I went to the market in the morning, to carry the groceries. Then I hitched a ride to work with from a colleague. I had a test drive appointment at 2. The customer came at 10. Moved every car in the showroom to get out the model that he was interested in. Did some work e-mail. Went to our branch office. Many walk-ins to see the new MINI Cooper S. I then had to put in a bit of overtime to receive new cars that came by trailer.
It is now 5.30pm. I lock up the showroom. I'm off to my studio.
I cannot paint 1 or 2 paintings a day. But I can paint 40 in 30 days. While waiting for one to dry I start another.. That's the trick. I started 4 paintings today
This one's 4x4 feet. It's a study for another piece I'm doing. This are actually 2 paintings, it's a picture that was born in my head as I was praying a couple of weeks back.
This is another 4x4 feet piece, it's called RED DRAGON, I'll do 4 or 5 dragon paintings altogether.
It may seem that I'm paining random subjects..But there is an overall theme. When they're done these 40 paintings will go well together. Don't expect the finished product to look anything like what they look like on day 1!
When I was little I started making art because it made me happy. Some where along the way I made paintings to make other people happy (you're more likely to get paid for those) and occasionally I make a painting that makes me & other people happy. But for the next 30days, I'm just going to make paintings that make me happy. And if any of them happen to make you happy, then I'll be doubly happy! We'll figure out how to get paid later... But then again, that's why I have a day job!
Once the paintings start getting finished I'll show less of the process and talk a bit more about each piece. I'll also talk about the pros and cons of doing 40 paintings in 30days. Maybe.
I woke up at 7, all excited to start painting... Then I went back to bed. It's not a sprint, it's a marathon... And in a marathon the trick is to rest when you can. I got into my studio at 1. Took a good look at the paintings I started yesterday..Decided what I want to do with each.
The other 35 canvases didn't arrive so I spent too long deciding what to paint on my last empty 4x4.... To many pictures in my head, and only 1 canvas. The picture above is a detail of what I ended up painting. I copied it after a Cezanne painting. I used oil. It was fun to not have to think so much, just copy. It was like I was in the mind of Cezanne while I was painting.
I normally hear voices in my head while painting. Maybe it's left over instruction from art school, and from the books I've read. It's always a few voices fighting for attention.
"paint the shadows", "paint the highlights", "Use a warm colour", "use a cool colour", "blur this" "sharpen that", "what's the local colour", "it needs more red", "The highlights are too bright"....
for this painting there was only one voice, Cezanne's.
While painting I stumbled upon a new way to manage my pallet! And THAT is the most progress I've ever made with oil paint...(I'm talking about the pallet)
I still have no preference between Oils and Acrylic. Both are charming in their own way.
I was done by 7. Couldn't continue this painting without daylight, and I'm out of blank canvas! (almost)
"You either see a painting straight away or you never see it. Explanations have no value. What is the point of commentary? All such things are approximations. One should simply chatter, as we do, because it's enjoyable..." - PAUL CEZZANE
The day passed, like any working day would pass. At work I didn't think much about painting, and before I knew it work was over and I was in my studio.
Canvases arrived today, making a mess of my studio!40 is a lot of canvas! I started a couple of other paintings (which I won't show here). The one I will show is titled Blue Dragon. It's quite an abstract piece so I was not consciously thinking about it as I painted(no voices).
Now it is completed, I look at it, yup..It's finished, I can't think of any colour or brush stroke that would make it look better. Yet somehow I don't feel satisfied.
I look around the room, empty canvases are sprawled out, next to 40 of chin yew's paintings next to my half done paintings, next to my work clothes, next to my uneaten dinner, next to this blue dragon. Everything is just one big mess. Then I recall, it's Monday... How foolish of me to expect more. I make to leave, pack, move towards the door, flick the lights off. But then there is still light behind me, I turn around. I had neglected to switch off a standing lamp, which shone dutifully on my blue dragon, the mess was lost in the darkness, all that could be seen was my blue dragon, and I 'saw' it for the first time.
I lied! Well actually I just haven't been completely honest about this whole artist life thing........ It's not my fault really!
