I am moving "Beneath the Synthetic Sky" to Word Press, as of today.
I have wanted to blog more frequently for some time now, and it is damned difficult to add images on Blogger (and, for an artist's blog, images are pretty important!)
So, this blog continues at :
beneaththesyntheticsky.wordpress.com
See you there!
18 September 2016
25 July 2016
Picking Shows that are a "Better Fit"...
For the last (honestly, several) years, I've been participating in art exhibits at local galleries, often with artist friends...and, the results have been...less than stellar.
It's not that these were bad shows, bad exhibit spaces, etc.,--not at all. But, they weren't the best "fit" for my work.
Galleries specialize, and a gallery that features mainly Southwest landscapes may not attract an audience that enjoys WWII-style pin up art, or heavily conceptual stuff. As artists, we often forget this, and we take all rejection--whether it's a gallery that turns us down for a who, or someone who looks at our work then walks away without buying--personally.
Art buyers and collectors specialize, too. Someone who collects 18C woodblock prints may enjoy your satirical portrait of a hated politician, but they may feel no need to add it to their collection.
With this in mind, next month I'm going to submit a new painting to a gallery on the West Coast. I hope it's selected to be part of an exhibit there, in September.
I think this would be the perfect "fit" for my imaginative (not really objective, yet certainly not non-objective), slightly strange work.
We'll see...
It's not that these were bad shows, bad exhibit spaces, etc.,--not at all. But, they weren't the best "fit" for my work.
Galleries specialize, and a gallery that features mainly Southwest landscapes may not attract an audience that enjoys WWII-style pin up art, or heavily conceptual stuff. As artists, we often forget this, and we take all rejection--whether it's a gallery that turns us down for a who, or someone who looks at our work then walks away without buying--personally.
Art buyers and collectors specialize, too. Someone who collects 18C woodblock prints may enjoy your satirical portrait of a hated politician, but they may feel no need to add it to their collection.
With this in mind, next month I'm going to submit a new painting to a gallery on the West Coast. I hope it's selected to be part of an exhibit there, in September.
I think this would be the perfect "fit" for my imaginative (not really objective, yet certainly not non-objective), slightly strange work.
We'll see...
27 March 2016
No Shows Scheduled For Now...and that's a really good thing!
False Starts:
I signed up for a 2016 weekly drawing forum in December, and (so far) I've posted exactly two drawings.
And since I started this blog, I have thought that I should draw more (and more frequently) and post more in this blog.
I've recently figured something out; that's not "me".
Unlike many artists, I don't draw "just to draw"; I think of an image--generally, for a painting--and I use drawing as a way to work out the composition for th painting is going to be.
I don't draw well fast; many artists seem to be able to create a detailed, skillful image quickly, effortlessly.
Not me.
I have to work at it, layer by layer (I use LOTS of tracing paper in refining my drawings) until I get something I like, something that approaches what the image in my head looks like.
I think one of the reasons why I haven't been producing as much art over the past year, is that I was (still) trying to force myself to draw more, and more often, and I want paying any attention to the ideas in my head, or how to develop them.
I've stopped that.
I'm back to working on a painting that I started more than two years ago, and I have a couple other paintings, too. (Another thing I've realized is that I'm also not one of those artists who works on one painting at a time. I'm more comfortable moving back and forth between several drawings and painting projects at the same time.)
For the first time in a long time (possibly the decade since I graduated from school) I don't have a show planned--and I'm perf call fine with that.
I am making plans; I want to have eight to twelve NEW paintings done by early Fall, and then I'll start looking for a place to show this new work.
But, for now, I a just going to concentrate on making the new pieces, and making them look as good as I possibly can.
No deadlines, no pressure...just the at I like it.
The image is a new painting in progress, a small commission piece, 6x 9, oils-on-panel.
I signed up for a 2016 weekly drawing forum in December, and (so far) I've posted exactly two drawings.
And since I started this blog, I have thought that I should draw more (and more frequently) and post more in this blog.
I've recently figured something out; that's not "me".
Unlike many artists, I don't draw "just to draw"; I think of an image--generally, for a painting--and I use drawing as a way to work out the composition for th painting is going to be.
I don't draw well fast; many artists seem to be able to create a detailed, skillful image quickly, effortlessly.
Not me.
I have to work at it, layer by layer (I use LOTS of tracing paper in refining my drawings) until I get something I like, something that approaches what the image in my head looks like.
I think one of the reasons why I haven't been producing as much art over the past year, is that I was (still) trying to force myself to draw more, and more often, and I want paying any attention to the ideas in my head, or how to develop them.
