New Year New Space

Happy New Year to everyone! Thank you for stopping by. I'm honored by your visits to my site, which inspires me to keep working on my art. Hopefully, in 2025, I will have the means and the chance to upgrade my website to something cooler and more visually striking at a higher professional level. You deserve better, and I deserve better.  

An 11 x 11 ft room is soon vacating where we live and will be ceded to me. This is right to set up a more formal studio space. Not only that, but this is also my chance to start a small business. I'm 57, and this may be my last opportunity to do art and make some money. 

I'm considering making small, hand-painted resin sculptures with limited reproductions—maybe 15-20 for more exclusivity. Of course, I'm already drawing and painting, which will be included in the studio productions. I would also like to buy a laser engraver, a 3D printing machine, and a T-shirt printer for future products. 

Shipping is also important, so I must design boxes, labels, specialty tapes, thank-you cards, and other items.

I'm thankful to all of you, but first, I am grateful to God for allowing me to continue doing what I love in 2025. I hope this will be a great year.     

Polymer Clay came to me

 We celebrated last night, the so-called "Noche Buena." We were playing the white elephant game. Pick one gift from a pile of the 26 mystery boxes we had, according to your lucky number. My number was 10. When it was my turn, I chose a small box that contained, coincidentally, the only art materials out of that pile. That was very significant for me, like a sign from above. No one challenged my pick, so I kept a box of 48 tiny polymer clay sticks. Now, that reminded me that I have a bunch of clay-sculpture materials in my garage, so after receiving this set, the best I can do with this gift is use it for something interesting. I'm not letting this go to waste. I still don't know exactly what I want to do with it, but it could be some incense burners, fake plants in tiny pots, or even some animation. For starters, if I really do animation, it could be something relatively simple, probably two-dimensional, or if I get truly engaged, I might do something more complex, like wire-animated puppets. I'll do voiceovers for the characters if I'm in the mood. We'll see. The critical point here is to keep me completely busy and not have time to get anxious or depressed.

The Fender Dreadnought has arrived

 I received the acoustic Fender and purchased the tuner thingy, but I didn't need it. I tuned by ear and tuned perfectly. 

I already want to change to a nylon string set, or at least the first three strings. 

Of course, I must now buy intermediate guitar lessons, mostly to learn more complicated tunes. Good thing YouTube has plenty of backing tracks, so I can play songs with proper background music. 

After testing the guitar, I felt my hands were very sloppy; I became slower and clearly unskilled, so I must practice before playing something semi-acceptable. 

As an illustrator/artist, my main distraction was gaming, which was not very productive. I'm taking my own advice and doing something healthier, newer, and better—something I never completed: learning or re-learning guitar. I will gladly torture you with my future guitar videos. 

Egg Identifiers for Keto

 If this is your first time visiting my blog, I follow a keto-style diet, and one problem that comes with it is identifying the regular eggs and the hard-boiled ones. My wife only marked them with a Sharpie until I realized that drawing on eggs was like, yeah, why not? So, I started doing some quick doodles to know which is which. It totally works. The ones in the image are hard-boiled. This is where their personality comes from. 

Concentric Artwork

 This is my first cautious and even shy attempt to combine my illustration ideas with geometry. I used fine-point markers and graphite, avoiding solid coloring for now. I'd like to see how it looks and learn how to extract the geometry behind a composition. I had to look hard and discover something: an axis and two concentric circles.

This is acceptable to me now. I will go much bolder with my subsequent works. I assessed the risks, the possibilities, and the mechanics of the compass used in this paper. Puncturing with the compass needle very precisely is vital for each additional line. In this case, the work was more experimental than planned. I know ideas will start coming now with anticipation.

Next Artwork and new Tools

I've considered adding some geometry to my work for the past two weeks. I've been holding off because each work might require more detail and longer to color, but it may be worth it. If you have seen my previous illustrations/artwork, you will see the same style now, with an underlying geometric structure in the background. I may also add very subtle colors to the geometry. The idea is to cover the whole area of the paper with art, not just isolated hands holding an object.

I purchased a couple of compasses from Mr. Pen to start experimenting with this new idea. The first work will be my hand holding a pastel pencil. 

Since my previous airbrushed work (Poblano Pepper) wasn't to my entire liking, I'm holding off on airbrushing until I purchase more appropriate artboards. I'm also buying a regular ink airbrush, airbrushing inks, and many other related items, like cleaning supplies and area ventilators.

