Mother Daughter Art, Seawhite sketchbooks, and

Greetings Internet. Changed the name of this blog back to something 'self drive' related. Believe it or not, the title and will to post here because of the title actually makes me do more art. Huh. Interesting.
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This past Saturday was a mother/daughter show at the Renaissance Fine Art and Design Gallery. Even though my mother has passed on, it was the perfect place to keep her art alive! The owner has the best eye for art I've seen in a gallery yet - and she refuses to follow expected 'norms' for galleries. Her collection is Ecclectic and wild, beautiful and bizarre, traditional and non, she's not afraid to try new things. I love it!
Above is a photo of Dad and I at the show. If you want to see more, you are going to have to go see it in person! One South Range Line Road, Carmel, IN. 
Here is a LINK to the facebook page.  

by the way, as it was just mothers day, I decided to upload a few pictures of my mother on fb.
Here is the LINK.


A BIT OF SERENDIPITY
involving
SEAWHITE OF BRIGHTON Sketchbooks



When I went to deliver the art at the gallery, the owner was chatting with a friend who had  randomly stopped in. Just as he was leaving, he gathered his things, picked something up and his sketchbook was uncovered. It was big, black and SQUARE. I gasped and pointed 'Is that a SEAWHITE of BRIGHTON Sketchbook?!?!' - He exclaimed his confirmation that YES indeed it WAS a Seawhite of Brighton sketchbook, and how did I know about them?!

I found and became addicted to them while living in England.


We both agreed that they were the best sketchbooks in the world.
He teaches art in Chicago, but is originally from England. While he is not an official distributor, he does buy about 12-15 at a time, and sells them to his students.


I was overjoyed to have met the man and I hope to see him again! Also, now I know who to contact for my sketchbook fix. *grin!*
I have 2 more empty books on my shelf, thanks to my friend Erich who found and bought 3 of them while he was visiting France. It might be a few years before I need another one, but who knows!

This is my current Seawhite of Brighton book. Its a bit roughed up because when I went to see "The Devils Carnival" in Chicago, I had to fight through rain and hail before getting into the theatre... and I had the book with me. (as I always do). I don't mind - it adds character (my common excuse for everything) and guess what... its not ruined. :)

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ONTO THE ART
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Speaking of the DEVILS CARNIVAL, (AWESOME AWESOME SHOW by the way!!!)
GO SEE THE TRAILER! ~ LINK ~ 
While attending, I did a few drawings for the attending creators and those involved. A little gift giving as a trade for bringing wonderful bizarre cinema to the public.

This is one of 4 drawings I made... while waiting in line to shake hands and get autographs and meet and greet. I've already done a bit of meeting and greeting of Terrance Zdunich while at conventions, but this time I also had the pleasure to meet Emilie Autumn, Darren Lynn Bousman, and finally a proper meeting of Spooky Dan who has been traveling with them on road shows since Repo. 

These pieces of paper were the ONLY DRY things I had on me, as I had them in a protective sleeve. Hurrah! 


So.
Currently working on a book cover but I don't want to give it away. Here is just a tiny sneak peek.

I also ordered some 5" x 7" boards to paint on.
I plan on spending some quality time making some kick-butt small works of art, and I'll share more info down the line! I played with a few of them today. Color, texture, and character experiments.

Also, something to help with inspiration in the studio:
A WURLITZER. Given to me by a Juggler, found out about it from a clown. <3 Thanks Krembo and Rash... of the BLUE MONKEY SIDESHOW. (go watch a VIDEO :) )

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That is all for now. Until next time!

*FWEW*
That update was long overdue.

new art and nude studies

Just throwing some randomness up!

Today was a VERY productive day at the studio.
Trying to get some work done before I completely organize my studio to prepare for the Stutz openhouse.

Here is a work I just finished, and its closeup!

Its the LONG piece in the wooden 'frame'.



Soon I will have better photos.

THEN, I took an old mdf with painted surface and FINALLY put a face on top of it.
Very pleased with the outcome - but the cool thing is,... you see that wire coming from the top? (also duplicated as a line drawing on brown paper beneath...) Yes, I'm going to extend the painting beyond the board with the hair - it will be more 3 dimensional, and I'll smooth it out to the painting. Hopefully I can figure out a way to make sure its strong.


SKETCHES form a Nude Model:
Tonight I was pleased to visit Jim Gerard's studio at the stutz, where he holds classes. It feels good to be on this side of the canvas. :)
I just worked small tonight, but seeing Jim's pastel works inspire me - maybe next time I'll get out the pastels!

new art and studies

Greetings Fiends!
Thought I'd show some of the work I've been doing.
Random experimentations and revelations between working on bigger projects.


Two 6" x 6" oil on panel pieces. I had already started these a few months ago, but didn't go anywhere with them. They were flat and brown. I got my oils out again, and with full intention to use a complete and crazy spectrum of colors, I started with red and STUCK with it. Aside from using the under painting as a guide, this was pretty much stream of conscious like most of my works.


