Taught my classes at the Atelier this Halloween in full Bob get up and maybe I've taken this a little too far but hey if the afro fit wear it. After classes wrapped up, I burnt out two lightbulbs creating this fun little satire, eventually I got the glass swept up and this episode put together and uploaded for you to enjoy.
I'm often asked how I always keep so many things on the go and that I'm a man of many hats. Indeed, I keep the ball rolling in many courts, but I also try to keep it fun. Maybe I'm just a crazy workaholic. Maybe its that I'm doing what I love. You see for yourself in this monumental goal reaching Episode 50!
It's Cinco de Mayo and since my return from Mexico I managed to upload the first video from my trip for you. Check it out above or on Youtube. Episode 48 Guanajuato.
Hey guys and gals, I just finished a 2 week cleanse and visited the dentist twice, so Im feeling squeaky clean as I bring you this instalment. Episode 46 - Workshop #1, Canvas Building 101. Take a look!
Humbled, sitting on the floor of my studio, bringing you episode 45 sweat equity. I want to give a glimpse behind the scenes of what it makes to make the show go. It has been my first month in operation with paying students and it is going really well. I’ve seen the growth and achievements of my students already using my teaching methods. Hard work and discipline as well as focused study are the name of the game. Having goals in mind in which you aim to achieve will help you attain them. You can’t just walk through the doors of the atelier and take an art class, thinking that you are going to walk out a Michelangelo. We are in fact our own worst critics. There is a lot of mental play going on. We need to train the eye. I don’t think so much that I am an art teacher in terms of technical skill and craft but a teacher who teachers people how to see.
You can’t know what you don’t know, its my job as teacher to guide you to help lift the veil and introduce new ways of seeing things differently. It is up to you to continue to develop, to show up and do the work. I can’t make your art for you, only you can. And through time and with diligence you will arrive to where you are going and afterward you will definitely have a whole new vision for what is possible and I assure you, you will get there more quickly than you expect if you continue to work out and once there you will not believe the doors that open up to you creatively. In regards to the future, it was bill gates who stated:
We always overestimate the change that will occur in the next two years and underestimate the change that will occur in the next ten. Don't let yourself be lulled into inaction.
I often use the metaphor of a gym when explaining the curriculum at the atelier. We come to work out our eye hand and brain muscles as we continue to strengthen our skills. This is where your sweat equity pays off. Artists tend to not think like athletes but we should, thats the way to achieving that gold medal and creative success.
In terms of my efforts, Im still working every single day of the week. I feel like a one man army, teaching, making these videos, updating the website and blog. I need to plan and prep my classes. Most nights I work at ACAD or QAS. I am at the atelier at 8 am and I usually don’t get home until later than 10:30 or 11 at night. Thats a long day but Im doing what I love, building my dream and passionately creating, teaching and living all the while. Some week-ends Im at Swintons doing samplers. They say all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Im anything but dull.
You may get some inkling of the real deal by now. Im here a lot and a big part of my job is being a great host and mostly humbly mopping the floors. Its not all glamour but when it is like last Friday when I offered my space to host the Peoples portrait prize party and it was a huge hit!
My students and I showed work and my pal Cosmic Lurkn spun tunes, Danielle (another non drinker) served up the beers and at the end I cleaned up throughout the night. I was beat by the end but I’m glad I did it on behalf of all those artists who exhibited and the organizers involved in putting it on. I like big clean spaces, After another mopping session I look forward to the next event, another opportunity to have a great time in the temple of creativity I’ve built. Keep posted and next time join me won’t you?
Things are coming together just in time for the #peoplesportraitprize at cSPACE this week-end. In this Episode #44, I talk about why I think people are awesome, and they are and I talk about this weeks uplifting visits, I got flowers sent to me and add a bit of fun with #justaddzebras. Have a watch.
It may seem like i just pumped these last two episode out back to back. Well, they do go together and they represent how I spent my last two week-ends when not teaching. I'm pretty proud of what this one lone art guy is capable of accomplishing and I hope you think I'm doing a fine job too, because I do it for you!
Take a watch and pass it on, help me get more subscribers if you like what you see :D
Since my return from my residency in Portugal, I have been maintaining a daily drawing practice. In this latest episode on my you tube channel I show whats between the covers of my current sketchbook as well as some of the drawing a day sketches I have made over the past couple months. Watch it below or through this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbwlYONkegc&t=7s
Upon my arrival to Apulia, I am pleasantly greeted with perfect timing of the annual village festival for Senhora da Guia and a procession which I speed up and share with you here:
I've been in motion for quite some time. Here is my latest installation of my Portugal Episodes #27 from the high slopes of Sintra where I visit the kitschy Palacio de Pena. Watch below.
What can I say? I had every intention of going into the studio to work........
but........
four lovely ladies from around the globe invited me to the beach
So.... instead of working I took a day off, did a whole lot of nothing and got horribly sunburned.
the following day I continued work on a new piece the following day that you can see shot in time lapse here.
Just uploaded my latest episode where I use a mateial new to me that I highly recommend trying out. watch it develop through the magic of time lapse photography.
It was the long week-end and I assigned my self some additional homework to help illustrate how I get started and going on a sketch from life. Watch it below and/or share this link: https://youtu.be/AUhWN8zCFiY
