Mike Rosenbaum Studio

Repotage Sketching at St. Marks Coffee House

2012-02-02T17:00:00.002-06:00

I took some time this afternoon to go to one of my favorite coffee houses in Denver and do some quick sketches. This one took about minutes and I just did it about 5 minutes prior to posting it. Gotta love technology.

"Figuring Life out as I sketch a Lot"

2011-11-15T03:59:00.000-06:00

Female figure Bel Mar Arts and Cultural Center
11.10.11

Benny's, Denver, CO
6.8.11

People @ Pub on Pearl

People @ Campus Lounge

People @ My Brothers Bar
8.9.11

PBR Can Campus Lounge
8.11.11

Pub on Pearl

Bethany, Kristin, Steve
Pub on Pearl
9.7.11

People @ Park Tavern
9.15.11

People @ pub on Pearl
10.4.11

People @ pub on Pearl
10.9.11

People @ pub on Pearl
10.15.11

People @ pub on Pearl
10.16.11

People @ pub on Pearl
10.21.11

People @ pub on Pearl
10.25.11

People @ pub on Pearl
11.7.11

Finally! The week that was figure drawing...it's been a minute

2011-11-10T01:34:00.001-06:00

Finally made it to a TOSA figure drawing sesh...always a good and friendly group there, thanks to Renee Farkass and The Other Side Arts for hosting, and Sarah for the nice poses. Here are the "best" of the night. Thanks as always for stopping and looking.

Drawing is so hard, but I love it!

2011-11-03T04:27:00.000-05:00

10min. Rough Skull Sketch
#2 Pencil
3:22am MST#104 80210

Self Portrait 9.12.11

2011-10-13T02:55:00.000-05:00

Click to Enlarge

EVENT: ASIFA FIGURE DRAWING SESSION

2011-09-16T03:25:00.003-05:00

Click on image

Phish Denver, CO 9/2-4 2011

2011-09-05T22:15:00.000-05:00

A huge thank you to the Phish community for the great response to my caricature of Trey. All the laughs and smiles made my day and inspires me to draw and paint much more! Have a great fall/winter see you when I see you in the lots!

Photo Courtesy: Meg T Bird

Live Caricature tonight at First Friday

2011-09-02T15:55:00.000-05:00

Come on down tonight and check out the scene at First Friday....I will be down there doing live caricature. It's always a great time to come down and see what all the local artist in Denver Are doing.

I'll be at 824 W. 8th Ave in between Santa Fe and Inca on the south side of 8th.

See you there.

Live caricature done @ August First Friday

Kanye Sketch

2011-08-21T00:46:00.000-05:00

Quick sketch of Kanye West. Thanks as always for stopping by!

Caricature Practice

2011-08-02T12:00:00.000-05:00

Face Value: sketches, music.

2011-07-31T02:44:00.001-05:00

It's on again...
Friday August 5th 2011.
6-10pm
Ageless Art Gallery
800 W. 8th Avenue.
Denver 80204.

click here for directions

SPACE INVADER

2011-07-28T11:59:00.001-05:00

So I am totally enamored by graffiti art at the moment, and Space Invader is by far one of my favorite artists. A friend of mine was recently in Europe and was able to get a look at a couple Space Invaders first hand and snapped these shots.

Check out more Space Invaders HERE

Thanks as always for stopping by.

Photo courtesy Melissa Shock

Sketchbook pages 7.26.11

2011-07-28T01:49:00.000-05:00

A couple sketches I did throughout the day today...I apologize for the poor quality but I m sans scanner these days and must resort to Mac's Photobooth or camera phone, hence the contrast issues. As always I am grateful for you stopping by for a peek. I always enjoy reading your comments.

The day that was drawing....

2011-07-26T00:48:00.001-05:00

Spent today working on the caricature skills here is some of what I came up with....thanks as always for stopping by, thoughtful critique and advice is always welcome.

Jerry Garcia WIP

2011-07-24T01:12:00.000-05:00

Working on a new digital painting of Jerry. Here is a rough value sketch so far. Thanks for stopping by!

