Doggie Dialog

Thanks to my friend Fabric Lenny, I had the wonderful opportunity to join in a artist-student collaboration. I was pleased to mash up with young artist Connel Linley. Be sure to visit Fabric’s blog to see the many other great collaborations resulting from this project. I have a feeling the dogs may make another appearance soon.

After seeing me work with another student, my son decided we should do a mash-up as well…be looking for that in a future post.

Three of my digital paintings were selected for this show. The exhibition will display the work on iPads, on iMacs, on a 58″ HDTV as well as fine art prints. The opening reception is March 10, from 6-9pm. The exhibit will remain through the end of March. If you are in the area be sure to stop in, otherwise, preview the exhibit online or visit the Facebook page.

Pensively in the Pink

Happy Is The Man...

Sorting through a cyan season

Digit-al Finger Painting Workshop

Date: October 9, 2010

Time: 11:30 AM to 1 PM

Cost: $15 General Public, $10 Center Donors

Join us as I demonstrates techniques, discusses creative apps available, and shares my creative process on this great new tool. Please bring your own iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch. The primary application used will be “Brushes,” and is available for purchase from Apple’s iTunes store. Pre-registration is required, limited space available.

To register, contact Angela Grauel or 704.332.5535 ext. 17.

[Updated] the finished work
View theprocess video
I brought in my iPad, hooked it up to the projector and fired up the Brushes App. It was wonderful having the ability to illustrate ideas as I spoke. One of the points I tried to leave with the kids today was the importance of the fundamentals of art. I reminded them that design principles, composition and color are key – no matter what tool is being used. I was able to leverage the stroke playback feature of Brushes to show the evolution of a drawing. I had fun pop quizzing them on color compliments and how to achieve depth in drawings. The class was active and attentive with questions: how quickly I draw, how I choose colors, and what kind of marks I like to make. Interestingly, they found my “table top” still life work a bit more accessible than the abstract villages.

I rounded out the class period by giving everyone a chance to take the iPad for a test drive in a group drawing. Each student was given a minute to offer their contribution to the piece. I am now in the process of using their marks as the foundation for a new “village” drawing. I will post it here when it is complete. I had a great time sharing my work created on the devices and encouraging creativity in the kids.

Coming up:

I have posted some snap shots from the video chat to my Facebook page. I am honored to be awarded second place in the finger painting category. Roberta provided a synopsis of the event.

The festival opens August 12th in Mostar Croatia. I have the unique opportunity to join, via video chat, the keynote address. Roberta Barbarić will be presenting and has graciously invited me to share. It has been so amazing making contact with artists in lands far away from my own.

artwork submitted to the exhibit

For the last few weeks, I have continued to work on the large ‘wall paper’ painting I began as part of the 08′ Christmas Eve service at Warehouse 242. 

The idea was to inject creative responses into the worship. So, I offered to share and expand my normal practice of drawing on the sunday morning into a more public arena. 

Lately, I have begun my sermon sketches by breaking the page into various panels. On one wall of the sanctuary I formed a “page” from ten large sheets of paper to become an oversized version of my sketchbook.

Before the sermon, I laid in large shapes of acrylic paint to establish the initial composition and connection between the panels. Once the service started, I began to add line work using Sharpie paint pens. I used 3 different sizes to create marks on the paper. I discovered the paint pens while looking for a tool to add lines and edges to my large environmental sculpture – “Landscape of Somber Whimsy“. I was pleased with their mark – especially how I was able to fill in large areas of black with the biggest of the them. So I thought they would be the perfect tool to scale my normal sketch up to wall size.

The process has been more challenging than I expected, mainly due to drawing while parallel to the paper, rather than perpendicular, and the lines made with the paint pens have a different consistency than my normal rollerball pen I use for my black and whites. I do enjoy the challenge of enlarging my normal sketching. I normally paint to music, so it has been great to respond to the incredible sounds of our live bands during worship. I wrap up the work over the new few weeks and will post a final image then. View some images of the progress on facebook.

It all started a week ago with a message sent to me on facebook, asking if I would be up for meeting for coffee. Who am I to turn down a chance for a cup. Peter’s interview was alot of fun. We talked about the accident. I gave him some background on my art career. He challenged me with questions that made me reflect on the past year and how my life had changed. The next thing I know I was standing in front of my easel having pictures taken of me and making a cd of images of my art.

Once again, I am humbled by a great opportunity to share about my life and how God is in the midst of difficulties. If you haven’t yet, please be sure to check out the article and the slide show of art they posted.

Actually, on a series of large sheets of drawing paper attached to the wall, but you get the picture, or at least you will if you join us. Hope to see you there.

Have a very merry Christmas.