Are you an artist ?

[TomO]

I'm really digging that lizard! It really fuses The warm flowing wood with the coolness of the metal. Any chance of making some to sell?

I dig the paintings as well, very pleasing to me on a level that I don't quite understand yet, but I like them!

[MetroMPG]

Colour me impressed. Neat first thread to open on a Monday morning.

I can do "art", and did in high school (for a while I thought I wanted to do commercial graphic design... until the first co-op placement!). But I don't really feel I'm an artist.... probably fall closer to "barn painter" on Old Tele man's creativity continuum.

[Tango Charlie]

Many of you may have seen this already, so I apologize, but here's a thread I posted a while ago of some of my sketches.

[bgd73]

Originally Posted by Cd

I'll show something I'm currently working on. ( It's not finished )
It's a painting inspired by the Nissan Leaf.*
I need to add more colors in the sky, etc.
Today I added some foliage at the bottom of the picture.

Input is appreciated.

Also, I added some elements to the painting that are supposed to be readily recognizable.
What do you guys see in the shape of the plant ( Does it look like something else related to the subject matter ) What does the black along the edges of the painting look like ?

I could tell you guys what it is supposed to be, but then I wouldn't know if it is recognizable.

* Darin, I guess I did have something in this thread sort of on topic ( automotive related )



Do you guys think this other painting that I did 'reads' better ?

I am no artist, but do take photos. this is in maine 2009

[Cd]

Originally Posted by Piwoslaw

Cd - That painting with the 'Windtree', it was love at first sight. The idea is great, maybe genius, it could easily be the logo of an environmental protection company. I'm not going to ask you sell it, as you probably want to keep a painting that good, but maybe reprints?
I just can't stop looking at it!

Thank you !
I think you are exaggerating a little ( a lot ) there, but I appreciate the kind words never the less.

I'll post an updated picture as the painting progresses. I'm glad that some of you can tell what some of the things are in the painting ( such as the oil ).

I was trying to get the viewer to see several things in the image, such as a wind turbine, but I also wanted it to also look like a plant. ( Signifying a step towards a more eco friendly way of creating electricity. One that is closer to nature. )

The oil that is along the edges of the image is slowly creeping its' way inward and trying to choke out the new threat. ( Signifying the oil companies trying to destroy any threats )

There is also a coal plant at the left hand corner of the image. With the wind turbines in the foreground, I hope to remind people that EVs can be charged using electricity generated without pollution.

I get tired of seeing the same comments over and over from people that argue that EVs just trade off pollution to a higher level ( the coal fired electric plants )
Never mind that the pollution created from a coal plants electricity is overall much cleaner than the pollution created from a clean running car.

Finally, I think I'll call the painting " Turning a new Leaf" It has the name of the car, but also represents a change for the better.

[Cd]

Originally Posted by orange4boy

Thanks for the ups.

I like the second one better. It's more graphic, better composed and not as obvious as the first one. The leaves are robust and alive. I like the leaf windmill idea though.

A: Oil?

I may be growing it but CD is smoking it.



Keep at it. If there's one thing humans are good at, it's learning. I've seen plenty of my students improve dramatically with encouragement and practise.

( The windmill painting shows a more fragile type of plant. It barely has any leaves and few petals to its' flower. It is still not very well rooted like the other plant.
To me, this is like the budding EV market. It is very fragile at this point. )

[Cd]

Metro : As I said in the before, you have some fantastic talent ! I was puzzled by the ' I don't do art because it's like pulling teeth" comment that you made though.
I have done traditional 'fine art' with a one hair brush and spent hundreds of hours on a single painting. I know the frustration that you are talking about.
I find abstract art much more relaxing. It looks like crap, but there is something that really frees you up compared to portraits and such.
Have you tried to do any abstracts ?
Tango Charlie : Nice sketches ! I think we all have created the same designs at one time or another. I remember sketching some cars that look very similar to your designs. ( Which shows we have the same taste in what we find attractive in a car design )
bgd73 : Do you have a Flickr account ? I have taken some photography in the past as well, but nothing I think is worth showing.

[Christ]

Originally Posted by Old Tele man

...yes, a commercial-artist (calligraphic lettering, illustrations, etc.), but not a fine-artist.

...sorta like the difference between a Sherwin-Williams barn-painter and Van Gogh.


P.S.--also an author, if that gains any social brownie-points...or not

If you have any free-reading (published or otherwise, I'm safe with it), I'll look it over. I don't like fiction stuff for the most part, unless it's about technology (not a big sci-fi fan, you do the math ).

Up to you, I'm here for critiquing, and you know I'm honest and raw. :P

[Christ]

I didn't know that there were so many talents here beside the obvious ones.

Guys, it's great to see that some of us can share our artistic sides somewhere.

TBH, I'm a little weary of showing my words of prose to anyone outside of my most direct circle, so consider that tidbit (and any which follows) a gift from me.

Marcus - Those glass pieces are absolutely amazing.

And the paintings, they're absolutely breathtaking, and that's not exaggeration.

[Christ]

A good "Spot".

I call it "A Lonely Hello"

Pic was taken just after Sunrise on the banks of the Susquehanna River, about mid-October, 2009.



"Truth in Reflection" (Bad cell phone pic, haven't edited it yet. I like the fuzzy quality.)