july 9

[Android]

http://www.conceptart.org/artist/andrew-jones/images/year2/laptoponeaj.jpg

[endregan]

reminds me in the book im reading (harry potter) of one of the dark wizards. Very serious, the eyes are really searing. love it

[CKWorth]

You look how I feel. This one is very lovely to me.

[thomasaurus]

morbid

your hairs growing back Andrew....whatcha gonna do?

[I.was.ink]

DAmn, you look scary as heck in this one.

:cool:

[incognito]

you look "emo". :p

This one is great, but that one little "bag" under your eyes looks misplaced, or does your face actually look like that under the lighting?
Either way, this is too dang good.
:chug:

[davi]

looks more danzig than emo

[Duracel]

Hope i don't offend you ...

No question, your selfportraits are always good work, but ... in a way most time really boring compared with what is possible.
I mean, there is so much expression in your style, but you sit there and most time just looking straight into the mirror.

Well, just try something new. Something more dramatic. I remember this screaming face(*search* it is in the second line of your 365-picture).
It is not the 492856. pencil-sketch which is interesting, its the difference.
Try to challenge yourself with your next selfportrait. do something crazy, test out something new.
For example in my last selfportrait i painted myself 5 times "simultaniously" in different angels with different facial play. Or as you can see in my avatar to the left i tried to caricature myself(inspired by sebastian krueger's caricatures).

But there are so many different possibilities out there noone captured before, take them!

Faithfully, Lars "Duracel" Götze. ;)

[Johannes]

Im taking a peek in this thread from time to time. This weekend I even did a SP myself, trying to learn the colors and shadows... Taking hints from your SPs about brushstrokes and light and color. Very nice indeed.

So I got a few questions...
1 Do you usa a mirror?
2 Do you light yourself, or do you do the lih´ghting in your mind? Because I find the computorscreen mess with my lighting...
3 Do you think its "dangerous" to draw your own face this much - I mean, what if all characters you do end up looking like you?
4 Do you print the SPs with the funky hairdoos and take em to your hairdresser for your next cut? ;)
(hmmm, ignore the last one...)

Johannes - SP beginner

[Marko Djurdjevic]

Duracel,

I don't get your point. Andrew's work is boring? Sorry dude, but it takes balls to do what Andrew does, because he limits our views NOT only to his best pieces as many other artists do, but instead opens a pandora's box to all his exciting experiments and tryouts. You know, if a person is that ambitious to routinely draw himself every fucking day, you should realize the honesty in his work.
Tell me, do you look like a caricature? No, you don't!
Do you cut grimaces on a normal day? No, you don't!
You are judging from an expressionist point of view, but don't realize that Andrew is expressing his everyday life with his selfportraits. You are judging by taste, but what could keep me from saying that I find caricatures boring, and expressionistic selfportraits just selfrightous and selfserving? I obviously don't do that, because I would not allow myself such a limited view to art.
But you do.
What Andrew does, is keeping a visual diary, and if you count it, how many days a year are so exciting, that they are worth mentioned excessively, in your life?
3?
10?
24? Beliveable!
More than 100?
You must be kidding...
Andrew finished one year already, and he's heading for the second. Those who cannot get excitement out of this fact seemingly don't get message.

Marko

[thomasaurus]

I sorta agree with Marko here. What i have observed from Andrews collection is that he paints however he feels at that very time, how he wants. I can tell if he's pissed or happy, based on his portraits

[Coma]

Dead on, Marko.

Rip your self away from the human error of taking things for granted and every time you see a stroke of paint realize this is the visual spirit of life its self created by humans hands

Art is the closest I've come to feeling God

And if you open your mind you will almost always find some of the simplest things that are painted can be the most powerful.

[nardfrog]

Andrew, I hope you dont want to fucking punch me for saying this, i dont mean it as disrespect at all, but it definately reminds me of Fosters stuff. In a good way.

BTW, Marko had some good points. But we dont need to defend Andrew; he is quite capable and he needs no explanation for the things he does.

