NEW KID IN TOWN

Hello Deviant Art friends and watchers. It’s been a while since I’ve written a journal on here. Hell, it’s been a while since I’ve put out a series on here! A whole year now. But I do have a good excuse for that. First off, I am currently living in Sophia where I’ve been travelling around Europe which has been taking up a ton of my art time. I’ve also switched my line of work for a moment and got into some acting. I even landed some parts in two upcoming films. Unfortunately, they are American produced films, so for all of you non-Americans, you would have to travel to the states to see them or wait until they hit your home theatre or DVD store. That includes me. The first one, called ReKill ,will be a feature film, and the other, The Time Machine: Morlocks, will be a Sci-Fi Channel/Straight to DVD release. That one is a sequel to the 2002 version of The Time Machine. Okay, okay, enough plugging time for me, now back to my new series and more excuses.

Some time ago, early Summer, late Spring, some of you might remember that I promised to deliver the original follow-up to The Sunflower series [link] called Horror to be released mid-Summer 2009. Well, I want to apologize for the cancellation of that series, I was way to busy making a huge move to Europe and could never find the time to complete it. Actually, it is about 95% of the way complete, but I am just too much of a perfectionist to have released it incomplete at the time of my move. Nevertheless, the Horror series is safely tucked away in my OD vaults back home in the USA. So when I finally get back to the States, if I don’t absolutely hate the series when I see it, I just might put the finishing touches on it and get it posted on DA. But that is highly doubtful, because I always hate my work about 3 months after completing it!

Okay, now that I’ve gotten through my many excuses, let’s move on to the NEW series. It’s called The Stranger [link] and it was conceived and completed in my new studio in Sophia in between my crazy schedule of travelling and movie making. So some of you might notice its sudden sporadic change in moods and styles as you view the pieces, so be kind when viewing. My new studio has an outdoor balcony, so it made it quite easy to take pictures of the work in progress stages. Something that really helped me out when I over-worked a piece. Now I could easily just go back to an earlier version and exhale. Which I did a lot for this series, actually! Taking pictures of the WIP also made it possible to release another tutorial. A couple of you, that’s literally TWO people, had been asking me to do a tutorial on my “figure” drawing/coloring process, so check out A Strange Tutorial [link] that I cobbled together and please feel free to ask me any questions about it, anytime.

Besides my amazing art friends on DA that I always get inspiration from, for this particular series, I got additional inspiration from my late great hero Swedish director Ingmar Bergman. So do yourself a favor and please check out some of his brilliant works. You won’t be disappointed.

Okay, before I sign off, I would like to talk about a young lady who noted me recently about her dislikes of my gallery, which was nice that she noted me instead of displaying her personal dislikes so that the entire DA community can read, too. Usually people who post their dislikes on your page are looking for an audience or attention, someone to agree with them. So if you do have a problem with my work, let’s talk it over in private, it’s the human thing to do. Anyway, I won’t mention her name because it’s not necessary for the story, but she did tell me flat out, plain and simple, that I am a shallow dude. And she was right! I am shallow. I mean, I am the first to admit that I am bit of perv...wait a minute who am I kidding, I’m a huge perv with a capitol P! I love to paint nude females. And as of late, I’ve been on sort of a rampage with it. Not sure why, don’t really care to question it. Maybe I’ll move on to something new one day. Who knows. But when you think about it, aren’t we all shallow when it comes to creating art to a certain degree? I mean how many artist out there are actually painting just about everything there is to paint? Very little, if any. We all create what motivates us and what we like to create. And you all know that I am not one to preach, but let me just say that before you accuse someone of being shallow in their art, take a look in the man in the mirror first.

Okay, one more thing, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for all of you support and adding my work to your favorites and commenting on my work, it really means a ton to me! I am truly sorry that I have not gotten around to thanking each and everyone of you, but I am making that my NEW YEARS resolution to do so.

Okay, I’ve talked you to death, now check out my latest series, The Stranger [link] , and as always...please feel free to let me know what you think.

Peace and happy holidays to you all.

