Illustraline

Illu Friday - Twirls

2012-01-20T20:00:00.002-07:00

Acrylic on board - 10 x 10

More pages for Ally

2011-09-26T10:33:00.003-06:00

Here is another spread for Ally's journal. One is about the White Horse Social in July, where she had much fun painting horses with her hands, won a prize and petted many horses. The other was bird banding with Teton Science Schools, and she loved having the chance to hold a little bird in her hands before releasing it.

I'm almost done with this first journal, many pages of colors, writing, photos, collages. She loves it and wants me to get started on Volume II as soon as we're done with this one. Some pressure ;-) !!

Voyage in the Pacific Northwest

2011-09-13T19:11:00.002-06:00

I just spent 2 weeks on the San Juan Islands and Vancouver Island, which was delightful. The light is different than here, the fog is mysterious, the ocean magical and the eye can wander without being stopped. I spent a couple of hours on a beach sketching and sunning a little. Beaches are always full of treasures. I was being observed by a sea lion that eventually decided I was fine.

On our way west, I spent time looking around and found all sorts of details to report. This is fun and it makes the 1000 miles go by fast.

A moose for Aude, a moose for Ally

2011-04-13T09:36:00.008-06:00

Ally, whom I mentor, recently did a school report on the moose, which she did research about over a few months. After her report, which was part of a project named "Animals of Jackson Hole", she said she wanted to make a moose drawing for me, and I'd make her one. I told her I'd make a painting.

This was really fun, and to see how excited she was over her painting made me feel that is was a great thing to do for her. I picked her up in school yesterday to spend the afternoon together, and she was holding her painting, saying she had showed it to her class. Her teacher suggested I come at the end of the year and we could share what Ally and I had done artistically together.

Let's see what our next assignment will be. Right now, I have enrolled her in a clay workshop for 8 weeks, was there too, worked on my own project, and it was great to hang out amongst all those creative little kids.

Hearts

2011-03-11T11:37:00.002-07:00

The heart is such a beautiful and simple shape that we all recognize. A universal symbol that has been a great way to express feelings without using words, allowing us to share our emotions, our sympathy, our love.

I was inspired by this feeling as I feel most thankful for the people that surround me in life. It is a feeling of floating, ethereal, yet strong if fluctuating at times. How do we sustain love on a daily basis, without conditions, manipulations? It is simply a matter of paying attention, of being aware. It is not easy to notice that we are being selfish, only thinking of us. Yet it is so much better to give love than receive it. It is a simple and beautiful gesture, and can be healing for many. Insisting on receiving it shows we are needy, an immature way of being. Children should receive it unconditionally, profusely; it will teach them later in life to do the same. For it is difficult to be able to give love back if we have not experienced it early on. The heart is tight, unwilling to open, for fear of being hurt. The work to open it becomes a life challenge, but it is not difficult once you see and understand that when you turn to others rather than yourself, the heart softens and dances, joyful to be making a difference in someone's life.

"If there is love, there is hope that one may have real families, real brotherhood, real equanimity, real peace. If the love within your mind is lost and you see other beings as enemies, then no matter how much knowledge or education or material comfort you have, only suffering and confusion will ensue".
His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Another type of journal

2011-03-03T19:32:00.000-07:00

I have been mentoring an 8 year-old girl Ally for over three months now: it's been a very positive experience for both of us and we are getting to know each other more and more. I find it enriching: Ally is smart, funny, eager to do many things, and we share the same passion for artistic work and creations of all sorts, which make our moments together quite fun and colorful.

Since the start, I have started a journal/sketchbook, which includes a page or two about each time we meet. I include photographs I take of her, write about what we did, sketch things in it, add secret notes to her, and more. She loves it and wants to see it each time we are at my house. I've wanted to include her in this project as in the end (whenever that is) this book will be hers. She recently lost a pet and created a page in that book with pens and markers. I would like this book to be a reminder about how special she is, specially in the future, when she needs something to help her through challenging times.

It's also been a challenge for me as I think about how I am going to arrange everything on the page, and make use of my knowledge and experience in design. Quite helpful, in fact.

Finding time to sketch

2011-01-27T09:39:00.000-07:00

I have been overly busy lately and it's been tough trying to find time to do artwork. In fact I am tired of saying "I am SO busy!" when people ask me how I am doing. I am not saying that anymore, even if I am swamped. It will help calm things down. To me, there is such thing as negative reinforcement, and if I stop repeating the same thing, it will feel different.

