Axl Paints Dead Things and Nebulae...

Update about the last little bit

2011-11-30T13:31:00.000-08:00

So I know I haven't been doing a very good job about updating this thing... I just thought I'd throw up a few photos from some things that went on over the summer.... 2 shows, 1 in Nova Scotia at Power House Gallery and Studios in Lunenburg, and one at the WKP Kennedy Gallery in North Bay. I actually ended up receiving OAC Funding for both of these!!!!! (although I received notice about the Lunenburg show AFTER it was over... go figure!) I thought I'd throw up a bit THANK YOU!! I actually feel really lucky to be supported like this...

Despite my lack of updating my online stuff, and being kinda hush hush about what's going on in my artistic life, I've actually had a few successes this year that I am really happy with. I also have some work going on in a show Gallery in the Sky tonight in Toronto (although I'm not there for it... the work is there)... I guess the thing is is that I set out this year to do a number of different projects outside of London, and I had way more success with this than I ever thought possible.

Anyway, some pics of questionable quality from said shows, just to give this post some actual content:

In North Bay, Ontario:

In Lunenburg, Nova Scotia:

Last Day working on the Mermaid

2011-08-02T13:50:00.000-07:00

I gotta say! That having everything wash away Sunday morning, to have to re-draw everything that afternoon, didn't leave me with much motivation to do too much more to this drawing Monday morning, so I added a few flowers and called it done! This didn't turn out to be as awesome as I wanted it to be, with everything that went down so I'll be happy to move onto a new project, though admittedly I am thinking of a lot of new different street painting projects I'd like to do, and wish I had more chances to paint throughout the year so I can accomplish more of them....

Maybe next year..

Day 2....

2011-07-31T19:43:00.003-07:00

So we actually had rain and I spent most of my day re-drawing everything I did yesterday...

And then finally got "ahead" around dinner time...

Progress from this morning

2011-07-30T16:58:00.000-07:00

Expressions in Chalk 2011

2011-07-29T20:14:00.000-07:00

Plans for tomorrow! I'll be painting at Imadon Expressions in Chalk street painting event here in London... I'm thrilled to be a featured artist this year and I'll be rockin the parkinglot at the corner of Wortley and Bruce so come say 'Hi'!

Small Studies of a Big Universe - Upcoming Show in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia

2011-07-24T11:15:00.001-07:00

I'm happy to announce that this exhibition was proudly supported by the Ontario Arts Council!

First little street painting of the season!

2011-05-29T14:25:00.001-07:00

Just a small update and a quick view of the chaos in my workspace.

I did a quickie street painting today down at New Hope Community Church in Lambeth for their annual Big Day Out event! I started this guy without reference, and was informed part way through the head it was a sea dragon by one of the kids. Good thing, cos I like to colour fish.

p.s. my laptop is broken.

2 recently completed

2011-04-14T08:55:00.001-07:00

Rho Ophiuchi cloud complex
24x102 inches
Acrylic on Canvas

Quasar I

24x102 inches
Acrylic on Canvas

Done. or at least near done.

New WIP

2011-04-03T11:55:00.001-07:00

I have some things on the horizon right now, but no internet access. Very early stages but cool to be doing different things.

I miss you, internets.

2011-01-06T08:50:00.000-08:00

view at night

view during the day

new view from the futon

and dinner

Small is Powerful

2010-12-04T16:05:00.001-08:00

Also, I have 2 small drawings up at the WKP Kennedy Gallery in North Bay, Ontario as part of their Small is Powerful show:

Fossil III

Fossil II

Both 3x4 inches, with white matt and a black framed. $150 each.

The show runs until December 23rd! http://www.kennedygallery.org/

3 small ones

2010-12-04T15:56:00.001-08:00

Can't get decent pix posting these anyway because it looks like I've been doing squat:

All 5x5 inches (I think).

I have some shows of smaller work coming up so I've been trying to do smaller work! Although these are really small..

I do like small!

There's some nice teal paint in these that's just not showing up.

I hurt my back! Otherwise I was working pretty religiously. I should get back into some drawing maybe.

2 Nudes at Le Galerie Du Nouvel-Ontario

2010-11-24T19:19:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to say that I have a few pieces up at Le Galerie Du Nouvel-Ontario, an Artist-Run Centre in Sudbury, Ontario, part of their annual fund-raiser Le Nouveau Louvre. The event runs month-long, opening November 27th - December 18, 2010. More info available on the gn-o website here.

I've sent them 2 pastel figure drawings, all framed, matted, and ready to rock n' roll.. Frame size for these works are 8x1- and all works in the show are going for a flat rate of $150, sold first-come first-serve. They're available through the gallery, or also on their website at www.gn-o.org and reserved by phone at 1-877-348-6615.

Anyway, nice to have them in a show and not sitting at the studio ;) I feel like I should be promoting these even more for sale... I have so many! heh...

Also, I feel like I should clarify that project Wrath was a lost cause, however, I believe I have figured out and alternative to this work for the show I was doing it for which I will post soon...

more wrath

2010-11-08T21:15:00.000-08:00

New Project - Wrath

2010-11-04T22:09:00.000-07:00

Quick drawings for a new project which I'm just going to refer to as Wrath from here on out.

Yeah. We'll see.

Still Very-much a Work In Progress

2010-11-03T19:38:00.001-07:00

Book Project

Might kill me

2010-10-26T13:18:00.000-07:00

I know - what the hell, 2 posts within a day of one another?? The nerve!

Anyway. I just wanted to share. I have such limited patience for detailed drawings and this one is pushing my limits.

A few more studies

2010-10-25T19:36:00.000-07:00

Yup! Been painting. Studies mostly while waiting on some medium to finish a few larger works.

Sperm Whale Vrs Giant Squid again on Ebay

2010-10-18T11:48:00.001-07:00

Remember this guy?

Well I thought I had sold it on ebay but the buyer never came through with payment so...

I'm listing it again!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330486294164

It's all packed in an envelop and ready to go so it shipping should be super quick ;) So. Someone please buy it. lol...

Monsters

2010-10-03T20:55:00.000-07:00

Drew some monsters earlier.

Part of me is wondering how much of a gamer does one need to be in order to do concept work for characters and monsters in video games....

Have more spaceships too. Facebooked, not blogged. Will post eventually, I'm sure.

Back to the lined paper!

2010-09-13T20:53:00.000-07:00

I've been drawing spaceships again.

After a stint of doing several on nice paper, I've reverted to drawing on cheep, thin lined paper again. I'm not going to fight it. These are just prep-work doodling anyway... me kinda fishing for ideas.

Anyway. Rockin' another one aside from this one, but this one I finished earlier today. Been living at the coffee shop when not at work.

Livin' the last bit of summer.

