Untitled: 1

Untitled: 1

     Well, I wanted to paint something with a nice bright blue and green and I finally accomplished just that. This was the first painting I have done that I liked the appearance of it from the start. This particular painting has already caught a few peoples' eye, and I can't blame them. Sounds like one way or another, I won't personally get to enjoy this piece too long. I hope it gets a nice spot on someones wall real soon. 

     This may be my favorite color combination...don't be surprised if I do a few variations of this color in the future! Let me know what you think!

Gallery Debut

Gallery Debut

     I'm proud to announce my first official gallery debut outside of college. The last time my art was hanging in an art gallery it was on display for a week long, and it was for my senior art show at Morningside College in Sioux City, IA. Here we are...nearly two years later and 900 miles away from home. It feels great to be hanging pieces on the wall again.

     Not only did I make my first gallery appearance, but Emma also joined me in that milestone. I have five pieces hanging, and Emma is on the wall beside me with twelve of her art pieces hanging. The gallery we are featured in is Underground Culture on 3rd avenue in Billings, MT. It looks awesome...swing in and check it out! We're both very excited and anxious to see what the future holds for our art!

Sensual Silhouette

Sensual Silhouette

   I present my latest (and largest) art piece to the world. Soon to be on display at Underground Culture on 3rd Ave in Billings!

36"x48" Acrylic on canvas

Comic Book and Video Game Sketches

Comic Book and Video Game Sketches

   I've recently taken a step away from the paint brushes and gotten back into pencil, ink, and digital art. These are just a few sketches from the last week or so. I'm trying to get the style down first, and then I will hopefully be creating a comic book or graphic novel type of project. This is just another addition to the projects I have begun tackling in the never ending drive to make myself a better artist. Enjoy!

Iron Man: Pencil Sketch, 9"x12"

Lilith: (Boarderlands video game character) Colored Pencil Sketch

Practice with eyes: Drawn with no reference work, Fine Illustration Markers

And finally, two Illustrator Marker sketches 

(attempting to capture a comic book feel)

Moving Forward...

Moving Forward...

   The last few weeks have brought about many changes in my personal life. I will be getting back into my blog in the time to come. I have a few new pieces to share and I've stepped back into one of my favorite medies to use, pencil.

   I'm excited to kick my blog back up. It did just recently turn 1...and in the last year I have gone back and forth with this blog. In the year to come, I hope to keep it updated at least once a week, if not a few times a day. Hopefully I can hold everyones' attention. 

   I do have a few pieces I am preparing to sit down and do...wish me luck!

Expanding My Technique

Expanding My Technique

I began a new painting the other night and this piece is a step in a new direction for me. I'm trying to go a bit more abstract with this painting and so far it has proved to be frustrating. I actually completely hate the piece as it sits right now, but I believe it does have potential. While these photos are not what the painting looks like now (because I did a little bit more work on it last night) it is the groundwork for what the painting is going to roughly look like. This is just my blueprint!

10/30 Preview

Oct 30th, 2012 - Preview

Here's a preview of my next painting. Going to be fairly abstract this time. Just want to play with color and experiment with a few techniques and ideas. I'm stepping out of what I normally do to have a little fun with this one. No title yet...also no final choice on color. I know it's going to be pretty textured and an interesting mix of color!

On Display!

On Display!

My first piece made its debut in Billings today! This is the first time I have accomplished getting my art pieces views since the move to MT. Of course the one on display is my newest painting, "Artist as Art."

Artist as Art (Finished)

Artist as Art (Finished)

The painting is finally finished! The last thing to do is varnish it. After tonight, I'm really happy with the overall results. I added in a few small touches here and there and I believed it improved the painting 100%. Now, on to the next one!

Artist as Art

Artist as Art

Here is the (nearly) finished product of my recent labors. I have to add in a few final touches, but overall I'm happy with the outcome. Here is "Artist as Art." The camera picked up the light purple rather strangely, but hopefully you get the general idea...
Enjoy and feel free to let me know what you think!

Untitled

Untitled

This is my most recent painting. The subject of the painting is a hair and makeup model/artist. Enjoy!

Emma's Painting

"Emma's Painting" from start to finish

One of Emma's favorite pictures of us. The photo is us at the Wind Caves in the Black Hills.

Adding in black for the heavier shadows in the photo.

Picking out the next darkest portions of the painting for the base color.

Beginning to add in the lighter tone.

Me completely finished.

Deciding on a color for Emma.

Adjusting Emma's Eyes.

The Finished product.

Here's a simple quick painting I just finished from beginning to end. Hope you enjoyed! Thanks for viewing!

My First Experiment With Watercolor

Watercolor - Attempt #1

     I picked up a set of inexpensive watercolors the other day and I finally had a chance to sit down and try them out today. I didn't mix any colors up or attempt any blending. Today was just getting the paint on to paper and seeing how it moves and reacts. I like how fluid the medium is and how easily it is manipulated around the page. It flows off the brush very nicely. I was one who never took watercolor paints seriously, but after today...I may reconsider that. 

     This was a really simple sketch and two color painting. It took maybe 20 minutes total. It's nothing special, but it was fun to try a new medium. I think after about two or three more painting similar to this I should have the basic feel for watercolors. This painting was done using another of Emma's past photo clients, Jazmin.

April Artist Interview: John Bowitz

April Featured Artist: John Bowitz

     For my first featured artist in my blog I felt that the only person I could logically begin with is one of my favorite professors from my college career. Some will not understand Bowitz's answers to these question, but that is because you have not met this extraordinary artist. Hopefully I will have pictures to add to this post in a few days!




Your Name: John Bowitz

Your current profession: Artist and chairman of the art dept. at Morningside College

What type of artist you would consider yourself primarily (ie: painter, designer, photographer, etc.): a creator of art in various combinations of media

What type of style you primarily use (ie: abstract, expressionism, pop art, realism, surrealism, etc.): figurative expressionism

Have any other artists, if any, inspired your art? Clayton Bailey, check him out in this month's Ceramic Monthly mag. Anyone that does cool shit!

Where else do you find inspiration? Any aspect of life, if I pay attention.

Why do you create art? It feels good.

What is your favorite media to use? If I could choose only one, it would be a number 2 pencil with an eraser on the end.

Can you provide your favorite art piece(s) you have created and why it/they are your favorite(s)? (Pictures soon to come!)

What advice can you give to current or future artists? Art is important in life. Life is more important.

Can you provide a quote, either your own or someone elses, that you would share with aspiring artists? The American zeitgeist is done.

     I apologize for not having this up on the first! I was on the road for many hours until this point. I will try to be more prompt about my featured artist posts in months to follow. I believe they will be featured on the first Monday of each month. Again, if you know any artist who I should try to contact to feature, feel free to let me know via comment, e-mail, or message! 

Thanks for reading!

Stacey (Finally Finished)

Stacey - Finished Product

     I procrastinated a little bit on finishing this painting up, but I finally sat down this evening and put the final touches on it. I added in the rest of the purple in the brick, filled in the white, touched up the black, and painted the edges of the canvas tonight. So...here is the final product:

    I believe the next painting I will be starting will be something with watercolors just to play in a different media for a bit. I went into Michael's tonight and purchased an inexpensive set of watercolors and a watercolor pad just to experiment with. In the next few days hopefully I can have something of quality posted.
     Let me know what you think of this finished product! I'm not entirely sold on this painting yet, but I am keeping in mind that this was my first painting after taking nearly a year off. At this point I am much happier with how A Torn Heart came out, but this painting isn't completely horrible I suppose. I'll let it hang in the office...maybe it will grow on me in the following days.
     Thanks for reading!