What haven't I been honest about?
Well it's just that I only write the 'positive stuff' (as Chin Yew would say). Thing is, by the time I upload my pictures and actually start blogging, I'm usually so content! I can only write, happy.
But for those of us who want the non faerie tale version of this particular 30dayartist, here goes:
I have no car, so I commute by the good grace of people with cars who drive me home.
40 white canvases are very scary! I only saw them all together 3 days after I started painting, by which time I already told the world I would do 40 in 30 days!
Having to work, and having no car makes it a little difficult to go and buy paint.
Having to work because you have to be at the office, and having no car, well... Yeah
so.
I've been planning many of the paintings since last month, some I dug out from old sketch books. Come painting time, I don't think, I just decide and paint, franticly. I've notice that for a painting that takes 2 months for me to finish, most of the time is spent just, looking, at the painting. I have no such Luxury.
I steal moments to think, during lunch breaks, and yes, my mind, does wonder to the paintings during work..But I try to revert to wondering about selling cars.
selling cars', well yeah, I lied about that too, that's only half my job, the other half, is to produce the company newsletter and all other aspects of marketing. I'm slacking behind on that... And I'm afraid that at any moment my boss might go, "wait a minute? Where is that newsletter?" and proceed to blow up. I stole a nap yesterday as my colleague drove me from one office to another. The there's my girlfriend in UK, the blogging eats into my e-mailing time, give chance ya dear. And that's all I can think of now. Here's how the Red Dragon is Turing out, my favorite method of painting is using many layers thin washes to build up the colors, that's what I'm doing for this one.. For the others, I'm experimenting. Hope this picture doesn't scare you, it scares me.
For those of you on my side of the world, Goodnight!
That's how it works isn't it. Breathe in. Breathe out.
Well I took a deep breath for a month before starting this project. Six days into it, and I'm out of breath.
So today, I breathed in, I did research and sketches for paintings I would be making.
If painting today would be counter productive, then pausing for breath would be progress.
That means,today, I've made progress.
And here is a sign of things to come..
(these cute little things are called sprites)
these sprites will appear in one of my bigger works of this series.
Paris Hilton to pose for a painting.Paris Hilton is Here! so will she, as I harness the power of 'celebrity', PARIS HILTON TO BE PAINTED BY MING, now that's marketing as I understand it.
Pop Art :A style of painting and sculpture that developed in the late 1950s and early 1960s, in Britain and the United States; based on the visual clich¾ s, subject matter, and impersonal style of popular mass-media imagery.
Pop Art : A style of art which seeks its inspiration from commercial art and items of mass culture (such as comic strips, popular foods and brand name packaging). Pop art was first developed in New York City in the 1950's and soon became the dominant avant-garde art form in the United States
chinyew says: hey, why no painting yesterday? ming says: hello.. ming says: because i didn't paint. ming says: can't you read? chinyew says: why never paint? must paint, -admin30dayartist. ming says: i was drawing..and doing research... ming says: if you don't have a good drawing, you can't have a good painting.. ming says: i was preparing my slik screen... ming says: the artwork for it anyway... chinyew says: rite.. i hope the other audience are not as dissapointed as i am.. you got to put flowery words so they don't feel cheated.. -admin30dayartist ming says: i din promise a painting a day.. ming says: i promised a look in the artist's life and 40 in 30 days.. ming says: hopefully it will build up the anticipation... ming says: admin, how is marketing doing? chinyew says: it doens't matter what you promised(in exact words).. from the audience side, we just want to see painting everyday! chinyew says: no painting, awww... ming says: ...haha..but that can be good no? ming says: anyway i promise a painting tonight.. ming says: you should comment on the blog, then i can reply.. chinyew says: i know how it feels, cause i'm the one who wakes up in the morning.. turnnning on my pc, log on to the net, 30dayarist.blogspot.com and i see no painting.. ming says: but you see words..and a glimps of the future... chinyew says: heh.. this is an internal discussion issue.. ming says: and definitions of pop art. ming says: write in as a disapointed fan... chinyew says: on the other side, people might think this guy is slacking, and his trying to cover his own ass, with "research." chinyew says: this should be done before the thing actually starts.. ming says: i know i'm not slacking..infact i hd to work harder then most days... ming says: and i'm not acting... ming says: it's a new idea mah... ming says: and the research..is part of the work..i'm using the images for the new painting's.. chinyew says: ok then if you put it that way.. but i'm just telling you from the audience point of view.. of how i exactly feel this morning... ming says: i know how you feel, i've been the audiance... chinyew says: but anyway if you look at the math, 40painting=30 day, so that make atleast a day 1pcs.. ming says: i'm on time trust me.. i can have 10 or 12 by monday.. ming says: i need good lighting to do the finishing... ming says: i have a lot more unfinished paintings then i've shown... chinyew says: ok.. i'm relief now, with a confirmation of knowing there will be paintings to be seen by end of the week.. chinyew says: well, this statemnet you gotto let us now, man.. ming says: let you 'know' you mean
The picture above is a glimpse at how a painting can go
backwards! The picture looks much better in the
photo then in real life. I think.
