Still Alive...

Yeah, I'm still alive... Fought with some allergies and a cold. As I told my wife this morning,

"The family that sniffles together,
probably has a kid in school."

I've also been fighting with a case of artist block. I feel like I'm near a breakthrough, though.

Back Soon.

Artistic Satisfaction

Lately I have been trying new techniques in painter. My aim is to avoid looking like "computer art" so I have been purposely using techniques developed over centuries in traditional media. I have been sketching, underpainting, and layering in the hopes of capturing a more traditional look.

Some might ask, "why not simply paint traditionally?" The biggest reason is that I have had some serious allergic reactions to some of the solvents and ingredients used in traditional media. (Like, can't-breathe-where's-the-emergency-inhaler reactions.) . There's other advantages as well. I don't have to constantly set up and take down the art supplies; the paint tube is infinite; and I don't have to worry about storage space. (It's a plus when you have a toddler around!)

I'm really enjoying the freedom of digital and the ability to combine techniques and media appearances. But it can be very frustrating to try to limit all the possibilities when it comes to saving versions.

It as never been my aim to see the computer as anything more than a tool for getting the imagery in my head out for everyone else to see. That is probably why I strive for a natural media look as opposed to the more photoshopy appearance that is popular in sci-fi art now.

In the end it is more about making art that I'm satisfied with than anything else.