Birds on Birds

 I get some crazy, nonsensical concepts in my head sometimes. I have always like drawing people without their eyes open or their faces cover or obscured. David Choe does it all the time, as does James Jean. I wasn't copying them. I quite like it visually I guess. Another particular favourite of mine is drawing birds. They are as good as drawing fish and insects, if not better.

Light/Dark/Pitch Black

This is the ink version of a painting I previously posted. http://gregorystephenson.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/intermission-painting.html I prefer this one, as the grain on the painting made me look sloppy.

Rye

 I'm not really a fan of drawing things that I have no interest in. Hence it's always faces of people and animals that I draw or paint. However, sometimes I'm know to branch out a little bit. I had some time off work, and I currently live in a crappy part of the country, so I went on a day trip to Rye, Sussex. It's a small village, that is full of quirky and interesting buildings. Dave McKean, probably my favourite illustrator/artist exhibits there, and has a new show in September called Blue Tree opening soon.
I'm rambling again. Right, I thought I'd better get used to drawing things I've had trouble with in the past. Which it seems are things that are unforgiving when it comes to perspective, it's not that I can't draw them, it's more it is more difficult getting it right straight away.Also I have the tendency to avoid drawing from life, mainly I seem to attract people to me who ask me questions and I don't like that so much. So, I sat down and drew the basic line-work on location, took a couple of photos and finished them at home.

My brother's birthday card.

I hate spending money on something that someone will probably throw away the next day. That said, my brother probably threw this away, that is the kind of guy he is. Either way, I always make cards for birthdays and Christmas. I don't send too many, so isn't really a chore. I usually make cards for the ones I know I'll get grieve from, if they don't get one. It's a system that works for me.
Anyway, this is basically a Raccoon with a balloon. Why? Who knows. I quite like it, I'll be annoyed if he has binned it.

Smokin' Joe Frazier

I love combat sports, these days it's more MMA-orientated. Largely because of the problems with boxing in my opinion. I still watch boxing, but it is in a strange place at the moment.

My biggest issue is the different boxing councils, 4 or 5 different titles at each weight class is now outdated. In terms of competition, it makes no-sense and takes the prestige away. Each council has their own agenda and ideas too, and it is focused, sadly around money. I understand, it is a factor, but it is a sport and it is supposed to be entertaining. Boxers get to a certain level and the stumping point for most fights happening is financial or political. Pacquaio vs. Mayweather should have happened in 2009, it still hasn't happened and it would create a great deal of interest. I also think another issue is the fighter's records are these day inflated, fights are picked to build them up rather than challenge them, crushing cans to build stock. Also I always think to judge the health of boxing is looking at it's rivalries, and it's heavyweight division. If these two elements are combined; even better. We've had the Tyson/Holyfield/Lewis one as the most recent decent one, but the Ali/Foreman/Frazier one is the defining HW dogfight. There was drama, and electricity. I've liked Smokin' Joe, because he always seemed like a gentleman, a decent guy who could fight. He was the real Rocky Balboa story and enhanced the sport.

Bear Skull

 This is the same painting, in two forms. I have loved painted skulls since school. I'm a bit funny in actually touching them, but I'd go as far to say after painting/drawing people, skulls would be second.
My college had a collection of decent skulls, the crocodile one being a particular favourite. As a subject, they provide an interest challenge in terms of shape and texture. The painting on the left was a quick acrylic painting, and the one below was me trying to create a style I could take further into other subjects. I quite like the way it turned out too.

The Dark Knight Rises

Some insignificant doodles after I saw the new Batman film.

Unlike most people, I think the purest form that Batman has appeared in is the Warner Brothers animated series in the 90s. I think they covered everything that makes Batman great, all the elements were there, visually, in terms of character and writing. I think the people who have seen it agree. It has Batman, using actual detective skill, Nolan touched upon it in places, but I think it's one of the stronger elements of the character. Seeing as he is just an ordinary guy, in a powers sense.


I like the comics and have really rated the Morrison and Snyder runs recently.
I think Nolan has done a decent job. I still think that as individual films they are flawed. I'm not convinced 'The Dark Knight' is a great film, after Rachel is killed it loses it's way for me. Though as a trilogy, a journey of emotion it makes more sense and feels complete.

Plus, it is a vast improvement over the film that includes the line "It's Ice to see you".