But then I can't really tell.
I'll have to wait till the sun comes up to know for sure.
I painted at home today, turned my bathroom into a mini studio.
When I do buy a house, I will design the bathrooms to be able to double as a studio!
What you can see if you look at the sequence above,the painting builds up then starts to go backwards again.
Now I never really could get myself to paint flowers, but I have this really great picture of a bouquet of flowers,and I'm drawned both to the liveliness and colour of it.
You might think my flower painting looks nice in this picture, but if I leave it like this, I know I'd be selling myself short.
So far I've really been enjoying myself doing this painting, probably because it's the firs time I took painting flowers seriously.
I could spend another couple of hours and finish it right now, but I have work tomorrow. And I really need to be sharp to close a deal.
So the painting will have to wait.
Atleast the weekend is here. More time to paint, and one very precious commodity, Daylight!
this bit was posted from my couch, in front of the TV.
(to be continued... after the match!)
Half Time ENG 1 AUS 0(12am) "I think Beckham shoud stick to the right, and not run around like a looney" - Paul Masfield(during the halftime report)
I stayed late at work to cover for a collegue who was on leave.. so much for that sunlight, but then, that's working life. Jobe gave me a lift home, and we had dinner, but before that dinner we met up with some of his friends in a mall... and that's where the trouble starts!
To cut it short, i bought a replica of Darth Vader's light saber. Lights sounds and everything.
On my way out, i saw a good family friend and their family,
"shouldn't you be painting," she said? I don't know what I said next.. but i think it had something to do with the light saber..(and you haven't heard the last of the light saber)
It's still in it's box. The deal I made with myself was, I could only open it, if i finish a painting and England Lets see!
(to be continued)
Full Time ++(3am)
I watched the match alone, and shouted at all the appropriate bits, and clapped, and who knows, if i didn't make this painting i wonder if england would have won.
Tomorrow is sunday, a whole day of painting in the daylight!
I slept late, and I slept in. Then I walked all the way to the main road to catch a taxi to the studio didn't take a bus because I was carrying a lot of stuff!
Yeah, I made such a fuss about daylight and all that, and I should have spent today finishing some of the other pieces that I've started, instead I painted this. The picture above is very close to what I had in mind to paint, and I liked it very much at this stage.
But then I made a crucial mistake, I kept painting, and ended up with this:
Here are a couple of my other starts today:It's been a week with 2 weekends of painting everyday. How does it fell someone asked me today. I didn't have an answer, and that person answered her own question, you feel the pressure huh?
Well yes I guess I do, but that's just a part of how I feel altogether. What I really feel, is Numb. I was going to write in here, asking for your encouragement to cheer me on, but the Numbness is fading. And when I think about it, When I look around my studio, I'm contented with what I've produced in little over a week.
It's good to have someone to talk to, thanks for listening.
2POSTSCRIPTS
ps: I still like the x-wing picture before it is finished
pps: This has got nothing to do with anything but, this is the lightsaber I bought yesterday, that's just a photo, no special FX. It's that cool! Oh wait maybe it HAS everything to do with everything. Got Force?
