Not As Pretty

we moved

2010-01-25T08:34:00.001-06:00

I have moved this blog to a wordpress format. yeah. It's better.

NotAsPretty.com will direct to you it.

NotAsPretty.com

Friday Fan Art: Willy Wonka

2010-01-22T16:55:00.009-06:00

Artist: Doug Forbes

Artist: Josh Van Heuveln

Artist: Charlie Forbes

The Friday Fan Art Project is a simple one; create your interpretation of the chosen Character and post it on the NotAsPretty Blog. We do it for the hell of it. We do it for fun. We do it because all good artists treat their craft like a crack habit.

Last Friday Fan Art: Mario

This weeks featured artists are:

Doug Forbes
DougForbes.com

Josh Van Heuveln
myspace.com/joshvanheuveln

Charlie Forbes
myspace.com/charliecharm

Be sure to visit their website to view more of their work.

Show and Tell: Ink on illustration board

2010-01-18T16:18:00.004-06:00

Client: Zombie Board Shop
Project: Shred 'Til You're Dead V

I have been working with Shawn Solem, owner of Zombie Board Shop and thought I would show you a sample of the latest work I did for his shop.

I started with a sketch and moved into ink. This same process I show in my Fan Art: Mario.

I scanned in the image, worked a little Photoshop magic, and finished with what you see here. I decided to keep the colors to a limited palette to allow the red to pop out more and also to convey a sense of lack of hope.

More of my illustrations can be seen at my website, DougForbes.com.

011310 Random sketch

2010-01-13T09:10:00.002-06:00

Today's random sketch brought to you by my patience waiting for late friends at the bar.

0110 The Demoniacal Project

2010-01-11T19:14:00.012-06:00

Sending Pishachas from the Field

This is no seraph,
Dipping down,
To kiss the blessed—
This one has teeth.

Small child in the field,
Digging brown earth,
Pulls up a claw and spits
Blood over wheat stalks.

So we beat the grasses
To drive out all devas.
No help:
"You are possessed by demons."

The old men describe them as gods,
But they wail and devour flesh.
In their presence resides possession
By the undesirable hunger.

That night we encountered
Ancient flesh-eaters. Perceiving
The dripping claw, the gods wept
with ancient abhorrence.

We listen to our elders:
"The demoniac must speak
The language of a child, and
Feed the appropriate goddess."

"Each field possesses a goddess.
But this demon will devour
Before she may settle her soft foot
Upon the bosom of the growing earth."

"They feed on the weakened children in the field.
Where the Pitris reflect emaciation,
Your uncooked ancestors are devoured
By these horrible Pishachas."

So we enacted the rituals of our elders.
We departed the field as devas,
We struck the ground and beat the grasses
incessantly, threatened the demon.

And offered rotting meat
In seven baskets,
To send away the Pishachas,
The demons with awful fangs.

These rituals we performed,
These ablutions we conducted,
The prayers were made, for
The Pishacha will not leave the grave

Of our fathers, because of their nature—
Except that these words are spoken,
But for these good actions, enacted
By the pure-souled.

If satisfaction is offered in person
To the voracious demon,
Demand that it refuse flesh,
That it spare the child in its talons.

Then killing comes out, comes out
of the fields. Such action when threatened,
at last teaches the Pishacha
respect for the gods.

Written by Tom Lewis
---

Commentary

The ghoulish, flesh-eating Pishachas arise in ancient Hindu mythology. They are first described by the eleventh-century Kashmiri folklorist, Kshemendra Vyasadasa. His translation of an older chronicle of Indian history was described as based on "goblin language" (actually a derogatory term for "low" dialects spoken by North Indian common people). The origin of the name "Pishacha" is obscure, but we find Manvas, Nagas, Pishachas, among others, in the list of ancient Kashmiri tribes. These people were known for exorcising their fields before attempting to cultivate them.

