Hurricane Sandy Hits!

Sitting here in the middle of the biggest hurricane on record in a long time, a little bored, but praying that the power doesn't go out.  One of my student sends me a picture of a bowl of fruit that he's painting and asks for feedback.  I give him some pointers and the next thing I know he's sends me a better version.  I thought, "Wow, he's using his time wisely amidst the chaos of the perfect storm."  Then I scroll down and see the status of another student who has sketched a cute little monkey sitting, waiting for the storm to pass.  I couldn't help but to be inspired by my star students, spending their down time drawing, painting, and doodling while I'm watching news people put their lives in harms way, about to be blown away by hurricane winds just to prove that we should stay in.

Needless to say, I was inspired and decided to pick up my sketchbook.  Then I thought, but wait, I still have electricity.  I want to use it while I have it so I put my sketchbook down and went to my sketch n draw app on my phone and got busy with my finger instead of a pen.  Who knew a finger doodle could turn out so nice!  I'm getting better at using the sketch n draw app, it's relaxing, and a lot of fun.  I should use it more often.  Many thanks to my students and this storm for the inspiration and whoever created this fun app!  Despite the rain, the wind gusts, and the threat of losing power, I'm still managing to find creative ways to occupy my time.
 

 Hurricane Sandy Doodle by D.L. Tucker

So here's my little finger doodle inspired by the storm.  Thankfully, the electricity is still on so that I can blog about it.  Stay safe folks!  And stay creative!

RANTics: Keep Swimming

It's been two whole months since I've blogged.  Why must this task be so difficult?  I've been working up a storm but inching forward.  Why does the life of an artist have to be this way?  The process is soooooooo long and drawn out.  And nobody wants to pay you for your process, they just want the pretty end result.  But you can't afford to not get paid.  So you chase a check full time and chase your dream part time all while sacrificing your sanity because the ideas are flowing way faster than your hands can find the time to produce, you start to rationalize that maybe somehow you can get away with not sleeping until you die so that you can spend every waking hour trying to squeeze it all in........my heart hurts, cause I've got something to prove.   

Yes.  This is one of those posts.  One of the one's where after you've come to terms that nobody is really listening you decide, I'm gonna talk to myself, because I've got something to say that I need to hear......yep, that's exactly what I meant.

I've decided that my dreams are ghosts, and GHOSTS ARE REAL, they're haunting me, and I AIN'T SCARED OF NO GHOST!  I'm gonna catch that mickey fickey put it in a box and show it off to the world to prove my point!  I AM A DIABOLICAL GENIOUS! okay, maybe not but,  I AM A MESSENGER!  I AM AN ARTIST!  I AM A BAD, AS IN GOOD, MOTHER SHUT YOUR MOUTH!

This post will probably never be published.  Someone might think I'm drunk.  But I'm not, I just....have this dream.  That God gave me a story to tell through my art.  And it's a message that HAS to be heard, by me, and hopefully some other folks too.  So what the heck,  I'm gonna publish it. 

I hear Nemo telling me to "keep swimming".  I might be delirious, but I just might really be on to something too.

 

Keep Swimming (work in progress) oil on masonite 

My Own Personal Bat Signal

I thought I'd come up with my own bat signal, just for fun!  Here's a logo that I created.  When you see this, click on it or the Fly Girlz Saga button to your right and see the latest web comic episode!

I know it's been a while since I put one up, actually....I've only put one up, lol!  Now there's two!  I'm going to try to do better, but you can't really blame me, I have a very full life with 5 kids and all.  So bare with my turtle speed. 

Now.... TO THE BAT CAVE!  I mean... TO THE FLY CAVE!

Day 45: Subtle Repose

I feel like I'm back at Day One.  So I had to go read Days One, Two, and Three to remember what I was feeling during that time and motivate myself to move forward.  It was pretty interesting to see how it all started off and what I got from that first few days was this.  "It's funny how in the beginning I started out feeling stressed and inadequate and ended up feeling encouraged and renewed."  I said that?  I guess that was me.  So I read on and looked at the final result of my first three days and something wonderful happened . . . I felt encouraged and renewed. 

So here I sit with a blank piece of wood, a pencil, 

 and an awake baby . . .

What's a tired mommy/starving artist to do? 

Hazrat Inayat Khan says, "The soul is a current that joins the physical body to the source.  The art of repose naturally makes it easier for the soul to experience freedom, inspiration, power, because it is then loosened from the grip of the physical body."

So I rocked the baby with my foot, picked up the pencil, and let my soul speak.  This is what came out.

I've been reading a lot of Frida Kahlo stuff so I was inspired to draw a self portrait.  I loved how she made herself her subject.  I have to laugh when I look at this drawing because I look a little annoyed, a little tired, a little frustrated, a little agitated, a little sad, and a little like a distant cousin instead of like myself, hah!  (I have a hard time making people look like themselves when I draw.  They usually look like family members of the actual person I'm drawing) 

I propped myself, or should I say my distant cousin, up against a wall and went to sleep at 3 am this morning.  When I woke up and looked at the drawing in a different light, it looks a little like, I might be having a moment of subtle repose.  So maybe my soul actual won this one.  Take that physical body!!!!!

