sketches, work in progress, dreams, books

Yesterday I took a trip to Borders to say my goodbye - there are still a lot of good things there. I might go back, but I don't really had the room for more books! I found a neat book "Art Revolution: Alternative Approaches for Fine Artists and Illustrators" - - amazon link
Pretty too look at, probably fun to read - I'm inspired and frustrated as always when I pick up a great book like this - inspired because its neat and I can identify. frustrated because I feel less unique and talented. (Stupid words, stupid thoughts, but valid thoughts none-the-less, and I know I'm not alone in these thoughts - they are good to share)
I realize I need to take a picture of all my bookshelves sometime, just for fun. Maybe next post. 

Also, a good chunk of my day was spent figuring out my next step with my phone company. I am now on a slightly cheaper plan, but have upgraded to a *gasp* smart phone with a data plan. This is so I can use that squared app thingy that takes credit cards. This is so I don't lose sales at my next event due to my inability to take said credit cards. Hurrah for keeping up with technology and being a *gasp again* business person!

Anyway, lets get to some of the art and art progress. 

SKETCHBOOK IMAGES


I included this because of the 2 women - me in a dress I wear during the fringe show, and the other is my surreal rememberance from another fringe show. 
 
Based on a photo I took behind the Indy convention center during gencon. Somewhat stormy day and factory.  


strange creature 


I actually drew this during Chicago Comic Con when I was feeling particularly drained. 


OTHER:

A small work in progress on masonite - not sure what to put in the middle, or if this is going
to be a smaller section of something large.

   
part of the Cook Theatre. I took this the other day when going to see a fringe show. I loved the shapes in the building.

Thoughts
As an artist, I keep asking myself all sorts of WHYs. and WHAT. What am I doing? Why? What is my focus? How can I connect with other people? Is there something wrong with personal work, can I make personal work connect to others? Do I illustrate? Am I a fine artist? Is the midwest good for me? How can I justify my nonsense and randomness? What do I do with OLD work, or work I don't like?
There may or may not be answers to these questions, but these questions are what keep me wanting to reinvent myself. I feel like I'm on a step up, but unsure of my current footing (artistically). 


 
Again, tell me your dreams. ...  

share with me your dreamtime

 

Come... Share with me stories of dreams, or dream like states. 

When have you crossed worlds?

What did it feel like?

Do you walk between?

What do you dream....

keeping it going, studio, wwchicago comic con sketches

Here are some sketches form Wizard World Chicago Comic Con.
By the way, it was a blast. And getting to meet some of my favorite artists is always inspiring!
Ok, be prepared, I have a lot of photos to share. The rest can be seen at my facebook. If you havn't already seen them. But this is a different format, for differently formatted people...


A Nagaesque woman-snake, and "Brain Girl" - "Brain girl decided she didn't want to be a plant, she wanted to be an AIRPLANE instead!" (This was a drawing I did later in the day and was quite loopy by then - Saturday was exhausting by the sheer numbers of people that just existed at the convention.) Both 5" x 7" Sumi ink drawings still available - $25 ea.


Book page paintings - "A Dark Thought" and "Secret Information". Both still available $25 ea.


"Swept Away with Dreams" - 8" x 10" sumi ink and watercolor. (still available, $45)


Meeting with some of my favorite artists - Bill Seinkeiwicz and David Mack. I also Meet James O'Barr, but he was absent from his table when I had my camera. Also, Mark A. Nelson - to see more photos, from this event - go to my Facebook album


A bit of advice for all you BIG artists out there, dont get stuck with only ONE TABLE! Poor Larry Elmore, trying to fit 100+ poster prints on his one table. Mixup in table distribution!
Also, image of me drawing my 'assignment' at the Drink and Draw event.


STUDIO pretty much set up! Here is a work in progress I started a few months ago. I think it looks like fairy graffiti. Also, a peek at my walls.

cicadattafly

I was in my studio yesterday, and look what I encountered.




