Brightly cH@0tic & Melodic

     Today I took the time to do some research on a new painting endeavor which for now will remain secret and TBA. I will say this much however that I plan on exploring a painting project here ASAP that will be focused entirely on process art. 

     I need to take some time to breathe and break the confines of structure and preconceived ideas. Sometimes it can be valuable and therapeutic to an artist to release from all of the rules, and simply enjoy the journey of creating; as well as the overall actions of rudimentary skills being applied. This has led me to dive back into my love/hate relationship with Jackson Pollock. As long as I can remember have had issues with the Post-Impressionism and some Contemporary movements for their almost snobbish lack of definition, detail, and purpose. 

     There are many schools of thought and infinitely many more numbers of subject matter and mediums in the art world. That being said what defines "art"? For me personally, art is a means of communication, a universal language that transcends spoken bounds allowing for a learning and dialogue between the artist, viewers, and their internal selves. I had trouble identifying with the likes of Andy Warhol, Pollock, Yoko Ono, and many others in this movement due to their lack of respect for this responsibility to use art with a purpose. In more recent years it has become a self revelation that art doesn't always have to be shared with others, doesn't always have to have a purpose, and doesn't always have to mean something. 

     Why have I been able to finally been able to get on board with this side of the art world? It has a lot to do with my own self exploration and the feelings I have been working through. I am able to see that artist like Pollock were using their non-descriptive, loose, abstract, expressionist, no-holds-barred process of creating art, to allow them a vehicle for working though their internal thoughts, ideas, and struggles. Almost like a catharsis or purging there is no real reason or meaning but the feeling that the "art" has to come out. For the artist it could mean everything, and nothing, be private, or shared. 

     Likewise for the viewer the reaction to a nondescript piece could fall the same way. This is also similar to the create and destroy art process or even the creation of crafts. In the end the real "art" lies in all the parts not just the end result. It can be the methodical nature in which materials are selected and prepped. Then move into getting ones feet wet like a curious child. To following the directions to the end goal, and/or to the destruction of the piece as a lesson of the temporary nature of things. I was even considering how from a therapy and meditation standpoint one may quilt, knit, wood carve, or create something with specific structure and instructions. Not unlike how a Buddhist would work on a zen garden or colored sand art mural, or how a political demonstrator may have a person cut strips of their clothing or leave comments in a box. Even how pollock splattered paint just to release, move forward, process, discover ect... 

      I have a new respect for this dialogue the artist has with him/herself, their materials, and the journey with all the power it can have to let us come to new understandings as we work through tough things. I took some time to create a "digital pollock" today and I called it "Brightly cH@0tic & Melodic", because I kept hearing a rhythm in my mind as it was created. When I slowed down and sped up and stayed loose, I was appreciating just the visuals as the color and lines took form for me. Hope you like!!! 

Wise words from a fellow artist friend

http://mmmmmaddiee.blogspot.com/2013/04/big-sister-advice.html?showComment=1366770927576&m=1

Latest ink sketches

     I have been spending about an hour or two each night working on my inking skills and getting back into a sketching groove. I have started brush inking ann trying to learn the style of Craig Thompson a writer and graphic novelist I greatly respect and admire. So I have broken out my ink and pen nibs as well as a synthetic sable style #2 sized brush. I decided just had fun with no real restrictions or preconceived plans. 

     The goal is to be exercising my drawing muscles (both in technique and in my mind), and begin my journey with story-boarding the first "issue" of my graphic novel. I say "issue" because the idea is to release the entire story in a long format not serialized like a monthly comic would be. To make things easier in work flow I do break down the work and story into segments as if it were being released one installment at a time. 

     My best friend Richard has been giving me some writing pointers for pacing my story and fixing issues with scene focus, number of panels per page, and some small rewrites. Hope you like the uploads. Also lastly I found an old abstract I did for the ART IS RESISTANCE movement and I wanted to show that ink work on this post as well. I am nervous about showing to much of my character art at this stage or giving away anything about the story on the blog. Email me and I will let you check it out away from public upload.

Gorillaz in Techni-color

     Here is the latest color progression of the Gorillaz fan art piece. Hope you like. I have been working in Sketchbook Pro Mobile with then airbrush and marker tools. I color like an animation cell on the underside layer bellow the outline so I don't have to be so precise

Gorillaz in ink

     I managed to take the original photo I snapped with my iPhone and open it in sketchbook pro mobile pro to ink the drawing of The Gorillaz today on my break. I am uploading this to be able to show the stages of the piece and the amount of progress that can be made in such a short amount of time. This is really more a lesson for me to not worry and stress about the final piece, and to just take my time and enjoy the process. So far this has been a wonderful experience and really opened up my cartoon side again. I will try my best to upload a colored and finished version ASAP. Thanks for your support and feedback

Musical Inspiration

     Tonight I had this overwhelming desire to sit at my animation desk (something I haven't done in awhile) and create something tooney. I have really been feeling the vibes from The Gorillaz and Del the Funky Homosapien. I have had a steady mix of Dels 3030, mix tape, and the Gorillaz discography. I have really been enjoying the songs Empire ants (especially the Miami Horror remix), Stylo, Clint Eastwood, Kids with Guns, Last living souls. 

     I decided I should attempt to sketch out a group shot of the Gorillaz and see what I could come up with. I did use reference photos for faces, but the poses are original, and the layout is from my mind. Russell is on the far left with is his Ghost aka Del the Funky. Center is 2D pointing an ape like finger. Murdock is pinching a cigarette, and Noodle is peeking out waving. I still need to clean up the layout, and make some corrections to Russell, and some of their arm positions, but overall I really like this rough sketch.

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.