So I ended up doing two versions. What's odd to me is that this and the previous version don't really look like each other but, to me, they both look like me. In a way, I think this one looks more like me. Perhaps it's because it was all freehand. Maybe I should trust my own drawing more. I don't know. I think there are things to be said for both color schemes. The top one fits the setting more, giving off a more comic book feel and the lower one is my usual Rembrandt palette. So hey, two versions.

 

So far, this has not been a great year for art. I'm having trouble finding the energy and interest. Well, the energy. I do have the interest. And so, when I know I want to create and feel aimless, I fall back on that old favorite, the self portrait. The top version is a freehand one made distorted on purpose. I originally tried working with that, cutting down on the distortion but I didn't like it. So I did a quick and dirty version where I did a 30 second 'trace,' noting the position of features only, no real drawing and then 'painted' directly without a sketch. And that part went pretty well though maybe it lacks some feeling? The background I fully admit tracing because the lettering would be a pain in the ass. And I do like the final. I think the approach, without drawing felt more like a painting and came together decently. That being said, I think I will go back and directly use the original drawing and do the lettering by hand and see what happens. All too soon, I will have more than enough self portraits for a book. It is NOT because I think I'm a great subject, I just don't care what I do with my own image which gives a freedom I don't have with any other subject.

 I know this isn't art but you CAN see some art on the walls! This is my beast of a stereo set up, something that was given to me by in-laws a couple of years ago. The whole thing, cabinet included dates back to 1975. I had to have the receiver and turntable refurbished as they'd sat in a basement unused for over 20 years. But the system works beautifully even if it weighs an absolute ton. I got back into, or really INTO vinyl about 3 years ago and have over 250 records. I never listened to music much as a kid or even a teen. Once I started at the Picnic, I slowly got into a few bands, like The Police, Michael Penn and a few others. Music was one of the ways my partner and I first bonded over long distance. I gave him Counting Crows, he gave me Ani DiFranco and Melissa Etheridge. There is something just...cool about that behemoth with all its switches and knobs, the FM tuner lighting up in a soft yellow light. I often listen to music when drawing and I'm sure it informs what I'm doing.

One the things that's changed is my tastes in music. My old ones are still there, but I've also got into some jazz, some punk, psych rock, prog and funk. While a good deal of it's old, there are some new artists I really like as well. I'm really trying to expand. A lot of folks find their tastes and stick with them forever. I want to find new things. I think it helps keep me young and inquisitive. And really, music hits me emotionally like nothing else does. So yah, a post about my stereo. Why the hell not?

 Got a pleasant surprise from my old boss, Tony Davis the other day. Seems that the Iron Man story I did for Tom Devlin's "Coober Skeeber: Marvel Benefit Issue" was donated along with a lot of other old comic art stuff to...the Library of Congress! I sold the story to Greg Bennett just after the comic came out and haven't thought about it in years. Apparently I drew on the envelope I sent it in and wrote a letter which he not only kept but was sent along with the story. I've been told Mr. Bennett has moved to Denmark which is why he donated his comic art. So hey, somewhere, buried deep, likely never to be seen again, my work is being safeguarded by Congress. Kind of cool?

 I went back and forth on this one a lot. Originally, I thought the shadows, especially on the arm were too vague and wouldn't be read as shadows. So I did a version, the second above, where I removed most of them. But it lacked some of the drama and made the subject look a bit too...large for my tastes. So I redid the shadows, tightened up the shirt and spots, his arm. And this time, I decided to leave the shadows in. The top version is the finished one. I retitled it, "The Comedian," removing the subject's name as this isn't the most complimentary portrait I've ever done. But I like the feeling with it and the fact that I did a bit more of my style of drawing on this one than usual.

 This is another piece from a photo I took of Patton Oswalt when I saw him in Boston. It's a common pose for him as he simply can't face the stupidity of the modern world. If you don't know him, I guess it could come off as anguish. I tried something 'clever,' in that I simply erased anywhere there was shadows and let the background show through. I'm not sure it works on that right side arm. I'll have to sleep on it and see. Tried to do more of my own drawing style in this one and I do like how that comes off, especially in the hand. Not final.

 Did some work on this today. I think it's done but I want to sit on it for a bit. I sometimes release things a little too early before they've really had a chance to simmer in my head. Redid the lines for the hands, redid the color for the tongue and the mic stand and his rings. Added a floor. None of these are huge but they matter. So, maybe final, maybe not.

 Managed to sneak in the body, at least the first cut. I think I want to do a little something more with the background but so far, I'm pretty happy with the way it's going. It gives the feeling I want. We'll see. It felt good to be making again.

 Well, that was a quick month. I just haven't been able to get myself to draw much of anything. Part of that is because I made two trips to Boston, which were great. Part is because of the growing weight of AI, knowing that it's meant to crush the creative folks, a direct attack from the corporate world. Gods, I hate it. While in Boston, I got to see Patton Oswalt. And, seeing the opportunity, especially as I was so close to the stage, I took some photos in hopes I could turn something into a portrait. And so I've started. This will be either a full body or a 3/4, I haven't decided. I want to do more with gesture and to back up a bit, if I can capture the subject in a natural pose. I think I managed with Patton. Thing is, if it's anything like the 3/4 one I did of myself, the head's going to be a lot more detailed than the body. As such, it makes sense to do the head separately and add it to the body when done. Trust me, it does. So here's a WIP of the head. I can already note a couple of changes I have to make. That being said, I think it's coming along well enough. Those facial lines on the left, thicker because of shadows, have to be thinned out as they just look weighty. And the highlights might need lightening, too. But at least I'm creating again.