Through the Eyes of a Painter

Random thoughts: Falling Down

2014-08-28T05:32:00.000-07:00

At some point we all fall down.... but its how and when we choose to get back up that define us!

2014-08-27T19:19:00.001-07:00

The last year has been one wild ride. I have spent the majority of my free time developing some new "to me" techniques. I have focused a lot of energy at learning the the craft of Spray Paint art and how I can incorporate it into my own style.

Early on I was satisfied with using store bought canvas and supports but as I grow, I am learning that you become limited to standard size and designs. For the piece below which is 24" x 48" I challenged myself to build my support from ground up. I can honestly say the process was very rewarding.

I used 2"x"2 to create a Mitered Cradle frame, which I then fastened the Masonite board to. In order to get that ultra smooth surface I had to apply 6 coats of Gesso (sanding between each coat). There is a lot more labor involved in creating the final work this way. Yet as an artist I find it more rewarding to say this entire work is mine.

©TCDART 2014 ** All fan art is copyright to the original creators of the characters. Use of the subject in my work is to display my skill set exclusively. All other original art is copyright to myself or to the intent of creation.

What I've been up to.

2013-10-08T21:59:00.000-07:00

I Know it's been a while since I've posted anything to my blog. I apologize for that. I have been very focused on learning a new technique that involves spray paint. Below are a couple of my favorite images that I've done.

If you like these check out my other items on my Society 6 profile. For a limited time you can order Prints and Totes with Free Shipping.

Autumn Moon

Celestial Triad

©TCDART 2013 ** All fan art is copyright to the original creators of the characters. Use of the subject in my work is to display my skill set exclusively. All other original art is copyright to myself or to the intent of creation.

Sketchbook 4.21.2013 - Distance

2013-04-21T19:34:00.001-07:00

I picked up a few of the new PrismaColor Brush tip markers I have to say that I'm extremely Happy. I've always sketched with pencil even when I'm planning out an idea for a painting. Then I have to figure out the colors. I did the above sketch all in marker. In much the same way I would have painted it. This one was done on a sketch card 3.5" x 2.5" so it will be a handy reference size.

©TCDART 2013 ** All fan art is copyright to the original creators of the characters. Use of the subject in my work is to display my skill set exclusively. All other original art is copyright to myself or to the intent of creation.

Sketchbook: 04.11.2013 : Salicious Crumb / Star Wars

2013-04-13T19:55:00.001-07:00

I finished this one earlier this week. Salicious Crumb from Star Wars (Return of the Jedi)

©TCDART 2013

** All fan art is copyright to the original creators of the characters. Use of the subject in my work is to display my skill set exclusively. All other original art is copyright to myself or to the intent of creation.

Sketchbook 03.25.13: Disney / JLA mash up

2013-03-25T20:22:00.000-07:00

A coworker asked me if I would do a sketch for a young man at her church who is autistic. He recently went through an operation and was having some difficulty. She was hoping to give him something to get his mind off the procedures he was going through. I asked what type of things he liked and she told me he was a huge Disney Fan and Donald Duck was his favorite character. So I started kicking ideas around in my head of what type of drawing to do. I pulled some old animation references for Donald's Facial expressions and remembered how angry He was and just how many funny situations that put him in. He was always yelling incoherently... Don't ask how but some how I pictured Donald in the Christian Bale Batman role. I guess it was his voice or something. One thing led to another and you have Donald "The Duck Night".

I wanted to team him up and figured if Donald was Batman... then Mickey had to be Superman. Plus looking at all the old school Mickey reference just put me in mind of Supe's with his hands on his hips.

Putting Goofy in the The Flash suit seamed the most logical choice, since Goofy was always doing something sports related. I could just see him running at super speed and tripping over his own two feet.

©TCDART 2013

Sketchbook 3/23/2013: Johnny Depp

2013-03-22T16:30:00.000-07:00

I had my 6 month check up today at the Hershey Cancer institute (clean and clear!! By the way) So while I was waiting between appointments I took advantage of the down time to do this sketch of Johnny Depp.

