Performance painting

Went to Michigan again this weekend. Yesterday was a very long day of shows, but it was good, I got to performance paint for The La De Les again. They were limited to 20 minutes for the set compared to their usual 30 to 40 minutes so I really had to crank the painting out fast, but it was god practice and I've got another painting to post. Until I get it photographed check out Audrey Kawasaki . I'm becoming very interested artists who use line as descriptive force the same way comic books or art nouveau does.

Little Nemo

Borrowed a book of Little Nemo in Slumberland comic strips from a friend. Little Nemo was written and illustrated by Winsor McCay who had an excellent sense of design. I'm going to do some studies soon. Watchmen really turned me on to the American Comic style and I'm dying to find a comic dealer so I can get some trade paper backs of the more classic comic heroes. Problem is there isn't any comic dealers, at least not like what I'm after, in the area. There's one in my hometown but I won't be back there until Easter. 

I admit I feel a little nerdy, there's probably a bunch of comic nerds out there that started drawing by copying comics and then changed their style once they got into the classroom. I started drawing in the classroom and now I'm looking backward and going "OOOoooooo comic books!"

Wow! new update.

Ok, long Story short: One week spring break + one week with killer cold + one weekend on the road = no updates for almost a month, finding yourself behind in most classes and lots of self-loathing.

Good news: I'm 95% over the cold, its warm outside again and I just read Watchmen.

Did a lot of sketches from watchmen of the character Rorschach who I liked a lot. I also practiced some figure drawing and did some studies of Mark Ryden. I like how well Ryden can juxtapose seemingly unrelated objects and I'm interested by the odd creatures he comes up with. I wanted to study him mostly for his creatures though, I have a concept for an oil painting that I think his work could help inform.

I also recommend watchmen (the graphic novel, haven't seen the movie yet). It really turned me on the the comic style of basic inked figures colored in with watercolor, I'm going to try and borrow a book of Little Nemo in Slumberland comics from a friend to study it more.

I am for Art

I was given an assignment awhile back to state ten things that begin with the words "I am for art". I had trouble coming up with ten, but I finally got them. I came up with far more than ten things but most of it was either cliche and lame or to personal to share. But I've finally cut it down to ones I'm happy with.

I am for Art that gives the right weight to what we do.

I am for Art that has the blues.

I am for Art that is self-confident.

I am for Art by artist who know poets and folk singers.

I am for Art that speaks from our collective unconscious. 

I am for Art that redeems our eyes.

I am for Art that questions.

I am for Art that doubts.

I am for art that admits it doest know what Truth is.

I am for Art that isn't afraid to believe something in spite of that fact.

I am for that that believe fear is the greatest sin.

Sketchbook drawings

No finished work today, just some figure drawing practice in my sketchbook and one life drawing of my friend Aaron.

Sorry everyone

I've been catching up in my ceramics, which is not my strong suite, but I've done some figure drawing lately which I'll post tomorrow and I'll have more paintings for you very soon.

I'm also discovering that a lot of the art that really interests me is more of a west coast thing call lowbrow art. I'll talk more about that next time I update.

Midterms

Midterms are behind me so thats a load off, hopefully my posts will be a little less spermatic now, but I expect this weekend to be a little packed. I'm also hoping to have an etsy shop up soon so I'll let you know once I do.