Journey of an Absolute Rookie: Paintings and Sketches

[J.Peckham]

This is amazing!! I remember when you started this thread. I just started coming back here and get into drawing again. You have improved so much, it's really impressive.

[Crash]

http://i75.imagethrust.com/i/526988/sc00c231c4.jpg

And who the fuck are you?

^_^

[MasterArtisan]

Hey everyone!

I would just like to let MindCandyMan know that he has been a big inspiration to me! Thanks!

In light of that revelation, I have started my own blog to do the same thing MindCandyMan has done here.

I am an animation student at BYU and I want to log my progress over the next three years.

So, please visit my blog http://camltaylor.blogspot.com, and by all means, please leave your comments and suggestions!

[draw]

WTF is going on with people spamming this awesome thread?


MCM Please post

[Krysiak]

Hey, I just have to say that I'm really glad I found this thread... I've ALWAYS wanted to learn to draw and have been told by numerous people, "Drawing is a skill you have, not a skill you learn. Some people can draw, others can't. That's all there is to it." But now I see that it's possible with hard work and dedication. I didn't read the whole thread, because I just don't have the time to right now, but I read the first 5 pages and the last few pages to see where you started and where you ended. I just have a few questions for any one who knows... I dont really have access to drawing classes at a school or anything like that, are there any good lessons on line I could use? any good exercises or something along those lines? I really want to learn this and will put however much time is needed into it. I dont want to deter this thread from it's original purpose so if any one has anything that might help me, you can just send a private message (if this forum has them...) or email me, thank you again. and I'm really impressed with this site.

[feeesh]

dude, so I took a look at the first few pages of this SB and then the last few, hooooooly mackerel you've gotten so good! These still lifes are frikkin excellent man, such great texture on everything, there was one wuite a ways back with some grapes and while a small part of the pic, I kep eyeing those grapes. Such a great texture and specular on those, I guess its my 3D side coming into play there, heheh. No critiques from me and youve hear all the praise. Just keep crankin' as I look forward to more beautiful work from you!

[MindCandyMan]

one2hit - Thanks man! I do paint figures...but sadly all the models have been cancelling lately. But I have a new crop of models coming in soon so that's good!

cartoonfox - Thanks! It's definitely unbelievable for me...it's so weird to have all this catalogued. I'm not only a different painter...I'm a different person than I was back then.

vctr - Thanks! Those reflections were annoying...It didn't look right until the very last stroke...then I stepped back and thought...hmm I think that works. But up until that point I was plodding forward blindly hehe.

blanquish - Thanks! I'm glad I could at least give back a little of what I've received from the art community and specifically the conceptart community. Page 50...man...maybe I will keep posting hehe.

pennington - Anytime...but it's I who should thank you guys. I wouldn't be an artist without all the encouragement.

shyamshriram - Thanks! I'll try to keep inspiring. Can't promise anything though ehehe...but I'll do my best.

Reckless - haha thanks...man I don't look at those first pages anymore...horrible hehehe

m@. - Thanks man...respect right back at ya

MasterOfChaos - Thanks man. I definitely don't feel I deserve the praise though. My wife deserves more than me for putting with all this stuff hehehe. I'm just trying to get better. Still doing the same thing hehe...that's the fun part for sure.

Jelly_Donut - Thanks man. It's definitely been a long road...but a fun one too.

Slash - hahah...not quite sure what to say to that

Asoir - Hope you're not disappointed heheheh

MrBobMarley - Thanks man hehe...that was definitely someone else's thread hehehe. I am definitely like the fat guy with the subs! That's awesome heheh.

Nallen - Yeah I think that was me...I think so hehehe. Could be someone else though. But I did post one up at some point. I did three bargue drawings at the atelier that I went to. Some of the students skipped one bargue drawing but I had to do three (I needed it hehe). Bargues are definitely a great way to learn the beginning aspects of drawing. The goal is to make PERFECT duplicates of those bargues though. Almost like creating a forgery...except you are giving the original artist credit hehe. Keep going with those bargues they will serve you well. I am working faster and faster lately. I'm definitely leaning more toward the alla prima style of working. Thanks again for the kind words man and keep up that drawing!

Dile - Thanks man

bounchfx - Thanks! I'm actually working on a book idea and I might self publish it through lulu.com or something. I'm not quite sure at this point. But I'm kicking around the idea. I think you are right as well about school being whatever you make it. Some ateliers are really good and some are really bad it just depends. But if you want to learn to draw from life really well (which is the foundation of all good drawing in my opinion) than an atelier would be the way to go. If you are ever in Texas lemme know...I have room for another student in my studio right now . Even if you can't go to an atelier though study their methods and you can duplicate with self study. It's a lot harder but it's better than not going at all. And above all...don't ever stop drawing/painting Thanks again for the kind words!

