Big Scary Canvas – Part II

SplendidMarbles — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:14:53 +0000

I worked on my “Big Scary Canvas” over the past week, and I’m posting my progress, which I will do each week until the canvas has been conquered. In each post, I’ll talk a bit about the creative process – my creative process. Keep in mind: I DID NOT GO TO ART SCHOOL. My background is in finance, so the discussion concerning my creative process will not contain fluffy or irrelevant artistic terms. And, I will not talk about my feelings (you’ve seen my cartoons, so you are well aware that I don’t have any). I would also like to give due credit to my assistant, Gracie. Although she is but a kitten of seven months, her artistic instincts remain unrivaled, and she knows when it’s time for me to step away from the canvas. Enjoy the photos and my blunt words regarding the creative process.

The first photo, posted below, shows the canvas after my first session.

The second image is the result of my second round with the opaque oil pens. (Note to parents: Do not use these pens on your children as a substitute for a proper Halloween costume – they are quite permanent.)

The third photo is a close up of an area that I’m happy with; it was relatively easy to build this out from the work I completed last week. (See, a straight forward explanation – no art babble, and not a word of childhood years spent laboring in a coal mine.)

In the fourth shot, I’ve highlighted an area that will create a challenge going forward. This part of the piece is very different from the others, and will have to be reined in.

The fifth photo shows my point of entry for the next time I reach for my oil pens. (I don’t have to start there, but it’s good to have an accessible on-ramp.)

One last photo. This is Gracie, doing her “Demon Kitty” impersonation for the Halloween season.

Click here for the Splendid Marbles Cartoon Caption Contest.

And, check out more cartoons and the winners of the caption contest in the Splendid Marbles Cartoon Gallery.

While you’re here, sign up for my feed so you can get some of the best in original political cartoons and commentary

Share Me:

Big Scary Canvas

SplendidMarbles — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 01:24:55 +0000

I’m taking on an ambitious new art project. It’s ambitious for me because it involves filling a canvas that’s three feet wide and four feet tall. I’m accustomed to drawing cartoons on very small pieces of paper, which these days measure six inches by seven.

This canvas has been sitting in my studio for many months, taunting me (I can hear it laughing at me while I fill my tiny pieces of Bristol board with cartoons for my weekly caption contest.) Well, it’s laughing no more. I decided it needed to be brought down a notch or two, so I started drawing on it with oil pens last night. Although, I must admit, there’s still a frightening amount of naked canvas left to fill. But, I’m determined to finish this very large painting/drawing project, and I’ll update my progress once a week.

I’ve completed a lot of fine art drawings overt the years, some of them are even in color. I’ve posted two below; ( more can be found in my gallery).

I finished this one several years ago.

Here’s one in color:

This one was completed about three years ago.

Here are a few photos of my first attempt to tackle a large-scale project.

Giant empty canvas.

I would have gone further, but my oil marker died on me.

Here's a closer view.

After the marker died, the kitten decided to get a tan.