Haunters of fields of the dead, these demons eat human flesh, can change shape or become invisible, and are acknowledged masters of possession and insanity among their human victims. Welcome neither in heaven nor in hell, Pishachas can only be killed with a blessed sword, but exorcism rites can dispel them from a given area, if performed correctly.

sources: Wikia Education: Pishacha, Early Kashmiri Society & The Challenge of Islam
A History of Sanskrit literature (1900).

Artist: Charlie Forbes

Artist: Doug Forbes

Demoniacal Project:
The idea behind the Demoniacal Project is a simple one; have the talented poet/writer Tom Lewis create a description and poem of an obscure demon and then collect a bunch of visual artists to find inspiration in the text to illustrate how the demon may look. Subscribe to NotAsPretty blog and look for the Demonical project every second Monday of the month.

And if you are a visual artist and feel talented enough to join the Demoniacal Project, please contact me at notaspretty@gmail.com to start the interviewing process.

My Pallette

2010-01-09T15:41:00.008-06:00

A few of you have asked my what I use to paint. The simple answer is oil paint.

As for brands of paint, I typically go Utrecht Paint. You can't beat their prices and for the most part, they have good pigments. Grumbacher and Winsor & Newton are good paint as well, but using them frequently will assuredly break your bank.

Side note: Winsor & Newton makes a "student grade" paint called Winton. Student Grade means, we paid the easter bunny to shit colors in a tube to sell to you at low low prices. Although they are pretty colors, they paint like shit. The staff at Art Materials try to pedal this shit knowing very well what it is. Where is your damn integrity Art Materials staff?

I cut the paint several different ways, when applying it to the canvas. Cutting it with Turpenoid gives a watery look, almost like working with watercolor. I have two, a clean and a dirty, to avoid contaminating the lighter pigments with the darker ones when switching. Linseed oil is pretty much the binder for the pigments, so adding it tends to make the paint more translucent (and takes forever to dry). Sometimes, when covering large areas with paint, I combine both linseed oil, mineral spirits, and the paint) Stand oil is just like linseed oil, just thicker--like honey. I rarely use it to paint directly, but to cut the harder paint to a consistency I like to work with (burnt umber always seems to come rock hard).

Below is a shot of my palette and how a typically set up the paints. My palette is just a scrap slab of acrylic I got from a sign company's dumpster, and has been with me for 15 years now. Like most painters, I am quite proud of the paint build up on my palette over the years.

The way I paint, the oil takes about 24 hours to set-48 hours to dry. To avoid ruing my paintings by an itchy trigger finger when they are still wet, I tend to work on 4 or 5 paintings at a time, and switch them out, when they need time to dry.

So there you have it. Probably more information then you were asking for. But I'm a provider.

Also: a rant on art supply stores in Minneapolis area.

Utrecht Paint (Hennipen by MCTC ) I shop mostly at Utrecht paint store. Good damn prices. The dudes there are very cool people (and totally willing to work with you to order anything you need for their next shipment to avoid shipping prices--A+ service in my book, for sure). They are a meat and potatoes art supply store. If you are looking for something more obscure, then you should go to Wet Paint.

Dick Blick (pick a suburb) They carry shitty amateur supplies. Unless you are looking for a starter kit. As a matter of fact, that's what I call them, "The Starter Kit Store--where grandma buys you your inspiration birthday gifts". But they are all you got out in the suburbs besides Micheals Craft.

Art Materials (Lyndale + 27th) They have a lot of stuff you don't need, little of what you do need, and their prices are stupid high. There are only a hand full of nice employees there; most of them are shit bags. They do have good sales on stretched canvas and illustration board.

Penco (Washington and something north of Hennipen ) Simply, they have a shitty location. Artists moved out of the warehouse district 20 years ago. They should, too. Maybe head to North East Arts District--y' know, where all the artists moved to?

Wet Paint (Grand Ave in St. Paul) They have stupid-insulting high prices, but carry really good product. I go to buy stuff there that I can't find anywhere else. Their staff are really awesome people that care about what they sell.

Side note: I hate the outside signs on the Wet Paint store. They are cheesy. Even Dick Blick wouldn't stoop so low. They are a high end quality art product store, and they should look that way too. The signs are like forcing the Monopoly guy in a corn flower blue polyester leisure suit. *egch!

