Thursday, January 29, 2009

random stuff n' stuff in mike's book









I liked working on a larger scale in Mike's book, though the pages were thin, allowing watercolors to easily bleed through. I ended up basing an abstract doodle on the splotches on the other side, which was lots of fun. I found the watercolor Moleskines are excellent for using India inks and watercolor paints, if anyone's looking for a good, durable book for wet media. In the meantime, this baby is heading out in the mail to Ammon in chilly, snowy Pennsylvania (from chilly, icy Virginia).

11 comments:

Mike Kline said...

Freaking Awesome! I love them!
It is nice to mix it up a bit... I am having a heck of a time getting back into a groove. I have to start cranking, but Jim Croce has all the time bottled up since 1973...What the heck Jim, let it out! I need it.

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

Wow! What an interesting, fun, and talented collection of sketches , very eclectic! COOL!

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

I like the WOLF BEST, I guess! They are all terrific!

steve said...

Mike, so glad you like these man!

Mary, yeah, I had fun with the wolf. It was in response to something I read about Palin ordering recent wolf slaughters from helicopter. Sore loser.

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

A wonderful art piece, that wolf, but a sad reason. I'd love to hear more about the other pieces, too, like the one with the insects and the dead ones at the bottom of the hole. And the germs?

steve said...

Thanks for asking Mary. :)

The little germs were basically some watercolor paint splotches. Sometimes when I can't think of ideas, I'll start to mess with paint, or lines, or whatecer, and take it from there. I filled in the splotches each with one continuous line, trying for different textures. Then i made them into little characters - germs, bugs, monsters, aliens - whatever you want them to be. For some reason, after doing that, I felt they needed to unite in some way, like a team, or a group of uncanny misfits altogether for one cause. That's when that "we are the world" song popped into my head and made its way onto the page. Damn song won't leave my head now, haha!

The insects and the hill/hole is really just symbolic of life's journeys and how, when working our way to certain goals or ambitions, certain "traps" tend to rear their ugly head and can lead to a harmful path. I didn't really intend them to be insects, but more little symbols of living things, or hopes or dreams.

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

You've got an ear worm--well, at least it's not as bad as Grandma got run over by a reindeer or something, I like that song.

I love the germs and insects--or--symbols. Now I have to figure out the others, LOL! :-D

VERY INTERESTING and fun!

Mike Kline said...

Being in New Mexico, a Lobo myself (UNM), and seeing the wolves introduced back into our wilderness, the wolf one is indeed special. Wild wolves are a beautiful thing, unless of course you are being chased by a pack of hungry ones. Awesome work Steev-o.

steve said...

Thanks Mary and Mike. Mary, i find some things are better left to the imagination, and one's own interpretation. Some things are just nice to look at. :)

Yeah Mike, I've got a deep respect for wolves, or any wild animal for that matter. That respect includes knowing what they're capable of. I think many folks think animal lovers are naive and don't understand the fact that many animals kill, humans even, to survive or protect. Well, some are clueless and some take their chances too far (ever see "Grizzly Man" ?). We really aren't too different from animals with our capacity to kill (other humans) really, we just do it out of malice and greed, which is far less respectable. Seriously, I'm just as fearful of wandering certain streets at night (and day) as I am wandering around in the wilderness.

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

The wilderness is safer than the streets of Detroit--highest crime rate in the nation. Spent a lot of solo time in the wilderness. Now that's living!

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

(Of course, I'm getting old now . . .