Sketch Challenge 3: part 1

I am passionate doing studies of the human face and figure because it is ever evolving. Within a span of one day a person can go through a gauntlet of emotions and feelings. This time i did something rare that i don't generally do. i allowed others to decide which my focus of the sketch challenge would be. Luckily they made the right decision and i began doing a study of african american male nudes. Being an african american male this is something that is near and dear to me. I feel often that we are devalued and begin to play into the stereotypes of others. Even now i fight those stereotypes.

 

 

Susan (sketch)

It is unquestionable that Susan is one of my work best friends. I say that because she reminds me so much of my girlfriend Cara, that it's scary. Especially since Sam has left she has filled in for her quite well. The term work girlfriends and boyfriends can or could be defined as someone that allows you to lean on or vice versa and together you keep each other upbeat and happy. Regardless of what's going on or you perform as a team together. Susan does that and constantly has me laughing
So why wouldn't i draw someone that i owe plenty to. She is my attempt to push my photo realism drawing a little bit further than i generally do. I'm some what pleased with the outcome. I could've done better but maybe next time.

Letting Go

This latest post isn't art related at all but life related. I need to take a moment to express my thoughts on my current job. At first i wanted to go off on a rant about some of the sly clever things occur while i'm there. I wanted to go talk about how all the managers at work with the except of me was invited to a fellow manager's St Patrick's Day party for the 2nd year in the row (because it was my weekend to close). I wanted to talk about how my boss passively aggressively spoke to me  about why the store was a mess when she walked into it Monday morning and how that should never happen again. But in all reality that would do no good. I believe that there are messages all around you and you can always chose to listen or not. My message came in the form of a movie i watched late Sun/Mon morning. It would be to easy to fill my heart with hate and lash out on the appropriate people but then what after that. I vented it but did it really accomplish anything at all? For so long i'm prided myself on carry anger and frustration within me. I've allowed it to consume me and it's to hard of a burden to hold. I was angry at my high school art teacher and the school's governor school for taking a look at my artwork and passing me up. i was angry at selection committees at shows for not noticing me. More importantly than anything else superficial i was mad at women in my life that passed me up. My goal going forward is to let go of all the anger and bitterness that i feel about everything.

Miguel & Frank Ocean (pic & sketch)

I'm not surprised that my girlfriend is in love with Miguel as well as Frank Ocean. In an attempt to finish up yet another sketch book i draw a pic pencil study of him.

I must admit this isn't my best sketch of Frank Ocean. For some odd reason he gives me fits attempting to draw him. I blame my gf for that but i'm not sure if it's the position of his skull, the shape of his skull or the bandanna that throws off my drawing. Still i must try 

London Vale (pic & sketch)

This is another fun Instagram story. I'm not sure how model London Vale found me on instagram but she did. She's a model/actress that takes amazing photos. Unfortunately for me my phone doesn't have the ability to take photos of screenshots for i would probably use more photos of my fellow instagramers. I extremely appreciative that i found a photo of her to draw and yet another surprise she liked the drawing. Liked it so much that she posted it on her instagram page as well. London was actually the first person to do so that week. The excitement of that experience just makes me want to draw more. Thank you again London! 

asin thottum (pic & sketch)

This is more about my love of Netflix than of love for Asin Thottum. Since my mom was nice enough to allow me to use her Netflix account i've been searching for movie and movie to watch. The genre vary from time to time but more recently i've found myself watching foreign revenge flicks. Especially the Korean ones but i was extremely weary of watching one from India. My complete lack on knowledge of the topic of them making revenge flicks. All i knew of their movies were b movie action movies, dance sequence driven movies and dramas. I never imagined they would have a love that i would fall in love with. I was shocked and surprised that when i watched Ghanjini. It was a mixture of all things that i enjoy about movies. It have a extremely strong love plot, action and as you could imagine dancing. But they all were blending so well together i didn't mind some of the negative things that would bother me. Equally important Asin's  character had such a strong presents in her role i couldn't help but fall in love with her, which in turn translated to this drawing. 

Triple H (pic & sketch)

I was asked for one of the people who follow me on Instagram to draw Triple H. My first and immediate thought was sure why not. I have a deep appreciation for Triple H as well as wrestling. This is a quick study done of him using a pen and highlighters. Who thought i would use highlighters in an art piece?

Lance Armstrong: Livin' the Lie (pic & sketch)

It's been a while since i've did anything pop art related. I really haven't been motivated in do anything pop related. Most recently the news was flooded with Lance Armstrong confession. After years of being accused of "doping" he finally came clean. The shocking part isn't really the way he did it on national tv but his reasoning for doing so. Lance told Oprah that he lied so much that he began to believe it was the truth. i find that state of mind interesting. Especially because people so often lie to myself. As expected all media outlets had a huge backlash against him. He lost sponsorship as well as had his tour de france accomplishments erased from the record books.

michelle jenneke (pic & sketch)

I'm not sure how i stumbled on to Michelle Jenneke especially since the craze about her has died down. But honestly i'm glad i did, she was one of many different stories that surfaced during last years Olympics. Michelle was one of those "it girl/boy" stories. Her pre hurdle warm up and bouncing rhythmically back and forth found it's way onto my tumblr site. She's not shockingly beautiful but she had something special about her that makes her cute. Unfortunately she didn't win gold but she her charm still hasn't warn off.

Update: so i'm not sure how this happened but i posted this drawing on Instragram and Michelle actually found the drawing. She liked it so much she commented back and reposted it on her Instagram and Facebook page. It was a real honor for me because it was the 2nd time in a week i actually got my artwork noticed.

Drive is one of those movies that some people love while other's hate. I enjoyed it only after thinking about it for a second time. I enjoyed the way the music played a large role in telling the story along with Ryan's calm demeanor. It's no great mystery that i like hitman stories. I own and have watched countless movies solider of fortune with a code of honor. I try to keep my own code as much as possible. Therefor this drawing as a special meaning to me. 

Mr. 80: Jerry Rice

This is a confession about football, but back in the day i was a san franciso 49er fan. Sad to say since they got rid of Joe Montana, Steve Young and then Jerry Rice i stopped caring about football that much until recently. Jerry Rice was one of those greatest wide receivers of all-time. Not just saying it so but because the record books say so as well. Plus what matters most of all he was chosen by nfl films as #1 greatest player of all time. As i stated he was the only football jersey that i've ever owned. 

Trey Songz (photo & drawing)

Yet again, i allowed my friends/co-workers to influence my drawings. My co worker's were talking about r&b singer, Trey Songz. I'm one of a few guys that work there so the conversations drifted to how attractive he is and how they really wanted to attend his concert. I'm not sure how exactly it came about but somewhere between my sketch challenges and the DeMarcus Ware piece i began this sketch. I haven't done a graphite/pencil sketch in some time and i felt i needed the practice.

DeMarcus Ware Waits!! (2013)

This is one of my  finish complete finished drawings of the new year. This piece came about when i was drawing RG3. My girlfriend asked me to why i didn't draw (her) any Dallas Cowboys greats. I took this as a small challenge. I wanted to progressively do something that was a little more out of the box than my last one. Ultimately what i sketched for the concept and my final product were to totally different things. I struggled with the concept of what to have in the background almost as much as i struggled to get the helmet just right. This drawing was largely influenced by the the comic book panels as well as the video game Street Fighter IV ink drawings. Maybe with my next drawing i will push the concept design a little more.

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