Now this is an image that has been slowly in progress for a while. I struggled towards the end and really feel that the upper left is incomplete but at this point I’m going to call it and if in the future I decide I want to tackle the image again I will. Enjoy and see you next time!
Carving an image has always been one of the most reward techniques for me. I decided to pick up my tools and tackle and image or two as part of this challenge and I am happy to say it turned out better than anticipated. I have been working on merging two worlds, the creatures which tell a story and abstract environments that have defined my work for so long. I will probably continue with this work once I finish this challenge. For now it’s rather time-consuming and time I do not have. Enjoy and see you next time!
full image
image with ghost print below
Foxes are pretty darn amazing or should I say fantastic. After watching the movie Fantastic Mr. Fox (absolutely worth watching) I naturally decided that I would integrate a fox into my imagery this weekend. If you have ever seen a video about foxes diving for mice under the snow you will understand just how amazing their hunting/hearing skills really are. This image was an attempt at merging the furry critter with my abstract world. Not exactly successful but on the right track. I accidentally made it look like the branches are impaling the fox (not my intention). Unfortunately this leads down the road of a hunting more than I would ever like to go down. I guess I will have to do a bit more pre-planning on the next piece. Enjoy and see you next time!
Line work, like you see in the image below, is so relaxing for me. It is somewhat meditative to just get lost in the repetitive behavior. It is funny, I tend to draw things like this on the sides of note pages or while attending a meeting, it doesn’t distract me but almost relaxes and focuses my mind. I once heard that those who doodle while they listen to a lecture or meeting actually retain more information, I think it works for me otherwise I distract myself by looking out the window. Funny how a bird outside a window or an interesting cloud can completely take me away but a page full of doodles focuses my mind on what I am hearing. Enjoy and see you next time.
A busy weekend of painting. Really getting nervous that I may not finish this challenge on time. I have already decided that if I am not there but close in the days leading up I am taking a day or two off from work. This is one of nine images that are making up one larger piece. I can’t wait to share the collection but all in good time. Enjoy and see you next time!
Arriving in my hometown for the weekend always allows me to take a deep breathe in and relax. I took full advantage and started painting immediately. I probably would have painted more had it not been for the evening movie watching session but in all fairness the movie was worth watching. (In case you are curious it was The Theory of Everything.) For those who may not know, raccoon’s are one of my favorite animals, I know most people hate them and think of them as a pest but I love them. The coloration or their fur is just amazing it even comes with a complimentary mask! I always thought how cool, they are born with a superhero suit on! Not to mention their tiny little fingers! Anyway, this is just another exploration of future critters that may take a more important role in future projects. Enjoy and see you next time!
A family friend joined us for dinner on Sunday evening. He has always supported my artwork and in turn I have always tried to make items that I know he would enjoy. I started the image earlier in the day, a simple Bluebird. They are such a cute little thing. Before last year I had never seen one but then on a mother daughter trip to the cape we had the opportunity to see the most bizarre Bluebird. He was obsessed with the car mirror. I couldn’t tell if he was defending his territory or attempting to woo a mate, granted the female and male do not look the same, or maybe he was just obsessed with his appearance who knows. Needless to say after days of this fellow consistently attempting to get into my side mirrors, my car was covered in poop. I guess it was worth it. Enjoy and see you next time!
Decided to draw in bed this time. Winter has definitely taken a toll on me, whether it be mental or physical could be debated but either way I’m exhausted. At times in the evening I find myself drifting away into a space filled with random thoughts, ideas or images. Last night, when I closed my eyes in bed I started to image a creature. Somewhat like a bird, kind of like a skeleton but having roots in the human figure. The face came first and I think its apparent as it seems the most thought out or maybe it appears that way because that was already an image in my head. Either way the image developed from there and what made it fun was the lack of thought. No stress, just me, a pen and a sheet of paper. Enjoy and see you next time.
Last post of the day, I promise! I tried to integrate the cooler tones I was seeing outside into this image. Simultaneously, there was a documentary on a mountain range in California which I found inspiring and used as a reference tool. I love the mountains and cannot wait for my hiking season to begin. I only hike from Spring to mid fall as I do not own the winter gear but have always been in awe of those who are brave enough to go out. They must experience such quiet calm moments along the way. When hiking the mountains I find that my favorite moments are when I can hear nothing else but the wind passing through the trees. Enjoy and see you next time!
For those of you that are not aware, New England has had an astronomical amount of snow, 6 feet in two weeks to be exact. Having grown up here I consider myself a true New Englander but this would test a lot of people. I will say that I have had more snow days in the past two weeks than ever before in a season granted if we were to really get into it, I just work for a better company now that seems to understand that my job is not worth risking my life. Thank you current employer! Anyway, this image started with a rant about snow which quickly developed into something else. In the process of clearing out my house of snow I have started sculpting the snow into unnatural shapes but there is something about the idea of taking what is natural and tweaking it a bit to make you stop and question whether it could actually have occurred naturally or had a helping hand. I always think back to playing at the beach or in the woods where out of human habit we pile things up or lay things down. After a while it become part of the surroundings but there is still an unnatural quality to it. Enough. Enjoy and see you next time.
Full Version Two Hundred Ninety Five
Cropped version Two Hundred Ninety Five
365 Days 1 Year 