O

SPECIAL EDITION

Okay my friends, for all of you out there who are not yet sick of these sunflowers and prefer your sunflowers with a couple of pedals missing here and there, then here’s to you--the original version [link] of The Sunflower series [link] that I was planning to release until a couple of art buddies convinced me to do it all over again with clothing on (for more of that story go here [link] I had also thought of just putting these out in my scraps section to go with the The Sunflower series, but gave it a second thought and decided to put it out a little after like they do with those (very pricey) DVDs with the special features and stuff.

Anyway, feel free to compare and contrast Sunshower: The Alternate Sunflower [link] to the regular Sunflower series [link] and let me know what you think.

Also, THANK YOU ALL for the wonderful comments and favorites on The Sunflower, if I don’t get to your questions and comments right away please know that I will, and soon. With the holidays and feeling a bit under the weather it’s left me a bit out of reach with the computer world.

Peace and happy New Year to you all!

O

Dedicated in loving memory of Bettie Page (April 22, 1932 - December 11, 2008) “Rest in peace, Bettie.”

CASTLES, MOUNTAINS, & SUNFLOWERS

The Sunflower series [link] , my long over due follow up to Myleti [link] , proved to be challenging. When I returned home from my European-Asian Summer vacation, there was no more writer’s...uh, artist’s block anymore and plenty of ideas and concepts for my next series were flowing steady. Only, I hadn’t drawn a single thing for more than 6 months and I’d gotten a Bulgarian doctor’s order not to draw for at least a month or two due to a broken hand I’d suffered before my trip. (Yep, I crashed on my Bad Boy [link] . So if any of these drawings look a little ‘jittery,’ or ‘jumpy’ it’s because the original concept sketches were done with a broken right hand.

Anyway, I’d gotten a visits from a couple of artist friends of mine while I was working on the concept sketches that would eventually evolve into The Sunflower series. They liked what I was doing, but started encouraging me to do a series without any nudity. Ha ha. Huge challenge, right? But I’m always up for one (within reason of course). So I accepted the challenge, and scraped the nude concept sketches and began to try and do some ladies with there clothing on, or something covering them up, all the while trying to keep a sensual look to them.

As I said before, the majority, if not all, of The Sunflower series is inspired by my summer vacation visits to Bulgaria, England and Turkey. All of England’s gorgeous, yet mysterious, landscapes and castles, particularly the Tower of London and its torture chambers gave the series its overall ‘old timey’ feel. Also Turkey’s beautiful mountainous regions provided some atmospheric inspiration, too. Last but certainly not least are Bulgaria’s signature beautiful sunflowers, the name sake of the series. They captured my imagination and buried my artist block for the moment. Taking a couple of long train rides across Bulgaria’s country side where there are tons of beautiful sunflower fields growing in the sun made me fall in love with those little sun sucking suckers.

Anyhow, toward the end of my European-Asian vacation, I couldn’t wait to get back into the studio and start working on The Sunflower series.

Besides the inspiration from Bulgaria, England and Turkey, the technical artistic influence and inspiration for The Sunflower is owed all to this masterful gentleman’s work:



I hope he doesn’t mind, but I spent all fall while working on The Sunflower just checking out what he’s been doing and taking it all in. His work has a timeless and classic feel that I myself would like to achieve in my own work.

Pay this dude’s site a visit, you won’t be disappointed!

Okay, once again, this was supposed to be released some time around late October, but a broken right hand, a very sick brother (who is doing well, now, thankfully! and the good ‘ol rain, which Washington DC has been receiving in the last 2 or 3 weeks (which stalled my out door photography of The Sunflower) all kept me from getting it out sooner. Nevertheless, I do hope that you enjoy the new series, The Sunflower [link] and as always, let me know what you think.

Peace and happy holidays to you all,

O

Disclaimer: absolutely no sunflowers were harmed during the making of this series...I promise.

LOOKING BACK.

Today marks my Two Year Anniversary on Deviant Art. And to celebrate the occasion, I thought I’d post some never before posted works from my very first color pencil sessions (yikes!), outtakes and alternate versions from previous series, mini series and scraps.

