All posts by artiststevel

Articles on travel

And for our next trip

I am at a bad time in my road tripping life. My son would rather be home than out and about-he blames it on the money we spend but I know better. We’re getting closer to the time when he will have a job and the possibilities get smaller and more narrowed. I”m not doing good with this but I am all about compromise.

Our next trip is a sized down trip from last year. A simple trip to Oklahoma-I feel like Clark Griswald having visions of grandeur while my son just wants to go camping. I want to go to the top of Oklahoma and while we’re there maybe this and maybe that. Suddenly four hours is too far, I have rolling eyes and frustration the greater the scope of the trip that I envision.

What happened to the days when I would just plan everything and he would simply show up. I think I liked the lack of concern for the amount of money that was being spent compared to my new and improved frugal teen.

This brings me to the reason why we and maybe selfishly I do this. A road trip to me is the epitome of freedom, I don’t feel any more free than when I am finding places I’ve never seen  and going places I’ve never been.

So assuming it were just a  selfish act of going and exploring, I took my own day yesterday to go the zoo and explore. Unfortunately I’ve learned a large portion of the trip was the company, the sharing of moments, the excitement and funny things that happen. The lessons no one could teach unless you experience them together and learn from them together.

I’m not trying to be sad and morose-this is a time in our lives and just what I have planned for and hoped for; an independent child; mission accomplished. I’ve always described the parenting role as the spring board, we are supposed to teach them to stand on their own and in doing so they become independent, successful adults.

I celebrate this time, I don’t have to love it but I do celebrate it. There will be plenty of time for more road tripping and exploration but in the future maybe we’ll have even deeper more profound adventures. I look forward to grand kids…..a long way out of course….teaching them and preparing them for that next incredible feeling of being free to roam. Who knows what their journeys and adventures will bring back, I can just imagine a full refrigerator door filled with magnets.

Articles on travel

A visit to the zoo

Valentines at the zoo –
Went to the zoo today, Valentines, the zoo, alone. Maybe not the best idea but I was trying to emancipate myself with my sons increasing need to be more independent.
It was a long ride but it was quiet, no working radio in my aging Nissan, and it was quite pleasant with little traffic. That is until I got to the zoo, suddenly I was in a huge line of cars trying to get in, which started my aggravation.
After getting in and finding a parking space, I realize how alone I was. It’s funny; sometimes it’s good to be alone, sometimes there is that feeling of independence and

freedom of answering to no one, this was not one of those times.

The problem is I realize how much the zoo is a family thing. I watched my life in different stages, I saw the new couples together, the new moms and dads sharing their duties and the old family that seems to have a system down the neatly packed carts full of baby and child items. I was haunted by the days I used to bring both my sons to the zoo and I missed that point in my life.
I hate to admit it but I was kind of bored, something I rarely say, maybe it was because I had been there so many times before or that it was so crowded there were no peaceful moments to enjoy nature and the animals. There was no one to share the animals with, no need to see any specific animal, no rush, no anticipation, I didn’t even get enough gumption to find the lions even though I could hear them roar.
Instead of enjoying the zoo I looked at the elephants as if they were being hounded and gawked at by patrons much like paparazzi. The people didn’t know any better, you go to a zoo, you enjoy the animals but from my state of mind I saw animals that were on display on some strange reality show where they were expected to act like animals unfortunately they were in captivity. You couldn’t hide the smells of the rhinos, the cold concrete enclosures, the foreign objects turned into play toys.
Probably for the first time at the zoo I felt more sorry for the animals instead of in awe. Maybe I related to them from my state of being-not fitting in, not in my natural environment-now being divorced and now even the identity of dad becoming irrelevant. I was the elephant in the concrete enclosure, I didn’t belong there, I was acting like myself but I just didn’t feel like I belonged there or anywhere for that matter.

In the end I had a full day of fresh air, realized I need a telephoto lens and had that feeling of introspection you can only get when your alone. Next time I may just hire a family or maybe bribe my son to go to the zoo just one more time.
Articles on travel

Simplicity for capturing water effects……don’t overthink or overdo it.

