Test printing of my art onto fabric!

I was very happy to see the quality of print onto fabric with using the company Spoonflower.com. So much so I thought that I would share the success. I had two older images printed on a sample section of fabric, and I bought the remaining back fabric from the craft store, and sewed the two halves together and stuffed them to make pillows.

"How to Etch Glass, A Guide to Personalized Glass Etching" by Eric Robert

               If you're like me, at some point in your life you've been curious to know how frosted glass etched images become permanently affixed as a part of decorative design on so many glass objects.   If you have had interest in learning about the etched glass process, but didn't even know about where to begin to approach the subject, then I have the perfect thing for you.

               
               I recently just read a free eBook called, "How to Etch Glass, A Guide to Personalized Glass Etching", by Eric Robert.  This is the perfect introduction to the varying methods on how to approach the craft, in an easy to follow format, through instruction and photographic images.  From drinking glasses, windows, glass panels, picture frames and more, these methods will be able to help you with any project  of  any size.

                
               His manual covers the core basics in what you need to know about sandblasting, engraving and use of acid creams to create your own uniquely beautiful designs, lasting you years to come. 

                
               Follow the attached link to take you to his sight,  and learn more about this craft and it's applications, and to get  your own copy of his informative guide to etching glass.

http://www.glassetchingsecrets.com/howtosteps.html

DIY Paintbrush holder

  This post may not be that interesting, but hey, if one person finds it useful I'll feel that it was worth mentioning. For the longest time I've been looking around for a paint brush holder, to hold my smaller brushes, other then in a mug. I've never been much in love with what I've seen available.

 So last weekend I found source material that allowed for me to make my own, and with some tools and supplies you can as well. If it interests you, I've outlined the steps in which I made mine.

Back to painting for a bit

Another watercolor piece referencing: Model: Kato - Photo: Genevieve Riker.  Such an incredible source photo to work from.

Faun Summoning Creature - Diorama

Sometimes it's a bit hard to express my creative ideas in a conventional method, so this happens.  A sculpted piece, taken into Photoshop to alter a bit.   At some time I'll have to revisit this in the future so that I can work with better photos taken.  

Sculpted Gargoyle Bust

Sculpting and molding process from something done earlier this year.  Plaster cast of the same piece, to which I decided to paint some dark washes onto, last night. 

 

Watercolor Studies

Models sourced from New Masters Academy Online Youtube account.  A great resource for figure models and with continuing artists' education.

Watercolor Study

Reference  - Photo: Piotr Leckowski - Model: Ewa Jodtowska - Designer: Bjorn

Dia De Muertos

Finished Nov 1 in the celebrations of Day of the Dead.   Sculpt - Mold - Latex - Paint - Hair and Flowers

Halloween Watercolor Image

Tweaked in Photoshop a bit.   Happy Halloween!

Watercolor of the Misses

Completed back in late October, and I'm now just trying to update things

Water Color Still Life

Winsor Newton Watercolor on Arches Cold Press Watercolor Paper

Woman by Candlelight - 1/4/14

       Small study in color reflection on skin.  I would like to continue to do more of these.  Since this was a fast piece, I wasn't concerned so much with capturing likeness or form.  However I am liking less and less the unevenness that these block water colors give me when using I still don't feel ready to switch to tubes just yet, rather I need to develop some sense of technique

New Years - 2014

Happy New Years to all, and wishing you the most prosperous of 2014 to come. 

Among my own private personal goals, I feel that I should list some publicly, so that I can look back on these by end of next year, to be a constant drive to me to accomplish more throughout the year. 

1) Return to using my Blog to expand upon my own sharing of concepts and accomplishments.

2) Create and finish 2 Children's Books - at least one written by myself.

3) Look to add about 15 more Watercolor pieces to my Moleskine art book, and to move onto larger scale pieces thereafter.

4) Release a few limited resin cast pieces based on some of my sculpted work.

5) Participate in at least 1 art show this year.

6) Work on at least 4 large scale sculpted pieces.

7) Learn from others, share and grow. Speak with those who share similar attitudes and goals. 

8 Take a class(es) on furthering my own abilities.

9) Motivation! Participation! Success! These are the words that I carry on into 2014. Let's get going!

