Change is the only constant. So bring in the new year.

To end off the year my final sketchbook drawing and process are below.

It started with a simple sketch in pencil, drawn in with copic multiline and outlined with a regular old sharpie.

It may be the end of the year but that does not mean “it’s the end of the world as we know it”. Try not to have a catchy tune in your head. I love how music is the soundtrack of our lives. A few notes are able to evoke a strong emotion and bring us back to a moment in time. Audio is a powerful thing.

I then coloured in the body and antlers with Copic markers for a deep rich colour.

As we approach the end of the year, for me, it is a time to reflect and gather ones thoughts. . Every year I write a list of all the things I did in the previous year that made it awesome, then I make a list of the things I’d like to accomplish in the next one. I also make a list of all the people I love just to remind myself how lucky I am to have all of you. Finally I buy myself a new moleskine day-timer and begin filling in everything I have booked so far. It’s great that as the previous year comes to an end we all have the opportunity to begin anew. Like a final chapter in a book the new year offers endless potential and the chance to begin a whole new story. Let’s all start the new year on the right foot while making a step in the right direction!

I filled in the background with watercolours so they would not be as vibrant as the main subject, though sketchbook paper is not well suited to the material, it was a risk I was willing to take.

2014 has been both a challenge and a joy. The things that occurred were both difficult and interesting. There were notable tribulations some acted as a real test of my intentions and morals. TO say the least it has been engaging. It has been hard personally and I’m sure many readers can relate. I remember all those who I have lost, this year I had 6 funerals for family, friends and acquaintances. I hope next year there are none.

I added some texture with prismacolour pencil crayons onto the watercolour paint. I masked out the deer with painters tape by cutting around it with an exact knife, being sure not to goo too deep as to score the paper below.

Nothing mean more to me than knowing that after my vulnerable and heartfelt words that there are those of you who read them. I feel so deeply and decided to share but the vulnerability often makes it difficult. Your deep, rich resonating replies mean the world to me, I really appreciate it. I am so grateful that you let the conversation commence and your opinion/viewpoint are honoured.

I splattered white out with a tooth brush and misted the paper to create blurred flowers and to set the background further back. This photo was for Instagram and has a vignette and some tilt shift added. I wish it was easier to draw blurry like this. I like how it has turned out but may revisit it with more pencil crayon and copic marker in the foreground in the future.

I look forward to the new year and all it may bring. I hope yours is awesome too! Cheers, see you in the new year!

Sharpie Sketches

Went out to Tubby Dog and did some quickie sketches with my new assortment of Sharpies (see previous blog entry for more info).  Today I added a few more elements from the view from the couch in my living room.  1 more pafge to go until I finish this sketchbook. Yeah!

 

This is definitely not my best work, but I'm still willing to put it out there. 

Not all the sketches in ones sketchbook are going to be good.

~

Keys to the VIP and new art supplies

I just got the keys to my new Studio. I was awarded a  3 month residency from the Calgary Allied Arts Foundation. I'm stoked!!! It was too snowy to move in this week-end and I injure my Achilles Tendon in Martial Arts on Wednesday. I opted to take it easy rather than force a move on myself. It is weighing heavily in the back of my mind.....STUDIO TIME!!!

Today, I went out for lunch with my mom. We had delicious Vietnamese food, followed by a trip to not one....... but two art stores.  Often when I am spending money on supplies, I get a last minute feeling of guilt, which is really strange because other than food there is nothing more important for me to be buying than art supplies.  Supplies make more art, which may eventually lead to more money, but more importantly making art leads to my happiness. So why do I  feel guilty? Maybe its a bit of shame. I get so much pleasure from spending $4o on stuff at Swinton's Art Supply. It's like being caugth masturbating. I don't feel guilty when I blow money on anything else. Anyone else have this issue?

I picked up a handful of Prismacolour, they were on sale for under $2.65 a piece. I took one of each color I didn't already have;  Scarlet Lake, Sienna Brown, Copenhagen Blue, Dark Green, Grass green and Aquamarine.  They also had colored sharpies for 50 cents a piece, I couldn't resist! I picked up; Lime, Turquoise, Peach, Aqua, Mint. I have an addiction to color, what can I say. I also picked up two gold paint pens for Katie Green to do a design on my motorcycle jacket as well as a $20 book on mastering sketching in 40 lessons. I feel that I've been needing a kick in the seat of the pants, I haven't had much time to sketch. I think the lessons in this book will help shake my laurels a bit, and give me a creative kick...... follow my blog in future posts and see.

Lovely, lovely colorful art supplies make me happy

Next stop: Inglewood Art Supply,  My favorite art store in town! Not only are they conveniently located close to my neighborhood, they have fantastic prices,  and give ACAD ALUMNI great deals. I especially like this store because of the people who work there, all the staff are courteous and friendly. (Hi Ola, sad I didn't see you there today, love the orange felt own magnet!) Inglewood Art Supply are having their annual Spring Canvas Sale. My mom paints Acrylic, she wanted to pick up a bunch of new deep profile pre-stretched canvasses. Canvas sale, hell yeah!!!! I have a new studio space, better fill it. The great thing is I can finally build and paint large canvases now that I have the space. So what can I say................

I picked up a whole roll, 50.3 yards of 15 oz. 72" wide unprimmed canvas. The roll weighed so much I had to get the owner Peter to help me carry it into the car, luckily it fit, but I had to squeeze in the back of my moms Matrix. Not only did I get 30% off, which really helps, that stuff ain't cheap you know.  There was a labeling misunderstanding and the staff felt bad and gave me a gift certificate for an additional $40 at the store. Yippee!! I will be back. In a way, it is like I got the stuff at Swinton's for free and I still get to go back and pick up some more supplies once I settle into my new studio, and realize what I need.

All I can say is today has been a great day!

More to come.....

Small Anous

I sketched this quickly while watching Gentlemen Bronco's a hilarious movie from the director of Napoleon Dynamite.  I picked up some Sharpies, but noticed I was unhappy with the misrepresentation I feel their caps give their colors. The caps are bright the colors.... not so much!  At least they were on sale.

I used solid blacks and no cross hatching or shading because the character in question is a sci-fi writer. I left the top of his pompous head empty maybe one day aliens will return his brain.

The fruit loop glasses were done with the sharpies and the rest was done with a fine liner and my current favorite COPIC marker. 

 ~Brianous Batistanous~