the life painting Thread.

[jrr]

tada! here it is folks! the life painting thread, get your banjos ready and grab a partna! sorry gotta start with some older stuff though...

sophomore year of college.
2567

jr year of college.
2568

ok, your turn!

[fredflickstone]

damn, those are sweeeeet.

I hope my site can support more images...I will be right back, I hope...heh

[fredflickstone]

155079

155080

[killing.people]

ever played the game ico? to me, this life painting is remnant of its beauty in game art and design. i have a box full of oils. how do i start?
http://www.jrtistic.com/images/junk/forum/asianmodel.jpg

[I.was.ink]

Now, this is a great way to start a thread. With a punch. Thanks for sharing jrr, and fred.

I wish to be like you! ;)

[R_M]

I am happy!

but I can't see the fred pictures.

[Tedsuo]

Jrr, that second one is fantastic. Makes me wish I could do more oils from life, not just PS's from photos.

Fred, I'm hoping your server unkinks itself when it ticks over to august. Can't wait to see them.

[Jason Manley]

i agree...jrr's path to greatness is within those oils and mediums...the best part is that its right in front of him...shall he chose to walk it.

btw jrr...i told my friend who is a senior student of jacob collinsa bout you...he said for you to go over and see them...he said that its only 270 bucks a month and that its so cheap that if you dont do it that youre just plain silly.

his name is carl dobsky...you have seen his figures posted.
he and i shared a great teacher for three years together...the best teacher ive had...he swears that jacob is even more adept at communicating concepts to his students.

gosh...am i going to have to come to ny, drive you there and rope you to their atelier front door with a note in your pocket asking for admittance.


j

[MindCandyMan]

yeah do it jrr...you will be great man.

[fredflickstone]

My server is stupid, this is wrong. Jrr, those are great. I love the lighting, so much depth and soul in the color banding, wow...

[fredflickstone]

.ok, I am getting them back. I have a domain, plus space, but no pages yet, but I am using the domain to store images. Yeah, temp solution...

[fredflickstone]

155081

155082

[fredflickstone]

oops

[fredflickstone]

155097

doph, thats huge, sorry

[fredflickstone]

155098

[LightBrownboy]

Hey Ron...you are still being attacked by the infamous red X's. Plus I don't know if it happens to anyone else, but its asking me for a log-in name to rev-art wenever i bring this page up.


-Patrick :D

[fredflickstone]

155099

[fredflickstone]

now it should work...sorry for the screw up...I was putting my images into the wrong directory here on my end.

[Tedsuo]

Totally sweet. I really like the girl with red hair, and the knight.

Fred, do you mind talking about your method? Do you start with a drawing, then go dark to light?

[fredflickstone]

155100

[endregan]

wow dood your just amazing!!! :)

[fredflickstone]

my method eh? Um, ok. I paint like the 19th century painter Sorolla. Not literally, but the methodology is the same, from the school of fine arts in valencia...my mentor, sebastian capella taught me this method...first, vine charcoal on good linen, a belgium linen...good stuff...the drawing is worked out for sake of composition in charcoal, because if the painting is started in paint lines, and the composition stinks, the paint lines taint the pure white surface. Then, the charcoal is sealed with terp and a bit of ultramarine blue. The blue is the darkest value on the color wheel excluding a black, so it acts as a dark sealer. Dust off the charcoal,
and paint in big masses first. No details anywhere just the big four values. Not colors, but values. Colors, there can be plenty, but values, you need to keep simple. These 4 values are shadow free, what you are looking for in color is the color of the object you are painting, if its a red shirt, you paint the red at its value you see sans light influence...etc

then, you find the shadows relative to those big values, and you have the picture. Then its a matter of picking a focal point, and building up upon that.


thats it in brief, I will explain more with a tutorial soon.



thanks for asking.


Ron

[fredflickstone]

155103

one more

[fredflickstone]

155108

[fredflickstone]

155118

I can finally get images here hassle free...sweeeet

[fredflickstone]

155119

do still lifes count?

[endregan]

WOW. These are just gorgeous. Makes me want to get a paintbrush and some paints!!! Really well done, I will study these some more. thanks for the inspiration!

[killing.people]

http://www.rev-art.com/lemenimages/z.jpg
very nice, painting. i love deep rich reds.

[Alex Gering]

I've already posted these a while back, all from life
http://www.alexgering.com/diezerbrochnevase.jpg
http://www.alexgering.com/images/11.jpg

I like your paintings Ron, your brushwork is very confident

[MindCandyMan]

This thread is amazing

[fredflickstone]

alex, those are incredible. That face reminds me of a Repin...damn good;)

[I.was.ink]

Downloaded all of them and can't stop staring. :eek:

How old are you fred?

[Bombesei]

Jrr, I am sure Jason is right. I met Jacob Collins and Jason's friend Carl Dobsky two weeks ago by happenstance in the new studio. From seeing Collins' work and talking to him for only a few minutes, I know that what he offers is the real deal. I am interested in studying there, and his question to me when we met was simply, "What do you want?" It took practically a lightning bolt to strike me for me to see that the Water Street is the place where I need to be, and now I have to call Collins to talk to him again about going there. It looks like it would be the right place for you too. You should definitely check it out. And Jason, as long as you're making a road trip, if you feel like coming to Cleveland to pick me up, that'd be cool too, hehe.


-Nick

[Alex Gering]

Thanks Ron.
Reminds you of Repin ? Maybe that's because one half of me is russian :)

[Jason Manley]

one of the best threads to date on this forum...thanks all...


j

[fredflickstone]

I.was.ink-34 in september...good development takes about ten years. I started ten years ago, learning traditionally, before that, I thought I knew what I was doing. All talent and very little skills. Learning the right way helped me grow, and now I am starting to find a way that I feel comfortable working in, and, I know how to fix things when they break. That, I think is the most important thing to get out of the learning process...and what I am grateful to have now...

[mmza]

I see a lot of familar people on this thead.
really nice paintings, Jr! Alex post more of your portaits, I know you have lots!
Just wanted to stop by and say hi! :hello!:

Here's some old stuff, sorry if you've seen these before.



http://www.workshopcrew.com/mmza/asha.jpg

http://www.workshopcrew.com/mmza/female_nude.jpg

[jrr]

hey molly, welcome, big fan here!

[fredflickstone]

wow, mmza, those are awesome paintings. I love teh impressionistic feeling. Great colors too...nice


jrr, posting more? heh


Ron

[KChen]

Nice thread!! really nice works!
I better start painting too :)

k

[KChen]

here are some older studies from school:

http://www.imagewiz.net/images/kchen/155937_HeadPainting_Demos.jpg



http://www.imagewiz.net/images/kchen/155938_Portraits.jpg

[KChen]

More old stuff, 4 ~ 5 hour study:

http://www.imagewiz.net/images/kchen/155944_dancer.jpg

Need to get my lazy ass to paint again :P I'll post up some new stuff soon.

Jrr,

I really love your subtle colors and soft edges. Thanks for making the thread, I am learning a lot just by looking at how everyone approaches the subject differently.

k

[mmza]

Ron- Thanks.great work too! Would you happen to know Craig Nelson? He was a teacher of mine who use to teach down in Art Center. Your life paintings look like they have a similar approach.

KChen - I really like the bottom right girl, very nice.


Here's yet another old school painting.
Sorry JR. you've probably seen this one already. :)


http://www.workshopcrew.com/mmza/head_study01.jpg

http://www.workshopcrew.com/mmza/head_detail.jpg

[fredflickstone]

Kevin, those are beautiful paintings. Glad to see your color stuff.

mmza, no, I dont know craig Nelson. I have heard of him though.
These are more, these paintings, are more like life characatures. I would not call any of these a finish. Finishes have much more to them, the paintings I am doing are going towards the spontaneous, in hopes of those Sargent/Sorolla strokes, or, one stroke describes shape value and intensity/color all in one.

I will post some of my more finished works when I can shoot them, as i have to get them back from the clients to get some images shot.


mmza, that last painting has such wonderful colors for the ethnicity. Beautiful stuff once again. Where was/is your schooling? I love your palette of choice.


Ron

[mmza]

Ron - I went to the academy of art in Sf. Most of the life paintings I've done were from painting workshops at the school (3-6 hrs poses). We tried running longer sessions, but most people seem to lose interest in the pose ( and their painting) after 6hrs., a shame because I would love to work on more finished paintings from life.

great to see everyone's different approaches to figure painting. Keep this thead going!

[jrr]

damn kevin you rule so much, the scarey thing is we're probably the same age! arg! more! post more!

[samwell]

Hello all. Great thread you've started, jrr. Here is a recent painting from a workshop. I've been at it (painting) for about five months now. At first it was quick sketch painting in figure drawing class, but now I'm trying to use color. http://images.deviantart.com/i/2/a/6/Costumed_Model_Study.jpg

thanks for looking.

[AubreySerr]

This thread is really great. I just recently started trying to do portaits, and I am finding it hard to nail the likeness of models who keep moving... any special tips?
Since it looks like there is some freedom to post here, you can take a look at a painting I have yet to finish, but I think is turning out well...
http://members.aol.com/wizzox/images/art/angelica.jpg
I'm afraid it clashes with the skill level of some of the others here, but, it is a decent likeness.

[mmza]

Originally posted by AubreySerr
This thread is really great. I just recently started trying to do portaits, and I am finding it hard to nail the likeness of models who keep moving... any special tips?


