Shogu Tokumaru - Katachi

Tree

Acrylic on Canvas
Image by Ross Wilson, 2011

First new artwork of the season! Finally! Got out to the work shed when I got back from practices last night and didn't crawl out until the Sun started poking it's nose out and this was done. Heading back to the studio soon, where I have a few other pieces in the works, hopefully I'll have more up here very soon.

Tree on a Hill

Acrylic on Canvas.
Image by Ross Wilson, 2010.

This one I was really happy with myself, but I have to give thanks to Richard Robinson's youtube series of painting lessons, in particular the infused light video. Anyone interested in learning a bit about technique especially color and lighting theory I would highly recommend checking out some of his videos! So the subject matter isn't anything novel, I love the way the different elements balance each other, and I think the swoop of clouds, which was kind of an afterthought, frames the tree nicely. But those background hills, I think this is my most successful attempt at creating a sense of distance through color. This is anoyhter small one, now that I have had some more successful practice with these techniques I would like to try them on a larger scale. Other things have picked up lately and are keeping me from the studio, but I will try to be back working again soon!

Rows of Clouds

Acrylic on Canvas. 16" x 10".
Image by Ross Wilson, 2010.

Finally made it back to the studio, and here's one of two I finished, working with the colors of broad daylight for a change. This one the composition never came together quite as I would have liked it to, but the rows of clouds give it a bit of direction and the bright colors at least help it from being a complete mess. I mean I think it's nice enough but certainly nothing special. It was great to get back to the studio again though, and my other project of the day in my next posting I was much more satisfied with.

Winter Moon

Acrylic on Canvas. 17" x 21".
Image by Ross Wilson, 2010.

Made it back to Portland just in time for this month's First Friday out in Vancouver. Didn't manage to sell anything but I did get some free acrylics and I manage to knock this one out while sitting around in the sun. There isn't too much to say about it, but I had a lot of fun with it and am pretty happy with the outcome, I definitely wouldn't mind playing around with this idea a little more in the future.

Two Sketches - Waking Up and Cornered

Time to kill in these insomniac nights is too easily wasted with a few cold beers and a DVD set of The Shield (season 7! Almost done!). As of late I have found picking up a sketch pad and a pack of black bics makes me feel slightly more productive in these otherwise wasted nights. These two are my favorites from the past few evenings.

Waking Up

Pen on Paper, Scanned with Photoshop Touch Up
7" x 8.25"

This one is just kind of pleasant, I suppose, despite the how despicable the situation of a buzzing alarm pulling you back from a dream can be. Of course, drawing this at 4 AM in fear of this looming moment drawing closer darkens it somewhat for me, but I guess it should be viewed in its simplicity rather than late night over-analysis. Or with the half full appreciation of whatever night's rest you can get and the return of the wandering mind ready for another day of waking life. And then, it's just kind of pleasant.

Cornered

Pen on Paper, Scanned
8.5" x 11"

This one not as much. But I there are a few things I like about it. The sketchy mess captures the comic book dark tone of the situation, and the man's shadows don't jump out until after initially focusing on the cornered girl. Her face carries an expression that jumps between crazed courage and fear. A racing mind building the strength to pull a trigger for the first time. It's a little dark.

Pond

Acrylic on Canvas. 37" x 30.5".
Image by Ross Wilson, 2010.

Alright now I am all up to speed, no more past/future connundrums or such nonsense. And I think this is my favorite so far. I think I am getting closer to the Gogh. I love the way this pulls you into what really amounts to a tiny focal point for such a large picture, but if I were there I would totally walk down that path and take a dip. I tell you this looked like crap when I started and I figured it would just end up a complete mess, but I had this image in mind from the getgo and actually was able to capture it, despite starting off on the wrong foot. I really love the night-time scenery, I'll probably always be an evening person thanks to this frackin' insomnia. But ok, speaking of which, maybe someone who reads this can answer -

Is it still insomnia if you get your 6-7 hours of sleep but for the life of you can't fall asleep before 3 or 4? I mean when I have to work, those 6-7 hours get destroyed, but I always make up with a good 12-13 on the weekend. So it all ends up about the same I reckon. But I just have the hardest time crashing out before then, no matter how tired or how early I get up. So is that insomnia or what?

Anyways. . . there it is, my latest painting, I'm pretty happy with it, but I'm back to the East Coast for 12 days for my Grampa's 90th, so don't know how much painting or posting I'll get to do during that time. Maybe it's time to whip out the old sketchpad again.