I took a little time last Friday, in town, and just enjoyed doing what I like best. Truly, I would love to simply be able to spend my days with my journal, my watercolors, and my pens, and go about recording what's around me. I used to have the time do so eons ago. Now it's more of a challenge. I just have to prioritize but my graphic design work remains the priority, thus sketching comes after.

I remain thankful that I am able to pause here and there, and take advantage of those moments.

A very white man

2010-12-06T17:28:00.000-07:00

Alan has been working in the basement: he is installing fiberglass insulation, so must cover himself entirely. He looks like he works in a nuclear plant.
I found amazing the contrast of his suit: it is very white and stands out against anything around it.
He put pressure on me as he didn't want to model very long, and in the end, it's always that way that I work best.
Does he have another "costume" in storage?

A basilica in the Pyrénées

2010-11-23T17:35:00.005-07:00

I spent some time in September in the Pyrenees in France and was inspired by the landscape. Unfortunately I was biking a lot during that time and didn't have much time to sketch. This is what I managed to do in 7 days. Better than nothing, and I love it.

It's the basilica of Saint-Just de Valcabrere. It dates back to roman times and was built in the 12th century, on the suburbs of the roman town Lugdunum. It is located 1 km east of the cathedral of St-Bertrand-de-Comminges, a gorgeous structure perched on top of a hill and surrounded by a charming village.

A fun project

2010-08-03T22:10:00.000-06:00

I just finished a digital illustration for Teton Home and Living magazine, and it is for a fun story about an old truck. I first made a hand drawing, which allows me to work fast and get my vision out on paper. I used a little color to go further in that vision. Then I worked on Photoshop and this is the fun part, specially the coloring process. My client is very pleased, I too.

Whoddunit Show

2010-05-17T08:38:00.001-06:00

This little canvas, 6x6, was made for the Whoddunit show at the Art Association. With over 200 artists, all proceeds go to the organization. I created my piece based on the quote by Dr. Albert Schweitzer:"Until he extends his circle of compassion to include all living things, man will not himself find peace."

Mixed media.

Revisiting an old journal

2010-04-05T10:15:00.002-06:00

This page is from the winter of 1991-92. I was into close details then. I can still work this way, as I find nature's details fascinating, but I have also learnt to loosen up a bit. Close rendition is not always the best thing to try to achieve.
Looking at this piece, I like how I took the time to observe and report. My work was more meditative, as I was not in a rush. A good reminder for me: drawing, making art, makes you forget everyday's list of things to do, the chatter in your mind, the thinking ahead, it makes you be still and in the very present moment. That's why it's so vital to me now.

The quiet little horse

2010-03-09T11:01:00.001-07:00

On one of my wandering walks, I saw this cowboy ride along the fence. I noticed he had a fishing pole, and he looked funny in his jeans, boots and hat heading down the bank. I asked him "going to catch diner?", he said "gonna try!" I wished him good luck.
His horse was gorgeous. One of those small and tough Wyoming horses. I loved it.

Blue birthday boy

2010-03-04T10:39:00.002-07:00

Malik turned 5 yesterday. We did an hour walk on Haggen Trail in Cache Creek. But he had to spend the afternoon at the vet, where they sedated him to suck a seed out of his ear. Cost of the present: $300, no fun, but he has new clean ears! He was quite quiet in the evening, recovering from that no-fun time. I took the opportunity to celebrate him my way. I love this sketch, it's so much like him.

sketch

2010-03-04T10:36:00.000-07:00

I am drawing anything I can get my eyes on in the house. This past weekend, the couch was it, and it was fun sketching that instead of lying on it. I am starting to use color again. Am I moving forward in leaps and bounds? Perhaps, but I can't only doodle anymore, and I can't work in black and white anymore. Color is fun and one of the spices of life.

My favorite model

2010-02-25T11:30:00.009-07:00

He's always there, he's always willing to pose for me, he tries his best not to move, and he is gorgeous to draw. I was inspired by Roz Stendahl who kept 43, yes 43!!, journals of her dog Dottie http://www.rozworks.com/dot.html. Those pages are awesome studies, and it became clear to me that it's a great routine to have. A client of mine have given me a beautiful bound book with pages of different quality and weight, and I thought what better way than to do the same as Roz, and improve my drawing skills on a daily basis.
I really like the study above, it has a sort of sumi look. And Malik did not move the whole time!