I almost have nothing to write. Nothing happened at work. No Really.
At the studio, I didn't know where to start. I called my mom, and we talked about the world.
Then I called Chin Yew. In case you've not noticed, I'm behind schedule. He did the math and gave me a schedule.
I got an e-mail from the next 30 day artist.
Dad picked me from the studio.
...
Painting wise, It went great, Chin Yew said I should go back to some of my old painting techniques.. I told him I'm going forward, I'm looking for something...
I hope you find it, he said.
I'm close.
The finished Picture(above)
Detail of above. Think I'll call this piece 'hanging in there'.
I had a small lunch. Saving what's left of my pay, for paint.
Work brought me here today, took a car to the seaside to shoot a forgien music video... I just took the car, someone else shot the video.. i didn't post a picture of that, because I don't want to be a spoiler. The sea's just behind those trees.
Here's a detail of what I painted today.
Here's the finished 'Red Dragon'. There will be five dragons in all. The dragons mark a phase in my life, I was into Dungeons & Dragons, Magic the Gathering, and RPG video games. Anything that could give me a power kick!
I paint the dragons as a form of nostalgia and to crystalize the memory, maybe I also paint them to get them out of my system.. but on another level i'm exploring the colours. In each dragon painting, I try to paint in a way to maximize the impact and emotion of each colour.
Cezzane would have been dispointed with me. (see day 2)
I can't give a definitive answer. But I can tell you why I did it today. And the answer is a word.
Contrast.
I watched the Picasso movie a few years ago. In the movie, someone ask him, how do you choose what to paint? He answered..When people are hungry, I paint sausages. I give them what they want.
Contrast.
Today was a gloomy, lonely, rainy day. And I miss my girlfriend who is in Newcastle. I was going to paint He-man today, but I didn't have the passion for it.It was to be a gloomy picture anyway. So instead I painted this, after a picture I took in a bus from Manchester to Newcastle.
Request I've got some request to post larger and clearer photos. And I would have done, but my Broadband is down..and I'm posting through dail up..so it's the little pictures again. For today at least.
I do promise that when all the paintings are done, I'll post good pictures of each work in the gallery section of '30dayartist.com.
It was a busy day at the office, a long day. By the time I got to the studio I was exhausted. Chin Yew said that's normal.
Force yourself to paint he said, something will turn up and you'll be satisfied afterwards. I had hardly thought about these two paintings, it was the most spontanious paintings I've done in the past 13 days.
I just arrived at the canvas, and these paintings 'happened' one after another. More would have 'happened', but alas, my ride came, and another painting session had to come to an end.
There is another side to art, besides the act of creating. The business side. The DARK SIDE, haha. Well, tomorrow, i'll be joining the Dark Side. I'll be shmoozing!
People. What would it take to be a successful artist?
First you find a job that would put you in contact with the wealthy. Because to be successful as an artist, you need customers.
Maybe get a job as a car salesman selling luxury cars, in a country where tax for those cars is 300% -ish.
Maybe one of your customers, will need some art for a new home. Maybe he'll like your art. Maybe he'll give you a hand, He'll buy one of your pieces.
Now it's a new home, so maybe there'll be a house warming party. Maybe your now art buyer will say to you, hey I'm having a party, and if you like, you can put your paintings in my house. What I will then do, is introduce you to the big-shots who are coming, and tell them about your art.
And maybe he'll be one of those rich guys who actually keeps to his word.
And he is happy to promote you. Now he does not expect anything in return. He is just happy do do a favor for a young artist.
Maybe this will get you thinking. That all you could think about are those big-shot potential buyers, and your publicity that, you forgot that, apart from promoter and potential buyers... These are people. Just like you. And maybe you'll have a good time at the party and be touched by simple kindnesses. And you'll meet all sorts of people.
And you'll get a better idea of the kind of person you are. Maybe you'll be ashamed.
Maybe that is success.
....
coincidentally, I was at a house warming tonight that kept me from painting. In anticipation, I finished painting the picture at the top during my lunch hour.
