"Why So Serious?"

I lost the original picture somewhere in my data files. I wanted to create something new for an art festival at my mom's school that i'm attending this Fri. I wanted to do something new and slightly different that the normal hookie pookie drawings that i normally bring. i like to attempt to push my creative talents. This started off as simply a watercolor only sketch. I normally stir away from watercolors because it requires me to take my time and be patient. The further this sketch progressed i realized i needed colors pencils to gain greater detail. Overall it's an ok piece not my best by far but it gets the point across.

Mel (pic & sketch)

Melissa is a good friend of one of my co-workers Stephanie which means she comes in the store quite often.

Tony was a Scooby Doo Monster...

I never really left like i finished this sketch because i didn't have something interesting or exciting to do with the background. As imagined i was playing around with some photos that taken by someone else. I thought it would use what was already given me in the photo of Tony wrapping in bandages and transform him into a mummy. Who fun would it be to have him moved into the world of Scooby Doo and the Gang?

Can You Guess What This Says?

(borrowed my friend letrsis)

I can't sleep right now and the countdown to my vacation is begins in about 15 hours. I wanted to keep this blog kind of upbeat for the moment.

I have a habit of making friends that aren't even on the same continent as me. My friend Letrsis is a talented artist from Bangkok that i often look to for motivation. i wouldn't say that i borrow any ideas or theory about art from her. However viewing her work helps me to be more in tune with my emotions. I begin to center myself and create art as an expressionism artist. I enjoy the way in which she constructs her pieces because there is thought behind each line and every dot.

I just went looking at her website today and i found something that i had missed the first time around. The photo above is a coded message. I would be lying if i said i figured it out because i had to cheat and read other's comments. The words she wrote about her ex, i'm currently battling with as well. It's hard not to feel the sting of untimely ends to relationships. If you ever run across a piece that tells a tale about my personal life it's has partly to do with lertsis' work as well.

if you have time please visit her flickr site because it's worth it. http://www.flickr.com/photos/lertsis/

Never Date an Artist...

(lily Allen was crying)

That's my words of advice to anyone who's thought about doing so.

I opened my sliding door so i can allow the cool air to enter. I find myself doing something that i haven't done in some time, that's listen to the rain. It's a very humbling sensation to do so, because it helps me think. Staring out reflections in a puddle of yellow street lamp i find myself doing the same exact thing. Reflecting upon small moments in my mind. This past Sun i was able to steal a couple of moments from the movie Great Expectations as Pip asked an old lady does she feel his broken heart? Oddly enough i wondered the same exact thing as i worked in the past. Can people sense the emptiness in my voice and see tears mounting up in my eyes? The worst part is that i had to work through these emotions and pains. Next week i'm on vacation and more importantly this upcoming weekend i'm going to Richmond. I'm attempt to steal happiness and throw it in my bag.

Perhaps i need a muse as well. They are some what of a rarity for me at the moment. Nothing really seems to drive or push me to be as focused as i should be. I in the process of writing 2 poems but i can't seem to finish them. Some may say writers block or laziness but i'm not sure what it is.

(the next 2 pieces that i' plan on working on)

What did i do Monday??

What Did i do Monday


10am - 12pm
I had a coffee date with Sarah my emotional/spiritual advisor. It's good to talk to her about life and love in hopes that i might one day understand it all. She gave me some love life advice that i'm thinking about taking. Keyword being "thinking" about using because i'm not 100% sold on it yet.

12pm -3pm
i went home to visit my family. The bad thing is that i was originally suppose to be going there to get my MUCH needed tax return money but it wasn't there. Yet wasn't even properly submitted. The good thing is that i saw my niece and got to spend a little time with my sister plus my aunt and cousin came over as well.

3pm - 6pm
Nothing good was on tv so i found myself watching a talk shows that i don't' want regularly.

6pm -10pm something
Hung out with AJ at Cabarras which is actually a very cool restaurant. I didn't know that so many Old Navy people ended up working there. It was a reunion site. This all is just hear say of course but according to Mr. AJ a blonde curly haired hostess was eyeing me. Of course after that i got the vibe as well but i was attempting to play it cool until the end when i left. She wasn't by the door, oh well. I guess i can come up with 1 million plus reasons why i didn't act but they're just excuses.

10pm - until i passed out
i tried to stay up and watch the Spurs vs. Mavericks game, but like always i feel asleep. I need to be in an old people's home because i can't seem to stay up like i use to.

A Moment of Silence .. (this is for a friend that lost her mother this week)

Norfolk Drawing Group 42

I'm not exactly sure why i don't like painting night but i normally don't enjoy going out on that evening. Perhaps because i'm not a practicing painter in the same aspect as other artist are. This sketch that i constructed this past Tues night was all over the place. It started off as a pink/ red color pencil study but i lost focus most of the way through it. Which would explain why i attempted to use marker to pull it back in together. A lazy attempt at that to do so but it never budded lik the flower i wished it would be. I guess it's a sign that i need to work harder before re-appearing again. I can thank the schedule Gods for having me close the next 2 Tues nights in a row.