Back to basics

2010-02-25T11:21:00.000-07:00

I feel that I have been doing too much and I want to go back to a simpler way of working. I am taking a sabbatical that makes me explore again the art of journaling, on a daily basis. My goal: one drawing a day of my dog, and one spread - or more - in my journal.

Danny Gregory and his "An Ilustrated Life" book has inspired me so. All the artists featured in it are amazing, and this is becoming quick my bible. Not that I worship them, I worship the book because it's helping me make sense of what I am doing.

It's easy: I just draw whatever is around me, whether at home or in town. Even though Jackson is not New York, I find plenty of subjects to work with. All right, being winter, it's a little more challenging, and at times, I do have to go out of my way, such as to a public place indoors, to hunt. But "qui cherche, trouve." as we say in France (who searches, finds). For my dog Malik, he does his share of napping, so I get a daily chance to work with him as a model, hoping he doesn't move, and you never know when that itch is going to hit!

Illu Friday: Clumsy

2010-01-26T16:45:00.000-07:00

This word was challenging and I never like to come up with the obvious - although what is obvious? I came up with this idea, I would have liked to represent a porcelain store, but opted for another twist.

Illu Friday: Wilderness

2010-01-18T10:44:00.010-07:00

I made this illustration for a client that needed to promote outdoor tours in our local parks. I love this cartoon, it was so much fun to create and it's funny: it always puts a smile on my face.

New font, new logo, new name

2009-12-15T10:39:00.015-07:00

I am so happy to change things! I could not get the website with the name Illustra Design, as it had been taken for a long time. This explains why my site is www.illustraline.com. However, I didn't like to have two different names, and finally consolidated it to one, officially now Illustraline, Graphic Design & Illustration.

I had a hard time coming up with the right logo, and after numerous tentatives, went for something quite harmonious, keeping in mind Henry David Thoreau's saying "Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity!" - even though it applies to life, not design. But they are not exclusive of each other. I found this gorgeous font Le Havre Round: I love curves and felt it the right visual impact. I used the regular and light versions for a combination that conveys well my sense of design and my illustrative skills.

And so, welcome to Illustraline! Soon I will be able to share my work online, but still have a lot of work to do. I'll post about it when it's functioning.

What's going on in December?

2009-12-14T18:32:00.002-07:00

I have been working for a few months on my website. It has been a challenge as I have had little time, being very busy with numerous projects. It has been another great year and I can't wait to have this site up and running to share my work. My brother, principal of Witwag, is developing my site, and doing a great job at it. I highly recommend his services.

Also, December bring Christmas cheer, chocolate truffles, snow - although not that much so far so I've been postponing nordic skiing, but I'm going to head out tomorrow for my first session.

I have been passionately working on becoming a better designer. I love typography and wish I could become a master but may need more than one lifetime for that purpose. I have been working hard at refining what I do, and have been getting great results and enthusiastic comments from my clients. The road is a long and enless one, yet fascinating.

Atlanta Canvas Project 2

2009-06-29T18:19:00.003-06:00

I am participating in a project by the Art House Gallery's in Atlanta. Each participant was sent 5 words to interpret on 3in. x 3in. canvases, to help create a completely user generated visual encyclopedia.
My words were spoken, was, baptize, caustic and wash. Here are my interpretations. The whole show will go into the Atlanta airport for a while, then a book will be created with 2 pieces from each artist.
Each of my pieces is created in mixed-media.

Je participe a un projet lancé par la Galerie Art House in Atlanta. Chaque participant a reçu 5 mots a interpreter sur des tableaux de 10cm x 10cm, ceci pour aider a créer une encyclopedie visuelle.
Mes mots etaient parlé, était, baptise, caustique et lave. Voici mes interpretations. L'exposition sera placée a l'aeroport d'Atlanta pour une certaine periode, puis un livre sera publié avec 2 tableaux de chaque artiste.
Chacun de mes tableaux est créé avec une variété de techniques.

Atlanta Canvas Project 2 - "spoken"

2009-06-29T18:18:00.000-06:00

Atlanta Canvas Project 2 - "was"

2009-06-29T18:17:00.005-06:00

Atlanta Canvas Project 2 - "baptize"

2009-06-29T18:17:00.002-06:00

Atlanta Canvas Project 2 - "caustic"

2009-06-29T18:16:00.005-06:00

Atlanta Canvas Project 2 - "wash"

2009-06-29T18:16:00.002-06:00

Wisdom at my window

2009-04-01T16:11:00.003-06:00

Monday morning, 7 a.m.: in the bushy blue spruce, 20 ft from the window, the magpies building their nest are making a raucous. Alan tells me to bring my camera. A Great Horned Owl is majestically installed on a branch, pecking at the magpies when they come too close. It is magnificent, I have never seen one so close. It looks right at me when I try to take photos. A bit blur with the zoom but it works. Its eyes are incredibly sharp, piercing, and he looks regal when he closes them, so elegantly.
When the sun comes out, he moves deeper into the tree and to its west side, in the shade. The magpies will be mad at him all day, but he's decided to stay for his long nap. I call Bert Raynes, our famed and beloved ornithologist, who seems quite intrigued and mentioned he'll send over a biologist to inquire. Susan Patla comes over later and manages to peek at the owl, she's thrilled.
Throughout the day, I will regularly look over and he's always there, eventually sunbathing as the sun veers to the west. He acts a bit more active near the end of the afternoon, preening his feather. I can't see him too well, but I can see he's awake.
He'll stay until 8 pm that night. Alan has to go out to start the grill and we know it's near time for the owl to go hunting so it's ok, although we're sad to see him off. A grand sight that really cheered me up and made me feel so thankful for what nature offers us here when we know to open our eyes.

2009-03-27T17:22:00.006-06:00

I've been pretty busy sketching lately. It's like a comeback to my older work, with just pen, pen & ink, or pencil, and some light watercoloring for fun. It's been tremendous fun and it makes me go out, although Malik remains a constant subject for me. I could sketch him a million times and not get tired of it.

2009-03-27T17:21:00.004-06:00

Something new that came out recently is odd shapes and weird contraptions. I just start drawing a shape and keep expanding on it, it's been fun and stretches my mind. Not sure if that will lead to anything but I enjoy doing that. And yet, sketching from real life is always a challenging yet rewarding thing. I can make great sketches or ugly ones, and I don't judge my work. I just do it, I guess it's the process that fascinates me, not so much the result. My tendency also being to work a bit too detailed, I am making a point of working a bit more loosely, and not care too much about accuracy as long as proportions make sense.

Illu Friday: Breezy

2009-02-27T19:57:00.005-07:00

The wind is a wild thing, it can refresh, invigorate, exhaust, chill, and so many more things. And I love the ocean and the wind that sweeps it constantly. When I saw what word it was today, I had this instant vision of what to do. It took its own form as always.

Illu Friday: Celebrate

2009-02-13T15:37:00.003-07:00

I made this a while back but it's fitting the word perfectly. I love masks somehow (I don't even own one), they are fascinating. And with Mardis Gras around the corner, this was great. I did Photoshop it a tad in order to make it even more ... celebratory.

Illu Friday: Time

2009-02-10T18:07:00.014-07:00

It seems to me that these days I am always rushing and running out of time. If only the days could be twice as long, and I hate to see those hands on my clock mark 10, then 10:30 (p.m. that is) as I know bedtime is coming closer, and I still have so much to do. This came to me as a wink to life, reminds me of Cinderella at midnight.

Illu Friday: Climbing

2009-01-27T16:16:00.005-07:00

This Friday's word was challenging for me, I played with a couple of ideas that didn't amount to much. Then I started looking at what some of you have done, and lo and behold, I was striken by genius - or so I think! I love cartoons, always read a lot of graphic novels and comics, so this is what came out... I hope he makes it up there!

Illu Friday: Pale

2009-01-16T16:43:00.006-07:00

I had total fun with this one. I thought of the French expression "Pâle comme la lune" or "Pale like the moon" (I'm sure you figured that much!), and after that, it was easy and a blast.

Illustration Friday: Contained

2009-01-12T18:31:00.004-07:00

It took me a bit of "simmering" in order to get the right idea. Once I had it, it was tremendous fun. I haven't posted since last year, and the fun is back! Acrylic on wood panel.

2009-01-08T15:44:00.017-07:00

I was skiing on Shadow Mountain and got a few cool shots, low light, very monochromatic sort of day. I created this pieces in Photoshop, lots of fun with those effect!

A new resolution, or several

2009-01-08T15:30:00.000-07:00

I know we all come up with new resolutions we don't hold but with 2009 here, I am determined to do this, and have been: I get up at 6:30 a.m. at once, and after a brief glass of juice and stretch, write for 30 minutes those famous morning pages in the Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. Then I report on a great forum, and I'm done. So far so good and in fact last night I only got 7 hours of sleep - not enough by my standards, and am fine today.
I am also determined to be more creative and productive, and be out more, out of the studio, in order to replenish the "well" with ideas. It has felt empty, lately.
Yesterday I spent time sketching, and playing with paper and paint. That was tremendous fun.
And to top it off, I had an offer from a friend of mine to work on a children's book, meaning to create the illustrations for her. This remains to be confirmed but she is a very reliable person so I cross my fingers as the final publication decision comes from an organisation. But it motivates me 300% to do more art.
The year, although young, is looking great already.

E=mc2

2008-02-19T11:12:00.000-07:00

I don't get that relativity theory but have always loved how Einstein looked, so here was my chance to do a tribute to him.

IF: Chose

2008-02-10T19:17:00.000-07:00

This word was a little bit of a challenge as more abstract, but just before I fell asleep last night, it came to me! I suppose there is much to read in such an illustration, but I had a lot of fun creating it.

IF: Blanket

2008-02-03T11:53:00.000-07:00

ERMINE OVER A BLANKET OF SNOW
It's been snowing so much this winter, it wasn't hard to be inspired!

TALES & LEGENDS

2008-01-28T09:18:00.000-07:00

I grew up in Africa for 21 years and have vivid memories that feed me through my work. Tales and legends were the perfect words to let one of those come to life.

How can torture be acceptable?

2008-01-24T10:18:00.000-07:00

I heard this podcast from a French radio yesterday, on torture, and how it has become a more accepted thing in the US, sort of a slow brainwashing of people. Amongst other means of doing so, the influence of the show 24 hours (which I haven't seen, I must admit) where the hero, Jack Bauer, repeatedly commits barbarian acts in the name of the war against terrorism. The public sees and digests this and next thing you know, torture is ok. But then read the following excerpt from a document:

December 2, 2002: Secretary Rumsfeld approved the recommended list, which included such techniques as the use of “stress positions,” 20-hour interrogations, removal of clothing, playing upon a detainee’s phobias to induce stress (such as through the use of dogs), deception to make the detainee believe the interrogator was from a country with a reputation of torture, use of falsified documents and reports, isolation for up to 30 days, and sensory deprivation.

This may not be news to some of you, but it is utterly shocking. How can a country like the US promote torture? There is so much self-righteousness here. Think of the latin proverb: "Tu patere legem quam fecisti." (Bear the consequences of your own law). How do you want the US to have any credibility about human rights if they don't even respect them themselves?
This subject is vast and complicated, but at the basis, this principle should remain prevalent: torture is always unacceptable. It's a matter of human dignity.

Illustration Friday, word of the week: PLAIN

2008-01-21T14:55:00.000-07:00

PLAIN PLANE OVER A PLAIN PLAIN

I have been checking out this site for quite a while now, and kept wanting to participate. It was, in fact, a new year resolution. But January 1st came along and I still had not. Well, better later than never, right? I finally found the time to get to my brushes again, and was also coaxed by someone into doing it. The result is here! Yahoo!
It was a fun fun process for me, very freeing and no expectations involved. So I used an board with some weird painting on it I had made, and painted over it, which allowed me to have some interesting shapes here and there. I also used some lined paper from a French notebook, for the clouds. I also altered it slightly in Photoshop, mainly the sky hue, and... voilà!
I am hooked and intend to participate every week now.
Oh, I will add to her credit that Jenny Kostecki-Shaw is the one who had shared that site with me, so I owe a lot to her! Check out her website (Dancing Elephant Studio in my list of websites below), she's amazing!

I can't wait for next Friday, now!

White and more white

2008-01-18T09:39:00.000-07:00

Winter is an odd mix of things and feelings: I love the soft curves of the hills buried under snow, the little metallic flakes that fall from above like confetti, the glow of the evening sun when all turns golden and magical, and all this white. But all this white at times makes me crave for color. All seems so monochromatic. There is white, and more white. Then there is that deep dark green of the pine trees in the distance, and the blue sky; perhaps some red from dogwood bushes, or willow. And that's it. And so I crave a huge bouquet of flowers for its fragrance and explosive hues, dress with bright colors as to rebel against the sterility of the landscape and the elements, and pouring paint becomes a sensual experience, even more so spreading it with a paintbrush. It's a good thing I have art to feed that white expanse as we have 1, no, 2, no, 3 - who knows, actually? - more months of white and more white.

Maroc

2007-06-03T16:14:00.000-06:00

I'm back in France after a couple of weeks in Morocco. What an amazing experience, a feast for all senses. I met amazing people who shared their meals with me, rode on camelback, witnessed a sandstorm, visited the souks with all the goods that are offered, discovered some awesome valleys, not often visited, tried to speak arabic and berbere to the great amusement of many, dreamt of owning donkeys and goats like the people of Ait Bouguemez, filled up my eyes with so many grand and odd sights, my ears with so many different sounds, my nose with such wild smells, tasted food with such powerful spices, touched fabrics and pottery with such puzzling textures... it would take more than a few lines to share it all.
Moroccan people are very welcoming, friendly and smiley, but they are merchants at heart, let's not forget that, so they always have in the back of their mind how to make a few dirhams. That said, their sense of hospitality is grand, they will treat you with the greatest honor for the smallest visit. I had the chance to be the recipient of this a few times, with Youssef, for instance, who is a guide in Ait Benhaddou. He knows my father well. We just dropped by for a moment, he had his wife make mint tea (green tea, mint, sugar) in no time, with a flat bread. One note is that being in a muslim country, women do most of the hard work such as cooking, laundry, field work, wood gathering, etc etc, and it's common to see one or a few bend over under an enormous load of fresh grass, walking back to their house. No need to say they look older than they are. Men get to socialize, be merchants, and relax. I'll leave it up to you to think what you want of it.
The prayer is 5 times a day, so you often hear the muezzin chanting a mesmerizing prayer from a mosk; it can be at noon or 3 in the morning or a few other hours in the day. People try to keep up with it so you may see them pulled over on the side of the road with their little carpet, doing their ups and downs towards Mecca.
The people are absolutely amazing in their ability to work arts and crafts. They can do it all, leather, wood, metal, textiles, plants, it's mind blowing to go in the souks, a lattice-covered maze where you can find a million things for not much, if you know how to bargain. They actually love doing that, a sort of game for them. You can order customized furniture, clothing, jewelry, an oven duct, a metal lamp, a couch, etc. In one instance, my mother wanted to get a special lamp made so we were taken to a part of the souk you would hesitate to step into: deep into some darker alleys, up some tiny and narrow staircase, along some corridors with walls covered with a black patina, that of time and too many hands, and you finally arrive in a shop no larger than twelve square yards, with several men working happily, banging metal, smoking, under the light of a minuscule lamp...
Color is also a wonderful element, I will have to report on this soon.

2007-05-11T14:33:00.000-06:00

Green is vert in French, and I have been choosing often this color in my work lately. I suppose it is fitting in May. I have mixed it with yellow to get the tangy bright green of some buds, and with a touch or red to tame it and warm it, with some blue to refresh it and darken it, and with white for that easter egg pastel color.
I found that green is the color of hope. No wonder. When spring comes along, one feels more hopeful than when a snow storm hits the valley in December. In antique planetary symbolism, it is the color of the planet Venus, an inspiring star. Islam uses green symbolically because green represented paradise to desert-dwelling Bedouin tribes when they gathered at an oasis. Green is used to symbolically represent the fourth chakra (Anahata). And Chartreuse is a color that was named because of its resemblance to the green color of one of the French liqueurs called green chartreuse (which is harsh to drink!).
Everywhere I look, there is green. I feel hopeful, today. Spring's influence, perhaps.
But more than ever, it is nature pulling at me, with its infinite variety of green hues. I want to turn my attention to it, get back in that wide expanse in my heart and mind where that makes me want to breathe large mouthfuls of fresh warm air. I want to inhale that green, and feel its cleansing effect, like drinking a shot of wheatgrass. But since I can't, I will take a brush and play with paint and see where green takes me.

Do it.

2007-05-08T16:44:00.000-06:00

These days, I feel that I need to challenge myself. I complain I don't do much art, and yet I see in my folders all the work I've done and feel proud. Yet, I lack focus. My mind is everywhere with ideas. Often people have commented on my work saying that it looked like different artists' pieces. At least, with discovering acrylic and collage, I have found a better way to express myself, let colors be bright, explore and experience, and my style has refined itself some, evolved too.
My personal challenge is to stop thinking I'm not painting enough and do something about it. Stop envying those around me who do it. Stop finding excuses for not doing it. Simply I must keep doing it. I must find the focus required to become productive. Blogs and websites have been highly insightful and I start seeing what I need to do. I must make art a priority. After my graphic design work, fair enough. But I must stop procrastinating, I must become organized, I must create a leading thread to guide me. If I don't do it, I'll regret it, so the solution is simple and obvious. Do it.