Half way through. My silk screen arrived today. These pictures are my early failures in attempting to use them. I will continue to work on these and a few others using the silk screen.
So, half way through. If you've made it this far, you might be feeling my weariness. I;ve not have an unoccupied moment. It's been either,work, or something art related. I'm loving it. And I'm tired.
I miss my family. I miss idle time. I miss reading before bed. I miss exercising, playing football, I also miss painting 'the little wooden boy'.I couldn't do this everyday. Well I could for 30 days..But not much more than that.
Tomorrow's Sunday. I have a shift at work. Any you know what.. I'm actually looking forward to work! I'm looking forward to taking a break from art, if only for 8 hours on a Sunday. I think it's going to be a productive day at the office tomorrow!
I figure art is a big part of my life, but it's not the whole deal. I'm going to have dinner with a good friend now, and I promised myself I will not talk about anything ART!
Let's Chat 'I Don't Understand Abstract Art'. 3x3 Feet Oil&Acrylic. I don't understand abstract art, but I like it. What is good abstract art? What isn't? How do, you or I, make good abstract art?
'USA VS ...' 6x4 feet. Oil on canvas. When I was little I used to draw scenes like this. After drawing all the planes and choppers and seacraft, I would proceed to have the good guys(America) shoot down all the bad guys. These days, I'm not sure who are the good guys.
'Ship Study' 4x4feet. Acrylic on canvas. I have a little ship for reference. This study is for a larger more complex painting that I am making. The waves started out as a happy accident. My best paintings are often made accidentally!
'Optimus Prime.' 3x4 feet. 'Weapon sold separately.' 2x2 feet. both acrylic on canvas
There's something about Red, White & Blue that seems very heroic. I really enjoyed making this piece. Yes the gun is going to be sold separately. But you don't have to buy it if you don't want to.)
I did go to work today, but halfway through my shift, my boss calls and gives me the rest of the day off. Thanks Boss. Maybe he knows I'm doing this 30day artist thing!
Mom kept referring to me as an 'artist' today. I asked her why? She said, "So you won't forget why you are doing this." Thanks MOM!
Jobe, thanks again for all the lifts home.
Miss Lee, I'm out of white acrylic, could you please send one heavybody white & one heavy body ivory to my studio on Monday. Thank You.
It was my day off today. Naturally I painted, but I didn't know what to paint, so i worked a bit on one painting, then I worked a bit on another, neither seemed to be going anywhere.
The day before was a productive day. Today was not so. It was hot, the noise from the street rose up to my studio and I was tired.
If I hadn't told you I'd paint something for you today, I wouldn't have finished painting anything at all! I was drained of all creative energy, instead I used the energy I would have spent missing you and channeled it into this painting.
Some people tell me, that artist shouldn't have painting moods, they should just arrive at the canvas and somthing will apperar. Really?
An Artist I recently met visited me today, and he chatted as I finished painting this picture. It was 7.00pm then, I locked up and went to play futsal! - I've missed that for months! I enjoyed the game eventhough I lost the ball alot, mis-kicked my passes, and got a good bashing as the goalkeeper. In the end I was tired, sore and bruised, but happy!
And here I am now. Thanks for reading.) And I'll talk to you soon.
Love, Babu.
....................................
And the rest of you why are you reading this it's private!
(The following is an excerpt form an annoyed spam-ed ) < A Comment Spammer writes:
"Hi, you can make me a famous artist, because if you click on [MY SITE], one more person (YOU) would know me and my art. What will I do will I do with the fame? Well good stuff like bono, or Oprah. Thank you, Ming. [PIGEONED].blogspot.com"
If you'd read my about page Mr. Ming, you'd know that I DO NOT take kindly to folks who advertise their blogs off-topic in my comments; if you'd actually said something relevant and constructive you link would've been fine. As it is, readers, Mr. Ming and his blog partner are the first violators to be charged a $2,000 advertising fee through PayPal. Sadly, it appears neither is a US citizen--yes, the bill will stand in US court. In addition, since their both "artistes" their yearly income probably equals the amount of change caught under the seat of my '71 Dodge, so the likelihood I'll ever see the cash is slim to none.
