hopi

Day 2 of Inktober (I'm hoping to do this every day this year). A quick sketch in a clearer mindset than last night. Not sure why I named him Larry, but it seemed fitting. Here's to the fact that solving a physics problem on the first try legitimately made me jump out of my chair in excitement.

The woods in my backyard. This has been a shit year so far, don't cha think? I get a few minutes relief by looking into the dark spaces between sunlit trees. Trying to see the forms. I'm hoping to get better at just that this summer.

I drew my cat squeaks. I was hoping y’all would be able to give me some feedback on my art please? I haven’t drawn in over 16 years and this is my first piece since then. I’m also adding the picture I used as inspiration.

Hoping for Spring.

Peter took His Eye off Jesus and began to sink. Medium: Acrylic on canvas Size: 11”x 15” Date: 2019-2020 This illustration is one of nine, in a mural about the ministry of Christ. This image is block number 7. This painting illustrates Jesus rescuing peter, as he start to sink in to the sea, because he lost his faith when took his eyes off Jesus, and focused on the violence of the winds and waves of the storm. Matthew 14:22-33 New American Standard Bible (NASB) Jesus Walks on the Water 22 Immediately He [a]made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, while He sent the crowds away. 23 After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone. 24 But the boat was already [b]a long distance from the land, [c]battered by the waves; for the wind was [d]contrary. 25 And in the [e]fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. 26 When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out [f]in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” 28 Peter said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” 29 And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and *said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 When they got into the boat, the wind stopped. 33 And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “You are certainly God’s Son!” When I did my research, I Found very few biblical accurate illustrations of the event. Very few captured the darkness and valiance of a stormy sky taking place at 3:00 am in the morning (which is the forth watch of the night. Many illustrations I found, their skies were too bright and calm. I found that the seas in these illustration had the same lack of movement and violence, the sea would have in a storm that was so strong the disciples were not able to make any headway in their crossing the lake. I notice that all illustrations of Jesus walking on water, show the viewer His feet. In reality the waves would most likely block the viewer from seeing his feet on top of the water. The unavoidable black eye in most of these illustrations of Jesus walking on water, is the ridicules and unrealistic possess they have Jesus in, of Him rescuing Peter. You know the ones where He is making some kind of sign with one hand, as it is held up toward the sky, and one hand reaching down to peter. What was I trying to accomplish in my illustration? I want to be careful, to being accurate with costumes styles, and colors worn by the poor people of Galilean society. I wanted to be accurate in illustrating a storm on the sea of Galilee. I looked over numerous photos on line, of storms taking place on the Sea of Galilee. To understanding how the water and sky behave during a storm I studied the colors of sky, clouds, and water, during these conditions, in this location of the world? Showing movement in the air and the water. I used stylist brush strokes, to create movement in the sky and in the water. I am hoping to make people feel the storm’s violent energy. Showing power of the wind blowing against the bodies of Jesus and peter, through the movement of clothes, and hair. Showing the anxiety of Pete, with his body swallowed up to the waist, his face looking up to Jesus to rescue him from drowning. Showing that Jesus offers security to Peter, from being swept away by the wave of the sea. By his secure grasp of Peter’s back arms. He is able to lift Peter out of the water. The message I want my view to receive, is that everyone who comes into the world will experience trials and tribulation. We can overcome our fears and be filled with courage, to enable us to battle our ways through these storm in life. When we place our trust in the one who has authority over the power of the storm, who is Jesus a member of the trinity of God that created all things. Written by Stephen J. Vattimo 3/16/2020

One of my "gestures" from a couple days ago (20-30 minutes?). I'm super out of practice and taking too many shortcuts. I'm hoping to get back into doing regular gesture practice this year.

most recent piece. Its a redraw. last time i wasnt able to upload so hoping i can now.

Aaaand forgot to post yesterday again. Sorry. Zmey can't talk, which is one of the reasons he took Anka as an apprentice and he is teaching her sign language. (It's not an easy feat. He was hoping she could read to help, but let's say it's not the case either) He is not medically mute, he could make sound if he need to. It's just it's highly not recommended for him to open his mouth, thank to a little magical mishap when he met Baba Yaga for the first time. She still maintain it was well earned. So does he. (Little note: He is saying "flame" in french sign language) (Look, I couldn't find reference for russian sign language, and I'm not sure there was a sign language in their russian themed mythical medieval fantastical yolo universe)

The mythical unicorn has been doodled. I created this for a commission. Hoping to see it in print soon.

This is the last ink drawing I did before moving abroad for a few months and going off of drawing completely. Hoping to get back into it now though!

I bought a small succulent statue a few months ago that I've managed to keep alive and thought it needed more personality. Thus, Ned was "born". Hoping to draw more of his plant man adventures.

We were having a thunder storm, so I figured I’d do a sketch waiting for my markers to get here. I ended up getting carried away and inking it right away. I put a few layers of fixatif on it, and I'm hoping that'll stop the paint/ink from bleeding too much when I apply the markers.

Didn't get as much time as I was hoping to continue working on this page today but happy to keep things slowly moving along.

In an attempt to be much more consistent with my drawing practice (and to tackle my insecurities about showing people my drawings) I am hoping that posting some of my sketches online will help keep me accountable. So day 1 sketch, I managed to find a very cheap used college set of Rotring Rapidograph pens online, when they arrived today I was delighted to see that they had NEVER been used! After a bit of a happy dance I got a couple of the pens assembled and started to figure out how they work. This is a quick sketch on tracing paper not that I was tracing anything I just need to invest in better paper with less tooth to be able to use these pens without having ink flow issues.

Pencil Drawing

So many saddening things happened in my beloved country. When Lombok haven’t revived from the disaster, another city was devastated by a huge earthquake and tsunami. Whenever I open the social media, there are people asking for help to find their missing family members. My heart races, hoping that they will reunite soon and alive. I can’t do anything besides praying for them. I’m also frightened to think that the disaster could happen in my city too. So, if you’re reading this, I’m asking for your prayers. May god protect us all.

I'm so glad I drew this creepy thing, but I'm hoping like heck to never meet in real life.

I have been reading Seth Godin books lately and he believes we shouldn't wait around hoping to be picked. We need to pick ourselves.

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?"

Our local antiques store had a huge treasure trove of vintage Native American themed toys and gifts this weekend. I realized that 1) I'd owned a lot of them and 2) none of my friends had. It never occurred to me that my collection was particularly large or unique. Doesn't every kid have a fixation on this country's indigenous population? Apparently not. I love the visual language of the Navajo and Hopi especially. My Kachina doll collection was the bomb.

A sketch, but I was hoping for true feedback. I know I definatly still have a long way to go, but how could I improve? Thank you for your time!