Beastie Boys Quick Sketch

2011-07-23T12:09:00.000-05:00

Here is a real quick sketch I did this morning of one of my favorite groups of all time. The Beasties, apologies for the poor quality, took this with my phone...Thanks for looking!

10 minute Value Study of Skull

2011-07-21T16:32:00.000-05:00

I have not been doing anything digital lately, but decided I would brush off the ol' Wacom and have some fun. This is a quick value (gray scale) study of my buddy Jack, a model I bought a few months back.

Emotion and Famous Faces Gallery Exhibition

2011-07-01T11:54:00.002-05:00

Hey friends,

Happy 1st Friday...tonight will be Mike Rosenbaum Studio's 2nd Annual Gallery exhibition. A series of one off drawings demonstrating unique style in capturing the human face.

When:

6pm-10pm

Where:

Ageless Art Gallery (inside Ageless Art Oriental Medicine)

824 W. 8th Avenue

Santa Fe Arts District

Denver, CO

(on the South Side of 8th Avenue between Inca and Santa Fe)

CLICK HERE FOR GOOGLE MAPS

Come join us for some food and drinks, bring some friends and enjoy a little art on Friday night!

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Saint Tebow

2011-05-10T16:35:00.000-05:00

Trying to get better about posting here is a rough sketch I did of Tim Tebow that I plan to turn into a painting.

Thanks as always for stopping by, I always appreciate thoughtful cirtique, and advice.
-MR

Happy Birthday Charlie Chaplin

2011-04-15T23:18:00.003-05:00

Warm up sketch in celebration of one of the greatest actors of all time and a wonderful reference for the animators of the world. Cheers to you Mr. Chaplin.

Happy New Year

2011-01-02T16:45:00.003-06:00

Happy New Year family and friends.

To all a year of exciting and new challenges, an abundance of love, success and joyful moments.

Here is the latest commission I worked on for The Bobby Cole Company.

Bobby Cole was referred to me from a previous client and asked me to design the three wildebeest's or "Gnuz Boyz" characters you see at the opening and end of the video.

(Click to view Video)

What wuz D' Buzz 2010

I look forward to bringing you tons of new work this year.

Thanks for stopping by.

Old Animations

2010-12-13T20:22:00.001-06:00

These are a couple animations I am showing to a client so that his team can get a feel for some of my different styles.

The week that was figure drawing

2010-11-07T23:19:00.000-06:00

So I am finally getting back to my regular figure drawing, and here is a little sample of what that has been looking like.

2010-11-05T23:06:00.000-05:00

Here is a sort time lapse I shot from my room. it was shot over two days. I am going to do a longer one this weekend and let it run for a week or two and see what happens. I really enjoy stop motion animation, but what I really like about this is that it was directed by Mother Nature with a soundtrack by Jurassic 5 the track name is "React" from their 2008 album Power in Numbers.

Going back...to get ahead

2010-11-03T23:23:00.000-05:00

So here are the photos I have from the gallery opening. If you were there and have any shots to share I would love to have them. So much has been happening, new place, new job, new journey here in Denver. Big thanks once again to Ageless Art Gallery, Chris and Gary Aus, Ali Wilhelm, Jack Roldan, Uriah West, Eli, nothing that night would have been possible without your direct hand in it. Thank you!

To everyone who stopped by, both old friends and new, big thank you to you for your eyes and thoughts on my work. I am humbled and honored that you took some time from your journey in life to stop by and see a piece of mine.

Cheers to you all!

Dr. Sketchy's Denver 10.24.10

2010-11-02T21:52:00.001-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1u7Y30kpo0M&feature=player_embedded

So here is the Denver Sketchy's. I had a good time and even won a couple of the prizes. I do wish it was in a much more open space and that the models were in the center of the room. The models were awesome, energetic and amusing, as was the halloween themed sound track. I do miss the live DJ that KC Sketchy's provides. With that said I look forward to my next Denver Sketchy's experience.