What helps me is to sculpt in the large planes of the face before placing the features. The structure of the overall head will add more to the likeness you're trying to capture, more so than if you happened to paint the smile of the model just right.
KChen's first row of figures are a great example of a good blocking in point, from there it makes it so much easier to slide in the features and details even if the model isn't exactly in the same position.

What I really like about this piece is the treatment of the hair and shirt, try to keep that bold more confident strokes throughout the painting.


one more:


http://www.workshopcrew.com/mmza/chef01.jpg

[fredflickstone]

mmza, that is awesome. A likeness is not about detail, its the shapes in relationship to each other. If these are not likenesses, you still have unique people in each image. No two are alike at all. they all have a strong sense of volume, form(same diff) value, and character. These are wonderful images. Take Kevins advice on likenesses,its the silhouette, and that is the biggest shape. Then it is the inner silhouettes, the hair line, the tooth cylinder volue, the keystone of the eyes...and those are also just shapes. But relative to all the other shapes. Keep thinking like that, and not details, and you will get it right, then its jsut a matter of finishing one of those starts to completion to know your hand that will tell you you have madeit and you understand.


ROn

[el coro]

here are a couple of mine...
http://www.coro36ink.com/updates/paintings/stilllifechewtoyweb.jpg
http://www.coro36ink.com/updates/paintings/stilllifebottlepsweb.jpg
155121

155123

155124

dont get to do people really any more. i need to start taking some life painting classes again. all i do are these stupid still lifes...-c36

[samwell]

Coro, the tea kettle is excellent. The freshness in the paint shows true skill. S.

[Manta_Ray]

Stunning work...all of you.

Are these all oil paintings or acrylic or both? I wont pick anyone in particular, but is there a preference and why?

Thanks.

[Blind]

I nominate this for a BEST OF CA thread. Anyone?

[DragonGX]

This thread is great. A true inspiration for those of us who are trying to learn to paint traditionally. Its extremely difficult when you dont have someone there to help you learn by your side, but all of the paintings in this thread help so much and have taught me many new things.

Thank you, guys!

[Landmate]

more jr.

[jrr]

http://www.jrtistic.com/images/thumbnails/nudemodel1.jpg


OLD!

[Adam Carnes]

http://www.adamcarnes.com/gallery/dailies/8-03/8-27.jpg

[Adam Carnes]

http://www.adamcarnes.com/gallery/dailies/9-03/9-3.jpg
2.5 hours

[jrr]

http://www.jrtistic.com/images/junk/forum/nyumodel.jpg

[Alex Gering]

nice one Jrr, but you really need to fix her thumb :)

[kenchan]

http://www.kentaya.com/images/art2d/lThumbnail/LifeDrawing/082303.jpg
3hr pose in open canvas

[Adam Carnes]

http://www.adamcarnes.com/gallery/dailies/9-03/9-10.jpg

[Adam Carnes]

http://www.adamcarnes.com/gallery/dailies/9-03/9-11.jpg

[kenchan]

http://www.kentaya.com/images/art2d/lThumbnail/LifeDrawing/090103.jpghttp://www.kentaya.com/images/art2d/lThumbnail/LifeDrawing/091503b.jpg

[Adam Carnes]

http://www.adamcarnes.com/gallery/paintings/9-24d.jpg

1.5 hours

[Main Loop]

is it too late to add? heh

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid61/pa501056f874317afccf74449ed5ea728/fc272820.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid61/pa501056f874317afccf74449ed5ea728/fc272820.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid61/p10401bee5910c956ca82bdf7046e9bff/fc272827.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid61/p10401bee5910c956ca82bdf7046e9bff/fc272827.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid61/p293c101d2e067e7b497686f09d465dc0/fc272835.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid61/p293c101d2e067e7b497686f09d465dc0/fc272835.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid61/p14df99bcebfc82ca80916d86acc58fe5/fc272838.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid61/p14df99bcebfc82ca80916d86acc58fe5/fc272838.jpg

i also wish i could do more life painting

[jrr]

http://www.jrtistic.com/images/junk/forum/paintingclass.jpg

OLD! but i gotta post somethin!

[Landmate]

i think you have more! MORE!

[Deadsprite]

15 minute study in paint

*is reworking image right now due to suckyness*

[NewAgeSamurai]

main loop, those are beautiful awesome work everyone one, hopefully i can get some of mine upo here once my server for my site works again

[Adam Carnes]

http://www.adamcarnes.com/gallery/paintings/no-1.jpg

http://www.adamcarnes.com/gallery/paintings/no-2.jpg

[lasupaman]

http://www.jacklovesyou.com/drawings2002-2003/portrait01.jpg

yeah anyways... junior year.

[metalpig]

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/metalpig/figure_2_6-5.jpghttp://mywebpages.comcast.net/metalpig/figure_2_6-12-03.jpg http://mywebpages.comcast.net/metalpig/figure_4_6-5.jpg http://mywebpages.comcast.net/metalpig/figure_5_6-19-03.jpg http://mywebpages.comcast.net/metalpig/figure_4_6-12-03.jpg

most of there are about 20-30 minute studies, the last one being about 40 minutes.

I did these on my old laptop with painter 7 in a figure workshop near my house, until the shop closed. It was laggy and the screen isn't the best, so I'm back to pen and paper.

[AbcArt]

http://www.aaroncoberly.com/SuitcaseInMyHand_01.jpg http://www.aaroncoberly.com/NotOnMyHead.jpg http://www.aaroncoberly.com/Megan_Portrait.jpg http://www.aaroncoberly.com/Kimberly_Morning_01.jpg

I hope you enjoy

Aaron

[xia]

AbcArt>> Awesome!!! :chug:

[AbcArt]

Thanks Xia

[MindCandyMan]

They are all good but I love the first and last ones ABC...awesome stuff

[I.was.ink]

I aggree with mcm. The last one just ownes! :thumbsup:

[xia]

Gesture Craps:
http://www.angelfire.com/wa2/xia/gesture135.jpg
http://www.angelfire.com/wa2/xia/gesture136.jpg
http://www.angelfire.com/wa2/xia/gesture137.jpg

http://www.angelfire.com/wa2/xia/gesture109.jpghttp://www.angelfire.com/wa2/xia/gesture110.jpg
http://www.angelfire.com/wa2/xia/gesture111.jpghttp://www.angelfire.com/wa2/xia/gesture112.jpg
http://www.angelfire.com/wa2/xia/gesture113.jpg

Three Hours
http://www.angelfire.com/wa2/xia/painting042.jpg

[AbcArt]

http://www.aaroncoberly.com/Flipper.jpg http://www.aaroncoberly.com/Back01.jpg http://www.aaroncoberly.com/MilesPortrait_01.jpg http://www.aaroncoberly.com/Lee_01.jpg http://www.aaroncoberly.com/Pilons.jpg

[illustr8r]

Here is a very small painting (8x10")...originally intended to be a study for a larger painting, but I decided to carry it through to finish.

155125

[Main Loop]

abcart: Awesome style.. i love it..where did you go to school at?

[MindCandyMan]

Love the new batch...awesome!

[killing.people]

http://www.aaroncoberly.com/SuitcaseInMyHand_01.jpg

amazing. whoow

[AbcArt]

http://www.aaroncoberly.com/PaulFace_01.jpg

Thank you all. Main Loop I actually didn't go to school I am pretty much self thought. I have been attending open life drawing and painting sessions for a while now and most that I have leaned have been through reading and just practicing. I love to paint and draw and I organize and attend a session twice a week pretty religiously. I have been attending drawing sessions for around 10 yrs now and have been organizing and attending painting sessions for about 4 yrs now. There are actually quite a few people who work in the game industry in Seattle who attend our session.

Aaron

[Main Loop]

thats awesome, ABCArt... im going to school now, and i hope to keep going to sessions afterwards, and do what it takes to keep it going..

who are your influences?

[Main Loop]

http://www.remtek.net/0/mainloop/default/images/02/100.jpg


http://www.remtek.net/0/mainloop/default/images/01/110.jpg

http://www.remtek.net/0/mainloop/default/images/01/111.jpg


http://www.remtek.net/0/mainloop/default/images/02/101.jpg


http://www.remtek.net/0/mainloop/default/images/02/102.jpg


http://www.remtek.net/0/mainloop/default/images/02/103.jpg

[MindCandyMan]

awesome!

[xia]

MainLoop>> Great work man!

ABCArt>> Good to see you posting regularly, Master!:D

Forty minutes studies:
http://www.angelfire.com/wa2/xia/painting043.jpg

http://www.angelfire.com/wa2/xia/painting044.jpg

http://www.angelfire.com/wa2/xia/painting045.jpg

[Oddo]

Indeed one of the best threads, great work everyone. I just have two questions about one of Fred's posts ( Thank you fred for all the info and the posted works, you are gifted ;) ), If anyone could answer I'd be very greatful :).

Dust off the charcoal, and paint in big masses first. No details anywhere just the big four values. Not colors, but values. Colors, there can be plenty, but values, you need to keep simple. These 4 values are shadow free, what you are looking for in color is the color of the object you are painting, if its a red shirt, you paint the red at its value you see sans light influence...etc

Probably my English skills are to blame, but what do you mean four values ?. I fear the meaning eludes me.

And the second:

then, you find the shadows relative to those big values, and you have the picture. Then its a matter of picking a focal point, and building up upon that.

