new sketchbook

[Michaelsama]

This will be the start of hopefully a great effort forward on my part. :mod:
I'm going to just post what I've been working on this year. No point in looking at my previous works because if I'd kept up with my art I would still be where I was. I made a breakthrough last semester and I lost it somehow. But there is always constant chance for growth in art. Well, here goes nothing.

[Michaelsama]

So here's just a lil something to break the ice. I don't actually have any art classes this semester but I've taken soo many at this point that I'm having to transition into the digital realm in order to learn some new techniques, that's not to say that I'm perfect at traditional artwork either.
I'm attempting to scan some of these pics out of a hardbound sketchbook so that's why some might be cut off.

[Michaelsama]

So I've been working with the Wacom tablet in Photoshop and whatever other program I can and I'm having some issues. Of course I'm going to go through the forums and see what I can do to fix my issues. But right now I'll just show you what I've been up to.

In this piece I created a total of five layers. I was only trying to do a value study. I drew the contour lines on one layer and then I created a layer for the individual mid-tones from dark gray to light gray. The only way that I can figure to add shade without having the color overlay my lines is to use opacity. But, I'm pretty sure that's not what opacity was intended for. I've tried messing around by switching the order of the layers or creating a layer mask, but I just can't get the hold of it. Any suggestions?

(I fully acknowledged that I sucked at this point, I posted this as a desperate plea for help, lol)

[Michaelsama]

Here is another just pencil shading study that I did over the Thanksgiving break. I would like some direction or corrections on how I can improve. I've been told that I shade very light, but I just like the way the light shading looks, it's not that I'm avoiding dark shading. Anyways, here it is.

[Michaelsama]

So tonight I was trying to develop some sort of futuristic soldier. It wasn't
working. Some guys from my concept club gave some great suggestions and the guy leaping forward above is the resultant of my change of though. I've already gone through these process's so many times before, but now because I've been trying so hard, my work is becoming sketchy and flat. I need to enjoy my work and just let it flow naturally again. Also, I'm still really trying to grasp drawing with the wacom tablet, soo, somewhat pushy.

[Michaelsama]

Soo, I've strictly drawn earth or fantasy based creatures, but I've never drawn an alien. So, here's another first from me.

[Michaelsama]

Over the past year I've been working in all sorts of different mediums. It's time I share the goods! Or the bads, lol.

[Michaelsama]

:steph:
Trying to figure out how all these would look best up here!

[Michaelsama]

Well,
I really want to upload more pics, but I'm having security issues.... :wtf:

[Michaelsama]

Let's try a different drawing for now.

In order,
1. Drew a friend of mine in class.
2. Myself from a picture
3. " "
4. Myself using a mirror.

[Jamie Romoser]

just keep studying try and do a study everyday
if you dont already look up Bridgemen or Loomis on google think theres some free pdf books of theres really good for studying figure drawing/anatomy
looking forward to seeing how you progress
have a good one
till next time
-Jamie

[Michaelsama]

So, as I'm going through I realize I have more than I thought. Then again I should have been updating sooner than the 5 week intro course for the Art Department!!!!

[Michaelsama]

I feel like things are starting to head in the right direction. I have an interview soon and the future is as unpredictable as ever, in a good way. I'll either end up in Japan or do whatever it takes to enroll at The Art Department. Either way, stress is dissolving.

[Michaelsama]

So,
Been workin on my own personal projects and trying to graduate. There are so many things I would like to do and even more things that I 'have' to do. I'm really looking forward to a change of pace. God willing.

That being said, at least I can update here. OH!
I'm also working on a website!!!!!

www.thewanderingartist.info

Check it out, hooray :teeth:

[Michaelsama]

Hey,
So, I've been working on a piece for my portfolio and personal project for the past 3 weeks. I'm stoked because it's looking great, so, I want to do a before an after comparison. I flatten the image and shrink it down to 72 dpi for easy upload and close, w/o saving (key words).

I open up the file again later, it's still flattened and @ 72 dpi. At no point did I save, and the odd thing was, when I closed photoshop I didn't get the usual pop-up asking if I wanted to save my work. So, I'm sick over the whole thing because it's one of only a handful of successful landscape paintings that I've done. Life... you are a cruel one sometimes. Oh, and the cable company found out about my free cable and cut it. So, I guess Karma is on the darker side for now. Also, my external hard drive failed, so, massive loss of awesome content from all over that I most likely will never have again.

