhance the mid-tones and core shadows. Third, I tie everything together and by using a combination of my drawing medium, eraser, chamois (w/powdered drawing medium) and drawing medium. These two are pastel. The technique was more time consuming than I planned but it was the first time I had done it like this.

Imagine 10 Years From Now...

Discussion Topic Week 2:

Imagine life in 10 years. Artistically, what do you imagine for yourself?

Imagining my artistic life in 10 years is a strange thing because I never know where my interests will lie. For the longest time I've wanted to do book covers like Donato Giancola, Tom Kidd (Genmo) or Gary Gianni. N.C. Wyeth has always been an influence on me for narrative illustration so if you know these artists you can see the lineage from Wyeth. Ideally, I would be able to live out the dream of making a living as an illustrator/artist doing narrative illustration like this. I also imagine myself doing commission work, too in the same vein as narrative illustration. I'm not sure if I will ever get to do this but I can see myself living doing this in 10 years.

A colleague of mine a couple years back began encouraging me to create my own graphic novels. I've always been a huge comic book fan but ever since doing my undergraduate degree I became fascinated with graphic novels....especially the painterly ones. Sequential storytelling is a direct link to narrative illustration so I imagine myself doing this, too.

Spiritually speaking (this is where it gets deep so read on if you dare), a few years ago I began doing performance art/illustration for my church during the worship services. As many of us are visual learners, it helped drive home the core teaching of the sermon dictated by the lead pastor and the dividends being involved artistically continues to this day. I imagine myself continuing to serve with my artistic gifts in 10 years.

I see myself still teaching college life drawing classes, too.

ILL612 Sustained Figure Concepts: Module 1

I am not completely happy with this submission. These are so overworked and it pisses me off however, this is my first homework assignment. I know my skill set will improve. ARGH!!!

These SUCK!!!

I got a B+ on these. Like I said they suck!!!

Graduate School Week 1

Things are going well so far but I don't have my routine down between home, school and work. There are many things I'm doing throughout the week and I want to be able to do all of them effectively. This is going to be a huge adjustment. One of my friends does 2 all-nighters per week and I simply don't have the energy to do that. Somehow I need to fit exercise in there, too.

I'm taking ILL612 Sustained Figure Concepts (long pose life drawing class) and Week 1 Assignment is to take the Quiz (got an 80% on it, argh! I have issue with it) and complete 2 full figure drawings using a limited palette. I'm all for using a limited palette but I don't like these particular hues.

Reinvisioning

Hi Folks,

Here is a revision of a previous post I did for an old sketch. On the left is the original and on the right is a newer version of it. I still need to add some highlights and clean it up but all in all my Warrior Angel is done. My vision of this creature was a type of angel we haven't seen yet with animal-like paws or dare to think could exist. I didn't want to give it a demonic feel to it but something more courageous and powerful that adheres to similar themes I've been drawn to (no pun intended). The fact of the matter is would you what kind of angel would you want guarding your family....the one in the middle or the one on the far right?

Graduate School

I just got accepted to Graduate School today at Academy of Art University, San Francisco, CA. Its part of their online program which I'm not very fond of....online that is but as an educator there aren't many options for us. Only a few of us can do on-ground classes but it puts a strain on your entire life. Anyway, I'm extremely happy, elated and blessed to begin this new adventure. Thanks to the Lord that I'm finally on my way again to fulfill another dream! First my wife, daughter, our new home and now this! The Lord is Good is all I can really say right now!

I will continue to post here as much as possible especially when classes begin.

Updated Drawings

Here are some stuff I don't believe anyone has seen before....or at least has seen to the extent that they are now. Enjoy....

New and Old Sketches

Here is a collection of sketches I put together for my graduate school submission portfolio. I forgot I had these in my stuff after we moved. The one on the left was a preliminary sketch for a larger charcoal drawing of a homeless man called "Creation Care" and the other two were 10 minute warm-up drawings for a performance art piece I did.

For Andre

Andre Petway asked me repeatedly if I had updated my blog so, this is for Andre. I haven't a clue as to who this reminds me of. LOL

June Update...

I haven't been able to work in my sketchbook lately and it pisses me off to no end. I told my students about this blog to keep me accountable but they have only mentioned it once in the past 2 months. This weekend I will post more drawings before the Finals Week.