Class. Wet Paint, you symbolize class. Look the damn roll for Pete's sake. A humble opinion.

And a good rule of thumb, be sure to see if Home Depot (or other local hardware) carry what you are looking for. You would be surprised how much product they have in common and you will assuredly find it at a cheaper price at a hardware store.

Lasting Providence End

2010-01-06T08:32:00.004-06:00

Please rate, comment, and share my video. This painting took me close to a year to finish. And I changed significantly in the process, and the painting speaks to this path I have walked. Visit DougForbes.com and read my artist statement for more on my thoughts of my paintings and also to view the rest of my work.

Thank you Heidi for helping me find the end to this piece.

>>PRINT available

Random Thought

2010-01-04T09:23:00.000-06:00

NotAsPretty Blog Update

2009-12-30T11:36:00.001-06:00

Monthly Features:

For those that get excited with anticipation for my monthly features, I have new developing information for you. Fourth Friday Fan Art has two new artists that will be joining in the fun; Charlie Forbes and Josh Van Heuveln. So mark your calendars, posting January 22nd will be Charlie, Josh, and my fan art of Willie Wonka of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

www.myspace.com/joshvanheuveln

www.myspace.com/charliecharm

(Applause!)

Also coming: A new monthly feature has been added; Second Supernatural Monday. The idea is pretty simple, we get profiles and descriptions of obscure gods, saints, deamons, ghosts, etc. and draw them up real nice with the definition and history provided, so you all can get learned up as well.

Remember: If you are an artist and would like to be one of my featured artists in 4thFriFanArt, 2ndSuperNatMon, or any other monthly feature on the NotAsPretty Blog, just give me a holler. I will expect nothing less then your best work and total conviction. (and fresh baked cookies help too.)

Problem . Solution: Destroyed Brushes

2009-12-30T10:53:00.010-06:00

Problem: When I paint with oil, my brushes are quickly destroyed. Boo!

For anyone that has used oil as a medium for a long period of time, you have most likely come across a most frustrating problem; your brushes are destroyed quickly and often. No matter how often and how thoroughly you clean your brushes, the paint always seems to permeate deep down into the bristles and dries—resulting in a once beautiful tip to a fluffed out and hardened mess.

Grrr!

In the past, my solution was as they suggest at all art stores; buy expensive cleaners and spend hours and a lot of elbow grease trying to get all that tricky oil out. And when there is no more hope, buy more brushes.

I was spending more time cleaning the brushes then actually painting. And brushes are god damn expensive to treat them like one meal throwaway plastic sporks.

Solution: Motor Oil.

Yup, you read it right. I learned this from a retired sign painter/pin striper.

Simply clean your brush with your mineral spirits or terp and dunk it in some motor oil (I gravitate to the 5W30, only because that is what I feed the gas guzzler that gets me from point A to point B). Motor oil doesn’t dry fast (or ever?) and it will keep whatever paint residue in the brush from killing the brush all together. Be sure to rinse the motor oil from the brush in your terp before using it again.

(trick can be used with enamel painting projects, also. Save those spendy pin striping brushes.)

Video: Fourth Friday Fan Art: Mario

2009-12-28T09:09:00.002-06:00

As promised, here is the creation of the Mario Fan Art. If you like it, be sure to fav and comment it on youtube.

Fourth Friday Fan Art: Mario

2009-12-23T09:31:00.005-06:00

Fourth Friday Fan Art: Mario

Well, Friday is Christmas and I am thinking that I am going to take that day off and enjoy the festivities, so I am posting Mario today. But don't despair, I have a treat for those that have inquired the process of my art making; I will be posting a speed paint video next Monday of the creation of FFFan Art: Mario to my YouTube channel and post the link here.

Happy Holidays! :)

Top Five Irrational Money Making Ideas

2009-12-21T09:12:00.016-06:00

Top five totally irrational ways I have thought of to afford an artist lifestyle, sans a full time job.

