Paintings for Christmas presents

     With the Christmas season approaching a my wife and I having a young baby I knew gift giving would have to be different this year. I began to think of things to give to my family members that would really mean something, and not just be mere material items. I really put my thought and heart into what I decided to give the family, and this year giving those gifts was the most exciting part rather than receptivity new things. 

     Watching my daughter on her first Christmas interacting with her cousin Juliette, unwrapping gifts and being hugged ad kissed by her grandparents, uncles, aunts, ad cousins was so sweet and memorable. For my father-in-law I painted a rustic farm scene. I created a nativity scene for my mother-in-law. My brother-in-laws are both athletes and I created a caricature ad a patriotic painting. My sister-in-law received two watercolor paintings one of the koi previously posted ad another of some orchids previously posted from Lewis Ginter. My mother received another orchid painting and pastel apple still life and my father an Irish farm pasture.

Moleskine Sketch journal Lily sketch

     It has been quite awhile since I have worked in my sketch journal. I decided to pick it back up as I will be starting a 30 day sketch challenge on the 1st. I couldn't thin of anything worth drawing and my mind has been completely distracted thinking about my daughter Lily. I miss her badly everyday hen she is in day-care an I have to work. I feel my most whole when I with my wife and Lily and nothing else seems to fit otherwise. I don't have to play any part or pretend to be something I'm not, when I am around them. I decided to draw a baby as best I could from memory reaching up for a hand. Her was my attempt at that challenge.

Bunny hop animation rough

http://youtu.be/EJFza6H5EM4

How to draw Kakashi from Naruto

     Check out my kakashi drawing tutorial sorry its really fast drawcast only allows one render speed. Also it looks like the app colored his face purple in the render whereas the drawing it was flesh tone sorry :(. Hope you enjoy and learn I am still learning this style more each time

http://youtu.be/cP5gOlA8VSo

VEARPOTHESIS: Furthermore...

VEARPOTHESIS: Furthermore...

Twilight Waterfall - Drawcast Painting

Here is a painting I recently completed using the Drawcast ap for iPhone. Tell me what you think. I am still figuring out the subtleties of the ap to make or give the most accurate painting experience.

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://youtu.be/OEDkAByrOEU

Here is a jpeg preview as well invade you don't want to watch the time-lapse

Adventures in moleskine sketch journaling

     Recently I have decided to take up journaling, but as an artist of course this task could not simply include writing. For the last three days I have been writing personal entries as well as logging pen sketches/illustrations to suite the writing, to match my mood, style, or simply amusing page filler. I have seen that there are many illustrators out there keeping up with their thoughts and creative juices on the go this way. 

     For my journal I chose a small format hard-bound sketchbook with a canvas cover rather than a traditional moleskine brand to avoid the cost as this is a new venture for me. More than anything I hope to blend the water color sketching as week as other mediums into a single place so I can inspire myself to strive for better skill and increased work output. Hopefully beyond theses exercises, new projects will come to light all while letting me get my thoughts out as well. I am also uploading some teasers of the artwork so far.

Irish farm pasture watercolor

     Here is my attempt at a smaller format painting it's essentially a 5X7" on watercolor painting. I have sketched in the farmhouse and the gates however due to transparency of the watercolor I think I am going to go over with gauche or an acrylic wash color thinned down. I will also add some trees, scrubs, and some livestock as well.

Updated bro caricature with color

I took some time I refine my caricature drawing of my brother working at bobs sport shop. Looks like I haven't forgotten how to use colors even though it's been awhile. Whew o_0.

Fun with drawcast app

     My coworker challenged me to draw an interesting picture of something today through this new app on the iPhone called drawcast wear when you draw something it will record as you are drawing in real time and when you post it the other people who are part of that app can see exactly how you came up with the artwork created. I decided to draw a vampire because she likes to read vampire books for her spare time and I thought it would be funny. 

      This is my attempt at vampire teeth and lips just for fun to see if I could. I also had fun sketching out a rough for a face. I am still getting used to the layering properties as they work different than the traditional photoshop or autodesk sketchbook mobile. I do find that the sketchbook mobile is a better app to work in and hen transfer work as a layered .PSD or SBK file to sketchbook or photoshop for more professional results. 

