What is a "Forest Bigot" anyway?

Well I don't really know either.

A friend and fellow teacher sent me a challenge on Facebook with the challenge to draw a "forest bigot", whatever that is. The writing looks nice, lots of serifs, though I do prefer cursive, but anyone who reads mince can tell you, you have to work at it a bit. This is what I got for a clue to create my "forest bigot" drawing.

this enterprising student must have really wanted to utilize their new word. It reminds me of some of my ridiculous and naive homework assignments. It's a wonder any of us got through these tough yet formative years.

I grew up in a small logging town so this subject hits close to home. This new lumberjack style seems to coming back. The hipsters are getting a touch of grunge. forest bigots reminds me of the rednecks chopping down the forest for beer money where I grew up. On week-ends their kids, the high school students would gather together bringing their illegally acquired six packs of Lucky to the remote logging roads for some good 'ol wholesome small town fun and pointless debauchery. Spinning wheelies in their trucks and triumphing one another in a show of masculinity. The girls were there because that where the boys went on fridays.  I was never invited, but the bullies included my by throwing their cans of beer at me when driving by. I accepted the beers which narrowly missed me but never did hit the mark, who throws full cans of beer away anyway? I think it was a peace offering or some weird sort of charity. The constant dis was them yelling "freak" and "purple" out the windows as they aggressively sped by on the only road in town.  They were clearly colour blind, my mow hawk was fuscia pink. Not very creative either. Ahhhhh the glories of awkward adolescence. Kinda makes me warm inside.

I sketched this up with a brief pencil outline and then bravely went straight into ink with no fear. I quickly filled in the colour with copic markers. Lickety split does the trick. The figure is based off of an histogram my friend Chris Millar posted of a sloth fetus he saw the same day.

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In addition I received a proof of my page for the Motion Gallery catalogue that will be released at their 3 year anniversary party on December 13th.

They will be selling them which includes all the artists that have been part o the gallery since it opened. Awesome! Go Calgary arts scene and the people who make it go! Party info below, come by and say hello!

Bare Cares Stare!

Last night and all of this week-ed I have a new piece showing alongside an orchestra of amazing artists and their works at the VHS(ex) show. FB EVENT INFO PAGE HERE.

There is a little TV spot about the show in the link below.
http://globalnews.ca/video/531865/gil-tucker-vhs-tribute

It was a super busy night jam packed full of art goers. I already got four bids for my piece. = AWESOME!

I had originally been working on a Rob Boss piece but at the end I didn't like the product so I sanded it off and re-coated the entire surface with titanium white and started all over again. I did a blended sky backdrop with drips and splashes. I was feeling the pressure, watching paint dry. I sanded the surface to get rid of the angst.

I blocked in some puffy clouds with a dry brushing technique and let some of the background show thru.

I made a pinkish blend with Alizarin Crimson and Titanium White to block in the bear body doing a cute little head stand on the puffy cloud.

I blocked in the rainbow coming out of the bears backside. I threw in some golden falling stars and a lightning bolt. I put in the details on the bear and then added some pink sparkles to the fur. Then I began outlining the clouds with sharpie marker.

I used Copic markers to quickly get the rainbows blocked in as time had completely disappeared. I clear coated it with varnish and printed out a "Be Kind Please Rewind" mock up on pink paper. I scrunched it up and colored the happy face in with a yellow high-lighter like they used to back in the days of VHS video rentals.

Here is an iphone shot of it on the gallery wall. I think it turned out better than expected once I hung it on the wall. You have until Monday to see all the work at this special group show and make bids on the well crafted works available. Do it!

FB EVENT INFO PAGE HERE.

Draw 'til you drop - figure drawing Day 2, morning session

It was tough to get up and out of bed the next morning, but when I did I was super stoked to be undertaking another full day of drawing the figure.  We began with "Diane" and some quick 1 min gestural drawings.

I started by using the side of a 3B graphite pencil.

Then used various Copic markers, because you have to commit when using ink.

Then we did some two minute poses. I like the right one with the arching back.

 Some other quickies to establish the poses in a short period of time.

 Some 5 minute poses in compressed charcoal and red pencil.

Followed by some 5 min. ones that I did in a variety of ink.

What a way to warm up on the first session....back to materials that blend easy.

This lying down pose was done with vine charcoal.

The next were 10 - 15 min poses, done in red pencil. See the reflection in the mirror?

The mirror adds a really nice element and challenge to the task of drawing.

I did this one in Copic multi-liner and brush pen.

Here is the finished page while in the morning session =:D

Draw 'til you drop - figure drawing Day 1

Who gets up this early on a Saturday morning, well clearly a lot of artists determined to improve their craft.

 

 The early session began with Charlie and some quick warm up gestural sketches in my sketchbook. I used a red Stadford animation pencil and a little vine charcoal.

Here are a few more longer poses, the one at the bottom of the page is done in yellow highlighter. I also did a coloured male seated and a laying pose not included in this blog.

This model pose was also coloured with Copic markers in the last remaining 5 min of the pose.

This pose was sketched in vine charcoal on large format bound watercolour paper.

Here is a large charcoal drawing Charlie on canvas paper. I am focusing more on my values while keeping proper proportions while at this week-end drawing extravaganza.

Does this mean I'm Horny?!

Here are some horny little devils.

I really like playing with color, especially with these copic markers. They were also relatively quick to do each night, that I like too. These sketches remind me of my desire to finish a series I begun on the 7 deadly sins as monsters. Hmmmm. Thought wheels turning....

The background on this Bacchus sketch is actually Sharpie marker (not copic).
Whatever is at hand I tend to use, including toothpaste ;)

 This one is a little more stoic and serious and somewhat feminine. The yellow - pink blend brings out the 80's. I remember when I was growing up I would but role playing games manuals, not for the game, I never played, but the cool art, all the ink drawn creature creations.

This one takes it to the next level of outta hand. Rainbow tile disco dance floor. Drip and body pattern as well as tartan on the wings. A unicron horn and no testes. Clearly this glutton has a "dickdoo".