Well, the focal point is also dictated by the lines, the composition from the "drawing" right ? We can't just pick what strikes us fancy...

.. Im just trying to understand and learn :)..


Also Fred you mentioned a tutorial. Did you have the time to put it togeter ? May we find it somewhere ? :)

Thank you.

[AbcArt]

This was a 3 hour painting from life done last night with a digital picture taken every 20min. Sorry about some of them being blurry but I just got a new digital camera yesterday and I am not totally used to it yet.

http://www.aaroncoberly.com/Sara_StebByStep_00.jpg
http://www.aaroncoberly.com/Sara_StebByStep_01.jpg
http://www.aaroncoberly.com/Sara_StebByStep_02.jpg
http://www.aaroncoberly.com/Sara_StebByStep_03.jpg
http://www.aaroncoberly.com/Sara_StebByStep_04.jpg
http://www.aaroncoberly.com/Sara_StebByStep_05.jpg

[MindCandyMan]

Great to see the process...that's awesome

[xia]

AbcArt>> Great Process Master!

Here is my crappy contribution, and still learning...

http://www.angelfire.com/wa2/xia/painting049.jpg

[Gunbu]

Hey guys, I just found this thread. Great work here. These are a couple of paintings from figure painting class awhile back.
http://www.grapesodastudio.com/eric/posted/bob.jpg
http://www.grapesodastudio.com/eric/posted/figurepaint.jpg

[acuna_read]

This will sound lame but id just like to say thank-you:chug:

Especially to fredflickstone for his brilliant tutorials which make so much sense seeing the processes and the idea of 'basic' shapes which my teacher has been trying to get across for a couple of months:rolleyes:
@AbcArt, first of brilliant work. Secondly i enjoyed looking at the process and am especially impressed with the way you managed to get the instrument(sorry forgot the name:( ) into the pic. Was this an advantage or a disadvantage? I see them as objects bolcking my view but have just clicked you probably used it for placement. Is this right.
P.S. Im 18 and only been doin life-drawing for a couple of months so sorry for noob questions:rolleyes:

Well done everyone!:D

[Swarm]

excellent work everyone,
abcart, fredflickstone,Alex Gering, kchen : O_O

Oil on canvas

http://ohic.free.fr/juhuile.jpg

photoshop

155126

[Michyu Girl]

Eh, I'm not used to realism, but here's my contribution...

http://home.earthlink.net/~michyugirl/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/erica2.jpg

[el coro]

http://www.coro36ink.com/updates/paintings/redvaseweb.jpg
from life...probably about an hour of so. i painted this so i could hang it outside my apartment door as a christmas piece. its oil on linen about a 9x12, i think.

[MindCandyMan]

i painted this so i could hang it outside my apartment door as a christmas piece.


Hahaha...if only I had the skills...that's awesome

[bfaubion]

man, you guys rock! im loving the juicy paintings in this thread. allthough mine is relatively simple, for some reason its one of my favorites out of the few i did the past few months. i will keep checking this thread for inspiration.

http://ben.n-son.com/faubionart/sittinggirl.jpg

[Fruxx]

something I did for headpainting class.

http://members.dslextreme.com/users/fruxx/images/ebay/port01.jpg
http://members.dslextreme.com/users/fruxx/images/ebay/port02.jpg

[JoshuaTheJames]

oldies.

I'll post newer ones when my new site is finished!

http://www.joshuathejames.com/Posting!/l1.jpg

http://www.joshuathejames.com/Posting!/wclady.jpg

-Joshua

[rosso]

wow, these are all great guys. I went to college hoping to learn how to paint like that but all they taught there was conceptualist art/ abstract art etc.
Still wonder if I could sue them.:mad:

[Mindflaw]

All the great stuff in this thread just made me think I must join this thread some of the skill might rub off on me :)

I did this some time ago but it´s still one of my favorite
please comment if you like
http://hem.bredband.net/b257354/lifeport01.jpg
first I did contours with pencil, then I used thick layers of blue and white and mixed them directly on the paper.

[JoshuaTheJames]

another old school...2002....

http://www.joshuathejames.com/Posting!/fp4.jpg

-Joshua

[nick reynolds]

Each is 12x16 and about 2-3 hours each all from life. The pictures suck, sorry I'll try to retake them when the sun is out. I just started my first ever painting class and its a blast. There is so much great work in this thread.

http://www.colossalart.com/images/nr_port01.jpg
http://www.colossalart.com/images/nr_port02.jpg
http://www.colossalart.com/images/nrport_04.jpg

[drdarrow]

photoshop ???

155784

This is Photoshop?

There's something new I don' know about photoshop.... how do you get the canvas texture? Can you draw on TOP of a new texture, like Painter? How?

That is just a gorgeous painting!

--David

[Swarm]

Hello :)
well my english is really bad...

but i try : I added the canvas texture (a scan of a piece of canvas, painted in brown) at the end of my painting... on a new layer ("vivid light" I think).

155128

155130

155131

(oil on canvas)

[drdarrow]

Wow.

The middle one is particularly engaging. The pose, the composition, the handling, the abstract, the color.

Gorgeous.

Was that from Life?

I want to see more!

[Swarm]

Thank you David, I've seen your paintings today, and they are wonderful.
I wish I could have your skill.

155132

Yes they are from life, but the last one, I just make the head and lines from life, and finish it from head.

[J.Mac]

Awesome work in here!!! it is so amazing that there are so many talented people in this community :D

I thought i would contribute as well, i am not near as good as many of people in this thread :o this is a hw assignment from first painting class ever. i have never even picked up a tube of paint before this class so it is really a new experience :D i really like painting, right now all i am allowed to use is a palette knife so that is what this is done with... ijust filled the canvas now. later i have to go back and find more values and intensities... i will post it when i am finished

http://img18.photobucket.com/albums/v53/12jesse/PEC_001.jpg

-Jesse

[Swarm]

Jesse : this is a nice painting, the color are great, and I like the composition!

155133

hum just a quick one on paper

[mermuse]

This weeks pantings from life...
http://mermuse.jmwebdesigns.com/post/face01.jpg

swarm - I love the flow of your work, especially the shapes and colors in the backgrounds.

[Main Loop]

great pallette, Swarm! im gonna try that monochromatic type next time i get to a life painting workshop..

and at the opposite end of the scale:

http://www.remtek.net/0/mainloop/default/images/04/168.jpg

http://www.remtek.net/0/mainloop/default/images/04/167.jpg

[Lunatique]

Digital life painting using Painter. Done over 2 sessions, a week apart.

http://www.ethereality.info/ethereality_website/paintings_drawings/new/elena_formal_portrait/elena_formal_portrait.jpg

[samwell]

A recent painting from my portrait class.
http://img26.photobucket.com/albums/v78/thisismybucket/Anthony.jpg :chug:

[mermuse]

more from this weekend...
http://mermuse.jmwebdesigns.com/post/face02.jpg

[Ryecatcher]

My first forays into nude painting...

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http://stephen-brealey.com/nude2small.jpg

[drdarrow]

Seeing as how this is a Life Painting Thread, let's all make sure we're putting up paintings done from Life, not from photos. Some of the images posted here are "suspect"

[el coro]

http://www.coro36ink.com/updates/paintings/sl23web.jpg

http://www.coro36ink.com/updates/paintings/sl24web.jpg
been doing alot of these lately. due to my training as an illustrator working heavily from photos, i feel i'm finally learning to see painting these. great thread everybody. -c36

[drdarrow]

El Coro,

That is nce stuff! Nice touch, nice strokes.

Keep it up, and please post more.

--David

[J.Mac]

el coro i love that reflection in the vase and the shadows with there different colours. wow i am impressed! i get to start using brushes today in my oil painting class i am excited. but i must admit i don't know what i am doing when it comes to using a brush :D love your paintings!

-Jesse

[Swarm]

El coro : wonderful.

[el coro]

thanks alot y'all. i'm glad you like these. i've been having alot of fun doing these. nice, small, and non commital.


drdarrow: thanks..you too

jmac: thanks dude. painting is more fun than almost anything. painting with a brush takes practice, but in time becomes very natural and extremely versatile. i hope youenjoy your foray into painting...

swarm: thanks. your work is wonderful as well. keep it up. i cant wait to see more!

a few more from last week:

http://www.coro36ink.com/updates/paintings/sl28web.jpg

http://www.coro36ink.com/updates/paintings/sl26web.jpg

http://www.coro36ink.com/updates/paintings/sl27web.jpg

http://www.coro36ink.com/updates/paintings/sl25web.jpg

-c36

[drdarrow]

El C...

You need to loosen it up. ;)

Those are tasty!

I can smell the linseed. I want one of those in my house! Those are just great! You can PAINT!

[I.was.ink]

WOW Coro. Those last few are jaw droppingly awesome. When oh when are you going to do a still life tutorial for us. I want it bad! I love the amount of paint you used for the crazy apples. You must have painted by the gallons full!:eek:

P.S Is there anyway you could post a higher res version of the the crazy apples, or heck, all of em. I want to print those suckers out and put them on my wall. So inspirational!

-iwasink

[MindCandyMan]

I had an hour free today so I put an apple on my desk and decided to try oil painting for the first time. Coro inspires me!