But what I can do is share my own unsolicited comment about Mr. Ming's blog and art: I could eat a gallon of mixed paint and crap better artwork. Now be off with your comment spam and preschool-esque construction paper "refrigerator-ready" doodling (end of excerpt)
...
"Refrigerator - Ready" I like that! May be that will be the title of theise series. About the spamming, I'm born again. It was a Bad Idea.
About the bill, well, ..um yeah.. Whatever.
The picture above, well I suppose it's self explanatory. 4x4feet, acrylic on canvas. And I really enjoyed making it.
I painted spidey again (below) with the left over paint.
Old Car.New Car. I had this unfinished, over painted ruined picture on a 4x9 foot canvas. No sense letting it go to waste. My Goal here was to paint an abstract car.(using the definition of abstract that someone left as a comment) And this is how it turned out. I was pretty Happy with the result in the studio. But now looking at the photo I thik i felt short of what I was looking for. I'll call this baby:-
'Abstract Car Attempt 1'..unless you can think of a better title.
Now I got a 'gentle reminder' from a magazine editor whom I do an illustration for every month. It's due tomorrow...oh, wait. Today. So off I go!
White DragonIt was raining. I had lost interest in finishing this, white dragon. The rain was so imposing. I painted the feeling of the rain. The old painting dictated the shape the new one would take. All I heard was the rain. It seems that each new painting I make has benefited from the subconscious lessons I've made in the preceding pieces.
White Dragon .
acrylic on canvas.
4x4 feet.
......................
After posting last night, I worked on that magazine Illustration until 4.30in the morning. I woke up at 7.30 to walk the dog. I didn't feel sleepy in the morning. But through the day I did, a little.
I spent a lot of the day pacing around the showroom. Almost involuntarily. Maybe I was anxious to pick up a brush again.
Tomorrow's a holiday. For this car salesman. But not for this Artist. See you then. 10 days to go. I think I need to count how many I've painted, and how many more I need!
It's was a holiday today. I hadn't got enough sleep for 2 days in a row, and I really did not feel like painting. Besides that i'm running short of a couple of colours.
I took A bus to the studio anyway. And by the time I got there, sure enough, there was only one thing on my mind to paint. I did a few sketches, then I went to work on this 6x4 feet canvas. When I was happy with the outlines..it took me a long while to decide how to use the colours. I took a few naps.
Girlfriend's mom called. Took one more nap. And then I knew what to do with the colour. When I finished, i felt 'expressed'. I dedicate these painting, and the song to the kind fellahs at Concept art forum, for their visits and, comments.
...
I thought of stopping for the day, then I painted on. I'll post that later, as I don't want to dilute the intensity of this piece. That's what I was feeling as I painted this. INTENSE.
I've learnt today, to my happy surprise, that by commiting to the work( to paint) There will be something to say. And someway to express what's going on inside.
Wouldn't it be nice. The one about my mum. And I wept. Chin Yew said, i should not, by anymeans, dedicate another piece of art to my girlfriend in these 30 days. He said that could scare her into thinking i'm obsessed over her. It would scare her off he said.
Part of the reason i'm doing this(30days), is making some of these paintings makes me so happy. Not the same kind of happy you get from drawing a perfect picture. A deeper more primal and innocent happiness.
You know how you sometimes wish you could go back to your childhood. Go back to the days when life was simple for you. When i make some of these pictures, i'm there,... just there. In a moment of happiness long ago.
I could imagine 'little me' showing this to mummy. Excitedly she would say it was lovely. All her attention would be on me and my picture. Maybe she's happy to see what's in my little head, it speaks to her more preciely then i could use words.
She asks what it is.
It's a magazine cover Mummy, when I grow up. I'm going to have my own magazine. It will be called Perl. Because our town is called 'Pearl of the Orient' and because i like a girl by the same name.) And it will be about all the things i love.
Mummy, I ask. When I grow up, can I have my own magazine?
