Another week in the books...

I am going to make sure that the rest of this year that I will be applying for call for entries and getting back to creating art. I'm even planning on sending in a couple of pieces for this 6X6 event that I used to do the last couple of years but missed out on last year because I forgot.

I just want to get back to normal. I've been off my game for so long. Time to get back.

That's all for now.

Until next week...

-Namaste

New Years Resolution...

Hello faithful few. I am still working on my video short. It's not quite ready for public consumption that's why I don't have it for this weeks' post. Hopefully I have it done by next week.

Anywhoogle, I figured I would post a couple of my New Years Resolutions. A few that I would actually like to share.

1. Continue to work towards getting healthier.
2. Get back to create art more on a regular basis.
3. Brush up on my Japanese. Or at least get back to where I was in my college years with the language and build upon it.
4. Can't stress this one enough... Create art more.

That's all I think I'll share this week with you guys this week.

Until next week...

-Namaste

Make it happen, yo!

I have been kicking some slogans and designs in my head recently. Some are based on stuff I've seen and read and some have been based on things I've heard, both in the past and present.

I don't know where it's going though. I've been writing and sketching little things on post-its. I have quite a few of them. This is probably the most creative I've been in weeks. I've been trying to make sure I jot them down as they come to me so I can really try and build on them. The next couple of weeks I'll try to pull something more from them and share them with you guys. That's all I have for you guys this weekend.

Until next week...

-Namaste

A trip to the Art Store...

So today I went to the art store and I felt overwhelmed...more like a kid in a candy store a pocketful of change or in a toy store with an endless supply of money. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I had a lot of money but I found it hard to decide what to buy. I WANTED IT ALL!

There were times when I was in an aisle and I was just staring off into "artmosphere". It was just so hard to choose exactly what I wanted. I ended up getting a couple canvas panels and 6"X6" wood panels. I also picked up a couple of secret items that I can't share right now because it will spoil a surprise

Today was the first day of my long weekend and I did a little creating and also messed around a bit in photoshop. It's been a minute since I've actually used photoshop so Ive been trying to get used to using it again. Next week I will have some images to show you guys but that's all for now.

Until next week...


-Namaste

Creating on a mobile device...

This is a little something that I have been working on. I used an app called Corel Painter Mobile on my Note 3. What's cool about this app is that it works well with my stylus and the strokes react and respond to pressure. I was truly amazed. I can press down on screen and get a heavy line or just glide across the screen and get a feathered line.

As you guys know I have been struggling with creating lately and once I started this I felt alive again "wee" bit. So far I am working on the bottom 3 layers. Tomorrow I am going to start to flesh the face out a little more and see how I like it. The only drawback is that while my phone is a big for a phone, it does sometime seem awkward drawing an image on a phablet screen. Even though it's the size of a postcard, it's still a challenge using the stylus on the screen. I have seen some great art produced by other artists on this device though.

Well that's all I have for you guys today.

Until next week...

-Namaste

A New New Thing...

I have started to pick up my iPad and read again. I know what your saying, "Why would you stop reading????" I have just been too busy. But thats not what I really want to tell you guys. The real big deal about it for me is that, I have been pulling out phrases and words that have spoken to me.

I have begun to jot them down. One of the first phrases I found intrigued me a lot. I am hoping I can squeeze some time in to see what I can come up on an illustrative level. In a way its like writing a book. You come up with the title and then you plan what you are going to put on the pages.

I need to find any and everything I can to keep me motivated. I need to get back in the flow of things so I can really feel like myself. Thats all for this weeks folks. I know its a quick post but I figured I'd still share. Maybe next week I will have some sketches for you guys.

Until next week...


-Namaste

Beats Me or Who stole my Energon...

I started working on a couple of t-shirt designs the last couple of days. I wanted to show you guys but I don't get a chance to finish them today because I went in to work. I'm going to definitely finish them this week coming up and I will share them with you then.

This weeks post is a little light but I will make it up to you guys next week.

Until next week...

 

 

-Namaste

Go BIG...

Lately I have been looking through some of my sketches and some of my smaller works and seeing which ones I would likely possibly blow up in to a bigger painting.

I've been trying to visualize them bigger. Like some of them have aspects of them that work small but if created bigger, would have to be reworked. In a way going bigger will allow to not only recreate the work but also revisit it. Revisiting would then help me to evolve certain parts of the original work.

The first piece that I plan on doing this with is a piece I did a few weeks ago called The Exodus. I've already reworked it once from a pencil sketch to a marker drawing or sketch. I just came up with an idea as I was typing this blog. The next few weeks I'm hoping to have something for you guys to check out.

That's all I have this week.

Until next week...

 

 

-Namaste

Let's Rock 'N Roll, Man or 'Ello Guv'ner...