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[thickpaint]

Some nice stuff going on here.
Thought I would jump in with some stuff.


http://www.kresoja.com/forums/Aaron.jpg
http://www.kresoja.com/forums/STILLIFE01.jpg
http://www.kresoja.com/forums/headshot.jpg
http://www.kresoja.com/forums/isis.jpg
http://www.kresoja.com/forums/skull.jpg
http://www.kresoja.com/forums/towelhead.jpg
http://www.kresoja.com/forums/standing_Isis.jpg
http://www.kresoja.com/forums/tits.jpg

[mermuse]

some more quick studies from this weekend...
http://mermuse.jmwebdesigns.com/post/face03.jpg
I'm trying to paint without my glasses on so I don't get caught up in unnecessary details but this seems to be making some of my paintings a little blurry.

[cotron]

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new to this oil painting thing...

[el coro]

wow guys! great work happening on this thread.\

cotron: nice to see you playing with oils, man. its the shit once you get the hang of it.


mermuse: nice colors!



thickpaint: you have some great stuff going on in yours. i like your stilllifes in particular. that skull is dope.

mcm: haha! nice one dude! keep em coming!

I.was.ink: thanks dude. i had alot of fun with those thick apples. it only yook about 20 minutes, and i painted it in my lap. happy accidents, i guess. i'll post a larger one up soon, i ipromise. i'm working on putting together a tut as well.


drdarrow: wow! thanks alot my man. if you're serious, i'd love to do a trade or something.

here are some more, on gessoed illustration board.
http://www.coro36ink.com/updates/paintings/botto1web.jpg
http://www.coro36ink.com/updates/paintings/t2bweb.jpg
http://www.coro36ink.com/updates/paintings/toobweb.jpg
all painted about life size.-c36

[mermuse]

more from this weekend...

http://mermuse.jmwebdesigns.com/post/face4sm.jpg


el coro - What lights do you use to light your subject? I still haven't been able to find good lights for my studio... do you have any recommendations?

[I.was.ink]

Sweetness!

It must be the years of practice...

btw, what did you do to that tube of paint that has all those ridges on it? I want to try that!:)

-iwasink

[drdarrow]

Originally posted by I.was.ink
what did you do to that tube of paint that has all those ridges on it? I want to try that!

That has to be a Paint Tube Wringer. I own a plastic one, but suspect the metal one is better/more durable:

Among many places you can buy one, Dick Blick has a couple right here (http://www.dickblick.com/zz049/07/products.asp?param=0&ig_id=183)

http://www.dick-blick.com/items/049/07/04907-OB2ww.jpg

They are great for keeping all your fresh paint at the front of the tubde (removing all the air is good for longevity), and great for getting every last bit paint outof that $50 tube of Rose Madder. Or even Burnt Umber. ;)

[drdarrow]

My wife received a gift package from a client. It was some Harry and David (http://www.harryanddavid.com) pears, and nuts and stuff. The pears were SO perfect, I set some up on a board in a tipped-over cardboard box (for darkness and shadows) and set it near the window in my studio and painted them.

They sold on opening night of the Miniatures show I was in!

http://www.darrowart.com/newart/image/alonelypair.jpg

Oil on gessoed masonite, 10" x 8"

[cotron]

drdarrow: those pears look awesome, like the lighting has given them a moody personality...

coro: thanks man, I'm starting to see why oils have been all the rage the past 500-600 years... that bottle of linseed oil you painted looks spot on.

everyone: fantastic and inspiring paintings.

[mermuse]

cowboy from last night....

http://mermuse.jmwebdesigns.com/post/face5.jpg

[Grendel]

amazing work guy amazing!:evilbat:

[mermuse]

here's a still life from last night...

http://mermuse.jmwebdesigns.com/post/plum.jpg

I think the colors below may be more accurate. I have a hard time filming my work and capturing the colors I painted...

http://mermuse.jmwebdesigns.com/post/plum2.jpg

[el coro]

mermuse: i use those chroma lux bulbs. they are meant to simulat north light, and while they dont, of course, they do produce nice clean clear light. i use a few lights, one on my subject one on my canvas, and one on my pallette, so i can see exactly what i'm mixing. all three are the same lightbulbs. the smaller chromalux bulbs are okay, but i like the big ones, as they are waaay brighter.
ddarrow: nice!
cotron: thanks

http://coro36ink.com/updates/paintings/botto2.jpg
-c36

[drdarrow]

That's just plain tasty, el Coro!

The ambient light coming off the lid, the cool-to-warm lid colors, all of it -- even the composition, are just great!

--D

[I.was.ink]

I agree with drdarrow...

That is one beautiful jar!

( I hope you get to teach a workshop around L.A. I swear I will be the one up front asking all the questions)

[mermuse]

el coro-

Thanks. Where do you get chroma lux bulbs? Can you find them in a normal hardware store or do you have to special order them online?

[drdarrow]

Originally posted by mermuse
Where do you get chroma lux bulbs?

I just Googled on Search Word: chromalux (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&safe=off&q=chromalux&spell=1) and found plenty of sources.

[mermuse]

drdarrow-

Thanks. I was hoping that I might be able to find them locally so I could have them for this weekend... I guess I'll have to order them and just be patient. :(

[J.Mac]

el coro and drdarrow your work is so fascinating and interesting to me :D i am trying to be a skillful as you two and everyone else here and it is just not working so well... i paint so slow and i second guess everytime i lay down anything. i am not sure what i should be doing when i paint or how i should be looking sometimes. i think about colours with value and intesity relationships but then i loose the drawing aspect. i just need some helpful guidance from people with experience...

great work everyone :D

-Jesse

p.s. - also does anyone have advice on what makes good studies for some with 2 months experience with oils and brushes?

[drdarrow]

Originally posted by mermuse
drdarrow- Thanks. I was hoping that I might be able to find them locally so I could have them for this weekend...

I use some full-spectrum 4' fluorescent bulbs I found at Wal-Mart, for $5.87 each. I took pictures of paintings with film and digital (digital set to daylight) and they came out fine. (I haven't tried them with slide film, though, which renders the trues coloration)...

I have four bulbs above my work area and palette.

I am questioning the value of working in full-spectrum light, though. I have read MANY arguments about what kind of lighting... And it kind of depends on the "destination," the way i see it.

If you're going to print only, use full-spectrum. But as Howard Behrens (http://www.howardbehrens.com/page.asp?p=2180) says:

"I used to do most of my work outdoors, but found the paintings disappointingly dark when I brought them inside. I realized that people don't hang paintings outdoors, so for nearly ten years, I've painted exclusively in my studio, under the same incandescent lighting people use in their homes."

And frankly, that makes a lot of sense to me.

My paintings look hideous in full sunlight. Using the full-spectrum fluorescents is like 'Sunlight-Lite' -- nowhere near the intensity, despite the full-spectrum.

I do have a cheap halogen bulb wired for use at my easel, just so I can see what my work will look like in someone's home that uses those. Halogen bulbs are more intense light than fluorescent.

[MindCandyMan]

awesome coro...inspiring!

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Kind of embarassed to post this attempt but what the heck...lemon study in oils 6 x 8 ...I only had naples yellow and I wish I had a brighter yellow when doing this...lemon yellow I guess hehe

[mermuse]

nice. One way to make the yellow seem more saturated is to place a semi neutral version of the compliment next to it. Instead of painting black behind the lemon you could have made the background a dark purple (slightly neutralized) and the lemons would feel much richer... you could also make the shadow under the lemon a little cooler.

I suggest playing around with the colors in photoshop... that way you can try a lot of different color variations without destroying the original.

I did this painting a while ago but I wasn't happy with the color harmonies so I digitized it and did a bunch of quick color variations in photoshop. Eventually I stumbled across something I liked... the blue/orange one.

http://mermuse.jmwebdesigns.com/post/color_variation.jpg

[MindCandyMan]

mermuse - That's great advice thanks!

[DragonGX]

MCM that lemon study is nice! I need to get a decent area that is ventilatted enough for me to paint in oils again.. :(

[drdarrow]

Originally posted by DragonGX
I need to get a decent area that is ventilatted enough for me to paint in oils again.Don't use Turp! Don't use ANY solvents.

Use Walnut oil or Walnut Alkyd resin from M. Graham (http://www.mgraham.com/). It takes a little longer to dry, but there are NO fumes. No toxins (other than those in the paint pigments, like Cadmium colors.)

Alternatively, you can paint with Safflower Oil as a "thinner" (not too thin, now), can clean your brushes with Canola Oil. Yes, it's true. Try it! I've been using Canola for cleaning for over a year. You use a rag to Squeeze the excess pigment and oil off the brush, and just use dish-soap at the end of the day (Dawn is great). You don't want much, if any, Canola in your brush when you paint... walnut oil or Safflower are better. Canola doesn't dry... but a little on the bristles doesn't hurt a painting.

Best of all, no fumes. No odor. No dizzie, no death.

Try this experiment: Go to the supermarket and buy a small bottle of Safflower Oil ($3.50). You can do a nice gooey painting AND clean your brushes with it, and it'll be dry within a few days. When you're done with your painting, wash your brushes with Dawn.

Your brushes will last longer, and so will you.

Walnut oil is superior and dries a little faster, though, and walnut-alkyd is even better. It's a resin-based medium that dries quicker. Very safe.

Don't even risk the dangers of turpentine (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ipcsneng/neng1063.html) -- and "odorless" is merely that: odorless. Would you drink odorless gasoline? No! It's still as bad-- just no smell!

