Friday, February 25, 2011

Changes

I have updated my profile "photo". It is a new self portrait I just finished. I have changed my look a bit, accidentally recently. I found out that by combing my beard forward, it curls..which I like. I have cut my own hair for many years and this time I had an accident. The clippers I used did not work as they should and I lost allot more than planned, so it became very short! The new self portrait is of course NOT very realistic, it is stylised as is all my art. I wish I looked like this more and less like I really do. But, be as it may, I now have short hair except for the tail I kept (and combed forward for the portrait. The shield is my SCA Arms.
"Self Portrait 2011", 5 x 8 1/2, Acrylic on Canson board. Picture 12.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Another Day Another Fight Picture

Here is the latest in my series of commissions featuring barefist/cage fighting. This is the greyscale prelim for the next picture. "Football Fight", 8 1/2 x 11, acrylic on Canson board. Finished full color version soon. 

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Merboy Muse Treat

It took a bit longer than planned and I could keep working on it, but I think it is done. Everyone knows about the Little Mermaid well, this is her cuter little brother! Little Merboy, 11 1/2 x 7 1/2, Acrylic, watercolor colored pencil and a tiny bit of Prisma Color on Canson board. Original and prints for sale. Picture 11.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

No Art

Just letting anyone waiting know why I have not posted any art in the past couple days. I was sick for 2 days and had to redo a sketch because it did not please the person commissioning the art. New sketch is done and I am working on a "muse treat" as well, so I hope to post something new tomorrow or Wednesday.

Friday, February 18, 2011

Illustrating Music

My husband has written and sung a song cycle called "Cardunne", unfortunately the only copies we have recorded are distorted so I can't post them. But the music and song story is great, and I did this picture based on the song below as a Christmas gift for him back in the late 80's. 
Burning Veil
by Don Hooper

Laying down a book, he sighs
And the memories stir behind his eyes
With the fall of darkness on the land
And he pauses there to touch my hand
As he leaves to walk within the darkness again

Burning Veil
Shimmering on the edge I look beyond
And Burning Veil
Sears my skin with fire that knows no light
A shadow in the night

Far away the song begins to stir
On the eve of darkness standing there
With a pause, a beat, a straining cry
In the wind your glowing hair will fly
And your eyes will call me ghostly with their light

Far away within a burning keep
With the flames about your face you leap
"Come away with me in passion's hold
Through the veil that burns your body cold
To my arms that glisten, circle you in their fold"

Burning Veil
Shimmering on the edge I look beyond
And Burning Veil
Sears my skin with fire that knows no light
A shadow in the night

To the wind I run upon a path
By the mountains echoing in her laugh
Round the cliff a tower far beyond
And a lady sings her chanting song
To a blade that pierces deep within my side

To the sky I search through blazing stars
For a hint of coolness in the air
For the pain that brings the Burning Veil
From the past it reaches through these walls
Of a man that cries his sorrow to all

Here the wind shrieks its frightening call
And I stop before a damning fall
Gaze into the blackness beyond
Step back, step back
Return, return

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Celtic God

(Cross posted from my FurAfinity account. I hope this is not already on the Weble someplace).
I tried to do a play on words and capture the two natures of the God Hern. He is both the hunter and the hunted so the wolf and the stag both represent him. Being in the SCA (http://www.sca.org/) I have done many "period" based pictures and have studies things like the Book of Kells and the Lindisfarne Gospel. Both have amazing, intricate Celtic knot work and designs. I tried to make the knotwork look like it was metal jewelry on this. Overall I was pleased with the outcome. This was about 20 x 30 on Canson board in Acrylics and watercolor colored pencil. Prints available.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

My Kind of Religious War

(This is from my friend/brother Theddy, reposted from his Live Journal with a a link to the actual post as well). He uses language I don't, but he is my exception when it comes to such things!

