In wanting to get active with my fellow doodler community, I wanted to stop in and introduce myself. My name is Dalton Stark, I live in Texas, and i'm a doodle addict, and an advocate for the possibility of anything. For me, doodling is my purest state of being human. My sketchbooks are a very sacred place for me to practice this expressive and arcane form of imagination meditation, which I'm always trying to find more excuses to spend more time in. It is to me, all about intuition, making discoveries, surprising yourself, having fun and maybe even making yourself and others smile or laugh sometimes. I look forward to being a part of this beautiful inky ecosystem with y'all, here are some very secret sketchbook spreads.
'Queen of Marseille' I
I have discovered a few unfinished sketches from my previous travels to France from few years ago.
I decided to bring them back to life. I think before I didn't like them so much as I do now.
My first lady of Marseille saying 'Salut' and I am slowely saying 'Goodbye' to the summer...
I feel only positive emotions after drawing this landscape.
It's a bit wintery, snowy, and magical.
I love the background texture. But I still need to work on the details.
Recently, I discovered the miraculous power of gouache. I ordered paints a few days ago (still waiting for the shipment). That's why there are only digital versions for now.
I have already purchased a course on the Domestika platform. I'm going to try my skills at traditional painting on paper. It will be a big challenge. Fortunately, I have a great teacher :) Thanks, Ruth Wilshaw, for your Domestika course and daily inspiration to create!
Day 6 of #whimsicalByMamaminia art challenge.
I'm starting a new art challenge #whimsicalByMamaminia
Art challenges are an excellent way to stay motivated. They are great for creating consistently in one style.
I fell in love with gouache paintings with a whimsy touch when I discovered Ruth Wilshaw.
It's my first attempt at creating an illustration with a whimsical accent
Words on the watercolor are from Vincent van Gogh's letter to Theo van Gogh (Cuesmes, July 1880). Neal ran away only to discover that all that he was running away from is still with him.
Finally I finished this one! New original character Marisha. She is a pirate and a very skilled thief! I was doing this artwork for Mooncolony art contest in Discord. Worth to try a new theme! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAB-YNU2ZoA
Due to financial/logistical reasons, I can't do literal linocuts as often as I'd like, so I draw my illustrations in reverse, flip them digitally, have them printed, and then color them in by hand. The result is basically an "artist's print". I only make one of each. These were watercolor, but I've recently discovered gouache, so keep an eye out for future pieces that incorporate that.
Joan Miró (1893-1983)
Miró always maintained a rigidly inflexible daily routine—both because he disliked being distracted from his work, and because he feared slipping back into the severe depression that had afflicted him as a young man, before he discovered painting. To help prevent a relapse, his routine always included vigorous exercise—boxing in Paris; jumping rope and Swedish gymnastics at a Barcelona gym; and running on the beach and swimming at Mont-roig, a seaside village where his family owned a farmhouse.
Miró hated for this routine to be interrupted by social or cultural events. As he told an American journalist, “Merde! I absolutely detest all openings and parties! They’re commercial, political, and everybody talks too much. They get on my tits!”
From Daily Rituals: How Artists Work by Mason Currey
I'm playing a lot with the background texture. I'm discovering the power of brushes from Krita Software.
I fell in love with the gouache texture effect.
I like the silhouettes in this illustration, but the leaves could be better. I need to find a good brush for drawing leaves faster and with ease.
Or maybe I should try some other techniques?
Have a creative time!
I recently discovered oil pastels and am being amazed every day at how versatile they are. While cleaning my desk this morning I found some blank ATCs (Artist trading cards, 2.5x3.5") and wondered if I could work small with such a bulky medium. Turns out, absolutely yes.
My mind is on Puna so much lately. I love Hawaii...was born there and rediscovered it as an adult. I stay in Puna area when I go, in little houses I rent, or once, housesitting for a friend. This drawing was made one day when Mom and Dad and I went to Pohoiki to sketch. This little cottage and park is in the path of the flow and may already be gone. You can no longer drive there as the roads have been cut off by the lava flow. My heart goes out to all Hawaii residents dealing with this massive lava flow, and the VOG that goes with it.
There might be a few weird reflections in this as I had to take a pic of it on my screen to get a file large enough....I gave the original to a friend who lives near the park.