[DragonGX]

You can clean brushes with oil?? Wow, I didn't know that... I'm a littlet timid to try it out, but if ti works, it would be something to look into!

I was looking into Gamsol, but its kind of expensive and isn't sold ANYWHERE locally... I also wanted to try turpenoid natural, but Ive heard bad things about it..

[drdarrow]

Originally posted by DragonGX
You can clean brushes with oil??Let's be clear: Oil is a vehicle -- some oils dry (that's what you want. Some oils do not dry (you don't want that). Either oil will transport dry pigment particles (found in all pigment paints, like oils and gouache, and even watercolor) -- but you DO want them to dry. Watercolors and oils use the same dry pigments, just different binders and vehicles. Binders help the transported (vehicled) pigments adhere to the surface.

So... you can [over]THIN with oil to the point where the pigment falls out, or wipes out easily. from there, it's like washing cooking oil off your hands: use dish soap and warm water.

CLEAN with dish soap at the end of the day. THIN all day with Walnut oil or Safflower.
THIN for In-Between brush cleaning with Canola

[el coro]

ddarrow: wow! really? i never thought about using canola oil. i've used turpenoid for years, but hate the fact that its slowly killing me. i'm off to the market tonite, and i'm gonna pick up some oils, and try it out. you are a smart man. i'm all excited now!-c36

[jrr]

geez, turpinod, will not KILL you. back when i was painting alot, the way i'd clean it, i would rinse my brushes with corn oil, or any other of those oils just to get the pigment off and then i'd use a dove bar or something and just rube my fingers though it. over water. this tends to dry the brush out alittle, so put some hair conditioner on it, yeah laugh it up pal! it works.

i use very little solvents but honestly it's not a big deal, the health concerns are exaggerated. unless you drink the stuff, it's not terrible for you, turpinoid i'm talking about, turpintine is a different animal, turpinoid is very very weak. so when you paint just be careful not to eat it, and don't leave your brushes dipped in solvent, like i've seen in many artist's and wannabee's studios.

[drdarrow]

Originally posted by el coro
i'm off to the market tonite
You're welcome!

Don't mix them up. You can get a little canola in your oil paint... your paint already has linseed, and the oxidizing qualities of linseed that make it react and change form will also "win" in the battle with the non-drying canola and make it dry, too... but you shouldn't use canola as a thinner. Having minute amounts in your brush whne you dip/mix/brush on more paint won;t hurt, though -- though I have heard someone refer to this as contaminating the pure oil paints. I'm not that much of a purist, and even less a chemist. All I know is I have dry paintings from 2 years ago that I painted with safflower, washing with canola. They are dry, not sticky, and no cracks.

[drdarrow]

Originally posted by jrr
...but honestly it's not a big deal, the health concerns are exaggerated.

Though not a perfect parallel, the same could be said about jumping off a 21 story building. For the most part, you're pretty safe. It's just at the very end you wish you hadn't.

Look, I also use Webber's Natural. Sometimes I even use regular turp for ground washes... I am careful when I can be. But as long as I have a container open for hours, it may as well be an oil like Canola or Walnut, not something fumey (is that a word?).

--David

[jrr]

Originally posted by drdarrow


Though not a perfect parallel, the same could be said about jumping off a 21 story building.


no kidding, maybe you should check out studioproducts.com they really go into this sort of thing. some of the stuff is pretty interesting.

ofcourse if you're going to paint and not be careful your chances of getting hurt in the end will increase. but if you remember to close the cap, and not paint with buckets of the stuff you're fine. open a window, bring in a fan, it's like pow! you land on a soft mattress with many beautiful ladies!
i've never known any one with health problems from painting carefully, (aside from people who are alergic to solvents). i'm talking about people in their 60's, 70's and 80's.
i know i'm coming off as sophomoric but i'm telling you i was soo paraniod about this stuff when i first started and it turns out, it's not all that dangerious. **twitch twitch**


--edit-- that webber natural stuff is junk... useless..

[mermuse]

from last night...
http://mermuse.jmwebdesigns.com/post/face08.jpg

Interesting discussion. I switched to water soluble oils to get away from all the toxic solvents... but someone told me that the paints are still just as toxic (like cadmiums).

[Main Loop]

i heard water solubles arent as bright, and overall just arent nearly as good as regular oils..

Has anyone here tried Alkyds? ive been wondering if they're a good alternative to oils..

ps: only on this site would i ever be inspired to buy light bulbs

[mermuse]

I haven't noticed a saturation difference between the two types of oils but there is a difference in consistency (stickiness).

My living room is my painting studio so I have to live with the smell of drying paintings all the time... I've found that the water soluble oils have almost no odor compared to the regular oils. In the end I think the choice between the two is just a matter of taste. I've taken workshops where half the artists were painting in regular oils and the other half in water soluble and I can't tell the difference by looking at the end product.

[bluepulse]

el coro Your paintings are extremely good. I'm taking an oil class right now and I'm finding it is a killer medium to work with. I'll post some of mine in a while.

[Adam Carnes]

http://www.adamcarnes.com/gallery/paintings/The%20Seven%20Deadly%20Sins/Pride.jpg


drdarrow- nice brush work

el coro- might be nice if the bottom was cropped in a bit. otherwise it is a nice piece

MindCandyMan- flat painting, boring, centered composition. Don't sell your self short by using what colors you have on hand(naples yellow). More color, a lemon is not just yellow. There is a variety of warm and cool colors. Mix your colors until you get a better grasp on color theory=by using primary colors instead of out of the tube browns,black and pre-mixed secondary colors. Once you have a good understanding of color theory through painting, then start adding secondary colors onto your pallette. You have a lot potential, Keep it up.

[J.Mac]

These are my homework assignments that i am doing actually one is HW and the other is b/c i just want to paint better. these ares till in progress as you can see.

http://img18.photobucket.com/albums/v53/12jesse/PEC_002.jpg

-Jesse

[Scott W]

Howdy folks, this is my first post. This is a painting I did a few weeks ago for my oil painting class taught by none other than Coro (the "el" is silent in person). I had never even thought of doing a still life (too many art and wine shows had soured me on the concept). I was really surprised when I found that I really liked it.http://www.herbergerber.com/images/painting/tiki.jpg

[flex mathews]

self portrait color study...12x12in...40 min.
http://pjmath.people.wm.edu/paint/Picture-009.jpg
trying to keep it loose, concentrate on color

[bigmonkeynuts]

pot and spoon on cloth, acrylic

http://www.geocities.com/skull_monkey/still.txt

[eljay]

man ... this thread is realy inspiring
Reading through all your posts makes me feal like I just took a painting class:)

did this one last night. Gouache on 8x10 canvas board... this stuff is good pratice!

http://members.cox.net/fall3n/sketchbook/images/bottle_fromlife.jpg

[illustr8r]

here is a page that is a combination of conte drawings and oil paintings.

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[labmonkey]

bleh. old paintings from school i just recently bothered to drag home and scan. It is a nightmare to scan a painting in many pieces and sort of stitch them together. Lets hope i didnt ruin it.

The first is acrylics, the sketch is oils. There was this gorgeous light outside on the last day with this model and i just had to paint it. It turned out better than the finished one imo :(

http://kfoll.com/labmonkay/tyler.jpg

http://kfoll.com/labmonkay/tylersketch.jpg


I hope these show up alright for everyone. My monitor is oold and not very good at displaying colors and such accurately. Ive tried to compensate for this but you know...

[Adam Carnes]

labmonkey- needs more work,
good studies. negative space could be utilized a little better in the white areas.

illustr8r- nice form

eljay- more work, boring composition. Maybe crop in some.


bigmonkeynuts- objects don't pop out enough.

flex mathews- needs more work.

Scott W- great rendering, color, form, mark making. Centered composition is boring and the bottom of the statue being so close to the edge of the canvas bothers me(un-needed tension).

J.Mac- nice shapes, good abstract quality. needs more work. I get the feel of cubism, nice.

http://www.adamcarnes.com/gallery/dailies/4-04/4-4.jpg

[antongranik]

That's my two paintings. Both in Painter. 2 and 4 hrs respectively. I've just started to learn painting.

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[Adam Carnes]

http://www.adamcarnes.com/gallery/dailies/4-04/4-7.jpg

[Adam Carnes]

Turp is toxic, use odorless mineral spirits if you have to use a solvent.
Check out this link for safety info.http://www.gamblincolors.com/safety.html

[fredflickstone]

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155146

155147

155148

Here are a few more from the last year. I have a stack at the school I need to shoot and post still. At least 20 paintings. I will try and post more when I can.

drdarrow, where do you work? Went to school? am just over in Encinitas. I would love to see more of your work. Do you studio anywhere? Home?

I love the work you are posting. Very inspirational.

Thanks for sharing. And Adam, wow those last few posts are very nice.

THis has really taken off into an awesome thread.

Ron

A few of these landscapes were done from Photos. The objective was to paint them as if from life. Sorry about the non-life images...:chug:

[drdarrow]

Originally posted by flex mathews
self portrait color study...12x12in...40 min.

Flex Matthews, your piece posted March 27th, 2004 05:15 PM: Nice planar study, but soften your edges except where it's absolutely necessary to have sharp divisions. Literally EVERYTHING in the image is sharp from edge to edge... unlike real life, and unlike the way we perceive. If everything is in focus, the viewer doesn't know where to look, or concentrate.

When I say "soften" I don't mean "lick" the edges untill they blend, I mean a simple, well-aimed and directed brush stroke joining two values or hues.