Andrew once said, long before most where members here. "I do these self portraits to prove to myself that I have a sole; nothing more." The fact that he shares something that personal with strangers every day is something he should be very proud of and we should not take for grantid.

Anyone one who thinks these self portaits are not up to par is joke who will never get the meaning of art.

:)

[cycrincy]

dang that one will give kids nightmares . he is sorta like the risin dead. as i would say:bash: die die die. heh

[Duracel]

"I don't get your point. Andrew's work is boring?"
Well, read: "in a way" boring, "compared with what is possible". This does not means, Andrews work is boring, at all, this only means, most time i just miss something in his portraits.

Sorry dude, but it takes balls to do what Andrew does, because he limits our views NOT only to his best pieces as many other artists do, but instead opens a pandora's box to all his exciting experiments and tryouts. You know, if a person is that ambitious to routinely draw himself every fucking day, you should realize the honesty in his work.

I do not? No, i do! This is not the question, this is not the point.


"Tell me, do you look like a caricature? No, you don't! "

And yes, i do! This IS a caricature, it shows how we "really" look like in the thoughts of the viewer.


"Do you cut grimaces on a normal day? No, you don't! "

Sorry, but yes, i do! (well, i do more than my selfportraits really show and perhaps more than most people, cause im a great fan of facial plays, but thats not important)
Well, im sure, most people do, while never thinking of it. Just think about how you look like in the moment your saying about something damn stupid "FUCK" - it does not look like somebody looks straight in the mirror. Or do you know how you look like the time you have to get up? Or while eating a hamburger, while dancing? Or so on?


You're talking about a diary, talking about "everydays life" captured in those selfportraits.
And well, there arent as much days worth "mentioned excessively", but every new day is showing new things to me, most day is at least as exciting to me, that it is forcing me to try out new things, to take other ways, too look behind doors. Thats me!
I think Andrews life is not totally different. So my ask to him is not to only express his feelings in those lines but also express his feelings in movement of his body i.e.. Thats all. Nothing complete different. Just to capture how he is, too.
Just by capture himself not only while he is sitting and drawing himself. This is how his selfportraits often looks like. Just himself while drawing or painting. In a way a vicious circle. ;)

And in his second year of those selfportraits of the day, i ask him to capture other parts of his very day.
For example this
http://www.duracel.de/stuff/art/paintings/self52.jpg
Is just showing myself while checking IRC-messages while 2 commecrcial breaks of a movie(tv).



Andrew finished one year already, and he's heading for the second. Those who cannot get excitement out of this fact seemingly don't get message.

Well i can, i do, but i am not the one get up and shout "huurraa" every new single selfportrait just by this one fact.
As i said in the 365-days thread, a poster of all his selfportraits is one of the best things i can imagine for my room. But the whole is more than the sum of all its parts. And just a single selfportrait is not that exciting everytime.
Or i can say: in my humble opinion, a single quick selfportrait is not worth its own thread, while 365 selfportraits a year are worth their own subforum.
Do you understand now?

Thats all.

[Oblio]

umm... may i.. ?
i shall not argue the importance of what andrew does - he made me start drawing and i care not if i suck - you should know better how it feels to (draw/paint)

i shall not argue about body expression - i'm an actor by formation and i've learned how hard it is to really express YOURSELF. Sure.. you can explore and all but it's a dangerous road to search yourself trough this and i believe this is what Andrew does.

