It's amazing to me how often I forget to what extent I love drawing expressive faces and just how much it scares me to start new ones at the same time. Ahhh, that imposter syndrome is deeply ingrained in me! I started this with the blue background and red-orange hair. On a side note, I'm … Continue reading Jubilation – Sheet-music Scribbles 2023
Bone Tired – Sheet-music Scribbles 2023
I think my favourite aspect of using messy oil pastels is that when you rub them, they develop volume, tonal changes, and textures similar to the painted glass one finds in great cathedrals. I tweeted the lighting. on this one a little and it looked like it's lit from behind. I'm not sure if I … Continue reading Bone Tired – Sheet-music Scribbles 2023
Earlier days – Sheet-music Scribbles 2023
Drawn after "Age is a Mindset", as a result of reflecting on why I wanted to have long hair on these self-portraits. n my early twenties, my hair was very long and sleeked back behind my ears... like many middle-aged men, I selectively pick the joys of my earlier life to reminisce upon and portray … Continue reading Earlier days – Sheet-music Scribbles 2023
Age is a Mindset – Sheet-music Scribbles 2023
In the many conversations I have with my fellow art teachers, there's always a common thread of seeking to understand how the materials I use are meaningfully connected. Most recently, the question of whether to not the music behind these drawings has influenced my composition... The question came from my music teacher friend and she … Continue reading Age is a Mindset – Sheet-music Scribbles 2023
Taken Aback – Music-book Doodles 2022
I've drawn this one before differently... I feel I have a slew of portraits/faces I would like to redo in different styles... I don't recall getting as successful an expression in the first attempt. She appears intensely shocked at something. The messy blending technique I'm loving these days really works on the facial tones... it … Continue reading Taken Aback – Music-book Doodles 2022
Foolish Heart – Music-book Doodles 2022
Another fool full of ambiguity... on the surface the heart may appear foolish, but this very disposable member of the king's court is always careful and on the watch ... they cannot let themselves ever be really foolish in their actions. They are the keepers of secrets, the soothers of anger, the playthings of the … Continue reading Foolish Heart – Music-book Doodles 2022
Aren’t I Pretty – Music-book Doodles 2022
I've been wanting to revisit some old portrait drawings / paintings and just hadn't been able to get them going... this is the first. of many to come... she is done in film pastels on salvaged music sheets. The pastels really pop on this paper. he inspiration was one of my frequent inner dialogues with … Continue reading Aren’t I Pretty – Music-book Doodles 2022
Working out an Inspiration – T’Hed Fifty-Seven: A Deconstructed Italian Flag?
See T'Hed Fifty-Six for more... Ok, so maybe I'm reaching with my title question... a red stripe... a white stripe... where's the green stripe? Perhaps the yellow and blue floaters have the answer... if they combine... Yes, I'm reaching! The rough and raw feel (ie: messy) that I love works on this one and gives … Continue reading Working out an Inspiration – T’Hed Fifty-Seven: A Deconstructed Italian Flag?
Working out an Inspiration – T’Hed Fifty-Six: The pros and cons of small faces
See T'Hed Fifty-Five for more... It works... I think it works, right? The crayons spread the China marker and muddy the colours I choose for the skins... it shows less on larger faces, but adds some volume to these smaller ones. The subtle background colour choices really helped with allowing the gouache to make more … Continue reading Working out an Inspiration – T’Hed Fifty-Six: The pros and cons of small faces
Working out an Inspiration – T’hed Fifty-Five: Using Mistakes
See more at T'Hed Fifty-Five... I think the use of more subtle colours over the surface is allowing the black outlines to jump forward. As I went through a couple of inches of China marker making them, regardless of my fruitless attempts at not breaking it. I might have to retry charcoal with other materials... … Continue reading Working out an Inspiration – T’hed Fifty-Five: Using Mistakes
The New Renaissance Mindset 