Nintendo DSi Plein Air Painting

It only seems like yesterday the DSi got released in Australia...in fact it was only April as I scan through my emails. Here I am as part of Nintendo propaganda at the launch 'party'.

Then...this week they announce the DSi XL ! And no this isn't exciting for gaming reasons. I was thinking, hell, this is getting closer and closer to the portable cintiq I've been waiting for (as opposed to the normal DSi which used to be the portable cintiq I've been waiting for).

So to celebrate, on a glorious sunny day in Melbourne, I whipped the old friend out and began painting a plein air with Colors! The best thing about Colors! is that it records your paint strokes, so I uploaded it to Youtube. Mind the aristocratic music.

Dr. Sketchy's Anti Art School Melbourne - 19th Oct '09 Part 1

Dr Sketchy's Melbourne was, as always, alot of fun. I think they realised I was a regular there and bought me on stage to pose the models. Not that that's something I want to show off about. It was rather embarrassing - "errrr sit there, aaaanddd ummmm yeah yeah, that's good". Met some interesting people from different industries too, so I think the ball's beginning to roll. Particularly as we lead up to summer!

I have two more pics I'd like to share, but for today, I thought I'd share these two, touched up in PS. I remember seeing a video of some master artist dude using traditional, scanning them in, and then going over the top of it digitally. I'm beginning to understand why. It's sooooooo much easier to make those 'happy accidents' with traditionals I reckon. And it makes it enjoyable wondering what would happen. Here is a charcoal based image and another one using coloured pencils! I don't think I've used as something as primitive since, like, primary school.

I wonder what you guys think about using traditional media?

And, in Progress...

Many of you may or may not remember me posting up WIPs ages ago on this painting. Well, this is a post to say that yes, I'm still going! A waaaay to go, but hey I'm chipping away at it. Although the project sometimes goes on the backburner, the subject is always at the top of my heart. **cough, cough , cough**

On the subject of watery paintings DrSketchy's Melbourne is back this weekend with the theme 'Under the Sea'. Exciting stuff! I hope I'll be able to make it down, but it's a heads up at the moment

Life Drawing - 07 Oct '09

Done with NuPastels (as apposed to Old pastels) imported from the good old USA. After trying to look all over for them in Melbourne I had to get them online on DickBlick. My verdict...meh, not so much different from the ordinary stuff but mmmmmmmaybe, just maybe, pastel relies on the surface more.

Pastel and Charcoal have been my mortal enemies but a few bloggers have inspired me to pick them up again (at least on the occasion). Ben Lo's life drawings for example are just...gorgeous. My dream is to get to the dexterity and richness of Bill Cone's stuff ....a dream, a dream...

Hey Hey, it's ... Masterchef!

Awhile back, Sarah rang me up and said, "y'know who'd be good to caricature? The Masterchefs. They're all different sizes and shapes..." My mind drifted off after that as I tried to figure out what that show was all about.

Fast track to today where a second Australian Masterchef series has just started against the fan fair of Hey Hey it's Sat..."Hey Hey"'s return. Will it claw its way back? Ehhh you never know.

Anyway, what I do know is that after Masterchef aired its first season, eeeeeeeverybody suddenly became an expert, plating up, presenting, how moist something tasted. blah blah. So my thinking is, if your gonna cook something good, you may as well have their ugly mugs hanging in your kitchen, watching over your shoulder - pushing you, judging you!

Or you can just look at it and have a laugh.

YOU can purchase your piece of Masterchef by buying this print from my Deviantart page! . I'm trying this all out right now, so let me know how it works for you!

Hopefully it fits with your kitchen decor. If not I'll be posting up my Gordon Ramsay soon so you can hang around for that!