October Art

Some cute, some creepy

Happy mid-October! It’s been a bit, but it’s been for good reasons - I’ve been fairly active with painting. Of course, during this time, I argued with myself whether I would share it here or not. It’s this ongoing thing with me - I won’t continue to bore any of you with my weird neurosis regarding me “putting myself out there”. If I do “put myself out there” (really, here, in Substack), the posts won’t be long on words, but full of images. Some mine, some still of artwork I find compelling (and hope that you do as well, for your own reasons).

So here are some of the things I’ve been working on since we last met:

The panda on the left was a first attempt in my sketchbook. I abandoned it when I made a mess of his left ear. But frankly, I think I like it better than the second attempt on the right. 🤷‍♀️

Baby giraffe. 🦒

Autumn trees. One of the main things I still need to master with watercolor is the wet-on-wet technique. This was my second attempt with this scene - the first was a muddy nightmare.

My current work-in-progress. I ran into an issue with the steps - I didn’t accurately nail the perspective, so when I started to paint them, everything was “off”. I may abandon this one too (with watercolor, there’s only so much reworking you can do before you destroy the paper). But I do love this image, so if I do abandon it, I’ll just try again. Love these old stone structures!

During these past twelve weeks, I have been working through Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way (with great success). One of the tasks was to create a “God” box - a vessel where you can write down your fears, requests, dreams, to God (whatever your God may be - I always address the Universe). Once you put this sliver of paper into the box, you’re handing the issue to God, and you move on. I found this cool photo box (below) on Facebook Marketplace, and since I always address the Universe, I made five 3.5”X3.5” watercolor paintings of the universe to use in the photo slots. I love the way it turned out, although it was a serious PITA getting those paintings in! Well worth it, though. It may be a bit corny, but it’s also nice to get a thought down and toss it in the box for a higher power to worry about it.

The Universe Box. What would you like to ask it?

I completed other quick paintings, all of which will remain stowed in my sketchbooks, sight unseen. I’m happy with the level of effort I put forth these past weeks, especially given how much I hadn’t been doing previously. The no-pressure methodology is agreeable with me - I am, truly, my own worst enemy when it comes to whipping myself into exhaustive anxiety over nothing.

Since we’re closing upon Halloween, I felt it would be a great time to share some more of the dark art I love so much. Does any of the below resonant with you? Let me know if so!

Artist unknown. I’ve titled this “Cloaked Ghosts”, and think they are wickedly cool.

I don’t know the official title of this piece, but it’s by Stefan Koidl who has an impressive portfolio of dark art. I love this one because it’s the terror of what may exist in the dark.

Artist unknown. I’ve titled it “Figure Evaporating”. I’ve felt this on many occasions - the life around me becoming too much to bear and I feel I’m dissolving into nothingness.

Artist unknown. I’ve titled it “Girl in the Mirror”. The innocence of childhood, of dreams never to be realized, the blackness of grief and sadness reflecting back to her. Loneliness in a world that seems to have forgotten her.

My Lovely Parasite by Psyca. When I first saw this, my heart leaped, not from joy but from the idea that someone else experiences depression much like I do. While I never defined it as a parasite, I’ve viewed it as a black entity that weighs me down, keeping me stuck in a loop of apathy and misery.

Title unknown by photographer Marcus Propostus. I can’t pinpoint the exact reason this resonates with me, but I love it nonetheless.

That’s all for now. I’ll be back in due time with more art for your viewing pleasure! 🎃