Man and Cubes

Playing around with coloured tissue paper, pencil and several layers of glossy mat medium.

Sketchbook

It's dawning on me that I am a creature of habit. Work.Dinner. Sleep. However, I broke that routine today when a friend asked me if I wanted to go sketch after work. What??!! You mean I won't be going home right after work?! Sure felt weird sketching at a cafe after work, but I found it was a great way to unwind a bit and do some catch up with Karoliina (that's her in the curtains).

More is more

Bah. Who really needs a minimalist picture with a lot of white space? I certainly don't. I'm currently taking an oil painting class but wanted to keep up with my acrylics, so this was a stab at them. I wanted to put down a lot of paint and see where it takes me. No story in this image, just things that popped up during my painting session(s). I think it was a continuation of the attitude I tried to cultivate with the Sketchbook Project: Just put images on the page and don't overanalyze the lines too much.

The Sketchbook Project

My favourite spread from the book.

I participated in the Sketchbook Project, a project that is based out of Brooklyn, New York. The participants of the project choose one of several themes offered and fill the supplied sketchbook with the theme. I chose "life underground". I can't say it's my best work, but it allowed me not to over think every line I put down. Plus, I procrastinated too much and meeting the deadline also forced me to just put images down on paper. Some images are a stretch from the theme but that's ok with me. A fun project and now it's time to concentrate on my oils.

sketchbook

sketchbook

sketchbook 10/30/11

A-Z, the completed set

Well here it is. For the last two months I've been working on painting an image to the corresponding letter of the alphabet. A fun and at times, frustrating exercise. I think Next I'll be doing the alphabet with the corresponding hand sign.

H, I, Y

F, N, S

Your mission, if you choose to accept it…

I've been working on painting an image for each corresponding letter in the alphabet for the last bit, in oils, and here's a few I laid out that are still drying. I have a week and a half to paint 10 more oils, let them dry and hopefully resin all 26 of them. Impossible you say, well, I'll let you know how it goes when I show these guys at my show in 15 days.

(cue music.... Mission Impossible starts now!)

E,G,K,P

3 x 3 Nutcracker

I've been working on this one for the last month (I know, I'm really a slow painter) but the painting phase is done and other than for a few touch ups, I'm ready to assemble this monster and get it framed.
I have mixed feelings about this one. I envisioned each painting to be much darker in mood and I guess my understanding of colour theory and technique hasn't yet reached the level of proficiency that allows me to match what I see in my mind. But it's going to be shown at the show and hopefully some lucky person will have it in their collection.

Let me know what you think.

B, M

R

A little out of order, but I was inspired to paint Burt Ward as Robin. Not too close to his resemblance, but there are some bits that would make you believe that it might be his brother dressing up as Robin..for Halloween, dyed in blue...

Does Burt Ward have a brother?

C

A, B. D

SOLD

Well, I'm trying my hand at oil paints. It's definitely a different feel from acrylics and a long way from watercolour. Its been challenging and my use of blue and white is on purpose. I don't want to be bogged down by colour problems, especially since I have to get the entire alphabet painted for my art show by mid September. So I'm just dealing with tones. Makes my life slightly simpler but still challenging.

Here are the first few paintings. "C" is sitting on my window ledge drying.

5x7 in. oils on 1/8" masonite panel.

10 oclock art

Added a bit more to my 10 O'clock art spread.


I found this through Eric Orchard's blog. The concept is to post whatever is on your drawing board at 10 o'clock, regardless of what state it's in. Post it on twitter, with the #10oclockart hash mark. It'll be interesting to see all the offerings once it hopefully gets going. Plus this is an excellent way, at least for me, to draw something and not be too finicky about it because I'll have a 10 o'clock "deadline".

This is my offering. I've drawn it before, but I know how you all like to see how a starving artist, bachelor's kitchen is like. Well here's your chance.

On a side note, now that I'm writing it, the word "bachelor" makes me sound like an old curmudgeon of a guy who's stuck in his ways... I guess if you've seen my previous post on this exact same subject matter, it hasn't changed much... oh, geez, I am a bachelor.

Oops, a bit after 10.

The last three of the type and image illustrations…

So here is the last three "larger" illustrations I've completed for the Riverdale Art Walk show this weekend. I think I'll put the words and image idea to bed after this show. It was getting a bit tiring doing these guys and my goal is to have a new body of work in acrylics for the Queen West Art Crawl in September.

However, I have a few more smaller rink drawings to complete before I start packing for the show.

Of course if goes without being said (but I will anyways), that you are all invited this weekend to the show and drop by booth 106 and say hi... that's if you're in Toronto.

Hopefully I'll have one more uploads of smaller ink drawings before I leave tomorrow.

Sheep 3

Sheep 2

Samurai helmet and half mask