J.Peckham - Thanks! It's always so hard for me to judge my progress...I know I'm better than when I first started...but I'm nowhere near where I need to be. That's the fun part of it though I guess...if it was easy it wouldn't be too fun hehe.

crash - hahah hilarious dude heheh

MasterArtisan - Hey man good to hear that this thread inspired you. You should start a thread here on conceptart.org so people can follow you on here. Start one in the sketchbook thread.

draw - hahah ...sweet I got to use that one heheh. Your wish is granted...poof

Krysiak - Thanks for posting...drawing is definitely not a skill you have. Are some people naturally better at it...well yeah...anyone that has seen the massive black guys work can say that...they are all exceptionally talented people. But to say someone is born with the skill is just crap. Are people born with the ability to ride bikes?...every bmx rider had to learn to ride a bike at some point...and if they didn't practice they would stink. Don't listen to any of that crap...don't worry about whether you have talent or not. There is no way to know if you ever have talent...other people decide that later about you...just draw/paint with everything you have in you and it will work itself out. Don't let people tell you that you can't earn a living in art...that's just as much crap. Whenever someone says anything like that just say to them, "Oh lemme see your drawings"...or "So you know some artists who tried to make money and couldn't?"....then you will see that they have no stinkin clue what they are talking about. Glad this thread could help man.

feeesh - Thanks man. Yeah that wine and grapes painting was fun to do. Those grapes were dying on me so I had to paint them fast hehe. Was definitely fun. Thanks for the kind words man. I will definitely keep crankin.

---------------------------------------------


Ok guys so I have no excuses for why it has been so long since I last posted, except to say that I have been really busy (Whatever that means right hehe). But I wanted to give you guys an update. I've moved since I last posted and I've setup a new studio with north light. Here are some pictures of the studio:





It's a north light studio and it actually took me a while to get the lighting setup right because normally a north light studio has nice high sources of light...but you take what you can get right. Carl Dobsky did an amazing painting in front of me by the light of a normal lamp so I can't make any excuses heheh. I have actually been struggling a lot lately. I am going through this phase right now where I am transitioning into building MY body of work as opposed to completing projects at an atelier. It's weird and hard to explain but I am experimenting a lot. I have scraped off 4 or 5 paintings in the last month or two out of frustration because it isn't what I want to do. I'm re-evaluating everything I am used to doing...breaking myself down in order to build it back up again. I definitely definitely leaning more towards alla prima work now...thicker paint, etc... I love tonalist work very much but for my own work I am leaning in a different direction. Maybe none of this is evident to you guys...maybe it looks just as boring as it used to heheh...but I am trying to transition into a different working style that suits my desires better and it's really frustrating hehe. I've had a lot of failures in the past couple months. But that's the nature of the journey...some rough periods I guess.

I also have some good updates though hehe. Recently I was accepted into a juried contest in port arthur, TX called the "Gulf Coast National Juried Art Competition" and also into an online-based contest called the "American Juried Art Salon". I am also now working with two galleries...Principle Gallery in Alexandria, VA and The Norwood Flynn Gallery here in Texas. I have six students that I teach now. I have one traditional atelier student Mike Jastram (jkior on conceptart.org) and 5 other students taking private lessons. I put a page up on my site for Mike that you can view here:

http://www.jonathanhardesty.com/students.php

He finished that eye cast painting while he was here with me and he has finished a bunch of other really good ones too.

Also there is an article published about me at Amateur illustrator.com ...Here is the link for anyone who is interested. It's about this thread!

http://www.amateurillustrator.com/articles/?p=92

At any rate I will post up some paintings that I think you guys haven't seen...so take a look. I am gonna post whatever I have available and, I promise, I will take pictures of more stuff and post it hehe.





These next pics are of a painting that I am working on now...I have changed the composition around a bit and I am actually almost done so I will update when I have finished...but wanted to give you an idea of what I was doing.





I will update with more later guys sorry!

jon

[Lukias]

Jesus mate, thats nuts.. let me be another echo in this hall of praises.. yee be a mighty force yee be, to weild a brush with such lushy goodness.
I'll line dance to that last one.. a larger version perhaps?. Seriously its masterfull. Teethy reflections in varnished mahogany of joy.

[Bojee]

Your rippin it up over here Jon, beautiful work. I'm kinda partial to skulls so I really like the last one. What do you think about when you set up a still life?? Sorry if you've already said this.

[MindCandyMan]

Lukias - Hahah...thanks man. I will definitely post a larger version when it's all done with closeups and such. What have you been up to these days?

