Wow! Does time fly by or what? Here I thought I was going to have more than 1 post this month and here it is - post #2 for the month on the last day!!!
Anyway, I've recently completed 2 images for 2 different competitions and here's hoping they place (even if they don't, I've at least got 2 pretty good images from them). So I'll be posting the sketches and finals from these here pretty soon.
Currently working on updating and fleshing out my portfolio. This is one of my blessings and curses as an artist - I'm not exceptionally great at any one thing or "style" yet. I'm pretty good at almost anything I try and I have the ability to roughly mimic most styles. This is not an opportunity to brag or gloat (oh wee, look at me!) but I am just noting some differences between types of artists. Some artists almost exclusively work in one medium (oil, ink, watercolor, etc.) and then in mainly one way, this to me seems very restricting (but of course hundreds of artists have been doing well for hundreds of years doing that very thing). Of course, do what you do and do it well. But, on the other hand there are so many great things that each medium brings to the table that it's fun to mix it up and do something different. Secondly, it's amazing to see the results of what each medium can do in the right hands. Chris Payne, for example, uses almost everything in a single image. It's incredible to watch him work and even more so to see the finished results. [If you're not familiar with him or his work please click on his name to view his site.] So I forge ahead in search of my "style" and preferred method of working. The only way to truly find it is by doing. And doing, and doing. Eventually, I WILL develop a certain look to my work and the next step is finding the ever elusive market for it. But everything in God's time, He has a plan and it will come together in His time. I can do nothing but continue to prepare for whatever lies ahead.
Onward and upward! I am looking forward to doing some more en plein aire landscape paintings and that should help. Also about to start working towards getting my CIW (Certified Internet Webmaster) certificate, which should begin this fall. So, I continue to grow and develop my skills as an artist and soon it will all come together.
Keep an eye back here for more sketches coming soon!
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Illustration Academy
This is from a post I made to the Illustration Academy blog, just wanted to share it here also:
{you can read the original post and responses here}
I just saw this post so brace yourself, here it goes:
From my experience, there is NOTHING like the Illustration Academy. I went to a good art school for 4 years and I feel I've learned at least as much from the Academy during the brief seven week program as I did during my tenure in college. It pretty much changed my artistic life. I was floored by the amazing talent of not only the instructors but my fellow students as well. The sense of community at the Academy is so real and engaging that, even though it was hard work (and it is VERY hard work) I was very sad when the seven weeks were up. Second, the way the information is broken down and taught has a lasting effect. You'll remember things you learned at the Academy years later, and then it will just click - "Oh that's what Brent was talking about, I get it now!"
I have been very blessed to have been a part of the Academy and haven't been able to completely pull myself away from it. I look forward to it every year and if I could quit my job and be a bigger part of it, I'd do it in a second. Sterling said something during the initial introduction of the Academy to Sarasota that has always stuck with me - "I would come to clean the floors at night, just to be near these guys and the Academy." It is one thing to hear about it, another to read about it, but to experience it is a whole different ballgame.
Sorry to have gone on for so long, but to anyone who might read this and be considering taking the Academy, I would highly recommend this amazing program. It will be one of the greatest investments you'll ever make (especially in yourself).
In closing, go to the Academy if it's even remotely possible. Take advantage of the instructors AND the students. Become a better artist and picture maker. Continue learning and keep making art. Finally, work smart and have fun (that's really what it's all about anyway, right?).
Thanks to all you guys and gals, you really have had a huge impact on my life (especially Brent, John, Sterling, George, Mark, and "Lucky" Jon).
Tom
{you can read the original post and responses here}
I just saw this post so brace yourself, here it goes:
From my experience, there is NOTHING like the Illustration Academy. I went to a good art school for 4 years and I feel I've learned at least as much from the Academy during the brief seven week program as I did during my tenure in college. It pretty much changed my artistic life. I was floored by the amazing talent of not only the instructors but my fellow students as well. The sense of community at the Academy is so real and engaging that, even though it was hard work (and it is VERY hard work) I was very sad when the seven weeks were up. Second, the way the information is broken down and taught has a lasting effect. You'll remember things you learned at the Academy years later, and then it will just click - "Oh that's what Brent was talking about, I get it now!"
I have been very blessed to have been a part of the Academy and haven't been able to completely pull myself away from it. I look forward to it every year and if I could quit my job and be a bigger part of it, I'd do it in a second. Sterling said something during the initial introduction of the Academy to Sarasota that has always stuck with me - "I would come to clean the floors at night, just to be near these guys and the Academy." It is one thing to hear about it, another to read about it, but to experience it is a whole different ballgame.
Sorry to have gone on for so long, but to anyone who might read this and be considering taking the Academy, I would highly recommend this amazing program. It will be one of the greatest investments you'll ever make (especially in yourself).
In closing, go to the Academy if it's even remotely possible. Take advantage of the instructors AND the students. Become a better artist and picture maker. Continue learning and keep making art. Finally, work smart and have fun (that's really what it's all about anyway, right?).
Thanks to all you guys and gals, you really have had a huge impact on my life (especially Brent, John, Sterling, George, Mark, and "Lucky" Jon).
Tom
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