Roxygen Illustration

Store Up on RedBubble

2010-08-09T22:44:00.000-07:00

Just finished putting up my store at RedBubble. It is of course also linked on my main webpage:

www.roxygenillustration.com

Pretty exciting right? I've been getting some wonderful feedback so far from the redbubble community (thanks to everyone!), and the Eastern Bluebird was on the featured art and photography page.

New Website

2010-06-13T19:30:00.000-07:00

I updated my website!

Here it is:

www.roxygenillustration.com

Figure Session #6

2010-05-19T16:03:00.000-07:00

First studies in natural skin tones, only a little bit of editing on the computer, mostly curve adjustments.

Figure Session #4 and #5

2010-05-18T11:26:00.000-07:00

These are a couple paintings from last month's life drawing drop in figure sessions, edited in painter as I wanted to experiment with different finishes.

Previously for the figure sessions I was working with only one color and white. I then began to work with complementary colors, but found the values of the colors I used were too close (the first painting above). So the next week I selected colors with dark and light values.

Last week I started to use skin tones to create natural colors. This week I will continue to practice on my technique, color application and speed.

Market Collective Photos

2010-05-08T12:13:00.000-07:00

Market Collective May 1st - May 2nd

2010-04-30T15:09:00.000-07:00

Hello all! This April has been really busy with three shows, and mastering the art of matting and framing. I have uploaded some photos of my recent April Activities, and will add more descriptions and details very soon. For now, I have been busy preparing for tomorrow's Market Collective.

Be sure to check out the live music, vintage fashion and of course, the local art. I will be selling my new framed pieces, and limited edition prints of my new works and some of the last of my art prints from 2008-09. Hope to see you there!

April 22-24 Sans Comic Sans, Never Let Me Go

2010-04-30T15:02:00.000-07:00

Here I am at the closing reception of the Sans Comic Sans show. This was a comic-inspired exhibition showcasing work from 20 + artists. The pieces in the exhibit challenged the typical format of comic book art. We had an opportunity to explore outside of conventional narrative techniques - whether it was by medium (there were photographers, painters, designers, printmakers), or by innovative uses of colour, panels, text, character development and more. The closing reception was a good time - I am standing next to one of the artworks I really enjoyed because it reminded me of my favourite game, Tetris!

Below is the piece I submitted to the show.

I wanted to create something in the spirit of a graphic novel book cover. Recently I've been interested in exploring elements of steampunk because I thought this established genre could offer structure to my experiments with textural surfaces, and also give me a chance to integrate my figure studies and practice genre specific color application for atmosphere.

Literature provides endless inspiration for me to create narrative artworks, and when I do this I always like to infuse my current interests into the overall aesthetic of the piece. In this case, for the graphic novel show, I wanted to channel elements of steampunk into making a snapshot rendition from Kazuo Ishiguro's poignant novel "Never Let Me Go". This is a stunning novel and I was very glad to revisit and express those cathartic themes in this new work. I think a story like this would translate beautifully into a graphic novel.

There is a particular significant scene in the novel which inspires the title itself, and here is my take on that:

Here is just a few documentations of my progress - there are several different acrylic paintings that include using really fun-tastic interference colors along with ink, paper mache, and finally assembling the piece digitally and then my own custom framing and triple matting!

April 22: Art for MS

2010-04-30T14:53:00.000-07:00

April 22, 2010 saw the first Art for MS show: an art exhibit and fundraising event in support of the MS Society of Canada. The show was hosted at the DaDe Art & Design Lab (located in the Inglewood area of Calgary).

I first met Mali in December while I was still at my studio at Art Central. She told about the event and I was very happy to donate a piece of work for the show's silent auction. The exhibit also showcased works from local artists as well as others who believe in a world without MS. Some of the artists contributing to the show have been diagnosed with MS while others have a connection to MS through a family member or a friend.

The whole evening was pretty awesome - the live auction portion was very exciting and entertaining since I had never witnessed an auctioneer in action before! I was thrilled that by the end of the evening there was a bidding war going on with my piece, and after the event was over, Team Docktor had raised $24,000. Thanks again to everyone who came out to support the event!