Update on David and the Alice in Wonderland Project

2010-09-10T21:26:00.000-07:00

I was downtown snapping pics of LOLA Festival Ad boxes today and passed the location of the David painting.. looks like he's still (if only barely) there! Its amazing how long the ghost remnants of these things can stick around for.

I also, got together my drawings for the Kennedy today. They're all packed and ready to ship!

Feeling particularly photoriffic, I've been attempting to snap an interesting pic of myself for a facebook avatar for a while now. I managed to take this groovy pic of myself while painting at the studio. I don't know how or why it did it, but all the blue light in the background is pretty random and pretty cool.

Oceans and Nebulae

2010-09-09T21:55:00.000-07:00

I don't really have anything to say - I just wanted to post some pics of some of the projects I'm currently working on.

I'm thinking a lot about water lately, so I've been doing some paintings that are really inspired by waves and ocean.

(The study

The other, long study is currently more than my table can handle

Full size WIP

Also, some pics of the thing that has been taking up all of my floorspace lately:

Some more 'inventive' tools for doing the work

I actually ended up taking it up off the floor tonight and clipping it to my painting wall. Its actually not as heavy as I thought it would be (but definitely, this task would have been easier with a 2nd person! Sometimes I miss my old studio for the luxury of having other people around)

Pleasantly surprised to discover that binder clips did the trick

Alice in Wonderland

2010-09-06T19:44:00.000-07:00

Grin
(the cheshire cat)

Alice

This drawing was created with a more cynical interpretation of the story Alice in Wonderland. It falls somewhere between Lewis Carroll’s charming Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland filled with exquisite illustrations Tim Burton’s most recent and notably darker cinematic continuation of this famous tale. While reading and watching, I became interested with Alice’s various defiant and escapist acts, and the references to peer pressure, drug and substance abuse which can be found throughout both works.

In my illustration, I decided to continue these themes, reflecting on the resistance that I believe all young people go through as they cross the threshold into adulthood. The portrayal of heroin abuse represents a most extreme way of avoiding these realities. Alice, denying her responsibilities and life expectations, creates her own world, finding another dark passageway into ‘wonderland’. However this time opposed to merely just waking up from her dreams, if she’s ever meant to survive, she’ll need to slay her darkest demon yet before being able to climb back into the real world.

For the upcoming Mad Hatter Tea Party at the WKP Kennedy Gallery.

p.s. sorry my scanner is balls.

Anatomy of a Street Painting Part 3

2010-08-31T18:46:00.000-07:00

So I lucked out on this one! I came back the following day on this project to find out that it was not tampered with even in the slightest :) That definitely made my morning!

However, I was anticipating on finishing this mid-afternoon (around 3 or 4) and ended up working until evening - mostly because of chatty people! Always schedule for chatting time ;) This day was also substantially warmer than the first day I worked, and that definitely effected my speed. I think there were a few times I said to myself 'you know, I could have been done by now, and then I had to paint an aqueduct...'

Regardless, here's the final painting and people seamed pretty happy with it so that made my day:

I'm making this post on a Tuesday and it is still there! I biked by it today. I hope people are still enjoying it.

Anatomy of a Street Painting Part 2

2010-08-30T08:15:00.000-07:00

Alrighty! Part 2. Sorry this didn't happen over the weekend. My weekend was pretty exhausting, and as much as I had good intentions for posting this update on the first day of my painting, it didn't happen.

I started work Saturday morning around 10:00. My roommate usually helps me set up the grid. I'm not actually entirely sure how street painters do it without help ;). I suppose I'm not quite that good yet. But anyway. Paintings start with a square the size of your image. I do mine in duct tape, and then mark every foot with a permanent marker so it actually stays throughout the painting in case I need to put any of it back in later

The grid is made using a simple chalk line from the hardware store. Once that's in, then I can roughly outline the drawing like you can see in the photo below...

From that point in, it's just adding the colour and chatting with the people. I'd definitely say that all the talking is what takes up most of my time!!

Anyway, by the end of the day I had mostly David filled in and a bit of the sky on the oval landscape portion.

The end of the day is usually the point I have least control over. If it rains, you can cover your paintings with tarp and that will probably do a decent job at preventing them from getting trashed. And while you're sitting there working, you can usually make most people aware enough of your presence to not walk through your work. But when you're not there - the preservation of the painting is really up to fate!

I've come back many times to find footprints through the painting, or tire tracks from somebody's bicycle. You can't controll what people will do! Just cross your fingers and hope you don't have too much of a mess to deal with in the morning.

This year I was situated amongst some public art (these metal, colourful trees flourish in downtown London!) so between those and my little pylons, I was able to mark the area off with caution tape before I took off for the night.

Anatomy of a Street Painting Part 1

2010-08-26T21:13:00.000-07:00

So I've wanted to share the process of putting together a street painting for a while now - except every painting I've done, I've either not thought about it until after the fact, or get too lazy while posting and decide to skip sharing all the planning steps.

Either way, this is the planning stages for the painting I'll be doing for Festa Italiana this year locally in London, Ontario. The past few years, I've had the honor of creating another 'masterpiece' for their annual Italian festival. This year they requested a painting of Michelangelo's infamous David so in response, I put together this image:

I should note, that as of 11:00 this morning, this painting was substantially simpler. Originally I was going to go with a painting of the statue, with some grape vines at the bottom to add some colour. That was, until my roommate Jess came home from work several hours later. He's always bursting with ideas (and critiques) for everything I do...

He suggested some Italian architecture or some landscape. Through the power of photoshop and google, we collaged an aqueduct with a photo of a classic Italian vineyard and some beautiful hillside. I don't have credit for the photos, so if you see yours here, be proud to be a part of my final painting ;)

Anyway, I feel this may be a tad overly ambitious, but I guess I'm that kind of girl... The weather for this weekend is suppose to be beautiful (try and plan accordingly!) and I can always cut out elements as I need to. It's good to plan for more and do less, than have less and then finish your gig wayyyyy too early (funny, when they pay you for multiple days of painting, they expect multiple days of painting!).

I must point out that all references are used loosely. Often I use photos, but I also sometimes use original drawings or other elements of different paintings and things as well. I find with street painting, because you're creating work under such time constraints, that it is best to have a plan, especially in regards to your composition. It sucks to try and figure things out last minute because with the crowd, the heat, and the noise, you already have enough to deal with. I'll be armed with close-up shots of difficult areas, including the face, hands, feet, as well as a print-out of just the oval portion and several photo references of grape leaves to fill in the areas at his feet.

For the actual painting of the image, I add a grid that will correspond with the drawing once it gets on pavement. Usually I block it into 1 foot squares (such as this one), though occasionally I'll do 6 inch squares over difficult or highly detailed areas. Sometimes, if there's a lot of room in the image to play, I just map out important compositional markers (like thirds, halfs, diagonals, and/or circles) and just draw out from there.

