Category Archives: The Artistic Biker

Renaissance Man, or, A Faire to Remember

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My kilt and wings

A couple of weeks ago, the family and I went to the  Texas Renaissance Festival and had a great time. My wife and I dressed up a bit, the kids went all out, and I got to spend the day experiencing fresh air like a true Scottsman.

Selfie with the fam!

This past weekend, while the wife and kids were in Oklahoma visiting the inlaws, I decided to take another trip up to the fair for the Yule celebration. Because I was on the bike (Azula) and also because it was 41F that morning, I did NOT wear my skirt. I bundled up nicely and even so, I was cold enough that I’m sure I could have been a glass cutter.

Me and Azula at the fair motorcycle parking lot

I fought procrastination the whole morning. I bought the ticket online the night before and all morning long I regretted it. I kept trying to convince myself that I shouldn’t have spent the money, that it was a long ways to go in the cold on a motorcycle, that it wouldn’t be as much fun by myself.

I couldn’t have been more wrong about any of it. I had a lovely time walking around, looking at the sites, meeting and talking with so many beautiful people, and eating some really good foods. It was a wonderful opportunity to fuel my creativity tank.

Link to all the photos I took at the fair that turned out good.
I created a page to upload all of the pics I took that turned out good

The link above has all the photos that turned out good, and the link below will take you the youtube for the video: https://youtu.be/PFl-V3zS_j0

Biker Once More

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Motorcycle with backpack strapped to it
Azula loaded for an art ride

I bought a motorcycle last October. I told the wife I needed one and she agreed. It’s a 2011 Yamaha Stryker 1300. I will be cruising along wondering why everyone is going so slow before I look down to discover I’m going 90 and couldn’t tell.

I’ve been unemployed (again) for a little over a month. After a morning of filling out applications, sending resumes, I decided to load the art bag on her and take her out for a spin.

30 minutes down the road from me is No Label Brewery. Founded in 2010 they are in an old rice grainery. I thought the grainery would make a nice sketch so that’s what I did.

rice grainery
No Label Brewing Co.
ink and wash sketch
Ink and wash sketch

I did most of it live on Twitch, but it was difficult to get the camera to stay still, especially when the wind picked up. However, I did manage to video most of the process so watch for it on the you tube. I’ll update this later with the link.

Mixed Media Rooster Art Journal Page

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mixed media rooster painting in an art journal

mixed media rooster painting in an art journal

I have been prepping a lot of canvases to paint more. When I can’t think of anything to paint, when nothing else moves me, I am going to paint a rooster. It is the year of the cock in the Chinese zodiac so that is my motivation. Painting big…. roosters. Ba-KAWK!
This week’s easels come to us from Jamie Lynn a.k.a. artistpoetgirl, Pauline Chandler and Patrick, and Pamela French!
You need to subscribe! http://goo.gl/NyELT
Also, If you enjoyed it, please LIKE IT, THUMB IT, AND SHARE IT!
Supplies:
Krylon Safety Yellow: https://goo.gl/UHqtNO
Krylon Forest Green: https://goo.gl/z1S5RN
Krylon flat black: https://goo.gl/dSabnM
Krylon flat white: https://goo.gl/ogCNyg
Card stock: https://goo.gl/1SxZsU
Brush Pen: https://goo.gl/rUIMng
Windsor Newton Professional Watercolors: https://goo.gl/6y6BbM
Kilz Primer: https://goo.gl/5WJ1N0
Golden Absorbent Ground: https://goo.gl/NJ2s4w
Apple Barrel White: https://goo.gl/xNM6mm
Krylon Clear Satin: https://goo.gl/5d57Eb
Spray wax to keep your pages from sticking together: https://goo.gl/kzrSpT
a good book to work in: https://goo.gl/cQ6Mm5

The Artistic Biker is a blunt force journey through the art world and art journaling. If Bob Ross, Red Green and Justin Wilson had a love child, it would be The Artistic Biker!
Each week I produce The Artistic Biker Live! on Ustream, then upload the edited videos here. There’s usually a brief beginners art tutorial, and then I demonstrate the technique, and then practical application of the lesson in my art journal. I use everything from graphite pencil and charcoal, watercolors, acrylics, spraypaint, I’ve even used valentine’s candy. So what are you waiting for? SUBSCRIBE ALREADY! http://goo.gl/NyELT
Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/TheArtisticBiker

You can watch the video here: https://youtu.be/ni_RBBVdSdo

The Artistic Biker Does A Complementary Sunset

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I did a complement value chart during the $2 Tuturial portion of the broadcast that left us with a cool Yellow and Violet pallet to play with. I was inspired to paint a sunset. Materials are my art Journal made of used paper grocery sacks, Sargent Art’s liquid acrylic student paint deep spectral violet, The Fine Touch acrylic Yellow Med and Black, Master’s Touch Fine Art Studio Acrylic Titanium White, I use Kilz as gesso, and a satin Krylon clear coat. When dry, I’ll apply Turtlewax Spray Wax to keep the pages from sticking together.

Gesso the page
I spray paint the lightest area
Start with your lightest colors
Work through your values
Start adding in detail
Push objects forward or back by manipulating their value
Add highlights
Extra details like happy little birds

 

Sunsets have their beautiful colors because the short blue and violet wavelengths filter out in our atmosphere. Sunsets on Mars are blue. Discover News has a video about it here: https://youtu.be/DwD3HD6t5Vs

Watch the extend play, without the paint drying over @YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2yL_2tIyh8

The Artistic Biker Does Strawberries

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This week we did a little tutorial about value charts and it inspired me to do a monochrome painting of strawberries. Materials used were: An art journal, acrylic gesso, flat white spray paint, Sargent Arts Acrylic Paint liquid Spectral Red, Real Art Supplies Acrylic liquid Carbon Black, Master’s Touch Fine Art Studio Acrylic Titanium White, Faber-Castell Art Grip Aquarelle watercolor pencil Red, Uniball Vision Elite gel pen Black, Brush Pen with Bombay Black India Ink.

Seal the page with acrylic gesso
I use white matte krylon for the base coat
Using only red, white, and black, create background shadows
Use a watercolor pencil to sketch your image
Block in your base shapes
Begin adding detail
Shade the large shapes
Add fine details
I used white paint to back of some excess shadow I didn’t like

Georgia O’Keeffe was known for here majestic desert scene paintings and her paintings of limited pallet or monochrome, naked botanical lady parts. You can learn about her life as an artist from the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum video: Georgia O’Keeffe: A Life in Art https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UonkqMuOZgM

Watch the extend play, without the paint drying over @YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/embed/OLklqJnwqJw