... huh?

I have intentions on redesigning my main portfolio site, but I don't have the slightest clue on how to set it up. I use Dreamweaver, and that's how I set up the site as it is now. It was just drag and drop, and let the program write the code.

I'd like to find a non-flash slideshow option but I have no idea how to paste it into a new site. Or how to use images that are on my site, etc. I'd like to use this: http://www.barelyfitz.com/projects/slideshow/, but don't know how. Hmmmmm...I guess I need to figure it out.

Sketchy-sketch

A co-worker lent me a cd that was in a magazine that he bought. I photocopied it because when you play it with Windows Media Player, the artist name and song information doesn't show up. The guitar was cut off in the photo, so I thought, "What a perfect place to start a drawing!"

Actually, I didn't think that at all. I just started putting down lines, and this is what I ended up with.

**** Update ****

Where's the Grammar Police when you need them? I suck...

Questionable Search

Not exactly the way I wanted it to turn out, but I like it nonetheless. I may rework it at some point.

Oneself

Apparently music man's brother is conceded. Who knew?

He's probably mad because his iPod-lovin' brother has more hair...

In need of repair...

Since it's Halloween, I figured I'd make a kinda gross one.

I was drawing a tattoo I'm soon going to get, and this idea slipped past the guards. So, I rolled over in my chair and drew it up.

It was fun using the Wacom tablet like this, but I'm still experimenting with cut paper and other materials.

Random guy at Alcatraz

It would have been a cool story if I had planned on taking a picture of the sky and a ghost appeared in the picture. Not so much. Accidental button pushage...

Would make a cool cd cover. Band name or album title?

Bottom of the glass

Geez, all this talk about alcohol makes me sound like, well, an alcoholic. Far from the truth.

Brainstorm

HA! Brainstorm! Boy, am I hitting these titles out of the park...well, not really.

See what happens when you drink gin & tonic?

Escape into music...

More experimentifying. I drew the face on some off white paper we had just bought, and as I drew the ink lines bled a bit. Kind of a nice surprise. Found an argyle texture, and created the shadows digitally.

Plus, my membership in the "Creative Titling" club has expired.

Add a little bit of this...

Some experimentalization (my wordification). I wanted to mix some of my line work, some textured paper I bought, and some graphic elements. I like the direction of this.

Here I included a thick black outline, like my other pieces. Not sure which one I like best.

Face Study in Watercolor/Gouache

An old drawing I had lying around. It's fun to sift through the rubble known as my art closet...

Never late...

Who gets set?

Cut paper sky

The clouds look like they were made from cut paper...

Two very round heads

Guess which one's me...

To ink or not to ink

Do you think it's wrong to "ink" an image using the computer? I've always inked my drawings the traditional way, but as of late, I've been "inking" my drawings with my Wacom tablet. I guess I like the ability to hit Command Z and start from scratch while maintaining the original image.

I understand that using traditional methods for inking a sketch will at times produce "happy accidents". I think that with the advent of specialized textured brushes for Photoshop allowing you to mimic a piece of charcoal, nib or pencil, the computer has become a very powerful tool. And that's exactly what it is, a tool. I guess I get too hung up on what method is used and if it's proper in the eyes of other artists.

I know it's up to me to decide how to complete a drawing, and I will continue to ink both the traditional way and the computerized way. I guess it comes down to what kind of image I want to produce.

Wow. Yesterday's post and today's sound like a therapy session. Thanks for attending it!

I have a tendency to look at too much art work from other illustrators and get discouraged at my own process and progress. I know in my heart I can and will be a successful artist (what is success? Being able to work from home, doing a job I love, creating editorial pieces, children’s book illustrations, and anything else creative) but at the same time fear is always peering over my shoulder.

I’m a big fan of artists such as Christoph Niemann, Noma Bar, Luba Lukova, Josh Cochran, Frank Stockton, James Jean, Egon Schiele, etc. The problem is, I look at their work, and wonder “How in the hell I’m going to get noticed?” I realize that it takes time and patience, yet it’s difficult not to have self-doubt. I have the utmost confidence that I can do the job, and I know I have the concepts to get it done.

I’m not so much as looking to get any sympathy or anything, it’s just something I need to get off my chest. Persistence, determination and hard work will get me to where I want to be. But at times, I just wish it would’ve happened yesterday.

Thanks for listening/reading!

Anxious?

You ever get those muscle twitches in your eyelid? What a pain in the a**.

