Memoirs of a Benjamin: people

Showing posts with label people. Show all posts

Showing posts with label people. Show all posts

My Ears are Still Ringing

Alamosa Water Works Center
700 Ross Avenue Alamosa Co

I haven't been sketching as much as I want lately. Though I'd sketch all the time if it were an option. Continuing to keep my head looking up much like the water tower up above.

Enjoying my cup of coffee at
Milagros Coffee House Main St. Alamosa Co

Similar Work I Admire
This last weekend I was passed a store displaying some watercolor pieces. I discovered the work of "Barbara Forrest".

While looking at some of her miniatures I couldn't help but notice similarities within our work. None the less I admire her landscapes and nature scenes.

The leaves have fallen on Main St. many local's will recognize The Ink Pusher's sign a local and fairly known tattoo artist. I really need to work on consistency in scale.

Getting Ready to See Lil' Flip
Richardson Hall Adams State University

Well Then Just Start
This last sketch is actually somewhat of a funny spread. I started the first while being somewhat called to action and start sketching on the spot.

The subjects left shortly after, but for the most part I didn't even start with a line drawing on it. The second page however is the fun one. Let me first say it's not done.
So does anyone recognize the signatures let alone read em?

Yesterday a friend asked me to do a favor for him. Agreeing I showed up thirty minutes early and drew the building to help record the event. I am happy with where it's at. The sketch was quick, light, and not detailed. This is only 15-30 minutes in.

So as I go with my non-volunteer volunteered girlfriend to help out we find out it's a music concert. We are always up for free live music. Backstage passes handed over we went to our stations and found out the main event was a mainstream rapper "Lil' Flip".

Well the concert was great! Though I much more enjoyed the local bands and indie rap artists who showed up early, and extended their set lists to help maintain the show while we awaited the famous rapper. Not to mention they played more then he did.

I asked the guy to sign small and close to the lower section. Instead he signs half my page. Let me cut this all short. I met the man shook his hand, minded I didn't get to really have a conversation with him, I wasn't very pleased.

Maybe he was busy, maybe just uninterested I don't know. I don't take it personal, I just don't understand how I can take time out for anyone who likes my work, but I was somewhat overlooked. Is it just me?

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Milagros Monday

Rainbow's End Thrift Store

McDaniel's Hall at ASU

SLV Brewery Returned

Inside The San Luis Valley Brewery

Returning to the Brewery yet again I feel I have somewhat managed to capture the light coming in from outside. I also liked played a little with my pens here. I have been working on removing line so it was nice to play with bold blacks.

Returning to Routine

This week marked the second week I've been back at the regular job. Continuing to draw as much as I can. I'm thinking of attempting a go at Though this does not mean I am not staying busy and active. As many of you may have notice the recent face lift the sketchblog has recently gone though. Thanks to Zoe at Chic & Sassy Designs.

A Future Project?

Today I met up with a good friend of mine to plan a project out. We'll begin next Friday I'll have to give you some more news later on about that though.

By the way, what'd ya think of the new watermark?

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Having a Drink at the Brewery

SLV Brewery

Split Spread Decision

Well here is yet another split spread. Typically I usually try to get one image per page. My entire schedule lately has been chaotic though. It feels as though as soon as I get into my sketch its time for me to go.

None the less here's the result of utilizing left over space. The first part (right side) was started at the coffee shop. I am very pleased with the girl directly infront of me. The older woman further back was really a pain though. She was writting or grading regardless her movement was frantic. I definitely need to work on speed for those situations.

The later side was done later on in the evening. It's brought on by an earlier discussion with one of the art professors at the university. His recomendation for me was to work more on my atmospheric perspective. I feel this sketch performed this decently.

Let me know what you think and which you prefer of both sketches.

ASU Homecoming Parade on Main Street

Adams State University's Art League Float

Well its homecoming week for Adams State University. So there have been quite a bit of festive events going on and off the campus grounds. I even got to see Eddie Griffin. None the less today was the homecoming game and prior to the starting coin toss they held a parade through town.

Having a Drink at SLV Brewery

Inside the San Luis Valley Brewery Having A Drink

Well while ending my night I decided to stop by the local brewery and grab a drink or two. The cast shadows and lighting in this building sets such a mood. Not to mention both the food and beer taste great. Count on seeing more sketches of this place.

Milagros Open Mic Night 10.7.12

Well its the first Saturday of the month, which means it was a pretty eventful night at milagros. Open Mic Night had a great turn out.

Got some great sketches in, didn't catch everyone. I'll have to work on speed and tones.

Concept Sketch

So the lighter is only there for scale purposes. None the less this is a concept sketch for a project I have been planning and working on. I would like to keep everything somewhat still on a quiet scale. But would love to hear what this makes you feel, think of or add some story to it and drop me a comment.

