The Impossible Encounter

"The Impossible Encounter" watercolor, ink on paper. 11"x30"

This was an adventure in itself filled with possibilities!

~Let it Flow~

Admiration

20x7", watercolor, ink, colored pencil on arches hot press paper.

In going through an artist-block, I was directed to my 'little savior' as I call him. The words my inspirational partner said to me on this most eventful day (I must tell you reader that this block was going on for about a seven month period), directed me to re-think myself as an artist and as a thinker. I have been trying to be the best (like Borris, Julie, or John) in the swiftest path that my artistic ability allowed, which I felt at the time should be instant. But, thanks to my partner, Chris, I was taken aback from his words. Those words made me sit and think, not forcefully, but just think. Once I felt I was ready, I retrieved a piece of scrap to just doodle, but I saw a pre-cut piece of Hot Press that directed my mind into another direction of thoughts.

Therefore, I had this interest to paint a sky (didn't really know how, just went about it). Yet, the sky didn't seem right to me, and with that I shorten it a bit (which is the explanation for the abrupt edges of the mountain and clouds). This then led to that protruding grass-covered mountain-peek. Before I completed this, I was captured by how I painted the arched atmosphere the clouds displayed, creating a perfect framed in area that seemed empty. That was when my little savior came in. When taking my time in coming up with the idea of this creature, I took my time to make sure I got the idea out just the way my mind pictured him. With that, my mind just seemed to 'click' with formality, clarity, inspiration, and ability. I now have a firmer grasp of ideas and a constant flow of ideas. As I am still growing as an artist, I now have an idea I always fall back on. This piece and how it reminds me of that period of time which then reminds my mind the process it went through to unlock my potential ideas.
Who knows, maybe this will be a cover to a book someday.

The Man of the Hour

Headdress of the Crow

graphite and pen/ink. 18x24"

I have been drawing only women lately only because of the fact that a woman's figure has a larger range of versatility to my subject matter than that of a male figure. But I came upon myself to start not with the initial idea for a whole piece, but with the figure itself. I searched for a photo and started there. What ever came to my mind I just drew on the paper. I also promised myself to not change anything once I put it down, gave my mind a 'feel of the moment' kind of thought process. 
I drew what I felt; a way of chance and choice. Which is why you see reminisce of crows and black feathers since I have been seeing crows everywhere and just felt at the time to give them inspirational justice. I did very much enjoy just being able to put any design-like element anywhere I wanted on the piece. It was a fun and free process. I think because of this piece I will probably be drawing more male figures from now on. I really enjoy the curves in this figure, still very feminine, but still masculine.

Vitruvious

paper stained with tea, graphite, burned at the edges, approx. 14x24"

A tribute to Leonardo da Vinci 
I wish I could have met the man. His ways of handling art is so unfathomably amazing!

The thought behind this piece was the idea of perfect proportions, but I included the idea that a bird's wing span, which is generally 3 1/2 to 4 times the size of its body from neck to the meat of the tail (excluding those with long necks). 

A Work In Progress

The finished project!
 "Domare"(latin for Tamed)

 Watercolor, graphite, white ink on watercolor paper. 18x24"

The reason why I gave it this name is because it is the first thing that I see in her eyes when looking at the piece. Generally, the audience can go either way with. One may think with the woman's muscular features, she contained the strength to subdue this massive creature. Yet, her eyes display such a passive look, as if she is giving in to the beast itself. Either way, both subjects display strength and power but submissiveness and dominance rules the composition. Just another way to interpret how we may feel as if we hide the unwanted quality in us, but we just show both in different 'strengths and weaknesses'.

Round three. Its coming along fairly well. I am in shock as to who the water is coming out. This was my first time attempt to paint water. At first, I took a glanced at one of John Howe's pieces, where an ocean serpent was attacking a ship, to comprehend how one goes about painting water. I can see by his piece that it was fairly, well, watery. If you are reading this and you are a growing artist, I give you a challenge: If you don't know how to paint/draw/create something, look at a reference for only a moment or two, put it away, and try to work from what you have in your mind or what you already know. Don't be afraid to play around with art! The only way an artist learns something is to jump right into it. Even if you are afraid you might ruin it, just create. I was on this piece, but it is coming out quite well for my first try.
Second round of this piece as it goes along. Yet, college has been giving me too much busy work that prevent me from really putting all my energy and effort into this piece. So it is taking a bit longer than usual. But little by little this maiden will take people's breathe away.

Untitled (at the moment)

I've been asked lately from my peers to put up some pictures of a piece in progress. Of coarse, this piece is a couple of steps ahead compared to its drawing stage. It is my first true attempt to paint a figure and everything around it with watercolor. But, I have to thank my good friend Danny for the human. Without his unique way to painting a figure with watercolor, I would not fully understand how to paint it, and his stuff is just amazing so look him up please!

"Winter Horse" 16x20", watercolor, graphite, and pen. NFS.

"Summer Horse", 16x20", watercolor, graphite and pen. NFS

Both are private commissions and fun ones at that.

Botticelli's Graces

 graphite on paper, 18x24"

Botticelli's three graces in his "La Primavera"  

Intertwined

graphite and grape vine charcoal on paper, 18x24". Prints available.

This was a branch off from my "Dragon Keeper" taking the idea of a spherical space with something trapped inside. I attempted to give the illusion that the dragon was forming the spherical shape itself.

"The Heat Source", acrylic on canvas, 16x20". Prints available.

This piece is not quite finished yet. I plan to go back to it and fill in some black areas or ad some more defined color to the horse, but all in all, it is 97% done. Plus I haven't put a painting on the site for quite some time so I figure it would be a good entry.

"Taming the Moon"

18x24". Graphite and charcoal on paper. Private Commission, prints available. Copyright 2010.