Anyway, I'm admittedly nervous about the work but I usually am (I get grossly underwhelmed with my references when I piece them together - much more comforting and easier to just re-paint some old masters' painting). But I'm sure it'll be fine once I get into the groove of the painting and start seeing it develop.

So if you're out there, come visit me and bring water or a nice cold coffee! Saturday and Sunday at the Covent Garden Market. And cross your fingers for sunny weather, and more-importantly, that I don't get trampled by too many absent-minded pedestrians.

Bam... Update!

2010-08-07T22:42:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to share a few things...

If you haven't already done so.. My (almost) daily illustration blog is well underway so check it out here: almostdailyillustrations.blogspot.com

I have a bunch of them up on Ebay which you can check out here:

Chupacabra vrs. Goat
Sperm Whale vrs. Giant Squid
an Ankle-Biter
Cthulhu the Almighty

Also, I just started up a twitter for people who want to follow just about everything I do, and then some! https://twitter.com/axlsart

Anyway, I'm pretty excited about the drawings, and pretty stoked about getting them up onto ebay. Please check them out! All proceeds goes towards materials for some of the latest projects I've posted... which are slow moving, in part, due to lack of materials. lol. That. And the weather is just far too amazing to be inside painting (when one can be outside drawing!)

The Dragon Tamer

2010-08-01T14:28:00.000-07:00

My contribution to this year's Expressions in Chalk vent here locally in London, Ontario:

Preview of something new

2010-07-29T21:17:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I worry if blogging work in progresses are sorta jinxing the finished peice. I know I seam to start a lot of projects, only to have them go by the way-side and sit unfinished for a very long period of time, sometimes not returning to them for weeks, months, and even years in some cases. I think, however, anyone familiar with the artistic process will (most-likely regretfully) admit that my habits are not particularly unique, since I talk with many people who seam to have similar traits. I do, at least, get back to projects over-time (provided I still see some merit in completing them - sometimes things just don't pan out, and there's a point where you just need to accept that it sucks, recoup your losses, and move onto something new and never look back.

But anyway, here I am, posting a new WIP. Floor space in my workspace is at a bigger premium than usual, since I've actually just gone ahead and stapled this one directly into the floor. It's been a fun process, though, and seams to be going okay so far. Since I've been doing larger works, I've been starting with studies, since it makes more financial sense for me to weed out the bad impulsive compositions in smaller scale before attempting them big.

Anyway, here's the study, and a shot at where I'm at:

12x4 inches, Acrylic on Masonite

You see there's a long ways to go, but at least the basic bones of its design and layout are starting to get there.

One thing I will point out, is my original paintings (I say paintings, because there's a 2nd one with this and I haven't posted the study or started the larger work) were intended to go vertical, but I recognize that its probably unlikely it'd ever be hung as intended (it's 12 feet long or high depending on how you look at it), so I've been approaching the recreation as horizontal. I guess the neat thing arguably about space is that up or down is non-existent and its all subjective, so I guess for now that works in my favour...

New Project Blog!

2010-07-27T21:03:00.000-07:00

Okay so I went and made a blog specifically for my little daily drawing project. You can check it out here: (Almost) Daily Illustrations

Also, to make this post not-entirely text, here's yesterday's drawing:

More Teeth

2010-07-25T10:59:00.000-07:00

Stylized saber tooth tiger skull...

Damn cephalopods are cool

2010-07-20T21:14:00.000-07:00

This was surprisingly satisfying to draw.

More Spaceships

2010-07-19T21:55:00.001-07:00

Now by popular demand...

Drawings on actual drawing paper.

Random zombie whale thing.

2010-07-18T22:00:00.001-07:00

Still thinking about alien and space-ship type things. Sure I will have somewhere to go with this.

Spaceships

2010-07-16T23:21:00.000-07:00

I've been batting around some ideas for a large-scale drawing project which includes aliens lifeforms and a lot of free time.

Been doing sketches for visual ideas (and also, to learn how to quickly draw convincing mechanical junk).

Huzzah!

071210

2010-07-12T12:07:00.000-07:00

I might just start posting pictures with very. very. limited commentary.

Got back into drawing on this one recently.

Old Figure Drawings for Sale

2010-05-05T08:47:00.000-07:00

So I've been cleaning out some of my stash of stuff and I thought I'd mention this year...

I have a lot of older figure drawings left over from when I had more discipline to sell them than I do now ;)

Anyway, I've been kicking around the box for a while... I'd like to get rid of them if I can!! So, this is a great opportunity if you like my work or just want to support my newer work to grab one up. $20 or best offer for these ones. Check them on my facebook here:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=423144&id=549705716&l=3d6735f761

All sales go directly to supporting my ability to create new work! And it would just be nice to have them GO some where as opposed to sitting in a box in my studio hidden from life... There are some really lovely drawings in this set and it's a shame to see them slowly getting purged to make room for new stuff...

So yeah! Spread the word! Take a drawing!

A few little mixed media works on paper

2010-04-29T17:46:00.000-07:00

Aha an update! Brilliant!

Actually I just wanted to post a few of the tiny things I've been working on as I've been finishing up much larger work and strategize how to shoot them.

Despite the small format of these paintings (as in they are all 4x6 inches or under), they've managed to be a real pain in the butt to get good images of (you know, ones that actually reasonably represents what they look like? Frustrating!!!) Seam I am tearing my hair out over these little details more and more lately and I fear it is as much to do with old crappy equipment as it is to do with the fact that my paintings are just getting more and more complicated... sigh.... You know, I remember the days (years ago) when I was doing more black and white drawings, but also early paintings, when I'd shoot or scan and things would look so much more fantastic on the computer screen!! Sadly those days are over I guess.. lol.. so this leaves me/you a rather frustrated painter person who doesn't even want to try to take pictures of things to blog. Good times...

So now that I've bitched, here are some pictures! Only took 3 tries, too much photoshopping and there's still problems with most of them. lol. Hopefully I'll get to post my new ones in the next few weeks (and some updated previously-posted ones which I swear I soon will stop tinkering with...)

Cheers!

Holiday Post!

2009-12-26T09:04:00.000-08:00

Here it is.. a holiday post! I figure if I can't get anything posted during the normal year I can at least post something now when I have a little free time so here it is...

I usually don't give paintings as gifts but I painted this painting for a good friend of mine who has also been a great supporter of my work and she really liked it - success!!

Atmospheric Study No. 3
14x14 inches
Mixed Media on Paper

Anyway I've been home in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia the past week spending some time with family and friends. It's been a lot of fun but I am really anticipating getting back up and painting again! In the mean time, I've been drawing with watercolours, graphite and oil pastels to tie me over, and while I have figured out nothing concrete so far, it is on its way. Oil pastels are a new medium for me, and I must say my previous experience was limited to brutal crayon-like concoctions when I was a kid - an experience that had majorly tainted my thoughts on them in the past - but I had faith in the power of artist-quality materials and bought a set of senneliers (assorted landscape set if you really want to know) and as anticipated I love them!