I've stopped that.
I'm back to working on a painting that I started more than two years ago, and I have a couple other paintings, too. (Another thing I've realized is that I'm also not one of those artists who works on one painting at a time. I'm more comfortable moving back and forth between several drawings and painting projects at the same time.)
For the first time in a long time (possibly the decade since I graduated from school) I don't have a show planned--and I'm perf call fine with that.
I am making plans; I want to have eight to twelve NEW paintings done by early Fall, and then I'll start looking for a place to show this new work.
But, for now, I a just going to concentrate on making the new pieces, and making them look as good as I possibly can.
No deadlines, no pressure...just the at I like it.
The image is a new painting in progress, a small commission piece, 6x 9, oils-on-panel.
20 January 2016
One step towards my resolution: SOLD!
Tomorrow, I'm picking up That Certain Inner Radiance from Noir Arts & Oddities, as it was purchased by a local collector over the weekend.
It's my best sale in several years, and a terrific start towards my 2016 goal of selling more of my work.
I'll post the newest painting before the end of the month, too.
It's my best sale in several years, and a terrific start towards my 2016 goal of selling more of my work.
I'll post the newest painting before the end of the month, too.
20 December 2015
2016 Goal...Learn how to sell my art!
I'm not going to write a list of goals for the coming year this year, as I really only have one goal--figure out how to sell my paintings.
And, that one goal depends on another important thing happening--make lots of art to sell.
When I've set specific numeric goals in the past, it hasn't really "worked". So I'm not going to psych myself up to make one painting a month, or anything along those lines.
And I'm not going to go looking for a show, or a gallery, until I have at least ten good, solid paintings finished. (That's not a goal; that's a simple fact.)
So, my "goal" is to 1) make lots of new art, 2) find a gallery that will offer me a show, and 3) sell a bunch of the art in that show.
That's it.
Now, back to painting!
P.S. It's always better for me to work out my goals once I've already started working on them. "Arterial Trees" is nearly done, and I started a new painting last night...
And, that one goal depends on another important thing happening--make lots of art to sell.
When I've set specific numeric goals in the past, it hasn't really "worked". So I'm not going to psych myself up to make one painting a month, or anything along those lines.
And I'm not going to go looking for a show, or a gallery, until I have at least ten good, solid paintings finished. (That's not a goal; that's a simple fact.)
So, my "goal" is to 1) make lots of new art, 2) find a gallery that will offer me a show, and 3) sell a bunch of the art in that show.
That's it.
Now, back to painting!
P.S. It's always better for me to work out my goals once I've already started working on them. "Arterial Trees" is nearly done, and I started a new painting last night...
05 December 2015
04 November 2015
New Painting In Progress..."Arterial Trees"
Several years ago I bought three identical frames, with the hopes of making either a three-painting series, or a tryptich.
I opted for the latter.
This is at the very early stages, and it's going to involve several layers.
The background (sky) is airbrushed acrylics; the arterial tree is in oils.
Much more to follow...
I opted for the latter.
This is at the very early stages, and it's going to involve several layers.
The background (sky) is airbrushed acrylics; the arterial tree is in oils.
Much more to follow...
31 October 2015
Reflecting on InkTober...
No, I didn't post a new drawing every day for Inktober.
Not even close. (Obviously.)
Yet, I did create a new drawing (that will be transferred to a canvas or panel this week, and which will become the start of a new painting by the end of the year). Also, I did start a new painting, which you will see here shortly.
Perhaps tomorrow!
But, more importantly, InkTober did give me a chance to think about my art--and my art-making habits,--nd I arrived at a few sobering realizations, many of which I already knew, but hadn't internalized, or actualized.
(The time to internalize and actualize, is now. Duh!)
I've come up with TONS of ideas for paintings, sculptures, and installations, over the years. Hundreds easily, perhaps thousands.
I've discarded most of these (in all honesty, perfectly good) ideas because they remind me of another artist's work, or because they don't say what I think "my art" ought to say, or both.
This is a problem, first, because most people haven't seen the variety of art and artists I have, so they wouldn't recognize the similarities--and second, if I create a number of pieces that each look "sort of like" a certain artist's work, together they won't' look like any one artist's work, and so will be taken as "my work", anyway. Third, if I had bothered to develop these ideas past the "concept" stage, in all likelihood the simple act of me actually working on them would have taken them far beyond the "derivative" stage, and into a place where they would be built from "my style".
So, enough navel-gazing, enough "soul-searching", enough procrastination, enough feeling like I'm not good enough, or original enough--and far too many excuses.
New art is coming.