5. Winning the lottery

This is everyone's fall back method to find a more reasonable life with the availability to do whatever you want.

Winning the lottery would be very helpful.

Yet, contrary to the lottery's messaging, it is completely irrational to expect to win anything big--no matter how often you play. I was just told that the definition of insanity is to do something over and over with a consistent outcome, expecting it always to be a different outcome.

Doesn't stop me from buying a ticket once in awhile, though.

Y'know, just in case.

4. Unbelievably costly piece of junk.

Everyone has had this thought when watching "The Antique Road Show". You know, those jerks that are so shocked to have been told that the piece of junk that has been sitting in their attic turned out to be thousands of dollars?

Right.

Total, out of the blue, shock.

And that is why you stood in line at the show for hours. Because you were expecting them to tell you what you had already known; it is a completely worthless peice of junk.

You aint fooling me crying old guy.

You had that irrational hope that it was worth thousands. But you are putting on a good show.

Impressive, really.

So I could work up nice tears for the show, too. I mean, that is what the audiance wants, right?

3. The Rich Old Person

Finding a rich old person to fall in love with my art (or me) and want to fund it with their unlimited savings.

Although I fear that this arrangement might come with a few strings attached.

Even my make believe people have ulterior motives. Geeze.

2. Gameshow

Slumdog Millionaire, yo!

Wouldn't it be grand to have a series of questions be the ones that you know intimately by the cards dealt to you in your life?

Well, I have thought of it.

And if that movie had taught us anything, it is better holding tight to your irrational hopes at being a gameshow winner (and hold stead fast to your moral) then being a gangster. A aweful, greedy, shameless, immoral, gangster. Cuase gangsters always see the error in their life choices and go out in a bloody martredom.

And you always get the lady in the end.

1. Selling my art on a regular basis

hahaha! Believe it or not, most artists aren't doing it for the money.

Anything else I missed? Everyone needs irrational false hope for an easy life, right?

Lady Cutter and Sushi Human Ts

2009-12-17T21:57:00.004-06:00

What can I say? You guys have spoken; by popular demand, I have made these two illustrations into appearal swag for you to wear and adore.

You guys are awesome. I love the thoughts and requests you have sent. Please, continue sending me the conversation.

Tshirt: Lady Cutter

Tshirt: Sushi Human

Gallery is up!

2009-12-17T09:00:00.001-06:00

I know you all have just been waiting in anticipation; I finally figured out the code for my gallery on my website and it is up and running in all its glory. yay!

NotAsPretty.com/artwork

The birth of a logo: Best Care Expo

2009-12-16T14:13:00.012-06:00

Today I thought I would share a process I do normally at my day job; the new identity. It all starts with a kick off meeting to outline the parameters of the project. I am going to be creating a logo/identity for an upcoming event in the American Academy of Neurology’s Annual Meeting called The Best Care Expo.

It has been requested that the logo look fresh and modern, clinical (to relate the clinicians attending the event), and clean. A few ideas were offered in the initial meeting; 5 stars to represent the excellence of the meeting, a human aspect to represent the patients and care givers the clinician ultimately cares most about, and the give and take relationship between the clinician and staff at the event.

I start with sketch in my trusty moleskin the get the noodle going:

After review of sketches, some preliminary logos start to develop using Adobe Illustrator. Themes by row: human relationships, give take relationship, simple, structure of foundation of clinician’s tasks, five star quality.

Widdled down to three concepts—Five star, give take, simple--and four hip/clinical/modern color combinations. (I love colors)

And after the review with the client, simple was chosen. Ladies and gentlemen I present to you The Best Care Expo’s new logo.

(cheer!) Thank you, thank you.

(oh Doug, Beautiful kerning. yum!)

Stickers color

2009-12-16T08:53:00.008-06:00

Dance and Perish is going to move into the world of marketing. I have outlined the painting to a neat vector image and now it is a matter of colors to choose. The questions is; if you were to get Dance and Perish stickers to adhere to your most beloved things, which of the following color combination would you prefer?