People will always want more - after the 365 body expresions they will want him to cut one eye, add 3 rings and so on.
I guess this is just a lone trip of Andrew to take and he is generous enough to let us join.
Don't get me wrong - i DO know your point - it is for each of us to explore. As for the "deserve a thread for each image" - look aroun the forum and you'll see the answer to my point.
He deserves a full forum per each day, a full new internet if it takes only becouse he has made it possible for me to meet you all (not to mention other dear stuff to me)

Oblio

[Marko Djurdjevic]

No Duracel,

I still don't understand!
In some way, you remind me of my mother who bothered me with the stupid question "Why can't you just paint some nice flowers?"all my life, without realizing that her approach to my art was full of disrespect. Because she didn't realize that I gain excitement by drawing what I draw. Her taste was more important to her, than my satisfaction. You are doing the same, instead of being constructive in your criticism, you are tasty, judging Andrews art by what you'd like to see him doing. Damn, compare this: I don't like Manga, but I don't go to an Anime artist telling him to get realistic with his work, just to please me better. This would be rude and disrespectful, because it would be questioning his work as a whole. For what? Just to please me more? But who am I to ask another artist to paint what I want to see, just to get more excitement out of it? If you get bored of single selfportraits, why do you care? If you want selfportraits to look a certain way, then work it out on your own and stop asking other artist to do it your way. You are by no means in the position to judge someones art by taste, or ask for different motives, just to please yourself!
Boy, this really makes me itch, because it reminds me so much of the comments I hated throughout my life. Most of the time they came from artsy art teachers who thought to have found the key to true art themselves, and wanted to reduce students and aspiring artist to faceless copies of their own visions.

Marko

[N D Hill]

Incredable as usual, Android. The realism through abstract tones and exagurated brush strokes is very cool. I love it when artists who have obvious skill towards complete realism opt for style as well. Very cool. The tones and highlights on the nose particularly impressed me the most.

I for one, am glad that you don't adhere to stylistic cliches that are found in the typical exagurated comic style. So many people here try to be Joe Madguria with over-emphasis on mean looking eyes and gritting teeth. You have more respect for fine arts while retaining your own distinct style...A very hard thing to do!

Keep it up! (as if you need me to tell you)

[Ant4d]

Duracel, you should become an animator. You like to put a lot of exaggerated expression into faces and that works very well in animation. I find it a bit fake in paintings and drawings though. I agree with Marko on that point. The painting must be emotional and thats what Andrew does.
Emotianal picture is a bit more than just making idiotic(in a good way:)) faces and caricature.

Don't get me wrong though. I like your work a lot. And as animator I enjoy all sort of exaggerated expressions a lot. But I just disagree with you concerning portraits.

And ofcourse I am not telling what is wrong or right:) it is just my opinion.

Regards,
Anton

[Duracel]

Marko, perhaps you don't understand my point, because your comparing too much with your previous meetings and your own experience and especially how you feel about those.

Noone said "Andrew, STOP this, DO this!"
This is just my point of view, of course, i am painting/drawing many selfportraits myself, and those things are some of the main points in this times for myself to do this.
But i only want to share my personal view with Andrew, so he can perhaps get something new for himself out of this view - nothing more. Its is of course his own decision but perhaps he is thinking "hey, sometimes i asked myself why i really do this anymore."
I dont know.

But i know, i have to thx some other artists they shared their own personal view with myself, because it helped sometimes to realize what i really want.


But you're all right perhaps my view is too much the view of an actor instead of just a painter and my points does not matter in this case.

[sepulveda]

Originally posted by Marko Djurdjevic

In some way, you remind me of my mother who bothered me with the stupid question "Why can't you just paint some nice flowers?"
Marko

ahhh....what is it about mothers and flowers.....My mom tells me the exact thing!
I mean....just what is wrong with drawing erotic art, and demons???
I will never know...:confused:

[Mr. Black]

I'd like to interrupt this little discussion if I may.

Im new to this site and much of what I see here is pretty new to me. I've been working with pencil all my life and...well...the work above obviously isn't pencil. My guess is that it was done with a 'wacom tablet' (or something of the sort). If this is true, then can someone give me an idea of how they work? I thought about buying one in the past but I want to be sure I can put my pencil skills to use on the computer. Also, if this is some other medium, I'd still like to know what it is. Thanks all.

