New Paintings

I finished these two paintings the other night. There's a third, but I'm not as excited about it as these two. Both are 5x7 inches and made using acrylic, crafting/distressing paint. They are both based off a series of sketches I had from my monster/creature series. I did these sketches years ago, and this is the first time I've attempted giving them life by adding texture and colour. Rather than just being smudgy graphite drawings from my imagination, and being crowded with other creatures this gives them personalities, stories; reasons they exist. I've included the sketches before the paintings. As you can see their recent incarnations are completely different (at least in my eyes) then their original! Also, if you're interested the prints are available via my Deviant Art page. The links are located in the descriptions underneath the paintings, or you can just head on over to my DA page (link will be at the bottom of this post).



So, this is Austin. For years I never saw him as this brown furry creature, but I have always noticed an intelligence to him. For me he is donning a lab apron--I think knowledge is his best friend (perhaps his only). Not that he isn't a great "guy" but he's quiet, matter of fact, and would rather make time for his scientific endeavours than to hang out at the pub with friends. However, I see him as a sort of bohemian. He can be artist/creative and unconventional. I assume the "feelers" on top his head are receptors--acting as antennae, and this how he's able to absorb and retain his knowledge.
(http://www.deviantart.com/print/11636717/?utm_source=DA&utm_medium=DP&utm_campaign=DA_DP_BuyThisPrint-Bottom_121009&utm_content=BuyThisPrint-Bottom)



Unfortunately this frozen creature hasn't given me a name yet. Perhaps the being encased in layers of ice in a dark tundra has made it difficult to communicate. I've joked how this is an animal self-portrait because I'm cold all the time! I don't actually think that, but I can empathize with this fellow. As far as the transition from sketch to painting goes, I didn't see this creature as frozen, or a ghost, until I prepped the canvas. I originally sketched it on a white canvas, and then painted the background black. That's where the idea of it being a spirit came in. I tried giving it a bit of a glowing aura affect, but that wasn't working for me or for the creature. I was painting it blue and just decided to go from there--adding different hues of white and blue and thus it became frozen. Some day I'll be able to break through that icy exterior and find out who this creature was. (http://www.deviantart.com/print/11636798/?utm_source=DA&utm_medium=DP&utm_campaign=DA_DP_BuyThisPrint-Bottom_121009&utm_content=BuyThisPrint-Bottom)

There is my last couple of days worth of work. I have alot of other canvases to smatter with my mind (and paint). So, expect some more updates sooner rather than later. Today I am excited to go see a chiropractor. Hunched over a table painting all day does not do wonders for my back. If you'd like to take a gander at my Deviant Art Page please visit here: http://eraserhappy.deviantart.com/