Day 331

At the end of a spectacular evening, I couldn't wipe the smile from my face. Shana and I hadn't done anything terribly exciting or out of the ordinary, but we had been together. And just like every other day of my life, my love for her was completely reaffirmed. How could I not smile?!

#331 September 16, 2011,  Ink

Day 325

This drawing evolved pretty significantly as it was in the process-phase. I love the star imagery and frequently use it in my own art. At one point or another, I decided to put one of my eyes inside a star. (I really like the loose lines used throughout, but especially on the edges of the star!)

As I was nearing the end of brushing on the ink, it became clear that the drawing was lacking something. That something revealed itself as the need for some color.

I don't know how or why it happened that I blackened the eye, but I will say that it ultimately wasn't an accidental thing.  In other words, I had the idea and then put it on paper.  This is different from the time a person in one of my paintings received a black eye simply because I dropped some blue paint near their eye and as I tried to remove it, I liked how it looked!  (Incidentally, the meaning of that painting changed dramatically at that very moment...)

I like this image a lot, but as always I'll leave it open to various interpretations.  I will say this, however: a black eye can represent many different things so this self-portrait can and does have many different meanings.  One idea that I'm drawn to as I write this, though, is that sometimes a person might feel like they are repeatedly beaten down, yet they keep coming back for more.  Personally, I think that perserverance and tenacity are pretty great and admirable character traits...

#325 September 10, 2011,  Ink and colored pencil
Sounds: The Rainmakers, Flirting with the Universe

Day 311

I can see several influences in this artwork, both intentional and some not so much.

I like the look of slight paranoia on my face as I look back over my shoulder.

I like the loose spindly lines of the hair especially - but really all of the lines share that quality.

I like the splattered effect that can be achieved by drawing directly with the ink dropper.

But when it comes down to it, this self-portrait started in a very simple place: I took a shower and just let my hair go wild once I got out.  I started with a few errant lines here and there to represent how I looked, and before I knew it . . . I had this.

#311 August 27, 2011,  Ink

Day 310

When I finished this self-portrait - rather quickly, I might add - it was just one of those that happen every now and then. The kind that I really don't care for, but I share it anyway because, well, I did it and I didn't want to make a different one.

There was a bit of a gap from the time I finished it to the time I scanned it. Once it was cropped and put online, I had a slight change of heart. I like it a lot better. In reality, I think the main reason is that the drawing now has a long horizontal rectangluar format, so it's different from the standard shape that most images are presented in. I've always been drawn to unusual shapes when it comes to drawings or paintings, so this one fits right in!

On a side note, I've been having a good time trying to figure out what those trippy ink splotches look like!

#310 August 26, 2011,  Ink

Day 300

I still love drawing on colored paper, and I think I love it more when it's a brown paper grocery bag!

#300 August 16, 2011,  Ink and acrylic on brown paper bag
Sounds: Butch Walker,  Letters

Day 297

Music is and always has been a huge part of my life. I've always admitted to having very little actual talent or ability when it comes to making music, but I sure enjoy listening and watching it performed.

There are very few instances where I don't have sounds playing - sometimes I'm actively listening and sometimes it's merely background music, but it's almost always there. And like any true wanna-be rocker, I can spontaneously erupt with some fantastic air guitar!

#297 August 13, 2011,  Ink and acrylic on paper
Sounds:  a mix of tunes by Jeff Black

Day 285

One of my favorite personal discoveries that I've made so far during this project is just how fun it is to draw with nothing but a bottle of ink and a dropper.  It's such a blast to start with a full sheet of bristol board and just have at it!

As always, some of these bear a slight resemblance to me, but most of these don't look a thing like me at all! 

When I feel like I'm totally finished, the bristol board is filled with nearly 30 faces and an assortment of splatters and drips (some intentional and some not).   