     The Drawcast app is going to be a great way to build a following for this art blog as well as study other artist styles since I can watch time lapsed footage of the steps they took in creating their masterpieces. I will also challenge myself to hit the leader board and most popular drawing categories. The piece bellow are called "Vamp Kiss" and "Pensive Chartreuse"

Sketchbook mobile painting from my iPhone

    MThis is a Sketchbook mobile painting from my iPhone. I was tinkering with a painting idea lately and didn't have have sketchbook with me or my watercolor sets. I decided to take my ideas into autodesk sketchbook mobile and armed with my trusty drawing stylus I began to paint this "work in progress painting of the crucifixion". I hope you like it this is what I was able to do on the last 15min of my lunch break today. 

      I hope to finish this and refine the painting and then just have it printed on high quality heavy pound paper in a large format. I have worked in this app before and will show not only the Jesus painting but a seascape I played around with. As you can see the app is pretty well versed as a layered painting program like photoshop ect... I have even designed some proof logos for a band I was trying to get a contract bid for work with called D_Hamma

My bro as a cartoon

     On the whim I felt like drawing a caricature today and I decided to select my brother for his especially animated features and expressions. I drew him in his element working at bobs sport shop. I think this was a fun exercise and this rough sketch will be the start of a fun piece I can give him as a gift. I wish someone would caricature me I would be thrilled to see the exaggerations. Caricatures are like and artist method not only of turning their subject into a stylized toon but also roasting them the way a comedian would roast their peers. Check out the shots bellow and compare to the actual photo let me know how I did

Idea for an art show

     I have had this idea for a long time now to in the future host an art how at a gallery or an event space that would let me hang paintings and have an installation. My desire would be to have it benefit charities for mental health, mentoring, grief ect. I would like to call the show hope and dispair. I have a very vivid vision of the layout of the floor space, the paintings I would include, the music, ambience even the refreshments. 

     I would like to raffle or auction a piece to raise even more money beyond the ticket price to attend and food costs. The bellow images are some rough sketches for paintings that will see fruition. Before commenting please view with an open mind and realize I am ok and of sound mind and that art is personal but also meant to be shared. I liken it to a confession and a healing that is communicated in a universal language transcending barriers of culture and written words. Also mind that I have counter pieces which will be posted soon that tackle the subject of hope and joy and feature images of my faith and love ect. 

     Lastly I am perfectly happy with my life and have a beautiful amazing wife and daughter that are my inspiration, my muses, and my encouragement to pursue using my talents in art not only for my own personal benefit, career, and enjoyment, but also for God and to connect with others who need to be inspired and loved.

Lewis Ginter Field paintings stage 1

Here are the quick observation sketch paintings I took the other day at the gardens

Field sketching and painting at Lewis Ginter

     Today me, my wife our daughter Lily, her bother Jeremy, sister-in-law Lacey, their daughter Madeline, new baby Juliette, cousin DeeDee, and DeeDee's son Noah all took a morning trip to Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens. This is such a lovely place for people of all ages to enjoy. There are lovely sites to see at every turn, and the garden is carried though the seasons of the year making for new surprises with each visit. I brought my portable water colors (a set called the cottman serried by winsor newton) a water-brush and a pencil to take quick studies and field sketches of the various flora an scenery. 

     The orchid room at the green house proved an excellent place filled with vibrant hues of all variety and exotic plants in so many shapes, size an complexities. As I walked around sketching and blocking in colors from my pain pots on to the pages I felt a joy I haven't experience with my art in some great while. It was wonderful being able to not tie myself down or time myself when recording observations of the subject matters I saw. Jeremy took many complex and wonderful shots of the great varieties of flowers in that room as well as on the kids playing in the children's garden and playhouses. 

     Noah and Madeline loved playing with him making up games and little club meetings racing around the paths. Even though I was only there for a brief time before work it was well worth the trip, and I feel it gave me a pleasant focus for the day. I will be posting the progressions of my watercolor studies from scratch to finish ASAP. Stay tuned thanks!!!

Work in progress Japanese garden watercolor

     I got this image in my head and just started sketching out the rough with a watercolor pencil. I have been working on this painting locking in sections of color and shape little by little on my lunch breaks and fifteens at work. It feels so calming to paint and i really needed that release today. I have been feeling so much joy since my daughter was born but at the same time tons of anxiety over things I cannot immediately impact like my current state of employment and my personal goals. 

     I know this much I am a starving artist and not in the literal sense. I starve for creativity and the connection I feel with my self when I paint or draw. One day I will be able to let that passion out but at present these little paintings help me feel reassured not to let my dreams or creativity die