Anyone out the got some pointers on Glasses? The sunglasses were the worst... trying to get the reflective glare down is a lot harder than I thought it would be.

©TCDART 2013

Tiger Woods

2013-03-20T21:10:00.001-07:00

I know its been a while since I've posted on my blog and I apologize. So let me play a little catch up.

A friend and Co-worker recently announced her Retirement. She loves playing golf and is a huge fan of Tiger Woods. So I drew a caricature of him for her as a gift. I did the piece on Standard 11 X 17 Illustration Bristol board. I did my base drawing in pencils then inked them. I used my home made light box (plexiglass and fluorescent light) to transfer the original to a new board. After I re-inked the blacks I colored using a combination of Gauche and Color India Inks.

©TCDART 2013

Sketch Book 2013 Day 5

2013-01-05T21:00:00.002-08:00

Ok I have to be honest here I didn't sketch today ... but that was because I spent most of my time in front of my easel painting. So I'm cheating a little here. The sketch below was done just before the end of the year

I know it doesn't count but I did want to post something :0) ...

To make up for it I will post two tomorrow.

©TCDART 2013

A Hobbits Tale (pt2)

2013-01-05T11:59:00.001-08:00

I began under painting with acrylics. I like to keep a photo copy of my original sketch handy as reference because I know I will end up painting over most of my lines. Plus i use it to help me figure out where I want my shadows.

I normally don't like to share a painting during this phase because there is always a moment during the Under-painting of any picture when I get extremely concerned.

I mean good god! Bilbo is looking more like an an alien than a Hobbit. But I know that this will all work out when I get to the Oils. Yet it is still scary. You just have to remember that during this stage your just laying in the dark for the shadows and that this will add more depth as you go.

I wanted to share this in case you are a new artist and like me teaching yourself as you go. Don't be afraid of what you see now. Look past it and keep going. In many ways this is like life. Inevitably you will hit an ugly spot yet its those ugly or rather how we deal with them that shape us. Sort of reminds me of Churchill's famous quote "If your going through Hell...just keep going!"

Good words for an artist even better words for Life!

Well got to get back to the easel.... I would love to here from you ..whether your an art enthusiast or if you are a fellow artist I welcome your thoughts, opinions and advice.

©TCDART 2013

A Hobbits Tale

2013-01-04T17:43:00.000-08:00

Started working a new Painting. My Hobbit buddy below. I have toned my canvas (18" x 24") with a white and burnt sienna and re sketched the major parts of the sketch I posted the other day (Sketch book Day 1).

Next step is to start blocking in the under painting in acrylic.

©TCDART 2013

Sketch Book 2013 Day 4

2013-01-04T17:02:00.000-08:00

Its day 4 (1/4/2013)

Still working out details from my Family Tree Idea... here are my first Pass on Mamma and Pappa Tree.

They are still a work in progress (WIP) Mamma turned out a little more diva than Mamma but I think I can work with this.

Mamma Tree

Pappa Tree

©TCDART 2013

Desert Winds

2013-01-03T19:23:00.000-08:00

Got some brush practice in today as well..Worked a little on a desert background. It feels kinda empty at the moment.

©TCDART 2013

Sketch Book 2013: Day 3 - Jon Snow AKA Kit Harrington

2013-01-03T19:01:00.000-08:00

Sketch Book Day 3 (1/1/2013) Kit Harrington :Game of Thrones

Wanted to work on something a little life like. So today's sketch is Jon Snow (Kit Harrington) from Game of Thrones.
I was using a magazine photo as reference for the sketch. There is a lot of detail left to be done on this one though. I have the basic lines in and some shading on the face. but I need to do a lot of work on the hair and cloak. He almost impossible to see but I do have the rough outline of his Wolfe "Ghost" penciled in with a Blue prisma-color.

