Lady Gaga & Tyler Swift

These are some of the photos that i used to draw for the Festival. I'm not in the same realm as your theme park/boardwalk artist but hey i try.

Searching for a Zen moment

I've been beaten and overcome with the feeling of emptiness over the past couple of months. I know the stem of it all and it has to deal with work. The constant pushing and pulling has become to much for me to handle. This would explain why i struggled to attend this years Western Branch Cultural Art Festival. I was almost the 24 hr before i decided that i was going to commit to it. Even still i didn't know what i was going to do or show. Just weeks before that moment i had tossed all my old drawing and sketch references out. They were tattered and torn so no need no holding onto bad artwork. The day the festival before i sat in Panera and draw for hours. I ended up spending the better part of 6 hours attempting to get my artwork together. It wasn't that it all was so hard but more that i felt the freedom that i don't get on my 9 to 5 (which isn't a 9 to 5 at all more like a 9 to 9). I had been warned the week of the event that there was a committee of teachers that wanted some changes done this year. Changes to a system that i've spent more than a decade perfecting with my presentations. It went from choosing one student to getting them all correlate and taught to draw within in 15 mins. Now this is elementary school students that we are referring too.. I did what they wanted, was it my best "no". I also have reservations if i'll do it again that way. The point of the entry wasn't to talk about my trails and tribulations as art wanting to leave his 9 to 5 behind. It was to share an interesting conversation that i had with a fellow artist. Mr. Nicholas is a master Chinese brush painter. This year we both agreed that we were having problems getting ourselves up for this year's fair. He told me about an demonstration that he did for some culture students on the topic of Zen. The professor told the students that the brush painter should enter a state of nothingness in order to create a good piece. A state of nothingness? I had to agree with him there is a state but nothingness isn't it. It's a state of emotional connection for me. When i turn my music on and i force my mind, energy on being creative it just happens. Sometimes it turns out well other times simply horrible but it turns out. I'm not sure where the energy comes from but it's buried deep down inside of me. The angry, frustration, bitterness, happiness, and the content all spill out at some time or another while i'm drawing or painting. The only thing i can compare to a Zen moment is driving. When you take the same path for ages and ages your mind wanders while you're behind the wheel. Sadly to say i know my mind does and i don't even have to be texting or playing with my ipod for that to happen.

Pencil test..1

As much as i love my friend Mike, he has been killing me over the past couple of weeks/months. 2 months ago, he finally gave me his Christmas gift. Anyone that knows me, knows that i'm extremely humble. I'm not use to taking credit because credit doesn't excite me. The same logic applies to gifts. I'm not one to rush to open any package or gift because i would rather give than receive. So i'm horrible at accepting gifts. Michael brought me a set of artist pencils that literally took me almost 3 months to unwrap. Almost ever text that he's sent me over the time has referred back to the pencils that i never opened. Feeling a little guilty i began to practice again. My ability to make master pieces with pencil have greatly declined but i still wanted to know if i still had "it". Therefor last week i tested myself while out, and it wasn't to bad for a sketch

Scarlet JO (pic & sketch)

I think back to the moment that i realized how cute she was. I want to say it was Lost in Translation, and i remember finishing the movie simply enjoying the moment. Perhaps it was her blue eyes, button nose, her pouty lips or a combinations of them all but she rose on my celebrate crush list.

the funny thing about this sketch is yet another one i began at Panera. For the record, i don't draw in public to drum up business, to have others in awe or staring over my shoulder. I draw in public because it's a neutral place for me to create. I don't to think about turning the tv channel, falling asleep on the couch, or wonder in the mini studio/dining room is properly lit. I guess since i manage to go there so often i'm somewhat of a regular which means i know some of the staff by face. One of the older ladies that works there that does the ins and outs of the dining area actually told me this was the best sketch she's seen me do. Not sure if it was the best, but i'll take this complaint anyways.

Norfolk Drawing Group # 85

It was Tues the first of my mid-week weekend (back to back days off) and i hadn't gone to drawing in well over 1 month. I felt worst knowing that and heading out than actually drawing. Just to magnify how my day was going i spent 15 mins waiting for a drawbridge opening before i could get there. Honestly i'm glad i came out. I laughed more than i had in a while and it was good to spend time with very crafty artist.

the model moved therefor i didn't want to mess up the drawing above, so why not sketch those around me?

The uninspirable

this photo sums up exactly how i feel. I'm to lazy and tired quite often to draw. Which would explain why the idea of me spending 1 hours a day sketching has gone out the window. The real unexplainable part is how do i get up enough energy to go to work??