I can't wait to get to Loomis and Toles tomorrow in Halifax and buy from their open stock. Hee!!

Watercolour is another media I don't use much, but I picked up a travel set to use with my pastels while on the road this winter. I have yet to find the same love for watercolour, although granted I bought cotman series windsor and newton which are considered student grade, with presumably less pigment load and more fillers. I still prefer the colour intensity, immediacy and qualities of the acrylic paint that I use, but I'm also impatient. I have a hard time wanting for watercolour to dry so I can build up the next layer of colour in an attempt to build the extreme contrasts that I love in my work. So perhaps I will like them more once I run out of the paints I have now and slowly start subbing better quality paint. Or perhaps I will discover its all just a pipe dream and I'm destined to just not like watercolour. :p

Anyway, I have a camera and should have things to post later.

Until then!

Drawings Inspired by Europa

2009-12-12T19:02:00.000-08:00

I have similar tendencies of many other artists I talk to - start millions of projects and never get around to finishing them.

Actually this is only a half-truth for me. I have a pretty good success rate when it comes to starting and finishing things, and I have no problem about sacrificing the things that just aren't working out in favor for a fresh start. I actually prefer to have many many works on my plate at one time; my painting process requires a lot of drying time, and for me to make the most of my studio time, I pretty much need to have many things to occupy my mind and time. I assume this is similar for many prolific oil painters and count my lucky stars that I don't work with that media. The draw of acrylic paint for most artists is the very quick drying time, but I often manage to find a way of prolonging this greatly.

The most productive times for me involve finding a balance between painting time, drawing time and computer time. I don't have internet access at my studio anymore and I guess that time has actually been replaced with other part-time work time anyway, but I've gotten back into doing several hours in the studio until all paintings are wet, then a few hours drawing at a coffee shops afterwords at night (also means I don't sleep as well but maybe I should just do decaf instead! Lucky for my body, the nearest cafe is only open to 9 most nights unlike downtown where everything was open 11 pm or later).

I started getting back into the habit while working on my last illustrator drawing (okay while this is computer work, it actually counts towards the art/drawing side of things in my mind), then started on some miniature drawings of... well I don't know what to call them yet. They are just heavily inspired by drawings I've done in the past of fossils, as well as images in my mind of various planet topography and memories of rock like shale and petrified wood:

1.5x1.5 inches
Graphite on Paper

I finally was motivated to work on these drawings, Drawings Inspired by Europa which I posted way back (Feb '09 oh my..)..How embarrassing! But here they are anyway:

Drawings Inspired by Europa 1,2,3 & 4 (in that order)
6x6 inches
Graphite on Gessoed Paper

These drawings have been clipped to a wall in my studio since I moved in, begging to be referenced in other work. This has yet to happen.

Also..

2009-12-10T18:06:00.000-08:00

I have the worst work to photograph! Jesus.....

Never comes out right.

I never use black.

Smaller works on Paper

2009-12-10T17:13:00.000-08:00

On top of doing small studies on masonite, I've also been doing some mixed media works on cold press watercolour paper. I have 2 more to finish up and then I'll be taking off over the winter - first back to Nova Scotia to visit my family over the holidays.

Atmospheric Study No. 1

2 parts both 4x30 inches
Mixed Media on Paper

Atmospheric Study No. 2
9x30 inches
Mixed Media on Paper

A Green Surge

2009-11-30T17:00:00.000-08:00

I feel like I'm going to post everything all of the sudden, and then have nothing again for a while.. old habits die hard, I suppose.

This one has been kicking around my space for a while. I'm finally leaving it alone.

A Green Surge (Theoretical Spacescape No. 1)
48x72 inches
Acrylic on Canvas

My paintings are becoming less and less literal, and while they are still heavily influenced by the nebulae works, they are also becoming more influenced by my own memories of landscape and
atmosphere. I found myself writing about the recent direction in a statement for a project:

First, I’m most interested in image references that are obtained by means outside of conventional photography and go beyond naked eye observation; telescopes and radiology reveal a world where the images are determined by electromagnetic readings and colour is arbitrarily assigned according to raw data including thermal readings and radio frequencies. Images of stellar objects like nebulae and planets spark my imagination and leave much room for inventiveness.

Secondly, I am compelled to reminisce on images from my past growing up on the Atlantic coast on the ocean. I’m interested in considering how these memories slowly change and become sensationalized as I spend more time away. Recollections become simplified, deteriorating to simple tonal planes as particulars become vague. Specific details forgotten, they are replaced with memories about the ambiance and energy of the landscape.

Both nebulae and water exhibit fluid, unstable characteristics, yet are beautiful and powerful bodies. My paintings reflect this wavering existence, revealing the excitement as well as the anxiety about these unknown realms. They become glimpses of possible alternative realities that may not exist or perhaps exist somewhere.

I think we all hate writing statements, but I lately have been finding them rewarding in that they can be reminders about what we're doing with our work, and put it in context to the rest of our lives. A little meditation and inner reflection on why we do what we do is not necessarily a bad thing, regardless if the path to getting there may be a little painful at first.

I've also gone back to editing this work, but I think I'm done with it now and will put it away with the other:

m42
46X72 inches
Acrylic on Canvas

Number 15

2009-11-29T20:29:00.001-08:00

I like how I started this blog in Jan '09 and have a total of 27 posts. What does this say about this entire year. ??

Anyway, it's been a crappy weather day, and with our transit strike I wasn't going anywhere. I finished another drawing in illustrator - I think I'm really getting it now. Aside from indecisiveness in regards to my design, this actually came together pretty quickly with minimum googling.

This developed a lot considering my original drawing was this thing floating some-what to the right of this paragraph because I don't quite understand blogger's formatting.

I ended up editing it a lot first mirroring it and then adding to it, back and forth between illustrator and photoshop. The rest of the pieces come from a variety of sources, but unlike the waves in my last attempt, I didn't go so far as drawing original stuff to throw into the background, and just edited a bunch of random elements together to make it look half decent.And now to fold laundry.

Studies of Spacey Landscapes pt.2

2009-11-29T10:17:00.000-08:00

Here are the rest of the studies from yesterday's post.

While some of these, I think, are much better as small studies, a few of these will move on to become larger works. In the end, the long ones will be 48x96 inches, the square ones 60x60 if I get my way and they work out.

6x6 and 6x12 inches
Acrylic on Masonite panel

When I paint, my work doesn't spend its entire time sitting on an easel. They find their way to the floor, upside down, whatever position I need them as I do runs and washes, so working larger proposes a challenge on canvas stretched on bars which usually has some give at the centre. So my solution has been painting on canvas stretched on plywood, which is great but hard to do when you get outside of anything more than 48 inches in width.