Some of the faces are started by making general forms that aren't necessarily the shape of a real human head, but they make for some interesting imagery.  One thing that I really enjoy about this process is that it forces me to be loose; there's no way to control the ink 100%, so it leaves no choice but to go with the flow! 

(Pun kind of intended...)

#285 August 1, 2011,  Ink on bristol board

Day 282

Pictured:

Me, at the end of a very long day filled with lots of hard work and sweat. Also, this was on the night before what will be an early morning, filled with lots more hard work and sweat!

Edit: And, it was a morning filled with rain, and I was right out there in it...

#282 July 29, 2011,  Ink

Day 278

It's been awhile since I worked on a brown paper bag. My full intention was to use charcoal and conte as I have done several times during this project. But once a few preliminary scribbles were made in pencil, I knew that ink would be a much better option.

Despite the expression on my face, this drawing didn't come from a negative place. I was inspired, at least to an extent, by comic book and graphic novel illustration, which is an area that I actually know very little about, but would love to explore a lot more.

#278 July 25, 2011,  Ink and acrylic on brown paper bag

Day 270

Once again, I am experimenting with using only an ink dropper to make my self-portrait. Obviously it allows for quite a variety of line quality, and the spontaneity makes for some loose amd whimsical imagery. And yes, there is a degree of control that the artist must give up when working with this medium, which adds to the overall effect.

With that said, I feel like doing someting different. Sure, most artists have a style that they work in day in and day out that links all of their artworks to all of their others. However, for something to become a personal style, it must be able to stand the test of time and be relatively successful again and again, at least in the scope of the artist's own work over a period of time. If it's not something that moves the person, then it really won't work long term.

In other words, I've grown tired of this material and am ready to do something different!

#270 July 17, 2011,  Ink

Day 269

I'd like to point out that the self-portraits made on three of the past four days have been made with just the ink dropper. No preliminary drawings in pencil. No brushes. Nothing.

Now, this is not to claim that they're fantastic drawings, because I wouldn't go that far. I personally think they're okay at best. I'm merely pointing this out for educational purposes (for lack of a better term).

This drawing was made after returning from a two hour (one way) trip to see two of Austin's ballgames. The games were both incredibly high-scoring (ie, LONG) and we finally made it back home right at 2:00 am. At which time...I sat down to draw. Yes, there's a reason why this one looks like a quickie!

#269 July 16, 2011,  Ink

Day 268

On a recent short vacation to St. Louis, I finally found something I've been searching for and hoping to find for some time now: a wedding ring.

If you've been following along, on Day 207 I asked Shana to marry me, and she happily accepted.  Hers is a lovely vintage ring that had belonged to her Grandma.  She wanted something interesting and unique, and while it isn't technically a wedding/engagment ring, we both knew it was the one.

Like Shana, I was looking for something that was not the plain old everyday run-of-the-mill jewelery store wedding band.

We found it in a small shop that was just a bit cheesy.  But that's okay, because so am I.

It's a simple stainless steel band and wouldn't be described as very fancy.  But then again, neither am I.

It is a little taller than most wedding bands and I'd personally call it kinda unique.  Then again, I like to think I am too.

In other words, I'd say that it's pretty perfect for me.  In fact, I like it so much that I've decided not to wait until we actually have the wedding; this shiny band has already become a permanent fixture on my left hand and that's where it's gonna stay...

#268 July 15, 2011,  Ink

Day 267

Okay, I will readily admit that today's self-portrait looks a lot like the one from yesterday. And I don't suppose it's really much of a coincidence either.

I liked yesterday's portrait a lot. I thought it was loose and whimsical and I had a fabulous time making it. So yes, I wanted to attempt to recreate that entire experience.

And yes, I did!

#267 July 14, 2011,  Ink

Day 266

Vacation ended yesterday. It's always such a let-down to be excited for a journey, for a little time off...and then it's over before you know it. And then, of course, you come home and have to start back to real life with laundry, chores, you name it.