Gallery pieces

2010-10-06T01:43:00.000-05:00

These are the pieces that are hanging at Ageless Art Gallery. Several more are in the works, if I am able to keep the show hanging through November, I will add the latest pieces to the collection. Thanks again to everyone who made opening night a great success and fun party. Please contact me if you care to purchase prints, inquire about custom caricature, or live caricature at your event.

mikerosenbaumstudio@gmail.com

"Good Neighbor"
Original SIze 16X20

"Pelosi"
Original Size 11x17

"Dude"
Original Size 9x12

"Trey"
Original size 40x40

"Elway"
Original Size 22x35

"Jack Black"
Original Size 9x12

The gallery opening is upon us

2010-09-24T16:06:00.001-05:00

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1 2010.

6:00pm

Please come join us for a night of funny faces, food, drink and music.

"Caricature"

Presented by
Mike Rosenbaum Studio

and

Ageless Art Gallery
800 W. 8th Ave.
Denver, CO 80204
(Between Santa Fe & Inca on the South side of 8th Ave.)

I found myself...leaving KC

2010-08-27T00:15:00.007-05:00

Atlas Oats Bldg. West Bottoms, KCMO.
Home to The Art Department and the Illustration Academy 2010

Week 1 "Flat" Assignment Illustration Academy.
June 2010

So I FINALLY left the Illustration Academy today...what can I say...I have a hard time letting go of amazing things. :) Thank you John English and everyone down at the pod for letting me crash! You should all rest well knowing you have had an amazing "monotype" on my life. I hope it is the first of many!

It all started April 2009 with a phone call to this weird area code, which I soon realized was a Florida number I was calling for Buena VIsta Studios in Roeland Park, KS..." we are there every Wednesday morning 9am-12pm feel free to come join us" said the young woman's voice on the voicemail. So I went to figure draw....

Aprilish 2009 - Trey Byran and Jane Radstrom were these two young pups 23 -25 or something like that...but MAN could they draw. To this point in my life, I had seen some great drawings, but never anything like what these two were doing. I paid my $40 to participate in the group for 6 weeks...

Over a few weeks time my drawings were getting somewhat better...the Buena Vista Group was unlike any group I had drawn with anywhere in the world. I am guessing the average age is around 50, but there is something about the energy of this group relaxed yet passionate about art. Todi is this senior woman who has more energy and life than I often do, she dances as she draws and lays down these really nice lines. Then of course there is Dick another amazing artist who's figure drawing is full of of movement, and life. I am really going to miss that Wednesday morning and Monday evening group. I will see you later Buena Vista.

So back to Trey and Jane and a funny story about the first time I went to lunch with the two of them. They invited me to lunch along with Brent Watkinson and Mark English. Now mind you, my background is animation and I am still learning that history but it was kind of funny because Mark arrived after all of us, and being that I was not at all familiar with the history of illustration, I said "John, hi how are you? I think we spoke on the phone last week". Mark looked at me puzzled and said "I am Mark" at the time I didn't realize I was in the midst of illustration / art greatness. So thank you Trey and Jane for opening my eyes to a new world, where it is possible to draw and paint pictures for a living, I appreciate your friendship and look forward to our paths crossing again.

Brent and Jody Watkinson, my best to you both and I look forward to seeing you in the future.

To John English thank you for opening the studio to me, for allowing me to be apart of this beautiful movement that you are creating here in KC and globally. All the best to you and your visions of the future.

Mark English, you are a true American treasure and I will never forget the time I have had the honor of sharing with you. Thanks for sharing all your stories and opening your home during the Academy. That is a memory I will share with my kids one day! Cheers to you my friend!

Brink Daddy...wow...so many conversations yet to begin. I hope some of those conversations are revealed in time. I admire you and your passion, I have watched tremendous growth happen for you. I appreciate your encouragement of me and my work and really appreciate the mutual admiration thing we developed in a short time. Thanks for being a great person. Wooo hooo!

Now I head out west to realize what I hope is only my first incarnation as an artist.

I am going to miss KC.

Full on Production

2010-08-24T13:56:00.000-05:00

A little tease of work in progress.

