Cover/Page 1

First work-in-progress shot for the sketchbook. Trying to decide whether or not the first page needs to have the quote done in ink or collage.

A tad blurry, but you get the idea.

Progress on both Blog and Sketchbook

  Progress is finally being made with the blog. I'm still fiddling with the background options, trying to find the one that best pops everything forward without being distracting. I'm also tweaking the layout and I added a bio page finally. I do plan on adding photos, etc. to that particular page, and I'd love feedback on whether it comes across alright. Writing in the third person can be rather frustrating. :D Also, is everything legible? Used one of the webfonts in spots, and I have changed to a different template. I want to make sure that it doesn't irritate anyone's eyes to read this.

  For my sketchbook, I finally started to play with what I want the layout and storyline to be. As I mentioned in my last post, I'm intrigued by Carl Jung's theory, pertaining to the Animus and Anima, as well as the Shadow and Persona. I'm not sure if I entirely agree with what I have read about it, but I do find that certain elements click for me. I'm also wanting to explore a theme I played around with in one of my art projects- thought processes/raining words. (I'll post some images of that particular project later). Which is partly where the collage aspect of my sketchbook comes in.

  As far as the first page goes, I'm currently inking it pitch-black, and will then splatter it with gesso- perhaps even white water color. I'll then go back with a dip pen/quill and carve back in with black ink to form letters out of the white. (I'm rather curious to see if it will work, quite frankly). This first page will be of one of my favorite quotes, by Friedrich Nietzsche. "He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." I feel that this quote will open the first art/chapter page quite well and will mesh with the themes of my little story. 

  I may open each little scene with a quote and am starting to feel as if this little story may have to be continued past the sketchbook. We shall see. It will definitely end up deeply personal, by the end. I just hope that I can adequately- at the least- give voice to what I'm picturing for this.

Getting Organized

 Summer is in full swing. Finally graduated and will be receiving my Associate's Degree in the mail soon. I've been a little lax on the drawing/writing the last few days, but I'm starting to gather steam now. My goals for the summer are:

• improve drawing by playing with more media
• do personal homework on Art History
• Start and potentially complete The Sketchbook Project
• shed some body fat

  I am currently playing with the storyline for my sketchbook. I am thinking about doing a graphic novel that plays around with mixed media/writing styles. It's... challenging, so far. I'm playing around a bit, with different personal symbolism and half-formed ideas...

  One of the influences deals with some of Carl Jung's theories- especially pertaining to the Animus, Anima, Shadow, and Persona. Mix that with dreams and stream-of-consciousness moments, and it's a rather difficult- and volatile mix- to write. Especially since much of it deals with drawing or the application of media. So far, I know that I'll be using ink, gesso, watercolor, and collage.

  Anyways, more a little later tonight. Honestly. If you're curious about animus/anima check out:
Wiki page on animus and anima and Wiki page on The Shadow. I don't agree with all of it, but some of the imagery it inspires clicks with me, for some reason.

Final Projects and The Sketchbook Project

  Finally, artwork update! Here's the completed version of my Design 1 isometric drawing.

   The completed ink portion of my Drawing II project, both a close-up and slight distance shot.

 

And finally... the sketchbook!

Final Project W.i.Ps and The Sketchbook Project

I can finally upload some current work. I'm working on final projects for both my Design 1 class and my Drawing 2 class. These are work-in-progress shots, so they may look extremely different when complete. For my Design project, I'm doing an Isometric drawing on a full sheet of Arches (140lb Hot Press) paper.

Full view of the Isometric drawing. Watercolor and graphite at this point. Glass-like architecture.

 And for a close up of part of it:

My Drawing II project is a bit of a Master Interpretation drawing. I'm doing the proposal on a sheet of Stonehenge, and breaking down the original painting into line and shape- instead of subject matter. Then, on a sheet of Arches, I'll bring back the subject matter, but with my definite own spin. The painting I'm using is Jose de Ribera's Martyrdom of Saint Phillip. Here's what I got so far.

Full view. This paper is almost as tall as I am. O.o

Close-up

The actual reference image:

Martyrdom of Saint Phillip by Jose de Ribera, Spanish Baroque

    Also, I decided to participate in The Sketchbook Project. It sounds amazing, and I can't wait to receive my sketchbook. I'll upload the drawings as I work on them. That's all for tonight!