60x60 inch plywood can be done, apparently (I called and checked around), but I still might settle for stretched canvas, I haven't quite decided yet. Of course there's cost factors in everything, as well as weight issues moving such large pieces when I'm working by myself. But I have 2 48x96 pieces on the go right now, and it hasn't been too bad so far.

Studies of Spacey Landscapes pt.1

2009-11-28T21:56:00.000-08:00

Photographed some work today since deadlines loom. It was the first sunny day here in what felt like a while, so I took the chance to photograph all the paintings I could. There are still a bunch of kinks to work out for shooting at my space - there's windows that are huge, meaning its difficult to get photos without glare but its easier to do when there's sun opposed to artificial light.

So here's some bunch of the studies that were in pics from earlier to start:

6x6 and 6x12 inches
Acrylic on Masonite

More tomorrow so I don't flood the world.

Goodnight all ~

My Finished Illustrator Project - a One-Eyed Monster

2009-11-21T21:52:00.000-08:00

So after many hours today and yesterday, I've managed to come up with something I am actually okay with in illustrator... Much pleased with my success! On this project I was able to learn a whole selection of random tricks and tools, including how to import and use my own drawings to make my own brushes and swatches, how to edit those images, re-colour and organize, blahblahblah. Some of it was quite tricky! The worst thing for me about this program is how earily similar it is to Photoshop - which makes me attempt to do things how I would in Photoshop, only to realize that it's just not going to work. It took me forever to figure out save colour swatches on my pallet. Insane.

Anyway, speaking of colour, I'm not sure if I'll stick with these, but this is the general idea. I'm more attached to the light one than the dark one but its impossible to gage on this monitor (I moved to my roommate's computer for the home stretch since it has more ram than my laptop, and his monitor is quite dark).

Ofcorse. Pink. Because it is so hardcore.

and dark grey could make a good t-shirt.

So, hurrah... go me... I did it. And I have ideas for my next one too, which hopefully will go a lot quicker. I'd also consider taking requests if any readers have subjects in mind. But otherwise now that I'm finished this task, I'll probably be back to painting the rest of the week.

More Studio Life + Goin' Ons

2009-11-20T15:52:00.000-08:00

Thought I'd update this again since I found myself taking silly pictures around the studio again.

Been working on some big projects but haven't yet taken any photos of the work. This weekend I'll mostly likely have to do some shooting, however, since I need some images for a small portfolio, so maybe some things will end up on here, but it is way too early to tell.

I think I'm going to call these photos my 'Studio Life' series. Sounds almost intentional.

Anyway, 2 more:

Today I learned how to neglect my plants without actually neglecting them. Alas, I'm not nearly as classy as the person I stole this idea from - she used wine bottles..

Happy little brushes. Or, not so happy. So another thing I some-what neglect (okay they are still soft and good for painting, they just look pretty trashed.). I think if we all spent our life in painty water, we'd look a little frazzled too.

Anywho, I decided about a week ago that I was going to learn illustrator, so I've been trying to learn the many different things about the program that I can actually use to rework drawings and stuff in the future. Back and forth between photoshop and lots of little drawings, I've figured out how to make my own brushes and things among other cool things. It's been a thoroughly challenging and frustrating ordeal.

I feel like blogger may not be as happy-go-lucky as livejournal is/was in regards to what I post. So hoping nothing really comes of this.

Cool beans, yo.. cool beans.

A couple photos

2009-11-02T17:15:00.001-08:00

For my own amusement.

I remember back in the day when I use to use blogs for motivation...

A Respectfully Quiet Update

2009-06-22T14:47:00.000-07:00

So now that it’s been roughly 3 weeks since I moved into the new space, I’m starting to feel again more connected to myself, my space and my work, and beginning to notice that old work habits are resurfacing. I’ve now gotten back into the grove of bouncing between daily tasks like cleaning, reading, writing, and at every little lapse interval in between I’m beginning to work on art. While I don’t want to create expectations, I do have some new work on the go and have high hopes that they can evolve into the start of the next body of work. I’m finally feeling like some semblance of an artist again, and all the doubts and fretting I have been experiencing over the past few months are slowly exiting my head.

Being back to work feels wonderful.

This new space is an interesting one, much different from the art centre where I was previously homed. There, I was surrounded by a flurry of creativity between other artists exhibiting in the gallery below, several other working artists in private studios like mine, and many theatre groups coming and going, using the space for both rehearsal and performance. While though there was a lot was happening, everything stopped after about 6:00 and I had come to accept and love that I was the only person alive in the building at night.

There’s a beautiful freedom in realizing that you are the only person inhibiting a large space. It can be a place of sacred meditation and peace, a place to hear your thoughts and only your thoughts, to reconnect with the chatter of the inner soul. A place to play privately, to be unapologetically loud or utterly quiet, restricted only by your own desires.

This building is completely different. While there are many legitimate regular businesses that use the facility, with typical 8 am to 8 pm hours, at night it’s a different story of creativity. After the businesses and other artists leave the building for the day, this place is overrun by musicians who have many studios for their personal rehearsal space. It’s a completely different atmosphere that can be horrifically overwhelming at times. When I originally first moved and had to face the reality of just how obnoxious it could be, I nearly lost it again. How could I work when the music was so intrusive? How would I ever get anything accomplished again?

Now it’s starting to become wonderfully reassuring. I’ve come to recognize that many of them are quite skilled and I now get real comfort that comes with knowing that now I’m never alone. There are possibly friends to be made here, and connections to seek just around the corner. While the utter peace and quiet and desertion I came to enjoy at my previous studio, there’s about as much opportunity here, and perhaps this is more appropriate to my time.
Each space offers its communities. Perhaps I originally fretted that this would be the most isolating part of my journey, I have high hopes that hopefully be shown wrong.

Just like Home, I’d like to believe that Community is wherever you make it.

p.s. I would have pictures except I have managed to loose the battery charger to my camera in the move somehow. It could be a while before I can get another one...

Welcome Home

2009-06-08T14:30:00.000-07:00

My entire life I’ve struggled with the idea of roles and finding my own place in the world. I continually question if art is truly a worthwhile and meaningful endeavour which can possibly be significant to a larger picture or, if I’m following this path through personal selfishness and if that is the case, is it actually ok to exist that way and feel good about being selfish?

I thought moving would be a fresh start and act as some sort of conclusion to some of these thoughts, since fate randomly hooked me up with this opportunity instead of the alternatives which probably would have sacrificed my studio entirely, but it’s turning out to be not the greatest idea. There’s been several challenges to immediately overcome upon moving in, and I’m immediately unsure if the pros of this space really DO outweigh the cons. There’s a feeling of helplessness in not knowing what the solution is, or what the next step is. Past months have been spent feeling like my head is just barely above water. Is it ok to live this way? Is it ok for me to live this way? Is the sacrifice worth it?

