Norfolk Drawing Group # 84

I'm not sure why but i didn't bring my paints this past Tues night. I was in such a hurry to get out the door on the way to work that it was one of those things i forgot about. So slightly jealous of my artist who were drawing with their charcoals, pencils, and pens that i brought my own.
Regardless of how low my funds were running i truly needed to go out to draw that evening. My job has been beating down upon me and sucking the spiritual happiness out of me to the point that i truly didn't want to do anything fun or positive. But there i was among friends and creative minds feeling at home again. I noticed that i've drawn the model before in one of these session but i'm not sure which one. So throughout the night allowed the stress to melt away and i feel my drawings got better and better. There were others' works that shined brighter than my own and that's the continuous progress i strive for.

True words spoken in an interlude

this is one of my favorite quotes for an album that i have. It shows that the drive and determination that most creative people. i won't limit it just to artist and musicians because it's greater than that.

Norfolk Drawing Group #83

My fellow artist/painters have been challenging me for some time to paint. "Tommy bring your oils or acrylics and just paint!" Bernard told me eagerly on more than one occassion. I actually planned on doing so until a last minute schedule change at work prevented me from doing so. On a positive note i switched shifts with another co-workers so i could come out this past Tues night to paint. I didn't bring canvases like my fellow artist i simply had a large pad of canvas paper that was almost empty. Most artist will tell you that canvas paper is pretty much good for nothing at all. Yes it's easy to store but no real masterpieces are done on canvas paper. Just in case you didn't believe that the canvas paper was bad enough, i also brought off-brand acrylic paint. For those of you know don't know any acrylic paint that comes in small tubes and have a greater water to acrylic paint ratio isn't good for anything except washes.

So there i was with my paints, drawing easel and ready to work. Honestly i'm not completely devastated by what i created. Yes it's extremely loose something i can't get with my pencil work but it's expressive. Perhaps the amount of layers of paint will show the dissatisfaction i felt throughout that day. The last drawing i did because my fellow artists' pencil and marker works made me a little homesick. Maybe i should've stuck with the paints?!

Red Dawn ( pic & sketch)

It's not great surprise to anyone that i frequent Panera more than i should. Almost to the point where the management team asks me what am i drawing today as well as the cashiers knows what i'm there to do. It's my calm peaceful lake that i can sit beside and simply relax. I'm not at home falling into the couch of doom and finding everything except what i need to be doing at that moment. So on a good week i'm there at least 2 times drawing, writing and reflecting. So eager to draw something more meaningful i took this picture with me and did my best attempt at making it look like something.

Inside the Cereal Box

This cool idea i got from one of those guy that paints at the drawing group i attend. One night he was just using his oil paints on cardboard. Just plain everyday shipping cardboard and to me at least that seemed cool. Other ideas of places that i've gone to and how artist have turned their cardboard boxes into artwork. The best example would be California Pizza Kitchen. The way the boxes are mounted and displayed it doesn't seem like kids scribbling any more. It's legit artwork! I had just finished a box of cereal and i thought what better time than now to paint on it. Worst case scenario if it was so God awful i could just say i was practicing but it actually almost turned out well. At the time i was finishing i wasn't sure if i was going to save it or use it for a Valentine's Day package. Just so happened that it all came together.

I really didn't get a chance to use oils on this one it was basically all acrylic and a little marker work.

'Bullsh** & Bracelets'

Valetine's Day has come and gone and i got a little chance to put my own little twist on some pieces to bring them to life just a little.

The title of this piece comes for an inside joke that i'll share with you. We all have people who push buttons in our lives. That one person that seems to know how to tease you in the same manner that kids tease each other. My friend Cara is in that similar situation. For a while now she has claimed that she wanted to be Wonderwoman because those magical bracelets could deflect bullets. Cara also told me that she could see through the drama and lies of her past. The most encouraging part was that even though you couldn't see her bracelets they were there. So after years of believing lies and listening to fabrications she had finally escaped.

When i saw this magnetic at a local comic book shop i knew it was for her. i also knew that i could put my own small twist on it all to conform to her. The tricky part because i'm always looking for some small degree of difficulty would be using 2 canvases. For shipping purposes mainly but also for storing purposes. A long oddly shaped canvas doesn't quite fit in with everything else when pulled off the wall. I did the initial sketch in pencil and acrylic then went over that with oil. I wish i would've gotten it mailed sooner but the dry time on oil isn't one of my favorite parts.

***This is my personal disclaimer. i'm not a painter nor have i ever claimed to be one. This is an attempt at painting something special. ****

Happy to be S.A.D (Single Awareness Day)

So today is Valentine's Day yet again and i'm confronted with my own feelings. Honestly i don't like this holiday and i haven't for a very long time. I dislike this holiday almost as much as i can't stand romantic movies. I don't hate romantic movies but it has become the poor man's version of HOPE. Everyone knows that hope is a danger thing!

Hey if stand outside her window and hold a radio over your head because eventually she's come. Or if you confuse your love for her because you've been friends forever, she'll see you've always been there. Sorry, life isn't like that at all. Maybe i should work thru those emotions in another piece of artwork.

Truly what i dislike the most is the romance and magic that use to be present all the time is gone. I'm not that guy any more that would buy just because gifts or write poetry at a drop of a hat. It hurt to think who i use to be a really creative romantic guy and know that i can't be that person once again. So i turned off the romantic switch because the energy that flows to it is broken. It almost as sad as the fact that i'm in a relationship. Trust me even though i'm in a relationship, it's a long distance one and doesn't have the same feeling as the typical ones.

Jen A.

It's hard to believe that i've known Jen A. for a little more than a year on a personal level. After hearing someons personal story i believe you gain a greater understanding for who they are. You also gain a deeper level of respect for what they've been thru. Even though for the most part i'm very tight lipped about my own life. I learned a great deal from Jen. Some was positive and negative but i listen to others trying to figure how if i was put in the same situations what i could do better. I pray and hope that Jen finds her way and the happiness she deserves.

Everyday Struggle

At work today, i bumped into a few artist that i went to school with. The last time i spoke with her, she was preparing to get ready for graduate program in fine arts. The same professors that allowed her to graduate with honors also told her she didn't have what it takes to be an artist. In not so many words they gave her the verbal conversation of having more qualified candidates than her. As she said it i felt the sting of truth that we all feel. It's hurts to hear you don't have what it takes. That would be a large part of the reason why i didn't enter shows/exhibitions or take my work gallery to gallery. It's painful to hear the words "no" over and over again and have the impression that you're going to try once again. So even on a Valentines Day Saturday night weekend and others are out having dinner with friends or loved ones, i'm be sketching, drawing, and painting to make myself better.

i don't want to....

sadly to say i'm not in the mood to write, draw or read a book. I just simply wish to be involved with myself for a while.

you can call me al

of all the old video i had to recall.. this one popped into my mind while watching a basketball game.