 

Days 36-39: Lady In Waiting

Okay, I've been working hard, I promise.  I've been in a zone.  However, I've been slow documenting the process and blogging about it so I'm sorry to keep you waiting.  Over the next few days, I'm going to catch you up with the wonderful projects that I have been working on in no particular order.  In keeping with the waiting theme, I'd like to show you my latest painting that I've been working on.  It's called "Lady In Waiting".  This is just the under painting so far, done in oils on wood. 

I took this picture outside and the sun rays hit it so beautifully, I am thinking about keeping them in the final painting.  It's as if God is smiling on her.

The idea started with this sketch that I did of a pic I found on line of this young woman with these beautiful long, thick, flat locs.  I can't wait till my hair grows this long.

Day One

After I finished drawing her, she looked like she was waiting for someone so I started calling her the "lady in waiting" while I was finishing up the sketch.  After I finished drawing, I started to think about that phrase "lady in waiting" and it turned into a word study.  I wanted to know what it really meant.  In my research I found this poem by John Milton and realized what the term really meant to me and wanted to capture that feeling visually.

On His Blindness

When I consider how my light is spent
Ere half my days in this dark world and wide,
And that one talent which is death to hide
Lodg'd with me useless, though my soul more bent
To serve therewith my Maker, and present
My true account, lest he returning chide,
"Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?"
I fondly ask. But Patience, to prevent
That murmur, soon replies: "God doth not need
Either man's work or his own gifts: who best
Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state
Is kingly; thousands at his bidding speed
And post o'er land and ocean without rest:
They also serve who only stand and wait."

John Milton

I can relate to the sense of frustration in Milton's poem.  He was this talented man that had gone blind and had to get his daughters to dictate his poems for him because of his impediment.  I feel like I have so much that I want to do with the gifts that I've been given, and it's hard to wait patiently for the moment when my dreams come into fruition, sometimes I feel useless because of my circumstances.  However, I know that God has a purpose for me, that I am His vessel, and that in His time, that purpose will be revealed to me and the world.  Until then, I just have to trust that He knows what He's doing and try to be patient until He finishes His masterpiece.  

So I'm painting the "Lady In Waiting".  Although uncomfortable with her position, she still anticipates that what ever it is that she's waiting for is right around the corner.  She's determined and has been waiting a long time, so long that she's grown roots as vines flourish around her.  She's cried rivers and collected tears that rush through her and feed her desires, reminding her that she is alive and thriving.  She rests in knowing where her help and strength comes from.  

 

 

Day Two

 Day Three

 

Day Four

Yes, someone is waiting behind that water fall.  Where do you think all those tears came from? 

I tend to fall in love with my paintings after I finish the under painting, and am often hesitant to carry on with the over painting, so I'm gonna have to really push myself to figure out the color scheme and get it right.  I have one more drawn element that I want to add to the piece before I start working on the finished painting, but that's a surprise.  So the next time you see her, she'll be finished.  I'm going to try my best not to let so much time go by in between blogs, but thanks for waiting patiently.     

Day 35: Peephole

My art buddy Lauren Brevner made this beautiful necklace she called "Peepers" that I can't get it out my head.  It's so me, and I want it so bad, I just had to make one of my own until I can buy hers!   I used a small wooden disc, paper jewelry cord, a few wooden beads, graphite, a little color pencil, and a little gouache.  I think she looks like she's looking through a large peephole.  It's true what they say, eyes are the "peephole" to the soul.  Thanks Lauren for the inspiration!

Day 29: The FLY GIRLZ saga begins!

I am so proud of myself.  I finally did it.  I scratched something off my list of things I want to do.  The web comic was on the list and all I needed was to complete the first installment to get motivated to keep it going.  It took forever to paint it in photoshop, I'm learning and would much rather paint by hand, but I did it.  I'm still not happy with the presentation, I have something else in mind but right now this will do.  I'm happy with my first little episode.  It captures the true spirit of a fly girl!  I know that it will grow over time.  I'm looking forward to seeing what it becomes.

Fly Girlz is for mature audiences.  It's my little outlet to let it all hang loose and make lite of my crazy life as a wife, mother, artist, and friend.  Excuse the potty mouth from time to time and I might even occasionally throw in a bottle of wine here and there, lol, but that's how I do!  So without further ado, I'd like to introduce you to FLY GIRLZ!  Keep clicking on the FLY GIRLZ link until you get to the full version of the comic.  Go check it out and hollah at your girl! 

Day 10: Introducing Israel

Since I'm on a character study tip, I thought I'd go ahead and introduce the main character in my book, Israel.  She is so special to me.  This drawing is my favorite of her so far.