Painting like crazy to get everything done for my upcoming gallery exhibition in Denver October 1, 2010 (check back soon for more info). Plus...
I am moving back to Denver September 1st. Oh! and I am starting a new job September 6th so that is exciting as well. Gotta love a challenge.
I want to take a quick minute, while I am thinking about it, to say thank you to Ali and my Mom and Dad, for the love and support, but most importantly for believing in me. I could not do any of this without you. There are several of you to thank, but instead of forgetting some one or something...I will simply throw out a HUGE THANK YOU, to all my friends and family for your love, help, inspiration, belief and support.
Everything is coming together beautifully.

8.16.2010 Sketches

2010-08-17T00:16:00.002-05:00

Nancy Pelosi Sketch
8.16.2010

Bernie Madoff Rough
8.16.2010

Buena Vista Studio
Portrait Session
8.16.2010

Buena Vista Studio
Portrait Session
8.16.2010
Apologies to our model for this one.
Yikes!

Pushing shapes at Buena Vista Studio.
8.16.2010

Buena Vista Studio
Portrait Session
8.16.2010
I think this one (Right side of the page) maybe captured the model best.

Buena Vista Studio
Portrait Session
8.16.2010
Apologies to our model for this one.
Yikes!

Buena Vista Studio
Portrait Session
8.16.2010

Rough Bernie Madoff Sketches
8.16.2010

More Bernie
8.16.2010

Rough Bernie Madoff Sketches
8.16.2010

Practicing mouths.
I think these were all 1 minute.
8.16.2010

Rough Sketches of RunDMC
8.16.2010

Warm-up / Practice
just getting loose.
8.16.2010

First Friday, Public Figure Drawing, Denver

2010-08-11T23:17:00.000-05:00

We had a great time figure drawing during 1st First Friday art walk in Denver, CO. Thanks to J. Valdez for shooting the pics, I was having a lot of drawing.

Talkin' it up!
8.6.2010

A few artist got in on the fun.
8.6.2010

8.26.2010

Pippen brought great energy and poses to the session.
8.6.2010

They say if you squint your eyes & blur the image you can see the bigger shapes easier
8.6.10

Draw, draw, draw!

8.6.10

8.6.2010

Sketches

2010-08-11T01:08:00.000-05:00

1 min tree Sketch outside commissary Ft. Lv.
7.29.2010

Monday Night Portrait Session
8.2.2010

Video Game at Valdez Birthday
8.4.2010

Valdez Front Porch
8.6.2010

Valdez Birthday
8.5.2010

Valdez Birthday
8.4.2010

Valdez Backyard
8.5.2010

Things/ people at City Park Jazz
8.8.2010

People of Park Tavern
8.9.2010

A look out over Loveland Valley
8.10.2010

A little weed of some sort Top of Loveland Pass 11,990 elev.
8.10.2010

Left A peak through trees @ Saw Tooth, Right Lodge Pole Pine
8.10.2010

8.10.2010 Last sketch of the day.
8.10.2010

2 hours of 2 minute Gesture Drawing (Live) @ 1st Friday Denver 8.6.2010

2010-08-08T23:13:00.000-05:00

Pulled it off!

2010-08-07T03:57:00.002-05:00

I got this great idea from a couple of friends in Kansas City, Trey Bryan and Jane Radstrom. They shared with me their experience of doing a similar figure drawing event durning the KC first Friday, which I must say is a great event. So I thought to myself, I have never seen anything like that in Denver, my next decision was to try to pull it off. I am happy I did. we had so much fun and several people who I had not seen in quite a while stopped by and said hello. Since I wanted to spend my time drawing I asked friends to shoot pictures for me. I promise to post them as soon as I have them.

Thanks to everyone who encouraged, helped, participated, photographed, and stopped by and said hello. This was a lot of fun for me because of YOU!

The calm before the figure drawing storm, on the streets of the First Friday Art Walk.

Live Figure Drawing @ Denver 1st Friday Art Walk

2010-08-05T15:19:00.001-05:00

7.27.2010 was a sketchy day.

2010-07-28T00:28:00.002-05:00

Business card ideas.

Two woman playing Scrabble at the KCMO Library

Hand Studies copied from a book
sorry should've written down the name of said book.