Wizard Tarot Reading

Modern Day Wizard watercolor

John Coyote Doing a Tarot Reading

Well this one isn't finished. Knowing that time was against me on this one I went straight for tones. As I started adding in the tones I was next up to get my reading from the wizard John Coyote. He comes to the college the first Wednesday of each month at Adams State University.

I had a great overall reading for what my career should be. I have some major planning to do. None the less I need to figure out how to get a hold of this guy for another tarot. What do you think? Do you feel there's any truth to them at all?

Classroom Study

Painting Class watercolor

Adams State University Intermediate Painting

Well I finally get to open up the pages of a new sketchbook. I have been so excited to start this book. The sketchbook in mention is a 7"x5" Moleskine watercolor sketchbook. So the pages are better suited for watercolors. I can't wait till I finally close this back cover when it's finished to see how all the saturated pages overlap. (sorry I had to let me inner art nerd out for a second)

Feelin Like We're Back in the 1920's

Lady Playing the Piano

Fun Fact: if you play a song at Milagros you get a free cup of coffee.

Well, I woke up today feeling wonderful. Yesi and I went for coffee and bumped into a wonderful friend of ours. While visiting this lady started playing the piano they have set up at Milagros. I can already tell that this would be one hip lady to hang out with back in the 'speak easy' days.

Back To The Classroom

Painting Class watercolor

Adams State University Intermediate Painting Class

Well I joined Yesi for her Painting class today. I love being around the creative and constructive energies flowing around the room. Though it all really does make me long to go to school. Lately I just can't shake the want or desire to take classes.

Play Those Guitars Boys

Hobos Playing Guitars watercolor

A lady enjoying her coffee even sang a song with these drifters.

Well being we have the train so near by we tend to get quite a few travelers. These boys were playing guitar at milagros. They of course had their guitar case opened for tips. Unfortunately I have yet to make the big leagues with my art. So they received this sketch instead.

Penitente Canyon

Woman Camping Watercolor

My friend's mother relaxing with some coffee we made. It's certainly not starbucks lol

We went out to Penitente Canyon this weekend. Got some great hiking in, and got to put our new tent to use. Didn't get to much sketching in. Just this last sketch as we were closing up camp.

Pumping My Dollars Into The Tank

Cars and People watercolor

Truck Stop Gas Stations Never Close; Never Dead

Well things have been hectic since my return from Santo Domingo. Reality hit hard, and showed me I wasn't on vacation anymore. None the less I haven't really worked on my six people challenge lately. So in an attempt I got this while we were putting gas the other day.

So anyone have any stories for these characters? I'd love to hear some scenarios of the happenings.

Starting With Coffee Milagros Coffee House

Well today went well. Just awaiting news on my passport for santo domingo, even though I didn't send it but a week or two ago.

In an attempt to better prepare myself I have been sketching more and more. Working on speed, along with scale is one aspect I have been playing with.

Though watercolor is another aspect I am fiddling with. I generally use watercolor pencil as opposed to watercolor pigments.

So here's a bunch of sketches.

My day started off at Milagros Coffee House (as it usually always does). I Started working on sketching six people each time I go in and leaving after they are done for the next goal.

There's my six figures. The Lower sketch was my attempt at catching a person with very little time. As I said I have been practicing to get my sketches faster, so that I can work on better line quality and make my lines confident and natural.

While skateboarding around the college I saw a bunch of men testing or practicing various surveying techniques. Then relaxed by a stone cowboy and his horse sketching one of the buildings.

Eventually heading home, I caught a glimpse of an awesome church, and even stopped by another church as well to try some flower sketches.

The water colors were all added later at home.
It was a hectic chaotic day. But I have many various tasks to help me improve going on so it should be.

What are some goals you make or things you do to help you improve? I think everyone should set little

Farmers Market

I am not very used to adding figures into my scenes when urban sketching so while at the weekly farmers market I decided to attempt a go at grabbing a decent sketch of all the mix and mash of various people.

Here's another attempt the weekend after. It isn't the greatest but with practice I will get there.

Men are From Mars

Everyone has heard the statement that Woman are from Venus and Men are from Mars. That said regardless we are some weirdo aliens lol. Here's a little comic strip I came up with one day while talking with my girlfriend about chores.

Let me know what you think of it, I personally loved working on these.

Open Mic Night

I had a good time in 2010. Experienced my second house, different roommates, got a cat, a dog, and even a little old toyota.

Among this time I greatly started to work on developing my web-presence as an artist. Going as far as learning a few web-programming languages to build my own website.

That said one tip for any artist, designer, or anyone who wishes to establish themselves, their band or product on the internet. I highly recommend you save yourself some time and outsource someone.

I got started becoming a usual at Milagros (local coffee shop) and began to attend the open mic nights on routine. It's truly inspiring to see how much great talent this little valley has.

Sweet Radish

Sweet Radish

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