April 6: Art Show

2010-04-30T14:45:00.000-07:00

On April 6th, our newly formed Young Artist's Association of Calgary had our first show at Deville Cafe. Artists in the show were Matt Chalupnicek, Bojana Kolarevic, Lindsay Moran, Iain Chrisholm, Makyee Mak, and myself.

A big thanks for all who came out to enjoy the amazing evening with us!

McQueen Homage featured in Conglomerate Magazine!

2010-03-25T10:37:00.000-07:00

Check out the amazing new Fashion Week Magazine: Conglomerate. The online issue launched on March 20th.

A big thanks to Lionel for giving me the opportunity to include my homage illustration to Alexander McQueen in the tribute spread. The magazine looks fantastic - really elegantly designed with exquisite photography. I am a huge fan of the remarkable work of Caitlin Power, so I was thrilled to see her featured in the magazine.

#15 Impromtu Occurrence

2010-03-01T22:07:00.000-08:00

This painting here started out as a little artist's trading card which I then developed using Corel Painter. I've had this program kicking around for a couple of years and didn't even use it until a couple weeks ago for work. So far there is a lot to try out, I especially like the brushes and find myself turning to them, instead of using my favorite Photoshop ones.

The piece itself is a reflection of a couple of surprising events: one sad, one lucky. I really fancied this peacock dress by Alexander McQueen, and had several inspired drawings of it in my old sketchbooks, of course I was reminded of this gorgeous creation it when I heard the tragic news.

The lucky event was running into a couple of people during the intermission of Art aWearness in the ACAD/Jubilee hallway. They wanted to give away their ballet tickets for Moulin Rouge, so I was able to see the last half of the show which was a wonderful new experience for me. Again, I remembered my ancient sketchbooks from high school that contained drawings inspired by Moulin Rouge and my avid obsession with Toulouse Lautrec. This makes me want to revisit France again, now that I am old enough to actually go inside that building!

#14 The Unscrupulous Man

2010-03-01T14:54:00.000-08:00

Exquisite Squid

2010-03-01T12:57:00.000-08:00

Another lovely collaborative Artifact...

Magnificent City

2010-03-01T12:36:00.000-08:00

Magnificent City completed with Anomalous Artifacts

Figure Drawing Session #3

2010-02-12T12:12:00.000-08:00

#13 La Rose Rococo

2010-02-08T22:47:00.000-08:00

#12 Endearing Abode

2010-02-07T14:32:00.001-08:00

#11 Present Imperception

2010-02-06T20:35:00.001-08:00

#10 The Indelible Dove

2010-02-06T16:58:00.000-08:00

#9 Seditious Exploit

2010-02-05T15:44:00.000-08:00

Zoo Drawings

2010-02-05T12:57:00.001-08:00

#8 Summer Confidante

2010-02-02T10:48:00.001-08:00

#7 Noxious Gaze

2010-02-02T10:28:00.001-08:00

#6 Dipylon Face

2010-01-28T23:34:00.001-08:00

Figure Drawing Session #2

2010-01-28T14:21:00.001-08:00

Just some 1-3 minute gesture drawings from Tuesday night figure drawing sessions. Done with a brush pen.

#5 Helpless Inferno

2010-01-28T11:09:00.000-08:00

Perihelion

2010-01-27T22:26:00.000-08:00

A work in progress, in collaboration with Anomalous Artifiacts. The original piece is actually only a quarter of the above image. I decided to scan it and then rotate and repeat the painting to create a planet form and its surrounding space - which was of course inspired by David's "perihelion" scrawled into the experimental plaster on the surface of the painting itself. There will be more to come, after some consultation with the mastermind.

#4 Thought Vibrations

2010-01-27T12:35:00.000-08:00

#3 Absent Affliction

2010-01-27T00:54:00.000-08:00

#2 Sight Asunder

2010-01-25T20:30:00.000-08:00

#1 Idle Atrophy

2010-01-25T15:56:00.001-08:00

First painting blogged for 2010. My brand new acrylic paints and mediums were a fantastic holiday gift to myself. I had decided to buy a bunch for the fact that I had struggled with my oils for the past 4 months, not coming up with much that I thought to be worthy. But now things are looking up - oh how I have missed this fast drying plastic...