By the way, I just purchased an acoustic Fender. It's my own Christmas gift. Since I want to cope better with my stress and anxiety, I'm quitting gaming. Yes, I used to play heavily on my iPad, but now I feel like gaming does not add much peace; it adds more stress and tension. Gaming is a cool way to keep your reflexes sharp, but I don't know; maybe playing some music will help me build a healthier distraction. Music is not something I pursue actively; it's just a hobby, but even if it's just a simple hobby, I will try to do it well.

Completed Poblano Pepper

 I like the results, and it looks much better in person, but working with paper is too restrictive and risks ruining the work by applying too many humid mediums. Next time, I'm switching to the thicker, more solid artboards. I guess that after this, I'm stopping airbrushing for now and retaking pastels again.

Text Progress

 This post comes with a technical warning. After several applications of spray fixative, I've noticed how the mixed-media paper became brittle and slightly deformed. This happened after I applied the fourth spray layer to protect the finished text. 

The lesson is to try to complete masking and airbrushing in one step, even if it's more complicated. Otherwise, you will end up with undesirable results. 

Normally, when airbrushing, masking, and spraying heavily, you should use art cardboard instead. Next time, I will be more careful.

At this point, the text is finished. I will have to create a large mask once more to color the pepper, which will complete the project. I will upload the finished work soon.

Pepper progress

 With this new artwork, I'm adding letters on top to make it look like vintage advertising. I want to make more vintage-looking things in the future. Right now, I'm only coloring the text and the pepper (This variety is called Chile Poblano). 

When coloring, I'm only using markers due to the lack of ventilation in the area where I'm working. Hopefully, in the future, I will improve that, and then I will start using regular airbrushing inks that will help me cover much larger areas. Markers only have so much ink, and overusing them dries them up quickly.

Prayer update

 I forgot to close the circle on the story, which started a few posts ago about the small prayer I composed with help from Google's AI. 

Prayer is very personal and, in most cases, entirely private. I do not plan to do this often, and this case has a background to it: You may wonder why an illustrator-artist who has been doing art for decades needs to pray for permission to keep doing art. 

This is the story: Since 2010, I have started doing more and more video production, so I have entirely abandoned serious art production. Since my career in video production has stalled a bit after COVID, I was left with not many choices, so I felt guilty under the eyes of heaven because art is a given talent, and neglecting it is kind of irresponsible so now that I'm trying art again I needed to get the feeling out of my chest and validate this new attempt. 

Also, I won't forsake video production as much as I did with art. When all is set in place, I will start doing videos about the art pieces I'm producing. However, as of now, I still lack the studio space, which I hope to get to start filming again, not just my hand, like in my works of art, but me talking, facing the camera, as part of the videos. 

While that took place, prayer was my way of getting help, validation, and intervention. The good news is I was answered. It happened "accidentally" the next day after saying and posting the prayer: As I jumped into my car in the morning, my phone connected to audio and started playing an audiobook about prayer as the subject. The first words that came out from the speakers were the exact answer to my mini prayer. 

In conclusion, I'm good to keep producing art. That's what I needed and got, and that's all I'm saying here.

Results: Not bad at all!

 I'm breathing easily because, in the end, the work turned out great in an unusual way. I took many steps to create the masking and apply the individual colors. 

Before masking and coloring, I had to apply three spray layers of the workable fixative. This step is crucial because if you apply a vinyl mask over graphite without a spray cover, it will come off and ruin the work. 

In the end, I grabbed a white colored pencil (not pastel) to highlight some details.

I'm nervous!

As mentioned in my previous post, the following two pieces will be fully completed with nothing but graphite. Since I also want the pencil texture to stand out clearly, I'm not using any Q-tips to spread the graphite. I want the pencil texture to show when applying the color layer with the airbrush. 

I'm nervous because penciling is a lot of work, and I wouldn't like to ruin it. To prevent that, I want to use the lightest possible color. I will use an airbrush to apply the alcohol markers' color layer. 

Before all that happens, I want to show you the current progress. Soon, this drawing will be coated with a colored layer: the hand with either yellow, orange, or red and the pear with green, both colors in the lightest possible tone.  

Supermarket picks

 My wife and I shopped at our local HEB for some stuff for the week, and I picked a few things from the produce section for my next artwork. 

These two incoming pieces will be colored in a more modern style: I will work both pieces with 0.5 mechanical pencils and then cut off a silhouette of the drawing with some transparent acrylic for color masking. I will then apply the color slightly offset over the penciled work to create a more poster-like illustration. 

The mask and color will be used separately for the fruit and the hand. Two airbrushed colors and graphite pencils will be used. I'm hoping this will come out great.