Some mummys will say no, don't be silly, you study hard and get a good job, good pay..you like to draw? you can be an architect. Or some dream killing variation.
But do you know what my mummy would say?
She'd say this, and she say it the same , no matter what i asked her. And she'd say it full of conviction. And she's said it to me for as long as I can remember. More times then I can remember.
"my son, you can be anything you want to be"
Now this world is MESSED! And alot of people will tell you alot of things that aren't true. Doctor will it hurt? No.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW. that's this world.
I'm weeping now by the way, been weeping for 5 paragraphs. And I don't mean a little wet around the eyes. I mean seriously weeping! Red eyes and sobs and all. Maybe it's all this time travel shit.( pardon the language,that was 13 year old me)
But the weeping. That's not little me. It's me now. I'm weeping because my mummy told the truth. She told me. I could be anything I want to be. And I am.
I'm weeping because I have the best mummy in the world. But that also means i'm weeping because you don't. (there's only one best)
And because you don't.. and that also means you are not an artist. Or whatever it is you wanted to be with all your heart. Let me tell you then. You reader. Yes you. Can be Anything you want to be.
Final Fantasy Legend FF Legend. 2x2 ( the best video game ever)
Before all the cut scenes, and the linear storyline in videogames. There was final fantasy legend. I got my parents to pay for the original game and I have had endless hours playing the game over and over again. And maybe some of you reading had some good hours playing it too.
It's Sunday. I spent more time day dreaming and talking with friends over food, and on the phone, than actually painting. Maybe I was too happy with yesterday's piece that I didn't really have any drive to paint today.
I did manage to get some silk screening done. It was something new to me and quite a satisfying experience. I'll admit I knever knew how thought it would be, and i'll be seeking out an expert to learn some skills soon. But it's definately something that i'll be looking in to.
I was having trouble figuring what colour to do Paris in. Jobe suggest Green, and since I had have a tub of green paint left, I obliged.
Paris Hilton. 2x2.
And if you haven't already, please leave a comment on day 21.2
Gold Dragon. I'm hungry. I'm sleepy. I'm poor. I'm tired. I couldn't have started another painting today. It takes a certain amount of energy to start a painting. Instead I picked up one that I started when I did have the energy. (day 2)
Will Smith is Playing on the Radio. Party Starter. Yes I am a Will Smith fan. This is the remix of the remix. Maybe a song is like a painting, you can keep working on them, changing them. Remixing.
That's probably what I'll do with some of these paintings after the 30days. 5 to go. Thanks for coming along for the ride. Thanks for keeping me going. I feel like a performer on a stage, in so many ways. And that's a nice feeling for a painter.
The 30days is like a concert. I'm Painting LIVE. I'm improvising. It's not as polished as a studio piece. But there's this raw energy, mine and yours. Mostly yours. And it's about time for the curtains to come down. I'm tired, but non of us wants to go. ( those who do are gone) We're still here.
Yeah there are a few more songs, or maybe.. Just maybe. This is it. This is goodbye. Thank you. Thank you very much. You've been a great audience. Goodbye.
(because I brought home an empty acrylic box,accidental)
Everyone has a little bit of craziness in them. Most of the time it's locked away. If you want to open a the door and let every inch of craziness out, here's how. Make 40 paintings in 30days.
4 days to go.
I've come close to quitting so many times. Too many times. Give me a good enough reason or excuse and I would have quit. I won't quit now I know that much. Not ever.
If it's true that some of the best artist ever, were poor, and unknown in their time. This is only true because they probably spent all their time on their art on not enough time in a market place trying to sell them.
I on the other hand, have come to realize,..(tell you the truth it was knocked into my head by a good number of close friends, and total strangers alike.) that I may be spending a little too much time in the marketplace.
I was going to make this long and elaborate..But I think I've said my peace. I'm only glad that there are still 4 days. So if you want me, you can find me in the studio.
Oh Yeah, and Dad, you're right. You can't promise people 30days of painting and ask for an encore on day 25.
After this piece, there's 7 paintings to go. in 3 days. I have more then 7 started, but i'll choose and finish 7. I'm especially excited about day 30's painting, That's yours uncle:)
What else can i say, i'm done moping. I'm all fired up.
