A pencil and watercolour study, inspired by Scott Christian Sava's "60 days of studying the masters" on Youtube. This was intimidating from start to finish, by far the most complex drawing I've ever done! It took me almost a week to get the drawing right, but the painting was done in a day. In between were many days of feeling overwhelmed, lost, and then afraid of messing it up. But I got there in the end and I think I pushed myself to a new skill and confidence level. Good thing too, I've got 58 more studies to do!
This is my first attempt at traditional egg tempera painting. The panel is a Masonite board from Michaels, but I need to use true gesso because the egg tempera will not adhere to acrylic gesso. Some of my favorite artists used egg tempera. Andrew Wyeth, Robert Vickrey, and Colin Fraser are all masters of this ancient and archival medium. I have been self studying this technique for months and I was very excited to start experiencing the medium. Egg tempera is like layering stained glass on top of stained glass. the painter can expect a luminous glow to take shape as the colors blend visually through the layers of paint - assisted by the chalk of the true gesso. Egg tempera has been described as the closest painting technique to drawing, hence my draw to this medium.
"Somehow, they've managed to cultivate grapes that have outlived the sun. Our world may be a dim ember, but I intend on enjoying what little joys are still afforded to humanity. Surely you cannot fault my occasional indulgences."
-- Zen - 'Knight of Wands'
Tycherosi bartender at the Front Shelf
Another pencil drawing from 2014. I had a long break from drawing and painting between 1994 and 2013. The arts teacher of my high school made me feel like shit and i decided to quit painting. At 36 years old I realized I missed it and started again by buying a set of pencils as a birthday gift to myself.
I wanted to explore a fictional future that combined traditional fantasy races with a cybernetic future. An elven adventurer takes a health potion, depicted as a futuristic vape, before heading off on her next quest.
When one day ends another starts, don't allow yourself to think about the day when it's the end, because, at the beginning of tomorrow, there is always a start.
Keep Your Eyes on the Lamp Bearer.
Don’t walk around aimlessly.
Don’t leave your armor on your bed chamber’s floor.
Keep your eyes and ears focused on Jesus.
He is the lamp bearer, who illuminates the path you should travel.
Don’t walk around aimlessly!
Don’t leave your armor on your bedchamber’s floor.
Specters are crouched in the shadows of the thicket that line your path.
They plot to ambush you as soon as you wander aimlessly into the thicket.
Keep your eyes and ears focused on Jesus.
He is the lamp bearer, who illuminates the path you should travel.
If you have walked into a fog and lost your focus,
If you have walked aimlessly into the shadows the thicket If you find yourself in the
clutches of the specters of the dark
Don’t be anxious.
Don’t lose hope.
Humble yourself and call out to your commander.
He will send in his angelic army to retrieve you
To restore you back to the ranks of His army
Don’t walk around aimlessly.
Don’t leave your armor on your bedchamber’s floor!
Keep your eyes and ears focused on Jesus.
He is the lamp bearer, who illuminates the path you should travel.
(December 3, 2016)