Yes, time really does fly, I still can’t believe it’s been 2 years today since I shyly posted two of my works, “Daytime Girl” [link] and “Lost In Love” [link] on DA. I remember not really knowing what to post, so as a viewers test, I posted one color pencil and the other a simple BW graphite piece to see which one got the most response. At that time, I was still very insecure of my color pencil work, but after I posted “Daytime Girl,” a couple of awesome DA people left some really overly generous comments and made me want to post more. The positive response was a huge surprise, because right from the start it was a difficult challenge to even work in color pencils coming from a school of oil and water color painting. Now, it’s been about 4 years and I can’t seem to put those little suckers down and I owe it all to you good people out there in DA land for your continued support, inspiration and love, I appreciate it tremendously! And if I seem to neglect or miss any of you in giving thanks, it’s just because I am the most absent minded person on earth, so please don’t take it to heart. THANK YOU MUCH!

Another reason why I decided to post this older stuff is because I honestly have nothing brand new to post. I am unfortunately experiencing some serious painters block. I know all of you artists out there can relate to that awful feeling. Nevertheless, I am heading out for a long summer vacation in Europe. I’ll be visiting parts of England, Bulgaria and Turkey, so maybe the new scenery and culture will spark some inspiration and ideas for me to produce a new series of works for you to enjoy. Also, if you’re from any of those places or have been there and you know of some cool spots for me to check out, please send me a comment or note, I'd love to hear from you.

Okay, before I sign off, my boy Richard hooked me up with my own You Tube tribute video! [link] How about that? And it’s in perfect timing to go with my new series of old unposted works! So check that out and then check out his gallery of gorgeous work! [link]

And as always, enjoy the new series, Reflections: Unposted Works (2004-2007) [link] and let me know what you think.

Peace.

O

TO LOVE.

A lot has occurred in my life since I posted my last series, Lonely Girl: A Tribute To Edward Hopper [link] (by the way, thanks for all of your support, comments and favorites, I was a bit surprised at the overwhelming response considering that they were all remakes) So what did occur? Well, for one, I am in a new studio and I absolutely love it! The move was hell, but in the end it all paid off. So this will mark the first series (or sessions) to be completed in my new place. Not sure if that makes a difference on the quality of ones work, but if you see any difference, do let me know. LOL.

Also, on a very sad note, as some of you may already know, I lost a really good friend during that time. I recently did a portrait in honor of his memory entitled “This Charming Man” [link] to express my feelings about it. It’s really the only way I seem to know how to. I think of him often and think I always will. I know when someone passes away, you always hear people saying, “he was one of the sweetest and kindest person you’ll ever meet,” well, he truly was that, and I am not just saying it. If you would have gotten the opportunity, or privilege to have met “This Charming Man,” you would understand why I consider myself one of the lucky ones to have known him in life.

On a much shyer note, I met someone really special since I posted my last series. Someone that gave me those warm fuzzies you get when you really start to like someone, you know what I mean? Unfortunately, there were some obstacles that we were both afraid to take on or challenge that ended our brief relationship. Nevertheless, I am one to believe that no matter how long something last, if the relationship made some kind of an impact in your life, it’s still something worth cherishing.

Okay, sorry folks--I didn't mean to get all mushy and stuff, but I thought I’d share a little bit of my personal side because it MIGHT, POSSIBLY, PERHAPS be somehow related to the mood of this new series. MAYBE.

Speaking of my series, if you’ve been following most of them up to this point, you might already know that I tend to draw from some kind of artistic influence with each one I post. This time around I looked to the artistic bravery of French painter Gustave Courbet (June 10, 1819 – December 10, 1877). Best known as an innovator in Realism, but to me he was truly an artist who was way ahead of his time. Please look him up kids (and you adults, too!) But for my under age audience, please get some permission from your parents or guardians before venturing off in search of Courbet’s work, some of it can be a little on the risque side of art. And as an extra added treat, if you just so happen to live in or perhaps maybe visiting the New York area real soon (this means you, Geo! , some of his amazing works are currently on exhibit until May 18 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Besides drawing heavily on Courbet, I recently visited Florida for the first time (sad, huh?) And stopped by the Salvador Dalí Museum. Good stuff, however Dalí is always kind of an inspiration for me. But seeing his work live again, ignited my creative spirits once more!

And, oh yeah...besides those two masters, I am always taking some inspiration from all of you one way or another, so keep on inspiring me!

Okay, I’ve said way too much, please go and (hopefully) enjoy my new series, Myleti [link] and as always, let me know what you think.

Peace,

O