Here Come the Paintings!

Wow! Those posts last week were the best EVER, right?!...
Wait...don't tell me the space aliens got to them again! Greedy aliens. It's so frustrating when they do that. I guess I'll post them again this week so you all can see them too.
So here are a few paintings I was commissioned to do by a friend at church. They aren't really indicative of my normal style, but they are the only three that I've had a chance to get good pictures of. She basically gave me only 3 criteria to fulfill. First, she wanted a specific color set to go with her furniture and other decor. Second, she had a series of words to be included (specifically the nine aspects of the fruit of the Spirit as described in Paul's Letter to the Galatians chapter 5 verses 22-23 in the Christian Bible). And finally, I was to include my own interpretations of nine eastern Asian inspired images that she had chosen. I don't by any means profess to be an expert when it comes to the creation of objective abstract art. That being established, I finally finished the triptych and she liked it, so I suppose I accomplished my mission. Here they are, both individually and in what I consider to be their optimal wall arrangement.
As a side note, I feel like it's worth pointing out that regardless of your personal beliefs, if we all took on even some of these nine traits it would be beneficial to mankind as a whole. Our world has quite enough negativity, but could easily stand to be a little more patient, gentle, kind, loving, etc,.

There you have them, hopefully safe from extraterrestrial interference this time.  As usual (well usually, as usual) check back Wednesday to see what's else I've got in store for your viewing enjoyment.  Until then, let's all make this oft-too-crazy world we live in a happier place any way we can. And of course...
Stay creative,
AH!

Mid-Week #9: Wired Wednesday Lucky 7

Welcome to what may or may not be the final Wired Wednesday for a while! Since I'm so late posting and sharing masks again, I might as well go with Theatrical Thursday.  If only science had been able to grasp the elusive secret to faster than light travel, I might even have been able to post it Wednesday night on Thursday morning...Moving on...

First up is a mask that I'm hesitant to call complete.  It is loosely based on Balinese masks of the lion-like king of spirits, Barong, the leader of the forces of good.  I really like the extremely expressive masks of both Barong and his evil nemesis Rangda (a mask of whom will also be constructed at some point).  They are recognizable by their exaggerated eyes and mouths.  I will likely add more of a frame to this eventually and give it a nice mane and beard, also made of wire, of course.

 Next is a more Egyptian inspired mask. In case you've missed the context clues throughout my blog, I enjoy the mythologies of various cultures throughout the world.  This, as I said, is a mask of any of the variety of hawk or falcon headed gods of ancient Egypt.  Like the Barong mask above, I will probably add more to this one in the future, but for now I'm happy with it hanging on my wall as it is. I really like the way the feathers turned out in this one. While ideally I could have a three-dimensional image you could rotate to see all the different angles, you at least can get a better view of the feathers from the profile shot I also included.

Finally is one that has a much less mythological inspiration.  It's a goat.  I suppose one could argue that there are several instances of goats in various world mythologies, but this is your basic run-of-the-mill goat. I think goats get a bad reputation from their (admittedly creepy) horizontal slit pupils. In fact, they share that genetic trait with deer, cattle, most horses, and many sheep species all of which benefit with greater peripheral depth perception. The primary difference being that goats have lighter colored irises, so the strange shape stands out more.  You may be thinking "None of that has to do with art or wire," but remember that any artistic reproduction you make with the desire to accurately depict reality must begin with close observation of the aforementioned reality.  Plus, creepy factor aside, their eyes look kind of cool.

Thus ends (maybe) the saga that has been Wired Wednesday. Changes lie ahead for the Hey Mr. H! blog. Starting Sunday, the first of the week posts will now periodically be featuring some of my paintings, so be sure to check back in for that. And don't forget, if you like what you see on this or any other post, share it with a friend. Blogger supports a variety of social media (twitter, Facebook, etc.,) In any case, I hope you have a wonder-filled second half of the week. Until next time.

Stay creative,

AH!

Tooth and Nail

I guess that given these drawings, maybe "Teeth and Nails" would be more appropriate, but it just didn't have the same ring to it.

First up is a character that has little by way of explanation, but what there is I'll tell you.  This is Pearlie.  Pearlie is one of those drawings that just sort of popped out of the depths of my subconscious. I find teeth to be interesting and at times disturbing.  Just think of all of the famous characters who would look vastly different without them. Bugs Bunny, Jaws, Count Dracula, and Goofy are just a few (admittedly disparate) examples. The shape of each of those characters' teeth is a huge part of the viewers identification of who they are.  Pearlie is no different.  Given his rather massive mouth it is apparent that he is a talker. His huge white rounded rectangular teeth betray his non-threatening disposition. The dark eyes could be a little ambiguous, so I also gave him a whimsical hairstyle to add to the overall goofy impression he gives.

