A Stick Figure In Clay

There is no doubt H.David Wagner leveled me up this semester.

one class with a model

 I've mentioned before, this was the semester of the figure, and I don't think I've ever learned more than I have in Figure Modeling.

one class with a model

Working with clay, and seeing the figure 3 dimensionally solved problems I've been struggling with for years.  

two classes with a model

There's something about touching the form it that makes it real, and it gives you a much better idea of what you're drawing later.

one class no model

 I can't wait to start applying this to things that aren't real.

A Stick Figure In Charcoal

I havent been keeping up with the weekly updates, but wanted to show off some stuff now that the semesters over.  

These are all from Life Drawing, and mostly 5-10 minute poses.  

Halfway through the semester Henry Yan was replaced by Matt Crane.  Both men are monsters, but  Matt really championed the halftone-eraser style, which resonated in a big way for me.

After 15 years of fumbling with charcoal I feel like I'm finally starting to get the hang of the tool, and I'm at the beginnings of a style.

Now to figure out what to do with it.

Sun God: June 18th 2010

The first of hopefully many pieces finished out of my "work in progress" pile. Color always makes me feel like I'm actually doing something.

As a bonus, I actually get to go to this show. You should too.

Red Light

After 3 years of being in each others lives, Roxanne and I have decided to part ways.

I'm moving back to Cleveland to finish school online.

A Stick Figure In Perspective: Week Four & Five

(click on the pictures, and they get bigger)

 

I've spent a lot of time arguing that art isn't a god given  talent, and the past few weeks have done nothing but prove that to me further. What we perceive as a natural style is nothing but a series of decisions  (even If that decision is to slack off, or not draw at all) .

 

Ive compared this experience to boot camp since I was being shipped away from my buddies, and it's even more apt as I learn to slow down and do things right. Learning to measure twice and draw once.

As you can imagine this makes it a lot less fun. I've had my share of warnings of structure killing the passion from art school casualties.  While I understand that now more than ever, I think it's nothing but another decision. What doesn't become less romantic with further study? Deciding to stop is falling in love with the praise and not the process.

Because there is no end, there is no good enough, there's only struggle. Whether it's art or anything else.

A Stick Figure In Perspective: Week Three

After my massive "work in progress" post, I haven't drawn one cartoon image, and while it's only been one week, it's very uncharacteristic of me.  The benefit has been massive, and in many ways rejuvenating.  

Cartooning is in many ways a form of handwriting, at certain times a persona, and in the very least a voice.  It's also "everything you do wrong" as Chuck Jones would say.  For the past 6 months every piece of new information had to be adapted to my cartooning style, because too much new info would betray my style.  In a weird way, betray my place in the world.

  Also, holding on to work that I financially can't finish, is a bit soul crushing.  What I thought was only artistic blue balls was a self induced pressure which prevented me from moving on to the task at hand.  The very simple sounding, but insanely difficult-quasi zen like task of learning to see. 

Which causes my current work to look like exactly what it is: An art student trying to figure things out, and maybe it's always looked like that, but this week for the first time in years, it's how I perceive it.  Without any style, and without any persona.

I feel like it's the only way I can fix it.

A Stick Figure In Perspective: Week Two

 (Go on, touch it.  It get's bigger)

My figure modeling professor told me not to worry about my sculpture, but instead focus on the sculpture that I'm making in my mind.

I really feel like that was the case this week, or maybe I'm making excuses for watching Battlestar Galactica re runs.