Brush and Ink Doodle

Occasionally I will break the routine and doodle with something beside Prismacolor pencils. This drawing is done with ink and a brush. There was no initial idea. I started with the eyes and it grew from that point. The original size is 5 x 8 inches.

Doggie Movie

Playing around recording some drawing videos. This is a very low res version of the original.

Of course, I draw this quickly. :) Haven't figured out how to keep my short and stubby fingers out of the movie yet.

Little Dark Angel

Sketch done this holiday break. Wing duplicated and placed on the left side of the figure. Wanted a very symmetrical look to the wings but not the girl. Sketch is on brown paper using black and white prismacolor pencils, black watercolor prismacolor pencil, and photoshop.

At some point I am going to add color to the image and work it over a bit more.

Just a Sketch

Just a sketch tonight. Too tired to do much else. 

Notice the careful smudging and subtle color transitions in the lower part of the drawing. These take a lot of skill and care to do well. There is a secret to achieving the effect successfully that I am willing to share. 
1. Spill your lime Diet Coke on the image. 
2. Jump up while throwing your clipboard on the floor so you don't get soaked with the quickly moving liquid. 
3. Shout a few obscenities for emphasis and effect. 
3. Mop up the spilled Coke with the first rag or napkin you find. 

That is all there is too it.

And now for something.....

In a few more days I will get back to posting regularly. I am going to post lots of sketches and doodles. I want to post a few tips on how I do things, what is my favorite technique of the moment, what changes over time for me, generally answer questions I think might be of use. I hope to post an occasional short tutorial. If anyone has a question, please do not hesitate to ask. I do read everything even though it sometimes takes time to respond. If you don't want to ask publicly then drop me an e-mail at don (at) seegmillerart.com

Currently I am scanning my sketchbooks. I don't know why I have suddenly decided that this is important but I have. I am about 45% finished....I think. I am currently at number 4359. These sketchbooks were started about 2000. While I have drawings all the way back into the olden high school days, I really did not start drawing with purpose until 2000. I wish that I had started 20 years earlier. You can never draw enough.

Someday my kids can start a big bonfire with all the doodles that are accumulating.

Here is just a page of inkling sketches.

Life gets in the way.

It amazes me how easy it is to become a total slacker when it comes to posting. Life sometimes gets in the way is my usual excuse.

Life did get in the way last week. A very dear friend suffered a stroke and eventually passed away from the episode. Al Wadle was his name and he was one of the finest men I will ever know. He was the owner of Wadle Galleries Ltd. in Santa Fe, New Mexico. http://www.wadlegalleries.com

He took a chance and was the first gallery to accept my work and hang it on a wall. This was way back in 1981. I have been showing with them since that time. This was a man that trusted me enough to only require my word and a handshake. He treated me better than I deserved. He encouraged me, told me the truth about my work even when I didn't want to hear it, paid me quickly, promoted my efforts, and generally was a fundamental reason I have had success selling my art.

Unfortunately I was not able to make it in time to see him before he passed. I was able to attend his funeral. I was able to spend some time with his wife and will try and keep in touch with her as time goes on.

I love Santa Fe. This trip however was very bittersweet and emotionally draining. Usually I will spend a day or two wandering the galleries, enjoying the food, and marveling in the quality of the light. This time, I just didn't have it in me. It will always be a special place but has fundamentally changed for me.

For those that do not know my gallery work, I am posting several examples. I work in oil on either panels or canvas. Most of my work is smaller than 24 x 36 inches and the majority is less than 18 x 24. I paint the figure as if it were still life. I love painting skin and fabric. Quite honestly, in 30 years of painting I am now just learning how to do it.

Another Big Fish Story

Back in July I posted this photo of a monster Brown Trout that my son caught. http://www.seegmillerart.blogspot.com/2012_07_01_archive.html
Well, he has done it again. Here is the fish that he caught yesterday. This one was even larger than the previous measuring out at 29.5 inches and right around 15 pounds.

A huge and beautiful fish. Well, it is actually a really ugly fish but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. He was released to continue his quest for the perfect female brown; then set up temporary home on that ideal gravel bar.

Halloween Countdown #29, 30, and 31

Wanted to save up and do one final post. Tonight are the sketches I did while sitting on the front porch handing out cavities to all the cute kiddies.

This second part of the post is sketches done while at school today.

Everyone that followed along, I hope I made your Halloween season a bit more fun.
I am thinking of printing a sketchbook of all the posted pieces, the original untouched sketches, and a few undecided extras. If you might be interested drop me a note.

Until next year ....... Happy Halloween!