Female model, charcoal on drawing paper 18x24
Ink and brush on paper 9x12
ink and brush on paper 9x12
Thursday, December 11, 2008
More art!
Female model, charcoal on drawing paper 18x24
Ink and brush on paper 9x12
ink and brush on paper 9x12
Monday, December 8, 2008
Vincent Van Gogh and Me
Vincent Van Gogh has been my favorite artist for some time. I was first introduced to his work in high school by my art teacher Mr. Svendsen. Recently for art 12 we were required to choose an artist and replicate one of their drawings. I chose "Sorrow" by Vincent Van Gogh. It is a drawing of his live in alcoholic prostitute, Sien.
The top picture is my version of Sorrow.
The bottom picture is the original drawing by Vincent Van Gogh
Although Van Gogh led a short life, committing suicide at the age of 37, his life story is very interesting. I especially enjoy reading the letters he wrote to his friends and family, I believe there are 847 in total. Most of the letters are to his brother Theo, the only member of Van Gogh's family to really care about him. Theo financially supported Van Gogh through most of his life as well.
There are many theories as to why Van Gogh committed suicide. It's never been officially stated as to what mental conditions he actually suffered from, though theories include: epilepsy, bipolar disorder, sunstroke, acute intermittent porphyria, lead poisoning, and Meniere's disease. He also was said to have syphilis, that's what happens when you live with a prostitute I guess. He drank absynthe, smoked cigarettes and would stay awake for days with little to no food while painting.
I can relate to him in the way that he gets lost in his head, and his fears. He was always scared of going crazy and dieing before he was recognized. It seems to me he had anxiety. I have anxiety and am constantly scared of something happening. Sometimes I think I have fatal diseases, sometimes I'm worried about a test I already took. I'm worried about dieing too young. I don't know if it's an artist thing or not, but the anxiety and worry thing Vincent and I def. have in common. I find it helps me understand my anxiety by reading his letters and seeing how much his worrying did him no good and was mostly irrational thinking. Then, there are times when I think, "he did go crazy, and that's what he was afraid of." So, did he manifest his worries into existence or was his insanity inevitable? Hmm. Either way, I'm much happier and more relaxed when I am grateful of what I have. It takes practice to keep the negative thoughts from taking over, but I think I'll get it one day. I think I'm going to see a therapist at my school also.
Back to school/art stuff....
During the time the drawing for art 12 was due, I also had a art history paper due. I chose Van Gogh's, Skull with a Burning Cigarette. I feel like it tells a lot about his state of mind at the time he painted this. I also chose this piece because it doesn't look like the typical Van Gogh paintings.
So, anyone even remotely interested in art history, art, or psychology should read about Van Gogh. Google "Vincent Van Gogh" and you will get a ton of great websites. There are also a ton of books out there. I listed a few of my fav.'s below.
Websites:
http://www.vggallery.com/
http://www.webexhibits.org/vangogh/
www.vangoghgallery.com/
http://www.vincentvangoghart.net/
Books:
The top picture is my version of Sorrow.
The bottom picture is the original drawing by Vincent Van Gogh
Although Van Gogh led a short life, committing suicide at the age of 37, his life story is very interesting. I especially enjoy reading the letters he wrote to his friends and family, I believe there are 847 in total. Most of the letters are to his brother Theo, the only member of Van Gogh's family to really care about him. Theo financially supported Van Gogh through most of his life as well.
There are many theories as to why Van Gogh committed suicide. It's never been officially stated as to what mental conditions he actually suffered from, though theories include: epilepsy, bipolar disorder, sunstroke, acute intermittent porphyria, lead poisoning, and Meniere's disease. He also was said to have syphilis, that's what happens when you live with a prostitute I guess. He drank absynthe, smoked cigarettes and would stay awake for days with little to no food while painting.
