Inspiration block

I was set to work on a drawing from that reference photo I mentioned. I think the lack of detail has been my down fall. I just really couldn't get into the drawing so I'm going to have to move on from it. Of course now I wonder if that high school black and white photo will be a good reference photo. Also I have to call into question that photo of my grandmother, it's a scan of a damaged photo so the quality isn't great. I'm not sure I'm not ready to even try to draw the high school photo, and I'm not ready to attempt to do any art with Grandma right now. I haven't gotten everything worked out with that dream inspired painting. I'm just kind of stuck. I do have those virtual pose samples I could work from. I really want to paint but I'm having a hard time finding the perfect subject to start with. Maybe I should just do a simple self portrait, maybe from life. Or maybe I'll just take a new reference photo. I haven't drawn or painted from life in awhile, none of the poses or subjects have allowed me to do that lately. It might be nice to attempt it. I don't know maybe I should sketch a little in front of the mirror before I decide. I should also work on ironing out that dream concept. I think the pose has me on my back, resting with my arms behind my head, and my legs resting up against a wall. I don't think that would work out for me as a nude, so I'll have to consider wardrobe. I think that maybe if this turns out not following very much of the dream at all it will still work out. I'll play with the colors once I get a reference photo and see where I am going with it. I think I just need to work out some ideas, get some deeper concepts in the works and let everything fall into place. I want my next piece to be one of those with a deeper message rather than just a straight forward portrait.

I haven't worked on my wrecked journal in awhile, so I've missed the past two updates. Though the one was mostly because I was on vacation and the last one, well Friday just came too soon. I should work in it a little before this Friday coming so I'll have something to post in the next update.
I also haven't started work on my drawing yet. I've just been tired as it's gotten later. I really do want to start it soon, not only to work on art but also because I got two new CD's to listen to while I work on it.
I think I got the pose wrong on that dream painting, but I'm going to try to take some reference photos for that soon. I also have some photos to sort through to see if anything stands out as a good reference photo. I'm not quite sure if that dream painting will be the first painting after I finish this drawing or something else. Not quite sure yet.
My next post should be the beginnings of a new drawing, and then I should have my wreckage post for this week on Friday.

Dream Inspiration

I had an odd dream, I can remember a lot it. There were vampires involved, mostly TrueBlood/Sookie books vampires. I say that because Eric was in my dream, not Eric like he is the TV show but more like I see him from the books with the longer hair. Anyway I think I mostly influence by watching the show last night and comparing it to the books. I just need to watch the show for the show. In my dream I remember looking at some of my artwork, I remember my two big pieces, "Angelic" and "Angel on my Shoulder" but I also remember another one partially. It was another self portrait I think but the colors were interesting like a golden red sunset effect. I wish I could remember it more fully, and I wish I would have focused on that right when I woke up, but I spent too much time focused on the vampires. Now I'm trying to recall that piece, I was so impressed with it in the dream I'd like to see if I could create it in real life. I just keep focusing on the colors and the high contrast but I can't quite remember how the whole thing looked overall. I think it may have been some work with foreshortening, a view of me from straight on while I was lying down on my stomach, my arms crossed under my chin and my legs up in the air crossed at the ankles. I think that may have been it though I'm not sure. I just keeping thinking of those strong colors and contrast the red and gold tones contrasted against black. I'm thinking the only way to get that strong color combination would be with paint. Though I'm not sure if the canvas I have is big enough. I'm not sure if that's the piece that I saw in my dream, well the pose I'm not sure of, the color I am. I'm going to think more on it though and maybe I have a start of a new piece, that was inspired by a dream. I love surreal work and how it's influenced by dreams, I just love more traditional representation more. So maybe I've finally found a way to bring the two together.

Wreck this Journal - Week 2

From Wreck this Journal

I did quite a bit of wrecking yesterday, and I took a lot of photos too. The photo above is from the Picasa album I created for this. I really like that page, I included the markers in the photo because I used every one of those in that page. I think using my daughter's markers is what got her attention and what got her involved.

From Wreck this Journal

She created her own version of the circle page. Before I was done though she joined in with adding a few marks to the book. It led me to create my own suggestion, "Let your kids or kids you know color in it." I'm going to let my little sisters-in-law add to this weekend when I see them. I won't be able to update for week 3, but I'll be sure to add one for week 4.

Wreck this Journal

I just got the book today, and I'm going to participate in Jamie Ridler's blogging book group The Next Chapter
I've only glanced through it, but I think I might work in some of the pages before the day is out. I almost didn't get the book today. I'm a little worried that I won't be able to break away from the rules and destroy the book. I have it though so I think I'll destroy it as instructed and try to have some fun with it.

"Baby Girl"

I've beat my deadline again, even with all the procrastination. I'm happy with this drawing, though I am questioning some of the folds in the hoodie. I think my grandfather will love it. I already have it matted and framed, I just need a gift bag.

"Baby Girl"

I finally thought of a title, it's pretty straight forward. It's just the nickname my grandfather has for her. Since it's for him I figure it's a appropriate. I'm having some trouble with the hood and I've rethought the composition. I think I may make it smaller, a 5" x 7" I think that size would work out better in the end. I think he'd have an easier time finding a place to put an 8" x 10" frame than a 11" x 14" frame.

I think I'm over thinking everything too much. I'm over thinking my website, and I think I'm just causing more harm than good. I'm over thinking this drawing, and I'm not enjoying it anymore. I'm over thinking future concepts and I'm not taking the time to just enjoy the simple ideas that I have for future works. I have some great photos of my niece that I'd like to draw, I'd also like to try to draw my daughter with bubbles (I have a lot of great photos of her blowing bubbles). I also have photography that I need to sort through that I forgot about in the middle of all the stress. I think I need to stop concentrating on shows and galleries and the size of my portfolio and just focus on my art. I need to just go with what comes my way and maybe one idea will lead to another and it will snowball into a great series. If not I should at least end up with great work that doesn't really relate to each other. I don't have to have a series to have a good portfolio of work.