http://drawger.com/jos/ Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:22:06 EST FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://drawger.com/_images/drawger_leo_logo.gif http://drawger.com/ http://drawger.com/jos/index.php?section=articles&article_id=6591 Here are three shots of the first mask in its beginniing stage that drawger Dave Gothard took before I started to sling the Sculpy.  I decided to insert this into the thread on the Avers Sefira masks before adding later stages to the development in case any of you drawgers want to play around with this kind of play. This way, when I put it in the oven and it explodes, you will be able to figure out why and avoid a similar outcome.   First step: I constructed this armature out of baling wire and aluminum screen.  The third shot shows me modelling the frame for Dave.  I included this for scale, and becase it makes me look younger.







]]> Thu, 04 Dec 2008 19:24:48 EST http://drawger.com/jos/index.php?section=articles&article_id=6526 This time around, my cover work for the group's new album will be "persona masks".  Each one has chosen a bird that represents something personal to him.  these are not to be worn while performing, but just for a cover photo.  This way I  have no restrictions other than that it fits over the upper part of the face. I built a frame from steel wire and aluminum screen and am working over this with Super Sculpy.  It's great to be drawing in 3-D.





]]> Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:41:57 EST http://drawger.com/jos/index.php?section=articles&article_id=3587 Here is the latest incarnation of the Avers Sefira group.  Their sold-out night at BBKing's is now history although they will be performing in Philly in the near future. 

And now, the vocalist/guitarist.  I closed his mouth and opened his eyes but retained the roots.  Now each of these sveldt gentlemen has two images from which to choose.

Last but not least, is the drummer.  In my May '07 archive posting, he appeared only as a rough pencil sketch.  My references were too vague to work from as he had grown a full beard in the meantime and the performance photos were a bit too atmospheric to give me the kind of info that is needed for pen and ink ( charcoal would have been a breeze).

]]> Fri, 08 Jun 2007 21:30:41 EST http://drawger.com/jos/index.php?section=articles&article_id=3468 Over a year ago I received an e-mail from a fellow in Austin TX.  He was inquiring about a drawing of mine that was reproduced in an article about me in the July 1988 American Artist Magazine.  We started a regular correspondence.I learned the following: a) He is a member of a Texas Heavy Metal group named Avers Sefira.  b) In the time I have known him, they are beginning to hit it big.  c) They are composing a CD inspired by my drawing.  d) It will be used for the album cover and posters.  e) They have a two-year tour coming up.  e) A piece of one of my illustrations from WITCHES by Erica Jong, was used for the logo for the group BATHOR which is regarded as the "father" of this particular sub genre of heavy metal.  f) A west coast publisher of esoteric books has two of my drawings tatooed on his arm and leg.There's more but you get the idea.  My work has had a hidden life that I had no idea about.  I seem to have dropped into this world with a certain amount of pre-established cred.Avers Sefira will be performing at BB King's on 42nd St. next month.  I invited any interested drawgers to don their black duds and join me.  I'll post the time later.Here are two of the three gentlemen in the group.  These pics will go on the interior of the CD album.



]]> Mon, 21 May 2007 03:58:02 EST http://drawger.com/jos/index.php?section=articles&article_id=3237 Now that my exhibition at the Huntington Museum of Art is safely ensconced and my master workshop is behind me, I can relax and start a new series of paintings.My paintings go through so many transformations as they develop, I decided that I would open the process from first sketch to completion (or scrap pile ,if it doesn't turn out).  This should keep an interesting bit of tension in the mix since I know there is someone looking over my shoulder.  Normally we hide this part in the privacy of our studios.I started with a rather poor quality  photocopy of a pencil sketch done on a piece of TwinRocker 5" x 8" paper.  The original, I sold before I could get around to doing a painted version but this is fine for my purposes.I will post each step every few days.

The painting is being done in oils on a gessoed wood panel.  I first laid a ground of Cypress Green.  Over this I did a loose brush drawing to estaablish the position and scale of the bird on the panel.  This is followed by a gradual filling-in of the twisted forms that will make up the feathers.  At this stage, I am just rendering the image in an underpainting made of a mixture of three and four colors.  This has no indication of the final colors I will develop through a series of layers of transparent glazes.  The picture shows the underpainting after two days:

Since these pictures are so small, I decided to throw in a closer view of the wing at this stage of development.  That's for you drawgers who have ruined your eyes working  like I do.

Here is an update at the end of the fourth day of painting.  I had to break for a couple of days while I became a grandpa for the third time.  This one is a little girl named SooJin Emma (not the painting, my new grandaughter).  She was born a week ago.  I'll put in her picture later.  For now, you have to settle for the bird.

]]> Sat, 14 Apr 2007 02:09:48 EST http://drawger.com/jos/index.php?section=articles&article_id=2928 My humble apologies to all drawgers.  I have been completely out of the loop again.  This time I have been preparing for my upcoming exhibition and three-day workshop at the Huntington Museum of Art in Huntington, WV.  This has entailed finishing some new paintings, staining frames, cataloging and packing 29 paintings and drawings, plus listening to hours of cds to select music for a visualization workshop that will in part be done in a trance state.How is this for just plain weird?  I just came back to my site and realized that I had already posted this announcement.  Just goes to show how long I have been away from here.

How is this for  weird?  I added a posting that I already put up last month.  This shows how long I've been out ot the loopl

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