Blue pencil is great for laying in rough lines because they are virtually invisible to a camera or scanner. The worst thing about using a blue pencil is that it is virtual invisible to a camera or scanner! :)

Here is a close up on the face so you can see a little more of the detail.

©TCDART 2013

Sketch Book 2013 day 2

2013-01-02T21:27:00.001-08:00

Here are a couple more sketches for day 2.

The first one is very rough but I wanted to get it down on paper.

I have to apologize for the image quality... The pencil lines are pretty light and my cell camera was having a hard time.

I spent the better part of the day helping my son set up our old desk top Computer in his room. He wants to use it for games. Well we haven't used that one much lately and after hours of updates it finally is up and running.

So looking at the below you might be thinking how do cows relate to computers??

The layout is a view of a Window looking out into a country setting with Apple Trees and Cows. Some of the cows are munching on apples from the crates below the trees and one rather inquisitive cow is peeking in the window at us.

On the inside of the window we have a desk with various items strewn about.

The Idea here is all about view point. Every element in the picture is a reference to personal computers just from a different viewpoint. If you are a tech geek like me you might be able to pick up some of them without any hints.

Some the references are easier to get than others.

The Window = Microsoft

The cows = Gateway

The Apple Trees and crates = Apple

The potted flower is a Lotus

The Coffee mug has a Dell logo and is a reference to Java

The globe next to the mug will have the Old IBM logo

The baseball cap has a Commodore Logo.

Next to the globe an Abacus the worlds first computer

The first sketch is very rough and loose. But if I'm gonna attempt to paint this one I have to practice drawing a cow or two... below is my first detailed go.

©TCDART 2013

Sketch Book 2013 Day 2

2013-01-02T20:40:00.000-08:00

Day 2... Family Tree

I have a couple sketches today but the one I like the most is this one.

©TCDART 2013

Sketch Book 2013 Day 1

2013-01-01T18:19:00.000-08:00

Sketch Book 2013 - day 1

A Hobbits tale

Here is the first Sketch of 2013... The Hobbits tale. Like many people the work of J.R.R. Tolkien inspired me greatly and while I love Peter Jackson's movies I have a slightly different vision of hobbits in my head. I guess so when I first began this sketch I could have taken a much more realistic approach similar to those images we see in the Major movies, but that wouldn't be me. The halflings I see are a little rounder and more stout and yes a little more cartoonish.

My son and I recently watched Jackson's Fellowship of the ring and that is what most likely inspired this. As I watched the movie I began to think about how I imagined Sauron's Eye when I was a kid. I always pictured it sort of sideways enveloped in smoke and flames.

The Hobbit or There and Back Again By Tolkien, J. R. R. (Google Affiliate Ad)

©TCDART 2013

Happy New Year

2013-01-01T11:43:00.002-08:00

Wow... seems quite unbelievable that 2012 has come to a close. The year flew by so fast and left me feeling a little out of sorts. Looking back I started out with a great many plans and goals but as happens all too often 'Life' takes over and changes our direction.

One regret I have is that I only completed a couple paintings in 2012. I started quite a few but none that I felt were truly complete. I struggled with a lot of self doubt and internal criticism. When you take control of the inner voice you can use it to push yourself further and force yourself to improve. However if you let the voice take control, you can become weighted and even paralyzed with the fear of rejection and criticism. You'll convince yourself to stop trying because your work is crap.

Looking forward to the year to come I know I need to focus more. So how do I do that, well one mistake I made in 2012 was not having a solid plan. I am going to change that for this year.

Here is my plan to change things.

Step 1: Come up with a new concept sketch every day. I figure that will give me at least 365 potential paintings.

Step 2: Post the sketches every day - no matter how complete they are. The only way to fight the fear of criticism is to show my work. Whether its complete to my satisfaction or not.

Step 3: Complete at least 1 painting every month. This is definitely where I fell short last year.

Well ... good bye 2012 and Hello 2013. Lets get to work shall we..