Mark

Sculpt based on artwork of Marta Nael's 

Steps and process in sculpting, fabricating and painting.
I need to find a better way of photographing this.  I wasn't too thrilled with the end photos. 

Surrealling Dreaming

     I had a dream last night, so vivid that I can’t shake it. I found myself with two others, painting at individual easels, when all of a sudden; a large stag came bursting through the side glass doors of the cabin that we were in. It fell to the floor, dying, with its blood slowly spilling across the wood paneling, as if its throat had been slit. Then a vendor of from my work, who is a hunter, appeared. He said that we had to honor the fallen stag, by painting with his blood. So we all reached down, dipping our fingers into its blood, and began to feverishly paint on our canvases before the beast exhausted its last breath. 

     Now at this point, the other’s paintings became some truly darker, twisted images, but oddly enough I found myself painting a playful child, representing an image of hope in my mind, all in the blood of this animal.

     Chilling dream. Very surreal. I’m taking it to mean that I should get back to painting, and just that Hannibal the TV series really had some lasting impressions on me. But that dream, it was so freaky, and there’s probably something deeper in it all.

Smithville Artwalk

     Trying to start up the Blogger again, if nothing more than a place for me to display artwork of mine, in hopes of continuing artistic growth.

     I will be in Smithville NJ tomorrow, sharing some of my artwork.  Hope I get some positive response!

Dr Sketchy's - Philadelphia

                Come see (and draw) Statik Creation's very own AprilMayi, along with Demi Darko, next Saturday 9-17-11.  Featured at Dr Sketchy's Anti Art School in Philadelphia at World Cafe Live from 3:00-6:00!

Zombi - Escape Velocity

                  This duo, from the Pittsburg based band Zombi, has just released there 4^th album on Relapse Records, and I’m just now taking notice of them.  I must just say something about them in brief, because it’s one of those bands that are slowly ingraining itself into my brain.  It honestly blows me away. 

                   If you grew up of having fond memories of 80’s movies of the thriller, horror, or Sci-Fi genre, featuring music from the likes of John Carpenter or Goblin, this may be a perfectly suited CD for you to check out.  It is such a soundtrack from that area, with enough freshness liken to trance or bands like Voice Industrie (minus the vocals).  I can literally picture Snake Plissken running around in my head when listening to a lot of this music.  It gets into your brain and hooks you completely.  I really wish that in some respect these types movies from the 80’s could still be made, but it seems with the advancement in technology we’ve lost a bit of grittiness and fantastical nature of what made them so great.  Real hands on quality makeup effects, brooding film quality and the supernatural nature of a music that sounds beyond reality.  Zombi is a band that’s tapped into something beautiful and familiar to me, and for that I thank them.    

Freelance!

                  Freelance, an opportunity to make extra money, or a complete waste of time and effort?  I just want to take a moment here and vent my frustration, and before starting on my little diatribe, I’d like to state that this is not intended towards anyone that may be reading this blog that I have worked with.  There, of course, are always times when projects come about, when mutual interests are shared forming collaborative efforts.  I enjoy seeking out these types of projects, ones that are fun, which may just so happen lead to opportunities to make money, or help someone that I have a prior working relation with. When these types of projects fall through, it’s usually due in part to other family obligations and commitments.  I realize this, and I’m OK with that.  

                 This post is not at all about that sort of work.  What I am refereeing to is when someone (in the professional business world) that I may briefly know of, or have been suggested to by someone else contacts me.  They explain that they have the perfect opportunity for me, that will be lucrative for us both, in helping them with some work.  What I’m finding all too often now is that the more time that I take to explain my cost, labor, and timing and reasoning for suggesting some alternative solutions, the less appreciation I receive in the end for my time.  I do my best in any work related scenario to be realistic, and to explain that sometimes it’s not best to rush into a project without doing all of your research. I have no problem, in fact, creating what they may ask for, but the reality of it all is most of the time the client isn’t fully thinking things through.  When I take the time to explain that there is more to consider before diving in, so much that it may impact the quality of your product I’m merely dismissed without even a thanks for my time and information. This mere lack respect is what irks me. I understand a project falling through for one reason or another but how do you expect to run a business with this sort of lack of professionalism.  It make me wonder, should I just do what’s asked of me and shut up, take the job, make what they want, take the money and run be for it fails? Nah, that’s not me.