[drdarrow]

Painted Tuesday, 2.5hrs, Live Model

http://www.DarrowArt.com/other/forums/pedro_by_darrow.jpg

[drdarrow]

Oil, Painted Saturday, 9 x 12 on Masonite, Live Subject - 45 minutes - Didn't know I was painting him. Then he left.

http://www.darrowart.com/other/forums/saturday_jam_by_darrow.jpg

[drdarrow]

I call this Flower Power, since in the same image you see the famous flower fields of Carlsbad, CA and the landmark Edison power plant in the background.

Last Thursday (4/2/04)

Plein Air painting with a friend

Oil on canvas, 8 x 10

1:40pm (below)
http://www.DarrowArt.com/other/forums/flower-power-by-darrow-1.jpg

2:10pm (below)
http://www.DarrowArt.com/other/forums/flower-power-by-darrow-2.jpg

2:40pm (below)
http://www.DarrowArt.com/other/forums/flower-power-by-darrow-3.jpg

Finish, 3:10pm (below)
http://www.DarrowArt.com/other/forums/flower-power-by-darrow-4.jpg

In the scene
http://www.DarrowArt.com/other/forums/flowerfields-darrow.jpg

[fredflickstone]

very nice work. I am surprised I dont see you around more, we paint in many of the same locations it seems....

Ron

[drdarrow]

Originally posted by fredflickstone
drdarrow, where do you work? Went to school? I am just over in Encinitas. I would love to see more of your work. Do you studio anywhere? Home?

I love the work you are posting. Very inspirational.

Thanks for sharing.

I live in Carlsbad, CA. I work at home/studio (tiny place... studio is in living-room).

Studied at Art Center (77-80), Fixler (88 & 89), Westermoe and Wee (97-98) and Watts (2000) -- I wouldn't say I studied with Watts, since I just paid to join the figure class to attend and join in. I have a lot of respoect for the Jeff, but the class was for newer painters.

My main teacher: Morgan Weistling from years of firendship and phone calls ("How do you ________________?"). Then there are hours upon hours of reading and studying Richard Schmid, figure landscape and Alla Prima... then there's Ken Auster, Matt Smith, Kevin McPherson, and before that I studied a lot of Gregg Kreutz' work in a book called Problem Solving for Oil Painters. A GREAT book! Cheap, too!

You can see/learn more at
my website (www.DarrowArt.com).

Thanks for all the kind words and encouragement... This forum has kicked me in the butt and made me start painting more often. Some of these guys (like Coro) do stuff that just makes my art-blood thin out and start pumping again!

in your excellent work, I recognize models Jacquelin and Ana... I'll have to post my Jacquelin, too.

I teach Drawing and Anatomy at AICA-SD, Mission Valley, right now on Mondays 8 - 12noon -- absolute beginners. I wish I could have the same students after three years of art school, but they go on to computer jobs with their art. Very few there are motivated to learn to draw, and none care about painting... none that I have had in my classes. No painting courses there, anyway...

Good kids, but hard to convince they need to know how to draw to make it in ANY art job.

[drdarrow]

Originally posted by fredflickstone I am surprised I dont see you around more [/B]

I just recently got outside :)

[fredflickstone]

excellent. Old blood. Glad to finally meet you...digi of course. I have heard about you from the instructors we have who also lurk around here on these forums.

We will have to go paint together some time. I am a big fan of plein air lately, since I have more time on my hands.

Do you do much illustration work? Or are you straight to the fine art? I am going to check out your site shortly. Its great to know more great artists live here. I thought I was only going to find our students around town, and occasionally maybe John Asaro...

I took classes with Glen, Mark, Paul, Andrew, Shawn Zents, the classic tribe. I wish I could have studied with Morgan. He was before my time...

I will be coming to this thread more often. Take care and if you ever want to go paint, hollar...e-hollar that is...heh


Ron

[MindCandyMan]

dr darrow and ron you guys rock! Ron I was excited to see that painting with zorn's palette...very well done. I love zorn so it was really cool to see you do that...awesome.

[flex mathews]

drdarrow: thanks for the crit... i totally know what you mean now that you pointed it out. i love your work, your pieces are amazing and inspiring.

[Adam Carnes]

4.5 hours guash and watercolor

http://www.adamcarnes.com/gallery/dailies/2-04/2-13.jpg

illustr8r- I agree, always use proper ventilation and it is best to not use any solvents if possible. Odorless Mineral Spirits is toxic. Depending upon the technique, I prefer to paint with straight oil paint, no medium. Sometimes I like to do glazing, then I will use a medium that has a low amount of OMS in the recipe.

fredflickstone- I really like the rendering and color of the pirate painting. Nice brushwork in the cityscape painting. It reminds me of a jacob collins cityscape:

jc cityscape (http://www.artrenewal.org/asp/database/museum_template.asp?aid=821&page=2)

drdarrow- the tuesday live model painting reminds me of a van gogh self portrait. It great to see the step by step process, nice landscape.

[maldrin]

I lurk this thread constantly and I just wanted to tell everyone who's shared that I'm really enjoying and learning a lot. drdarrow the step-by-step landscape was awesome, and the talent you folks display just warms my heart. i've found a life drawing class in my area and i'm inspired to participate. nervous to draw in front of other people, but it's bound to be worth the effort.

Thanks, all. :chug:

maldrin

[Adam Carnes]

4.5 Hours

http://www.adamcarnes.com/gallery/dailies/4-04/4-7.jpg

http://www.adamcarnes.com/gallery/dailies/4-04/4-9.jpg

I like the brushwork on the face better on the first image. I didn't realize that the painting changed so drastically until I saw these pics together.

[Farin]

Really great stuff everyone!!

I enjoyed watching this thread since it had started.

So... thx for showing the pictures and give so many advices... think I'll gonna try oils



My litte contribution ... inspired by " A Lonely Pair"
... had a break after the pear and the light changed ... and after adding the glas, I recognized the change ... well anyway it's very difficult ...


http://www.farinart.de/temp/P3120005.JPG


my first stillife ever ...it is much more fun than I tought, will try it again, maybe with oils


@drdarrow ...thanks for the inspiration... after seeing your work and the work of Morgan Weistling, I gonna try to find someone here in germany, is able teaching me to paint

[antongranik]

My favourite fruit! :)

155151

[jetpack42]

Originally posted by drdarrow
Very few there are motivated to learn to draw, and none care about painting... none that I have had in my classes. No painting courses there, anyway...

Good kids, but hard to convince they need to know how to draw to make it in ANY art job.


This is so true. I graduated in December from the Art Institute of Seattle, and most everyone there didn't care about drawing after a couple quarters. Nobody, including myself, thought it was useful to learn to paint (oops). Of course, now I want to learn like one bad futhermucker...I think I am understanding now how essential it really is. On the other hand, learning drawing fundamentals, animation fundamentals, modeling, texturing, FLASHMX MAX MAYA AFTER EFFECTS....there just wasn't enough time in 2 years to really learn how to paint, and upon reflection, there wasn't much time to learn much of anything real well....

in any case, thanks for the demos. Very informative, I apprecaited them.

[jetpack42]

Originally posted by el coro
ddarrow: wow! really? i never thought about using canola oil. i've used turpenoid for years, but hate the fact that its slowly killing me. i'm off to the market tonite, and i'm gonna pick up some oils, and try it out. you are a smart man. i'm all excited now!-c36


el coro has been saved!! yay!

[Adam Carnes]

If you want to clean your brushes without any solvent, all that you have to do is:

-thouroghly wipe all the paint off of your brush with a rag.

-use HIGHLY CONCENTRATED DISH SOAP(don't use any thin crapy soap). then clean your brush only in the soap(NO WATER). wipe off soap with rag or paper towels.

-repeat as nessessary.

-now use soap and water until completely clean.

This has worked perfectly fine for me.

Also, if you like painting with no medium, you can just thouroughly wipe off your brush with a rag inbetween colors. That is how I painted this painting below.


http://www.adamcarnes.com/gallery/paintings/The%20Seven%20Deadly%20Sins/Greed.jpg

[Adam Carnes]

5 hours

http://www.adamcarnes.com/gallery/dailies/4-04/4-13.jpg

[Adam Carnes]

Does anyone know if grumbacher pale drying oil has any problems when it ages(cracking, darkening or yellowing)?

It contains manganese naphthenate and linseed oil. The bottle says that it is non-toxic too.

[Adam Carnes]

2 hour color study

http://www.adamcarnes.com/gallery/dailies/4-04/4-14.jpg

[Sheff]

This was a week ago. 11x14. 2 hours. Limited palette.

http://www.sheff.com/portfolio/Drawings/Gigi040603.jpg

[Main Loop]

Originally posted by Scott W
Howdy folks, this is my first post. This is a painting I did a few weeks ago for my oil painting class taught by none other than Coro (the "el" is silent in person). I had never even thought of doing a still life (too many art and wine shows had soured me on the concept). I was really surprised when I found that I really liked it.http://www.herbergerber.com/images/painting/tiki.jpg

what? coro is doing a painting class? where? when? how much?

[drdarrow]

Originally posted by Sheff
This was a week ago. 11x14. 2 hours. Limited palette.

Pro: Nice brushwork and pleasantly understated color. Good values. Accurate drawing and proportions.