__________
Man its been a busy summer!
I just got back from Wizard World Chicago Comic Con Monday, and its already Thursday -
I'm involved in an Indianapolis Fringe Theatre production -
"Andrea Merlyn's Book of Secrets volume 2" - I did the art and have a small part in this magical production.
Fun fun!
I miss Chicago already, wish I could spend more quality time with The G, Blue, and Floyd ~ making art, whistling, singing, laughing and all that jazz. I came home with random 'art' supplies: ceramic tiles, old postcards, and ... toe tags? lol.

sketches from GenCon

Greetings internet folk.
Here are some sketches I did at GenCon!


5" x 7"drawings. The first is Sumi Ink, the second is sharpie. Both still available at time of posting. 


2 more 5" x 7" sumi ink drawings, also available. 
 

Detailed playmat commission


 A playmat spot - the closeup and the full thing - also including other cool artists: below my drawing is one by Tommy Castillo (giant zombie), and Larry Elmore to the side (the wizard). I'm sure the other artists are cool too, I just don't know whose they are. :) 


Yup, me and 6 other friends got stuck in an elevator for 40 minutes. It was an adventure. An... idle one. 

automatism, con drawings, etc

The sun ate my face today, but let me share some art with you.

Lets start with the most recent and work our way back!
Last night I saw "Dismantled" - Industrial band signed by Metropolis -
I was very inspired by their show, - good thing I had my sketchbook with me!
When the show ended, I did some doodling in the bar while the DJ played more industrial.
These 2 images aren't directly related to the band, but rather inspired by the band, and a live industrial setting.


 Both images are black sharpie, the second one was a gift for one of the members, who saw
the first pieces and kindly demanded that I do something for him. *grin* Amused, I complied. 

And now for some drawings done at FRIGHT NIGHT FILM FESTIVAL! (Louisville, KY)
Great show by the way, thanks to those who stopped by!

My favorite first!! A commission to put one of my 'women' related pieces in someone's sketchbook. 



Two sharpie sketches in a brain candy book.


5" x 7" commission for a giraffe related piece.



Book page commission for my booth neighbor's child. 
____________
Inspirations as of late:
 MURCURY MEN!!
The INVASION has begun!
Really awesome SyFy short series featuring my friend Mark Tierno, about 6 minutes each. 3 episodes so far, I highly recommend it!
Check it out here!

The Butterfly Circus
Very inspirational well filmed 20 minute short film about the Butterfly Circus.
Check it out
A 20 minute short

The Beginning Ate the END

"Beginning Ate The End, Because Beginning Was The Trend.
The End Ran In Terror, Because The End Was An Error."
(The first words you see in my new sketchbook)

I've been in Connecticut the past 2 weeks visiting with Dave's family. We've also been to VT during this time to visit some of my family, and went to NY to visit with a friend and visit the Metropolitan Museum of ART. I am rejuvenated with inspiration!

sketchbooks! Art and books and STUFF!
Hallelujah! I have my SEAWHITE OF BRIGHTON Jumbo square sketchbooks of England again, thanks to my friend Erich who found some in Paris!! *JOY*
(10" x 10" nice smooth paper, sewn in, not merely glued) 
We met in NY where he gave me 3 books and I gave him a painting -
By the way, if you ever plan on visiting the Metropolitan museum of art, do not plan on carrying any art inside with you - they will not check paintings due to liability issues. Thankfully, he was staying at an apartment fairly close, so he could store the painting there. Here's a peek at the first bits of sketchbook joy. I'll show a more full pic once I get back to my scanner.


I was very AWE inspired by the oceanic and african art collection at the Met. This guy is a mental conglomeration of my own creation remembering bits and pieces from various works. 

I have never seen such large african/oceanic art of extreme SRANGENESS in person. I could have spent an hour in the main room just staring at and being in the presence of everything. There are some images I had never encountered before which made me VERY excited. Especially the Baining Night Dance Masks.


(google Baining Night Dance Masks for more fun)

Here is another Sketchbook image

I helped organize the basement while I was here - thus the LYDIA MOLE.

BOOKS
THE BOOK BARN!!
Hours of a beautiful book laden environment - gardens, cats, decorations, buildings of books, little alcoves, etc etc. Visit for yourself in Niantic, CT. 


~
And now I must get ready to leave for home. Here's hoping for a good day of driving!!