 

First Lesson: Droplet of water on a flower

Studying Details – The subtle intricacies of the  appearance of water is easily overdone. When you look at a droplet you can over think and over render trying to achieve the clarity. I have learned that a simple and limited wash of color and light are more effective and often painting what you actually see is harder than what you logically think you see.
The problem in capturing water is that you don’t paint the droplet itself, instead you paint what is around the droplet and how the colors and light change in relation to the object.
When the logical brain sees an image it tends to fill in the gaps and details with what it assumes.
When rendering water effects, it can easily become overworked when you paint what you think it should look like instead of what you actually see.
A droplet is a very simple object actually. There is a soft dark shadow that is the color of what is beneath the droplet. Next there is the body of the droplet which is usually a gradation from the shadow on the surface, highlights alone one edge and a faint outline of light and a droplet is successfully rendered.
Articles on travel

The Life of a Goldfish

Goldfish image created in Illustrator-See ArtbyGordon for step by step process
Life of a Goldfish – I was in a restaurant earlier this week and noticed a goldfish tank in the waiting area. I watched the brightly colored fish calmly float about in a perfect suspended state and it seemed very peaceful to me.
My first reaction was how carefree they must be, no predators, no need to look for food and their movements were weightless and effortless in a beautiful blue space.
My next thought was contradictory-what a sad and boring life. I imagined every few feet the invisible barrier.  I thought of surroundings that never changed except for occasional customer staring through the glass. I came to the conclusion that the safe, weightless, blissful life was instead what I would consider boring and mundane.
The fact that the fish was living in what it had always known and  lacking knowledge or need to explore softened my perspective but compelled me to compare how the human species often lives its life.
Some of us live our lives in the epitome of a fish tank. The invisible barriers of time constraints and the responsibilities that keep us floating back and forth in the same small space, we easily become the goldfish as routine becomes much like the confines of a small fish tank.
For me personally, I don’t prefer living in a fish tank and yet I shared this idea with a family member who argued for some the fish tank life is a beautiful thing. There are families that have no interest in leaving their space and for that matter to each his own but the realization of this for me made me want to jump out of the tank and find the nearest river to the sea.
Articles on travel

Illustrations using Adobe Illustrator

Purple Passion vine illustration using Adobe Illustrator
Illustrating with Adobe Illustrator

I have been illustrating in Adobe Illustrator for many years and after a many parts and end equipment I thought it was time to expand my subject matter. How I actually started working in the high-tech industry doing technical drawings and the occasional illustration was by showing an image of a green tree frog to a potential employer. It was the first attempt at illustrating using a PC-the program was Arts and Letters Jurassic Arts and the tools were basic at best.

I have since worked in Micrografix Designer, Corel Draw even freehand and finally the standard adobe products-Illustrator and Photoshop. After writing about the life of a goldfish I decided to illustrate the image instead of using a photograph and what follows is how I approach illustrating in Illustrator.
My first and most basic process is just getting the shape and basic colors and tones down. This is the fastest part of the illustration. I will usually follow the lines of color and shadow and create layers of light that cover up layers of shadow.
Image 1-basic form

After I feel the overall form is correct I will layer the colors again almost like the rings of a tree-you overlap each color with the form that overlaps it. You will notice every change and try to process it as if there were multiple layers of shapes that make the final form. I try to use as little gradients as they can tend to be contrived-if I do use them they need to be very subtle.

