MOM DON'T LOOK!! part 2

Really mom, don't ruin the surprise for yourself. It'll be better to see it completed and in person...

So for everyone who isn't my mother (most of you fit into this category; statistically speaking.) I've still been chugging along on that painting. It's been many hours but I'm getting very excited about where this is going.



































I covered the pale green that I didn't like by placing a very thing layer of sienna over the whole ground. I was waiting to try and see more of how tho flowers were going to look, but everytime I sat in front of the painting to work I would think to myself; "Man I wish that color was different." so I decided to go for it. I love the result, the three colors are much more harmonious now and it all looks very cohesive. It wasn't my plan, but I like the slight variations in the tone and color in the segments. I think it adds visual interest without taking away the attention. The light source is a bit wonky in the photos because I turned the canvas sideways to work on it. This way I could keep these large brush strokes moving in the same direction and hopefully make them less distracting for the image itself. The piece was too wet to re-rotate to it's original layout.


















The third bar is now in place. Again, it may have been too early to take this step, but I feel much more comfortable with it in place and just knowing where it's going to be. The color making up the bar on the right will also be repeated in the stems of the flowers to balance it out and provide movement.


















pb

MOM DON'T LOOK!!

I mean it mom, don't look at this post until I tell you!

OK, so for everyone else; I've been working on a painting for my mom for a couple weeks now. She recently re-did her living room and asked that I would do a painting to go over the couch using one of the photos she took of some orchids as a reference. I'm stoked! First off, let me tell you, this baby is HUGE! I chose to stretch my own canvas so I could pick whatever size I wanted, being limited only by how large of a canvas will fit into my car. The diagonal of the cargo area of my Pontiac Vibe measures 45 inches, so the canvas is 44 inches tall and 60 inches wide. I could use this thing as a raft one day! THAT BIG! It's incredibly exciting and daunting to tackle this project. the only draw back so far is that it takes forever to get anything done because it's just so darn big. I can't wait to see it hanging up in her living room!


I've been taking progress photos so you can track along with me as I work:

This is the thumb nail for there this project is going.

















After hours of gesso painting and repeated attempts to place the line work, I eventually caved and created a grid, which I then attempted to erase to do the painting.


















Let there be color!


































I'm not sure I like this middle section here. It look more like three pieces placed together rather then the darker green bars layered over the middle section. I wanted it to look more like a plaid by manipulating the transparency of the layers. They just look too disjointed right now.


















Starting to add in more colors and values.


















I'll post more pics when I've gotten some more significant work done on it.

pb.

BRAINS!!!

I know, I know, everyone is simply dieing to find out what I've been working on. Well I have been working a lot, but nothing has come to completion yet, so that's why I haven't been able to post it. I would like to get final drafts approved by the clients before I go posting it online. Call me crazy, but it just seems like a good idea to me.

I've been continuing to work with the Northminster Church who approached me to do several postcards for them. At the moment we have two that I'm hoping will be in their final stages. Because honestly, I could really use the money and satisfaction of a job well done. (Yes, I know, I just made a value statement on my own work. Sometimes it's just necessary to stroke one's own ego ya know?)

Also I've been continuing to meet with Jon to create some ideas for the Richmond Flying Squirrels. We've gotten so ideas for TV commercials, billboards, kid merchandise. We are hoping to be ready present in late April. It will be several weeks into their first season, and hopefully they've had time to settle into a groove. Oh man, if I drove past a billboard that I drew up. I might crash my car. And it'd be AWESOME!

Well I have done a project for a couple friends of mine. About a week ago Kevin approached me about doing a project for our friend Mike. Mike has an obsession with Zombie movies and for his Birthday Kevin and Tommy thought it would be a fun idea to have me draw up a zombie movie poster incorporating the three of them into the image. This was a pretty fun project though I feel like I had to rush it, because I did rush it. For several evenings in a row I had to step up for several things which took up my time. But I think they were worth it. I don't know if the text is fully readable at the size (I drew it at an 11x17 scale) but it says "Even more Zombies!!! ... and they are after more then just your birthday cake."

pb

Psalm 13

Well, clearly the whole idea of posting a new piece isn't going very well. Fortunately, the problem is in the posting and less in the doing work. Does that make any sense to anyone but me?

I have some photos to go through, maybe one or two is good enough to get put up, and also, last weekend during a 24 prayer and worship event at Harvest Renewal Church, I hammered out this piece for the 13th Psalm. I think I'm done fiddling with it, I'm torn between making the background look busy and distorted, but also wanting it to be legible because it's the words to the psalm that I want to be read.























In other exciting news, Pastor Chip from Harvest Renewal Church is intending to buy my "Jesus Break In" painting that I did a while back. It will be on display at the church office and will be purchased once the money is available. I think this is a sweet deal because for months it was just hanging out in my studio, not being seen by anyone, and now it's on permanent display with a promise to buy!

Also have some leads that could potentially be turned into some really neat opportunities. I met a guy who use to do marketing stuff for the Nationals and wants to try and generate some product and promotional ideas for the Richmond Flying squirrels, which will be the minor league baseball team to replace the Braves which were recently sold. I'm excited because that will be an opportunity to try just about anything, and also it will be all new! how sweet would it be if one of our ideas got bought?!?

Also, I got an email from a church that has been looking at my postcards and wants to begin talks to get me to make cards for them and their attendees. It would be nice to have a captive audience and a client that would maybe even need me on a semi regular basis.

Could it be that things will finally start working out in m favor?

pb

attempt 1

Well this week got very out of control very quickly. I've been here in the studio all after noon, and I don't have any new work to put up. I can't seem to get my sketchbook out of my sketchbook and into my computer, and I don't have my camera to take of a picture of any of my sketches. Another case of bad planning meets bad timing.

I do have some potentially exciteing things on the job front though; I submitted my portfolio to a friend of a friend who runs an design agency. I don't think they have any openings right now, but in the summer they'll be looking for a design intern. That would be helpful. Also, one of my tables at work was asking what I wanted to do when I grew up, and so I told them about how I wanted to be a graphic designer. When he left, he left a card for his insurance business and a note on the back requesting that I send him my resume. Since both of those offices were most likely closed untill earlier this week, I'm hoping to hear back sometime soon.

Also I submitted an application to work at one of the art stores near campus. I've meet the owners several times in the store and also in Baker's Crust where I currently work. A friend of mine who works there now said that they like me and that my odds are good! And yesterday two of the three owners came into the restaurant and i was able to chat with them briefly about how I applied to work for them. They told me they knew, but they haven't ha a chance to look everyone over yet because they've been getting ready for back to school stuff to be ready when the student arrive in a couple weeks for the spring semester. I think this job would provide a nice change of pace, and also allow me to hate life a lot less!

Hopefully one of these opportunities will turn into something and hopefully by next week I can post some work I've done, and not just a bunch of excuses!