Bring it on!
Oh, and my trasportation issue has been solved. I got my car today.
This is my new ride. Next week I'm taking it on a road trip with friends. 6 painting to go. I've got a customer coming later to buy a car hopefully. It has been a quiet month sales wise. It would be nice to sell a car at the month's end.
I can hardly describe the feeling to you of owning your first car. The closest I can come is...Love.
I'll only be on this space for 2 more days, then Brandt takes over. I'm excited about that. She's going to be doing some urban-travel-introspection-slice-of life kind of thing. She got me at 'urban'
It has been one hell of a ride for me! The past 30days has not just been about painting. It's been a journey, like some Indian(feathers not dots) rite of passage. Or an initiation into this cult thing called being an 'artist'. Is it all it's cracked up to be? Well words cannot the experience.
I fell like I died, and my whole artistic life flashed before my eyes. Peaks and valleys. I've identified strengths and flaws in my art and personality. The kind of thing that would take years to discover, or never be discovered at all.
Some people love what I'm doing, some hate it, calling it a gimmick or a stunt.
If you're thinking of a life as an artist. Try this. There's an entry form at 30dayArtist.com. Consider it a test. Or an Initiation. Or a ritual. If you have been half hearted in your creative endeavourer, and you want to take the plunge. I recommend you sign up. And we'll help you along for 30days.
And beyond.
Thank you readers. Just 2 more days. Tell your friends.
Middle Earth Gandalf 4x4 feet acrylic on canvas. Middle Earth 4x8 feet. acrylic on canvas.
Close up of above.
I not feeling so good, my artist lifestyle must be catching up with my body. I've got to get some rest. I'm going stright home now, so I can be ready for tomorrow.
4paintings to go.
they are all more than 50% done.
I'll post them in pairs tomorrow. In 12 hour intervals.
Fluorescent Sunsets fluorescent Sunrise 1 & 2. Each 4x4 feet. Acrylic on canvas
I slept early. 11.00 I woke up round 5 to take a crap. Phone rang, it was a broken hearted friend in distress. 'When I talk to you I feel so much 'God'.' he said. Now that's a complement worth getting up for.
I thought back to the time when I was broken hearted & alone.
I thought of the whole 30days. I thought about how some of the 'artist' who are trying to make it, strive so hard to make it difficult for others, who are trying to make it. I like music that you can sing along to, music that doesn't alienate the audience. Maybe I try to make my art that way.
I turned on my computer. 3 comments, 3 'SAM's', encourager. That's what we need more of. I can tell you the comments made all the difference in my performance today. I do feel like Frodo on the foot of Mount Doom.
I started typing a post.
The phone rang. This time it was my girlfriend calling from UK. We talked for 2 hours.
Then I went back to sleep. Happy.
I spoiled myself to a good breakfast in 'Coffee Bean'. I sat on the deck across the road from the sea. I appreciated every minute of it.
cough.cough. I'm sitting on an arm chair in my studio. I've been listening to the same song on repeat, for 5 and a half hours. What a journey it has been.
These pictures are to be(tentatively) the front and back cover of a CD called 'Homecoming'.
Homecoming. 4x4. Acrylic.
'Homecoming.back' 4x4. Acrylic.(the green bit is for me to super impose the front cover image onto the back)
So here we are, at the end of a journey. My favorite part of the journey is always the trip home.
I'm excited about the next 30day Artist. I'll introduce her tomorrow. She starts in November.
I go home from this journey changed in so many ways. I'd tell you about the trip. But then you were there too. I've said my goodbyes to save me from having to say them today.
This one's 4x4 feet. It's a study for another piece I'm doing.
This are actually 2 paintings, it's a picture that was born in my head as I was praying a couple of weeks back.
It's been a week with 2 weekends of painting everyday. How does it fell someone asked me today. I didn't have an answer, and that person answered her own question, you feel the pressure huh?
(The following is an excerpt form an annoyed 
I slept early. 11.00
'Homecoming.back' 4x4. Acrylic
