Fission of Form

Today I wanted to talk about the exhibit I have a piece in called: Fission of Form. It is still showing at Panza Gallery until October 31st.

Here are some dates to remember:

September 5th thru October 31st, 2009

Poetry Reading October 3rd 6-9pm

Alex Patho opening pics: http://www.pathophoto.com/fof/

Kurt Shaw Review: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/ae/museums/s_644709.html

Copy and paste this to see more about the show: http://web.mac.com/panzagallery/Panza_Gallery/FOF.html

So what is it? Kurt Shaw say's it best so I suggest reading his review linked above. But he says in it, "The exhibit started with works created by the Pittsburgh Society of Sculptors, then, members of the Pittsburgh Poets wrote a poem inspired by a particular sculpture. The Pittsburgh Society of Illustrators members randomly chose a poem, and created an illustration without seeing the original sculpture. The sculptures, poems and illustrations are displayed as installed triads."

It's a pretty cool exhibit. I love the poem and the sculpture that are grouped with my painting. I met the sculptor and she seems like a very nice girl. Good sense of humor. I haven't met the poet yet. I will share a JPG here of my image, but if you are in the area you totally should come and check out the show. The Opening night was a lot of fun and I imagine that the Poetry Reading will be too.

Here it is, my image "The Prisoner"

And here is the poem that inspired it:

(you may have to open this attachment in a new window in order to read it)

You may be asking yourself "So why is he a cowboy?". Well, he's not. He is wearing the hat because that style is very American and that helps identify him.

Allow me to explain a philosophy very dear to my heart. I believe that images are to be read, and there are a lot of things to read in this painting. Everything has a meaning to it.

What does the clock say? Is there something I am trying to say with the spacial arrangement and design of the background? Are there any other clues I have left you that tell you what he is thinking about or who he is?

I would like to hear from you.

What do YOU think I am saying in this image? Why?

Order of Nine - the color studies

There are various stages that professional illustrators commonly use to create the right kind of image. These are the ones I use:

1. research and gather reference images

2. thumbnail sketches

3. shoot model(s) for photo reference. (takes the guess work out of form and lighting)

4. final sketch

5. color studies

6. final painting

After it is all done I have the piece professionally photographed and the file color corrected. This way I can be certain that my clients have the best possible digital file, and it's all ready to use.

Sometimes I do little sketch exercises to get me thinking before I begin the thumbnail stage, sometimes not. And, word to new illustrators: ALWAYS get your contracts and business arrangements out of the way before you begin any work.

So here I am, at the color study stage for my cover of the newest Order of Nine album. These are my ideas for the color scheme. When I do color studies I like to take the easy way out and I print out my sketch onto regular paper several times, then I paint over top with gouache paint.

I hope that they like them, and you do too. Do you have a favorite? Let me know.

I will let you know what they say.

ArtOrder challenge

There is a blog site that I like to follow called Art Order. Every now and then they have art challenges listed, and I hope to participate more in the future. Without further ado, I will share this weeks samples with you so you can follow what I am up to.

This is the site if you want to read up on what these silhouettes are all about:

http://artorder.blogspot.com/2009/09/new-challenge.html

the revised sketch

Here is the Order of Nine sketch they picked, and already revised. They only asked for a "hotter angel of death", more definition in the mirror, and to replace the dagger with a shard of broken mirror that is cutting his hand.

I hope they like it.

Where to begin?

I would like to imagine posting a sketch every day.

I am imagining it right now, and its lovely! but not always feasible. However I shall endeavor to do my best, and with that I would like to pass along some of the wisdom I have gained through over 10 years of experience as an illustrator. Over the years I have worked on many and various kinds of sci-fi fantasy books, character design, children's books, magazines, RPG's, CCG's, paperbacks, board games, and materials that aid psychologists. I have also many years of experience as a graphic designer and a Manager of Design, so there are a lot of things I might be able to have amusing discussions about. It's really hard getting started, and I wish I had known someone with experience early on for sure.

ok. Enough of that. I have a lot of work before me to do on an album cover, and I wanted to post what I have done for them so far, and document the progress.

the band: Order Of Nine
genre: Metal (fantasy)
album title: 7th Year of a Broken Mirror
The concept I was given: a bad stretch of luck and its nearly over, but its almost too much to take. You may change your luck if you change the man in the mirror. Undertones of suicide.

Not exactly an easy listening album, and the description could lead to so many possible images. I know that they have a dislike of cheesey, over simplified artwork so I thought I would be wise to elude to a deeper story. I don't have the luxury of speaking to them in person, thus I thought I would provide them with at least 5 different and well drawn images.

Here is what I came up with:

1. what says bad luck better than being pursued by an angry mob?


2. Eh, its metal right?



3. being seduced by the angel of death, that's metal.


4.a slightly more fantasy metal way to be seduced by the angel of death.


5. because not everyone thinks the angel of death would be hot...


The sketches went over well. They liked #4, they say the guy in it fits well with a previous cover they had done. But there are some modifications they wanted done to it. And that is what I am supposed to be doing right now instead of blogging.

stay tuned to see the next incarnation of sketch #4.