Lots of new art.
Coming soon!
Not even close. (Obviously.)
Yet, I did create a new drawing (that will be transferred to a canvas or panel this week, and which will become the start of a new painting by the end of the year). Also, I did start a new painting, which you will see here shortly.
Perhaps tomorrow!
But, more importantly, InkTober did give me a chance to think about my art--and my art-making habits,--nd I arrived at a few sobering realizations, many of which I already knew, but hadn't internalized, or actualized.
(The time to internalize and actualize, is now. Duh!)
I've come up with TONS of ideas for paintings, sculptures, and installations, over the years. Hundreds easily, perhaps thousands.
I've discarded most of these (in all honesty, perfectly good) ideas because they remind me of another artist's work, or because they don't say what I think "my art" ought to say, or both.
This is a problem, first, because most people haven't seen the variety of art and artists I have, so they wouldn't recognize the similarities--and second, if I create a number of pieces that each look "sort of like" a certain artist's work, together they won't' look like any one artist's work, and so will be taken as "my work", anyway. Third, if I had bothered to develop these ideas past the "concept" stage, in all likelihood the simple act of me actually working on them would have taken them far beyond the "derivative" stage, and into a place where they would be built from "my style".
So, enough navel-gazing, enough "soul-searching", enough procrastination, enough feeling like I'm not good enough, or original enough--and far too many excuses.
New art is coming.
Lots of new art.
Coming soon!
20 October 2015
Work in Progress...
It's much easier to see "flaws" in your work if you step back from it, turn it upside down, or take a picture of it and look at it smaller. I see lots of mistakes on this--and lots of potential, too.
14 October 2015
InkTober...
Here's a figure sketch in progress. This is "replacing" a figure Ive worked (and re-worked) over the past year (yeah, I know) that I have realized is too stiff. This is better. (Again, because this is for a painting, it probably won't be inked...)
12 October 2015
29 September 2015
InkTober!
I'm joining the InkTober challenge: one (ink) drawing each day for the entire month.
I may not ink each drawing; some of them may only be pencil drawings.
But, I think this will be a good way to get back in the habit of drawing more frequently.
Wish me luck...
I may not ink each drawing; some of them may only be pencil drawings.
But, I think this will be a good way to get back in the habit of drawing more frequently.
Wish me luck...
14 September 2015
An impromptu show!
I'll be showing several of my original spider paintings (and a few prints) at Noir Arts & Oddites this Friday, from 6:30 - 9:-00PM!
Noir Arts & Oddities
1609 W. 39th Street
Kansas City, Missouri
Here's the Noir Event Page from FaceBook:
https://www.facebook.com/events/658641040902214
Hope to see everyone there!
Noir Arts & Oddities
1609 W. 39th Street
Kansas City, Missouri
Here's the Noir Event Page from FaceBook:
https://www.facebook.com/events/658641040902214
Hope to see everyone there!
29 August 2015
2016 Plans
Well, next year is shaping up to be huge!
First, if all goes well, I'll be exhibiting artwork at Spectrum Fantastic Art Live 2016. This is an event that has been held annually in Kansas City for the past three years or so, coordinated by the same folks who publish the annual Spectrum book featuring the best fantasy, science fiction, horror, and comic art being made today.
And, many of these amazing artists will be there in person!
Second, Kansas City is hosting the 2016 World Science Fiction Convention! It's been a while since I exhibited at a World Con (1997 in San Antonio!), and I did very well, selling seven or eight original paintings. I also exhibited my stuff at the 1999 North American SF Con, in Anaheim, and sold several original paintings there, too.
It'll be really nice to be able to exhibit artwork at a WorldCon, without having to travel.
I'm hoping to exhibit at least 8 new paintings, and a few of the "older" ones, as well. (I might even show one or two of the "old" airbrushed pieces from the late '90s!)
So, from now 'til Spectrum, I'm going to mainly focus on creating original paintings, and worry much less about freelance stuff, teaching gigs, etc.
I'm already hard at work on a couple of new paintings, with two or three more at the planning stage.
I'm really looking forward to sharing lots of cool new art with you over the next few months.
Please, tell your friends, and thanks for reading!
First, if all goes well, I'll be exhibiting artwork at Spectrum Fantastic Art Live 2016. This is an event that has been held annually in Kansas City for the past three years or so, coordinated by the same folks who publish the annual Spectrum book featuring the best fantasy, science fiction, horror, and comic art being made today.
And, many of these amazing artists will be there in person!