©TCDART 2013

Rest In Peace Mark “Bam Bam” McConnell

2012-05-24T17:22:00.000-07:00

Rest In Peace Mark “Bam Bam” McConnell:

"BAM BAM" & Anton Fig video from Mark's Myspace Page

We were greatly saddened to hear the news of Mark’s Passing. He was truly a great guy. Most know him as Sebastian Bach’s former drummer “Bam Bam” to my family he was simply Mark. We actually met years ago when he toured with Baz and communicated via email and Facebook. He was a really good down to earth guy.Through out my illness he kept in touch with my wife and offered a lot of encouragement and support. He had a knack for reaching out at just the right time to say the things we needed to hear. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.

The following was posted earlier on his Face Book Page.

“Mark passed at 9:42 this morning surrounded by family and close friends. We will miss him…he was precious to all of us and touched all our hearts deeply and profoundly. On behalf of our family thank you to all of you for your prayers and support. We will post more info when we’ve had a chance to catch our breaths.”

©TCDART 2012

Things Don't Always Go As Planned

2012-05-08T14:00:00.000-07:00

AAAAARRRRGGHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is how you might feel sometimes...... but you have to let the frustration become fuel for your fire to keep going. If not it will consume you.

For the past couple of weeks I have had an idea burning in my skull for a new painting ... however getting what is up there to come on out, has not been so easy! In fact after looking at my color tests this morning I’m beginning to think selling a glass of water to a drowning man would be easier. No... Wait... that is putting it way too lightly...

I could just walk away and shelve the idea... right. Who would know? Who would care? Does it matter?

I would know and I care.

So instead of letting the fire of frustration consume me, I have to choose to use it.

Each set back is a new opportunity to learn what did not work. When I was little my dad told me a story about Thomas Edison. After about 1000 failures trying to invent the light bulb someone asked him why not give up? Especially since he had such poor results.

Edison's response;

"Results? Why, man, I have gotten lots of results! If I find 10,000 ways something won't work, I haven't failed. I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is often a step forward...." (source: thomasedison.com)

So as you make your way through the day consider this. Each misstep, each falter, every hindrance and stumble are just moments to ponder. So gather your resolve and remember what you really want to achieve.

Free Comic Book Day

2012-05-04T14:37:00.001-07:00

Free Comic Book Day is an Awesome way to share something your into with friends and family who may not normally read Comics. Be Sure to stop by your local comic book shop and say Hi tomorrow!

Don't know where your local shop is check out the Free Comic Book Day Website

Thomas Kinkade Remembered

2012-05-04T14:30:00.000-07:00

This weekend May 5th and 6th Kathies Christmas and Collectibles in Camphill, Pennsylvania will be conducting their annual Spring Open house event.

Kathies Spring Open House is always a wonderful opportunity to gather with fellow art enthusiasts and meet some of the Artists the gallery feature. In the past the event has playe host to artist such as Thomas Kinkade, Robert Finale to Mike Kupka and last year Thomas Kinkade's brother Patrick attended. I believe he is slated to be on hand again this year on Saturday only.

Its hard to believe that almost a month has gone by since Artist Thomas Kinkade passed. This weekend May 5th Kathies Christmas and Collectibles have decided to close thier gallery between 2pm and 3pm on Saturday (May 5) to host a Memorium service and is inviting everyone to come and share what Thomas Kinkade's work meant to them.

I am sure this will be a very moving event.

Click Here to read my Originial Post written on 4/7/2012 : Thomas Kinkade

Pittsburgh Comic Con Day 1

2012-05-01T20:32:00.001-07:00

Artistic inspiration can be found anywhere. Last weekend my family and I took a road trip to Pittsburgh Pennsylvania so, as my wife put it “my son and I could let our ‘inner-geeks’ come out and play”. The destination on this trip was “The Pittsburgh Comic-Con” an annual event hosted by Mike and Renee George of the Pittsburg comic shop “Comics World”. The weekend was amazing and way too much information to post in one entry so here is the first of the series.