Your input is important to me and greatly appreciated.

The Transitions of Doug

2009-12-12T13:52:00.004-06:00

Nothing like a table spoon of perspective. Click on the image for full size.

I got this idea a few months ago when surfing blogs. There were a bunch of artists doing the same thing and posting it to compare. Unfortunately, it was a random stumble that I didn't save and ultimately lost the address. So you dudes get so see my contribution.

Thoughts on monkeys and robots

2009-12-11T09:14:00.004-06:00

Lately, I have been watching programs and reading material about the potential of our future in biology and robotics. And to be perfectly frank I will be the first in line (when it becomes relatively affordable) to manipulate my body, lengthen my life span, and introduce cybernetics to do whatever super powers available.

But this is not what I have been recently considering. I have been thinking about monkeys and robots.

Films sewing this fear that they will take over us and quickly bring humanity to an end are simply false. Monkeys and robots can only make something more awesome.

I say we make monkeys and robots smarter. I say let the chips fall where they may. It isn't like we are doing that swell of a job figuring out this life thing on our own. Maybe we need a little outside perspective.

What could possibly go wrong?

Artist: James Jean

2009-12-09T10:44:00.005-06:00

James Jean

James is savvy and innovative in his skill set and subject matter. Be sure to click on his tab "sketch" and check out his sketchbooks to get a grasp how his mind works.

Everyone should own a mole skin.

my paintings at the Woodbury Public library.

2009-12-08T10:57:00.003-06:00

This is the last couple of weeks at the Woodbury library. If you are out in the suburb, check it out. And while you're at it, read a book and support our public libraries. Public Libraries rule.

Woodbury Public Library

I'm in a short film: Station

2009-12-08T10:22:00.003-06:00

I will be in a short art performance film by Jaime Carrera and Tyler Jensen. It will be showing at Intermedia Arts of December 11 and December 12.

Go to the following link for more information.
Station

watery eyes

2009-10-28T22:15:00.001-05:00

Done carved me a pumpkin!

2009-04-28T11:09:00.001-05:00

Well jesus, I have properly ignored this for a bet too long. I'll throw a few things that I have been up to.

Sushi Human

2009-01-05T13:48:00.002-06:00

ink on bristol.

Switching roles is fun and a lot of the times macabre. So I got this idea when...I was eating sushi. Go fig. Enjoy.

icons, marks, or logos

2008-11-12T16:35:00.003-06:00

Call it what you want, icons, marks, or logos, I like making them. There is something about the minimalist nature to an icon and the need to convey significant emotional information. So, here are a few I made today. Have any ideas of other icons, throw it my way. Maybe if I get enough of them, I'll make an symbol library for all yous. word.

Oh look. A new logo for Not As Pretty. Rad!

Alice Gluttony Favored

2008-11-08T18:23:00.003-06:00

"Alice Gluttony Favored"
Oil on canvas | 2' x 3'

I finished a painting today. This one had been sitting for awhile, waiting for inspiration to come. I had started off the painting with the idea that I simply wanted something with Alice of "Alice in Wonderland". She is such a fun character. But it sat. I did not want it to be just another Alice fan art. I love Alice fan art, but I want something more.

The idea of gluttony had come to mind. Not gluttony in the sense of a really fat Alice, but one that is taken by the desire to consume. A lust. A passion. And conscience hung by the neck.

So I rewrote some of the personalities from the original story. And such is my right as an artist.

buy a print of "Alice Gluttony Favored"

Level_13:Secret_Level Show at altered|esthetics gallery

2008-11-07T12:59:00.004-06:00

My work, "Concerning King Hippo" will be one of the pieces showing in the Show "Level 13: Secret Level" at Altered|Esthetics Gallery. I know, it is last minute. But come down if you can.

Altered|Esthetics Gallery
"Level_13:Secret_Level"
November 7. 7:00pm
1224 Quincy St NE
Minneapolis, MN 55413

www.alteredesthetics.com/

Random Thought

2008-11-07T10:13:00.001-06:00

Poll at the First Christian Church

2008-11-05T13:45:00.003-06:00

They were giving out free bibles on November 4th at the poll located at the First Christian Church on 1st and 22nd in Minneapolis, MN.