"Sean Let Down Your Hair" (pic & sketch)

I've recently taking a break from constructing any new drawings for "My Fun with Photos" project. Creatively i was having a hard time doing anything fun and refreshing with is important. I look at an artist like my friend Walt, who's blog i visit often. He's creative and bring out emotions in his caricature drawings. I was looking for those same qualities when i create one of these. It's only right that i go back to the drawing board and do the mirror test with my work. Line is very important in these black and white drawings. The thickness and directions all create power something that can be a lost art in a colorful world.
Our on going joke among the group is that Tabetha and Sean are two pretty people that just happened to meet each other. Currently due to the fact that Tabetha cut her hair, Sean now has the long flowing locks. In a fairy book role reversal tale, wouldn't it be interesting to watch Tabetha climb Sean's hair to "save him" in the castle tower?

"Hannah" (pic & sketch)

Honestly I've only met Hannah probably once through introduction. The curse that come with being a portrait artist is that you very rarely forget faces. I can murder someone's name and not go to jail but i don't forget what their face looks like.
I wanted to experiment with watercolors so i chose this picture because it was honest and genuine with emotional outburst. Quite often my friends beg for happy smiling pictures that capture time so perfectly but what about all the other moments in life. Hannah appears to be sad in this picture and that's what drew me to it. My artwork craves emotional substance. This picture is isn't complete and probably never will be. However it still manages to express the message i wished for it to.

"Mike: The King of Randomness (pic & sketch)"

Hail, Hail, the King of Random, Mike!! I've let him know that's he's random but he understands that. I'm re-reading a book that states some people jog their memory by rants and i believe this is the best explain of it. There's no structure or planing just verbal diarrhea.

In tribute to Mike i thought this should be a random blog.
I'm recently adding some friends that i use to went to high school with on facebook only to find out that they've changed. Most of them have either gained weight, had kids, gotten married, divorced or all of the above. I'm in no position to judge because i'm almost 100% bald now plus about 20 to 25 pounds heavier than my thin frame in high school. Speaking of Facebook, i'm beginning to hate the fact that i see other's adventurous updates because it makes me feel unproductive. I am in a small rut at the moment and i need to go somewhere new. Any place will be fine even if for a couple of days, months, or years. I remind myself daily Virginia is not my home!! My artwork is all over the place literally. I have yet to complete a drawing in some time but i have plenty of sketches laying around. Most of them are in half or almost finished stages but none are done. I watched Usual Suspects today and remembered how good a movie it is as well as American Psycho two nights ago. My new excuse no matter where i am is "i have some videotapes to return!" I realized today after marking off paid days in my 2009 planner that i'm not paid often enough. It's bad enough i don't use the planner but bills come for frequently than paychecks. I need a second job! My favorite quote that i borrowed from an very off-beat movie is "The key to have a good job is to find something you love because you'll never have to work the rest of your life." In the movie an engaged couple broke up because she did something sexual with a dog (won't go into great detail because you can use your imagination), both of which is sad and funny at the same time. Spoke with a girl i had a crush on this past week to realize that the flicker of interest that i saw in her eye she has for everyone. She often falls victim to the "foot in mouth disease". Lies are to hard to keep up with so i'll prefer to tell the truth when possible. I hate lairs and thieves. It's a shame that i can point out who is most likely to steal when they walk into Old Navy. It's like a horrible game show that i live thanks to my karma. I confronted someone yesterday and let them know that i noticed them. I was overbearing to the point where i wanted them to leave (so they left). I'm a lot of things but stupid isn't one of them.

Can Your Boyfriend Do T H I S ?

(this one of my former c0-workers Ronda)

I've heard more than one that my blogs were dark. I don't think they're always dark. Possibly a little grim from time to time but i feel it's better for me to be open here. I have plenty of friends and people i know who vent about each and every detail of life openly. This is my drama zone so when i turn off the computer i can be drama free.

ALMOST all the females that i know at this moment are full of drama.

"She Smiled at Me When She Said.." (pic & sketches)

(this is the orginial plus my 1st attempt at trying to squeeze it onto a paper. I drew this one to big)

(this also another quick sketch 1 of my many sketchbooks)
(all the many steps and directions i took to create more depth and detail)


This is my artistic disclaimer: Daphne is by no way connected to the message or statements enclosed. This is just a picture that i borrowed from one of her photos to express my own personal thoughts.


Everyone has a story and hopefully this will shed a little light on mine. I didn't create this to stir up feelings similar to the way you poke wood in the fire place. I just wanted to treat this pieces as a huge breathe that i was taking in that i was going to exhale. Once it was out then all would be said and done. I chose this picture because i've been involved with women in my past that may or may not have known how true my feelings and emotions were at the time. Typically you hear girls complain about guys playing and toying with their emotions, but this time it was a guy (which just so happened to be me).
For those of you who don't know Spanish at all the phrase "Te Quiero" means "i love you!" The usage of the words "i don't love you" rings true as she smile with a playful grin. Which i believe implies that she knows all is fair in love and war.