Prairie Blaze

2010-01-25T15:31:00.000-08:00

Collab with David part 2 as we tap into the mastermind...

Magnificent City

2009-12-25T23:09:00.000-08:00

Funnily enough, Magnificent City was at one point playing in the background while collaborating with David for this painting. The entire time we were working on it upside down, just as this freestyle image, and when I got home I had an oh shh-- moment when I spun the vinyl in the other direction and saw this.

We have yet to continue this collaboration in the new year!!

Bunny Bouquet

2009-12-10T10:35:00.001-08:00

Something festive for my family, they like bunnies.

Close ups

2009-12-06T15:00:00.000-08:00

Just a few close ups of parts of an art piece I did in October. These are probably pieces that I really enjoyed the look of, but again, struggled with the work as a whole so decided to ditch it and not show it. Not sure what I can use this for, but I am thinking of reviving my original concept for this in the new year

Tegan and Sara

2009-12-06T13:45:00.001-08:00

Heres more a more successful portrait attempt than Felt. I did this maybe a month ago, when their new album came out. I really like their lyrical content so I included handwriting of titles of my favorite songs and standout lyrics by them to make up the background. I am still experimenting with layers of rough drawings, so each portrait is comprised of two drawings done with ink and watercolor.I was liking the effect of the bleeding inks in the original drawings.

Funnily enough there is a brief news footage of me working this project. It was quite a surreal experience when Brian Wong, a reporter from Omni News contacted me to do a cover story on me and my art and studio space. I was really excited to see my artwork on TV of course, and it felt bizarre to seeing myself there too!

Felt 3

2009-12-06T12:52:00.000-08:00

So this is one I've been struggling with for quite some time. I think I am on version 11 or something like that. I just really got into drawing portraits and so decided to do portraits of this Rhymesayers group called Felt, because they recently come out with a new tribute album. I thought doing three portraits would be great fun, only I didnt think through how I was putting it all together and now the composition sucks and I am going to start again. What I do like is where I am going with the rendering, just need to think about design more and then eventually better type treatment.

Zoo Drawings and Other Sketches

2009-12-06T12:32:00.000-08:00

Here are just some portraits straight out of my sketchbook, but and the colored one is another two-drawings-in-one experiment. I might try and finish the rest of them if it works out with with my oil paintings I have been experimenting with.

The rest are pages from my sketchbook after my trip to the zoo this November. The new conservatory is really beautiful and a very relaxing place to sit and draw.

Three

2009-12-06T12:18:00.001-08:00

This is a piece called "Three"

It started out as a drawing out of my sketchbook that I really liked for the fluid lines and the portraits women at different ages, and I wanted to explore some pattern and linework. Plus I had this surface lying around that I had originally done for another project that didnt turn out the way I wanted. Of course I was influenced by Gustav Klimt, my previous project had that intention when I was bringing the background surface together.

This piece will be featured in artist contents series in Fast Forward Weekly on December 17th.

This is also featured on a blog: www.lilacwindow.com which is a blog to support creative talent in Calgary.

Abhorrence

2009-12-06T12:16:00.001-08:00

This one I call "Abhorrence"

I guess I finished it over a length of time, several different drawings/paintings/surfaces done at different times, combined together in one to make this really heavy emotional piece. I dont want to say much else about the inspiration, but I would be surprised if anyone liked it since it kind scares me.

Blue Bellied Roller

2009-12-06T11:49:00.000-08:00

Its been a while, but lately I have been frustrated with several art pieces I sort of start and then ditch because I am not happy with for one reason or another. I'm thinking I need more critique halfway through a work but am too anxious to show off unfinished pieces. Here just some various works, some more finished than others.

This blue bellied roller was drawn at the Calgary zoo when I went for a drawing trip. I finished the sketch later by applying color digitally and then layering a different oil painting I did a few months ago that I didnt know what to do with at the time. I know, its another bird, but I cant help drawing my favorite subject matter!