But, as always, I must continue in the face of disaster!!!! :yayca:

[Michaelsama]

So,
More artistic disaster. I've lost every back up of my demo reel that I had. Everything from failing motherboards to dying external hard drives, you name it, it's happened. So, even if you are crazy cautious, you can still lose it all. Sometimes it's just like.... :wtf:

But,
What does that mean for me? Well, I'm a huge believer in signs so I'm supposed to take that month or so over the summer before the next Siggraph and make a reel that's a million times better!

Also, I'm going to start posting more of what I want in this sketchbook instead of what I think other people want to see. Time for you to see my true sketches!

[Michaelsama]

I do my best sketches in the middle of doing something really important, like paying attention in class for example.

Anyways, I was accepted into TAD, *WOOT*! Congrats to everyone else that made it as well. Greatness is inevitable!

[Michaelsama]

So,
I'm always trying to plan out when to post next and I figure I'll be way too distracted after tonight and the next few days. So, here is my post just for you. Happy St. Patricks day! :hatsoff:

Even Warriors can get grumpy!

[Michaelsama]

So,
Not too long til graduation now. I get reminded every day by every person that asks me about it and also about the job search. A million different things could happen. I won't hear about results from my interview until the middle of April. I'm on eggshells... So why wouldn't I post an update!? O.O

[Michaelsama]

Why Not 2!!!!

[Michaelsama]

Hooray!
So, Today I have 500 views of my sketchbook! Thanks so much everyone for checking out my art!!!!!:steph:

[Michaelsama]

So,
I've been working on an artbook project for awhile and I'm just stuck on one of the pages. Primarily because the color approach is driving me crazy and I want to change up the whole thing. But, I'm over a week into it already so I just need to finish it... But I can't! All I want to do is make new things! Like this light study I did tonight, real quick, because I wanted to.

[Michaelsama]

Time to ring in this holiday with... you guessed it... A SKETCH!:anime:
Happy Easter Everyone.

[Michaelsama]

Hey,
This week I got some potentially devastating news so I've been lacking in the motivation department. But, I have so much work that I need to post! I need to stay positive.
P.S.
If anyone can suggest a better way to my images up here, I'd appreciate it. My scanner is fine, it's just that my sketchbook has some weird dimensions so it's really difficult to get a good scan. These camera shots will have to work for now!

[Michaelsama]

If not for my passionate art study buddies like Kev and Andy I don't know how often I'd get out to do some actual life study. I know how important it is so I always try to find some time during the day, even if it's fifteen minutes, to bust something out.

- Also, waiting to hear back about a job is crazy stressful. I've been through an interviewing and waiting period for this job for 7 months. Being active on CA is really one of the more productive distractions I have.

[Michaelsama]

Next week is my last week of school... Possibly for the rest of my life. So your probly thinking, why the hell aren't you finishing your finals work instead of posting here. That answer should be obvious. This will help land me an art job over a degree.

Realistically in the industries that we are trying to enter into, unless you have work to show, who is going to hire you? You can have all the qualifications in the world, but unless you have something worth a damn to show, what's it going to matter? Maybe I'm being a pessimist. I acknowledge that I think way too much. It's hard not to when you have bills to pay!

Down below, I drew my buddies motorcycle helmet on a chair at a coffee shop. Below that, I tried drawing a tree at night lit up by the light from a camp fire... koombayah.

[Michaelsama]

So,
I just graduated and life is tasting pretty sweet. But it's that all to familiar feeling that things are going way too good and I need to keep myself in check so I won't be shocked when things begin crashing and burning! Not trying to be pessimistic, but I've gone pretty far before just to lose everything. I'm sure others can relate. But anyways, it's more important for me to keep up my progress than ever, because now it's what will put food on the table. Pretty crazy thought! An awesome thought, but crazy! :scribble:

[Michaelsama]

Hey CA,
I recently had some deaths in the family and it totally threw me out of wack. I've been working on a piece but it's going to take me a long time to finish it. The day after I found out about everything I got a call from Jason Manley for TAD. I probably sounded like a total buffoon because I was stumbling on my words and not making any sense at all. He can absolutely relate though, dealing with everything he's gone through. Anyways, these bumps in the road will some day even out.

[Ivan Turcin]

This is a good start. As you are working from imagination and drawing your favorite characters, it would also be a good thing to spend more time studying anatomy. It's a must for everything related to art.
You have potential, keep it up.

