Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Day 128/365: Fun.

Thankfully, today's theme was pretty vague because I have been in a sleep stupor all day. I got to bed later than I intended last night, and then I was kept awake even longer due to a damn huge spider crawling around on my ceiling. I had to stare at it for half an hour before I got the courage to kill it. And then it took me ages to get to sleep.

Anyway. Before we go any further, listen to this song. It's brilliant.

Peter Gabriel is fucking beautiful in this video. Why was I not around in the 70s? Dammit.


Anyway.
This is a house I pass on my newspaper route every morning. Every damn time I pass it, I have to stand there and lament for a few seconds. Sigh.

This is my mini mannequin, on a skateboard keychain.


The carnival rides, before the carnival opened. I'm excited to ride the hurl a whirl.


The cutest boxer puppy on earth. She has the cutest little pouty puppy face.

The pictures you see above have not been posted anywhere before today. All but the mannequin one were actually taken this morning, too, which seems to be a rarity anymore.

I would love to sit around and talk some more, but I'm hopelessly tired. And I've still got an hour and a half at the least until it's dark enough outside for me to sleep.









Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Day 127/365: Fruits of the season.

Today, I totally cheated.
Not with using an old picture, because today's drawing is new.
I am used to taking liberties with each day's theme but today I probably went out on a whole new limb so to speak.

I learned through my mother that the movie Labyrinth was released 25 years ago today, so I made a drawing in honor of that. I decided to interpret "fruits" not literally, as with pears, peaches, and that sort of thing, but with things produced.

And Labyrinth is one of the best movies ever made. It's cheesy, sure, and everything is covered in glitter and muppets, but it's still an amazing, campy movie, and I'm just sad that Jim Henson probably died thinking that Labyrinth was something of a failure.
Just look how huge a cult classic it has become, though. I wish he could have lived to see that.

I drew and colored in the whole thing, then decided to up the contrast on the computer so it would look more like ink and less like sharpie.

But... yeah.

The carnival in town begins tomorrow at 5pm, so I may go check it out. Then again... there's a tribute band in the park on Thursday night, and they're who I really want to see, so I may not go until Thursday.
I've just barely got ten bucks, so I probably won't buy anything from the art fair which accompanies the carnival. And to be honest... some of it is cool stuff, but I already bought a parasol from the Asian vendor last year so I don't have anything that I super want from that anyway.
Most of the money will probably go on ride tickets so I can ride the hurl a whirl. Tilt a whirl. Whatever. I might even spring for a ride on the ferris wheel.

The main part I care about is seeing the tribute band in the park. They're called Arch Allies, and they played there last year. I thought their drummer was really cute so after their show I hung around to see if I could meet any of them, and basically the drummer came up to me out of nowhere and gave me a drum stick.

This is me with their unbearably adorable drummer.... who is... way older than me. 
I also found out later that he had a girlfriend so there went that pipe dream. XD
PS: Ignore my awful face

That would be me with the keyboardist, who is making a chipmunk face in this picture.
The reason my smile is so huge is the cute drummer I had my eye on was taking the picture.
God I have an awful face. BLEH.

Anyway. Yeah. So they're going to be back there. The keyboardist will remember me because we occasionally talk on facebook, but I'm wondering about the drummer and whether he'll remember. Probably not.
Sigh. Oh well.

Anyway, I'm going to let my phone charge a bit and then I'm going to bed.







Monday, June 27, 2011

Day 126/365: Frustrated.

Hello all. As you'll recall, yesterday I had to use old pictures because I was gone for most of the day. Well, I can confidently come to you now and say that today's piece is new, and I plan on delivering a new piece of art each day for as long as I can.

I used to have some reservations as to continuing this blog, due to the frequency with which I was posting old material, but this Peter Gabriel kick I'm on seems to be helping a great deal. I feel like the blog is coming into its own, and using old material is becoming a more rare occurrence, which is what I had intended it to be.

I am seriously going to read more often. I feel so much more eloquent when I've been reading as opposed to when I've just been going about my usual business.

Anyway, I know you didn't come here to hear me ramble, so I'll just be getting on with the art.