Neg: I am uncomfortable with the apparent sharpness and depth of detail in the fat folds under and near the breast. There are several darks congregating there, and they all have sharp definition, drawing my eye there. Not good. Try lighter values inside the folds (more reddish than dark brown) and break up any linear strokes to blur them.

If it's sharp focus or high contrast, the eye goes their first. Control the viewer's eye.

--David

[Bojee]

Been a fan of a lot of you guy's stuff for while but it's taking me a lot longer to get my stuff organized so I thought I'd start with some older stuff first and work my way up from there. http://img29.photobucket.com/albums/v88/bojee/figures/dancer.jpg
http://img29.photobucket.com/albums/v88/bojee/figures/5.jpg
just a couple of small things about 4x6" right around 50min.
Keep the great work coming, I've been very inspired.:D

[Scott W]

Main Loop - the painting class is just open to other Shaba Games enployees right now. It's been really great. Coro is an exceptional teacher, entertaining too. Do you attend school or go to life drawing classes in SF?

[Bojee]

http://img29.photobucket.com/albums/v88/bojee/figures/jim1.jpg
Here's another small one that i did from a pose today, it's about 5x8 watercolor with a little opaque white, right around 45min.:rolleyes:
I just applied to go back to school and have been accepted to MICA and The School of The Art Institute of Chicago, anyone have any opinions about either one??:confused:

[MindCandyMan]

155152

[Bojee]

Right on MCM! Use what you have right?

[Bojee]

http://img29.photobucket.com/albums/v88/bojee/figures/peacock.jpg
http://img29.photobucket.com/albums/v88/bojee/figures/Faces.jpg

a few more older pieces, in oil, right around 2 1/2 hrs.:rolleyes:

[Main Loop]

Originally posted by Scott W
Main Loop - the painting class is just open to other Shaba Games enployees right now. It's been really great. Coro is an exceptional teacher, entertaining too. Do you attend school or go to life drawing classes in SF?

yeah i go to Academy of Art right now... hmm makes me wanna get a job there

[MindCandyMan]

Right on MCM! Use what you have right?

Exactly hehe...found it in my driveway dead so I put it to use hehe

[Bojee]

Exactly hehe...found it in my driveway dead so I put it to use hehe

I've seen many a roadkill I wish I could take home to get the skeleton but it seems like it'd be too messy a situation,plus I live in a apartment and the neighbors would talk etc.etc..... lol :D

[MindCandyMan]

I am gonna bury it and then dig up the skeleton later as well ;) ...I was cracking up when I read what you just wrote because when I saw the bird I got a freezer bag and went back outside...grabbed a stick and proceeded to push the bird into the bag. I was looking around me the whole time thinking, "Man if the neighbors see me doing this..." heheheh

[drdarrow]

Originally posted by MindCandyMan ...the whole time thinking, "Man if the neighbors see me doing this..." heheheh

Just because no one has questioned you doesn't mean you're not really a sick, twisted individual...

We know.

[Bojee]

MCM- more power to ya, at least you have some place to bury it. :D I have an aunt who has a farm and she used to send me bones. I've heard of a couple of different ways to get down to the skeleton without hurting any of the bones, somebody told me I think grub worms?? It speeds up the process cause you'll probably have to bury it for a while to get to the skeleton.
I cant wait to see the painting from that. :D
It's worth it though, seeing the structure really helps to understand a thing. I'm sure you know a lot of the old masters like Michelangelo, dug up bodies and disected them in order to learn how the body was put together.
Keep up the good work. :thumbsup:
And I don't want to hear about any grave robbing in your part of the states. :D

[el coro]

mcm: nicest work i thinki've seen from you yet dude. very well done. keep up the good work. and as long as you're not having intercourse with the dead animals, its perfectly okay to have them in your posession.-c36

[Bojee]

Originally posted by el coro
mcm: nicest work i think i've seen from you yet dude. very well done. keep up the good work.

I agree. Thought the same thing,should've said it, but since I'm kinda new on the block.... :)

[MindCandyMan]

bojee - thanks man I appreciate it...I'm new on the block when it comes to oil painting myself that's for sure ;) ...I wasn't sure how I would get the skeleton so maybe grub worms is the best way to go I actually wasn't quite sure how to go about it...maybe I should look it up on the internet hehe...if you can make a bomb from stuff on the internet I'm sure you can learn how to preserve the bones hehe.

coro - Thanks so much man. I get a lot of inspiration from your work and I love the oils you have posted in here. Yeah...I definitely don't wanna be known as the necropheliac (spelling?) heheh...you gonna be at the workshop in austin? It will be cool to see you paint up close!

drdarrow - Don't tell...please...I painted it plein air I swear!

[blindthief]

this is a killer thread. i'll have to come back for some more later.

[Adam Carnes]

7 hours

http://www.adamcarnes.com/gallery/dailies/4-04/4-21.jpg

[illustr8r]

I was reading the advice on thinners, vehicles, oils, etc. a few pages back and thought that I would post another painting suggestion for people to try:

If you are doing paintings with oil in more than one sitting your palette tends to dry between sessions....and you have to scrap the paint. I like to have giant blobs of paint on my pallette when I paint (its the only way to do it, if you ask me)...and don't want to waste the paint.

So anyway, you can use one of those "tupperware-esque" "stay-wet" pallettes with the lid....and those are all fine and dandy, but the paint will still partially dry-out if your painting sessions are more than a week apart. So, you can use a drop of clove oil per blob or "oil of clove"...you can get it at wild oats, health food stores, or any hippie shop with essential oils. This will increase the life of your palette paint to a couple of weeks or longer when used in combination with the tupper-palette thing. No irratating "skin" on your colors and a nice spicy aroma that some find pleasing. You shouldn't need more than a drop or two per blob, unless you want it to last longer. Take it or leave it, but I find it usefull. :fruit:

[MindCandyMan]

Nice one Adam Carnes I really like that last painting you did.

Thanks for the tip illustr8r...I should try that.

[Bojee]

Here's some more life stuff, the first couple are around 2 and a half hrs.,the rest are right around 5hrs, 2 sessions actually.
C&C welcomed.

http://img29.photobucket.com/albums/v88/bojee/clothed%20figures/megan.jpg

http://img29.photobucket.com/albums/v88/bojee/clothed%20figures/beehive.jpg

http://img29.photobucket.com/albums/v88/bojee/clothed%20figures/dreams.jpg

http://img29.photobucket.com/albums/v88/bojee/clothed%20figures/accord.jpg

http://img29.photobucket.com/albums/v88/bojee/clothed%20figures/toys.jpg

sorry a lot of the colors are washed out, I'm still getting used to the whole digtal thing.

[Bojee]

Here's a few more.:D

http://img29.photobucket.com/albums/v88/bojee/clothed%20figures/mariner2.jpg

http://img29.photobucket.com/albums/v88/bojee/figures/mariner.jpg

http://img29.photobucket.com/albums/v88/bojee/clothed%20figures/prophet.jpg

http://img29.photobucket.com/albums/v88/bojee/clothed%20figures/welder.jpg

http://img29.photobucket.com/albums/v88/bojee/clothed%20figures/homealone.jpg

The first 3 are of the same model, probably pretty obvious. The first 2 are from the same session, the first one a couple of hrs, the second is about 1hr give or take.

The 4th one was around 5hrs, 2 sessions.

The 5th was 2 1/2hrs.

All of them are in oil on paper. :)

Hopefully the color is better on these.

[Bojee]

Still too washed out, sorry guys I'll play with more and try to do better on later posts.

[drdarrow]

You need to work on developing a bigger signature...

[Bojee]

That's the best that you can do?? I sign my work cause I show a lot and it saves me the trouble of doing it later. I also work in a lot of different styles and the signature is recognizable thoughout, but if that's the only way I'm going to get a decent response I'll crop it out next time. :D

[drdarrow]

No, I can do better than that.

I could have been mean. ;)

I was just yankin' yer chain.

You keep apologizing for the washed out nature of the images, and really, I was going to comment on the apparent lack of contrast, but the washed out digital photos kinda explains that, so I was reserving my critiques until you figure out your camera, and give us something more representitive.

By the way, I don't know how "I sign my work cause I show a lot and it saves me the trouble of doing it later" is a response to my "big sig." jab...

With or without good photos, I find the cool shadows disturbing. I like your brushwork in general, and your abstract drawing, but the blue is so foreign to me as shadows that the flesh looks like that of a suffocated person. If that's your signature coloring, or style, I have no criticism for that -- it's wide open. But if you are trying to achieve visual realism, cool isn't cool. Shadows are warm, usually.

[Bojee]

Thank You. :) Sorry if I'm a little sensitive, I thought it was strange that that was the only thing you said.
No I haven't mastered my digital camera, but in the mean time I didn't think it was a reason not to post ,just anxious I guess.
I liked the comments you had said to someone else on how to get stronger whites and blacks when shooting digital photos ( I think that was you?).

I'm here to learn as much as anybody else and I know I have a long way to go, I'm not always going for exact realism but I definitely appreciate the input and will think about what you said.

Sorry if the explaination of my signature size doesn't make sense to you but it does to me,it's reconizable, many people have told me that they like it and more importantly I like it, it varies from piece to piece.
I used to have trouble figuring out what to do with the signature,or how to sign it, and then got the idea from some of the Viennese artists like Scheile (one of my artistic heroes)on how I could approach it , although his signature may be not as big :D ,Others have also said it looks like a chop(chinese stamp), but that's cool if your not into it.

