Josh's Sketchbook

[FrogOnAZipline]

This is my gallery of ongoing artwork, crits welcome! I've been painting since high school and stopped during grad school, but now I'm back and ready as ever to really dedicate myself. The first painting is a self portrait, I finished it right before a thunderstorm ruined my light. It's my first attempt using sight-size for a portrait. The rest are color study still lives. I have a latent goal to use every color on my palette!

Self Portrait



Still Life



Still Life 2



Portrait Sketch

[FrogOnAZipline]

This is the newest still life, I used every color on my palette which was one of the goals of the painting. I stopped using sight-size because the paintings started looking the same, it was hard to accent or call attention to different elements and control the composition. I think it works a lot better to eyeball it. Nelson Shanks used to yell at me whenever I would use my brush to measure!

Still life 3



New self-portrait coming in a few weeks!

[GoblinEgg]

nice studies you got there id love to see more from you oh and welcome to CA

[Kanda]

Nice studies, although you could use a little more variety in your work. Also your pencil lines could be a lot smoother, do you draw using your whole arm or just from the wrist? Because you'll get a lot more control over your lines if you use your whole arm. Keep up the good work

[FrogOnAZipline]

Thank you very much for the kind comments Kanda. After looking at the variety in your work I can see why you would say that. And yes I do generally draw with my whole arm, except when I'm drawing fine details. I'll keep what you said in mind

[FrogOnAZipline]

My mascot

[FrogOnAZipline]

Another ironic animal drawing.

[FrogOnAZipline]

Recent self portraits. I ask myself if I'm improving. It seems to vary day by day.

[xNatje]

I really like the last selfportrait. maybe you could define a bit the face shape on the dark side of the face?
I also like your paintings. Is it acrylic or oils?

[FrogOnAZipline]

Here is a portrait of Sarah. She puts up with me.

[FrogOnAZipline]

Here's what I've been concocting for the last several months. I started the Bargue drawing course, and have been faithfully working on it daily for the past two months. I've started painting from casts also. I can't recommend the Bargue course enough, it has totally changed my art.

Rusty



Ear plaster cast painting



Self Portrait

[FrogOnAZipline]

A group of Bargue copies

[FrogOnAZipline]

Here is a side by side comparison of a portrait of Sarah two months ago and now, post-Bargue practice.



And a scene from my new series about alien octopi that invade Earth called Biofall.

[FrogOnAZipline]

Hearing Aid, a portrait. 14 x 14 inches.

[argaelie]

Very nice paintings! I wish I could have classes and do something like that

[FrogOnAZipline]

Thanks argaelie, I'm trying to improve, I appreciate the support. I'm not taking any classes, but I hope to take workshops this summer. As far as self-teaching I recommend the Bargue drawing course, it really helps with drawing proportions and shading.

[FrogOnAZipline]

Scene 3 from the Biofall series.



Finished painting

[BoxOfSecrets]

Dude your stuff is awesome! I'd like to see more pencil studies. Keep goin!

[Yemi775]

nice man! i envy you on the traditional paintings!