Session Series 5

Let's Swim the Night Together


this one had started out to be part of the "circle" series, but had a change of direction when I was drawing what turned out to be "facial" features of the fish. So, the new direction was taken and I decided to include this in the "Session" series. I also went with some color in this one 


4 sessions/3 days


cheers and enjoy!!

Circle Series 4

Rabbit Stew


A "stew" of images associated with the rabbit. The "carrot" becomes more prominent in the color image. The title popped in my head a day later while I was looking at the artwork for the final time.




I will usually have a "final look" at the work after a day or so. In this final look, the artwork will either be completed or I will see something else and/or a need to add more. Not always a good thing because I have taken some pieces too far and completely lost what I wanted to create or  loose focus with the particular piece (rarely) But it is all part of the process and sometimes part of one drawing is a steeping stone to a completely new piece of work!


Cheers and enjoy!

 Three Rabbit Hides


not a complete circle, but it is there. The rabbit images in this piece appear to be hiding or trying not to be seen. I feel that "reasoning" works with both the b/w and color renditions.


Cheers and enjoy!!

Session Series

Sleigh


3 days, 4 sessions   With this piece, I spent one session just looking at the piece. Did not do any drawing. The "sleigh" made its appearance during the third session. 


Cheers and Enjoy!

At the Calgary Zoo Final

This last set is taken at the zoo, however no animals were used in the taking of these pictures. This was taken behind a small landscaped waterfall in the area that the mountain goats were in. Though the water still flows, ice is forming at and around the path of the water. Looked pretty cool (no pun intended) to me.


Cheers and Enjoy!


New "Session" piece coming up next!

At the Calgary Zoo 5

Final pic of the black wolf.

An interesting shot (at least to me) coming tomorrow

At the Calgary Zoo 4

Two views of the black wolf. No one was around when a group of us came around the corner and the the wolf watched us for a moment (1st picture) then realized it was only humans and laid back down (2nd picture) 


A proud animal even while held in captivity


Cheers and Enjoy!

At the Calgary Zoo 3

Final two for today.


Cheers and Enjoy!

At the Calgary Zoo 2

I was going to wait to post a couple of more, but Naaawwww, I'm going to do it now!!

Cheers and Enjoy!

At the Calgary Zoo

Taking a break from the artwork to post a few pictures taken at our visit to the Calgary Zoo, two weeks before Christmas.


Cheers and Enjoy!

Circle series 2

Guardian


The image of the "Guardian" came after the drawing and digital work (b/w) was completely finished and I was thinking about the color scheme. 


Cheers and Enjoy!!

Circle Series 1

Angry Gods


I got the idea for this series from a good friend who had asked me to draw a "mandala" for a project she was putting together and working on. 


I am drawing "half" the circle and then scanning into Photoshop to duplicate the image and "flip it" to complete the circle. Not entirely sure what the completed image will look like until the computer part is finished, but that's half the fun!!


Cheers and Enjoy!!


(thanks to Lori for this bit of inspiration!)

Session Series 3

Wack, Zap and Whipped


1 day, 3 sessions


this one came up with a weather theme during the second session. I continued that theme through the third session.


Cheers and enjoy!

Session Series 2

It Came in With the Tide


3 days, 4 sessions


Cheers and Enjoy!!

Session Series 1

Butterfly


first piece from a loosely planned series of works entitled "Session". Being that each one of the drawings will be the result of several drawing sessions.

(that's the starting point, who knows where and when the end point comes? but the journey is the fun part!!)


This piece: 2 days, 3 sessions


Cheers and Enjoy!!

Wyrm

sat down this afternoon and did this one in about 30 minutes. This is going to be the last of the "short-timed pieces". I was thinking "rooster" because I had begun with the "neck" and "head" but as I continued, the figure did change.

I'm going to switch to "session" drawing. What this will be is: one piece done over several sessions taking several days to complete. I would think that the finished pieces would be larger and a bit more intricate with the lines. Less negative space in the pieces. Who knows, we will have to wait and see what the final pieces will look like.

Cheers and Enjoy!!