Roxygen Studios

2009-09-30T08:58:00.000-07:00

Its been almost a month now at my studio located at Art Central. Thanks to everyone who has already come by to see my work!

Art Central Art Loop

Lower Level 7G

100 7th Ave Sw

I have the studio space until the end of December, it was part of the Alberta College of Art + Design Studio Prize. The prize, which was one year of studio space, was split between three students, and my four months has started now.

This September I've been working on a few illustrations prompted by my previous work, The Pisces. Also I have started to do several studies in oil painting which is a new medium for me to use. I usually begin with acrylics and then try to refine forms with oils. So far I really appreciate the flexibility of the medium in that it doesn't dry right away allowing me to continue editing what's already there. However at the same time it is a struggle to prevent colors from getting muddy and reverting to my usual habit of layering paint, which causes this muddiness. Despite this I enjoy using color to draw, and the textures I am able to create. I am starting to understand a little more about more about my strengths and weaknesses in painting.

Here are a few oil experiments that are works in progress:

During the summer I also had a show at The Coup Restaurant, showing my series of North American Birds, which you can see on my website's illustration page. I also participated in the summer's Market Collectives, Park Sale, and Park Show. I will be in the next Market Collective happening this October 24th at the Old Ant Hill Building 148 10th Street NW.

Of course I'll also be attending Art Central's First Thursday's event so be sure to check it out between 5-9pm at Art Central.

ACAD's new publication: Blend

2009-05-08T19:52:00.000-07:00

This year ACAD students put together a new publication, combining the old publications, the muse and current projects into a single magazine called Blend. My art is featured here on the cover of Blend. Inside the pages are samples of other students' work, academic writing, and an interview with me presented alongside more of my work. These magazines will be available for free at the upcoming ACAD Grad Show, as well as in art galleries around Calgary. Be sure to pick one up and check out the ACAD talent. A big thank you goes out to all who were involved in launching the magazine!

Recent Events

2009-05-06T14:18:00.000-07:00

This April there were several events that I had the pleasure to be a part of: Songkla Group Art Show, Market Collective 5, and the ACAD Portfolio Show. These events have certainly kept me busy along with wrapping up final projects for the school year.

Be sure to check out the upcoming ACAD Grad Show running from May 13-23 at the Alberta College of Art + Design located at 1407 14th Ave NW Calgary.

I will also be included in the next Market Collective this summer, where I will be selling prints of my latest works, paintings, and of course my newly painted 'Dudgie' art sculptures. This event will mark their one year anniversary and is sure to have plenty of great art and musical talent. Be sure to check out their facebook page.

Also I am very excited for the launch of ACAD's new publication Blend. My work will be featured on the cover of the publication, along with an interview and and other samples of my work! Copies can also be picked up at ACAD.

A Collection of Sketches

2009-05-05T18:09:00.000-07:00

This is a collection of sketchbook images. I usually work in several different sized sketchbooks at once, so for the Portfolio Show I collected some sketches from all my books and put them into one sketchbook portfolio/process book.

Budgie Pattern featured on the After Art College Blog

2009-03-31T15:10:00.000-07:00

This is a budgie pattern done for our wallpaper project. I had a lot of fun making different bird pattern brushes from my bird drawings.
Check out http://afterartcollege.blogspot.com/ to see some of my patterns and other ACAD work.

Show and Sale Poster

2009-02-19T12:13:00.000-08:00

This is a revised version of "The Pisces." I had originally created the image for a class assignment, but I intended to submit it for the ACAD Spring Show and Sale poster competition. This year there were approximately 31 entries! I didn't win, however the poster was one of the top three entries as voted by ACAD students. The top three were displayed from February to March at the Epcor Center's +15 walkway to promote this year's Show and Sale.

A big thanks to everyone that voted for me! As well, thanks to Mike and Hans for helping me out with revising the typography and format for the poster!