Our day began at 4:30 a.m as we packed the car to begin our 2 and half hour ride out to Monroeville convention center just outside of Pittsburgh. After several stops for some much needed coffee and then several more stops for restroom breaks because of the coffee breaks we pulled into the parking lot of the Double Tree convention Center. While we were picking up our VIP badges we were greeted by Renee George who gave us a rundown of the weekend events. You could feel the excitement in the air. The guest of honor at this year’s event was none other than Stan “The Man” Lee and one of the highlights for my son and me, was our opportunity to meet Stan and participate in a Q & A held later in the day on 4/21. I am not sure who was more excited me or my son.

The plan was we would first hang out in line with several hundred others and wait for Stan and to get his autograph and photo. I was a little nervous because I brought a Pencil Sketch I did of him. I got the idea to do the drawing while thinking of something unique for him to sign. This idea came to me on Tuesday night and I did not work on it until Thursday. As we waited for Stan to arrive I kept going back and forth on whether or not I actually wanted him to see it, let alone sign it. I kept envisioning him saying “oh this is nice, who is it?” If that were to happen I would die. I mean we are talking about Stan Lee he has worked with some of the greatest comic book artists to ever pick up a pen and dip it into an inkwell. Inkwells he probably filled. Before I get too far let me explain…

For those of you not familiar with the name Stan Lee, Lee in collaboration with a handful of Artists such as Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, and John Romita among others is responsible for many of the most beloved Comic book characters we know today; Spider-Man, The Hulk, Iron Man, Thor, The Fantastic Four, The X-Men and list goes on and on. This wonderful cannon of work established Marvel Comics as one of the most recognizable comic publishers today. As Stan put it they are all “his children” and [he] “is extremely proud of them.” Stan began his career working at "Marvel" then known as Timely comics in 1939, as an office assistant doing menial tasks such as stocking paper and filling ink wells. His first foray into writing was as a “Text Filler” on Captain America Comics (#3) in 1941. He soon progressed from fill to full comics stories. By the end of that year, Stan was promoted to the role of Interim Editor, a position he held until early 1942 when he joined the Army to serve during World War II. Stan returned to Timely in 1945 and resumed his role as Editor and held the position until 1972 when he took the helm as publisher.

During the Q & A Stan related to us that his editorial days at Timely were filled with many ups and downs. He increasingly became frustrated with the flat undeveloped characters his publisher, Martin Goldman, insisted the public wanted. As Goldman put it, nobody wants to read about someone else’s problems let alone a superhero’s. By the end of the 1950’s tired of the rejection and lack of creative vision of his publisher, Stan was ready to call it quits. Stan confessed, it was during one of his almost nightly rants about turning in his notice that his wife Joanie gave him “the best piece of advice a wife could give her husband. Stan she said, if you want to quit so bad, why don’t you write a story the way you want? What’s the worst that could happen? You get fired, so what? You’re going to quit anyway go out on your terms.” So that is just what he did. Goldman wanted Stan to create a Superhero team to counter DC comics Justice League and this was the opportunity Stan was waiting for. Working with artist, Jack Kirby, Stan developed the Fantastic Four, a superhero team that came with emotional baggage and financial problems, they argued amongst themselves and one even hated being the hero who he was. The public loved it! With that one leap of faith, the momentum from flat, one-dimensional, cookie cutter knockoffs to living breathing three dimensional characters began.

