My Precious Shoes

    While I was living in Spain, in 1998, I put myself on a very strict budget. Not because I was poor, but because I just wanted to see how good of a life I could have spending the minimum. I made many interesting friends in Spain and we were not interested in spending lavishly. So there I was walking everywhere I wanted to go. Just using the few clothes, art supplies, and my one pair of shoes I brought from the US.
    Well, two weeks before I was to return to the US, the front-bottom of my shoes had separated from the top leather, exposing my toes and making a slapping sound every time I took a step. I should have gotten a new pair of shoes. I had more than enough money saved. But I was in such a “budget” mindset that I refused and simply brought some shoe-goo and glued it up as best as I could. I retired the shoes when I returned the US. They served me well. I still couldn’t throw them away. They are safely stored away.

Cascade

Floating Near Optimism

White Chalk on Black Paper

Color Version (Photoshop)

Recent Sketchbook Doings

Playing with Vector Art

Some recent art I completed in Adobe Illustrator.

 

The cup of coffee was completely done using a 

digital drawing tablet. 

I was going for a sketchy painting effect without using 

any special Illustrator effects or special brushes. 

 I only had to draw half of the pelican! 

Then copy and reflect bird to the opposite side.

The smoking cigarette has many different effect used to accomplish this illustration. Some 3-D effect, Some Bristle Brush effect, the Swirl tool, vectorized photo of wood grain, plus more! 

Watercolor Demo

I started this painting as a demonstration on watercolor painting. I do my best to explain the various steps suggested towards successful painting, starting from visual inspiration (example: Vincent Van Gogh's painting of Sunflowers,) to a good sketch, to experimenting and planning colors using watercolor to actually painting the finish painting. It is commonly known that watercolor is a rather spontaneous medium. Often time, large puddles of colored water is placed onto paper with the hopes that a pleasing  effect is created. But, an experienced artist will work out a good plan to assure a successful outcome, even with the wildest application of the paint. Bono, of the music band, U2, once said about performing live his well crafted songs, "The challenge is to make it look spontaneous."     

I love doing demonstrations for my students in explaining the foundations in working in various art mediums. One reason is that I really love being creative in many mediums and trying to understand and share how to control the paint to do what you want. The other reason is it give me an opportunity to explore and have fun in a different visual styles. Never wanting to suggest that students have to work in my personal style, I will venture into different design styles such as this graphic interpretation of Vincent Van Gogh's painting of Sunflowers.

Me, model? Ok.

          One of my students, Janice, requested that I pose for her for another instructor's assignment. She wanted to photograph someone drawing. She gave me no direction other than to draw. So, I pulled out my blue chalk pencil and began to draw. I hope she received a good grade.