Have You Ever....

Progression of concept Sketches

...Heard of the photography rule that the first hundred frames or so that you capture should be automatically thrown out?

My photography teacher told the class that on the first day when I was learning the basics about my sparkly new DSLR.  The reason you follow this rule is because there is a period at the beginning of a photography session where you are constantly making adjustments.  Whether it be positioning of the subject, angle of the camera or simply tinkering with the settings to allow that perfect amount of light through for your "money shot".  

When you pull up your session in Lightbox to compare your photographs, it's obvious to see the differences from the first frame and the last.  I was informed that whether you were a professional or a dabbler, this rule always applied. 

I feel like this rule has some crossover into fine art.  Not that I'm stating you should throw out your first hundred drawings or anything. 

Don't do that;  that's absurd.  

All I'm saying is this:

All paintings come from drawings but not all drawings can be paintings. 

This is how I interpret the photography rule into my Fine Art.  Its easy to think that an artist puts a pencil to a piece of paper and what comes out is an automatic template for a masterpiece.  While some artists have a knack for that, or follow a principle to just "go with it", this does not exist with me.  Especially when I'm creating something different.  

Working with real life, it's easy to use a reference photograph and paint from that.  When working with imagination, you have to work out the kinks first.

Because of this, the process from drawing to painting is a bit longer.  My ideas tend to evolve on their own.  My sketch goes through many changes before it becomes a concept worthy of paint.   

Another reason why I like tracing paper. 

And also, my imagination is weird. 

Like,  whhaaatttt...??

"Sea Dreams" Concept Sketch

You can even see from my series of concept sketches (the finals I'm happy with) how my ideas changed over time.  The first concept sketch (on the left in the above photo), I simply started drawing the woman with her long hair because the line work fascinated me.  While lost in the lines an errant thought crossed my mind that they sort of looked like waves and thus nautical elements found their way in.  Once done, though, I was still feeling drawn to the lines, thus the next two sketches formed. 

About halfway through the second concept, the series idea formed, "Sweet Dreams".  I couldn't possibly end at two sketches if I were to paint them.  I have this weird thing where it needs to be odd numbers to complete a "set".  

After the third was completed, my obsession with line work just wouldn't leave me alone.  Then I saw this photograph of a goat and loved the way the photograph captured his horns. 

My inner artist was pointing and shouting: 

"This one!  We must use this one!"

She's pushy. 

Towards the end of my sketch a face appeared, like the goat morphed into a person or the person was morphing into a goat. All I know was the horns came out pretty damn fine. (I told you my imagination is weird)  I figured at this point, I was obviously continuing the dreams series.  This meant I needed a fifth concept to round out my set.  Weird quirk strikes again!

Two more ideas popped into my head around the time that I really examined my sketches as a whole.  Something didn't feel right about all of them together.  

I moved forward with the fifth concept, my mind trying to figure out what the variant was and why it wasn't working together.  

Fifth concept finished and BOOM.  I realized it. 

You probably already see the disparity between the five.  The first three have a defining theme that holds them together.  They are whimsical.  Sleeping figures with dreamlike elements pushing at their minds.  Simple.

The last two lack those elements.  

Goat Totem Concept Sketch

Crow Totem Concept Sketch

So a second series has been born.  With my ideas for another concept, and looking at all five of the sketches together, It's clear my subconscious has been subtly leading me down another track.

A track that explores totems and spirit animals. 

Also, I love twisting reality wherever I can in my artwork it seems.  

YAY imagination!

XO,