Memoirs of a Benjamin: illustration

Showing posts with label illustration. Show all posts

Showing posts with label illustration. Show all posts

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.

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.

Recent Sketches

First off allow me to say sorry for not being so active with posting. Though I must say I have been very active as far as sketching goes.

I have recently broken a record as far as sketches go in a day. Got up to 8 sketches the other day. Not too shabby. None the less Here's a collection of the last week or so.

The Old Grove Theater on Main St. Ally way on San Juan Ave. (bottom)

Still working on catching people while at Milagros for my Latte

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

Us From The Super Future

UsFromTheSuperFutureDVDCover

I got commissioned awhile back to help a friend out with a dvd case for a band. The band is a local duo known as "Us From The Super Future"

The project wasn't very specific so I had a lot of artistic freedom. That said my mind went crazy from ideas on monkeys banging bongos to superheros taking over the world.

To the left is the final Dvd case. Below are a few preliminary sketches. Let me know what you think of them all.

First Original Sketches and Concept Designs. Like I said I was picturing some metal head monkeys at the start.

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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