I don't know what the fuck I just made I was trying to draw a cookie but the reference that I had had a lot of like different cracks in it I wasn't familiar with. I was doing draw a box earlier in 2021 but I stopped doing it because I started getting into my head I started doubting myself I was like why am I just trying to seriously draw now at 27, why did I go to school for 6 years to get a 4 year art degree, why is my art is not at the level I want it to be compared to all my classmates; these are all reasons why I'm doing this 365 challenge and I should remind myself that all the fucking time. I'm also going back to work for the next 4 days and work takes all of my energy to do art. Tomorrow marks 20 days of doing this, I'm proud of that.
New painting commission + original sketch. 16x20 acrylic painting on wood. Check out the time lapse painting on my Instagram or on Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXnUO5QHHTQ
I’m often asked about my Bic pen drawings and how I do them. It starts with a good foundational drawing, the ballpoint pen part is just trying to colour within the lines. I try to do my best to explain the process, but the best way to show my progress is by posting my efforts to master pen drawings over the span of 3 or so years. I have been doodling/drawing with ballpoint pens as far back as I can remember - they were cheap, readily available and always lying around the house. It wasn’t until I was bored during a particularly long team meeting-conference call (around 2016-17) that I started to think about the possibilities of ballpoint pens as serious portrait illustration tools. My first experiments with full colour ink portrait drawings were rather crude, but that’s the point of learning new techniques—as long as the curiosity and the love of drawing is there, you can transfer that skill and passion into any medium. Remember, the most exquisite drawings and paintings you see didn’t materialise fully formed, they started out as failed experiments. Failure after failure after failure. It’s important to remember this when you get discouraged (I've failed spectacularly over the years). The only difference between the accomplished artist and the beginner is hundreds of hours of practice. Talent can only get you so far. It’s the hard work that you do behind the scenes that makes your work look effortless. Keep doodling. Keep learning. Stay curious.
First OFFICIAL Commission! 8x10, Watercolor and Pen. Hey everyone! This time, I'm actually back. First off, let me say I was not planning to fall off the face of the Earth again. At the time I last posted, I had a little less than a month of school left and I had hoped I could wrap up all my final projects early and be done. I was wrong. My teachers assigned more and I had work due up to the day before school ended, but I survived! Since my last post, I do have some updates. 1. I did indeed graduate high school! I was very lucky my school not only had a ceremony, but it was at Soldier Field. (I'm very happy to say I graduated Summa Cumme Laude and with the honors of completing the Alpha STEM and the Arts program.) 2. I also got an Instagram! I'll be using it not only to post final pieces but also as a way to post progress. {@mapalomar.arts} With regards to this painting, it is my first official commission, past commissions were from people I knew (family or friends) but this one isn't. I can say I'm pretty proud of the end result, especially as a person who doesn't consider themself a watercolor artist, it's not too shabby. :) Anyway, I hope this piece will have a safe journey all the way to its new home in Massachusetts.
Situational awareness is important these days. Pre-pandemic, I sometimes take my doodles to coffee shops during my lunch breaks and relax for half an hour or so by mindlessly scribbling/shading with my Bic pen. People usually leave me alone but this drawing made me realise that not everyone wants to see a man drawing a naked man. A few people took exception to my subjects’ lack of clothing and made their displeasure known by telling me. Suffice to say, I try not to go into coffee shops anymore while working on subject matter that might offend anyone. Bic4 Ballpoint Pen on 9” x 12” Archival paper. Model: Malik_E
It's definitely been a bit since I've posted, sorry about that, things have gotten very chaotic very quickly. I'm officially less than a month out from graduation (the finish line is almost here!), which also means it's time for my teachers to cram in projects. Other than that, I'm happy to say I received two official art commissions! I'm hoping to get something set up to hopefully begin selling some pieces, but, for now, I'll have some pieces in a gallery soon. Things, things, things, and Tony's face. Part of a larger project, hopefully to be completed soon.
Second drawing of Amy with her arms up. Based on an earlier sketch that I’ve posted. Bic4 Ballpoint Pen, Hello Kitty 10 Colour Ballpoint Pen on 9” x 12” Archival paper. Model: Amy_D
A silly watercolor sketch, I know, but there's a lot tied to this little thing. There are so many bittersweet feelings lately. I tend to avoid putting a numerical value to time, I don't like the count-down aspect to things, especially knowing how obsessive I can be with that. It allows me to live in some semblance of ignorance (they say ignorance is pure bliss). There's a lot of tip-toeing around what I want to say and what I'm afraid to say, or even what I'd love to explore and embrace and simply afraid to. It's something I'm not used to. It's taken me quite a while to finally sit with certain things, or even acknowledge them, and it feels like there's so much more I'm now realizing. It's odd to be so frank to some and worried that others may find out. There's a lot of shifting again, goodbyes coming soon, complicated feelings and situations.
Mixed media drawing. The sky can spread oppressively across a flat landscape like the meadows of the midwestern United States. In this drawing I wanted to evoke that sense as a backdrop for a trio of Weirds, soothsayers of folklore.
This is a little collage (did you know Maxfield Parrish invented collage, not Picasso?) of a characters from one of my children's books. I wondered if this would inspire a book. Not yet.
Christmas is getting close now, which is why I'm opening these up! I really need a budget for X-Mas shopping :3
I PAY WITH PAYPAL AND KO-FI
So the budget that I need is 50 USD Lets see if I can make it :P
Well actually more if I want to continue drawing, my computer is 7 years old and will die soon and since my art tools are my computer, mouse and Microsoft paint I will need to save up for another one as well XD
As you see they are hip-ups/halfbodies, however here are the prices for other commission types:
Headshot/Portrait: 2 USD
Ex. At the top but the body stops at the shoulders.
+ 1 USD for Additional character (Up to 3)
Bust/Waistup: 3 USD
Ex.
sta.sh/0fmesdmqg5l
+1.50 USD for Additional character (Up to 3)
Hipup/Halfbody: 4 USD
Ex.
The picture on top.
+ 2 USD for Additional character (Up to 3)
Kneeup: 5 USD
Ex.
sta.sh/01v0zn4cxkwg (A bit older drawing)
2.50 USD for Additional character (Up to 3)
Fullbodies: 6 USD
Ex.
sta.sh/01l5np7libm5
sta.sh/0k4t3zcb6sk
sta.sh/01wqafsay981
sta.sh/0i1cc8jbrf4
+ 3 USD for Additional character (Up to 3)
Do not draw:
-NSFW (You know complete nudity)
-Overly fat or muscular characters (I can try but just not the extreme you know)
- Furries/Anthro
-Extreme gore (Some blood, bandages, scares and such are fine)
Except that I can draw a bit of everything.
What you get list when your commission is finished list:
-Your drawing without watermark (Both sketch and finished version)
-High quality image (Original file)
-Transparent image + simple background image.
If anybody wants a commission please comment down below.
Waiting list
I suppose this was just a tester/practice piece? My first actual still life from observation and my first time actually using charcoal (yes, I've never truly used charcoal before. Charcoal and pastels are two things I avoid. Their looseness and freeness scare me, considering how rigid I can be). Not sure how to feel about this one. I'm my worst critic, and I've known that for a long time now. There's a lot of practice and progress to be made, but it turned out half-way decent.
