cryptic

Did you ever have a page in your sketchbook that was so bad and so embarrassing that you tore it out and chucked it? This was one of those pages that made me cringed every time I came to it. So today I said to myself, "ENOUGH!" and ripped it out of my moleskine. But something wouldn't let me throw it in the can. Now, I'm not one of those artists that can't bring himself to throw away any of his stuff because each and every piece, good or bad holds some kind of sentimentality or sense of importance. This particular page was a result of a crappy angst filled day and stuff poured out of me. For some reason, it felt like I was throwing away some piece of my soul. There were parts that were overworked and others that were painfully too personal. So I decided to cut it up and put it back together in no particular order, however it seemed best. As I was pasting the pieces down it occurred to me that this had a comic book feel so I scanned the final and added the black borders in photoshop which I really dug. I like that it is cryptic and jumbled up like my brain can so often be. This reminded me of the awesome @johnhendrix who said something in his book, Drawing Is Magic that stuck with me. He said, "Don't worry about doing anything wrong. If you're hoping your sketchbook turns into a glossy display of only your best drawings, you are not carrying a sketchbook, you are carrying a portfolio." In other words, explore, take chances, loosen up and have fun. Try your best to go at it like an uninhibited child. In so doing, you will stretch as an artist by avoiding repetition and predictability. We all know how to do what we already know. To sum up, I created a bad page, and whether or not I was able to fix it, it expanded me. So, follow your pencil, pen, or whatever and let them take you to places you never imagined when you started. Then, maybe you will end up staring happily at the final and with childlike wonder, say, "man, where did that come from?"

The end of one sketchbook, with the beginning of another to arrive shortly!

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I do browse some weird things on places like Youtube, without a doubt! Definitely in the search of inspiration 9 out of 10 times though (as you can see)...

When in doubt, add a narwhal.

This piece is inspired by Mental Health Awareness Week that’s just left us. Belated and as cryptic as things might be (as usual) here in Bleu’s world, better late to the party than never right?

Cryptically does it... A narwhal swims around who-knows-what-it-all-means.

Sawshark symphonies and cryptic sorts.

Blue moons and the usual loons.

The title for this one was inspired by a remark the DJ Marc Riley made on his BBC 6 Music show earlier in the week. Couldn’t resist getting inspired! As we self-isolate and/or minimise going out unless we feel the absolute need to, as Freddie of the Mercury once sang, “radio, someone still loves you ❤️”

Tonight’s tangent lead to this.

May any aliens watching us worthy folks take us somewhere not so disease-riddled.

Kicking things off with the new sketchbook! And what a time to do so... Coronavirus is rampant everywhere it seems, however big or small. If self-isolation (even for just a bit, wherever you are) is the way to combat this then I suggest making the most of this time. *Captain Obvious groove*

The final page in my current sketchbook! Stay tuned after the break folks.

For whenever you feel knocked down, but know you’ll be up again in no time at all.

...versus what? Who knows.

Something unicorn-shaped(ish).

Resting up before another big season starts!

New art supplies! Of course, I don’t need an excuse to get to work but if I had to pick a favourite then that’s my one, without a doubt.

I often have weird dreams that inspire my artwork, and that one I had last night where I took over a jungle (or was it a forest? I don’t know) sure got me inspired.

A creature of habit until the end, that's me.

The sequel to “Another Fine Soul Lost To Parenthood”.

It seems like most people I know these days are starting families, so I figured I'd respond in the way I know best...

A tribute to The Fall and the genius of Mark E. Smith. Not much I can really add to that!

Continuing my prolific streak as of late, because why not?

Wednesday wind-down time! Took a wander to my local coffee shop and came back with this. A job well done I’d say :)

It gets weird in Bleu's world most times, and for that I regret absolutely nothing.

Visual jamming, nothing new here! Also, hello February.

Leave the light on for us Scottish folks Europe, thank you!

Last night's Wednesday wind-down.