The picture of the gorilla is one I took at a zoo in Minnesota in 2008. The speech bubble was painstakingly filled in by hand with lyrics to the Peter Gabriel song "Animal Nation". I rather enjoy drawing Times New Roman on paper, even though it's a terribly boring font to type in sometimes.

 Looking back on the whole thing, I suppose I could have saved myself a bunch of trouble if I'd just typed it in on the computer and copy/pasted a bunch of rainbow text in the background, but... I like the handwritten look. As you can probably gather from my art, I like when things look crooked and human instead of perfectly smooth and spat out from a computer.

Honestly though, go listen to this song.



It is what served as the inspiration for [and is quite literally in the background of] today's drawing. I had the main "Intelligent life is all around us" drawn out in pencil yesterday, but all the inking and coloring work was done today. And by inking, I mean with a sharpie pen. I love them. They don't bleed like sharpie markers. 

Also, as usual you may be wondering what today's keyword has to do with the picture I made today... It's just frustration. It must be frustrating for the animals if they're so much smarter than we give them credit for, yet we continue to treat them as if they're stupid. In addition, it's frustrating for individuals like myself who know animals are smarter than given credit for. It's frustrating because so many other people remain blind to the fact. Or they think it's so awful to be so similar to primates like apes and chimps. 

Anyway. I hope you'll excuse me for rushing off like this, but we're bringing treats to tonight's PFLAG meeting and we are expecting a large crowd, so I'll want to be getting ready for that.
PS: tomorrow's theme is "fruits of the season".

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Day 125/365: Frozen treats

Today, I hate to say it, but I have to break my streak of having new pictures. I was gone almost all day, so I reserve the right to use a random selection of old pictures. New material should resume tomorrow, however.

Christmas in... almost July. :)


The rest of the pictures are kind of random and have more to do with summer than frozen treats, necessarily. I don't take pictures of frickin ice lollys and shit.

Two tomatoes I grew last summer. I've posted this before but... I like it. So I'm posting it again.

I want to try this idea again some time. It could also work with pie or pizza.


These raindrops look like ice/crystal so... this picture totally counts.


This picture was taken at the carnival one year... and they sell frozen treats at the carnival.
ZING


Tomorrow's theme is "frustrated". I'm not sure what I'm going to do for that but that shouldn't be news to you guys by now. XD





Saturday, June 25, 2011

Day 124/365: From the sea.

I decided to echo yesterday's drawing. I ended up tracing yesterday's drawing, but flipped the opposite way.

Before I show it to you, listen to this song.



Because I used a lyric from that song in today's drawing.


I am currently coloring yesterday's drawing (which was previously in just black and red) and since I'm using mostly warm colors for that, I wanted to experiment and make a dragon with cool colors. I also made this dragon's wing shorter, because I thought, if it's a dragon that swims, it won't need to fly as much.

Anyway, I figure I'll save my boring banter for my food blog, http://bluesilver.wordpress.com/ .
Tomorrow's theme is "frozen treats", and unless we decide to make shave ices, I'm not exactly sure what I'll do for that.

Friday, June 24, 2011

Day 123/365: Free.

Today you're getting a somewhat random post.

First, I'd like to show you a drawing I did in 2008. It's a tattoo design.

I was in the throes of a Def Leppard obsession at the time. Still, "love bites" is one of those phrases like Duran Duran's "Sing Blue Silver" that has more meaning for me than just being a lyric by one of my favorite bands.

Well, today, I decided to redo this, how I would do it now, and this is the result.

I am going to color it more, but I wanted to scan it before I set about throwing all sorts of trippy colors about.

I have to confess something; Sometimes I act like I don't give a shit, but I have really crappy self esteem when it comes down to it. There are times that I think I'm not good at anything, everything I've ever made is complete shit, and that I never seem to improve.

I wanted to have a go at redoing an old drawing just to see if I'd improved. I think I have.
I even have trouble saying that... as if people will think I'm some egotistical buffoon if I say I think I have improved.

It's one of my weirder personality quirks. Like my terrible typing habit where I mean to type a word, say "computer" and it comes out "comterpu"... with all the right letters there, just in the wrong order.

But enough about that. I would like to post another picture of one of my brother's friends. What I liked about her was that she was just so quirky and odd.