This next one requires the least amount of description of nearly anything I've posted so far. It's simply a skull.  Since, barring any invertebrates who have taken to reading my blog, all of us have skulls it is one of the most recognized shapes I can think of. The symbolism associated with them is pretty clear too. Unfortunately danger, death, poisons, and general warnings are all commonly associated with skulls (frequently accompanied by crossed bones). Because of those connections, most people have a bit of a mental block against noticing the finer details of skulls. Who knows why? Maybe it's a human instinct thing. Whatever the reason, that simple fact makes a skull a great practice for observing and drawing details. It's arguably one of the most unfamiliar familiar things you can draw. Give it a try sometime.

Finally is a critter that I drew purely for the fun of it.  Have you ever thought about the term "fish fingers" that is given to the formed pressed pieces of fish served in many school cafeterias?  This is the answer to that very question. This is also another of my drawings was directly inspired by a fifth grader's suggestion. Since, as far as I know, a fish of this type has never been observed in the wild, I had free reign to give it whatever details I wanted. As you can see I decided it should have a beak. There's not really a logical reason for that decision, I just liked the way it looked. I thought having a big toe for its side fin was a nice addition as well.

Well, there you have it. I should point out that this week's title not only hinted at the drawings you'd see, but also at how hard I'll have to work to make sure I have something to post next Sunday. I think I may begin showing some of the paintings I've done, or maybe make some more drawings... who really knows what all can transpire in a week. Check back to see, and be sure to tune in midweek for the next installment of Wired Wednesday.
Stay creative,
AH!

Mid-Week #8: Wired Wednesday Part 6

 Wired Wednesday is off and running! This week's theme is...well...there really isn't one...I guess wire? Yeah, I'll go with that. Anyway, here we go.
This first one is a unicorn, as is strongly hinted at by the singular sharp horn protruding from its forehead. Unlike most of the sculptures I've posted pictures of so far, this one is in fact the third of its kind.  I produced the first one as a gift. When a co-worker of the gift recipient saw it, she offered to commission a second one.  While I was making the second one a thought occurred to me. "Why not make a third unicorn to keep for display?" I thought. Not exactly a riveting story, I know, but important nonetheless. Had I not made this one, I couldn't be sharing it with you today. The final product stands 9.5 inches tall and is about 11 inches from head to tail. I like the way the whole thing turned out, but my favorite part of this one is the mane, on which I used a smaller gauge stainless steel wire.

At this point, I imagine that seeing another mask shouldn't come as much of a surprise.  This one is fairly unique in that it has almost no story of how I was inspired to make it.  Basically, I started bending some wire and really liked the shapes that began to form.  At some point in every work of art the artist has to step back and say, it's finished.  That time came fairly early in this mask's creation process. It's about 9 inches tall.

I'll conclude this week with one that isn't nearly so simple in design, but also started as a mask.  This, in case it isn't immediately apparent, is a chimpanzee head. My fascination with most primates is the short form explanation of the "why?" of this one.  It started off in much the same way the mask above did.  I first set out to make a slightly abstracted (read cartoony) monkey mask. Somehow in the process of creating it, the project took on a life of its own and became the approximately 1:1 scale chimp head you see now. Unfortunately, due to the complexity of the wiring, it doesn't translate as well into two-dimensional photograph as I would prefer. The first shot shows it in profile, the second viewing it from the front, and the third viewing it from the back.  Like the full scale hand I made and showed in this post, I hope to one day complete an entire body for this guy.  If and when that day comes, I will most assuredly post pictures of both the process and the final product.  Until then, a disembodied primate head it shall remain.

Though I will still post wire sculptures periodically, my weekly Wired Wednesday series will be drawing to a close before long.  Keep checking back though to see what other projects I have in store for you.  Rest assured that as long as there is life in my body, I will continue to do my best to translate my art from ideas to realities.  As usual my art challenge to you all stands and don't forget to support your local artists of all forms. Have a great week and as always...
Stay creative.
-AH!

Reptiles... Mostly

As the title indicates, this week features three pictures of reptiles... sort of.  I really like drawing reptilian skin and scales. There's something about the details of the skin and scale textures that puts me into an almost Zen state. Drawing plain old lizards and snakes over and over and over again gets a little monotonous, though. To  combat the tedium, I improvise.

First up this week is an amalgamation of a Tyrannosaurus Rex and a chimpanzee. Whether it's deserved or not is up for debate, but the T. Rex has the reputation of being one of the baddest of the big-bads in the dinosaur world. Then I thought about a chimp (Don't even bother trying to figure out how my train of thought reached that station) Chimps, as entertaining as they are, also have a mean streak at least a mile wide.  Since the eyes and hands, in my opinion, are the most expressive aspects of any primate, I combined the Rex and the chimp into the roaring beast you see here.

 And here's Ossie.  He's unlike the other two creatures in today's post in that he is entirely reptile. The inspiration behind this drawing is actually found in the book of Genesis in the Old Testament of the Bible. According to the Genesis account, prior to tempting man to commit the original sin, the serpent got around in Eden by walking. After the fall of man, he was cursed to slither around on his belly. This is my idea of how he might have gotten around before the curse. The name is an acronym for Original Sin Serpent In Eden.