Bojee - Hey man! What have you been up to? I'm definitely partial to skulls as well...so much fun to paint. Hmmm...what do I think about with the still lifes. Well it usually starts with something that I find appealing...whether that be the colors, texture, etc... and so I build a still life around that. Then I just start throwing stuff in and messing with the composition. I have this little viewfinder thingee that I can check different compositions with and so that's helpful for getting different ideas. But some important things I think about is where you want the viewers eye to go. What will they look at first, second, etc... If you can it's best to make a painting that will keep their interest...in other words won't lead them off of the canvas...unless that's your intention. But after my composition is in place then I think about where I wanted the viewer to look and I start painting there first. It takes a lot of patience and skill to work from a point of focus outward with a only a compositional line drawing to guide you. Every stroke has to be right but I basically work from that attention spot outward. The rest of the painting will be less and less detailed the further away it goes. There's so many things to think about but I hope that at least gives some answer.
_______________

I almost forgot to post this drawing up guys...I just wanted to prove to everyone that I actually do draw from my head once in a while heheh. I did this while I was at my brother's work with him visiting. We were talking about our old office jobs and how we hated them with so much of a passion...so I started doodling hehe. My brother called this "9 to 5" heheh...it's definitely how I felt after a day's work in an office.

[Johann de Venecia]

The skull painting looks great! Always inspiring to browse through your book. All the best!

[ArtZealot]

I'm lovin that painting of the goatskull dude. looking great. It looks more 3d than the picture. keep up the good work.

[rblitz7]

DUDE! the last paintings are fuckin good man! keep it up!

[Victor B]

Damn! thanks for the update jon, great to hear you're up and running Mike's stuff is looking nice.But man that last still life is looking sweet. Good to hear you still pushing yourself in new directions, even thou its frustrating. Hope to see you post more like some finished shots of that skull!

[S.C. Watson]

Hey MCM,

Absolutley *love* the still lifes! Beautiful!

~Shane

[blanquish]

absolutely brilliant mate, words cannot comprehend how much you your journey means to me.
YOU inspired me in the first place, and to that I am truly thankful, to you and CA!
I would love for you to keep posting, each new picture, painting or doodle spurs me on.
Those paintings are brilliant!
Best of luck

[Lukias]

painting man.. a fair bit of it in fact. I'm working towards my first solo exhibtion in December. Should post a swath of oil piece probably before it opens... so towards the end of November. Obviously being a big fan of oils as you are, I hope you like whats in store.
Happy painting!.

[lloorrdd]

great!

[Seedling]

MindcandyMan - Holy wow! Your sketchbook is a monument to dedication! My hat is off to you.

[Cam Sykes]

I have recently rekindled my passion for art, painting and illustration, after reviewing all the pages of your sketchbook for the last 4 hours it has really put my head in the right place.
I do grahic design but I felt my creativity was becoming stagnant, but from your process I've realised I jsut need to get back to the fundamentals and my creativity should flow from that.
a refined book of this would be inspiration for a broader audience, definately.

[Fishspawn]

Your journey has been very inspiring to me as I struggle on my own journey. This book itself is quite a work of art, showing such dedication and progress. I look forward to your journey from here!

[Lee W]

whenever I need inspiration and motivation, I just have to look in this sketchbook it reminds me the virtues of studying hard and strong dedication.

[TomteOfDoom]

The level you've attained in real-life drawing/painting is truly amazing. And while It's encouraging and inspiring to see how far you've gotten as an artist overall, I'm still waiting to be equally amazed by your concept based work.

But man the distance you've travelled in such a timeframe and such a way, I have no doubt you're gonna blow my mind one day.

Truly inspiring thread.

[Bojee]

Jon- hey bro, thanks again for the notes on your process, point of interest outward, very helpful.
Love to see more of what your up to when you get a chance.

[draw]

MCM - love the new works and the site, I was wondering if you could recommend any books on painting that might help someone unable to gain insights through an atelier training. For example how do you choose a palette for each still life. Lighting set ups etc. I have been drawing for a while now but have little idea with painting as I am relatively untrained. Any insight would be appreciated. thanks

-mark

[neonnik]

wow, great progression! Paintings and drawings are excellent!

[Dizon]

Hey, Jon

I haven't seen this thread for a very looong time now, but the recent stuff posted here are damn good.

I'm just curious, are you still sight-sizing nowadays?

[Bard]

Hello Jonathan,

I would like say say that this is very inspiring stuff! And you are one of the reasons of me dropping everything and want to learn again from scratch. Probably the same time you first entered school at your atelier is the same time I dropped out of college, because, well... I wasn't drawing Wolverine. The first few pagesof your journey sums up what I was learning then and figured I don't want to draw silly cubes. Again mistake.
Sorry, don't want to sound like a love letter..
But this thread is so great!!

I enrolled in our museum here for some basic painting lessons and bought books. I have Helen Van Wyk's books that seems to help. Hope you crit my stuff when I post my paintings, tha'd be a delight!


Cheers!

Read the stuff... Thanks for the info on Schmids book..Leffel and the Maroger!!

[nightfall]

This entire thread...well lets just say it was a fantastic idea, and proof that as long as you stay dedicated and work hard it pays off. Absolutely fantastic.

[Trashy]

Wow...this is just truly inspiring. I'm speechless on how much your sketchbook means to me. Wow...