Relaxed tension. Two parents at a national chess competition. Their kids squared off at the board, and so did they — one leaning back, shoe propped up, trying for calm; the other sitting stiff, watchful. The game played out in more ways than one.
Man oh man, it's been a week. The chaos is strong with this one. It was really fun to draw this, there's something so calming about shading with graphite; it felt like the only time I was present this week. But hey, I suppose that's why art is here. As a side note, thank you so much for 70 followers! It's truly incredible to part of an amazing community of artists, and I genuinely appreciate everyone's support and feedback. Here's to creating more art!
An article/rant/annotation to an illustration. A #Hackney bar and its flies.
This picture is not as sad and blue as it might at first seem, I promise.
It is early in the week and the pub becomes the territory of the most outspoken drinkers. Raised somewhere between Churchill and Harold MacMillan, a night such as this is time for them to spin out a yarn of nostalgic fantasy. Encouraged by the lack of a crowd and with space to fill, statements start to fly.
In the opening rounds the barman athletically hits back with factual blocks and reality-check haymakers; statistics and personal experiences are given. Two histories cross examined, one where 1982 means Thatcher and the Falklands, the other renders Reagan and the AIDS crisis. Stoicism and national pride vs mental health and realism.
In the latter rounds the barman is fatigued, swaying on the backbar, glasses begin to stack up as form begins to drop. The older men seem stronger than ever.
The barflies come in close now, they scrutinise his generations work ethic and make wild political comments on poverty, immigrants and the minimum wage.
The barman is close to sheer bloody despair, he maintains his defence and focuses on breathing while maintaining his professional stance.
But at the end of the night the barman knows HE will ring that bell, they will politely leave and they will return again in a week and maybe, just maybe there will be a change, common ground or maybe at least polite silence.
But what these interactions have given despite the salt in the eye is community and an exchange between generations, culture and class of those participating. No home is ever straight forward, no relative without their good and bad traits and in a world where we often slide into echo chambers online or in our physical environments, the pub is still a place where society is family, face to face, pint to pint. Or maybe it's just a room with alcohol on tap?
In this captivating cross-hatched pencil shading, a tranquil village scene comes to life. The intricate strokes create a harmonious blend of light and shadow, showcasing the serene beauty of rural life. Thatched roofs, winding pathways, and towering trees are meticulously detailed, inviting viewers to step into the peaceful simplicity of village existence. The gentle interplay of shades and textures evokes a sense of nostalgia and calm, capturing the essence of a timeless village story.
"Monochrome Serenity: Candles, Blooms, and Foliage" is an exquisite black and white charcoal artwork that captures the tranquil essence of its subjects. The subtle interplay of shadows and highlights accentuates the delicate beauty of flickering candles, graceful flowers, and lush plant life. This piece evokes a sense of calm and harmony, allowing the viewer to find peace in its serene simplicity.
DAY ONE OF INTENSIVE ART TRAINING! Okay, back up, calm down... So! A little background. I am going into INTENSIVE ART TRAINING because I'm not the best at drawing humans. I want to get better so I can draw people, characters, and find my style. There will be 50 days, and this is day one. This drawing came from an old sketchbook from middle school. I won't post the original drawing (it's...less than ideal...), but you can see this redraw of the character. Thanks for reading this!
my first *official* painting titled "Winter Solace". I painted this one of my OC when I was feeling down. We all know how it feels during the winter months... dark, gloomy, and a good portion of us suffer from seasonal depression. But sometimes, we just have to take it in and be thankful for how far we've come, and how much we have yet to experience. I painted this to remind myself and others that there's always the calm after the storm, no matter how intense your storm may be. It's okay to not be okay.
This is an exterior white paint on an old tarp with a treated lumber frame painting using a photograph taken of my Dad in the Summer of 1979. Dad and I were on the porch playing our guitars while a girl I was dating snapped some photos. I get a sense of Dad's calmness whenever I look at the photo, and now, this painting.
3/17/2020 San Francisco. The art studio is closed because of social distancing for the Coronavirus. My teacher sent out a note with a sketch she did and suggested we do a drawing a day during this isolation, to stay calm and creative and maintain our community. A neighbor put out a bucket with free bouquets, and it inspired me to pause while I was getting dinner started and do this instead. Definitely rusty after not being in the studio for two weeks!
Today we at Schmancy Mansion allowed our servants outside to romp. Our butler smelled the flowers and befriended a fox. Our nanny calmed her nerves in the garden. It was fine for them, we suppose, but now they have to get back to work.
