Sketchbook Sunday

Just a few quick doodles from the sketchbook this week.
New finished pieces coming soon!

From the deep

The day had been a success. The nets were full enough to last a week or more. A great ripple shuddered against the small craft. The sun was sinking below the horizon and suddenly things didn't feel right. The great monster broke the surface like a bolt of lightning and the only thing left to do was row.

oil on masonite w. digital, 12" x 12"

In the dark

Once in while you get the opportunity to see what it might have been like trying to be an artist in the days of old.  Wow! Here in Virginia many thousands of us lost power on friday night due to a storm with 80 mph winds. With temperatures nearing the 100 degree mark, Saturday was spent mostly in the studio trying to make the best of it. My studio does not have a skylight on north facing windows so it was a bit like working in a cave. Unlike Rubens or Caravaggio I did have the benefit of my trusty battery powered headlamp, lantern and a radio to assist but if you've ever tried painting like this  you know how difficult it is and must have been for those working by candle power alone. The  conditions they worked in were not like today and that makes the brilliance of there work even more astonishing. Next time you visit a museum , think about the conditions the artists were working in. It should make you appreciate the work a little bit more. Or even better, the next time your power goes out, get out the candles (safety first!) and paint. You'll see what they were missing and appreciate what you have even more.
 I am fascinated by how artists worked before electricity. I tried to find some information on how studios were lit B.E. I couldn't find very much but here are a couple of links.

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=200094

http://www.waldemar.tv/2010/12/the-art-of-darkness/

 I should also add that working while listening to the little radio was quite pleasant. I heard a great edition of The Prairie Home Companion with guest Arlo Guthrie and then a great show called Hot Jazz Saturday Night that was dedicated to  Red Nichols and the Five Pennies. I had never heard of them but they made the darkness more bearable. Have a listen!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJGZTF74Hzc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uocFYLNg4xE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFFw1o68AJ4

And now for something completely different..

Bless the great Ray Harryhausen. There are a few artists that have influenced the world of science fiction and fantasy art like no one before them.  Jason and the Argonauts. That's really all that needs to be said, right? From the harpies and Talos the colossus, to an army of skeletons and the hydra,  the artistry of the stop motion animation still makes me giggle with delight. It has been many years since my early attempts at sculpting but here's an attempt at a simple maquette. I'm working on a painting and instead of just making up the form and lighting I thought I'd try a little something different, for me anyway. An hour of playing around with sculpey and a few photos and there is plenty to be taken away for the painting.  It is a bit backwards, Starting the painting, then intermediate sketches, now a sculpture for reference? Whatever works. We'll see.  Sketch #3 is the only one done after photographing the maquette. There will be many more and this process gives me may ideas for the future. I should note this process was also influenced by seeing how James Gurney uses sculpted models as reference for some of his work. It was fun to revisit the 3rd dimension!
 By the way, sculpting is not as easy as Ray made it look! If you want to be simply amazed look at the works of Thomas Kuebler and Jordu Schell!

http://www.tskuebler.com/

http://schellstudio.com/

http://gurneyjourney.blogspot.com/2012/01/really-rough-maquettes.html

Among my collection of art books, this one is an absolute treasure. I get chills when I see his signature. I recommend this book to everyone!

Little Dragons

The pair of newborn green dragons had grown to 15 feet from tip to tail. One was obviously bigger but the little one loved to harass and chase. The falls provided them a safe place to spar and hunt the smaller creatures of the forest. Soon their wings would be strong enough to fly and then the real fun would begin!
 18" x 24", Oil on canvas/digital

The Battle of Acid Creek

From the archives. A true Gamma World adventure.

Travelling through the wastelands the mutant adventurers came across what looked like an ordinary stream. The first attempt to cross was met with the realization that the stream was highly corrosive to any metal, and we had a lot of metal. Suddenly a giant crustacean-like creature scuttled over the bank and attacked. Thanks to some accurate fire from the old flintlock rifles and the sting of the electro sword the monster was defeated and its body used to create a bridge to cross the foulness of the acid creek

Creature Double Feature

Tales from the back yard. Something resembling this little guy landed on a leaf a few inches from my face in the garden a couple of days ago. His head was shaped like an upside down saucer and looked like an alien helmet.

This sea dragon was inspired by the spikes of this little beauty that lines the edge of the woods out back. I'm not sure what type of plant it is but Yikes!