This week we continued to work with Tommy on developing value in our figure drawings. This was our last week working with him, and in the end I'm not sure how I feel about this style of figure drawings. In my opinion, my figure drawings look best when I have free reign to start and finish where I want. While for some people, this method of building up with gestures might be helpful, I prefer to focus primarily on the negative space. I found that with gesture, many of my proportions were inconsistent and by the time I realized it it was too late to fix anything without erasing an entire body part. 

My home project is not moving along as quickly as I would like. I have gotten pretty far into the design of the tattoo, but I want to spend more time on it seeing as it will be going on my dad permanently. I also think that it will be impossible for it to get tattooed on by the deadline, so I have put that project on hold and am shifting gears a little bit. I plan to do a print of a similar theme, because my inspiration for the tattoo was  Japanese block printing. 
On an unrelated note, I got an idea for a new project that I think could be really cool. I have my old iPhone that is completely unusable and plan to possibly smash it, attach it to a wooden "canvas" and continue the shatters out. The shatters will have moments missed, presumable because of being absorbed in technology, in them. Right now it is just a brain storm though. 

This week we have been working with Tommy to make figure drawings. Monday we focussed on searching lines, and Wednesday we worked on the surface of the figure. 

This week I finished the second sign, painted the edges and got them ready to hang. I need to work more on clouds and coping with acrylic in place of oil for the given time.

WHAT DID YOU DO?
Today I did an extra layer on the sky and sign, painted in all of the letters, and started on the decay. Next class I plan to finish the decay and the neons, and if I have time give it a stormier sky.
DID YOU USE YOUR TIME WELL?
I got a lot of the painting done today and should be on track to finish by next class. I may need to get it ready to hang during lunch on Friday, but I can probably get it done in the class period.
WHAT OBSTICLES ARE YOU FACING?
The most difficult part of this project is changing up the media. I am used to working with oil paint that gives me more than enough time to blend. This is not the case with acrylic. Another issue with the paint is that I am used to the color set up of oil that is not available in the acrylics that we have (I prefer having a warm and cool version of all the primaries as well as a black and white). I usually work with an easel, but have found with the size of the painting that that is almost impossible.

Now that I have finished the Homestead, I have decided to start painting a similar sign titled the Spot. I am hoping to do an eight part series of neon signs that I have seen while traveling. This one was located just down the road from the Homestead and there are many similarities between the signs. I have started to sketch the sign on canvas, but it would not show up in a picture. As soon as I start blocking in colors I will post a process on it. 

Action Painting: there are certain sections of this action paining that I enjoy, but others where there is room for improvement. I like the section towards the top right portion of the painting that has a lovely pairing of pink and green which then swoops into the lower left. I am not happy with the blue and wish I had stuck with the green and pink. 
Color Block: This painting overall feels forced to be, but I like the way the colors work together and how with two base colors I can still add depth and interest to the painting. I might consider taking this limited pallet to my action painting.