Finally is another student inspired creation. I'm not exactly sure where he got the idea, but somehow the idea of a bull/alligator hybrid seemed to click with me. A short while later the bulligator came into being. I took an alternate approach to the combination of these animals than I did with the chimp and t. rex, opting for a blend of their aspects throughout the body this time. Regardless of those differences, I can safely say that I wouldn't want to run afoul of either of them (or Ossie for that matter).

Thus ends another post. My mid-week Wired Wednesday series continues this week, so check back then for more of my three-dimensional art. Before I sign off, here are a couple of reminders.

REMINDER #1) As an artist I thrive on feedback from my audience, so questions, requests, ideas, or comments about this or any other post are both welcomed and strongly encouraged. That's what the comment section below and my email are there for.

REMINDER #2) There's still an artistic challenge waiting for your response here. It's not too late to take up the challenge.

Looking forward to hearing from you all.

Stay creative,

AH!

Mid-Week #7: Wired Wednesday Act V - Masks Continued

Wired Wednesday strikes again! I decided to share a few more of the masks I've made this week, including one of my favorites. So here we go...
This first mask is the result of my general distaste for football (American football for my overseas readers).  I know, I'm supposed to be a huge fan of it just because I'm a guy, but I greatly prefer one good hockey game to a whole season of football. Anyway, about five or six years ago, I was invited to hang out with some friends and watch the Superbowl. Since by my estimation, the commercials and conversations with friends are often the best parts of the game, I brought along my wire and started working as we talked. By the end of the game, I had managed to bring about this half-mask. I've always enjoyed the labyrinthine meandering lines of ancient Greek and Roman art, and since they were some of the great masters of theatrical masks, the project practically designed itself. So here it is It's about six inches from top to bottom.

Along the same lines of thought, I also made this next mask.  If you are familiar with classical theatrical symbolism, you'll likely recognize this guy as Comedy, a mask most frequently associated with the muse Thalia. In fact, you have almost certainly seen it in the company of the mask of Melpomene, muse of tragedy. The two masks together being an accepted symbol for theatrical acting.

This final mask (for today, at least) was made as an accompaniment for the Sun mask I posted in the first Wired Wednesday. I decided to make the Moon simple in design to provide visual balance with the much more visually busy Sun.  Like the Labyrinth mask above it is a half mask, only split vertically instead of horizontally.

On that note, I'll say "Good night, Moon," (and other masks) and sign off for the day.  I'm finally taking pictures of some of my other figures, so the Wired Wednesday series will continue for at least one more week. That should give you all time to work on and send me the art I challenged you to draw a couple of weeks ago (hint, hint, hint). Looking forward to sharing more drawings Sunday!

Stay creative,

AH!

Every Day Has Its Dog

As the title of this post should indicate, the main focus is... a dirt-bike!  Okay, not really.  There is a dirt-bike thrown in there, but mainly because my other canines are already posted here and here.

This first drawing draws direct inspiration from those oh so beloved dogs playing poker.  My variation being that the dogs are shooting pool. Since, prior to this blog, the majority of my audience was comprised of my students I removed the usual cigars and replaced the alcoholic beer with Barq's Root Beer (Get it? Barq's. Because dogs bark.) Yeah, if you aren't used to the bad puns by now, you haven't been reading my blog long enough. It isn't my favorite drawing, but a lot of people seem to like it so here it is.

Detail of the bottles

Now that the dogs playing pool are out of the way, here's another drawing of a canine that is one of my favorites.  A student suggested after seeing some of my drawings that I should try drawing a grey wolf. Thank you Nicholas M. for making that suggestion! I'm sure if I really stared at it for a long time that I'd notice things that bother me, but that hasn't happened yet. I'm especially proud of the texture detail of his nose and the detail I put in the teeth. Again, the eyes are larger than they would be in nature. Like the aforementioned puns, that's just part of who I am.

And now, without further ado, is the dirt-bike.  This is the final major component of the composite drawing I mentioned in last Sunday's post. My distaste for drawing machines was overridden by the fact that I'd asked for suggestions. I didn't go super-detailed (or even slightly detailed) on the inner workings of the engine, but I think the basic idea of Dirt-bike was accomplished reasonably well. If I must find something nice to say about it, I am mostly pleased with the way the wheels turned out (hehehe "wheels turned"). I think I even managed to pull off the foreshortening pretty convincingly.

And so concludes this chapter in the ongoing saga that is the Hey Mister H! Blog.  Tune into for the next exciting episode of Wired Wednesday...well...Wednesday.  You may have paid for your whole seat, but you'll only be using the edge! As I mentioned in Wednesdays post, remember to help support and encourage your local artists.  Artists don't always get paid well (in fact we very rarely get paid well), but a few words of encouragement can go a long way to supplement that.

Stay creative,

AH!