The biggest dilemma of all, is that I realize I have every option to just immediately, knowingly change it. I’m not stuck into this path because I’m not intelligent enough to hold down a regular, steady full-time job. I’m smart enough to go to school and finish a degree in something that’d get me a job that is secure and pays enough to live decently, dare I say comfortably. I’m just continually conflicted about which direction to choose.

Finding studio and living space and the appropriate balance between the 2 has always been the challenge, and there are always sacrifices to be made, but this time I’m wondering if I’m strong enough as a person to exchange space, heat, and working plumbing in exchange for peace and quiet.

2 nights of sleeping there (almost 3 but I got fed up with the noise), I’ve been introduced to the bands that rehearse in the building (starting) at 2 am in the morning.

Today I bought earplugs.

I'm really tired.

Onward and Upward?

2009-06-04T19:49:00.000-07:00

Since the first time I left home in NS, to moving to Ontario and all the moves little and big in between, I have developed a real love/hate relationship with moving and all the little bits and boobs big and small that it entails.

I’m excited, also sad, to announce that I have found a different studio space and I’ve officially left my current space, the one which has been home to me the past 2 years. And when I say home, I mean home, as I have never felt anywhere more at home than up in that little studio, here in London, Ontario.

However, I can’t hide that I’m really looking forward to this new stage of my life. Any life change is always met with lots of anxiety and the reality usually is, in my current life at least, that nothing is ever easy for long. But there’s always a lot of hope that the next leg will bring better opportunity and I hope that it works out alright.

The act of going through, sorting, and re-evaluating possessions is something I love. Long-distance moves are the best – purging is a great experience. I enjoyed every moment of letting go of every failed piece, and destroying everything which I couldn’t fathom as being a part of something else. In retrospect, now that everything is at the new place, I actually wish I could have gotten rid of more....

Turning the page to another era.

Next chapter. Cross fingers that it’s good...

A long post from someone with nothing to say

2009-05-05T20:16:00.000-07:00

Well I logged into here with the intention to write, and got absorbed in reading several other blogs which I started to follow back when I first got onto this thing. I've realized pretty much that I don't currently have a hell of a lot to say, let alone anything interesting, but still find some point in actually sharing some of the progresses on some of my work. I guess this is mostly for my own benefit, not necissarily the readers, a point of actually marking some off the headway I'm making on some work, and feeling like I may actually be accomplishing things again.

I've been thinking a lot about my studio, obviously, and its importance to me. I remember back when I first moved into my current space, I had grandeous ideas of of how this space would become the hub for many figure drawing gatherings that me and my friends wanted to do together at the time. Work space, let alone enough space for several artists to work at once, always seams to be at a premium, and this space was perfect. The area entirley devoted to figurative drawing and collaboration gradually shifted into a make-shift "den" complete with a couch, a few chairs, area rug and a coffee table.

This time of collaboration, networking, and sharing of models and working with people was important, but since then my direction with my work has changed. I still have yet to actually come up with a cohesive plan for a body of work that actually involves serious figurative work, and I'm really beginning to wonder if I ever will come up with something. Since I draw pretty much weekly, and collaborate a lot of sessions, most people inquire if I actually do anything with the work...

To me, its some-what surprizing that I haven't done anything. And then, on the other hand its not. Most of my life has been felt feeling rather alienated and distant from the people and community aorund me. I have difficulty connecting with other people, connecting with the ideas most people seam to have in regards to being human, society, gender issues, that sort of thing. There's nothing that's that important to me that I have to say.

So now that the figurative work is without focus, that area of my space has become pointless and scattered. I feel pointless and scattered. The loss of space made me struggle a lot with my identity as an artist, and if I'm actually worthy of what I currently have, or if I should give the opportunity up to someone more deserving. I've become, admittedly, exceptionally critical about what I see around me in respects to fellow artists and their art. I'm no exception from my own criticism. Honestly, thinking back, this had a lot to do with why I left NSCAD and Halifax. But the area is packed and no longer in the studio, and I feel like I want to keep it that way. I want to reclaim the work space as work space for larger projects, and some-how have my actual life outside of the work space too..

I need to rethink this opportunity and take hold of it again. I'm working larger, and intend to continue doing larger work, even though there's no notion of practicality in anything I'm doing. I've come to realise that it is ok to do the art I want to do, simply because I want to do it and not because it needs to be sellable and have monitary value.

I think I still want to do figurative sketches. But need to reconsider the venue for selling.

I want to do larger work that is challenging both mentally and physically. But I need to find a venue for showing.

I desperately need a gathering space to call home and connect with people again.

Anyway, these have been the things working through my brain over the past week as I've finally gotten my hands on the next 4x6 canvas, as well as 3 more 4x8 sheets of plywood. I wanted to share a photo of the one drawing I had started, and will come back to as I start working on the other 3.

In February while I was AWOL, I put in a grant for a project I wanted to do. Its still in the back of my mind. Part of me is frightened that I get it, and won't be able to make my idea work. Another part is very hopefull and eager for the opportunity to actually do something that's a step in the direction for doing work on a scale I find really exciting.

Update!

2009-05-02T19:55:00.001-07:00

M42
Acrylic on Canvas
48x72 inches

Whats going on:

I'm kinda back into working in my studio. They ended up not renovating anything and I spent a bit of time drifting. Its a little awkward and I'm still some-what living out of boxes, but I've gotten back into drawing and painting and spending time in there practically daily,
I now have a laptop, and have been consequently hopping around the city, surfing the various coffee shops, libraries, and wi-fi networks,
Looking into venues for getting rid of the piles of figure drawings I've been accumulating
Writting writting writting and getting back into applying for things and feeling somewhat productive again (mostly using this as an excuse to get painting again).

I finally have some new work to share, and some almost-finished new work. I've been working larger and have the intent on continuing to work larger. I've decided to take a step back from exhibiting until I feel like I have enough work to scout for major opportunities again.

Hopefully I'll get a few more 4x6 foot paintings like the above one out before end of summer.

Art Therapy

2009-03-11T21:08:00.000-07:00

I know its been practically 3 weeks since I last updated. I guess that shows that I'm still pretty out of the loop with the rest of the world. Fallen off the radar, maybe you could say.

The past few days particularly I've been tucked away more so than usual. Life's been pretty frustrating lately, but I told myself when I started this blog, that I would try and keep the whining to a minimum. That's part of the reason why I haven't been blogging (that and the lack of computer/internet). That's partially because it happened. Or I should say, an update to my last post, building renovations persisted; I was officially advised to move all my stuff.

So the rest of this story from here-on out gets a little confusing, and a little bit frustrating but bare with me...

Two Mondays ago (March 2nd) I got the message that I had 1 week before they were going to officially demolish and re-build 2 walls...