[thomasaurus]

Mr. Black, Android like to use a program called Painter 7 (your still on 7, right Droid?). It simulates a large amount of traditional mediums. Using the tools along with his Wacom tablet, he can do what you see here.

Hope that answers your question :chug:

[strych9ine]

I don't see the need for Android to have to draw his face in a contorted gesture for this piece to be full of emotion. You can almost feel how his day went in the strokes he makes, the colors he chooses... we wouldn't relate to his personality if he did this, because that's obviously not him.

I see what you are trying to say, but there is a certain quality to his sp's that scream his name, even if it's of him "just looking in the mirror". There is so much more going on here, which is a quality of his work I admire greatly.

On a side note, I have been drawing religiously again ever since I've happened upon your sp's, Android, and I appreciate you indirectly whipping my ass into shape. :chug:

[nardfrog]

I agree with strych9ine, we need to eat more kittens.:) :D

[smabee]

good stuff. like the use of stoke to form your faceal seucturedid use have a mirror to do that on the comuter or just scanned i was wondering if you would view and crit. my peices i have'nt got much feedback since i have got on this site

[sagerussell]

Is this entire discussion not unlike judging? would this not be the equivelent of judging a diary, or book of memoirs. So then would it be logical to even whisperingly suggest to someone that they alter the format of their personal diary or memoirs. Can one explicity give direction or meaning or organization or logic or form to something like a journal. .........If some one where to tell me that they would like to see in my journal more of the wit and humor and emotion that they just "know" is inside of me.. I think I would frown . the look at the gound.. then walk away.

[sagerussell]

oh .. and I dig the highlights on the nose, eyes and lip.. defines a cool texture.

[killing.people]

:o oh thank you andriod for this painting.
words fail me. the value of this painting move me, the power of emotion is simply amazing, your artwork is beautiful.

-killing.driods

[hed|lamb]

Good image, keeping going. I'm sure many of us, including yourself, has learned a lot from your portrait works. I, for one, find them both humbling and inspiring.

[Tomasis]

its almost imposible to see every selfpotrait as amazing.. as the life which is not always amazing :D

but who does 365 sp without android? it is just amazing

[bizarre]

i was guilty of doing what duracell's doing... questioning the great android.

I looked through a bunch of his sp's. a few dozen. thirty at the most. I thought they were great, but... a bit boring, because, well... i guess i expected more experimentation. then, on a few sleepless nights, i crawled through and looked at every single one of his sp's... and i saw what was really going on. either a) andrew's insane, b) andrew's a robot, or c) andrew's dedicated. it's late and i'm rambling, but.. uhm...

Do not doubt teh great adroid! PH33R H1M!!!!1!!1!!!one!1!!!

[Duracel]

Well, sorry to mentioned anything, just forgot, Andrew is godlike, he is perfect, there can't be anything to critisize.

Not a single brushstroke or one colorchoice can be bad, never.


You have to here yourselves.
No question, as i say everytime again, Andrew's work is really good,
but your tribut around here is such exaggerated, that you cant think of anything not perfect, and that sucks. And well, Andrew is not perfect for sure, he is no real Android.

Have you ever thought about the fact, that one of his selfportraits is maybe not really showing what he feels like?
The fact, his selfportraits are maybe just like mine, yours, everybodys - sometimes just not as good(but could be better, a not 100% successfull attempt)?


If you look in the Guest-Selfportrait-Threads, often people comment other selfportraits but not only with "wow", and often its just normal critique, but why?

Because they didnt start first with this journey? Because its not a "absolute-every-day-diary"? Because they arent as good in painting?(Well, Andrew is not as good in painting aswell, but as less people than most others around.)
Because in this case noone here is better than Andrew in selfportraiting? But i thought, critizising is not only for people who are better.
Or because he is a professionell? *rolleyes*

Or just all this together? (So, because he is just godlike and can do all.)

So tell me, whats the real difference between Andrew and all others around here who paint selfportraits, the difference let him stay above all critique?
The difference, which makes his selfportraits unimpeachable.