The other day my good friend Galindorf (link) showed me a work in progress - a sculpted head, and asked what she should do with it. Being silly, I said 'chop off the top part and have TREES coming out of it!' Needless to say, this inspired a vision for myself and I sketched it in my sketchbook with paint, followed by a colored pencil drawing a day or 2 later.


Last of all, I drew a portrait of Nathan Kranzo (the magician) during a lecture he was giving after a show at the Indy Magic Monthly show. (link) - I was at the lecture because I do the IMM programs , so I'm on the 'crew' I decided to use the opportunity to do a portrait of Nathan while he was lecturing - as well as manipulate a Nathan Kranzo photo on paper - (given to me during the show as it was part of a performance I volunteered for) - I added scales to his face and colored it with some travel watercolors. I cut the paper and made it hold my bic pen portrait of him, which I cut from my sketchbook. (more clear photo of the portrait below)

How to draw people while they are constantly in motion? Choose a common pose - While speaking to the audience, Nathan would often face forward with his lips slightly parted in talking. I usually take a mental picture, draw what I can, and wait for him to take a similar stance again - watching hard for subtleties in facial structure, memorizing details of the face before putting pen to paper. Watching and looking HARD (and memory) is probably 80% of doing a drawing like this.


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Thats about it.
Other news? Preparing to get prints for upcoming conventions and events,
trying to network, finding myself in all sorts of projects,
experiencing both frustration and undying excitement and gratefulness at being an artist.
I've done a lot of art research today.
Reading up a lot about Moebius since his death.

Snooping in other artist's studios (with permission of course)!

But I'm not here to talk about my writing habits...
I'm here to to bring surprise and mystery, confusion and ambiguity!!

STUDIO FEATURE BLOGS
I am posting to share my new endeavor.
I have become a guest blogger at the http://www.stutzartspace.com/ -
Where I am featuring the inside of other artists studios at the Stutz building.
I have over 20 artists interested in this project and counting, so needless to say, it will keep me busy for a while - and I have an excuse to snoop around in other artist's studio spaces - something I find inspiring and full of *Endless Wonder.* (Warehouse 13 reference there, if you haven't seen it, go to Netflix now and watch the first 2 seasons. NOW.)
Of course, this also means that if I find myself in a NON STUTZ studio, I will also be compelled to feature it on my own personal blog(s).
Check out http://www.stutzartspace.com/ for all things Stutz Artists,

For the specific studio features, check out

Elise Schweitzer

http://www.stutzartspace.com/inside-the-artists-studio-elise-schweitzer/

and 
Julia Wickes:

http://www.stutzartspace.com/inside-the-artists-studio-julia-wickes/
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VIDEO
And while I'm here, I might as well give you a link to a video I posted recently -
of me painting on clayboard HERE

(total finished piece below)
"He Sees Spirits"

random ramble link and art experiment

By the way, I started posting some of my random rambles on my livejournal again.
Go check it if you are interested in more words and thoughts.
http://zyphryus.livejournal.com/

While Im here, let me post a random art experiment

(sharpie, bic pen, packing tape, acrylic paint)

Peek inside my brain with sketches and experiments

Greetings out there in internet land.
I am in the mood to post.
Much of my daily work now is either a commission, or a painting I'm going to post everywhere else so
I decided that my experiments and sketches can find a good home here for now.


Students and doodles, on break at work. Blue BIC Pen <3


FLAME BRAIN! Inspired after a late night internet chat about fire and Leos and brains. of course, what else?!


 
More sketches, possibly a few weeks ago. I love the horned figure in the center. 
Those are dreams at the bottom. Tis where I write my dreams if I remember them.What was in these
particular dreams? Theme parks, vampires, trees, and the emotion of excitement over an artist's art and music.


trees, hand studies. and an awkward woman beast thing. 


COLOR in the sketchbook. When I have excess paint from other projects, if it doesn't end up getting slapped on a wooden panel it goes in my sketchbook. 




Experimenting with shapes and colors and textures in Photoshop. 

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Stay tuned folks, till next time!
I'd write more but I'm sleepy!

Where did all the blogging go?

So you may or may not have noticed that my blogging kinda dissappeared!

Well, that doesn't mean my self drive did too!!

I merely got very busy and realized that I was a lot more productive without public blogging.

The 'self drive' blog did its purpose - it was for me, and helped me get more active in art daily.

The actual ~blogging~ journal style still carried on, but on my own computer, away from the pressures of the public eye. There is something to be said about keeping one's own ideas and work to themselves, until they are ready to share certain things of course.

But, I'm not here to tell you this blog is dead! Its just in transition. I'm currently deciding what to use it for now. Something that will be different from what I post to facebook, and something that uses the blog's features. (such as the lateral time written format)