I find this wildly inappropriate.

But how can I hold my contempt when they are also giving away free cookies and coffee?

Rue the day. In four years, you will find me outside giving away Richard Dawkin's "God Delusion" with complimentary Ding Dongs and Jameson Shots!

request

2008-11-04T12:49:00.003-06:00

Jill: I would love to hit you with a joke that shocked you but that endeavor seems nearly impossible.

Doug: I find a variety of things funny. But I think that what you have to become to shock me might come at too high of a cost. Think, "selling your soul to the devil on the cross streets of a forgotten place", but also selling everything else that you are, hold dear, and will ever be and then kick the devil in the nuts to spite it all. This is getting closer to what you have to become. So I suggest finding peace with the fact that my fine line is set farther then yours will ever be and continue your life; unaware and guilt free.

Two projects in the works

2008-11-04T11:20:00.004-06:00

project #1:
Flash sheets (tattoo). It was a request from Jay Langer, shop owner--Ink Factory--and tattoo artist, when I was working for him. I was to make 12 flash sheets using a traditional application, brush, ink, and watercolor. I believe I had created 4 before I had to move on from his shop. In addition to the ones I had done previously, I have outlined eleven. Outlining is the easy part. Next comes the ink washes and watercolor washes. I really don't know what I am going to do with them when I am done, so I am not putting a time line on this project. It had been a project that I put on the back burner for the intrusion of life crap. Who knows if I will start tattooing again, but I have a strong feeling that I should finish this. So Jay, I am on the task again.

project #2
stretched 4 canvases yesterday, primed them, and they are ready to go. I have been working small for awhile now, created a body of work that is transportable. I have been working in this smaller size to allow easier access to shows and ability to supply easier. I don't know how I came on this opinion, and now I don't think it is accurate. Is there really any recipe to be able to sell your work easier?

so ha. Fuck it. I'm going back to big. I like big. Two are 4'x4' (I think I will paint them together as one piece). Two are 3'x5'. Lovely.

The Mona Lisa Project | breast cancer fund raiser

2008-10-20T09:05:00.005-05:00

http://www.themonalisaproject.com/
http://www.keep-a-breast.org/

The Mona Lisa Project was created teaming with Keep a Breast organization and other local musicians, artists, organizations, friends, and family to help offset the costs of Lisa Berman's (aka. bgirl Mona Lisa) medical and living expenses after being diagnosed with breast cancer, so that she can focus soley on her health and recovery with the upcoming challenges of chemotherapy. This exhibit featured local artists work on plaster cast busts of Lisa's friends.

This was my contribution.

heretic fame

2008-10-17T09:28:00.002-05:00

Today my art was featured on the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster website.

awesome!

Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster

American Academy of Neurology | 2009 Annual Meeting in Seattle

2008-10-15T08:59:00.004-05:00

client: American Academy of Neurology | r.e.d.
Project: 2009 Annual Meeting

This client loves to have art represent the city that they are going to have their meeting located. Typically, we have tried to find attractions--monuments, sights, etc--that defines the city and what an international audience will recognize as elements of the city.

So Seattle has the Needle. aaaaaaand. yup. that is about it as popular attractions go. Everyone knows the city for the Needle. Switching gears, we took a new strategy; both the client and ourselves didn't want to make another campaign based on the Needle. After much debate, it was decided to make a campaign illustrating the different elements of Seattle that make it "rich"; Arts and Culture, Community, Sea Life, Wilderness. There were a lot of other elements considered (music being one of them. But of course we also considered the demographic, whom are a bunch of doctors, and the majority probably wouldn't relate to the style of music Seattle is known for). A number of illustration styles were considered. We wanted fun and colorful. My collage style was chosen and this is the end result.

