"C" is for clouds...

My homework assignment for my watercolor class just so happens to coincide with today's blog post.  "C" is for clouds and we were to paint clouds with a soft edge and a hard edge....the second exercise was to paint clouds showing depth/distance.  These are only quick exercises to get us started with our bigger landscape assignment.  So here are my clouds for the day....

Here is my reference for our upcoming landscape assignment, a quick value sketch and my color palette....

A to Z Blog Challenge List

For some reason the code won't work on this "Dynamic" blog...so I've included a link back to their site so you can check out all of the other wonderful bloggers out there.  See that annoying black bar on the left that keeps popping out when you hover over it...that's where you'll find it under 'links'.  Or here.

"B" is for Bike...Motorcycle...Scoot

  School will be over for the summer by mid-May and I'd really like to paint my bike.  I may, however, just start with the helmet for now.  I'm finding that with a full day of work, walking the dog, dinner and studying...that it's already past 9pm most nights when I finish.  Not a lot of time to flesh out a piece of artwork.  So, instead I've decided that I'll start looking up reference and I'll post what intrigues me and some of the designs I'd like to incorporate into my bike/helmet.  I'm not a big fan of the air-brushed look, it reminds me of the t-shirts you get when you go the beach, if it's not done right it can look really cheeeezy.  So here are few ideas that inspire me and some that don't.

This is great, the abstract design is cool along with the palette

Okay...I got off the path a bit in my quest and stumbled upon this...."How to Select a Good Ol' Lady"....lol!  Funny stuff. You can find a lot of great, vintage photos here.

This has a vintage look to it which I really like.

I know it's just a cake...but it's sparking an idea.

I am in love this design, quite possibly my favorite...you have to check out his step by step, it's stunning.
You  can find it here.

No......just no.

I love the realism of these skulls with the color overlay.  Tattoo inspired is the direction I want to  go.

Another great realistic skull, the feminine paired with the macabre makes me happy.  This is beautiful.

Love the white tank and tattoo style paint job.

Very creative an original.  Looks like a woodcut.

"A" is for anatomy....

As part of my A to Z challenge..."A" is for anatomy. My brother suggested "A" is for asshole on Facebook, but I'm stickin' with anatomy for the first post!
 I go to a class on Monday nights through our local arts council, it's not really a taught class, more of a place for artists to get together and draw from live nude models.  Tonight, they were clothed, but all the same it's a chance work from life.  We're taking a 2 week break and won't start up again until the 22nd, so I'll have to find something/someone else to draw in the mean time.  So here is my loose interpretation of anatomy...these are only 30 min. drawings so my proportions could be better....but this is great practice!

Blogging from A to Z

No...this is not an April Fool's joke!  I am ready to do this challenge...because I don't have enough on my plate apparently.  Anyway, the idea behind this is to create a blog post following the alphabet theme, throughout the month of April.  I need to get back into creating artwork not just for my classes.  So here is the list, check out some of the other blogs an then head back here to view my "A" post, which will be anatomy from my live nude figure drawing class tonight.  Also, there will be adult content on this page in the form of nudity, so if you're offended...you might want to go somewhere else ;)

Summer Arts Festival August 14th!!

We're kicking off the Summer Arts Festival tomorrow from 10am - 5pm, I'll be there heading up the street painting exhibition and painting a demo myself.  There will be many vendors, live music, performances and food, so if you get a chance....stop down on Public Square....it should be a lot of fun!!

Syracuse Street Painting 2010

George and I spent yesterday in downtown Syracuse for the NewTimes Street Painting "Sidewalk Art Contest". I couldn't believe the turnout, there were a lot of fantastic artists, including many teens and young kids.  The weather was also great...sunny but not too hot...the trees offered really great shade.    Thanks to Catherine Perry of West Eaton, NY for sending me such a great photo of my finished piece, George and I forgot our camera, so most of the pictures are from his cell phone.

Final piece....