Tuesday I started tearing things apart whenever I had the time between writing grants...

Wednesday I found boxes and facebooked a moving party for Sunday...

Friday I got the news that they wouldn't start Monday; I could move everything next week...

Sunday we moved everything anyway, since I a) had lots of people offering to help, b) most of the packing done, and c) had already promised I'd devote this upcoming weekend to helping my boss write a grant...

So much to do, I made lists and post-its to help me stay on track!

RIP my studio of awesome.

A lot of my more delicate stuff is now stashed on the 3rd floor.

And then Monday I got the most ridiculous news ever...

Apparently they have changed their minds completely, and won't be moving a damn thing until several months from now.

Since Monday I've been hiding. Hiding on the 3rd floor.

Ever since I was a child, drawing has always been the most therapeutic act of all, for me. While I took up actual painting a few years ago, mostly because I was always told when I was younger that paintings were considered more valuable in the art world, drawing will always be my first love and has saved my sanity many, many times.

This work in particular has allowed me to become re-connected with the very essence of what it is that I enjoy about drawing - large, sweeping movements, the feel of the material, and just creating marks.

This is on a 4x8 sheet of plywood, in oil bar and graphite sticks, with some minimal painting to flesh out the under painting. Still thinking about Europa and the most-recent drawings I've been doing, this work is currently very satisfying to produce.

Lucky for me, I am at least surrounded by awesome helpful people who made the process as painless as possible. And as for my studio? I'm not moving a damn thing back into that space until I know for sure they are done with the staircase that caused all this nonsense in the first place.

Drawings Inspired by Europa WIP

2009-02-20T22:10:00.000-08:00

I know I haven't blogged much about it, but the shit in my life, work, and the construction in the building around my studio is inhibiting my ability to do several things including:

Paint
Think
Use the Internet
Blog

I'm making the attempt to pass the free time in coffee shops drawing. I've started a series of 4x4s inspired by black and white photographs of Europa.

Otherwise, construction has knocked out the internet (and power... I had to re-rout things with extension cords) to my computer, and it may be a few weeks before it gets put back to normal. There's also imminent construction threat in as soon as 2 weeks for one of the walls in my space.

I'll try to remember to blog the construction progress later on this week!

Figure Drawing

2009-02-09T19:53:00.000-08:00

Last post: Ended up drawing the guy in front of me over top of all other work meaning nothing worth posting.

Better focus next week.

Painting (it's like a brief tutorial!!)

2009-02-08T13:50:00.000-08:00

Step 1: Remove all library books and other borrowed items from work surface (note: recent casualties)

Step 2: Locate Roller

Step 3: Locate suitable surface to roll paint onto (plexiglass pallets are good) and clean said surface with babywipes. Accept that it will never totally come clean, and give up, thus moving to step 4

Step 4: Spread paint with pallet knife

Step 5: Load roller with paint.

Step 6: Locate boring area of painting

Step 7: Roll roll roll

Step 8: Stop when areas have ideal coverage and painting seams more interesting (for the time being at least)

Step 9: When dry, glaze to achieve ideal colour and texture

Step 10 is being satisfied that painting can be a bit more interesting without always relying on the use of brushes, and that you've kinda been a complete lazy ass while doing it.

Next up: free pool and dinner as reward. I am a great white.

& Why Wouldn't We?

2009-02-07T19:08:00.000-08:00

I finally busted out some red and I'm finally feeling better about (well at least this one) painting. Although this photo really ain't helping my cause but anyway. lol.

So still makes no sense, why we wouldn't still push paint around, even through difficult times.

Influence & Inspiration pt. 1

2009-02-07T11:36:00.001-08:00

Last night I checked out the opening for the 4th annual juried miniature show, at The Art Exchange, which I had some work in. I really didn't really feel like going out... don't really feel like doing much of anything this past week. i've been re-evaluating things one by one. Figuring out what happenings I will and will no longer tolerate in my life. But I've been trying to make the effort to do the really important things, and going seams like it should be on my to-do list.

I survived for the most part. Got quizzed about artists that majorly influence my work, but I can rarely ever name any on the spot. Last night was a bit more of an embraressing train-wreck than normally - appearently being an anti-social introvert also inhibits my abilities to dodge such questions in clever but incredibly generalized manners. As much as I like to go out to openings and to galleries to see work, and can remember images of work in my mind, I still have to keep a binder in my studio, filled with show cards and business cards of the people I've been exposed to, and the places I've been. Sometimes it even takes google. I've never been much for remembering names or dates or places though... and it always destroyed me in school. Its been no different at this point in life. And lately when it comes to the content of my work, and the influences come mostly from natural history museums, x-rays, photographs in science books, data, even mathematical squares and patterns.

I think this is why I just no longer like my own openings!

Either way, I'm back at the studio today. And I plan on working on something a little bit later. I kind of want to go to the library again, return some books (natural history) and sign out some more (also natural history). I was talking to someone, about how painting just really isn't working out, and that should just give up and do drawings in coffee shops until spring.

I think I might actually do this.

Avoiding everything and being oddly removed from the rest of the world makes me the not most exciting thing to be around. Despite everything, I've been plodding through the code of the website, and trudging away at the studio. And maybe after a few more years of trudging, I'll actually be somewhere.

I was questioned the other day why I force myself to work through times when I'm so uninspired and withdrawn. Something about not forcing it. I don't know. I really don't know what else I'd do with my time. I think working has always been a way to let myself stay at least some-what afloat, and lets me remain feeling like I'm at least getting somewhere for myself, even if it's the most illogical and impractical place possible.

It's a good time to figure out what is and isn't important.

2009-02-05T14:38:00.000-08:00

I wanted to post sketches from Monday before I rambled onto something else.

I'm returning more and more to approaching drawing in a similar way I did with pastel back about 2 years ago.... but keeping it monochromatic, still limited by the lighting in the workshops here.

I realize I need to go back to working larger, on better paper. Full sheets of watercolour if I can afford it? But I've discovered from some previous drawings that happened to be done on overly gessoed paper, that this is the surface I love to work on (right now) and enjoy the drawings more as they become messier and messier.

Graphite, pastel with gesso on watercolour paper

I think there's soon actually potential here to finally create work at sessions that's actually interesting enough to be exhibited, or at least seriously promoted to galleries.

If only we had a bit more time than 30 minutes of working time... I really must reconsider ways to do more substantial figurative work than this. I may return to self portraits again for a bit, when it gets warmer again.

Suicide by Paint (Transformation)

2009-02-03T16:50:00.000-08:00

So there's a lot of people here following my facebook. They all know, from my little frustrated outbirsts via my constantly updated profile, that painting hasn't been working and I'm feeling more and more at a loss with work as everything in my mind (and studio) becomes more and more frazzled.