Sign Work

 This is a sign work, not an art piece. The name was blacked out for privacy. It's not an actual commission. It's a gift a family member will give to someone this holiday. 

I came up with this sign idea after thinking hard about something different and original. This type of sign can be placed in any hallway, home office, game room, or living room. It was made with an airbrush, markers, and a mechanical pencil. For this type of work, the stamp will be on the back.

Half Orange Finished Artwork

 I will show you how, by initially spreading the graphite, the drawing looks awfully flat. 

I'm an illustrator/artist, so I know from experience this step scares and disappoints many new artists. They think they are doing it wrong, but that is not the case. All you need to do is work in the shadows and add highlights, and the drawing will look more realistic.

Next Artwork

I no longer have other varieties of Keto fruits. All I have are strawberries or blueberries. Blueberries are not very interesting as an art subject, so I had to steal an orange from someone else at home to have something to keep producing art. I'm not eating the orange; it has too much sugar. Sorry, I'm making someone else eat it. 

Also, since I'm now facing an art subject problem, I'm considering changing the whole concept and experimenting with entirely abstract compositions. This happens to many artists; we keep exploring some ideas until we suddenly find new inspiration strings to pull.

On another note, I want to share this small prayer I co-wrote with Google's AI. I'm not shy about my beliefs; I'm being sincere and authentic.

I asked Google's AI to help me compose a brief prayer, asking God if the things I do daily are valuable to him. As I mentioned, I co-wrote the piece after AI gave me the surprising fundamentals.

"Heavenly Father, as I strive to live according to your will, please show me if the things I do daily hold value in your eyes. 

Do you like my artwork? 

I’m seeking your deliverance from my current isolation and approval to pursue art activities as a full-time occupation.

If you are holding another road and direction for me, or if you find my petition acceptable, please help me understand how to better align with your purpose.

In the name of Jesus, AMEN

        

Completed Strawberry Artwork

 I had to rethink the title for this piece, so I felt it was more appropriate to name it a "moment of pleasure." This artwork was made over pastel paper with a mechanical pencil, four brands of pastel pencils, Q-tips, and a Posca marker.

Bitten Strawberry Advance

 This weekend was busy with Thanksgiving, the wifey's BD, garage end-of-year cleaning, and trying to write the first pages of a new book after eleven years of inactivity. 

As you can see, my plate is full. That's why I'm looking to avoid any possible commitments. I can't split it in half. All those above are the stuff on the side plate; the main course is to continue retaking my artist-illustration-forgotten career.

Right now, I'm working on the bitten strawberry piece. I'm using Strathmore pastel paper and more than one pastel pencil brand. Of course, the 0.5 mechanical pencil and Q-tips. Here's what I've got so far.

Today is Thanksgiving Day

 We know it's common sense; being thankful should be an everyday thing. Start by saying we do not even need to remind ourselves of the reasons why establishing comparisons is not generally a good idea: It exposes us to becoming arrogant and entitled. Just be thankful. If you can find a good, solid reason for which to be specifically thankful is even better. 

Now, we must remember this day is not only of spiritual gratitude related to God as our provider; it's also directed at being thankful to other people who have extended a helping hand to us, those who have welcomed us and helped us in times of need. I have had, and my family has had, many instances in our lives when others have come to our help in difficult times. To these people, each one of them, to the ones I knew in person, and also to the ones I never knew but were behind actions that played in my favor, I am thankful and grateful for being the recipient of your disinterested kindness.    

Bitten strawberry

 In my previous work—the fork with the red pepper—I originally intended to use a strawberry but had none. We have strawberries again, but I wouldn't repeat the fork idea. So, I just came up with this concept of a bitten strawberry, and I think it looks good. The strawberry survived the photo session but was finished right afterward. It's keto-friendly. 

By the way, I started the keto diet in mid-September and lost 23 pounds. When I started, I weighed 223 pounds and was also lifting weights, so apparently, I was gaining more weight through muscular mass. I suspended weightlifting entirely and started the keto diet, and that gave me immediate results. Right now, I'm at 200 pounds, but I started plateauing around two weeks ago.

So, starting today, November 26, I'm using a small home treadmill that one of my daughters is letting me use. Every day, I will try to walk 30 minutes or more to help break the weight loss barrier. 

According to Google, when you plateau while in keto, you have to exercise more or start counting calories. I won't do weightlifting until I reach my ideal weight. From then on, gaining muscle mass will be an entirely different story. Let's see what happens. 

