Norfolk Drawing Group 106

 I from time to time go through spells when i unable to go to the draw with my friends. I feel bad because i deserve and emotionally i need those uplifting moments to draw. This was a better night for me artistically than i expected but these are some of the drawings. Hopefully going forward i can make it out when out worrying about the what ifs.

30 Sketch Challenge

This Challenge came up because a friend pointed out to me something i already know. I struggle with time to time with the human figure. I also struggle with proportions more than anything else. So during this normally crazy holiday season in which i feel drained with work. I began this challenge. I still have 10 days left but these are some of my better drawing. Honestly at this moment i'm proud of what i've done. 

Robert Griffin III (pen & ink)

This piece came about as i was suppose to draw it for my mother as a birthday gift. Somewhere along the way this piece grew out of that original idea and became something else. I began this drawing at Panera and oddly enough one of the manager there is a huge Redskins fan. We talked sometime about The Redskins and he honestly encouraged me to finish the piece. I go there about once a week but he would ask how the piece was coming along. i felt motivated to finish it and that's something that i can't say i felt in some time. 

Norfolk Drawing Group: 105

After a week off i made my way out to the group. I hate coming to draw late but that day i worked 10 to 7. Somehow i never seem to make it out of there on time because something happens. I had extra work to do, the taking over manager is late, etc etc.
 I wish these drawings could be better and i could've focused more but my mind was all over the place. Maybe next time.

Some (Old) Old Navy Friends

this is one of my friends Josh. I actually miss him

Daphne was another one of my good friends from the old days. She generally takes great pictures so i thought i would attempt to draw it

norfolk drawing group #104

Surprisingly i went 2 sessions in a row. This was a better night for the most part. I can say this is one of the saddest models that i ever had model for us. I can't put my finger on it but i could feel her sadness. As an artist you can kind of sense those things. Even though we never spoke my heart goes out to her!

norfolk drawing group #103

It was kind of an off night but this is best that i could. Just shows how rushy i've been after months of missing out

friends on Tumblr

I spent a good drawing portraits and i enjoy/cherish drawing new people. Quite often i find pictures that are stand out on their. These pictures aren't run of the mill type of photos due to the person or the story i believe they can tell. These are some of the pictures that i drew of some the people that i follow on tumblr

 This is Nina, who is an artist as well. She doesn't post any of her work but i wish she would sometime. 

this is Courtney. Honestly this is one of the best stories that i've heard. Her mom and friend were opening talking about sex and as a teenagers i can imagine how embarrassing to be part of the conversation that it makes someone. Even now i can think how mortifying that experience can be.

It's been to Long

I haven't posted anything but i allowed myself to become consumed with work. Work has been nothing but a mountain of stress that i continue to climb with the idea that things will get better. Honestly they will and hope is something that i never lose sight of. So for this day forward i will continue to draw and become a better blogger.
Honor & Respect-
tommy

Dianna

my friend Dianna has been asking for me for some time to create a tattoo for her. She had a hip tattoo that she was less than thrilled about because over the years it's lost it's original meaning. So over time i have been in a state of lull as i attempted to find something that would have meaning for her. I don't generally like to create works for others unless they have some sort of meaning towards them as well as myself. I'm not one of those artist who does work just for the paycheck.  Originally i attempted to draw her a stargazer flower that would cover up the old tattoo but for some reason they just weren't working out right. The colors that i was attempting to duplicate as well as attempting to complete my 30 day challenge weren't the greatest of combinations. 

This week after a little pushing i got a reminder that i should finally get serious about creating one. So i took a couple of elements that should mean a lot to her on a personal level. Dianna eventually left Old Navy and moved  family back to Florida to be closer to home. That hopefully would explain the state of  Florida design.In moving back for whatever reason things in the end just didn't work out between her and her husband. The sad part is that it most married women that I've encountered at Old Navy this has happened to as well. Like most women  in that situation, she moved on not just for the kids but for herself as well. That is a caterpillar state that allowed her to become a butterfly. Growing is about learning more about yourself and becoming the best version of yourself that you can become. I relate this metamorphoses to most women's journey in this situation even though it might be relate able to everyones' path.  Finally i put 3 hearts in one of the wings to symbolize her 3 children. I'm not sure if this is what she set out for but this is what i envisioned. 

30 Day Challenge Final Report

So the 30 Day Challenge is over and i didn't fill a complete sketchbook. My goal was to completely fill both front and back of a book. For a sec there, i believed that i bite off more than i could chew. That it wasn't possible to be done because of being on vacation for 12 days, being burnt out/frustrated due to work and ultimately not motivated on my days off. Instead i believe i grew as an artist. I have very few sketches that i can say are awful. I learned to blend and use different mediums when i felt my drawings were failing. Therefor in the not to far future i can say that i would do it again. Maybe not in the mist of a vacation or out of control work week but still very soon. 

30 Day Challenge Vol. 2

30 Day Challenge Update Vol. 1

tattoo for a friend

Hope, is one of the ladies that i work with at Old Navy. She has been asked me to draw a tattoo for her. She is also extremely passionate about her love of Jesus. Hope has been bugging me on and off again to come up with an original sketch for a tattoo that she wants. She wanted something that shows her deep rooted faith in Christ.
Sad to say i don't go to church at all or nearly enough any more. Still i created this piece with plenty of symbolism that i will explain. From the trunk of a tree to the longest root the overall design is in the shape of a cross. I also have the roots spell out the word Christ. The roots have a jagged rendering to symbolize the cross of thrones worn on Jesus' head the day he was crucified. It's just a sketch, i thought about drawing another 1 or 2 but i'm not busy with my sketch challenge at the moment.