[Michaelsama]

Last week my cousin Tom and I started this picture of my grandfather together. We thought it would be a great way to honor him. Plus, I've only met my cousin one other time in my life and this was a really interesting way to get to know one another. The notes in the corner pretty much describe how the day went. Also, we were drinking heavily when we started this piece, lol. Trying to remember everything that had happened.

[Michaelsama]

So,
Mostly settled here in Japan. Things are crazy for sure, life is an absolute mystery. I will say this, don't paint people you know unless you have their permission to post online, otherwise you'll end up like me with decent content and no legal way to post it. :dur:

Also, have yet to get my scanner up and running over here. But in the meantime I do have some photos of Japan to share if interested.

http://awanderingartist.wordpress.com/

Here's to getting back into it!

[Michaelsama]

So,
I figured living in Japan would supply me with the motivation I needed to create great artwork. How very specific our needs can be for motivation.

I highly suggest to anyone who thinks an absolute life altering change is necessary for a breakthrough to slightly reconsider. Define what makes you happy and accommodate it into your life. Even if you "think" you've found what makes you happy, be 100% sure, and "know" instead.

Granted, I'm comfortable enough, but true inspiration takes more. Then again, I'm somewhat out of my mind, so my views may differ greatly from yours.

Also, the subject matter may also be a reason for my lack of speed in my latest work. These are portraits of local people I know here in Japan.

[Michaelsama]

Hey sketchadoo's,
So, shortly here I'll be entering into the world of oil painting. I'm very stoked to get started. But, I just like sketchin for the most part. So tonight I did a sort of speed painting exercise. The first I drew without erasing, period. I limited myself to two brushes. I just wanted to get something out of my head.

This worked really well because the next I was much more comfortable with and even though it took a bit more time to set up the angle and everything I wasn't stressing over it. All in all, I just enjoyed sketchin tonight.

[Michaelsama]

Despite the fact that I have some self destructive tendencies, I refuse to give up on art. I've been sketchin alot in my little art book, but I've been too lazy to get set up with a scanner over here yet. Anyways, just busted out this work because I need to further study the back muscles for a piece I'm workin on.

[Michaelsama]

Dear Landscapes,
I hate you! Why are you so dang difficult? I need to do a landscape per day or something, but only spend like 15 min or so on each, just to pump some work out. I worked on this piece until the battery died on my laptop... well, the 20% warning came up at least.
I did this painting on location at a place called kanondake. It was absolutely gorgeous.

[Michaelsama]

Time is flying!
So I had my first art meet with a group of highly esteemed Japanese oil painters. We planned out the rest of our sketch meets. Next one is going to be during a Fall Colors festival! I just got set up with all my oils and whatnot. It sucks having to reinvest in equipment I already own back in the states, but as you all know, it will definitely be worth it. It's an absolute nightmare figuring out how to get this ol' Japanese scanner to work. I literally have to install a virtual emulator to use the scanner because it's incompatible with friggan windows 7. All else fails I will resort to a camera. Anyways, I figure I might as well post something just to rub it in your face that I'm sketching and your not, haha. Now take that anger and draw something bad ass!

These are some simple loomis sketches.

[Michaelsama]

So,
I've been working on getting this Japanese scanner working with Windows 7, but no matter what I do, I can't get it to work. I know exactly how to, but I really don't want to spend the time to do it. I would much rather be drawing. Also, I could buy a compatible scanner, but I'm stingy these days do to those evil evil college loans. So, here are the sketches I have been updating. Sorry for the crappy camera work. I need to get some better light for this stuff as well.

[Michaelsama]

Just sketching traditionally in my free time while working on my digital stuff. I'm still really loving the ball point pen feel. I missed out on the last CA workshop in Texas because of my damned wisdom teeth. I really wanted to go to the Amsterdam one, but I'm just too poor. At least I can still invest in the tutorials or online classes here though.

[Michaelsama]

This week I've been really sick...
I read through some tutorials and I put in some hard work on my large scale project which I hope to unveil here on CA in December if all goes according to plan. But, here's a lame post for this week.

[Michaelsama]

I took some sick leave this past week and used the time to do some various studies. I actually sketched a ridiculous amount, but I don't think I'll post it all, simply because I have various sketchbooks at this point and it's a real pain!