So I was born in the mid 70s and grew up in the 80s & early 90s but I got to tell you one of the greatest periods for music for me is the 60s. Especially from the British Invasion years. So I thought this week I would share with you guys a playlist of mines that feature a few songs from that era. Some of the artists aren't the original songwriters or artist of some of the songs but I like their versions of the song equally or just a little better. Definitely The Animals and Nina Simone's version of the song Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood. So we out further ado...

• The Animals, Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood.
• Nina Simone, Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood.
• Petula Clark, Downtown.
• Dusty Springfield, You Don't Have To Say You Love Me.
• The Animals, The House of The Rising Sun.
• The Animals, We Gotta Get Out of This Place.
• The Beatles, I Want To Hold Your Hand.
• The Beatles, Strawberry Fields Forever.
• The Beatles, All You Need Is Love.
• The Zombies, She's Not There.
• The Zombies, Time of Season.
• The Zombies, I Love You.
• Lulu, To Sir, With Love.
• The Yardbirds, For Your Love.
• The Kinks, You Really Got Me.
  

I left out a lot but as far as The Beatles, I could have put the whole discography up LOL.

I think going forward I might do more of these type of blog post. Maybe every few months. Let you guys in on a little of my musical tastes.

Getting it done...

Another week...another post...Hey faithful few, how did your week fare? Mines was pretty much the same. Sort of drab. I did manage to get some work mailed off for the 6X6 show in at the Rochester Contemporary Art Center in New York. I did 4 total pieces and in my haste to get them mailed off, I forgot to take pics of them for you guys. Lol. As soon as they are posted on the site I will get pics to share with you guys.

I wasn't really to happy with what I produced this go around but I still wanted to get something sent it. I should have cut up some of the things I had been working on recently and sent that instead...

I've been perusing the interwebs for more call for entries that I can enter. I really want to keep the creative process flowing. I have been writing in my sketchbook when I get a chance to if my mind is clear. Sometimes I actually write just to clear my mind. Sort of like how I blog for you guys every week.

I really look forward to blogging every week. I know some weeks my post are short but I still mark out that time to make sure I blog for you guys. That's all I have for you guys this week.

Until next week...

 

 

-Namaste

Crunch...Crunch...CHOMP!!!

So I have been doing me the past couple of weeks. I haven't been devoting much time to my sketchbook as I would like but I am trying to change that.

I told myself the other day that I need to start working on some 6X6s while I had some free time. Out of curiosity I went to the website to see when the deadline was because I hadn't gotten an announcement in the mail this year letting me know when it was. Lo and behold, the deadline is actually next Saturday. I thought I had a few weeks still to get some done but as it stands I only have probably until Thursday or so to produce some(The pieces have to be postmarked by the 19th) .

This is another classic example of time creeping up on me pretty fast. And I have to submit something because of all that free time I had when I first moved to Charlotte there should be no excuse...none whatsoever as to why I didn't submit anything.

The thing is I don't know what I want to submit yet. I've started working in a somewhat new medium for me and I am not yet ready or not yet sold on my methods with it. I am also thinking of combining some elements and just producing some digital prints. So many ideas...I might just end up going with a bunch of different things. I want to send at least 4 pieces in. The next couple of days I will be spending time brainstorming and manipulating images. Next week I will definitely post images of what I sent in for you guys.

Until next week...



-Namaste

Working Hard...

Hey faithful few, not a lot this week for you guys. I didn't do any art this week. Been trying to crunch/cram some things and also after almost 5 months of unemployment...this one right here has started working again! And I tell you the layoff SHOWED! It's going to take me a minute to get back into the swing of things in the working world. Gotta say I am glad though.

Until sometime next week...

 

 

-Namaste

A Quick Post...

Hey faithful few, just wanted to show you guys that I am still being creative and pushing out ideas. I did this yesterday for Valentines Day. It's called "For Her"

That's all I have this week for you guys. I will have more next week. (that's 3 weeks in a row)

 

 

-Namaste

Golden Goddesses...

Lookie here...lookie here! 2 weeks in a row I have come to you guys to share some new work that I have been working on.

 I have been really motivated the last couple of weeks. I have not been questioning anything I have been working on the past few weeks. I have been just rolling with an idea and focusing on getting it done and on to the next one. So without further ado...

         Reclining Golden Goddess                                                             Rockin' Golden Goddess

Until next week...

-Namaste

Nubian or the beginning of something NU...

As promised faithful few, here are a few sketches/studies I have been working on. They are still kind of raw and I'm still working on some things with them but I love that I'm back problem-solving again. I will keep you guys updated on my progress. Maybe a series will come out of this. Who knows.

Until next week...

 

 

-Namaste

 

Charlotte Mini-Con

Hello faithful few, I went to a comic book convention today! I thought I'd show you the books that I scored and a few pics that I took while I was there.

