Photographing my art is always a long process with getting the art level, angles with lighting, et cetera but it has to be done. Fortunately, I acquired the equipment bit by bit. I don't have to rely on others to do it for me now because I've learned enough over years of experimenting to take the task on myself. There's plenty of great information out there on the subject. It's a matter of working out what way works best for you.
Another time consuming issue is adjusting the image on my computer screen in Photoshop. Dealing with distortions, fixing the contrast, color, etc. so that the online image matches the original as best as possible. I'm no expert but I make it work.
Sketching up concepts, sometimes creating reference maquettes and doing research, taking photographs of reference models and surface prepping are all time consuming efforts before I even get started on the final drawing. Then it's spending a ton of time figuring out the painting process and.....varnishing.....framing the finished piece. I'm not even going to get into what's involved with creating prints. Also sharing online and writing on this blog, time consuming! You artists out there can relate.
I definitely want to share my art and have it positively affect the world but I often think I really should be playing guitar and singing for a living which I've been working at most of my life (along with the artwork). Although the music is time consuming as well, it's different. I still have high hopes that one day the sounds will permeate the Universe to aid others. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining about creating art, just stating the time consuming facts. I have a limited amount of time and seemingly unlimited obligations. I have a beautiful wife, two angelic daughters, great friends and family; and I couldn't be happier creating music with the current band I'm in but unfortunately I only have 24 hours in one day. I appreciate and utilize every second.
Here's my finished second painting "Oblivion" for my upcoming gallery show in July. If you missed my first piece "Penniless" here's a link (it now has a frame and I'm really happy with how it turned out.) Although I've decided to hang a couple older paintings and possibly a couple prints, I want to create as much new work as I can for the show.
The fragility of life has been the main focus lately in my work. I only have a certain amount of time here and who knows how long we humans will survive? I like to believe that we'll evolve into something that is unimaginable today, millions of years from now. If given the time it's inevitable that we will all exist in a different, better state, I hope. Perhaps our descendants will literally be able to manipulate parts of our Universe in a positive manner, allowing us to thrive lightyears from Earth? Until then, we'll have to deal with the spreading of negative beliefs, xenophobia, ethnocentrism, unscrupulous megalomaniacs, corruption, war, poverty, homelessness, illiteracy, undereducated and overstimulated youth, transfixed with devices fused to their eyeballs, reality TV. Unsocial social networks uniting yet dividing. The list goes on. I'm sure some of these problems will thin out or disappear in time. I suspect other troublesome issues will arise as we progress but will we ever get to a point of peace? It's not impossible.
It's up to us as individuals to make a better society, a better world one by one. We cannot rely on disharmonious organizations, expecting them to give us what they think we need, exercising too much control over us. We need critical thinkers that question everything, leading to higher levels of intelligence, not brainwashing propaganda. We need to distill the instilled falsehoods in us all, purify ourselves. We're evolving but stagnant, simultaneously devolving. There are present day people out there that probably still believe the World is flat! Will we survive or become extinct. Some remain oblivious to it all. I question, I search for truths, I have hope that we will free ourselves from the slavery caused by ignorance and that we'll grow and continue to burn bright.
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