Hence why she's got a pair of jeans on her head, cartoon poo/toilet paper on her lanyard, and a quote from Star Wars tattooed on her chest.

Also, she told a story about how the clerk at the place she bought those glasses said "Those aren't for you honey" but I think they suit her really well. As does the perm.

Anyway. I know today's assortment is a bit odd and you're probably wondering what it has to do with today's theme... but just trust me on this one.

Tomorrow's theme is "From the sea" and it might warrant some Ponyo fanart. 

Okay. I meant "more Ponyo fanart"

Anyhoo, I'm going to look for something to eat. Then I'll post my food blog, and then I might try to start putting my room back together. We had to box up a bunch of stuff and move shit around so our landlord could put in a new window each in my room and my brother's room.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Day 122/365: Friends.

There are only two people and a dog involved in today's pictures.

I know how pathetic that might sound, but rest assured I do have more friends than that. I just chose a select three pictures to post today because they're new. I could post tons of old pictures of my friends, but I like being on this kick where I post new art for you. I've posted a new piece of art since day 113, and I would like to keep the chain going for as long as humanly possible.

Considering how inspired I've been by Peter Gabriel's music lately, that should be no problem. I wish inspiration could flow out of me like this all the time.

Speaking of which, go listen to this song.

It's fucking incredible.


Anyway, now onward with today's pictures.

This is the neighbor puppy Nali. I'm not sure how they spell her name, but she's a dog. No matter how her name is spelled, it sounds the damn same.
I get along better with this dog than I do with most people. She's damn adorable.

I should swear less often. I just realized that.
ANYWAY.


This would be my brother and his friend Chelbi. 


This would be them again. It may look a little too green unless you're using a laptop or an LCD flatscreen.


I can't find the connecting cable to my camera so I didn't get to use the few new pictures that I took just yesterday, but no matter. These pictures haven't been posted before.


And now, I present to you an extra. Tomorrow's theme is "free", and I was very seriously tempted to save this picture for tomorrow's entry, but I like it so much I want to show it to you now. So you'll have something else for tomorrow's entry.

This was inspired by the Peter Gabriel song you see above. I just can't get enough of Mr. Gabriel's music right now. And this piece was so weird. I thought of, sketched, outlined, and colored it in not even two hours. 

Not even two hours from conception to finish. That doesn't happen very often, so don't get used to it. 

This was done on the very first page of a new sketchbook, and using a brand new sharpie pen to outline. I probably shouldn't have spent the money since I have so little of it, but I couldn't help myself. It wasn't that expensive... 8 bucks for the sketchbook and 5 bucks for two sharpie pens. Most of the rest of my newspaper paycheck will go towards my fine, so it's all right.

I have to say though... I do want to price the skin tone markers at Hobby Lobby. I get tired of having to use a colored pencil or pastel crayon for skin color. My selection of old crayolas is dying little by little and that leaves me with very few choices when it comes to skin color.

Anyway, I am kind of exhausted (having gone on two bikes rides today in addition to my newspaper route) so I'm going to hop in bed.






Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Day 121/365: For you.

Today's picture has been scanned and ready to post since 8am, but blogger has been strange to me today and would not post pictures. I had the right URL and everything and the picture would just now show up, but now it will, so here you are.

I copied the lyrics to Peter Gabriel's song "Big Time" in the blanket. Try googling the lyrics for the song and try to figure out which passage inspired this drawing. 

Actually, just go listen to the song and figure it out.



Most of today's drawing has actually been finished for days. All I did this morning was color in the skin, and sign it at the bottom right hand corner. Well I also scanned it and submitted it to deviantart, so I could link to it here.

I'm a little mad at myself because I didn't realize I'd messed up one of her legs until I'd already inked everything.

Also I realize you may be wondering why this picture relates to today's theme, and I hate to sound like my parents but it does "because I said so".
Actually, today's theme could be interpreted very loosely. And I'm sure that by now you know my tendency to take generous liberties with the interpretation of these art themes.
Also, I didn't want to do something cliche and romantic. I make art for personal reasons but in some small way all my art is for you guys... the public. The art appreciator. And for the musicians who inspire so much of my work. I only hope that if I meet any of the musicians who inspired my drawings, I will be able to show them my art and thank them for their music.