[CRYPT]

keep up whit studies and remamber practise makes good

[Michaelsama]

So,
As always I've bitten off more than I can chew. I'm working on more projects than I have the time for and I'm honestly wondering when I'm going to get caught up. I'm working on an oil painting for the art league here, a portrait for my folks, and all of my personal projects; which God willing will someday see the light of day. My only question is, when am I going to start getting paid for art again? That's the one I need to figure out to salvage my direction in life.

[Michaelsama]

Dude...
I made a steam punk pinnochio!

I'm still working on my other paintings, but I busted this out for fun.

[Michaelsama]

So,
Maybe I'm cheating, you tell me, but I've even seen pro's do this on CA so I'll do it too. I was looking for some subject matter for a post this week and I figured I'll kill two birds with one stone and participate in a weekly sketch thing as well as use it as a post for my sketchbook. Sue me!

[Michaelsama]

I've finally finished the portrait for my parents. I used a special printing company that uses and acrylic printer and stretched canvas. Almost as good as traditional. Anyways, spending a bunch of time back home trying to line up work to get out of Japan. I want to work in the industry again more than ever. I just need to find a position that will allow me to have a life as well as pay my bills.

[Michaelsama]

I got pretty sick while I traveled home. My life is sort of in shambles at the moment. It will continue to be until I can devote my life to art I think. Anyways, I know it takes guts to pursue your dreams. I've been wary about posing nudity on this page because family and other who view the page. But we as artists all know how important the nude studies are, and those who don't understand it have alot to learn anyways. The legs are a Hogarth study and the female is from observation. I grabbed my copy of Dynamic Figure Drawing from home so I'm happy to have that back. So, here we go.

[Michaelsama]

Oh,
This has been quite a month. I'm making some drastic changes and getting back to what's really important... I think. Anyways, it's Friday night in Japan, so what am I doing. POSTING!!! Also, I'm just now getting my hands dirty in zbrush, of course I could paint over some crazy cool monster looking dude, but I'm taking my time and building up the features from memory.

[Michaelsama]

A rather disappointing week on the art front, however I've been writing like crazy which is something. Also, I just feel gross if I don't post something up here. A little progress is progress all the same.:lifedrawing:

[Michaelsama]

I feel as if I should share my art mentality with you. You might be the only people out there that care or appreciate it. But I just created this plane the other day. After doing it I realized, hey, I actually made that thing. It's taken awhile to get to this point. It's not that amazing, I agree with you, but for someone who's dabbles in fantasy and life sketches and never digitally drawn a plane before, I was happy. My point is this. I've come to the point now where I'm drawing whatever I want to and not thinking about whether I can or can not do it. That's pretty great considering art isn't a state of what's possible but a persons interpretation of what should be. I mean, I've always drawn what I wanted so that in itself isn't that groundbreaking, but I just pray that it can continue that way. My idea of hell is having to draw up and present someone else's ideas through my art, for example through advertising. Unless of course it's for something or someone that I myself was passionate about. It sounds selfish, but at least I'm being honest.

[Michaelsama]

So,
I had I a strange occurrence this week. I was having a really rough time drawing anything for myself. I had one school where I drew a pokemon in a students notebook, unfortunately the teacher saw and gave me a stack of 8 others, so I spent my lunch drawing pokemon. I busted those mofo's out and actually learned a thing or two. Anyways, when it came to drawing something for myself, something personal, I could not do it. In fact, I attempted to force myself to draw one evening and it turned out awful. My character was all lumpy and wasn't proportional. Anyways, fast track to today. I found out I had a three day weekend I didn't even know about so I called some friends to travel around, but those plans fell through. SO, I was going to go buy a PS3, but, Japanese ones don't play U.S. bluerays so I decided against it. Anyways, I ended up coming to the conclusion that I was not going to sleep until I drew something worth a damn, and so I came up with this. It's a new banner for my portfolio site that I've been intending to do for a long time now. It pretty much describes how I feel about art sometimes. I feel like I'm fighting it or something instead of enjoying it like I truly want to. There is still so much I would like to do with it, but at least I busted something out, and that's what matters.

[Michaelsama]

Hey,
So for those of you that wonder why I've been rare to post here these days, it's because I'm busy actually doing art instead of attempting to pull teeth from CA.
While frequently updating a 'digital' sketchbook can be a good habit you can also waste a lot of time and get distracted by internetz, know what I mean? Anyways, here's a recent collaboration between myself and my friend Micheil Salmons: an up and coming gallery artist out of Flagstaff, AZ.
Enjoy.