Second, Kansas City is hosting the 2016 World Science Fiction Convention! It's been a while since I exhibited at a World Con (1997 in San Antonio!), and I did very well, selling seven or eight original paintings. I also exhibited my stuff at the 1999 North American SF Con, in Anaheim, and sold several original paintings there, too.
It'll be really nice to be able to exhibit artwork at a WorldCon, without having to travel.
I'm hoping to exhibit at least 8 new paintings, and a few of the "older" ones, as well. (I might even show one or two of the "old" airbrushed pieces from the late '90s!)
So, from now 'til Spectrum, I'm going to mainly focus on creating original paintings, and worry much less about freelance stuff, teaching gigs, etc.
I'm already hard at work on a couple of new paintings, with two or three more at the planning stage.
I'm really looking forward to sharing lots of cool new art with you over the next few months.
Please, tell your friends, and thanks for reading!
20 August 2015
Anatomy Reference Books.
I'm making plans to submit work to the Spectrum Art Annual next year, as well as exhibit at Spectrum Fantastic Art Live.
This means that I need to create some seriously impressive art over the next five months or so.
No time like the present to create some of the paintings I've been dreaming of for the past several years...bringing figures--people--and the spiders together!
Drawing figures means looking at TONS of reference photos, and digging deep into my extensive collection of reference photos, reference books--and anatomy and figure drawing books.
I have a lot more than these, but these are the best of them, and the ones I use most often.
How many of these do you have? Any favourites you don't see here?
Airbrush portrait of Johnny Cash...
the title pretty much says it all. This is on metal, a motorcycle gas tank. There will be another portrait on the other side.
14 August 2015
New Paint! Willaimsburg Egyptian Violet
I bought a big (150ml) tube of Williamsburg Egyptian Violet yesterday, and thought I should write something about it here.
Many oil paint manufacturers call this colour Dioxazine Violet, and the chemical composition of Willaimsburg's is "Carbazole Dioxazine": PV 2 (Pigment Violet 23), listed on the back of the tube.
I haven't tried Dioxazine Violet by any other manufacturer, so I don't know if this is true of any other Dioxazines, but it is certainly the case with the Willaimsburg; it has a golden sheen! Areas painted with this colour will show this rich gold undertone colour wherever there are highlights.
Anyway, it's a beautiful colour, and if you don't have a deep Violet in your collection, you ought to give Williamsburg's Egyptian Violet a try!
Many oil paint manufacturers call this colour Dioxazine Violet, and the chemical composition of Willaimsburg's is "Carbazole Dioxazine": PV 2 (Pigment Violet 23), listed on the back of the tube.
I haven't tried Dioxazine Violet by any other manufacturer, so I don't know if this is true of any other Dioxazines, but it is certainly the case with the Willaimsburg; it has a golden sheen! Areas painted with this colour will show this rich gold undertone colour wherever there are highlights.
Anyway, it's a beautiful colour, and if you don't have a deep Violet in your collection, you ought to give Williamsburg's Egyptian Violet a try!
10 July 2015
Updates...
I added That Certain Inner Radiance to the homepage at www.syntheicskystudios.com, and fixed some of the navigation problems on the site, as well.
I'm working on a couple new figure drawings, that will become the starts of two new paintings, soon.
The first portraits of Johnny Cash for the motorcycle are finished, and I'll start painting the next one Monday.
Stay tuned!
I'm working on a couple new figure drawings, that will become the starts of two new paintings, soon.
The first portraits of Johnny Cash for the motorcycle are finished, and I'll start painting the next one Monday.
Stay tuned!
22 June 2015
On Display Now!
I took four of my recent spider paintings to Noir Oddities in Midtown Kansas City, last Saturday afternoon.
They really liked them, and accepted three of them, for exhibit on consignment. And, we're trying to work out dates for a larger show of my spider paintings, this Fall.
I'm really excited about this, as its the first time my work has been anywhere on "permanent" display in a gallery or shop in several years. And, this shop is a perfect fit for the spiders, and it's wonderful for some of them to finally have a home.
(I mean, I know they're not for everyone--but then, my work never has been for everyone...)
So, later this week, you should definitely stop by and check out this incredibly cool shop!
Noir Arts and Oddities
1609 W. 39th Strett
Kansas City, Missouri 64111
www.noirartsandoddities.com
Open Thursday thru Sunday
They really liked them, and accepted three of them, for exhibit on consignment. And, we're trying to work out dates for a larger show of my spider paintings, this Fall.
I'm really excited about this, as its the first time my work has been anywhere on "permanent" display in a gallery or shop in several years. And, this shop is a perfect fit for the spiders, and it's wonderful for some of them to finally have a home.