I can relate to him in the way that he gets lost in his head, and his fears. He was always scared of going crazy and dieing before he was recognized. It seems to me he had anxiety. I have anxiety and am constantly scared of something happening. Sometimes I think I have fatal diseases, sometimes I'm worried about a test I already took. I'm worried about dieing too young. I don't know if it's an artist thing or not, but the anxiety and worry thing Vincent and I def. have in common. I find it helps me understand my anxiety by reading his letters and seeing how much his worrying did him no good and was mostly irrational thinking. Then, there are times when I think, "he did go crazy, and that's what he was afraid of." So, did he manifest his worries into existence or was his insanity inevitable? Hmm. Either way, I'm much happier and more relaxed when I am grateful of what I have. It takes practice to keep the negative thoughts from taking over, but I think I'll get it one day. I think I'm going to see a therapist at my school also.
Back to school/art stuff....
During the time the drawing for art 12 was due, I also had a art history paper due. I chose Van Gogh's, Skull with a Burning Cigarette. I feel like it tells a lot about his state of mind at the time he painted this. I also chose this piece because it doesn't look like the typical Van Gogh paintings.
So, anyone even remotely interested in art history, art, or psychology should read about Van Gogh. Google "Vincent Van Gogh" and you will get a ton of great websites. There are also a ton of books out there. I listed a few of my fav.'s below.
Websites:
http://www.vggallery.com/
http://www.webexhibits.org/vangogh/
www.vangoghgallery.com/
http://www.vincentvangoghart.net/
Books:
Vincent Van Gogh, by Marc Edo Tralbaut
Vincent Van Gogh, by Pierre Cabanne
The Portable Van Gogh, by Robert Hughes
current art life
There is going to be a student art show, juried by Nicole Lee from the Sonoma County Arts Council, next semester. The deadline for entries is Dec. 10.Right now I'm trying to finish up a few pieces to enter. They are all drawings/paintings of my cousins, so far they are turning out really great. As soon as I finish them I will post them.
After that, I wait to hear if I made it in the show or not (everyone is in the show, some are selected to be in the gallery, the others are going to be shown on a slideshow). Either way it's a great experience and my first time doing something like this.
On another art note....I had my second portfolio review with my figure drawing instructor, Deborah Kirklin, last tue. She gave me an A-(the "-" was based on presentation, I'm a little messy sometimes) which I worked very hard for. We also spoke about my plans for next semester, and she encouraged me to take her oil painting class . I think she's a great figure drawing instructor, very encouraging, firm, yet laid back. She's also younger and more "hip" than a lot of my past art instructors. I'm looking forward to her painting class.
My other studio art class, Art 3, has been very tedious. A lot of mixing paint, figuring out how to make Nuetrals(browns, tans, burnt umber,etc.) Secondaries(green,violet, orange) and Tertiaries(yellow/orange, red/orange, red/violet, blue/violet, blue/green, yellow/green)using Primary (red, blue, yellow) colors
After that, I wait to hear if I made it in the show or not (everyone is in the show, some are selected to be in the gallery, the others are going to be shown on a slideshow). Either way it's a great experience and my first time doing something like this.
On another art note....I had my second portfolio review with my figure drawing instructor, Deborah Kirklin, last tue. She gave me an A-(the "-" was based on presentation, I'm a little messy sometimes) which I worked very hard for. We also spoke about my plans for next semester, and she encouraged me to take her oil painting class . I think she's a great figure drawing instructor, very encouraging, firm, yet laid back. She's also younger and more "hip" than a lot of my past art instructors. I'm looking forward to her painting class.
My other studio art class, Art 3, has been very tedious. A lot of mixing paint, figuring out how to make Nuetrals(browns, tans, burnt umber,etc.) Secondaries(green,violet, orange) and Tertiaries(yellow/orange, red/orange, red/violet, blue/violet, blue/green, yellow/green)using Primary (red, blue, yellow) colors
some art stuff
This is a work in progress, self-portrait. Vine Charcoal on 18x24 drawing paper
This is a charcoal drawing of my coffee I did in my sketchbook, 11x14.
Another sketch from a picture of a pin up model, pencil on 11x14.
Pen and ink...latest figure drawing stuff
These are done using bamboo brush, ink and pen.
This one was done using a larger bamboo brush dipped in diluted ink to create the form. After it dried, (only about 2-3 min.) I went back in and applied pen and ink for the contour.
latest stuff from figure drawing
bamboo brush and ink
I didn't think I would like this or be very good at it. It actually was a lot of fun, and it forced me to trust my abilities and just go with the flow.
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