focus

The materials that Meir uses in her works are not of the refined and so she is called an “arte povere” artist. At times she describes her work as someone dealing in alchemy - work develops as in a trial laboratory with different techniques and materials. She says, “ at times the artistic work process is a sort of puzzle demanding the filling in of all the empty squares “. Some of her work focuses on women, and they incorporate criticism and cultural protest. Meir has strong opinions about recycling and environmental protection that is represented in her works by use of materials and shapes. In her work she reacts to contemporary art that communicates with the eco system, waste, and she also searches for different worlds. Her works are made up of layers upon colorful layers that when we look at them it becomes clear that the mound of waste she chose is not coincidental. It actually becomes a colorful kaleidoscope of utopia. Jaffa Meir is a multifaceted, autodidact artist working in painting, sculpture, photography, product design, carpets and furniture, painting on textile, and computer graphics. The structural composition of some of the works is influenced also by her many years of working in the architects’ office. Meir also worked in the developing of ideas within the field of ecosystems and recycling for factories such as Coca Cola, and during this process came up with ideas for designing parks and public game spaces using industrial waste products.

A fun doodle. Sometimes it's great to have no focus and just play around.

I did this artwork for a public art exhibition called "Home is where the Art is". Initially the drawing was supposed to just be a open mouth with a snake coming out of it but I felt that it lacked a story and a strong enough message so I drew the other snakes on and added the 2 other faces. The story behind this image is entirely up to the viewer but my take on it was that different people react differently to certain information, my main focus was the distribution of secrets and since many teenager refer to people that let their secrets loose as snakes I thought why not depict it in that form. The drawing displays three reactions to learning another's secret, one passes the secret on to another, the other defends it ferociously in your face but lets it slip loose when nobodies looking and the other receives the information and holds onto it

After a year of really focusing on the fundamentals I decided to try my hand at some simple studies regarding facial features and attempted hair. Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated, as I’m wanting to continue to learn and improve!

Another journal page. Focus on what I saw during a hike up and down a local mountain. Summer then.

Cont. to work on BnW illustrations, I wanted to focus on making the reflections have a realistic quality. I struggle with clouds, but I felt I was most refined here. My BnW's seem to have so much more life and expression than my paintings. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Yet another senseless lynching that has me here with a broken heart. Like my other paintings on this subject, I wanted to focus on life. Tyre was dynamic and energetic, so I wanted to paint him soring. I also wanted to paint him defiant in the face of his oppressors. He was a skater, and they are no strangers to defiance. Thankfully, I found some excellent references to help me with the composition. Aesthetically, I wanted the comp to be modern, colorful, and hopefully impactful. I went for a pop art, illustration, and false-color vibe and minimized blending and refining layer edges. I painted this in Rebelle 6 and Photoshop. Much respect.

A striking, high-contrast graphite study of a hand in the act of writing. Created in a rapid 45-minute sitting through self-observation, this piece captures the intricate anatomy and focused tension of the artist's own hand as it holds the pen. The tip being pencil the top being pen and finger tips slightly smudged incorporate all aspects of the mediums used to create it.

Elias Rosenshaw 8/29/2025 Mixed media on toned tan paper. Starting next week, I'm going back to college. I'm very excited for my courses, especially art & writing. It will be a great opportunity to explore my curiosities, improve my art skills, and grow as a person. I will share my art assignments if my instructors allow it. I would also like to write a little about each piece, which may be required for my assignments anyway. Lately, I've been inspired by fantasy & fairytale artwork. I think fantasy & horror will make good focuses for my pre-BFA portfolio. This was a little experiment with a fairytale aesthetic. One of my goals is to use limited art supply sets & swap out colours as they run out. I feel the first colours I picked out fit with aesthetic well. I'm proud of this drawing, especially the dress & the night sky. However, I can see some areas that I should've done differently. I'm not happy with the proportions & foreshortening of the limbs. Also, I shouldn't have used a background colour for the flowers. I added the colour to cover up a smear from the watercolour. I should avoid making large areas of solid colour, especially with my coloured pencils. I am learning & improving.

One of my favorite times of the year is Autumn. It’s a time that reminds me how blessed I am for the rich friendships I have in my life. It’s also a time I enjoy making new memories with relatives I have a deep emotional bond. And for some reason, pumpkins symbolizes this wealth of love I have for these loved ones. Maybe because orange is a passionate color for me. Or maybe because the color orange is abundant during this season when warm a fuzzy feelings show up when I’m with my loved ones. This hue is in pumpkins, persimmons, hot apple cider beverages, cinnamon spice on pies or lattes, and the obvious autumn leaves. But my focus for this illustration were big, fat pumpkins. I love hugging and squeezing them and feeling it’s cold flesh on my skin. I look forward to my next bite of pumpkin pie from our very good friend, Terry, who makes them very excellently!

Poor blobfish! (For this series, I'm trying to hone my beginner skills by focusing on the architecture of each strange creature through reference photos, while also using it as a log for interesting animal facts.

Used a reference, wanted to focus on shading.

Adhd meds at their best. Felt tip fun.

Two-faced demon - I didn't want to add a whole bunch of detail, I wanted it to stay focused on her face.

