The Progression...

So I am working on the two paintings, Zedie-Eddy and the Graffiti Eddy.  Both are coming together quite well.  I thought I would update the progress of the paintings.  The first is the Zipper-graffiti Eddy.  First images are of the face without the hands finished, the next image shows the hands and zipper in place, but the zipper is still in gray tones.  The final photo of this painting shows the zipper in the beginning stages of color.  Just a side note: hands and ears are very difficult to paint!

Hands not painted yet - just the face:

The hands are now in place- I am very pleased with them.  I really like the fingernails.  

The zipper has now been fully incorporated into the head and color has been added.  I will probably add a few more really translucent layers of color on the zipper, but it's pretty close to being completed.  I don't want the zipper to become the most important element in the image, but rather the battle going on between the top portion and bottom portion of the composition, and the personal battle going on in the mind of the subject (portrait painted).

The next photos are of the Zedie-Eddy.  I have finished the face (I think), and am currently working on the Zedie scene on top of the head.  It is going to be a very slow process as I have to go over the buildings several times to smooth out the paint.  I am using acrylic paints for Zedie and his city.  It's interesting going back to acrylics after all of this time working in oils.  I forget that I can water down, thin and smooth with just water mixed in with the paints - no toxic solvents needed; however, the paint isn't as easy to blend and smooth as it is with oils.   Zedie will be in bright vivid colors, but the scenery will be primarily in grays and black as they are in the night/dark of the story line.  I think the Zedie and space ships will really "pop" once the color is all in place.  I can't wait to see this one done!  I have a long road ahead on this one though.  I will most likely start a third painting to allow for drying time on these two in progress. 

The buildings are blocked in - but not completed.  I have to block in all of the buildings, paint the black background and then once all is dry, outline them with a sharp line to give a more comic book feeling. When I get all of them in and am happy with the results, I am thinking of adding little elements in some of the windows.  We'll see.

Close-up of the top portion of the composition.  You can see that the buildings are getting blocked in (roughly); I will then go back and smooth and outline them.  But I like how it feels and looks already.  The buildings also wrap around the sided of the canvas.

New Painting in Process

So this is a new painting I am working on.  It is a portrait of Eddy in black-and-white, but at the top of his head, the alter ego Zedie will be introduced in color with a comic book styling.  I am trying to incorporate different elements into the portraits.  This is just the bottom portion of Eddy; the top is still in the white outline waiting to be filled in.  The painting of Eddy still needs some work too, but it's getting there.  I really like the glow to his face.  I am thinking of adding some cartoon steam coming out of his ears. 

Me Watching Me Paint - Wild!

This is a great photo Eddy took of me while I was preparing my canvas with a black gesso base.  I love this picture because my self-portrait is watching me paint.  Eddy is very clever; he says this is for the coffee table book for when I am famous- too funny!

Painting Studio

These are some great photos of my studio space.  Eddy took pictures of the various stages of getting the space together; he also took a great photo of my supplies.  Thanks Eddy! 

Painting Studio

I was in my painting studio on Saturday and Monday; it was great!  I had the place to myself, and on Saturday, I painted five hours straight.  Monday for only around three, but it was very productive.  I am currently working on two paintings simultaneously.  I have four canvases already at the school, primed, sketched out and ready to go.  One painting will truly be a challenge; it is 4' x 6'.  When this semester is over, I will probably have to remove the painting from the stretcher bars and roll it up.  We are running out of walking space in our little apartment.  Selling the art would be really nice.  I will post pictures shortly.  

My Final - That's It

Our group for the senior exhibition has asked for a meshing of two designs.  So the two of us are each designing a final version - and the group will decide.  But for me, this is the end of the road- final version. 

Scholarship Woes.

I have been waiting for a scholarship I was awarded to be disbursed.  In the process of trying to find out when the funds will be released, today, I was informed that this certain scholarship had "run out of funds."  How can a scholarship be awarded and then not have the money?  Now, it is up to me to track down a person (in the main office) who can tell me whether I will get the money or not.  This is beginning to sound like a badly scripted novel or B movie.  I really just want to graduate with my degree, that really isn't too much to ask. 

New Poster for Senior Exhibition-the second go around.

Our group is still trying to decide what poster to have for our show (annoying).  We also have two newly added members to the show.  There will be two ceramicists, three painters, and two fiber artists.  I came up with the title: Close Proximity.  Then our group felt we should again design posters for the new title.  I went with a very simple font and color scheme–nothing exciting.  I honestly didn't have the desire or energy to re-create an entirely new design.  But I did create two designs: one with just the title and the other with title and artists' names.

This is the title only poster:

 

This is the second poster, title and artists' names:

My Senior Exhibition

My senior exhibition show is scheduled to be installed on Oct. 7th.  It will open on the tenth and run for two weeks.  Exciting!

The Cost of an Education...

It is amazing that tuition has risen again, and with that increase, the already over priced books, go up in cost as well.  For one book - a theory music class- the cost: $130.00.  Mind you I had to buy four more books for one art history class and still had to buy all of my canvases at a steep price of $350.00.  That's not including the other painting supplies.  It's a lot to think about. 

Poster Design for the Senior Exhibition

For the senior exhibition class, we all had to design and come up with a title for our group shows.  My group consists of 3 painters and 2 fiber artists.  So I decided on the title, Fabricated Reality.  I made the poster in color and in black and white with only the title in color.  I like both.  This won't necessarily be the poster we will use, but I was pleased with how they turned out. 

Art History Syllabus

Whoever heard of a 47 page syllabus?  Really 47 pages.  I had left for school in the morning and left my printer to produce what I thought was a couple pages of a syllabus for my class.  I come home to find my printer out of black ink and 47 pages piled up.  I walked home from the campus because the bus never showed - so much for trying to "go green."  Mind you it's 106 degrees here in Tempe and humid as hell    (we ran out of "DRY" heat).  I am having one of those go back to bed, cover your head and hope for a better tomorrow, kind of day.  Not a great start to my first semester-

New Semester - one step closer to the end!!!

My new semester starts in four days.  I am two semesters away from a BFA.  Things have been tough and cost for school went up even more.  I worry that I will be out priced in my final push.  I have so many expenses and little money to pay it all- fingers crossed, prayers sent out and good "positive" thoughts put into action-something has to give. 

Birthday Card for My Grandson

This is for my grandson.  He will be two on August 12th.  I was blessed to go and see him this summer; he's a cutie.  I decided to go with the Zedie Super Hero theme.

Newest Dudlz Character

I drew this out in pen first then scanned the image, retraced and colored it in Illustrator- his name is Gojee Beary.