ooblog

I will probably update this with better words tomorrow, but I’m headed out so this is a quick post.  My studio mate DongYun had a show which was wonderful that opened on Thursday.  Good news is that it was a good show, but the bad news is you will only be able to enjoy it in photos as the show is already down.  Although I’m not a football fan I have to congratulate the Saints as New Orleans could use some positive luck/vibes.  I did some work this week which I will have to post down the road.  Since we are already in February, I want to show some images from my small sketch book that I finished in December.  Once you see all three installments you might notice some sort of progression or change.  Here is to installment one which I started while I was at SVA.  Of course, SVA makes up the second half of the book as the first half spands several years of occasional tinkering.

I’ve always liked those neon signs that you might see while driving on the road.  I would suspect to grab ones attention to get  a bite to eat, stay at a motel or go bowling.  Does the free HBO ever get anyones attention anymore?  I recently fine tuned this piece which comes from a short story I read recently.  Although the sign in the story doesn’t specify the type I used the brief description to go with those crazy signs I like.  This weekend I was also able to go by a small works art show Nu is in and hang out with Martin at his house before he ships his paintings out to LA.  Martin I’m going to paint in oils again soon.  O.K. now its out there so I have to stop saying and actually do it.  Below are some stages and details of the super sign.

Here is something I worked on for a portion of the week which was due today.  I started another contest today as well which is due later in the week.  Although the current contest will hopefully generate some exposure the second has a little bit of money on the line so keep your fingers crossed for me.  The images below are some of the stages this one went through.  I actually like the second stage better, but the indigo skin was one of the requirements.

I finally started using a watercolor set purchased several months ago.  I saw the results of this set from a teachers sketch book last summer.  The brand is Cretacolor and the colors are more vibrant than watercolor sets I’ve used in the past.  Of course the demo (in all blue) started with some inks I use on a regular basis.  I decided to test the new set out on the same watercolor demo I started in class last semester.  Below is the demo as it looked in class and how it looks now.

Today, I figured I would show something in progress.  There are 42 rabbits here which I figured would be appropriate for today as the number was almost 26, but I decided to keep going.  Without being anymore obscure I might showcase the 42 rabbits on October 10th  to drive home the point of todays original number of 26.  In other news, if you haven’t seen the Destination show off of Little 12th street, it will be up for the rest of the month.  I’ve been doing a decent amount of drawing this year and I hope to keep up the pace.  It has been fun and has reminded me of why I make art to begin with.  Below is me enjoying the process.  The first is the whole thing and the rest are details.  Here is to the rabbits project.

Happy New Year dear readers.  I wont get into the irony of 2010 being “year of the tiger.”  Although the Chinese New Year is a few weeks away I decided to make this as a year ago I made an image for “year of the Ox.”  I’m still thinking about resolutions and 2009 so you will have to bear with me.  Until things start to define themselves a little more clearly I will leave you with the image below.

Life never unfolds the way we might expect.  As much as people might hear this, the elusive quality of how one puts together parts of our own life experiences is not any clearer than a memory. Often no more tangible or predictable.  To make matters more complicated, as individuals, we shape these thoughts with different perspectives and opinions making a reality everyone can agree upon problematic.  It is as if the strength in ones vision is more important at times than the reality which unfolds before us or maybe even helps shape the real reality we actually experience.  Today, being exceptionally warmer than I would have predicted, presented itself as a theme worth sharing.  Belief in ones artistic vision along with some sort of outside support or validation in an artistic practice are key elements for a healthy future.  All that being said,  I hope 2009 had more bright days than sad ones for anyone reading this and I can only hope 2010 provides some good fruit for the seeds which have been planted.  See you all in the New Year.

One more week of blogging before the end of the new year and I have one more installment of this sketch book (part 3 next week) before I close the chapter.  In order to make this a  great experience for everyone, I want to open up a dialogue to the readers.  Maybe this is a mistake, but you never know until you’ve made it right?  I would like to know in as short and as clear of a manner as possible what readers want to see or hear about in 2010.  In order to clarify, I’ve decided to start the discussion with some topics I’ve covered over the year.  Do you want to see more process, photos of random NY things, stories of things which have happened to me/others, art tips, current events, contest/give away, suggestions?  As I get an assortment of comments through the blog please direct these emails to suggestions”at”oobust”dot”com and make the subject read blog 2010.  Thanks in advance for reading/participating and have a wonderful holiday. Below I have included more figure drawings from a sketch book I started out being frustrated with, but have grown to love.  Enjoy!

I know, I know.  More figure drawing, but I really went through and narrowed these down.  Below are some of the images I’ve selected from another book I finished around the same time I finished the last figure book.  Most of what you are seeing is a mixture of gesso with chalk pastel or color ink.  The figures are done with sumi ink and white ink in an Aquabee Super Deluxe 9 x 12 sketch book during 20 min sessions.  This is from the first sketch book that was given to me when I started SVA.  The first image below will be on display at society of illustrators for a few weeks along with others who attend the figure sessions, so if you are around and want to see it in person, check it out.  The display will be across from the bar on the third floor.

As promised this is part three of one of the sketch books I finished about a month ago.  The book below is on standard lower grade sketch book paper.  The new books have been upgraded to Moleskine.  Aquabee Super Deluxe is still the brand I’m using for the 20 min wet media poses.  I’m excited about the new books I’ve started and hope they break new ground.  I’m also about to finish another book which is the one I usually draw in when I’m on the train so I will have to post some stuff when it’s finished.

Thanks for those who attended the Destination art show.  “The Art Market” will be up until January 10th.  I also just sent my work to Ghost Gallery & Gossamer Collective in Seattle.  All of the art is 4 inches or smaller.  Below is the info for the mini art show. If you live in Seattle check out the show.  It should be fun.

Ghost Gallery & Gossamer Collective:
Thursday, December 10th
MINIATURE ART VI: THE HOLIDAY SHOW (PART 2)
Miniature art by local and national artists! Great for holiday gift giving!
SOLO BAR, 8pm till close
200 Roy Street in Lower Queen Anne
show runs through December

Friday, December 18th
MINIATURE ART VI: THE HOLIDAY SHOW (PART 3)
8pm – 12am
Featuring DJ Nitty Gritty, Gene Balk & Michael Chrietzberg (Emerald City Soul Club)
Miniature art by local, national & global artists~
Gossamer Collective
1406 18th Ave at Union
show runs through December