Well, tomorrow's theme is "family". I'd love to stay and chat but I have a shitload of dishes to attend to before I can pass out for the night.


Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Day 120/365: Foreign.

Well hello ladies and gents.
Today has been a good day I suppose. Pretty lax. The paper route went fine. It thunderstormed like hell last night, but it stopped before I got up to deliver papers so that was good.
Our wireless internet is being weird. Our network isn't showing up in the list. Just the "linksys" one... that's the brand of our router, and my USB wireless adapter. We haven't called the phone company about that yet, but mom probably will tomorrow if our network doesn't start showing up in the list.

I packed my lunch and ate it at the lake today. It was pretty windy though, so why I chose to bring, among other things, a raw spinach salad, is beyond me. The spinach kept trying to fly right off my fork. I wouldn't mention that here except I found it rather amusing. I texted my brother back and forth and we joked about the "WIND DIET".
I biked to the library today and checked out three books.... and don't laugh at me, but one of them was a biography of Fred Astaire. I'm just curious is all. Thankfully, age is starting to ward off the rabid obsessions, but I do like to know a little bit about the singers, dancers, performers or whatever that I'm interested in.

I made the mistake of not bringing a backpack or anything, so I had to stuff two of the books in the lunch bag I brought, and I had to carry the larger book while I biked home. So that was fun.

Anyway, you didn't come here about that. You came to see some art.

I'd had the elephant idea in my head for a while, but today's theme being what it was gave me an excuse. I had part of this drawn up last night but did the substantial work on it today.
Also... I know I've already said this, but I have to say it again; it's really nice to finally have a scanner that can tell the difference between red and orange. Our old one had a terrible time with that.

Also, I do want to say that I realize that elephants are supposed to have tusks. I tried to put some on this one, but they just didn't look right so I left them out.

Tomorrow's theme is "for you", and I'm not quite certain what I'll be making for that... but there's a good chance that it will be Peter Gabriel related in some way. I've been listening to him an awful lot lately.



I should mention that the lyric featured in today's piece of art is from this song. I know "this is your life" is a pretty generic phrase but I want to give credit where it's due. Plus, I can't stop watching this video. It's dorky and adorable, and the song has a great message.

Anyway, I should probably do some dishes or something and maybe start contemplating what to make for dinner so I'll see you all later.

Monday, June 20, 2011

Day 119/365: Footwear.

For this theme, you're also getting pictures that I took today. They were taken less than two hours ago so they're brand spankin' new.

These were cheap flip flops I got on clearance at the beginning of fall last year. They were like... two bucks. I've been wearing them most mornings when I deliver newspapers so they're getting a bit worn up.

The red chucks I got for my birthday last year.


I don't really have anything to banter about. It's only nearing 10am, so there hasn't been a whole lot going on yet. I got soaked in the rain delivering papers this morning, which was actually somewhat enjoyable. I'm not sure why.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to carve designs into a banana peel using a small phillips screwdriver. Good day.


Sunday, June 19, 2011

Day 118/365: Food.

The pictures I'm about to post for you were actually taken today. That seems to be a rare occurrence anymore, so enjoy it.
I know this is going to seem random, but do you ever wish you had someone else to fangirl over something with? Vanessa shares many of my obsessions, and my brother and I share some (albeit to a lesser degree), but sometimes I just want to geek and fangirl out over something that most of my IRL friends are not into and do not understand.

This is a time when you should be glad I have to get on our other computer to upload pictures, or you would totally be getting spammed with Peter Gabriel pictures.
Don't ask why I'm taking a sudden interest, because I'm not sure myself.

Anyway. On with today's pictures.

Using a small phillips screwdriver, I chiseled a heart out of an orange peel.


My first idea came upon me randomly when I was contemplating eating a banana this morning.

Carving into banana peels using... a small phillips screwdriver.

This is the other side of the same banana.

We've got two bananas left and I intend on carving a design into one more. I want it to be an intricate, trippy pattern though. This banana was basically just doodled on. With a screwdriver.

It makes sense if you don't think about it.

Anyway, I'm going to spam some of my deviantart people with pictures of stuff, and I need to be getting in bed, so I'll see everyone later. 