On a side note, I also started working in one of my sketchbooks again. I will share with you guys next week.

Until then...



-Namaste

A Time to Reflect...A Time to look to look towards the future...

Faithful few...the year is almost over and I gotta say it was a year for me. I went and elevated myself out of my comfort zone, that which was work and home. I quit my job and moved south. Its been a struggle in the early going but I'd like to quote Frederick Douglass, "If there is no struggle, there is no progress..."

I have been enduring and trying to stay focused. It's been tough but oddly enough I am still encouraged. 2014 will be my year. I am going to continue to push myself into taking chances and living my life. This time last year, I felt that I would be where I am now but my mind still wasn't made up yet. As I am typing this, I am trying to think of the next big thing that I want/need to tackle. I really need to step up my game art-wise. I have a few new ideas that I want to get to before I start on some old ideas. I know that sounds a little backwards but I have decided that that next year, I am going to try and produce the work as it comes to me. No holding it back. Gotta get rolling and keep my creative juices flowing.

I am going to try to keep up with posting images for you guys as well. I have been promising work and not  delivering for you guys. That's all I have for you guys this year. See you in the new year...



-Namaste

A Time for Thanks or Happy Times...

This week coming up is Thanksgiving. This will be my first Thanksgiving without my family. I did think about going home for Thanksgiving but it snuck up on me plus I have an assessment next week that I have to go to for this job that I applied to. Maybe I'll get back to Baltimore for Xmas, who knows.

I am still adapting to life here in the South. My life has been really peaceful. I have also been doodling down weird squiggles and shapes. They have been pretty fun. I'm looking forward to seeing what comes out of them...where they might end up at...

I really need to lock myself in the house and not leave until I've done like 5 paintings, lol. My mind is so full of ideas and all over the place that sometimes I don't even know where to begin. It's like someone is pumping my brain with a hallucinogenic lol. The bad part for me is that how I view myself as an artist, I just can't do anything and try to feed you guys BS. You know what I mean? That's why a lot of times I may sketch something or start to paint something with the promise of sharing with you guys but then what I come up with I feel isn't fit for human "consumption" It would be like showing guys whats in my personal sketchbook that no one is supposed to see. Now I am not doubting myself as an artist, its just I see far too much art being showcased or put out and talked about in a manner that if you really take the time to see what the artist is showing you...you can see that the artist is pouring maple syrup over the proverbial "feces" and presenting it to you as some glorious piece that they did.

As artist, we are always accused of being our own worst critic. I don't see that as a bad thing. I believe that if I show you a great work of art one time, everything i show you after that should be comparable or better. In sports you have your bad days and good days and people will see that. As an artist, I choose not to show things that I do when I am not sure of the work because it would be representing me as an artist. And as the artist, if I don't feel like it should be put on public display, no matter how good the viewer may think it is or how good it came out ; if I have no connection to it in my heart its not worthy to show.

Sure they say "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" but they also say "Don't bullshit a bullshitter" as well. And with that I am going to leave you guys this weekend. Have a great holiday and an even Happier Thanksgiving.

Until next week...




-Namaste

The Dharma and the Sea or The Old Man and Bums...

Hey faithful few, I know I said that I would post images for you guys this week and I have started working on them but I want to expand upon my post from last week.  

The other day I was thinking about letting go and taking leaps of faith and how for the most part of my life how I've played it safe...and then I thought how I decided a few weeks ago to take a giant leap and break that habit of playing it safe. I then realized that I was finally feeling the wind beneath my feet. 

Today its been 1 month to the date that I moved Baltimore to Charlotte.

I feel like such a free spirit right now....like Hemingway or Kerouac...a lot of times the feeling is euphoric but also in a catch-22-kind of way its harrowing. I say harrowing because for someone who has almost always played it safe, this sort of feeling seems like it can lead to "slackitude-ness" or carelessness. Even though I have mixed thoughts on this feeling, I am enjoying it. I'm enjoying it because its a new feeling for me. It's fun. My mind right now feels so clear right now. I gotta say that right now I am in a very good place. I wish I would have done this years ago.

The image below is one of the pics I took a couple of weeks ago. I figured I'd post at least one image for you guys this week...again I am going to try and get some more for you guys next week.

Until then...

-Namaste

Work and other rambling stuffs...

Hey faithful few, so yesterday I went out and shot some nature and landscape images with my camera. I need to upload them and see what I got. I think I got some good shots though. Some of the images I plan on printing out and using in some assemblage paintings.

I believe I am finally getting used to living in a new town. Its starting to "not" feel like an extended vacation. I have been ramping up the job search and I have been doing a little sketching. So I am keeping myself busy in this down time.

Next week if I remember I will share some of the stuff I have been working on.

Until next week...




-Namaste