January 31, 2009

Today marks the first day of this blog.

Superbowl eve; the Steelers and the Cardinals go head to head to vie for the Lombardi trophy.

It's a great weekend for Pittsburghers. I too am excited, but not overflowing with Steeler mania. You might say I am being cautiously optimistic. How's that for sounding like I have worked for a corporation for a long time. Serioulsy, it woul dbe great if we one... I think it will be a tight game. I believe the Cards will score first. We will come back in the second quarter and lead it the rest of the game.. score prediction will be something like 24-17 Pittsburgh


Not quite sure what I intend to do with this blog... I guess I could simply have a journal and do the same thing. Write in it...draw and paste some photos.


... more to come... perhaps


Same day- January 31 --2:49 pm

Stumbled upon a German guys blog << http://schmolkeillustration.blogspot.com/ >>

He has some interesting art. His name is Frank Schmolke; a painter
and illustrator. A lot of variety in his illustration style. He also posted some images of a Van Gogh show that must have appeared in Germany/ Munich not sure of the year. Frank's self portrait is on the right.


He has a show currently at a Die Farbiere gallery in (I believe) Munchen, Germany. I can't read German so I am not sure, the show runs into Feb of this year.

He has a link embedded in his blog to a friend and colleague of his


Jacob Werth, also and illustrator and cartoonist.

<< http://teisenews.blogspot.com/ >>

His self portrait is below - - His art is pretty cool; you need to go to his website to appreciate his work!

Here is a link to his web site: http://www.jakob-werth.de/








He has quite a few links on his home page. Once I get the hang of this blogging I'll set up links of my own.

Here is a link about old style illustration : http://todaysinspiration.blogspot.com/
More: http://www.dinosaursandrobots.com/


For dummie and beginners : http://bloggerfordummies.blogspot.com/

Below is a link to another web site featuring a short film;

http://www.tor.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=blog&id=11703

"The faux documentary/music video of awkward Alex the Robot on a quest to respond more like his human co-workers says, in four minutes, what others have taken entire books and movies to say. Superbly acted and shot, you feel his isolation, resolve to adapt, small moments of opportunity, the obvious prejudice against him and the quiet discomfort some of his coworkers feel around him....But more to the point, just watch it and see if you don't love Alex the "guyslashrobot."

from another site called the Art Department: http://igallo.blogspot.com/

Found another link, (will this ever end)(I hope not) . Funny I just relized I am talking to myself and answering myself through my blog. But that is another window to look through.

Here's the link: http://illustrationart.blogspot.com/2008/11/perspiration-and-inspiration.html

The blog is called "Balancing Inspiration and Perspiration" written by David Apatoff as you scrowl down he talks about Nathan Fowkes. Truly inspiring, detailed, small paintings.

This gives you a sense of scale. Below are pages from one if his sketch books.

This may be my last post today. I love this so far... my New Year's RESOLUTION is to search for inspiration. To keep asking myself the question, "What inspires you?"

Simplicity and precision. Would love to see the oringinal of this beauty. Color and depth are precise. Unbelivably efficient in his use of color strokes; simple , quick, efficient, broad strokes.

Look at this series.The same scene, supposedly out one of his windows, and he was able to find so many new ways to look at it. To paint it over and over. New color new light.

My apologies for lifting these images directly from the David Apatoff's site

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DEVIATION: came across this site on Jacob Werth's blog -LOVE IT!!

Instructions For Making The Red-Heel Sock Monkey Toy

MATERIALS:
One pair of Rockford Red Heel Socks
Stuffing - cut up old nylon stockings, cotton batting, kapok, shredded foam rubber or polyester fiber.
Red knitting yarn.
INSTRUCTIONS: TURN THE SOCKS INSIDE OUT Sew a seam (A) 1/2 inch on both sides of the center of sock starting three inches from the white heel and across the end of the top. Cut the sock between the seams and to within 1-1/2 inches of white heel. This leaves an opening in the crotch.
Then turn the sock so the seams are on the inside and use the crotch opening to stuff the head, body and legs.
ARMS: Cut the upper part of the sock into two pieces. Seam, rounding the ends and stuff the arms.
MOUTH: Cut the heel from the sock, leaving a brown edge around the white. Fasten on lower part of the face, whip-stitching around the bottom; stuff and finish sewing around the top. The mouth can be improved by a running stitch of either black or white across the middle of the lips.
TAIL: Cut a one inch strip, taper to end of cuff on length of front of sock. Seam and stuff.
EARS: Cut the ears from the remaining brown part of the sole of the sock.
EYES: Sew on moving eyes, buttons, felt, or embroider with black thread. (For very small children embroider the eyes.)
CAP: (Optional) Cut off toe of another sock, leaving 1/2 inch of brown to roll for a brim. Sometimes a fez is used for a cap.


There are a number of places on the web where you can purchase the socks to make your own sock monkeys. Do a Google search and I'm sure you won't have any problems finding a retailer.

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Description posted March8 2009

I am a chameleon;

the color deep bluish-purple;

a gemini;

warm colors, laid back and tranquil;

sometimes hot kinetic fiery red-orange

a blue base;

life is moving at just right pace;

love everything new and modern;

have a place in my heart for stable - traditional;

liberal, conservative, skeptical christian,

respect for my elders and venerate my relatives and family;

always wishing for more and wanting a simple life;

likes to invite the unexpected and maintain restrained control;

like being in a place that makes me feel warm, relaxed and uninhibited