Day 105

I felt a strong urge to get back on track tonight. While I enjoyed yesterday's self-portrait, I've felt a sense of something lacking in the quality of my art from the past couple days.

This drawing came to me in a bit of a "vision", if you will. After a long day of shoveling snow, accomplishing some housework, and doing a marathon task of grocery shopping, I was pretty much drained by the time the evening arrived. Making art was literally the last thing on my mind as I collapsed onto the sofa!

Then something strange happened: I sat up knowing exactly what my self-portrait would look like. And without much deviation, the finished product looks almost exactly as I had pictured it in my mind. This is an amazing process, where it almost feels like my hand is being guided by someone or something else. I don't have a lot of interest in getting spiritual or metaphysical right here and now, but it was a unique feeling that I always welcome when it comes along.

#105 February 2, 2011,  Ink (with brush) and colored pencil on colored paper

Sounds: Yes, 90125

Day 88

I love it when art happens like this.

The idea for this self-portrait came to me when looking at a loose sketch that I made a couple years ago. It wasn't a self-portrait by any means; it was really just a drawing of some kind of eagle-like bird that had antlers and a cat's tail. And for some reason it was also wearing a pendant that looked a lot like a penny. I'll be honest: I have no idea when I did this drawing or why; it was simply something that I found in an old sketchbook and I really liked it a lot.

However, there were elements of the drawing that I incorporated into this one, the main thing being the scarf that's being towed by bumblebees. In fact, the moment I rediscovered that old sketch, I got the idea for this drawing. The idea was so strong that I knew exactly what today's self-portrait would look like. And with very few exceptions, the vision in my head perfectly matches the end result.

It seems to me like it's been awhile since I've done a self-portrait that is a little "trippy." I think it goes without saying that this drawing was a lot of fun to make...

#88 January 16, 2011,  Colored pencil on colored paper
Sounds: John Mellencamp, Whenever We Wanted

Day 81

I had such a great time working with acylic on the black paper with yesterday's self-portrait that I felt compelled to use it again!

When I showed this to Shana, she was immediately taken aback and described it as looking very "Picasso-y". It was a surprise to her that I would work in a style that even remotely resembled his simply because she knows how much I dislike his art.

I will say without reservation that I was not thinking about Picasso when I made this painting. I will also say that I personally don't think that it looks any more like his style than that of a multitude of other artists. But once again, personal interpretation matters. She saw certain characteristics of Picasso's art in my self-portrait, where I might have looked at those same traits and likened them to the art of Edvard Munch, or Max Beckmann, or perhaps Egon Schiele. (For the record, we're both correct...)

The gold paint is another story: I was most certainly paying tribute to one of my art heroes, Gustav Klimt...

#81 January 9, 2011,  Acrylic on paper

Day 80

In this case, I recently saw a distinctive bush alongside the highway; from a distance, the buds at the end of the branches resembled birds. The more I thought about it, the visual in my mind transformed to what eventually became today's portrait.

Sometimes it's challenging to viewers when a self-portrait doesn't really include the likeness of the artist. I personally think that some of the best portraits (images of the artist or of others) focus not on what the person looks like, but rather what they are like. In other words, certain aspects of a person's personality are often the most important thing.

#80 January 8, 2011,  Acrylic on paper

Sounds:  Son Volt,  Trace

Day 58

As I've said before, I really love using colored pencils, although I rarely seem to use them much anymore. And using them on colored paper is even better.

Although our styles are slightly different, I have noticed a bit of a parallel in my work with that of my friend Nora Othic, as well as one of her influences Wayne Thiebaud.  Nora enjoys adding an unexpected color - perhaps a bright pink or orange - that would not occur under normal circumstances.  As I neared completion of this drawing, I realized that something was missing.  Sure, the portrait looked fine and I was happy with it for the most part, but it just didn't "pop." 

That all changed when I added the bright green outline!  When doing this sort of thing, however, it's important to add a bit of the color elsewhere to create a sense of unity.  Upon closer inspection, viewers will find touches of that same green in the hair and in shades of the skin tone.

And for those with a discerning eye: yes, I got a haircut...

#58 December 17, 2010,  Colored pencil (Prismacolor) on paper

Day 44

I started this drawing not only as part of the self-portrait project, but also as an example for my students, who are currently using charcoal and conte on colored paper. Interestingly enough, they were so consumed with their own projects that they just looked at mine in passing!

I think I should point out that the expression on my face in these artworks is not always necessarily an indicator of the mood I was in while I was creating it. Granted, there have been times when I've been in a pretty grouchy mood and it's come through in the portrait for that day. But most of the time (like in this one) I am simply making a face that I will draw. Call it acting, if you will. So let me be clear: my wrinkled up nose in this portrait is not telling of a bad mood or a symbol of frustration; it's simply a face that I made while creating this drawing.

While it's not a content or happy face, I think it looks a lot like me. And...it was a lot of fun to draw, even if my students didn't really pay much attention!

#44 December 3, 2010,  Charcoal and conte on colored paper
Sounds: Young Dubliners, Saints And Sinners

Day 29

I'm gonna be honest: I really don't like today's drawing. When I started this project, I took a lot time to think it through and predict any problems that might arise. One of those instances happened during the making of this drawing: I simply ran out of time. I had big plans for a different artwork (one that I've been pining to do for the past three days and still WILL do), but the only explanation for what happened is that LIFE happened. There was dinner to be made, kids to be picked up from basketball practice, and so on and so on.

I originally told myself that throughout this project, there might be some drawings are completed in only five minutes due to time constraints (and yes, this one DID take longer than that), but I may not always be pleased with the results. One thing that I remember from my college days was when a professor told our class that as artists, 90% of what we make will be crap! And while I tend to believe that her number was extremely high, she made a good point that should always be remembered: as much as we may try otherwise, each artwork will not always be better than the previous one. This is a fact that artists must live with all the time. That doesn't mean we have to like it, though...

#29 November 18, 2010,  Colored pencil on black paper

Day 6

I'm a big fan of drawing on various toned papers. For today's portrait, I used a common brown paper grocery bag with charcoal and conte crayons.

To provide a basic definition, any art material that comes in stick form is called a crayon. Most people automatically think of children's wax "colors" when they hear the term crayon, but it's actually very inclusive of many different types of drawing materials. I generally compare conte crayons to charcoal, with the main difference being that conte is a harder material, therefore it's less messy - and this makes the medium much easier to control.

#6 October 26, 2010,  Charcoal and conte on brown paper bag

Sounds: Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals