Squishy's log type thingy.

[Cordyk]

That's cracking that is Squish m'darlin! What counts is that airbrush is in your hand and painting so how can that be a fail, you have already got a pic up as promised for this month now so everything else now is a bonus, as long as your painting, your growing as an artist...nuff said

I still have yet to paint owt serious yet this month as I'm still drawing out my comp piece...damn this one is a tricky one, I keep adding stuff to the drawing, god knows if I can actually paint it!!!

 

[Squishy]

Squishy, there is nothing wrong with a quickie! (subliminal hint thrown to wife) :devilish:
I think it looks great! Hell, I am slacking, I haven't even created my log thingy yet.

Lol! Hope you do do (heh, I said doo doo) a log (hmmm doo dooo and then log, I really have the mental capacity of a 5 year old). Anyway, it's early days, but it's helping me having some self inflicted goals to aim for, and keep me on track. So if think it could help, you should definitely do one.

Is that 100% airbrushed or did you use a paint brush as well? I am looking at the hair basically...

Yeah you got me Lol! When I was doing the kind of wrinkled effect on the leather straps, and the lines in the denim, I noticed that the paint was kind of bouncing off the surface of the canvas, which didn't matter in those areas, but I knew I wanted the hair to be straight and crisp. I thought about making little stencils, but as it was a quickie, cheated and pulled out a brush. But, I never do this, and as my hand is as steady as jelly (jel-O?) on a jack hammer, wish I'd kept to the airbrush. Oh well, you live and learn I guess.

 

[Squishy]

That's cracking that is Squish m'darlin! What counts is that airbrush is in your hand and painting so how can that be a fail, you have already got a pic up as promised for this month now so everything else now is a bonus, as long as your painting, your growing as an artist...nuff said

I still have yet to paint owt serious yet this month as I'm still drawing out my comp piece...damn this one is a tricky one, I keep adding stuff to the drawing, god knows if I can actually paint it!!!

Cheers Kev! I've drawn out my comp piece, although I haven't gone as detailed as I'd like with all the bio mech due to time restrictions, as I want to be able to get it finished. It's the actual portrait part that's worrying me. I'm really not confident at doing that, I've only done a couple of portraits before, and they were colour. This one will probably be monotone, so a massive challenge, which I guess is the point of the whole thing. Can't wait to get started painting it tomorrow, just hope the surface I have is ok. Got given some mounting board, and hopefully it won't be too porous to use. So looking forward to seeing everyone's ideas!!!!

 

[jgny1]

Lol! Hope you do do (heh, I said doo doo) a log (hmmm doo dooo and then log, I really have the mental capacity of a 5 year old). Anyway, it's early days, but it's helping me having some self inflicted goals to aim for, and keep me on track. So if think it could help, you should definitely do one.

Yeah you got me Lol! When I was doing the kind of wrinkled effect on the leather straps, and the lines in the denim, I noticed that the paint was kind of bouncing off the surface of the canvas, which didn't matter in those areas, but I knew I wanted the hair to be straight and crisp. I thought about making little stencils, but as it was a quickie, cheated and pulled out a brush. But, I never do this, and as my hand is as steady as jelly (jel-O?) on a jack hammer, wish I'd kept to the airbrush. Oh well, you live and learn I guess.

Whatever it takes to make it look good right. :eagerness:

 

[Squishy]

So I finished my comp piece, and by doing that I have kept all my log promises. Even remembered photos!!!! Woo Hoo! And though the surface I used sucked (mounting board - a bit absorbent, doesn't erase, or cope with masking), and even though I messed up after 20 mins (couldn't erase as absorbent, and had no other board) I was determined to have an entry. So I stuck with it, and am glad I did. I'd never done a mono portrait before, and only 2 colour ones, so quickly realized I need to learn how to do them, as I discovered, I can't LOL! So the comp has already helped by showing me an area I need to work on. Really looking forward to seeing everyone else's so I can see what I should have done ha, ha! Anyway, I'm happy with the design (would change a few things in retrospect), if not the execution, and best of all, despite what I think, my husband loves it, and want to frame it, so as far as I'm concerned it was well worth the effort to have a happy chappy. And who knows I might even get my first ever vote - although in all honesty, it's not very likely, and I've already got so much from painting this that it doesn't really matter. I would be over the moon though Lol! Just have to live up to this effort next month now, when I have to motivate myself without the comp to spur me on.

 

[Squishy]

Decided on what Novembers painting is going to be. This log thingy really is keeping me focused. So with my promise to myself to work on my own designs, and move toward fantasy, and, after looking through Marissa's new site and absolutely loving her fantasy art, I've come up with an idea. It will be heavily influenced by Marissa, and the method I've used to design it, hasn't come straight through my pencil, but has come out of my brain, so it should hopefully result in an original painting, even if it's not an original idea. I knew what picture I wanted to create, and had an image of it in my head. Then I spent ages scouring the internet for images, trying to picture how the different parts I wanted would fit together. I don't know how to use photoshop or anything, so I went old school. I chose half a dozen or so of the images I thought would work, printed them out to the right scale, and then basically made a collage, using parts from each one, until I made it as close to the picture that I had in my mind as I could. Then I made notes on it for little things I want to add in, colour changes, little tweaks, shadows etc, that will hopefully make it into exactly what I want as I go along. And that is now the ref for my November project. Hopefully as I paint it, it will all blend together and look like one piece. I haven't sat down with a blank piece of paper and drawn it up from scratch, so can I really say I designed it? Probably not, but it's a step in the right direction I think. I am going to try to remember to take pics as I go along, (I'm rubbish at remembering to take 'em) and will include my ref pic, but not until after it's completed, as I get a bit jinxy about posting things before they are finished. But good or bad I will post the results to see what did, or didn't work out. Really looking forward to starting it now, just need to buy some decent board to paint it on, and then I'll be off. If I don't finish it in November, then I will post as far as I get, but I'll try my best. I may have some bikes to work on too, which I also love doing, but trying the fantasy painting is going to be just for me.

 

[Cordyk]

Nice one Trish
Even if you are printing out images the whole design of your pic will be your own creativeness, and that's wicked mate!
The hard part is getting it to look as it does in your own head ha ha, but that's the challenging part and each time you push yourself to be creative, each time you will improve and so will your confidence.
The rewards for creating something from your nogging are far greater than those you get from just doing a straight copy as we do most of the time, just keep on going what your doing, we all know you got the skills with the AB even if you do believe it some times

 

[Squishy]

Thanks Kev :watermelon:. You're a sweetie. I'm not sure that actually creating some of the things in my bonce is a good idea LOL, but this idea is actually quite sweet and girly - for me anyway. I do have some pencil drawings that I'd like to try eventually, but thought it would be easier having something a bit more substantial to work from for now. I have a dubious theory that being creative is a habit you can get into, and that the more you try and do it , the more creative you can be. Probably a load of old bollards, but it's as good a place to start as any I reckon.

 

[Squishy]

Ok, well November has been a bit of a fail as far as ABing goes. I'm not going to beat myself up about it as my granny has been in hospital, (fortunately the reaper walked on by this time and she's now back home) , my husbands job is on the line (he finds out next week) and he's made himself ill over it, and my youngest daughter split from her fiancé and has moved back home. So not much to report paintwise. I have started he background of my fantasy pic, but with everything going on wasn't feeling it. On a happier note I have got a couple of commissions, a helmet, which if the customer likes, he will want his bike, and possibly is brothers, done too, plus repair job to a bike I painted a while back that fell over and got damaged. So that could keep me busy for a while, meaning my fantasy painting will have to be worked on as and when I can. I am determined to finish it, so it will end up here, just not as soon as I intended. Any way going to add my comp entry, and a couple of experiments with samples of E'tac sepia, schoellershamer 4g, and schoellershammer No4 airbrush paper, so it looks I 've done something LOL! And the comp and the little dragon are my design so I have managed to keep to some of my goals, the eye is base on an internet pic,that I messed with and changed up a bit, and the All Star Challenge was exactly that, a challenge Lol.

 

[mrsuthern]

Very nice for not feeling it! Love that eye! And the dragon! and the hydro lighter! Good job on the bio-mech too... will just have to give points on your talent on that though. The whole bio-mech thing just creeps me out too much.

Glad to hear that G-ma is back home... good luck to the hubby.... as far as daughter goes...put her on daddy health duty since she is home to free up your time ! That whole give back thing.

I understand the not feeling it. I am not sure if its the daylight savings time change or what but man I can't seem to keep any energy these days. The most I have managed is meager pencil drawing of an eye myself. I did figure out though if I listen to Pandora Radio with the created station of Lord of the Rings it will get you good and mellowed and inspired.... ok .... well it does me. I also listen to it when I manage to play a little bit of Guild Wars 2. Which in a comical way can effect you perspective on the game in some comedic fashion. Nothing like burning a boss character down and mid fight you hear the dramatic music from a tragic point from the movie. Almost makes you quit hitting buttons for a moment in sympathy.....almost. Might want to check out some of those games or at least some screen shots of them. I play them now just to get screen shots for future ideas on AB'ing. Guild Wars 2 has some awesomely beautiful and surreal landscapes and characters!

So put you on some Lord of the Rings Radio on Pandora and get inspired!!! or for more biomech stuff.... try Dubstep.

 

[Squishy]

Lord of the Rings Radio!!!!!!!!! I didn't know such a thing existed!!!!!!!!! So Happy!!!!!! Definitely need to get my energy back, I have a little sign to do so hopefully that will loosen me up and get me back into the swing of things. Doing some drawings is a good idea too, to keep things flowing, so I should take a leaf out of your book for sure. Thanks Mr Suthern and for your lovely PM too.

 

[Squishy]

Thanks to facebook, am starting a helmet next week, in a steampunk style. If the guy likes it he wants his whole bike done too, which should be fun. Also his brother, has already penciled me in to get his bike done sometime in the new year. He met someone a show, whose bike I painted a while ago, got my name and found me on facebook. Its amazing how things can get around. Then last night at a party, a lady who had seen some of the demo work I had on display at a bike club, asked me if I would do some work for her. It amazes me that people want me to work for them, and seem so thankful when I agree to do it. I explain that I'm not professional, but it doesn't seem to matter much. Usually I think it's the fact that I'm cheaper that makes them choose me, but I haven't discussed prices yet. That might put them off LOL. I just find it very humbling if someone asks me to do something for them, so I hope I can make them happy. The next few months could be very busy, although I can't see me getting too much done in December, parties to go to, alchohol to drink, dinners to scoff, oh, and Christmas Lol!

 

[mrsuthern]

Nice... you deserve the work coming your way. Your bikes paintings are very well done!

Hope that music station helped a little!

 

[splasha]

I think we, as a group, tend to be probably our own worst critics.
We look at our works and pick 'em over. We could have done this a different way or should have used this colour or that colour.
We didn't put enough? detail in or we left out something that would have made it better? [How?]
I enjoy what I create. That should be enough.

 

[Rados19]

Oh my God, squishy!! You just described me to a tee (minus the air guitar thing). I think that confidence and apprehension to just dive into a project are my two biggest faults. I used to draw quite a bit when I was younger, and I would look at a drawing as I was doing it and say to myself, "that doesn't look good", and not finish it (or I would get distracted by a spider crawling across the floor:dispirited. Needless to say, years later, I would go through my drawings and say, "Why didn't I finish that. It looks pretty cool." Being my own worst critic has caused me to shoot myself in the foot way to often. Right now as I'm typing this, I am putting off diving into a project that I NEED to get done asap, for the reasons previously mentioned. I think that most of us can relate. BTW, I don't agree with your statement that you may never be able to paint as well as your idols. From what I see, you may not think you're capable, but I believe that you are.

 

[Squishy]

Nice... you deserve the work coming your way. Your bikes paintings are very well done!

Hope that music station helped a little!

Thanks mr! I always get a bit nervous before doing paid stuff, cos you have to hope your interpretation matches the clients expecations, but I enjoy it once I get going. Great station!

I think we, as a group, tend to be probably our own worst critics.
We look at our works and pick 'em over. We could have done this a different way or should have used this colour or that colour.
We didn't put enough? detail in or we left out something that would have made it better? [How?]
I enjoy what I create. That should be enough.

Thanks splasha. I enjoy creating things, but tend to find things I think I could have done better, rather than focus on how good something came out over all. I need to re train my brain.

Oh my God, squishy!! You just described me to a tee (minus the air guitar thing). I think that confidence and apprehension to just dive into a project are my two biggest faults. I used to draw quite a bit when I was younger, and I would look at a drawing as I was doing it and say to myself, "that doesn't look good", and not finish it (or I would get distracted by a spider crawling across the floor:dispirited. Needless to say, years later, I would go through my drawings and say, "Why didn't I finish that. It looks pretty cool." Being my own worst critic has caused me to shoot myself in the foot way to often. Right now as I'm typing this, I am putting off diving into a project that I NEED to get done asap, for the reasons previously mentioned. I think that most of us can relate. BTW, I don't agree with your statement that you may never be able to paint as well as your idols. From what I see, you may not think you're capable, but I believe that you are.

Lol, Rados, I'm glad to know I'm not the only one. I have stuff I NEED to do too, and am getting myself worked up to do it. It's almost like I have to do it, so I do, but need that little bit of pressure to give me the kick up the butt needed to actually get started. Thanks for your kind words, guess we all need to believe in ourselves a bit more sometimes. Not that I want to encourage any more distraction, but if I'm feeling fidgety, a bit of air guitar does the trick and helps settle me down. That's my excuse anyway, and I'm sticking to it LOL!

 

[splasha]

Lol! I must agree with the need to re-train the brain!
IMHO, we must believe in us, have faith we can and then go forward and achieve.

 

[CALz AyrWKz]

You keep working on your own designs, Squish. I think your biomech comp is killer and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your little dragons. Reading this thread, I believe we all have the same difficulties with our own artwork. I had a real tough time to push myself to start my first hood project. You've done a lot of bikes, tell me, does it get easier over time? Your bike projects have all been killer as well. So its no surprise people are looking for you to paint for them. I'm glad the work is coming in for you. Keep on doing your thing girl!!

 

[WhiteKnight]

Happy your getting famous in your neck of the woods Hope you will have hours of fun painting those bikes.

 

[Squishy]

December!

A bit late posting this, but hey ho! Not a vey productive month AB wise, although I did do this http://www.airbrushforum.org/works-progress-finished-artworks/8123-steampunk-lid.html and even remembered to take a few pics (wonders will never cease!) It's been cleared and polished now, but reverting to type, haven't got pics of that yet Lol! Must remember to tae some before it's owner gets it back.
The only other thing I did was draw up the design for my paintpal pic. Without giving too much away, I was able to stick to two of my goals. Thank god for paint pals keeping me on track LOL.

So being it's the start of a new year, I had a look back at some of the things I've done in 2013, and I have to say, I'm quietly pleased with myself. I feel that I can actually see some progress, so with luck (and a following wind,) if I can continue that this year, and stick to my log aims, I should be a fair way along the road, and getting closer to where I'd like to be! Here's hoping away!

And I will hopefully be able to look back at some pinstriping, as I got some stuff for Christmas. So far It has been a massive fail LOL. I will be posting my efforts in that department here too, well, we all need good laugh right? I think it's something that will take as much commitment to learning as ABing, so I'm not expecting instant results. Imagine a four year old with some poster paint, and a brush that looks like it was once the hair of an old punk rocker, and that's pretty much where I'm at LOL LOL LOL! It's going to be an "interesting" ride I think! Bring on2014!