Or are everybodys selfportraits, too?

Well, then, dont mind. But then dont think of critisizing others selfportraits, never! Because, they're selfportraits, they cant be bad, they only show who you are. Or?


But in the end, all i wanne say is, im sure, Andrews selfportraits still could be better, could be more different, could be more interesting AND still be what he really is. Because, people have to change to be.

Good night.

[Scratched Glass]

I commend duracel for offering something to andrews self potraits instead of just wowing em. By andrews fanbase on this site its no easy task. By offering ideas and critiques, its not like hes talking down to andrew, just helping him along. and instead of everyone making him feel like an asshole for his input, we should take it like any other critique. Im a big a fan of andrews work as the next so dont get me wrong. And we assume we know what andrew is feeling when we look at his Sp's. What he really feels when he makes them are for andrew alone. we can only make our own interpretations. OK i think iim going to start ranting soon. just wanted to say.... take it easy on people willing to help. :batman:

[killing.people]

i commend sharing onions, though dancing with others on andrew's head; dancing on people's head with others is not very nice. agree to disagree & i ask politely to stop flamming in my favorite android self portrait of the day's thread sucka`s.

-killing

[hed|lamb]

I agree with the comments about everyone and everything being within the reach of critical review. I also feel that we all can learn from eachother, pros and others alike. My above comments are not in opposition of anything said so far, so of course there's nothing personal. Just stating my opinion.

Andrew puts out great portraits, as does so many other artists in the Guest area. I think for most, atleast speaking for myself, it's not so much a "wow" factor, but rather being interested in the artistic endeavor and endurance itself. I've seen some I didn't like, I've seen some I loved, just like all other talents on this forum. But the point is, if the talent does shine through, and is utilized well, I will lend "positive" comments toward it. I myself never really try to critique, because I'm too busy focused on my own mistakes at the moment. =)

[bizarre]

Duracel, i wasn't trying to rebut (is that the word?) anything you said, i was merely trying to say that the consistency in quality is astounding. almost 85% of Android's self portraits are a step away from being a masterpiece, so to speak. Now, if this was said about his work when he had maybe a moth's worth of sp's under his belt, that'd be pretty goddamned impressive, but when you look at the fact that he's done this for over a year, i think this is either his second or third year doing this, yeah. he's dropped the ball on us a few times. a few of the sp's i'm sorta left feeling cheated, because they're so similar to other ones. But i still have to take into consideration the fact that Andrew has a job and a life, so spending 30 minutes or 5 hours, EVERY SINGLE DAY to draw one of these means they're not always going to be great. You wanna make an omelet, you gotta break some eggs. I got my ass ripped in half and all of the Android fanboys stood in line for hours to get a chance to nail my bleeding arsehole when i said Andrew's work was sorta boring, or something to that effect. so my best advice would be to disguise your criticism, however constructive it is, in a sugar coated and glazed tone of voice. that way, when someone catches on and realizes you're actually trying to say that Andrew's work.... uhm.... maybe isn't as incredibly awesome as some of the daily "wow thats awesum" people crack it up to be and crams what you said down your throat, the sugar will make it taste better going down and the glaze will make it easier to swallow without choking...

Duracel, you got mad at what i said. you actually took me seriously, and that worries me. I are teh n00b! ignore teh Noobz0r! I agree with you 100% but i dont feel the need to rant sarcastically about it while standing on my soap box screaming at the top of my lungs into a megaphone in the middle of town square... I can hear myself fine. It sorta cheapens some of his art when the only replies are "Wow" and "holy shit that's fucking awesome!". If you like it as it is, don't say anything, or at least say what you like about it. If you see something that you'd like to see done differently, speak up, but for god's sake, don't get on your knees and unzip his pants over EVERY SINGLE GODDAMNED SELF PORTRAIT! ok? same thing with sparth's daily stuff, and coro's, and bengal's. it's inevitable, it's just the way it is.

I've already gone past the line of no return, so... uh...