The second figure shows a minimal change from the first. Basic overlaying of colors that allow the background to show through and adds depth to the illustration. Detail is not as important at this point as there will be overlying of details and softening of edges after this stage.
Image 2-overlays of colors-layering for effect
The third step is where all the details begin taking shape. Again hard edges are overlapped
with lighter softer edges. At this stage I need to realize the overall texture and the best
way to create a subtle dimensional feel to the image.
Image 3-overlaying two
By the third step the most intricate color and details become the major focus. I start cleaning up the basic shape and making sure all the proportions are right. The lines and detail is severe at this point because with the next step I will use the brush to merge the shapes to form a subtle more photographic image.
The final step is actually using brush strokes to overlap the hard edges of the previous step. Light and shadow overlay the original details and blocks of colors with varying degrees of opacity allows for more subtle effects.
Final step before creating background
After finalizing the details and colors of the fish I create a background. I don’t want much detail in the background so brush work and simple heavily feathered images create a backdrop that strives to not fight with the image of the goldfish.
Finished product using Adobe Illustrator

Please stay tuned for more how-to articles on illustrating in Illustrator and rendering in Photoshop as well as processes for oil and pastel artwork. I welcome your comments, requests and suggestions.

Articles on travel

Sunrise

 

I watched the sunrise this morning. The dark sky was a curtain, unveiling the beginning of a play. I drove with the same impatience, never stopping but still intent on noticing every change in color and temperature.
I saw birds in various shapes and sizes, silhouettes against a pale blue sky.  Behind a frozen window all sounds of the morning serenade are hushed and muted.
The spectacle was warmer than usual, gold and amber replaced the typical cool blues, pinks and mauve. Silhouettes of trees turned from black to sepia as ambient light lit the gnarled winter branches.
Clouds marched in like the impatient audience and reflected in the remnants of the lake. My thoughts were active, scattered like birds, ferocious and manic as the now flaming sky.
I realized the absence of myself-how often I drive by with such intent to get there I ignore the sunrise. I should’ve stopped and taken in more details, maybe painted en plein air, but there is always places to go and the day never allows for stragglers watching the sunrise.
That late morning sky-pale and white, all spectacle is subtle and burned out like overexposed photograph, details lost to the bright white light. So what will today’s show be-I’ve watched the intro and now my impatience for possibilities pushes me to create, to make this day a show to remember until the curtain closes once again
With sunset-maybe I’ll stop this evening and watch every detail and even the credits

As the film ends…
Articles on travel

Fishing with My Older Brother

I watch as he casts the fly. I remember the meter of casting but still haven’t mastered the finesse. My brother has been doing this for a while and he’s mastered both, even perfecting the awkward cast from a kayak.
I remember when we were both very young I would go to Roosevelt Park with him and I was a burden, as I’m sure younger brothers tend to be. I feel nostalgic and peaceful as the rushing water fills in the background noise.
Our priorities have changed a lot since than, back than there were girlfriends buzzing around him, there was a tape player with music of the day, I think it was Queen at the time. Time seemed not to fly by as it does when you’re young.
This time there are no piers, not even our kids are around, we don’t even converse. He seems to be in his zone as I am in mine. There is something simple and natural about fishing-there seems to be little that needs to be said.
The light casts shadows and glistens on his silhouette-lighting up the fly line and the rod as he shadow casts, I sketch while writing notes about this post. There is an indifference in nature and when you fit into that space, even for just a few minutes, there is a peace that is hard to describe.

All that exists for that moment are memories like the autumn leaves that float on the current, thoughts and ideas like the current that flows a constant. We are close as brothers can be for that moment, no questions, no bravado-just an afternoon fly fishing in a landscape that fits us both like a glove.

 

Articles on travel

Back to the canvas 2

I painted a commission today, a painting of blackbirds and a still life, also a commission. Again, I don’t feel like I’m one hundred percent back in the zone but I have a clearer vision of what I want going forward. I feel like I have worked hard at realism, relaxed and became a bit more expressionistic and now I am back to basic skill of capturing images correctly.

I’m not saying I want to be super realistic but I do want more quality in the initial rendering. I want the feeling to be the strongest element of the painting but I still want the details to be evident to the viewer. I am planning on doing more en plain air painting in the near future as I believe there are so many elements you miss when you paint from memory or pictures.

On that note, I tried to paint a still life without any initial layout. It really is a freeing feeling to just paint without any guides. The image is in my mind but it is not completely clear. It is an exciting feeling to watch it become out of just a vague idea of a painting.

I’m looking forward to continuing to allow more time to paint and as I increase frequency I will get back into the zone where painting just seems effortless.