Thanks again for the critique.-B :D

[Adam Carnes]

9 hours

http://www.adamcarnes.com/gallery/dailies/4-04/4-23.jpg

[Bojee]

Wow, nice piece Adam, easily the best work I've seen of yours so far, but I've only seen what you've posted on this thread. Great Job ! :thumbsup:

This one seems to have more depth, I guess it's the extra time. How many sittings?

[Adam Carnes]

Bojee- Thanks. I really enjoyed doing this painting. I was influenced by steven assael and tony ryder. It took me 4 sittings.

looking at your lasts 2 posts of images; I feel that you would benefit by spending more time on 1 painting and really rendering it alot more than you are comfortable. Even if you think you are done, keep going. Doing that myself has dramatically help me. Also, if you are shooting for a more realistic rendering; watch your porportions/anatomy. If you study anatomy enough, you will get really fast at rendering the figure too.

I agree that the signature is too big and prominate, it takes away from your paintings.

I like your colors and values in the second painting, the guy with the scully hat and beard.

[Adam Carnes]

sorry, accidently posted twice. browser problems.

[Bojee]

Adam thanks for the comments, glad you like the one with the with the scully hat. I know tony ryder's stuff but not steven assael( know the name but not the work),I met tony once.

I'm sure I'd benefit from longer poses, the trick is that everything I've posted so far is session work so it's either one or two 3hr sessions.I've worked from a model up to 4 sessions before , 12hrs, but that's about it. Love to work on longer more involved things but I've yet to do it.

I work from a live model 4 days a week right now but i'm going back to school in the fall and will hopefully be able to devote more time to it then.

I know there's a lot to be learned there, but honestly I've always been into the quicker stuff (not hard to figure out right?). I like the immediacy of the moment and feel that sometimes some of the freshness and life is lost if it's overworked. Some people do it just fine,but I've yet to master it.

The signature well I guess it's a judgement call, but I'll try to crop it in or take the picture before i sign it next if it's too distracting. I actually get compliments on it all the time but that's why I'm posting here to get new opinions.:)

I'll wait a while before I post again and see what you think, and also think about what you and drdarrow said in the meantime.
Like I said great job on the painting, I think this one is stronger cause your values are better, but again maybe that's cause you had more time.

I'll work on it, thanks again for the comments. :)

[drdarrow]

Originally posted by Bojee
The signature well I guess it's a judgement call, but I'll try to crop it in or take the picture before i sign it next if it's too distracting.

Well, let me be more to the point:

Your signature is HUGE.

It *IS* the focal point. It's like those damned MSNBC (and everyone else) logos in the corner of the screen, distracting away from the reason you're watching TV. And now they have ANIMATED logos with SOUND! I can't tell you how offensive that is.

My philosphy: if you signature says "Look at me!" your artwork is lacking, and you know it and are advertising it.

By contrast, if your artwork is outstanding, you signature can be single letter, and the viewer will want to know WHO DID THIS?

Your signature, however clever, is obtrusive and detracts from your art, in my opinion. It's kind of like making your phone number the biggest thing on your business card. How desperate does that look?

Make a big name with great art, not with a big name.

[Bojee]

Well let me clarify, "It's my judgement call. " At this point I'm pretty amused that it offends you so. I was here to talk about the work but I guess I hit a nerve.

[el coro]

okay, i gotta chime in here and say i couldnt agree more with the doctor. your signature is gigantic and very distracting. i did the same thing when i began canvas painting. being an ex graf writer i couldnt put my name on the canvas big enough, all gigantic and in cad red and shit,, but thankfully one of my teachers called me on it, and it made me realize that i should not only make it smaller, but tone down the contrast between my sig and whetever the painting was. trust me dude it makes a huge difference. come to think of it, i cant think of any great painters or illustrators who signed their work that big. maybe leyendecker, but his signature was insane and often every bit as beautiful as the paintings alot of times. i also think the signing with pencil or pen or scratching your name into the wet paint is kind of a no no, as the application and execution differs too much from the way the rest of the painting is executed, thus popping it out even more. i think the paintings overall are nice. you have a good grasp on the medium and are making it work for you. your brushwork is nice and you're edges are pretty strong, i think you have alot of potential. but you need to be more willing to listen to criticism, its the only way you'll grow and learn. drdarrow is a very experienced illustrator and painter, and he's giving you golden advice that i had to pay money at school to hear, take it and use it. thats what this place is for. -c36

[Bojee]

El Coro- Sorry, I seem to have gotten off to the wrong start, Thank you so much for the comments on the work. I'm beginning to think posting was a mistake.
I am listening, I guess I'm just having trouble with the way some of it is being given.
Didn't mean to offend. Again Sorry. :rolleyes:

[el coro]

no harm no foul man. your work is a very welcomed addition to our humble forum. i dont want to think i was slamming you in any way. this forum is for learning and swapping info. please dont think your posting was a mistake. this being an internet forum, people can come off somewhat abraisive sometimes, when the true intention was casual ribbing. drdarrow is a funny guy, please dont mistake his humor for hostility. and dont be so sensitive! we're a casual and friendly community, theres not any reason to pad comments or mince words, we're all artists here...this is shop talk. i hope to see more of your stuff on here. you have been very active on the boards lately. we need you.-c36

[Bojee]

Thanks Coro- This isn't how I expected to be first talking to you but I appreciate it. I'll post more but you guys have given me a lot to think about so it might be a while before I post artwork again.

Were you one of the people that started this? If so I just want to tell you it's an amazing thing you've done. :)

[drdarrow]

Bojee,

I apologize for my sarcastic remark about your signature. My comment, which is an educated opinion (and hopefully you posted your work here for opinions, not just praise), was meant to say, had I been direct: Your signature is too big and dominating, distracting and deperate-looking.

Neither you nor your signature are offensive. My remark was about the damned TV station logos being offensive and obtrusive. I see no reason for anything to be on my TV screen except the show I am watching, and I hate the trend toward eating up bits of my viewable screen area with advertising and station info. If I want to know what station I am on, I can glance at the lighted digital number outside the image that is always there.

Likewise, my opinion is your signature should work with—not against your art. It should blend in. I should become incidental. The idea is that if someone likes the work, they will want to know who did it, and they will find it.

Thee are so many famous artists who sign their work illegibly, knowing that it doesn't make a difference, as long as it works with the art.

You want to be different? Be different. I don't care. But if you want an opinion, put on thicker skin, leave your ego in the garage, and post more work. You'll grow faster as an artist with your work on display here, than with your tail between your legs.

One guy here, among many, who has my admiration for both courage and enormous progress is MindCandyMan. I talk about him to my students in class. Two years ago, he started a thread called Journey of an Absolute Rookie (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=870&highlight=journey) in which he cast all pride aside, layed his guts on the table and committed himself to stumbling through an art education, naked, as it were, for all to see... from really bad work (at the beginning) to very remarkable work over a relatively short time.

MCM is living proof of how setting a goal and listening to people's criticism, working hard, studying good artists, and sticking to it can make someone into a good artist.

Now, to some praise for you: You are doing a LOT of paintings, and you deserve great respect for that. You get it from me, and many others I am sure. Painting all the time is a sure way to get better. No doubt.

The caveat is that painting wrong every day will tattoo bad habits into your brain. There's no room for growth when you insist on doing your stuff the same every day. You must welcome change.

Experiment. Post. Listen. Decide.

It's simple.

You will not be able to please everyone, but you will find your "voice" one day.

I only mean well, and I didn't communcate that through my first sarcastic message about your signature. I'm sorry.

--David

PS. Coro, twice you have referred to me as "the Doctor" -- which is fun, but not true. the DR in DRDarrow is my first and middle initials. Just wanted you to know. You can keep calling me the doctor if you want, but to be honest, my medical practice license was taken away from me after a botched brain surgery I performed under the influence of turpentine. ;)

[MindCandyMan]

Thanks so much for the kind words drdarrow...I'm glad I could give back, if even a little, with my thread. That's definitely my goal considering how much free help I have received. Thanks :chug:

[el coro]

oh i know you're not a real doctor...it just sonuds right...-c36

[mermuse]

wow a lot went on while I was on vacation...

this is from last weekend.
http://mermuse.jmwebdesigns.com/post/flower.jpg

[drdarrow]

Originally posted by el coro
oh i know you're not a real doctor...it just sounds right...-c36

Then Doctor it is.

--Doc

[drdarrow]

Mermuse,

Nice one! Good color, nice strokes...

Now, why don't you work on a bigger signa... nevermind. I'm not going there again! :)

--Doc

[el coro]

heres on i started a few weeks ago, and while i didnt like it at first, i reworked it a bit and i like it okay now. even though the little silver pouring thing on the left is painted horendously...

http://www.coro36ink.com/updates/paintings/sllsilverweb.jpg

mermuse: probably one of me faves from you. very nice. keep em coming.

doctor: you are like a doctor of painting. your presence on these boards is very appreciated. i am learning alot just looking at your stuff.


MindCandyMan: the world is yours dude. you've figured out the equation hard work=results. keep it going dude.


Bojee: yes i am a "founding father" of conceptarrt. i was fortunate enough to have met jason manley years ago, and when he approached me about being iinvolved with starting ca, i jumped on it. its really grown beyond all of our expectations, becoming a truly wonderful artist community, i'm just happy to be a part of it, and it warms my heart to see how its grown.

adam carnes: dude you