Military hero piano

I had nothing to do this Saturday, so I signed up for a Fishers arts council project calling artists to paint pianos with the theme of military heros.
I choseto paint portraits because I love faces, and I can paint them fast. I finished painting the pre-primed piano was finished in under 6 hours!
If there were more time, and it wasnt a volunteer activity, I might have been able to finish the faces even more, but it was fun working under time and material restraints. (the small brushes did not allow for extreme detail.)

Here is the outcome!
More pics can be seen on my facebook. Facebook.com/zyphryus
(hard to link the album from my phone)

I asked friends and family to send pics of their own personal military heros, and I included some from my own side as well. I am left feeling honored I could highlight the personal heroes of those who particiated.
Thank you to the participants, and the organizers!

Trees and moths

After getting distracted by things like eating and rest, I finally got around to the true needs of the day = ART!

This little lady is a work in progress.
Debating on whether to keep her monotone or add in the chromatics.
10" high. Watercolor. Full image will be posted another time.

Other news: Talks with a gallery in B-town that sound promising. This brings even more inspiration for new works.

And lastly, Ive finally found a way to be happy with framed works on paper.
Newest example 'Lepidoptera Dreams' (also 10" high, not including frame height)
Keeping my eyes open for mostly small long wooden frames I can paint.

New Inspiration

New pad of thicker better art paper discovered at Pygmalions in Bloomington. (fave art store, if only for the cozy homey atmosphere and cats)

'strathmore visual journal' for mixed media. Even outshines the aquabee super deluxe paper, which used to be perfect until they thinned the pages about 5/6 years ago.

Ive made my first 5x7

and yes I will be cutting the pages put and making them available. I am still only using my precious seawhite of brighton sketchbooks for actual daily personal journaling/recording/brainstorming.

:) also, downloaded blogger app in the hopes of making shorter more frequent updates.

Over and out!!

This is what I finished today.

I also worked on some super-secret 5" x 7" pieces, finished the cover for a Werewolf Novel,
and wasted some time looking at the forums on the newly released Diablo III game release. I don't have the time or $ for it now but I needed ... NEEDED to make sure that even though you must be signed in online on their server to play (dumb) that they still have a single player option. YES.
Not great time usage for the studio, but we do falter at times.
Earlier I bought some used frames to manipulate and use for art.

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Inspired by Giger today. I spent some time this afternoon sitting on our NEW COUCH (! <3) and looking at books. I am inspired by his own drive, and the copious amounts of large paper that he drew on DAILY.
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I also found out that I've got a booth number for Philadelphia Comic Con. I am also on the website.
However I did not sign up for this con, so if you are one of the 2 people that read this thing (Myself and D?), now you know.

OK. Falling asleep at the keyboard time to go!

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.