Saturday, June 18, 2011

Day 117/365: Follow your heart.

Today, I have an eclectic selection of photos for you. None of the exact shots have been published before, but some of them are a few months old.

My family went to a really nice farmer's market in Des Moines, and this flower was at one of the stands.


This is a random dude that was playing guitar in the street at that farmer's market. His name is Finn Miles, but to be honest, I haven't looked him up or anything since that farmer's market. I did throw my last dollar into his guitar case though. And really I'm not opposed to trying to see if he's on myspace or something, but I just haven't gotten around to it.

An older shot of my box camera. I haven't known what to do with it before now, but I just submitted it without editing at all. I liked it this way.


This picture was taken at the end of March, when it was nice enough to go outside but it still looked pretty shitty out.


I was messing around on the beach. I drew a heart in the sand, and then decided to fill it in with pebbles and such. This is one of many shots I took of that, so if the set up looks familiar that's why.


Some flowers in a planter in Des Moines.


A city sidewalk in Des Moines. I wouldn't be opposed to living in that city at all. I like the energy. I know I'm going to sound quaint and Iowan when I call it the big city, but... it's got that great urban energy to it. Now, you know me. I love nature. I also love the great energy bigger cities like Des Moines have.


A building in Des Moines. Most of my shots are of nature or people, so it's nice to churn out a shot like this that I actually like.


Another shot on the sidewalks in Des Moines.


Someone stuck a Hello Kitty sticker on a parking meter, and I found that rather amusing. I would have liked to try to get a better shot of this, but my parents were walking rather fast and I was falling behind as it was. That is actually my dad in the background...


A dead moth I saw on the sidewalk. I'm not sure why, but I like this picture a lot.


Now, I know today's selection is kind of random but I chose to post each of them for a reason. I'll leave the interpretation up to you. To quote the late, great Freddie Mercury "If you see it, dear, then it's there.". You'll probably hear that quote from me a lot, but it's one of my favorite quotes. I like knowing where an artist got their inspiration from, or why they might have written a song, but I also like being able to interpret their work in my own way.
Anyway, tomorrow I have to deliver massive Sunday papers, so I'm going to hop in bed and rest up for that. I would have liked to be in bed already, but mom, my brother, and I watched Star Wars and I had a mountain of dishes to wash. XD

Tomorrow's theme is "food".

Friday, June 17, 2011

Day 116/365: Follow the leader.

I had today's drawing drawn out and partly inked yesterday. I hope to keep up this string of having things prepared ahead of time. I like being able to feel good about what I post here... Not slightly ashamed because I'm having to use old pictures.

Now, I can't guarantee that this streak will go on forever, but I'll try to milk it for all it's worth. I will continue to use photographs, but when I'm on a drawing kick, I just have to go with it.

This didn't come out as good as it looked in my head, but I think it still came out pretty well.

It was inspired by this song, which is fucking gorgeous.


Pay no attention to the slideshow.


I know I'm on a Peter Gabriel kick right now, but the song is gorgeous, and the lyrics are amazing. And so is his voice. 

Tomorrow's theme is "follow your heart", and I was thinking of doing a little series of photographs about that. Or possibly using some older ones, but ones I haven't published anywhere yet. I'm not sure. I just feel like I have enough trippy drawings with rainbow colored hearts and stuff. I have been wanting to do a series of still life photos anyway. I used to do that sort of thing a lot, now I usually fall back on spontaneous shots that don't take any set up.

Anyway, I'm off to brainstorm ideas for tomorrow's theme. 

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Day 115/365: Flowers.

I sketched, outlined, colored, and scanned this drawing yesterday. I am rarely that well prepared, sadly. When I'm this far ahead, it gives me a chance to spend more time working on a picture, which in turn means I don't have to post a bunch of old photos or some doodle in MS Paint that I spent ten minutes on. In fact, I already have already done a basic scratch paper sketch for tomorrow's drawing.

I know I can sometimes be fleeting with my crazes, obsessions, and the like, but I listened to Peter Gabriel all day yesterday. Mostly just one song, but as I said yesterday, it's been a long time since I've been so inspired to draw within such a short time frame. I'm seriously already trying to brainstorm what Saturday's picture will be. I might be getting a tad ahead of myself, but I figure... I have to keep coming up with ideas so I'll have something to go off when my art block comes back (I'd like to say "if it comes back", but I know it's bound to eventually).