You would think this success would have softened his publisher up to new out-of-the-box ideas. “’Fraid not!” exclaimed Stan. When Lee pitched the idea for Spider-Man , a teenage super hero with girl trouble, no money and a load of guilt on his back, Goldman just about laughed him out of his office. “Stan!” he said “You can’t call the hero Spiderman, people hate spiders and he definitely can’t be a teenager! Teenagers are just sidekicks for comedy relief.” Into the “NO-Bin” the idea went. Until a couple of months later when Stan was looking for something to fill up the last issue of Amazing Fantasy, a magazine they were getting ready to discontinue. Stan needed to get the story out of his system, and he knew the publishers were never interested or cared what you put in the books about to be discontinued. So he wrote the first and what he expected to be the only Spider-Man story to be filler, but he featured the character on the cover of Amazing Fantasy 15. Several months passed and Goldman got the circulation numbers for the book, “Hey Stan, remember that Spider-Man character we loved so much? I think we should give him his own book.” Countless comics, cartoons, live action TV series and 3 major motion films with a 4^th about to premier later this year ….Spider-Man is one of Marvel’s most recognizable superheroes.

With each reminiscent tale of how things started you could see the gleam in Stan’s eyes, like a child recounting the gifts he opened on Christmas morning. You could tell each one holds a special place in his heart. Stan is an amazing 89 years young yet he is not ready to stop creating those moments, now at the helm of a new company P.O.W. (Purveyors of Wonder), Lee gave us the news of several new projects in the works. One he was extremely excited about was collaboration with 1812 Comics to produce “Romeo and Juliet: The War”. This is a beautiful graphic novel, being produced in a large coffee table format retells the familiar tale in a very new setting. Set in Space, the families Montague and Capulet are not mere men, but Super-humans who once were allies protecting their beloved empire Verona. Now they are locked in a bitter war. The artwork in this book is stunning and the large format truly does justice to the overall work.

So that is a little about Stan Lee oh and that little sketch I mentioned well…

Stan signing my sketch

I got the nerve to show it to him and he didn’t have to ask who it was… but you could have knocked me over with a feather when he said “Oh wow! Look at this.”

To be continued…

Thomas Kinkade

2012-04-07T21:02:00.001-07:00

I was taken aback earlier this evening as my wife and I were talking. She had just logged on to her computer and came across a news article of Thomas Kinkade's death. Kinkade's work has been met with equal amounts of praise and utter disgust. I myself believe much of the hate is a reflection of how successful he was. Many so called art experts claim his work was bland tripe because his paintings were often of over idealistic locals and subjects. However isn't one of the main tenants of Art to evoke an emotional response? Having traveled to many art galleries across this country and meeting many individuals who would attest Kinkade's work did just that, I feel his work is quite valid and relevant. Perhaps his detractors are so focussed on his mainstream success they never looked passed to see the beauty that he truly wanted to share.

The Wailing Wall - Thomas Kinkade

Most individuals who are familiar with Kinkade's work will often recognize his cottages and seascapes I found his "plein air" paintings to be some of my most favorite. I believe the "Wailing Wall" is perhaps one of his best but is not immediately recognizable as his because the style was so divergent from his mainstream work. Part of a series of "plein air" studies he completed during a trip to Israel the image relies on a subtle limited color palette.

My Family with Patrick Kinkade in 2011. (L to R My son Dominick, Myself, My Wife Liz and Patrick Kinkade)

Just under a year ago, I had the good fortune to meet Patrick Kinkade, Thomas's younger brother. He shared with me stories of growing up with Thom. He also related several humorous stories of their trip to Israel. I found him to be quite down to Earth and funny. As we talked he looked to my son Dominick and asked if he had plans for college. When Dominick related that he was interested in film and animation Pat immediately turned his full attention to my son and began discussing which schools offer the best programs. One thing struck me as we talked you could hear the full range of emotions Patrick had for his brother; love, admiration, frustration and respect.

My thoughts and Prayer's go out to Patrick, Thom's wife Nannette and the rest Thom's family, he will be missed.

Click here to read my Follow UP Post : Thomas Kinkade Remembered

Tiger in process

2012-03-14T19:44:00.003-07:00

I put together a slideshow showing the progress on my Tiger painting. I have found that taking photos along the way really helps me to figure out what is working and what isn't in the composition. Plus it is nice to see the progress unfold.