Progress is his middle name...

It's coming right along. I'm very happy with it. And I'm now doing the little tricks to it. Like looking at it in the mirror, printing it out, and showing people who's opinion I trust. I've fought like crazy to keep the actual acrylic texture in the background. No mean feat considering my first instincts are to hit everything with the Tinting brush. The faces in the peanut gallery need more polish, but I'm happy with their diversity. The foreground figure came out completely black in the printout I did. I got too excited about showing the charred edges of his laser wound. Placed him in the proverbial microwave for a minute or two too long. This has been a fantastic learning experience for using textures from Painter in an actual work. I'm very happy with the effect. Some modeling of the gun's form, a second pass on the back ground, and some good hand painted texture highlights and I'll call it done.

Well, at least; that's what the left brain has to say.

My right brain's all, "Boooyeah!"

A funny thing happened on the way to the forum...

It’s been a while since I’ve posted, I don’t want to get into a deep post, or take up a ton of space like I’m trying to make up for missing posts. But I’ve also had much on my mind.

I’ve taken the summer off and I’m spending it in Idaho.

It’s been great so far. I’ve got a niece and nephews nearby, my mother still cooks for me, I’ve had the chance to touch base with a double handful of old friends I haven't seen since I moved to SF back on 01. In fact, one of my first weeks back I found myself demonstrating digital painting techniques to an interior design class for a former instructor of mine.

I’ve also had a lesson on perspective, the kind that doesn’t involve any type of vanishing point what so ever.

It came from a ‘where are you now’ conversation with an old friend who I used to draw with 15 years ago. He zigged, I zagged. He’s now a brilliant electrical engineer, I’m now an Illustrator who’s reworking his portfolio.

As we spoke, it dawned on me that there’s a responsibility for us dream chasers to work towards, chase, and catch our dreams. Consider the legions of people out there who’ve given up on being what they want before they even gave it a chance.

What would accountants wish their real job was, if it wasn’t for art students who’ve made the transition to art professional? I’m one of few that have taken the road less traveled. I’ve cultivated skills that many people killed in themselves during the 6th grade. To not do something grand with those skills would be a crime.

It popped a pretty formidable depression bubble that I had built up. Which is the reason that I bring it up. There is no problem that exists, but what it common to man. Maybe someone else out there has been in the same situation. An Art School Graduate who’s wondering where their motivation is. A indy band punk rocker who’s taking chemistry classes. The aspiring country singers of the world.

Which segues right into my posted image. It all comes back to people getting lasered by a hot chick. It’s not perfect; indeed, while writing this I’ve seen a boat load of things that need to be cleaned up, softened, hardened, delineated, blended, and erased. It exists, I’m going to work on it. And it’s going to be a damn spiffy image in my portfolio.

Some little sketch

Hm, so long without an update. I mean, I'm not breaking any records or anything. I think there was one point where I went a year without posting something, or.... something.

This is a recent experimentation using a very limited palate. Just wanted to throw some simple shapes around quickly.

The point, though, is having fun.

Self Portrait debt, with romantic interest.

Muahahah! So I was talking to a friend about "things™". She mentioned that it's been "proven" by relationship councilors that if you draw a picture of your self as a part of a couple, your romantic situation will improve. Of course, I had to try it out. The skinny kid on the left is me. My facial hair comes in like that, yes. I don't own a portfolio like that, no. I do own that pair of shoes, I just don't wear them because they rub against my ankles in a surprisingly painful way.

So, perhaps.. seasonally this is a couple of months early. It's still not feeling quite like Christmas to me.. just yet. That being said, Valentines day also happens to be something I"m never in the mood for either. But unlike Christmas, which requires snow and ice for me to really make the connection. Couples counseling and self affirmations are truly pan seasonal.

I wish you all a Very Merry Christmas time.

Ah, here's a couple of sketches that I'm working on.

Here's the 'favored' thumbnail for the horse pic, the color is still rough, and I might fiddle with the back ground some more here, but I really liked the energy in the horse and where it was going n' all. The other sketch is proof you can do water color on anything, just be prepared for a few wrinkles. Still, even in it's wrinkly state: I like it a lot. Maybe I'll make it a back ground layer and digital it all out. Still... love the expression on this one.
Enjoy you guys.

So, what's on my easel?

This is on my easel. No digital anything, pure acrylic baby. This has been a displacement activity for me of sorts. Work's been slow, and I'm polishing up the portfolio. I like to think I'm in a good place. If one were to ask what I do in my spare time, I can say I paint, draw, do comic books. And the artwork I do I like. Now, I'm always seeking to improve. I'm in no danger of having my head not fit through tight door frames. But it's big enough that I'm actually going through doors. Or will be after a couple more of these. I think I'm going to paint a horse in my next piece. But, I don't wanna give too much away. I mean, what would be the fun in that?

I've got it! it's scanned. Beware!

Seriously, I'm so excited about this thing. I almost didn't attend the 24 hour comic book day. I had work that morning, and was seriously intimidated by all the cool work that was up when I wheeled in at about 7pm (9 whole hours after it all started!) So, I stuck to what I was good at, what I loved. And I wrote for myself, who not only is my favorite audience, and biggest fan: But is also the critic I love most. My evil plan (Muhahaha!) is to get this thing onto drunkduck.com and release it page a day style. So, to read it.. You're going to have to wait, or corner me. I'll let you read it then. As far as a title? Meh, it'll come to me sooner or later.

Enough Verbage, let me show you what you came here for.