I got some soft-bodied (read: liquidy) alizarin crimson like it would solve all my painting problems. Perhaps only indirectly. I accidentally managed to drop a blob on my wrist and took it as a sign that these works will be the death of me, and I should move on.

It wouldn't imediately wash off.

I don't mind, really. Its usually better to just accept defeat and move on, than spending a thousand hours trying to make something happen out of nothing.

I've collaged:

Gessoed:

R.I.P. beautiful red swoosh of paint

And have done loose underpainting work:

It is currently much better in here right now. Though I still need to really consider cleaning.

There's been other major changes, re-thinking, and preperation for new work as well. When frustrations like this arrise, it usually means I'm well overdue for a drawing break.

Otherwise, I haven't had a chance to blog in a few days, but I've been trying to keep the camera handy.

Fossil VI

2009-01-28T08:53:00.000-08:00

While lately I've been doing a lot very very bad paintings and excessive lamenting about them, I still have been getting some actual work successfully accomplished.

I did this drawing yesterday afternoon while having coffee with another local artist Cheryl Radford.

Fossil VI
Graphite on Paper
4x3 inches

I'm at the studio now (my previous post done from home) armed with a full new bucket of gesso and some paint. Despite crappy winter I'm going to do something productive today.

Winter Blues

2009-01-28T06:31:00.000-08:00

I'm finally up at 9 am with the original intention of getting up and making a day of painting during the daylight in the studio.

And its snowing.

Therefore it is overcast.

And its not going to make a lick of difference in my tarped-up studio anyway.

I hate winter.

Always the last to get officially settled

2009-01-27T16:12:00.000-08:00

Every Monday night I show up early for figure drawing, and prepare for the sessions by setting up the donkeys, platform, sheets, lighting..

Last night I was sure to set up an easel and claim my spot to work, next to the workshop table, next to a lamp so I could see enough to do colour, because otherwise it is pointless... I brought down canvas scraps and the staple gun, paints and everything I needed and set it up a good half an hour before we officially began...

And then I ran upstairs to my studio to grab a floor lamp for some of the other artists, and somebody stole my spot!!!!!

Fkkk

So I ended up drawing again. Z~

I just thought you all should know how bored of drawing I am.

No love from the session monitor,

-Me

Well website work is important too

2009-01-26T12:20:00.000-08:00

So I lied (right) about that whole painting thing?

Its an amazing, beautiful, wonderful, sunny day outside and I'm sitting inside figuring out website stuff.

At least I think I'm at a point where I can just start loading in content, and I have most of it sorted so from here on in it should go rather smoothly. I'll have to go out soon to set up for figure drawing and get things prepared for that, and then I'll most likely spend tonight painting.

I had some weird dreams last night, mostly which made me miss art school and question my studio practice. It sent me on a google hunt looking into art schools, and inspired a flurry of emails to various people I have questions for. On top of that, I went through a lot of mailing lists and picked out potential calls for small group show opportunities (more mail art stuff, small things, stuff of that nature) and am feeling a little caught up with what's going on again in the world.

I'd like to find some blogging projects to participate in, however! A few weeks ago, when I first set this up, the first thing I did was return to some of my old online art-networking haunts and ask if anyone had any ideas for connecting with other art bloggers on interesting projects like back in the days of Livejournal. Nothing yet...

My intentions were to update this a bit more often...

2009-01-25T15:17:00.000-08:00

however, you should probably know I'm a creature of the night and all the photos taken after dark are lousy. I mean, rather, pretend this is intentional and its going to be part of my personal blogging *style*

Over the past month I have been spending more time away from the studio than in it. I've been doing a lot of research, organizing, and planning for the next few months - looking into new showing opportunities, galleries, grants, updating my portfolios, re-organizing the business end of things - everything.

This week I'm back to it. My obligations outside this place are minimal, so hopefully I'll make some headway on the paintings I have kicking around.

So far so good. Today and yesterday I've been working on 5 works (+2 not in this shot) inspired by the Carina nebula. They're incredibly contrasted but highly subtle paintings, and I'm kicking myself for not having the will-power to wake up earlier and make more use of the sunlight, both for blogging and practical painting purposes.

My dear Emily

2009-01-19T20:02:00.000-08:00

Unlike last blog I have decided to not put as much effort into posting the weekly figure studies I do.

Most recently, they have become incredibly messy, practically indecipherable smudges on paper. This is mostly because figure drawing currently bores the shit out of me.

I'm sure I will snap out of it at some point. Or figure out something new that really satisfies my need for doing something different.

I feel like I really want to do that combines painting and drawing, perhaps oil bar and paint with graphite on gessoed wooden boards or something.

Oil sticks cost money so feel free to send me a donation!! ahha..

Graphite and pastel on paper.

I'll try to at least put more effort into taking pictures of sketches in the future.

Long live the eraser.

Fossils

2009-01-18T09:29:00.000-08:00

Fossil I

Since I've been reinventing my online persona (I s'pose you could describe this as), I've been debating all the little specific details of it all, including figuring out official names for both my blog and the new website I'm developing. (I partially believe that using the word "developing" to describe the timeI've been spending attempting to set up a website is a little too legitimate and perhaps too promising. Don't get you're hopes up yet. It is far from a success).

"Axl paints dead things" is a title that seams to comes up a lot.

Fossil II

It really has never been about the gimmick of painting/drawing decaying or fossilized animal parts. It has always been more of a fascination for their textures, patterns, beautiful abstractified elements of a being that was once alive and moving, and whole.

The first 2 drawings here are older works, developed around this time last year. The last 3 I finished up, or created from start to finish over the weekend.

The Annual Juried Miniature Show is happening at The Art Exchange soon, so I'm now debating which of these drawings to put in.

Fossil III

Fossil IV

Fossil V

These are all 4x3 inches, graphite on a watercolor paper. This would be an easier decision if I could afford to put all of them in the show but I guess it just isn't going to work out that way!

And then, of course, I also have this little drawing too which could also be put in... I think it's a very strong work as well...

A Sunset Inspired by Bridges

Dead things in the post

2009-01-15T15:28:00.000-08:00

This work is going to Gallery Connexion, in Fredericton New Brunswick, for a mail art fundraiser to help them acquire a new gallery space. The challenge was for artists to create works of arts on postcards, envelopes, or parcels that will go up for auction on February 14th, at a local cafe in the city.

I returned to old work for inspiration upon finding a small unfinished canvas in my studio with a relief of a bird fossil which I took apart and attached to the tube.

And becuase it feels really stupid to send a completely empty tube, I'm enclosing some offerings - insence, dried ferns and bones.

Artifying an actual shipping tube was a lot more interesting than those little pre-fabricated watercolour postcards you can buy at the art shop!

If you want to participate, check out the Gallery Connexion website for more details.

First Post

2009-01-11T13:03:00.000-08:00

Dear World:
I'm going to do it.
I'm going to start blogging again.
Bare with me.