Pisces

2009-01-26T15:47:00.001-08:00

A new piece called "Pisces"

I experimented with pressed flowers set in plaster for the background, and using patterns and layered drawings again. I have plans to do more in this Astrology series and have some working drawings for Aries and Aquarius so far.

1111 Arts and Music Show

2009-01-13T07:09:00.000-08:00

This past weekend I participated in a show called 1111. This was the largest independant group art exhibition in Alberta, held on 11 January 2009. You can see one of my pieces on the 1111 blog: http://1111-oneoneone.blogspot.com/

Here are some photos of the event with my work alongside my fellow classmates, Spencer, Scott and Chase.

Da Jiggaman

2008-12-24T19:43:00.000-08:00

For my last Corporate Illustration project, a hypothetical annual report for Rocawear, I did a portrait of Jay Z. I used spray paint, a medium which was totally new for me, only having experienced using it to paint the dudgies. I learnt a lot about controlling this medium and I plan to pursue this application for future works - currently I am preparing another personal project to be done in January, involving spray paint and other, specimens...

Gracefully Remarkable

2008-12-24T14:38:00.000-08:00

Margaret Atwood’s novel, Alias Grace, inspired me to create, Portrait of Grace Marks. The novel is a Canadian historical fiction based on the real life murderess, Grace Marks. This novel, set in the 1840’s, provided intriguing character descriptions, which of course, captured my interest in the subject.

The concept of my artwork was to depict Grace Marks with a neo classical innocence in her face, and to juxtapose this purity against the sinister strait jacket she is wearing. This contrast was to highlight the mystery surrounding her supposed guilt or innocence based on the fact that she was only fourteen at the time of the murders.

To create the portrait, I used an experimental approach based on the motif of quilting. Throughout the novel I found that the story was revealed in layers much like how a quilt is made. So, I using several layers of drawings and pieces I composed the portrait. Eventually it assembled the ethereal Portrait of Grace Marks.

For me, this artwork marks an achievement toward my goal of becoming a book illustrator upon graduation from ACAD. I have always been interested in combining both my passions for art and literature.

I was fortunate enough to be a part of the Nightmare Show at Uppercase during October 2008:

The Birth of Dudgie (2)

2008-12-23T19:19:00.000-08:00

From left to right, back to front: Mondrian, Jailbird, 50G, Fresh, Pinky, Loves You, Genuine, Punky, Hokusai, Splash

So far I am still looking for someone to adopt: Jailbird, Fresh, Genuine, and Punky.

There will be more dudgies yet!

The Birth of Dudgie

2008-12-23T19:09:00.001-08:00

During October and the beginning of November I started a personal project, which turned into a something bigger. I had the idea of this duck and budgie hybrid I call "Dudgie." I sculpted the bird out of super sculpey, baked it, made a mold in two parts, and finally casted the sculpture in plastic. Afterwards I painted different designs on these miniatures, in hopes that they would find a loving home...

Scroll Process Continued...(2)

2008-12-23T14:16:00.000-08:00

I found the rice paper took watercolor well. I took care with the large washes, soaking up the excess with paper towels and then letting the piece dry before continuing. The washes dried lighter than when applied, so eventually through layers of washes I ended up with the final pieces without having to do much editing digitally. The finals can be seen on my website: www.roxygenillustration.com

Scroll Process Continued...

2008-12-23T14:06:00.001-08:00

Here are the inked drawings before I began to paint with watercolor:

Aesop's Fables Scrolls Process

2008-12-23T13:07:00.000-08:00

So, to begin, I am posting some process that I have documented from the previous semester. This includes my project based on selected Aesop's Fables: (1) The Swallow and the Little Birds, (2) The Jay and the Peacock Feathers, (3) The Rooster Complains to Goddess Juno.

The first step was drawing. I drew the ideas out small in a tiny sketchbook, and then onto 11x17 and then thought, I am going to make this big. I wanted to make something like those chinese scrolls, on rice paper... lots of detail and a whole lot of bird.

I had to figure out how to transfer the drawings, but then just decided to draw from my drawings, and then I started inking.

After inking, I scanned in my line drawings incase something went wrong during the next stage...