Then repetition steps in. :). Ink and watercolor on cold pressed paper.. sometimes when it’s hard to focus I’ll pick a shape and just keep going...

Inspired by the Neo-Classical period, I pushed myself as an artist to portray subjects in an idealistic fashion combining drama and artificial lighting. The subject is my sister who modelled as a reference, enabling me to control the shadowy effect over her face. The dim lighting and dark background resonated with the period style, focusing on the facial parts that are visible. The end result looks like she is emerging from the darkness. A somber atmosphere is illustrated through visual expression. Adding the fast drying oil on the brushes improved the blending of the colours on the canvas which was especially useful when it came to applying strokes on the face smoothly. Visit https://www.martiaposts.com for more

One of a Series of Manager Portraits that was used by the Zero Forty Brewery to promote the events on their social media that focused on the Premier League.

One of a Series of Manager Portraits that was used by the Zero Forty Brewery to promote the events on their social media that focused on the Premier League.

Progression 1 of 5. Happy with how this one began. Mesut is all in the eyes so those were my initial focus.

To draw is to notice. To notice is to pause. And sometimes, all it takes is a barefoot boy in a camping chair, chasing the drips of a popsicle, to remind us what it means to be here. This is Popsiclence—a sacred kind of focus. It’s where observational drawing leads us: out of the swirl, into the now. And in that now, we heal.

Years ago, I sketched Gibby at work—pencil in hand, bold strokes alive with motion. I caught them from over the shoulder: just the back of their head, the soft curve of their face, and that focused arm bringing something into being. They were 9 or 10 then, already showing the spark of creativity and concentration that pointed toward who they’d become. Now in their mid-20s, Gibby is thoughtful, insightful—quick to listen, slow to speak, and wired to process the world with care. Their path has been remarkable: two degrees in 2.5 years, no debt. That didn’t happen by accident. It took grit, German immersion schooling, 16 college credits earned in high school, and testing out of 24 more once at university. That’s Gibby—quietly determined, resourceful, and steady. But their story isn’t just academic. Gibby’s always been gifted with their hands—drawn to set design, locksmithing, welding. Trades they wanted to pursue early on, and still feel pulled toward. They’re at a bike shop now. It’s not the dream, but it fits: their hands know how to build, repair, and reshape the world. There’s been frustration—maybe even anger—that we didn’t let them follow the trade route right away. I get that now. Life veers, and sometimes the path chosen isn't the one imagined. But Gibby’s resilience—their ability to adapt and press on—is what I admire most. They’ve embraced their journey with honesty, stepping into their identity as a they/them person, unafraid to define success in their own terms. That takes courage. I’m proud of them—not for a résumé, but for who they are. This old drawing isn’t just a memory—it’s a thread connecting past to present. A reminder that the creative spark, the steady hands, the deep soul I saw back then is still shining. So here’s to you, Gibby: the kid who sketched with fire and the adult who still shapes the world with quiet brilliance. Your value has never been about the path you’re on. It’s about the person you are. And I’ll be here, cheering you on—every step of the way.

For the moments I need to find focus.

Living, breathing, and creating with nature When you wake up to the gentle sights and sounds of the pond, trees, plants, birds, bees, and dragonflies, inspiration flows effortlessly. So, when the owner asked for a menu design for @SarayaGoa Art Café, I thought—why not let nature speak for itself? Using pen and ink, I captured the beauty of my mornings here—each stroke reflecting the lush surroundings that make Saraya unique. Instead of focusing on just food items, I filled the cover and inside pages with illustrations of the vibrant life around us. Dining here means eating among the green, surrounded by the diverse plants of our permaculture gardens. This study is a tribute to the beauty that shapes every meal at Saraya.

Focusing on muscles and anatomy on this (though I didn't base it off of anything it's vaguely humanoid) I was really happy with how it turned out!

Purposely unfinished piece of work featuring a female with freckles. My focus was capturing a captivating look in her eyes. Mainly a practice/study piece.

Life is full of difficulties and hurdle. A mixed bag of happy and sad days. But when it comes to measuring them, we tend to weigh them towards the difficult ones more forgetting or avoiding the happy ones. This illustration is a composition to share how small or short life is to worry about tough times. Instead we can focus on being positive and happy and live every moment fully

Page from winter art journal. Used micron .01 pen. I try to draw quickly--partly my temperament, partly about staying away from focusing on every detail.

Sketching at the Academy (California Academy of Science) with my five year old. This was so fun. There was so much movement that he actually focused on his own sketchbook for long enough for me to get one in. Usually, he's done by the time I put the clips on my book! The Academy and all museums are closed again with SF preemptively joining the rest of the state in the extended stay at home order this past Sunday 12/6/2020. Grateful we got to go several times while it was open.

I haven't posted on a while but here's more digital art! I think I shaped the eyes wrong so now they just look sad but hey, I'm learning! I didn't have time to give details to the hair since I was focused on the face, but I like the shape of it. What do you think? Let me know if you have any suggestions to improve this, thanks!

The word prompt was "Teeth" and I used the Zentangle pattern "Itch" for the scales on the dragon. This picture sums up the (bad?) advice given to us Anxiety ridden folks - "Focus on one thing at a time." Yeh, how's that working for you?