(I mean, I know they're not for everyone--but then, my work never has been for everyone...)
So, later this week, you should definitely stop by and check out this incredibly cool shop!
Noir Arts and Oddities
1609 W. 39th Strett
Kansas City, Missouri 64111
www.noirartsandoddities.com
Open Thursday thru Sunday
05 June 2015
Where do I "fit"?
I'm going to move this blog into a more "nuts and bolts" art direction, away from some of the more esoteric, soul-searching type posts. And, I'll be posting a bit more often...I'm hoping for at least once per week.
So, this may be the last one of these types of blog entreis, for a while.
I participated in the ConQuest science fiction convention (SF con) art show a couple weeks ago. This was the first time I'd attended or exhibited at ConQuest in nearly a decade, and I wasn't sure what to expect--from the art show or the other attendees to the con.
My work has never sold well at local or regional SF cons. I sold several original paintings at both of the "big" SF Cons I attended in the late '90s--San Antonio in '97, and Anaheim in '99.
So, I wasn't really surprised that I didn't sell much at ConQuest. Disappointed, but not really surprised.
So, where should I "go" from here?
I stopped by a local art supply store on my way to ConQuest, and ran into a local artist I know. He commented that he was enjoying seeing the progress pictures of one of my new paintings that I've been posting to FaceBook. Since I had the actual painting in the car with me, I asked if he'd like to see it, and of course he said "Yes". He was very complimentary, saying that it might be the best painting of mine that he's seen so far.
A couple days later, at ConQuest, a friend of mine who owns several prints of my older work explained that she really hates my new stuff.
Really. Hates. (Emphasis hers.)
(Ouch.)
What should I do with this information? Where should I "go" from here?
Well, one thing I know for certain is that I am still nowhere near as prolific as I would like to be. I definitely need to be creating more artwork, and that means drawing, painting, and sculpting more often, and for longer stretches of time.
I'm also not terribly happy with some of my newer stuff. For years, I have been wanting to create paintings to be more elaborate, larger, and I want to make several paintings that have the spiders interacting with people.
Why don't these paintings exist, already? Well, whatever has been holding me back, needs to stop.
I also need to make some paintings that are more "science-fiction-y".
These will be two separate "series", for the most part. There may be some "overlap"--some paintings that could be part of either series--but there shouldn't be too much of that.
On a positive note, there is a small art and curio shop in town that will be taking a look at some of the small spider paintings next week.
I think this shop will be a very good "fit" for these paintings; it's the kind of shop where someone who might consider buying a painting of a spider, would definitely stop by.
So, this may be the last one of these types of blog entreis, for a while.
I participated in the ConQuest science fiction convention (SF con) art show a couple weeks ago. This was the first time I'd attended or exhibited at ConQuest in nearly a decade, and I wasn't sure what to expect--from the art show or the other attendees to the con.
My work has never sold well at local or regional SF cons. I sold several original paintings at both of the "big" SF Cons I attended in the late '90s--San Antonio in '97, and Anaheim in '99.
So, I wasn't really surprised that I didn't sell much at ConQuest. Disappointed, but not really surprised.
So, where should I "go" from here?
I stopped by a local art supply store on my way to ConQuest, and ran into a local artist I know. He commented that he was enjoying seeing the progress pictures of one of my new paintings that I've been posting to FaceBook. Since I had the actual painting in the car with me, I asked if he'd like to see it, and of course he said "Yes". He was very complimentary, saying that it might be the best painting of mine that he's seen so far.
A couple days later, at ConQuest, a friend of mine who owns several prints of my older work explained that she really hates my new stuff.
Really. Hates. (Emphasis hers.)
(Ouch.)
What should I do with this information? Where should I "go" from here?
Well, one thing I know for certain is that I am still nowhere near as prolific as I would like to be. I definitely need to be creating more artwork, and that means drawing, painting, and sculpting more often, and for longer stretches of time.
I'm also not terribly happy with some of my newer stuff. For years, I have been wanting to create paintings to be more elaborate, larger, and I want to make several paintings that have the spiders interacting with people.
Why don't these paintings exist, already? Well, whatever has been holding me back, needs to stop.
I also need to make some paintings that are more "science-fiction-y".
These will be two separate "series", for the most part. There may be some "overlap"--some paintings that could be part of either series--but there shouldn't be too much of that.
On a positive note, there is a small art and curio shop in town that will be taking a look at some of the small spider paintings next week.
I think this shop will be a very good "fit" for these paintings; it's the kind of shop where someone who might consider buying a painting of a spider, would definitely stop by.
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