I was a little tired when this drawing was made. Okay, I was a LOT tired. In fact, I had napped for a couple hours and actually made the self-portrait around 2:00 am. But oddly enough, I really like it. I'll grant you, it's nothing terribly special or extraordinary, but I like the bubbly effect. I think it's a kinda nice reminder that even though we have those day-to-day frustrations, there are still some pretty great and wonderous things to smile about.

#266 July 13, 2011,  Ink

Day 263

I’m not gonna claim that this image is particularly original. It is true that when I sat down to make today’s self-portrait, I didn’t have a particular agenda or thought in mind. In fact, I essentially started with some loose scribbles . . . one thing led to another and . . . this drawing happened.

I do, however, like what the image implies: sometimes we all need to just keep our mouths shut for awhile. It reminds me of an old Twilight Zone episode where a loud mouth man who talks incessantly goes to extreme measures to win a bet by keeping quiet for a year.

It’s true, I’m not sure that a person should go this far, but the thought is in the right place!

#263 July 10, 2011,  Ink

Day 261

This was another of those infamous late night drawings. And it had been one of those days where I would've been just as happy to either end the day with bed at 6:00 pm or to drink just enough to land me somewhere between a slight buzz and falling down drunk. I chose the latter.

I wasn't terribly pleased with this drawing when I first completed it. After living with it for a while, I can see some very nice things about it. One of the good points is that it was made on a common manilla folder. The scan obviously looks a little strange with the coloration, but I think that actually adds to the overall effect!

#261 July 8, 2011,  Ink on manilla paper

Day 254

I always seem to get the most positive responses about my self-portraits when I've portrayed myself smiling. It's not that I don't like to smile, because I do. It's not that I'm not in the mood to smile, because I usually am. It's not that I'm a grouchy person. (Okay, not usually!)

Today is a nice smiley day. I've got a fantastic lady. I've got amazing kids. LIfe is pretty damned good!

#254 July 1, 2011,  Ink

Day 252

At the moment I started this self-portrait, I had been awake for approximately 41 hours straight. I was in no mood to spend much time making art!

I grabbed a brush and a bottle of ink and got to it...

#252 June 29, 2011,  Ink

Day 250

So, tonight I was told that I look like a caveman.

Then it became a hippy caveman.

After that it was an OLD hippy caveman.


I'm kinda glad the conversation ended there!

#250 June 27, 2011,  Ink

Day 240

I'm trying very hard to stop short of calling this image a "character," because technically as a self-portrait, it's actually me. So with that said, I'll say that this is simply a version of me. And I like it. A lot.

There are some parts of it that really are there.  The slicked-back hair.  The hoop earring with the ball.  (Someday I need to tell a really good earring story!)  And . . . I guess the fact that I have a couple eyes, a nose, and a mouth.

And there are some features that are altered from the real thing.  I really don't have a handlebar mustache or van Dyke beard.  (Although...)  And I like to think that I don't have an eye that is quite so extremely wonky!

#240 June 17, 2011,  Ink

I felt like I should create a smiling self-portrait on this day, in part to appease a few regular readers (okay, family members!) who have secretly expressed concern for my well-being.  In visiting with my mom yesterday, I was told that she's had numerous people ask if I'm doing okay.  The reasoning is that I've written many times lately expressing how tired, exhausted, and fatigued (physically or mentally) I have been while making my daily self-portraits.  And since she is not one to keep her worries to herself (bless her heart, that's what good mamas do!), she wanted to let me know that many people are thinking about me.

So, to those folks: thank you.

Here's the deal: we've got a lot of things going on this summer.  In between working a couple supplemental jobs that take place outdoors in the hot sun, the constant work needing to be done in the house, miles of highway burned up between home and Austin's ballgames, and teaching a summer class . . . you see where this is going.  Unfortunately, each day's self-portrait usually doesn't get completed until the early morning hours after everything else is done.

So it's not a health issue.  I promise!