The idea is that the compositions can stand alone and the elements (all the happy layers) can be moved around to create compositions that can be used for ads, books, signage, etc. There weren't any previous sketches done because of the nature of collage. I applied the golden section to make things flow real nice.

Lessons learned:
- Wacom tablet rules at everything. Who wants to buy Doug a Cintiq?
- Photoshop stamps are happy.
- Multiply layer adjustment makes collaging easy, as well as a few other layer adustments.
- The Golden Mean still proves itself well after the lessons in school.
- Of course it is always smarter to hire a photographer, but in a pinch or on a budget, stock photo sites rule. photos.com are stale with the same generic stock photos you see everywhere. We switched over to the cooler shutterstock.com (although you have to pay mind to their copyrights; not all their stuff is free to use)

Random Drawing | Flying Spaghetti Monster

2008-10-13T11:53:00.004-05:00

Ink on bristol.
http://dougdforbes.deviantart.com/art/Flying-Spaghetti-Moster-100628400
Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster

This passage, inspired by my work, was added to the FSM website. It's awesome.

Thou shallt not doubt the great Spaghetti Monster! For he is the lord of all, thou shallt not fear the Spaghetti Monster! For he is the fortbringer of truth and light! Thou shallt not dissrespect the great SPaghetti Monster! For he shall fucketh you and your crew upp if you do!

Hail him, for he is the chosen leader, Hail him for he is the sun wich shines upon us, hail him and he shallt make your favourite fotball team win the next years worlc champions ship! (unless it’s shitty france, spaghetti monster WILL NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES make france win).
Hail!

--True Beleiver, October 19th, 2008

2008 Burning Man Art Car

2008-10-10T09:48:00.007-05:00

I spent the majority of the summer planning and building for Burning Man. It is an interesting addiction; you can just find yourself caught up in the options of survival, party supplies, costumes, and art projects. This year I jumped on the making of the art car, Manifest Destiny.

The car--originally a Honda Accord--is owned by Atom. The car was given to Atom from an exgirlfriend; apparently because there was a major rattling noise that some asshole mechanic told her it would cost $500 to fix. In frustration she gave it to Atom. The problem was a loose heat shield. Atom ripped it off and got himself a nice car.

Fucking mechanics.

Phats and Atom started the project of converting the honda into Manifest Destiny in the mid winter; drinking beer and going nuts with a saws all. When they were done, this is how it looked:

Phats made a model of the finished product with legos (I'll have to request an image from him and update at a later time).

Atom and Phats created the basic structure out of all used, donated, and "acquired" elements--mostly old bike frames Atom has been collecting from dumpsters.

Smegula testing the strength of the welds.

I joined the fun mid summer and the rest of the elements were applied; enormous music system (mid range blew second day of Burning Man. It was a bummer), lights (Axeman), platform, signs, mannequins (thank you Margot), etc etc.

Manifest Destiny was a hit.

2008 Minneapolis Art Car Parade

2008 Art Car Parade - Watch a funny movie here

I'll later update with photos at Burning Man.

American Academy of Neurology 2008 Annual Meeting in Chicago

2008-10-08T12:26:00.005-05:00

client: American Academy of Neurology (my day job! woot!)

The client wanted a campaign based around art that gave the feeling of the city and maybe some attractions that the members (their audience) would like to see when at the Annual Meeting. After a couple of concept meetings it was decided to create an art deco theme and to reference the old world fair posters of the early 20th century. The client was especially fond of the New York world's Fair poster of 1939 which she saw on the show Antiques Road Show. Four attractions of Chicago was decided upon; the Art Institute, Buckingham Fountain, the Navy Pier, and the Bean. I did the original sketches using photo reference and then used a combination of Illustrator and Photoshop to arrive at the final outcome. I decided to work in channels and use halftone in Photoshop to get that old timey screen print feel. I posed more problems then solutions. Next time I'll use the multiply layer effect, leave halftoneing alone, and call it a day.

The following are the original sketches using color pencil and marker paper. Color pecil doesn't rub off like graphite and is less permenant then graphite (Its a mind thing. I tend to be more free to expiriment when sketing with color pencils rather then pencil). Marker paper is easy to earase.