Sketch Work 2 Pt 5

Geisha Grace


This drawing took about 45 minutes to draw. After "seeing" the figure, I added a bit more detail to the "head" area. My memories of my time in Japan helped give the title to this piece.

Sketch Work 2 Pt 4

Rocket Ship


One of those "early sci-fi" designed rocketships I feel. Reminds me of those rockets from those early B-movies done waaaay back when!


Cheers and Enjoy!

Sketch Work 2 Pt 3

Dance Floor Spin


another sketch that shaped itself. About three-quarters through this drawing the character came out. I added the "feet" to emphasize the dancer. 


Cheers and Enjoy!!

Sketch Work 2 Pt 2

Hummingbird


I believe the image in this drawing is quite clear. Roughly 20 minutes on this one. This particular drawing came quick and easy and the "shape" spoke for itself.


Enjoy!

Sketch Work 2 Pt 1

Poke and Prod


going back to simply just "doodling" and seeing what comes visually. I love this work because there is absolutely no planning at all. I simply sit down, put on some music, grab pad and pen and start making lines, curves and whatever. It is intriguing to see what appears on the paper after an hour or two. 


This drawing took about 45 minutes over several days. I like to come back to certain works. Alot will depend on how I'm feeling at the time. I may sit for hours (though this requires extensive exercise once completed. The body is made for motion not stillness) or I may go for 15-20 minutes at one sitting.  Like I said, depends on my mood. Anyway over the past few days,  I have done several of these types of abstract pieces. I'll post these over the next few days or weeks.


Enjoy!

Sketch Work 9

Birth Year


the rabbit design in this piece was the last 60 second sketch I did from this past group of sketches that this series has been based upon.  I enjoyed this "exercise" tremendously and will probably sit down and do it again very soon. I have been creatively brain-storming with my "Sam's World" work and have enough rough sketches to get me through to the new year. That being said, I can turn my creative thoughts to more personal paths and explorations.


Back to this piece. 


You will be able to see another work incorporating the rabbit design coming up in February, 2011. The Chinese New Year begins the first week of February and is "The Year of the Rabbit" This is my "year" hence the title of the piece. That year is represented in the piece.


Enjoy

Sketch Work 8

Native Look


abstract "face" in this one. Cleaned up and colored in Photoshop.  I also added to this while in Photoshop. Added more detail in and around the "eye" area. A 60 second sketch that took 45 minutes to complete>


Enjoy!

Sketch Work 7

Fly Spy


It was the "hooded eyes" (middle,  right side of image) that gave me the title for this one.


Enjoy!

Sketch Work 6

Movement in Air


about a half hour to clean and color this one. Bit more of the abstract as far as form goes. There is a form there, but only if you look briefly, any longer and the form is lost. I find it best to let the image make itself visible and not to go looking for one.


Enjoy!

Sketch Work 5

Morning Flight


this was a 2 minute pencil sketch to begin with.  I then scanned into Photoshop to clean the sketch and add color. One thing about doing this particular drawing exercise, (30 seconds, 60 seconds, and 2 minute sketches) one can come up with alot of artwork to keep busy with for days, on the flip side, one can get alot of crap too!


Enjoy!

Sketch Work 4

Pair of Toucs


This image drew itself. As I have probably said in earlier posts, I just love it when this happens. I usually do not see the image until the drawing is nearly completed. I find these works the most enjoyable because nothing is planned and there is a surprise at the end! I simple pick up pen and start drawing lines and curves and continue for as long as I'm in the mood. 


Sometimes it works, sometimes it does not.


Enjoy!!

Sketch Work 3

Medicine Man


another 2 minute rough sketch in the beginning. Decided to add color to this one as well. I believe this is one of the last "figure" sketches I did. The next few are mainly abstract by appearance.


Who knows what you may see. 
That's the fun part!!


enjoy!!

Sketch Work 2

A Swim and A Hop


This began has another short timed sketch. I went ahead and added some color for this one. The original sketch took less than a minute to draw and about half an hour to clean up and color.