Stress and anxiety can cause this to happen. I'm surprised my eyeballs haven't popped out from all the twitching going on. I'm usually a nervous wreck!

Pullin' on the heartstring...

Sometimes we need a little kick start to get the heart ready for love...

I like the direction of this piece. I just need to clean up some of the rough edges. Maybe simplify the hands a little more. I'd like to make it a little more graphic, but keep some of the cross hatching...zzzzzzzzz...I just bored myself to sleep.

**** Update ****

Actually, I take that back. The more I look at it, the more I don't like it. It's sloppy, choppy, and something else. It just looks like a mess...Back to the 'ol drawing board!

In plain sight...

There's always a touch of trepidation when I first open my sketchbook to a blank page or grab a blank sheet of paper. My eyes get a little blurry, my palms sweat, and my right leg starts nervously bouncing. That usually lasts about 5 minutes. Then my synapses start firing and my ADHD takes over, and I know that all is right.

Flower 2

Flower 1

They bleed...

I'm not a huge environmentalist, but we need to do what we can.

Another cut paper piece. I like the image, but it could use some work.

My cut paper experiments look like they were created with Illustrator. The texture from the paper is there, but...I need to change it up a bit. I get discouraged easily. I just need to take my time, and let things flow. I like the lines I created for the Black Keys poster...hmmmm....

There are nine "I"'s in this post. Maybe I'll start referring to myself in the 3rd person.

Mike is out...

*** I tend to speak/type sporadically. My ADHD has taken over.

Light experiment...

Experimental cut paper. I enjoyed this piece. It kind of popped up as I walked past my drawing desk. I love those kind of moments...

It's difficult to differentiate yourself from others that create cut paper images. That's why it's fun to experiment. Adding things here and there. I still want to add more of my line drawings into these pieces.

Thanks for continuing to visit and your support. And thanks for walking down the experimental path with me. It's always nice to have good company.

(You can barely read it, but the words are from the song, "Cath..." by Death Cab For Cutie. My favorite song at this moment)

*******

Here is an experiment of the same concept done in Illustrator. I kind of like it, but I think I like the more "tactile" version. If that makes sense. What do you think?

Ideas first...

I have a tendency to think of how I'm going to produce a piece before I actually have an idea. I'll sit there, look at a blank piece of paper, and wonder, sometimes aloud, "What medium am I going to use to produce this nonexistent idea?" I guess one way to look at it is that it's part of the process. Sometimes, though, fighting with myself on how I'm going to create the image stifles me before I even begin.

Idea + Process + Anger + Confusion + Epiphany + Finished piece = Formula for the birth of an image...

Of course, followed by second guessing, bewilderment and finally, acceptance.

****

By the way, this is my first attempt at the cut paper technique (though I'm sure I could have made the head in illustrator, but it wouldn't have the same effect) . I figured I'd ease it into my work. I still want to include my ink lines some how.

More conceptifying...

(click for larger image)

More idears from my sketchbook. Playin' around with pen pressure and different pens. For some reason, I'm obsessed with eggs. And puddles. Maybe both were in a dream, and they're just surfacing. Or not.

And, I do have some ideas in which I will use cut paper. Now, where are those damn scissors...

No gray area...

There's no gray area when the two parties come together. It's just a bunch of sh*t that's produced...

I can't wait until this election is over. I'm tired of the commercials, the adulations, the bickering back and forth, and the use of the word "dumb" as an attempt at intellectual discourse.

Are you jellin'?

I know you spell it with a "g", but the "j" makes more sense...

Over somewhere...

Over somewhere headin' to Vegas...

Books in a toaster

I think the name says it all...

I need to add more dynamification (my word) to my work. I feel confident with my conceptifilcations, but need to push the image more.

As you can see, I still haven't done any cut paper images. I'm still putting ideas down, and once one looks or feels like it can be done in cut paper, it will be. Let it be said, let it be done...zzzzzzz...

Flood light

A drawing that was born while eating string cheese and thinking of something completely different...

The Black Keys

(click for larger view)

One of my all time favorite bands. Two guys that make a wall of sound. Unbelievable live shows. Funny thing is, as I began to work on this, I was listening to Noah and The Whale. Go figure...

There is a poster contest for HOW magazine. I think I may enter this piece. What the hell...

******

I'm going to revamp my main website. The problem is, I don't know where to start. Maybe I need to look at it like it's a client I'm working for...hmmm...