He likes you | 2008

2008-10-08T09:43:00.000-05:00

just sketching on a monday night

A few sketches done on vacation | September 5, 2008

2008-10-08T09:40:00.002-05:00

So I just got back from Burning Man. And here are a few sketches that I did on the trip. woot.

Thought | August 15, 2008

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Thought | August 12, 2008

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Thought | August 1, 2008

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Thought | July 1, 2008

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Thought | July 28, 2008

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Brutus the Face | March 2008

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http://dougdforbes.deviantart.com/art/Brutus-the-Face-86355568

Random Drawing | January 2008

2008-10-08T09:33:00.000-05:00

Ink on Bristol

random sketch | February 2007

2008-10-08T09:32:00.000-05:00

Lady Cutter | August 2007

2008-10-08T09:31:00.000-05:00

http://dougdforbes.deviantart.com/art/Lady-Cutter-62833530

Valentine's Day | February 2008

2008-10-08T09:26:00.002-05:00

So I'm thinking to myself, what if there were flower people? And then they would give peoples as gifts of affection. So there you go; Mr. Flower with a bouquet of peoples.
Done in photoshop

http://dougdforbes.deviantart.com/art/Mr-Flower-77273023
http://dougdforbes.deviantart.com/

Hallmark Day | February 2008

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Fasting Nature | February 2008

2008-10-08T09:21:00.002-05:00

This is a woman coming out a the bottom of a stump. My intentions were basically surreal, combining two elements--woman and tree--in a fashion not normally seen. Yup, I think I did that real nice.

Escort and Fallen | February 2008

2008-10-08T09:17:00.002-05:00

A dream is an embrace. A good dream or a bad dream seems to hold tight without sympathy. And maybe our faces that show the ideal of slumber illustrates out content with most things that happen slowly. Like the frog stuck in a pot of water that is gradually brought to a boil; he accepts his fate.

Oil on Canvas

Drawing, should be working | February 2008

2008-10-08T09:14:00.002-05:00

Per several requests, I am reposting this at a higher res to create a print option. Funny what attracts, I just thought of this as a simple throw away sketch and apparently several like see it as print worthy. So it goes.

I have been daydreaming all day. Not looking forward to another -10F degree weekend. cabin fever sucks. I want summer now, damnit.

http://dougdforbes.deviantart.com/art/Drawing-should-be-working-2-77365980

http://dougdforbes.deviantart.com/

Drinking with Futurama | December 2007

2008-10-08T09:11:00.001-05:00

I was asked to do some of the fan art. And so I did. This is what I came up with; some of the futurama cast drinking. None of them are in their best form, but don't blame them, they are drunk. So it goes. It was pretty fun to draw. Obviously in my style, I don't know what you would call my style. Messy? Cheers.

http://dougdforbes.deviantart.com/art/Drinking-with-Futurama-72490580

http://dougdforbes.deviantart.com/

2008-10-08T09:03:00.008-05:00

Here is an idea of my painting process. I do a lont of drawing in my sketch books, working out different ideas, concepts, etc. But I rarely do any preliminary sketches for the final paintings--it usually starts and ends on the canvas. As follows:

Punch and Judy | August 2007

2008-10-08T09:00:00.001-05:00

I just bought myself a wacom pen and pad. This is my first attempt using it. I thought the best subject matter to play with would be a traditional punch and judy scene. Done in photoshop.

Not As Pretty comic #2 November 2007

2008-10-08T08:59:00.002-05:00

3rd tattoo I done did. August 2006

2008-10-07T19:41:00.000-05:00

Not As Pretty Illustrated April 2006

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Introduction

2008-10-07T19:24:00.002-05:00

This is all my art crap. This is the raw uncatalogued crap that comes out of my head. All things design, art, tatty, etc. etc. And I am sure a random thought and/or tangent. word.

I am going to dump a bunch of crap to catch you guys on all the stuff I am doing. Then I will decide when and how often I want to update this.

I love cheese burgers.