Hanging with Trey and Jane at Barnes & Nobel
quick sketch of my phone.

Trey and Jane came over to my place for a bit after B&N
this is Trey as he and Jane discussed ideas for their new home.

Today was a good day. I spent the day at the library working out budgets for my upcoming trip to Denver and the normal email replies, as well as, thumbnailing some ideas for my new business card. I did some sketches from my surroundings and listened to yet another Sidebar interview LOIS VAN BAARLE. This woman is awesome, she reminds me a lot of my friend Louise Smythe. I met up with Trey and Jane later in the evening and we had a great, spirited, conversation about life, art, and moving to new places. I must say I love being an artist. Did I mention it is a full moon.

Sunday KCMO TAD Figure Drawing

2010-07-26T00:16:00.003-05:00

Sunday brought with it another session of figure drawing at the KCMO TAD pod. I am still fighting the good fight and although I still have a lot of drawing to do before I get to where I am going (Jane Radstrom level) I felt okay about a couple of my drawings tonight. Sunday was a good day.

Happy 150th Alphonse Mucha

2010-07-24T08:41:00.000-05:00

"Autumn" Alphonse Mucha 1896

"Summer" Alphonse Mucha 1896

"Spring" Alphonse Mucha 1896

"Winter" Alphonse Mucha 1896

Happy Birthday Alphonse Mucha. One of the great Illustrator / Painters of all time. Check out his work:

http://www.artrenewal.org/pages/artist.php?artistid=598

Embracing the Challenge

2010-07-24T00:17:00.000-05:00

More M.I.A. Sketches

M.I.A Sketches

Man...today was a tough day as far as drawing is concerned. I don't know if it is M.I.A. and the fact that I don't know anything about her, or what, but I cannot seem to get anywhere near a decent likeness when trying to draw her. I think I am going to go with my first sketch as that is the closest so far, and I need to push on and move forward. I must say today was a hard day, but I am going to embrace the challenge and believe that everything will work out as it should.

M.I.A. Sketches

2010-07-23T17:59:00.000-05:00

M.I.A. sketch03

M.I.A sketch02

M.I.A. sketch01

Here are a couple more M.I.A. sketches...I am not super happy with where this is going so far. I am just going to keep pushing. I hope to post several more sketches later tonight. I need to get painting asap.

2 Figure Drawing Sessions 7.21.2010

2010-07-21T21:10:00.107-05:00

Buena Vista 2 minutes

Buena Vista 5 minute

Buena Vista 7 minute

Buena Vista 15 minute

John English

1 minute gestures TAD

2 minute TAD

5 minute TAD

10 minute TAD

Mark English TAD

Busy busy day...I started at 9:00am this morning with my usual Wednesday figure drawing session at Buena Vista Studio, and I felt like I was having some success. It always funny though because when I look back at the drawings later I realize I was not quite as successful as I thought. That's okay though I know it will pay off with time and persistence. Then I was off to the library to work on my business plan some more, I took a quick break for sketching (see previous post). Then it was off to TAD for figure drawing session #2. For some reason I always struggle at the TAD sessions and I don't know why, but I think it might have something to do with the fact that everyone in TAD is so talented and I tighten up more and get less out of my drawings. It was awesome to have Mark English and John English (two of my art heros) drop in and draw for a bit too All in all, today was a good day!

2010-07-21T15:43:00.003-05:00

So I am really enjoying the weekly contests put on by Caricaturama 3000 Showdown on Facebook. This weeks subject is M.I.A. her music is interesting, but not really my taste. She does have a fun look. This is my first sketch for the contest. More to come. Apologies for the poor quality (camera phone).

2010-07-21T01:56:00.000-05:00

So I spent the majority of today working out a business plan for Mike Rosenbaum Studio L.L.C. still quite a bit of stuff to figure out, but it is coming along nicely I must say.

I also wanted to say THANK YOU to all the new followers to the blog, your support of my work and my dreams is very much appreciated. I am humbled and honored to have you on board to watch my journey. Cheers.

