Category Archives: The Process

No Longer A Team Player

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I’ve been a part of a large number of collaborative groups. While the experience is rewarding, the creative process leaves me angry. To the point: no one listens to me.

Don’t misunderstand me: they may hear me, but they don’t take my input to heart. And when they don’t take my input to heart, I wonder why I’m even there. Am I there just so there’s another opinion that can be dismissed? Maybe.

The kicker is when the “leader” of the group – the one who talks the most and the loudest – eventually comes around with the whole “you were right – we should have listened to you”. Even if they never admit or realize that I was the one with the right direction, they do ultimately follow the path that I’d laid out.

So if you want me on your team, stop contradicting me. I’m right. I can’t prove it. And it’s not some high opinion of myself that leads me to say this but, I’m right. I just am.

In the meantime, the only one whose creative process matters to me right now is ME. I’ve gotta do my own thing.

Number Twelve

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I did it. And I didn’t think I would. I painted one (or more) painting for every month of the year of 2011.

You see, I was balancing finishing up the semester, releasing some software, and dealing with the holidays. I looked at the canvas I had started at the beginning of the month and thought “There’s no fucking way.” I’d almost thought of just saying that it was good enough. I’d done eleven and that was decent.

I sucked it up and did this in two hours. I want to do this with oils. I think white will be the color for 2012.

Eleven Down

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I started 2010 with the resolution to complete one painting per month. I also wanted to explore oils and more representational painting. I think I’ve done a pretty good job of following through with my resolutions.

Completing twelve paintings has been tough (and I still have one more to do). I admit that a few really didn’t work. But I’ve had many more successes than disappointments. There are some paintings that leave me unable to replicate the technique. My own work is a mystery.

Plenty of times I was unable to start a piece until the last few days of the month. Imagine what I could do if I could really take some time with the paintings. My first and favorite oil painting was done in the span of thirty hours over the course of two weeks.

I’ve tried my hand at some self promotion and have put up a store. So far, absolutely nothing has happened on that front. I think that will be my goal for 2012 – to sell something.

Anything.

It’d also be grand to see one of my paintings on a derby poster. I think 2012 will be the year of the action paintings.

Really

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I’d love some free time.

I’m hard at work on developing art for my video game design class, as well as doing some card art for a fellow student and their capstone (below). I need to pay attention to my painting though.

Work In Progress: Ogre Brute. Digital Painting

The ad went down well enough at the WFTDA NC Regionals, with one of the skaters whom I had painted giving me a very nice compliment. That, in a way, was payment enough, ya know? Website traffic spiked and people at least looked at my work. But I was hoping for maybe one or two poster sales. It’d probably help to actually have a table or something.

Here’s to trying. I’m going to have to keep doing that.

Almost Complete for August

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This one has been quite the challenge. First, it was difficult to find time to work. Second, the flesh tones were giving me fits. Thirdly, the oils were drying much more quickly than I was used to. And finally, the shadows were very daunting. Overall, it works, but when I look at it in certain light, the colors do not have the luster that my previous oils did. Or maybe I’m just remembering it wrong. Bah.