http://akirashima.livejournal.com/690710.html
For the Final Time. There. Is. No. Flying Spaghetti. Monster.
Marco Polo was an asshat dickfaced thief and liar with the penis of a turtle.
He ransacked the great Temples and found of the Great Celestial Heavenly Lo Mien who caries the Fishballs of Creation and Destruction. and brought him forth as a new religion to fool the masses and create great dishonour to the original. Monster indeed! HOW DARE YOU REFER TO HIS GREAT CELESTIAL HEAVENLYNESS AS A MONSTER!!!!!!!!!!!! DO YOU NOT KNOW IT IS HIS EVER CLEAR BROTH OF DELIGHT IN WHICH OUR WORLD SWIMS! DO YOU NOT KNOW HE SENDS THE GREAT HEAVEN STOVE TO WARM YOU EACH DAY. HIS SACRED FIRE!!!!!!!!!!
Marco Polo was the Anti Pasta! Meatballs... BAH when was the last time you saw Grey Meat balls! stupid westerners that means your beef is bad! when was the last time you saw spaghetti without sauce!?!?! SAUCE IS HOW IT HIDES IT SHAME!
The Great Celestial Heavenly Lo Mien needs no sauce for his broth is CLEAR and PURE!
and fuck your pirates! Asian had pirates while you Europeans were still taste testing rocks and berries!

I had hoped years ago this would be settled but i see that people still mention this affront to Our Slurpable Heavenly Love Noodle! Such Blasphemous Utterings But then what can be expected of such people that produced the Necronomnomnomnomicon and Bobby Flay

Reference Referal

http://christopherburdett.blogspot.com/2011/01/using-reference.html

This is a great article/post that every artist should read. Through out history artists have used references, weather it was live models, props or the work of others, references are part of how an artist makes realistic pictures! I am so glad  Christopher Burdett wrote this post and hope many artists see it and pay attention to what he says!

EPIC

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xmsXqgHHEI&feature=related

The Prophet's Song
Words and music by Brian May

Oh oh people of the earth
Listen to the warning the seer he said
Beware the storm that gathers here
Listen to the wise man
I dreamed I saw on a moonlit stair
Spreading his hand on the multitude there
A man who cried for a love gone stale
And ice cold hearts of charity bare

I watched as fear took the old men's gaze
Hopes of the young in troubled graves
'I see no day' I heard him say
So grey is the face of every mortal

Oh oh people of the earth!
'Listen to the warning' the prophet he said
For soon the cold of night will fall
Summoned by your own hand

Ah ah children of the land
Quicken to the new life take my hand
Fly and find the new green bough
Return like the white dove

He told of death as a bone white haze
Taking the lost and the unloved babe
Late too late all the wretches run
These kings of beasts now counting their days

From mother's love is the son estranged
Married his own his precious gain
The earth will shake in two will break
And death all round will be your dowry

Oh oh people of the earth
Listen to the warning the seer he said
For those who hear and mark my words
Listen to the good plan

Oh oh oh oh and two by two my human zoo
They'll be running for to come
Running for to come out of the rain
Oh flee for your life

Who heed me not let all your treasure make you
Oh fear for your life
Deceive you not the fires of hell will take you
Should death await you

Ah people can you hear me?
And now I know and now I know
And now I know and now I know
That you can hear me
And now I know and now I know
And now I know Now I know
Now I know now I know
Now I know now I know
Now I know

The earth will shake in two will break
Death all around around around around
Around around around around
Now I know now I know
Now I know now I know
Now I know now I know
Now I know now I know
Now I know now I know
Now I know
Wo wo wo wo wo wo wo wo wo
Listen to the wise listen to the wise listen to the wise
Listen to the wise listen to the wise man
La la
La la la la la la
La la la la la la
La la la la la la
La la la la la la
La la la la la la
La la la la la la
La la
La la
La la
Come Here (I - You)
Come Here (I - You)
Come Here (I - You)
Come Here (I - You)
Ah ah ah ah ah
Listen to the man listen to the man listen to the man listen
to the mad man

God gave you grace to purge this place
And peace all around may be your fortune
Oh oh children of the land
Love is still the answer take my hand
The vision fades a voice I hear
Listen to the madman!

But still I fear and still I dare not
Laugh at the madman!

Monday, February 14, 2011

Fail? or Truth?