That's why I used to draw and ink pictures in my sketchbook and just leave them uncolored for a while, so I'd have something to go to when I had art block. The only sketchbook I have left has gigantic pages so I've been drawing on typing paper again. I get paid in about five days, though. Most of that money will go towards my fine, and I have to pay the guy who filled in two days for me when I was out of town. I am going to keep 20 bucks out. I want to buy a pair of sunglasses, a new sharpie pen (they don't bleed like the markers do), and possibly a new sketchbook. There are also a couple of cheap things I want to buy on Amazon.com.

Anyway, I can see I've done enough rambling so let's get on with today's picture.

We recently got a new printer/scanner, and it is so much better than our old one. It can actually tell the difference between red and orange. That doesn't apply to this picture, but all too often when doing rainbow colored trippy art, I'd scan it only to discover that it looked like there were two giant blocks of orangey red right next to each other. And I can be quite picky when it comes to my art. 

But... yeah. Tomorrow's theme is "follow the leader", and I have sketched an idea that relates to the song "Here comes the flood" by Peter Gabriel. 
I hope you don't get tired of hearing that name because I'll probably be throwing it around for a while. :)

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Day 114/365: Flare

Today's theme doesn't involve a flare so to speak, but more of a flare lit by a song that I've been listening to all day. And that flare made me want to draw.

Considering the horrendous art block I've been having, wanting to draw anything is welcome, so I decided to fudge my rules. Besides. I think it counts. Just because today's theme is flare doesn't mean I have to draw a giant fire stick. Hell. I might even cheat and use "flair", and I certainly do have a flair for drawing what you're about to see.


Inb4 "You draw too many trippy colored hands".

I am aware of this. But! Most of the hands I draw have the fingers spread apart.
Anyway. The lyrics are from this song.



I have literally been listening to it over and over today. I just can't get enough of it right now. And honestly? I don't care. Because I churned today's drawing out, and I already have the full pencil outlines of tomorrow's drawing done, and all while listening to the song on repeat.

Also, I have a new crush on Peter Gabriel. I can't help it. Odd British musicians are a weakness of mine. 
And,  if you're new to my blog, I should explain that when I call someone "odd", "weird", or anything of that sort, it is a compliment. I almost always use those words in positive context. I myself enjoy being off kilter and like other people whose brains operate on a different wavelength. And Peter Gabriel is one of those people, to me anyway.

I'm going to go search for a thin black marker or pen that I can outline tomorrow's drawing with, since the sharpie marker I used for today's bleeds too much... the lines get thick and gross, and for a picture with no intricate details, that's just fine, but it would fuck up tomorrow's drawing... The theme tomorrow is "flowers" by the way.

Anyhoo, until tomorrow.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Day 113/365: flags.

Today I've felt like crap. I did throw together something new for you, just a little doodle in MS Paint. I did want to take a couple hours to make something for today's theme, but I was literally hit by a 4 hour long wave of cramps this morning. It was literally four hours before they started to go away. It was hell.

But enough about that.

I used google image search to look at a bunch of random flags and then I threw something together. It's simple but I like it.

Tomorrow's theme is "flare", and I will try my very hardest to make something new that I've actually spent a couple solid hours on, but if I get more cramps like I had today, don't count on it.

Monday, June 13, 2011

Day 112: Fences.

Sorry I had to skip around in the theme list a bit. I know I told you this before, but I misread the list and accidentally did the two themes before realizing I skipped "fences", so here it is. Tomorrow's theme will be back on schedule, thankfully.


It was March (several years ago) when this picture was taken, but it was an exceptionally great day for temperatures, which is why my brother is in a tee shirt.

A pinecone on a fence. Fuck you spellcheck. Pinecone is now one word, because I feel like making it one.


Taken on the way to meet up with family for Christmas one year. I love how the fence just looks like it's speeding on by.


Taken on a car trip to celebrate Christmas or something with the grandparents and aunt and uncle one year. Can't remember.

Just means that the lake doesn't have lifeguards, since the town has a pool now.





Tomorrow's theme is "flag".