Burial of Self

     Today I was looking for some creative inspiration, and decided I needed to revisit the art of Alex Grey. Many will know him from is cover art, and other media for the band Tool. It is tragic, and shortsighted of people to not explore his artwork further than his association with Tool. (See "Christ" and "The Artist Prayer" http://alexgrey.com/)

     He describes himself as a visionary artist and believes that art should be used to bring higher understanding and consciousness to the viewer as well as the artist. That successful art should create an open dialogue, and foster learning.

     I wanted to have some time to meditate on my feelings today, and I decided to sketch on my lunch break. I know this style was not even close to Alex Grey's, but I love the feeling of leaning from another artist especially a master. I find that my creativity bubbles when I see the passionate limitlessness of an artist and how far it can take people and the heroes I look up to.

     This piece was just a quick comic book style sketch (pencil, pen, and ink) in my Moleskine sketch journal. I created this not only for my drawing-a-day challenge, but also to explore some new pens. I have been bad about the drawing-a-day upkeep, but each time I sneak in even a quick sketch I feel so much fulfillment and peace.

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.

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!!!