2010-07-20T00:23:00.006-05:00

So I had a fun day...I submitted a resume to Utrecht. Listened to a Sidebar interview with Greg Manchess, worked on and submitted my "The Dude" (seen in previous posts) hit up the Buena Vista Studio portrait drawing session, had great conversation with some good friends and did a few self-portraits in my bathroom mirror... 7.19.2010 was a good day!

2010-07-19T17:49:00.002-05:00

Well I am not finished with this just yet, actually there is still a ways to go, but this was the version I submitted for the Caricaturama 3000 showdown on Facebook. Check back for a more finished piece.

2010-07-18T14:42:00.002-05:00

Okay, so I am making some headway now. "The Dude" from the big Lebowski. Paint! Paint! Paint!

2010-07-17T15:44:00.002-05:00

Trying to get a decent sketch to build upon for the Caricaturama Showdown 3000! "The Big Lebowski" contest on Facebook.

2010-07-17T15:11:00.002-05:00

So I am in Kansas City, MO for a few more months and TAD has a weekly drawing session going...if you are into cool people, great models and good art, you should check this out. Here is the preliminary info but check out the TAD KCMO blog for more info. Hope to see you there.

2010-07-08T13:48:00.003-05:00

Week one of the Academy brought with it a visit from the man, the myth, the legend, Gary Kelley. Gary was a true gentleman, and shared so much great information with us. He assigned us a super vague topic "Blue" for our weekly assignment. It was so much fun to watch Gary's demo and presentation of his work. He is such a smart person and really challenged me to push myself to be much more aware of art history. You can see Gary's work in every Barnes and Noble bookstore as he is responsible for the murals displayed in all the stores nationwide.

2010-07-08T13:37:00.003-05:00

During the Illustration Academy I was able to get a couple quick shots of my main man Diego Dud Freyre's sketchbook...if you don't know Diego yet you will he is a true rockstar in the making. I am proud and honored to call him a friend. Thanks Diego and watch out for the "shrimp".

2010-06-07T20:08:00.005-05:00

On one hand I am behind with my posts on the other it feels as though I am living the dream...I have felt similar in the past, but it has never felt like this! Brent dropped a line early last week..."you'll be seeing everything differently by the end of the first week" he was right on point...there is something very special happening down at the pod. It's fun, focused, energy...everyone is drawing all the time, the "demos" are sessions, where one minute Mark, John, Brent, George or Gary are working something out in front of us. Meanwhile, the group is firing questions, at the same time everyone is sketching and adding to the discussion. Or... it will be dead silent and everyone will be completely focused on the advice being given or story being told.

Sunday was special because we were invited to Mark's house/ studio for dinner, it was one of the coolest things I have ever done. Everyone I chatted with was floored by the experience. Mark welcomed every last one of us as if we were part of his family...I don't want to speak for everyone but, it was a memorable night for me.

We had our first figure drawing sessions on Tuesday and Thursday, we were worked a technique where you look to flesh out the silhouette of the figure with pastel, then go back and find the highlights and mid tones. It is still very challenging for me, but several in the group are grasping it very well and putting down some really beautiful drawings. We watched some really great demos last week as well. Mark worked out a landscape using pastels, oils, wax and charcoal. It produced a very interesting look and overall a beautiful piece. John gaves a demo where he fleshed out a wonderful rendering of Vincent Vangogh using oil pastel, oil paint and wax. Friday, a group of us took the opportunity to check out the first friday art walk. I am glad we did. It was sensory overload...everywhere we walked some sort of mini event was taking place. Whether it was a man riding a unicycle while juggling fire, a women in full body paint on the roof of a building, aerialists dangling from fabric in an alleyway or 80 or so zombies roaming the streets with baby zombies in tow There was plenty to take in. I enjoyed the Von Art exhibit for his figure work I really like the looseness, and the Arts Incubator the because I learned a quick bit about how prints are made. Monday brought with it the due date for out first assignment and our first crit. Gary Kelley arrived, and reviewed our pieces to the group, he is concise and has a pleasant way about him. He is very smart and and I am often embarrassed at my lack of knowledge when he asks me questions about art including my own. I think that is what I like about his work. It is sophisticated. My eyes roam the piece looking for more, while the shapes are so simple. You should see his figure work. I will try to get some images posted.

