my process and a new piece in the works

Thought I’d talk shop a bit since I don’t really go into my process much.  I typically use several reference photos along with some lyrics or poetry when building a piece.  I’d quickly sketch out an idea, get bored of sketching, and jump into the real deal.  Just recently I’ve been trying out some new techniques for concepts and “sketching”. 

I’m not very good at using Photoshop or similar programs, but I can make my way around…clumsily.  Man, I’ve been really digging some of the perks a computer can offer…speed, special effects, and...the best-ever “undo” option...ahhh!  Not sure why I didn’t think of it before, but being able to quickly put a detailed composition together and change it up if it’s going south without losing hours and hours of work is a pretty big perk.  

Here’s a pic of a concept for a new painting… 

So, I’m really into duality within people or different facets of people’s personalities and have been trying to figure out how to effectively illustrate that kind of idea in my art.  I went through all sorts of ideas from layering a piece, using glass, plexi, resin, archival plastic sheets…but I wasn’t too thrilled about using any of those ideas at the moment. I just wanted to be able to make more subtle images to put on top of a main figure.  This new process allows me to add the transparency I’m after…and hopefully I can duplicate the effect in my finished piece and be happy with the outcome.

In the painting from 2012 below, I added the second image, and to push her back a bit by adding some static or noise (whatever you want to call it)…I laid my pastel sideways and went for it right over her face.   

15 - pastels on wood, 24" x 24" (available)

While there’s definitely excitement in taking risks when you’re in the moment, it’s also cool (when you’re 20 hours in) to be able to know you can pretty much execute the rest of the piece as you had imagined it in your head. 

~ eye should make a little more time to sketch random things for practice if I'm going to continue using this process to start my pieces. 

social media and some more sweet big eye artists

Well, I've been plugging away at the social media and trying to get my work out there on several sites.  I've recently joined Instagram and put my art up on Pinterest. I have a Society6 and Fine Art America shop and now I'm working on opening an Etsy account.  Sometimes it's a struggle to know which direction to go in, if some of it's a complete waste of time, and how to make my art a full-time gig as quickly as possible.  I'd rather just create and not have to focus so much on the business end of it...but it will make success so much sweeter I suppose. 

On another note, The Big Eye Artist Collective is getting much bigger ;)  Lots more crazy-talented people have joined our group...Colin and Sas Christian, Anarkitty (Emma Geary), and Emma Mount to name just a few.  Here are a few pieces from some more great artists in the collective...

Alysha - Loretta Gonzalez

Loteria - The Art of Sketch (Oscar Navarro)

The Fool - Misty Benson, Morbidly Adorable Creations

We should have more albums uploaded on our page soon :)

Here's a little progress shot of a piece of mine in the works...

Playing with some different techniques on the background with this one.  I took some time this weekend to kind of test out some of my ideas out and I'm pretty happy with where it's going.  Hoping to finish her up soon.

~ eye should try not to get discouraged...I've come a long way with my art in the last few years, and I'm sure I'll someday make a living at it.