Articles on travel

Back to the Canvas

I went into the studio again today, first time in a long time. I have many paintings to do for commissions and many that have just got on the to-do list. I was excited and yet awkward the way I always seem to be when getting back to it.

Very exciting feeling when all of the paintings you pick up you actually have a  clearer vision than when you first started. Today I revamped an evening fountain painting and completely changed the whole color scheme. I changed up a cloud scene with blackbirds and blocked in the flock of birds on a wire.

Preliminary Pastel Sketch
Pastel Preliminary Sketch

It was a good day, very productive-under painted several paintings that were to be commissions that have lagged behind for far too long. I had that feeling that I knew where things were supposed to be but I also have a whole new perspective on the movement of paint, the way colors weave into the canvas and my perspective in general.

I almost feel like it was a practice run. Nothing amazing except the realization how much I’ve missed painting and how incredible it feels to be in the creative zone. I look forward to the next sitting.

I’m not sure what’s coming up next but the brake from painting seems to have helped. I am excited for the creative inspiration
to grow. I will keep you posted.

Articles on travel

A Son Grows Up Fishing

Shark in Rockport Texas
Smallmouth bass on Dale Hollow Lake, Kentucky

 

 

 

 

 

 

Growing Up Fishing – What makes an amazing fishing trip? The obvious would be catching not just fishing but I would take it a step farther. How do do you know you have had that special trip? It’s when you remember your guide, the stories he or she tells, the way he made the process of finding the fish and how vivid your memories are of the day.

I have watched my son grow from a young child with his first bass to a teen who could teach me a thing or two about fishing. He has a certain instinct about it and a knack for not only finding the fish but his stance and technique defies his age.

Chasing the Redfish in Rockport, Texas

Our first big trip was to Rockport Texas, I wanted to get him on a school of Redfish.  Lanny Phillips of Tigernet Fishing guide service found us a great school and my son was hooked. Lanny was a fireman and a baseball player with many stories to tell. We enjoyed his company as much as the limit of reds and my son caught a hammerhead shark, a speckled trout and a batfish. I did a painting from this particular trip.

A Respectable Brown Trout on the White River near Mountain Home Arkansas

The next trip we took was for trout on the white river near Mountain Home Arkansas. After a bit of over muscling smaller fish with lighter hits and weaker mouths than the bass he was accustomed to, he got the knack. Again the guide was very knowledgeable of the river and we learned a lot about catching trout and much about the area.

The next trip we took was an unplanned trip on  a party boat, unfortunately we didn’t catch anything but the amazing blue water and being out on the oil rigs was an experience we still talk about to this day.

tarpon I landed-Good news, he lived to fight another day

When we went to the Florida keys we did two trips, one for Peacock bass, in the canals near Miami, and a bay trip for tarpon, we were successful on both but they were unique experiences. We learned various techniques from each and enjoyed amazing conversation and scenery.

Since we first started fishing together we have bought kayaks. Kayaks change the whole experience and add to our conversations and memories.

We have caught stripers and sand bass at Lake Texoma, watching them boil as they surround your kayak is quite a memorable experience. We have enjoyed speckled trout in Cape San Blas  Florida and Chain Pickerel in the cold waters of Lake Daingerfield.

Sight Fishing for Peacock Bass in the canals near Miami

Unfortunately I will admit, I have been skunked more than he has, again he has a certain instinct for catching when no one else is, but I wouldn’t trade a day of fishing for anything. I have watched him grow from a young excited kid happy to catch his first bass to a teen who gets annoyed when I interfere with him in his zone.

I have watched him with a certain awe as he throws plastics and artificials while looking down his nose at bait and bobber fishing. I still love the bobber as it brings back memories for me.
I am excited for future trips with him, as long as I don’t cramp his style there will be more to write about and more memories to share. Remember catching is only half of the amazing, bonding experience that is fishing-so get out there with your son or daughter and go fish, you’ll be glad you did.

His first bass- this is one of the smaller ones he caught.