Gary assigned Project II "Blue." I am working the process to an acrylic painting... so we will see what happens. Today, Gary gave a nice presentation on the picture books he has worked on and a bit of the bees-knees on picture book illustration. It was a good discusion and I learned some great tips.

2010-06-01T23:27:00.001-05:00

WOW...it has been a little more than 35 hours since my last post, it feels as if only a few minutes have passed. We are in full swing down at the pod so much so that I accidentally left my camera behind, so no pics tonight, apologies... but I am loving it. All the artists are really friendly and helpful. I am the only artist attending who is currently living in the Kansas City area, everyone else is from afar. Diego made it in from Guadalajara, Mexico and another artist is in from Nova Scotia, Canada. I will have to apologize because her name escapes me at the moment. Because everyone is from all over, not everybody has a car here, the students with wheels have been very gracious by hooking us up with rides to and from the pod. So thanks to everyone with a car for being so generous.

We spent all day Monday shooting reference for our first piece, several went down to the River Market for lunch and reference shooting. It was a hot day, and not much was open being that it was Memorial Day. Everyone found something to eat though and it was back to the pod to start analyzing reference and thumbnail sketching.

I got home just after 11:30pm and continued to sketch out ideas for another hour and then hit the sack for a few hours of rest.

Tuesday was a blur. We arrived at the pod just at 9:15 and hit the ground running. a quick talk from John and Brent, while the group continued to break down reference images into simple value and shape sketches. We did a quick critique and got back to work, further developing the best of our ideas into a slightly more refined image, still focusing on simplicity.

After lunch we watched a Gary Kelly video demo on taking our images even further into the process and ways to manipulate the picture to get it to read the way you need or want it to. It was really cool to see him do it on the video, but I am looking forward to seeing him do more of the same type of stuff in person next week.

Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7-9 is figure drawing. Tonight we had a beautiful model and Mark English demoed his technique for simplifying the human form. It is a great way to draw, and helps you see the forms and shapes that are created as light wraps around the body. I wish the students would have been able to draw more tonight though. I was looking forward to it all day and we only got 3 poses in. Hopefully Thursday will be the full two hours with some warm-up gestures to loosen us up a bit.

We stuck around for a little while longer, but I was beat and was able to catch a ride with my new friend Steve. I was hoping to grab a full eight hours of shut eye tonight, but since I wanted to post it is going to be more like six hours. So with that...I will go rest and look forward to a bright new day tomorrow, or I guess today!

Cheers!

2010-05-31T01:27:00.005-05:00

We meet!

I walked into McGee Hall (academy housing) just after 2:00pm and immediately saw Brent and John. I was sweating like crazy from the bike ride over, and needed a good ten minute cool down.

We sat around for awhile as people arrived and registered for housing. Everyone was cool about introducing themselves and exchanging pleasantries. We hung in the dorm commons for a little over an hour before the group started breaking up. Some went on grocery runs. Others set up there rooms. I took off home to get a snack and a shower.

Trey and Jane were kind enough to swing by and grab me on their way to the West Bottoms and the KC pod. I was eager to see the place. I anticipate this to be our real home over the next few weeks.

The pod is awesome. Built in the 1870's it is a unique building. Niko pointed out how when you look at the outside of the building from the SE corner it resembles a movie set. Inside we all have our own work spaces yet still work in the same room together.

We enjoyed some pizza while getting better acquainted, John and Brent gave a great spiel and we all hung out at the pod for a bit longer before the group once again broke and headed into the night to get ready for Day 1.

Can't Wait!

2010-05-30T12:21:00.003-05:00

Today is the first day of the rest of my life as an artist as I prepare to embark on a four week journey known as The Illustration Academy. This is an intensive workshop where I will have the honor and privilege of learning the process and technique of some of today's greatest artists. My goal is to journal this experience through this blog in order to give some insight on what I am learning and to show my work. Please check throughout the month of June as I will be posting daily.

Cheers!