Since i have problems creating proper backgrounds i used words to help fill up the negative space. I wanted to do a time warp instead of creating something current with very little feelings. They come from a letter that i never gave, so instead of it setting around folded up i decided to use it. For those who want to know the exact details without killing your eyes the segment is:


I'm simply disappointed! Over all the conversations we had over the weeks i've known you, I was waiting to hear one phrase: "I'll try...," but that phrase was never uttered. I wasn't expecting you to change overnight or to magically try to become an angel. I just wanted you to say "Tommy, i'll try and make time for you!"

I originally created this to be part of The Renewal Show. The more wrapped up in the piece i became i realized that the subject matter and the show's theme didn't agree. With the final deadline approaching i decided to simply finish it. Perhaps this just wasn't my year to be part of that show.

Try Love??

(this photo is courtesy of Sarah R)

My friends have made it their personal mission to find me love. It seems that all my female friends know someone that knows someone that would be perfect for me. I could be wrong but the part that seems strange to me is that i have someone telling me what my taste are. "Oh Tommy, i saw the girl that would be perfect for you..." or "I have plenty of single friends that would be dying to meet you" are all phrases that i've heard over the past months. Not to say i do trust me friends with my personal life but not with my love life because i do. It's almost like shopping for a birthday gift for a person that you kind of, sort of know but not really. You never know what they like but you can only guess. For the record: i'm a lazy dater. I barely have enough energy to pick out clothes in the morning how do i expect to prepare for a relationship let alone a date.

"Teen Wolf" (pic & sketches)

(this is actually a 3 color sketch, that i wanted to do to limit myself from attempting to go to overboard)

I know it might have been a cheesy 80's movie, but i liked it. Of course the general rule of movies around that time were to have a picture dealing with growing pains. Whether it was a the topic of love, being different from others, wanting to be older, most of the movies around the time frame were fun loving. I like Teen Wolf not because he was a wolf but because he used his difference to his advantage and still was able to understand power can change people. On a funny side note the same quote from Spiderman was borrowed from Teen Wolf, : "With great power comes great responsibility."
This movie also reminds me of my friends from high school. Recently we haven't spoken much but generally around this time it was theme park time. Most of the rollercoaster rides now are equipped with photo sections and we use to do "the teen wolf." It's a pose that was taken from the dance scene in the movie were everyone raised their hands in the air as claws. I know that's silly but that's me.

"Jean: Hoping, Wishing, & Praying" (sketch & pic)

Kate, one of my co-workers say me on the beginning stages of drawing this picture and ask whom picture had i decided to steal this time. I don't like to think that I'm stealing pictures more or less reinventing them. Similar to what a program like photoshop does, with the way it enhances pictures. For the record, Jean is a friend of a friend, which almost makes her my friend..j/k In all seriousness, Jean is one of Sarah's roommates that I've chatted with on occasions. I find her interesting but not in the sense that i would go hang around her to pick her brain. As an portrait sketcher/artist i find people interesting overall so it's only fitting that i find the proper subject matter to draw. In theory the more interesting you or your photo is the more likely you are to be drawn.

Ps. there's so much more that i can do with this image that i've yet to begin to attempt to do.

Miles and Miles of Squares...

(this picture was taking with the help of a timer in my studio/lab perhaps one day it will become a drawing).

The song "Squares"plays over and over again my head as i listen to a song by the Beta Band. I never even heard of the Beta Band before watching the movie High Fidelity. In case you haven't seen it, it's a movie worth watching which combines relationship, searching for lost love, and find love all in one movie. I actually have the book on my most buy list but never got around to picking it up.
I read a term in a magazine today that rings very close to home. It had labeled just rapper artist as Eminem, Kid Kudi, and Kanye West "emo rappers." Recently Kanye West's last album which which dealt strictly with emotions and had none of the typical let's party attitude. That left me wondering am i an emo artist? Yes i strict deal with the subject matters of love and solitude. After i looked up the term, I don't know if i feel comfortable answering that question just yet.

What i like so much about this masquerade mask is allows people to hide their feelings. I know it's impossible for me to do so because i'm an artist. Which by default makes me an emotional being. I can't hide anything at all, because it's all written over my face. In the picture above am i happy, sad, or discontent? No one really knows unless i tell them. That's what i like having the ability to detach myself because the same thing can be said about my drawing. Could i have been talking on the phone with friend sharing a laugh or was i really pacing around my apartment on the verge of rubbing my bald head to no end?

Norfolk Drawing Group 41

What would Tues nights be without my favorite past time activity? Boring perhaps, but i don't have to view Tues night as another night to have my face glued in front of the tv. i've been drawing, sketching, and painting on those nights for more than a year now. I'm even more surprised by the fact that i've been blogging for the same amount of time.

Tues night the spot i occupied wasn't that great with little light, but you have to expect those things when you stroll in late. So i sat down with my color pencils and attempted to create something beautiful.