What not to do.

My new painting isn't finished yet, but already I can feel the difference. What difference, David? Let me answer my own question from the third person. The last big painting I worked on, "The Dark Pearl" was, bluntly, a nightmare. I had a really quick color/value comp that I liked, and when I transferred her from 8x10 to 36x48, things got complicated quickly.

Mistake number one: I didn't pay enough attention to my initial sketch. The reason I liked the color study so much was the flow I had established. See how the helmet rests below her? The shift of their levels helps balance the piece and keep it from becoming stagnate. All of the angles in this quick little study play off of each other in a very kinetic way:


Mistake number two: I didn't check and double check the drawing. I drew a draft and got to painting, too excited to slow down and check my accuracy or the appearance. Look at this crap of a drawing. Yeah, I let that slide.


Mistake number three: I lost sight of my goal. Again, I didn't go back to the mini-blueprint that I loved. I got lost in the painting, trying to figure out little backgrounds and details everywhere. I couldn't see the paint for all of the brushstrokes. So I started painting in a submarine and a sunken ship and all the little things I could think of OTHER THAN the subject. This caused me to have to repaint over the entire painting at least twice.



What I should have done is make a plan and stick to it. Not only that, but have the patience to see every step out to the inth degree. This takes more time per step, but saves time in the long run. So that I don't have to take my painting from this:



To this:



Over the course of three paint overs and ninety angry hours. Look at the anger.



Compare the vast differences between progress shots to my newest project in my upcoming post. Planning is key. Sticking to that plan is key to keeping a key plan in play.

NEW PROJECT!!!

This is the newest piece I am working on. Just pics for now, I will do a wee write up soon!

Spec work

Well I gave my digital hand a try. Not exactly my forte, but I want to show that I am alive. So.

Projects

Now when I want to know what I am working on, I just look at my blog!!

In progress:

The Corridor(Mentorship)

Frankenstein Done!

Portrait Done!

Cowboy 2(Personal)

Internet Explorer(Personal)

Gladiators Done!

Not started:

Fahrenheit 451(Personal)

I-addict(Personal)

Landscape(Commission)

Dead in the water:

Ewoyn Piece(Contest)

Imuse(Personal)

Post 200!!

Did this alooong time ago. Like, months, if not weeks. Yeah, I know, right? It was for a challenge, but I didn't get it in on time. But I kinda like it's funky feel still, so here she is for your viewing pleasure.

Lots going on

Too much to say. Personally, artistically, and everywhere in between. Hope you're still listening. I have a new project cooking for a challenge, I have progress on my mentorship painting, (poor thing has been so neglected) and I have some portraits that I might let you see. Until then, here's a sketch of that challenge.

Foot prints

Just recently, I was interviewed for a custom framing position. It was a frame shop like frame shops should be, jazzy, artsy, and very nice. To be considered for the interview, I gave them my resume, which had my website and my blog. My website, sadly, is down right now. But imagine my surprise when I was greeted with print-offs of my blog during the interview. That was not the only surprise.

This employer had done his research, and during my interview it came out that he and the other framers got a good laugh out of my Myspace photo. "Myspace?" said I. My "space" had not been touched for the larger part of three years, if not more. "Yeah, the picture of you by the fountain."

It took me about thirty seconds. Fountain. Standing. Photo. An image of me leaning back, face relaxed, crotch lined up directly with the water... Oh. That photo. 19 year old David acting like the water was really a giant piss stream. Ha. Ha.

At that point in Washington D.C. more than four years ago I would have never guessed that this moment of silliness would go beyond my close friends. But here I was, in a cozy little office, star struck by the work opportunity I was trying for, being visited by David of Pissmas past.

Many of the stories I write have to do with the intangibility of technology, and the effects it has on our social habits. In reality, the internet is much more tangible than one might think.

A footprint I left years ago is still there, still viewable, and still being viewed. It could have been worse.

This incident was a great reminder to me. On the internet, even more than in reality, what you do is who you are. You are only as good as your worst post. I'm just glad mine was fairly innocent and forgivable.

In a digital age where memory is endless and knowledge is power, every footprint is embedded in stone. Watch your step.