Enjoy

Halloween Poem

When crescent has departed
solid black rules the night,
silence becomes supreme.
Creatures open eyes
that glow an eerie color.
Walking faster 
between two rows of oak.
Breath becomes quicker
heart beats a little faster.
Movement in the trees
following against the wind.
The door to safety
the distance seems too far.
running just might help, 
with fear, even more.
A howl, a flap, a shuffle,
and, good lord, "what is that smell"?
Adrenaline kicks into gear
and the door opens with a strong push
"Good Evening" says the count,


"Oh shit" says I.


Happy Halloween to all!!

Sketch Work 1

Three Rabbits Sitting


With this series of work, The "final" pieces that you will see will be from 2 to 5 minute timed abstract sketches. Most are in pencil, but tighten upped with pen. I may use Photoshop to expand on the piece (as I have done in this one) but I want to try to stay "true" to the original sketch. We'll see how that goes. If an idea comes to mind while cleaning up the sketch, I will probably go with that creativity and see where it takes me.

The Mask 3

Painted Desperation


kind of has that impatient and desperate look and feel to the image when I had finished. Bit of anger in there too.


Enjoy

Time for Eternity

photo taken in the Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah Ga.

Fires of Face

the "larger" abstract piece that I completed over the time frame talked about in the earlier posted piece from a couple of days ago.

Eyes of Flame

Going back to the "abstract" here. This is my most recent digital abstract . This piece has several dozen layers, numerous "effects", shrinking, multiple copies, flipped vertically and horizontally, portions erased, and several weeks of experimentation to the point that I would have to go back and try and find the original sketch that started this piece.

This was one of those pieces that came slowly, ideas that were tried and thrown out because it just wasn't working or could not push past the visual blocks I was having.

I put this piece away for over a month until, finally, in the span of roughly half an hour, everything I did, clicked. Feels good to get this one done!!

This particular image is a smaller section of the over-all artwork. I'll post the larger work in a few days.

Enjoy!!

Waiting With Ishmael

Having the Munchies

this little guy stop by for a snack, but kept a close eye on me the entire time. This was taken at my brother's home near Barnesville, Ga.

Lions at the Zoo 2

Who is watching who in this one!?!

Lions at the Zoo

On a recent trip home, Janice and I went to the Atlanta Zoo for the day. Our intent was to take some  reference/stock pictures for future art projects. I feel some of these came out pretty good and want to share with those that visit this blog.

This one is of the lioness soaking up some late morning sun.

The Mask 3

Theatre 18


I lost count of how many images I did in this particular series. I went really productive with these because each design gave me several new ideas for other designs and images became very many! I have gone back through these and several were picked for the calendar, put on the website, and saved as jpeg files that are on my mobile portfolio (ipod touch) 
Looking back at these images, makes me want to start sketching some new designs!!


enjoy!!

The Mask 2

Kabuki Upclose 7


This image (as well as the first of this series) were used in a calendar I designed a couple of years ago. Each month had a black and red kabuki-style image to go with it.  I did a "spread" in the middle (between the months of June and July) that included four designs, one of which is this particular mask.


Enjoy! 

The Mask 1

Kabuki Upclose 5


Thus starts a new series. I am bringing the Sharpie art and Expressive series to a close. Though do not be surprised should there be an encore of either in the future!


About 22 years ago, I was assigned to a naval base in Yokosuka, Japan as part of a weather/oceanography detachment. For the next 4 years, I lived in and around Yokosuka, Yokohama, and Tokyo. 


One of discoveries I made that later became an influence on my artwork, was the Kabuki theatre. I was fascinated by the masks that were painted on the actors. Simple, yet dramatic. Watching these productions gave me butterflies and made my heart pound. One was provided with headphones for translation, but I did not need nor wanted translation because I could FEELl what was going on. 


I had dreams of the Kabuki. The actors wore my masks that I had drawn and made. These dreams were vivid, the kind that you wanted to go back to sleep and hope the visions would come back! I drew as much as I could, when I could to get these images down on paper.  22 years later, I still have these masks running through my mind.


This series will show several influences seen in my designs. Enjoy!