latest pieces, more big-eye artists, and a series in the works

Hoping to share a lot more new work soon...the wheels are definitely turning.  Here are my two most recent finished pieces...

Valentine - mixed media on wood, 24"x24"

Pride - colored pencils on paper, 11"x14"

I'm in some sort of a transitional spot with my art right now.  I took a lot of time off from shows to try to work on my skills.  That helped me to have the freedom to change things up a bit and I've been leaning towards more realism and detail in my pieces.  I'm finding though, that I'm kind of all over the place with mediums and my whole creative process.  Going with the flow of each piece, I work sometimes in pencil, pastel, colored pencils, mixed media...and I've recently started using the computer more for my sketching process.  Now I feel it's time to get more focused.  I think it would benefit me and my art to stick it out with a specific medium and process for awhile.  A small series would allow me to push the medium while getting a lot more comfortable with whatever it is I choose to use.

I also want to start giving myself some weekly homework to keep up the hand eye coordination since I'm putting initial sketches together on the computer more.

Time to share some work by others :)  Here are a few from some more Big Eye Artist Collective members...

Oswald - Chris Hamer/Urbnpop

Diavolesso - Angelo Barile

Ice Bat Kitty - Jeremiah Ketner

Here's a little rework of my Red Riding Hood "sketch", though I'm not sure when I'll really start on her...

~eye should give myself a few deadlines...I'll narrow down my ideas for a series within two weeks, and homework this week...hmmm, I suppose I'll go with 10-15 anatomy-based sketches.

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. 

some new girls

Been making more time for art and less time for blogging, haha.  I'm determined to get better at this one day soon...but for now, it's a little sporadic.

Here are some new finished works...

Windflowers - colored pencil on paper, 11" x 14"

Lucky - pastels and colored pencil on wood, 11" x 14"

Walls - pastels on wood, 8" x 8"

Six of Swords - acrylic and ink on wood, 11" x 14"

and a work in progress...

I'm just allowing myself to go with the flow on this new one.  Have a few different ideas for the background at this point.  Pretty sure I'm going to leave some exposed panel though.  I've been using colored pencil so far, but have a feeling I'm going to add some pastel and charcoal...we'll see.

I've just added a bunch more prints to my Society6 shop.  Click here for $5 off each item and free shipping worldwide through midnight pst on March 9th.

~ eye should be a better blogger...I'm sure I'll get more consistent soon ; )

a few available pieces, WIP, and a sweet mad hatter exhibit

So, I've sold most of my pastel pieces...yay!  I do have a couple that are still available...

Unlovable Pathos - pastels and acrylic on wood, 24" x 24"

Red - pastels on wood, 24" x 24"

Starting to go in a different direction with some black and white work.  The one below is slowly coming along.  The blasted "rat race" has taken over recently, and I'm determined to get back on track, making consistent time for my art.

WIP - graphite, carbon pencil, charchoal

Got out to a great opening last night at Flower Pepper Gallery.  It was awesome to see work by so many artists that I follow in one place.  Ixie Darkonn, the curator (and artist herself), did a really good job putting this one together.   The exhibit runs all the way through January 24th if you want to check it out.

~ eye should set aside an hour a day to get some art in.  It's too easy for us to say we don't have time for what we really want to do.  Need to make it happen.

my first show...

So, a little change of plans...this month I'll be the guest artist at Urban Coral Gallery.  Saturday is the opening night (from 4-9:30pm) and there will be music, good company, and lots of artists showing work.

Came across an artist from Italy, Allesia Iannetti, recently that I thought I'd share with you.  Love the crazy details she puts in her pieces...

Doll Parts -  by Allesia Iannetti

Here's a pic of one I finished late November...

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

  
I may have wrapped up another a few nights ago, just have to look at her with some fresh eyes tomorrow and see if she seems complete.  Got started on another panel about a week ago, which is going to be a triptych...final size will be about 2 x 6 with the 3 panels.  I'll probably post a progress pic soon either here or on my Facebook page.

Hope to see you at Saturday's opening!

~ eye should keep dreaming about making art full-time.  Being in a show at all seemed pretty far-fetched last year, but I still put it out there in the universe...ask and you shall receive ; )