From left to right: Lighthouse for OKC CPSA, Virtual Sketch Date, Illustration Fridays, Figure Drawing Group, Every Day Matters, Wet Canvas Colored Pencil Challenge, Personal Works, Family, Day-to-Day Sketches, and two Blogs
Do you ever find that you have made too many commitments? When you love every one of your commitiments, how do you tell which ones to give up? Add to what’s pictured above my day job and some products I’m developing and you can see that my plate is too full. Girl2 wants me to teach her to draw and play guitar. While that may be the blind leading the blind, I believe that is going to take precedence over some of these other commitments. Balance is the goal here, not feeding the OCD monster!
If you have any comments on how you achieve balance between work, art, family, etc. I’d love to see ’em.
I’m so desperate to get back to figure drawing group! I had no idea how addictive it was. For the last three weeks it has been rained out and this week is the Colored Pencil Society of America meeting. I’ll let you know how that goes next week. In the mean time, I will continue to play with my disgruntled manequin.
The Everyday Matters Challenge is still going on. I continue to work on them every day. I am getting a little ahead of the site, though, so that I may cut back on the late nights and the time away from the girls.
Girl2's Sketchbook
Speaking of the girls, Girl2 decided she wanted to be just like Daddy when we went to the zoo on Memorial Day. So, a quick trip through Wal*Mart and she has her very own, personalized sketch book. Now she can sit and draw with me when we go out. How cool is THAT? ;)
I tell you what, a three day weekend will really throw off your schedule if you let it. I have spent this entire weekend planning to get things done, but not near enough getting them done. It has been a GREAT weekend, though. I set up for a new painting that I might even get around to finishing some day. I visited with family and some old friends. We had a trip to the Zoo. And I did eventually get the yard mowed. I’m almost ready to get back to work so I can get some rest.
It is once again time for Illustration Friday on Tuesdays here at The Artistic Biker. This week, the theme is “Cracked”. While thinking about this, I was watching The Land of the Lost marathon on the Sci Fi channel. That made me think about the dino egg I drew for Thing-a-Day back in February.
Ah, a three day weekend. Plenty of time for rest and relaxation. Time to do the things that I have put off doing for myself like sunbathing, or taking a rest or… Oh, apperantly I’m supposed to be doing chores. I am apparently supposed to take care of the yard maintenance, the vehicle maintenance, and any other “honeydew” my lovely young bride has in mind to make our humble abode more pleasant. I pulled the lawn mower out and saw how 20+ days of rain have affected our yard and thought, “What a great painting that would make!”
compositional sketch 1
So, I ran into the house and grabbed my sketchbook. I put the lawnmower just the way I thought it should go and walked around it for close to 30 minutes looking at it from different angles and configurations. This was when my wife caught me.
It’s not so much that she was mad at me, she really wasn’t even frustrated at me. She just managed to give me a look of disbelief. One of those looks that makes you feel guilty that you’re not doing what’s expected of you. She brought me a hat and my mini-sketch book and said, “That would make a nice painting.” That’s just one of the MANY reasons I love her.
comp. sketch 2
comp sketch 3
comp. sketch
color study
Finally, I broke out the mini-sketch book to make this color study. As I was finishing it up, I could hear the thunder. I looked up to see scattered clouds on an otherwise gloriously sunny day. I grabbed my camera phone and snapped a photo of the final layout. Ten minutes later it started raining in what we call locally rain-shine. That’s when you’re standing in direct sunlight and still get a soaking. I probably should have mowed the lawn at some point. But I believe it will make an EXCELLENT painting.
On Friday’s I like to post a few critiques. The artist I had scheduled to chat with this week had something come up at the last minute. Not to worry though, she made me promise to give her a rain check. I ran into one of my dearest friends from college on Facebook. She and my lovely bride were room mates and at one time we did practically everything together. One day, however, she ran away from the circus to join a home and now she and her husband have a custom jewelry business. You can see her work at Secret Silvy. As a matter of fact, if you check there regularly you can watch their website grow as it is currently a Work In Progress! Laura volunteered to help me out with a few critiques this week and it is greatly appreciated!
Washita Theater is an awesome depiction of times gone by. The picture sort of clashes with itself though. The column down the center has a 40’s feel, while the marquee looks like the bumper of a 50’s style car. I think it’s because there’s no separating line between the two sides of the marquee, and the right end is angled a bit much. I’m not sure if it’s the re-sizing of the picture, or if the lettering on the marquee are supposed to be illegible, but in this digital copy, there’s a slight cartoon feel since I can’t read the letters. This is an excellent capture with what I will call “personal touches!”
Looking at the “shady” picture, I am amazed at the depth that it has. I just want to walk right up and sit on the swing, but I’m afraid I’d bust out the window behind it. Something about the tree… looks like it’s reaching in under the porch on the right side. But how could that be if the swing looks like it’s against the wall/window? Didn’t notice it though until I was just staring at my screen while talking on the phone! Otherwise, an excellent job!
I absolutely love the College Chapel. It looks like a picture you would see of a small chapel in a fairy tale book. If you stare at the tower too long, it begins to look fuzzy, like you’re seeing double. The clock not showing an actual time adds to the fairy tale style.
Thank You Laura!
Laura, I can’t thank you enough for taking time to comment on my site and my works. Readers, be sure and check out Laura’s site as well at Secret Silvy.
Open invitation to critique Fridays.
If you would like to participate in Friday’s critiques, please contact me and I will be more than happy to set it up.
EDM 122: Draw A Bell
EDM 122: Draw A Bell
Tonight’s EDM challenge, draw a bell, is another of those that pushes my comfort zone. I still don’t like to draw reflective surfaces. However, I think that particular set of skills is coming along nicely. Before long I’ll be rendering Gazing Balls for your enjoyment. <snicker> JUST JACK</snicker>