This is a major scene in the book. 

I love drawing in my sketchbook.  It's where I get some of my best drawings...

This little girl is "The Chosen One".  She's gonna save the world some day...

Day 8: The Three Tree

I'm drained, and I feel like I'm back where I started energy wise, so for the next few days I'm lolly gagging on the 100 days of art project.  I'm going to revisit some old sketches and play around a bit, just to get my juices stirring again.  So here's an old sketch I call The Three Tree.  I used my Neocolors successfully here.  They are much better for sketching.

I'm a colorist, I love vibrant color combinations.  With the sepia ink on top, I just want to lick this picture it's so yummy with color!

This is a character study for my book.  Not quite in full character mode, but these ladies are wearing these colors well.  You'll find out more about them later.  For now, just enjoy the view!

Still not feeling completely out of my funk, but at least I don't want to melt my watersoluble crayons anymore. 

Day 7: SmART rock!

Okay, this one sucked the art making life out of me.  I don't know why, I just did not enjoy this as much as I thought I would.  Maybe because I attempted to use these Neocolor Watersoluble crayons that I have, because I have yet to use them on a major project.

Well, I found out that they aren't for major projects!  At least not alone.  They make for a good top coat or a good bottom coat, but you're gonna have to use several coats regardless if watercolor is involved!  Bummer!  Yeah, so what!  I was being lazy, trying to find the easy way out of watercolor and I got hit in the head with a SmART rock.  That happens occasionally.  There is no easy way out of watercolor.  Layers on top of layers is the only way out!  LOL!  And since I wasn't feeling this drawing from the beginning, seeing as how I was looking like a distant cousin and all, what you see is what you get.  One layer of watersoluble crayons and I'm moving on to the next one.

I'll revisit Ingenue later.  When I feel like it.  Now is just not the time.  She totally took me out of my zone.  She looks better than the 1st painting, but she's still got a long way to go.  Oh well, next!  Gotta love the smART rocks!

Day 6: Ingenue

I've been digging through a lot of my old art from when I first started art school.  Although it's painful to look at, because I had no clue what I was doing, I am inspired by the fresh ideas and creativity that I had as a budding young artist.  I would try so hard to turn these huge detailed drawings into paintings,  I wanted to be a painter so bad.  But nobody teaches you how to paint in school, you get the basics then you're thrown to the wolves.  So I tried it, failed miserably, and then hid the results from myself and everyone.  I messed up plenty of great drawings trying to paint them.  It got to the point where I would have to redo every drawing that I did.  I finally got a technique down, but I never revisited some of those beginning drawings that I am revisiting now.

So during this 100 days of art challenge I am going to revive some of my old pieces and try to make them into the masterpieces that I'd hope they'd be back then.

One piece in particular was this self portrait that I drew in drawing class.  It was inspired by a magazine spread dedicated to Frida Kahlo.  I am really inspired by fashion photography.  In this particular issue, the models were dressed and posed as Frida during her hay days .  There was one picture that I fell in love with where a very young Frida was standing at an easel, smoking a cigarette, and painting.  Her outfit and jewelry looked like she was going out on the town as always, but she was in her zone.  I love Frida.  I love everything about her, but most of all her spirit.  This woman was so feminine and fly even when she was in the middle of creating.  I saw that picture and I wanted to be like her, so I drew myself in the same pose without the cigarette.  I wish I would have kept the cigarette, because it was so gangsta.  She was just holding it in her mouth, painting away, looking all sexy and artsy!  But I took it out because it was hard enough to draw me to look like me, much less me smoking a cigarette, lol!  Needless to say, the hardest thing for me about drawing people is making them look like themselves.  I always draw them to look like distant cousins unintentionally.  So this was the me that I wanted to be when I first started art school.

As you can see, my watercolor painting skills sucked back then!  And she looks like my distant cousin of course, but I still love this drawing.  So much that I redid it and I hope to make it a really great painting now that I have better painting skills.  Not much has changed about me since then.  I still want to be fly, still want to be a painter, and still want to be both simultaneously some how.  I look so young and innocent.  Untainted by reality.  Fresh and hopeful!  LOL!  So I had to name the piece, Ingenue.

As you can see, I changed the eyes.  In the first picture she was looking down because my eye drawing skills weren't that great!  Ha ha!  So, I've graduated and now I'm looking at the viewer with "knowing" eyes.  Like, "I know something you don't know!"  Hee hee.

I still don't look like myself.  I'm going to do a updated version of the same pose, sort of like a then and now series.  I'm going to work more on this one this week, and maybe get up to nerve to paint it!  Yes, I still hesitate when deciding to paint a drawing because I don't want to mess it up!  Having flash backs still to this day!  Hoping I can do Frida, the queen of self portraits, some justice.  I may just screw it up again, but it'll just get better every time I try at least.  Maybe next time I'll add an eye squint and the cigarette!  That would be so hot!