This is from a website that shows funny adds etc that seem to miss the mark of what they are designed for. This one was just perfect in my opinion!

Friday, February 11, 2011

Eagle Scroll

I just did this in the past day and it will be given out tomorrow at my SCA groups Baronial Birthday. I took out the name since it is a surprise and while I doubt anyone who reads my Weble will know the person, it is better to keep it safe.(It was given so I can replace the name). The calligraphy is horrid, I am not good at it anyway and I am out of practice...so this is pretty bad. Inspired by German heraldry and illumination from the 1400's, "German Eagle Golden Dolphin", 8 1/2 x 11, Micron pen and Acrylic on velum (the skin not the paper). Prints without the lettering available. Picture 10. 

Thursday, February 10, 2011

New Followers

Welcome new followers, who ever you are! Please leave comments and give me feedback. That is why this Weble exists! 79 and I don't know who is new...

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Hot Elf

I just finished this commission. It is my own version of Wendy Pini's Elf "Cutter". I was asked to do this more or less in her style...well it is similar I think but clearly not her's. Anyway, I am happy with it and so is the person who commissioned it. "Cutter Bathing", 8 1/2 x 11, Acrylic watercolor colored pencil and a small amount of Prisma Color on Canson board. (that is water in his hand, NOTHING else)! Picture 9.

Does it Even Matter?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJIe6_--QvI&feature=player_embedded

One of their songs I really like and an strange but interesting video.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Monkey Buisness

I have always liked the Indian God, Hanuman, the Monkey King/God. I am not sure why but he and Ganisha just resonate with me as concepts (I am not a worshiper or follower of any man made God). So, my muse apparently likes him as well cause once again when I should be doing commission work, this is what I HAD to paint! "Young Hanuman", 9 x 11, Acrylic on Canson board. Original and prints for sale. Picture 8.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

What A Rush!

My husband just got us tickets to see Rush in concert in April!! YEAH!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tNLvNOu9Mw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYTOZU9rRj8

I was brought up to believe
The universe has a plan
We are only human
It’s not ours to understand

The universe has a plan
All is for the best
Some will be rewarded
And the devil take the rest

All is for the best
Believe in what we’re told
Blind men in the market
Buying what we’re sold
Believe in what we’re told
Until our final breath

While our loving Watchmaker
Loves us all to death
In a world of cut and thrust
I was always taught to trust
In a world where all must fail
Heaven’s justice will prevail

The joy and pain that we receive
Each comes with its own cost
The price of what we’re winning
Is the same as what we’ve lost

Until our final breath
The joy and pain that we receive
Must be what we deserve
I was brought up to believe

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Merboy Treat

It has been awhile since I did a "muse treat" (a quick small picture just for fun). This is iinspired by V.M. Wyman's work and the work of some black and white turn of the century artists like Garth Jones and others. I used some of the technique I did in the test (posted just before this) for the background. Anyway, this is "Merboy, Muse Treat" (bad name but I can't think of anything else right now), 6 x 6 Acrylic, watercolor colored pencil and Micron marker on Bristol. Original and prints for sale. Picture 7.

This, IS Just a Test

OK, since so many I watch on http://www.furaffinity.net/  like to post rough stuff, weird stuff and experimental stuff, I thought I would too! This is a 3 x 4 (cropped down a bit to give sharp border) Bristol paper with a micron marker circle. I then wetted the area around the circle and added spots of very wet color (Acrylic), let it set a few, washed over all the color area with a wet brush and then sprinkled salt on the whole thing (watercolor people know the technique). After it dried I used very watered down Acrylic to paint the "pearl". I am trying to get some new looser techniques to try and this may show up in the next small picture I am working on.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Cat Scratch Fever

I have the Bast picture done, this is the best scan I can get. Here is the finished picture. Not very Alma-Tadema like in my opinion but still, I am happy with it. "Bast in Repose", 16 x 20, Acrylic and ProWhite on Canson board. Original and prints available. Picture 6.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Not Done Yet, Detail

Well, I hoped that I could post the finished Bast picture today, but it still has some small bits to finish up. So, here is a small tease of the nearly finished picture. "Bast" detail.