First Airbrushed Markers Effect

Since I came up with the idea of incorporating an airbrush into my artwork again, it took me a long time to put it all together. Today, I just completed the very first successful try at airbrushing with markers using actual artwork. In this series of images, I'm showing how I had to complete a pencil drawing of my wife and me for her BD and then plan how to add a slight touch of color with the airbrush. In the name of perfection, I had to use the Cricut machine to cut perfect initials and then create transparent vinyl masks for mess-free art. Ultimately, that move paid off, and the result is bright and crisp. Our initials are right next to our hands.

If you are wondering why solid blue letters are in the second picture, it gives me an idea of the positioning before airbrushing. The real stencil masks are in the third picture with all the tape.

Materials Used: Kodak mini projector. U.S. Art Supply Sketch paper for mixed media. Mechanical Pencil 0.5 by NIC Pro. Sketch pencil 14B by Pandafly. Q-Tips. Yasnay Alcohol Markers. Markers Aibrush from Micro-Mark store. Airbrush Quiet Compressor from Hseng. Vinyl film by Vvivid. Cricut vinyl cutting machine with Cricut free design software.  

Airbrushing Masking Supplies

 I received the vinyl to draw stencils on for airbrushing. Precision knives are used to cut the drawn shapes, and the transparent film transfers the stencil onto the drawing itself. This process is detailed but will allow for the addition of exciting effects. To cut the stencil shapes you can use a Cricut cutting board.

In my subsequent work, as a gift for my wife's BD, I will draw our hands together and add our initials with the airbrush, just as a color touch effect.

Creative Anxiety

I've been working on this piece since around 7:00 AM today. It took me between 6 and 7 hours to complete. 

I decided this was more aptly titled "creative anxiety." It is that feeling of having an impulse of the will to create art and then suffering an unexpected interruption. 

Frustration and tension lead to anxiety. One of the most common reasons is realizing the need to add something to an art creative process, putting in an online supplies order, and then having to wait, interrupting the flow. That's what this piece intends to say.

Yes, I know what you are thinking. There is no need to remind me. I have been on both sides: having something to work with and not having anything to work with.

Materials Used: Pastel Strathmore paper, 0.5 Mechanical pencil, 14B Sketching pencil, White Pastel pencil, Posca Marker, and Q-Tips

Locking hands

 I have invested some money in supplies to add airbrushing to my artwork, but now I'm pausing while I put all the supplies together. Today, I'm receiving more materials, such as vinyl stencil paper, transfer paper, a set of precision knives, and transparent acrylic cutout materials I plan to use for airbrushing masks.

While all that happened, I had this idea of interlocking hands. I took a few photos of my hands locked in tension and this image is the one I liked better. 

Does it mean tension? Creative anxiety? It originates along these lines.

This is my next work. I'm back to pastel paper, and I might use charcoal pencils this time around.

Not as Hot as it Looks

 This is actually a sweet pepper, it does taste sugary, but it looks like it's going to burn your mouth. Great for snacking with some salt and lime juice. We love them at home. Great for Keto dieting.

I used a 0.5 mechanical pencil. For the color, I used Crazy Art pencils. For the highlights, a Conté crayon and a Posca marker. 

I feel like I'm expressing myself better. I will soon incorporate airbrushing with markers to add some creative effects.

Testing Hseng Compressor and Airbrushes

 I received the Compressor replacement from Hseng. This one works properly and is nicely quiet, perfect for working inside my home without disturbing anyone. I have two different airbrushes: one from Micromark, which comes with a few adaptors, and the other from Copic. See the video below to check them out.

New Work - Fork and Pepper

 I wanted to do a metallic effect because it takes a higher skill level. I'm satisfied with the results. The image online only reflects a little. When seen in person it's way more evident.

I'm using the mechanic pencil 0.5, and regular colored pencils. The lighting touches are a Conté crayon and a Posca marker.

Aibrush and Compressor Update

It took me some browsing, but finally, I got the airbrush for markers with size and shape adapters at an online store in New Jersey called Micro-Mark. I haven't found it anywhere else, not even on Amazon, Walmart, or others. 

This is not new for me. I had a markers airbrush kit in the early 90s. They are more comfortable and cleaner than regular airbrushing. Mess free. 

The bad news is the Hseng compressor was faulty. It will turn on and shut off itself after 2-3 seconds. I had to request a substitution from Amazon that will arrive next week. Hopefully, I will get a working unit, because this compressor costs $139.00 Not cheap at all. By the way, Hseng is a store dedicated to producing airbrushing kits.

Now, I'm having to wait again.

Update 11/19/2024: Amazon confirmed the air compressor replacement is arriving much earlier than I was expecting. Once I have it I will test it and update it.