Writing 4 (blog post) for Crit III

Hello all! Back again so soon, huh? Well if you recall, at Critique II I brought in some small 5x7" illustrations of observations at Mooreman's Southside Bar and Grill, my favorite saloon in town.

Here is one of the 5 that I showed. 5x7" Pool Table watercolor and graphite.

These illustrations were critiqued by Li-Lin Tseng, my Art History professor and boss, as well as Portico Bowman, my favorite printmaking, bookbinding, tea drinking professor in the department. I came away with many comments and I appreciated the feedback. Some of the things that were asked were: WHY do we want to see these images? WHY should I keep turning the page? Portico enjoyed the pool game image (on previous blog post) as well as the "9 Stages of the Glazed Donut" because they were intriguing and left little clues of life. They weren't completely stagnant and they left here curious. I plan to ask myself these little questions before I start pieces in the future for this project.

NOW for Crit III. I am starting my next phase of my Pittsburg works. This series is a little more time consuming so my production rate might be a TAD slower.... Anyway I will be working on a series of portraits of people that I have met in Pittsburg that have positively impacted my life in some way. These are people that aren't even themselves from the burg, but represent Pitt to me. These people did not exist to me before I came here and now my life is forever changed because of them. I hope to create on of my roommate and dearest friend, Ryan Osborn, my most influential professor, Emi Gennis and a few other friends that have changed my little world.

The first in this series is my current boyfraaand Jackson Sanor. Since meeting him I have learned things about myself and about real life grown up relationships. He is very passionate about guitar and engineering. I went with the guitar.

Jackson G. Sanor, 9x12" watercolor and graphite.

Some practice sketches, composition, and color testing.

I very much enjoyed creating this piece. I wanted to include text because I believe that it adds an element of fun, and allows you all to understand a little bit more about him. A little bit of what I see, intimate details about him. Next I plan on working on my BFF Ryan R Town Osborn, I may try to get some sketches in before critique but we shall SEE ABOUT THAT.

I'm also bringing a cover design for the Daylight Donuts series (kind of beating a dead horse with the donuts, huh?) Anyway, in another class I am making these drawings into a book so I created a cover here:

Daylight Donuts illustration Book Cover. 5x7" watercolor and graphite.

Now I would like to talk a little bit about a classmate of mine, Carlie Gernhart and her blog, Pure Imagination. <------- this title could not be more accurate. Carlie, do you actually have bones and organs or is it just your fascinating imagination in there?? IT'S. SO. BIG. After reading her posts, you should have no doubt in your mind about the creativity and passion of this artist. Her fantastical and purely magical designs and stories of the worlds that she creates in her big old brain is inspiring. Righy now she is working on character design. Previously in Crit II she showed us some designs of demons:

Carlie Gernhart- Demon Design 4.

I mean would you just look at that? Straight gruesome, girlfriend. 

Here is an example of her character design for the upcoming crit:

 

I love that these characters become completely real to her, and in turn the viewer! I have no doubt in my mind that she will be a success. I IMPLORE you to check out her work here: http://pureimaginationink.blogspot.com/