Let's talk

Hey guys I've been working on some stuff lately and I am always coming up with the same problem over and over again which is the images turning out blurry. So I decided to work on that while also practicing masking which is becoming helpful. So I did this little design if you want to call it that and post it up on Instagram @jhenry_117. Playing around with the settings I still see that my images are still blurry to me. So I decided to do some research on the matter and I will get back to you on that when I finally figure out the problem. So while I do that here is the art work:

So as you can see it is a little blurry at the moment so I'm doing research to fix this problem. Other than that I can tell you guys some stuff that's been going on like me getting into the graphic design program at my school, which is the highlight of my summer or year as of now. I still don't think I accomplished anything though I feel like I have a long way to go before I can become a great designer or be great at what I do. But none the less I am so happy I got in. For now I'm doing my research, trying new things, and hopefully I will see an improvement because I'm my greatest critic. 

In other news I need a new computer, printer, and supplies but I'm low on funds at the moment so even though this summer I will be working my butt off I still will have to work my butt off to buy the things I need to be successful or at least get me there. So if the structure of my post seem weird that is because I am doing them through my phone since my computer doesn't want to work. With that said I will leave you with some sketches and some stuff you might not have seen from me in a while or you might have seen it and I just forgot I posted it. Enjoy! 

 More info on this coming soon. 

Progress Step 2

Well I'm back...again

I swear I'm like a neglectful father when it comes to my blog but let's say for now I'm back. So I've been busy with school making my portfolio trying my best to get into the program and I finally finished it and turned it in so hopefully I get some good news in the next couple of days. I am so tired I came home and started working on a summer project, well one of many different projects. I want to take up painting so I am laying everything out now. That's one thing I learned from school which is to try and map as much out as possible. In the past I would just jump head first into something, art related, but now I sketch things out and plan them out more so I can't say I didn't learn anything this past semester/year. So I will leave you all with a taste of what I'm working on at the bottom and I will talk to you guys soon. 

What I've been working on and what's new

As you guys know I got into my school of choice and man so much has happened in this week. So I got accepted last week and meet with my "advisor" or whatever and they told me that I would not be able to get into the program, Graphic Design, & I would have to wait a whole year before I could get into the program. When she told me that I was mad because I felt it shouldn't take that long to graduate but I in my mind I told myself I gotta do what I gotta do. Anyway, she gave me the number to talk to the department head of the Art department so I can see if that's something I want to do. I told myself, I don't wanna see this guy if he's going to tell me the same thing she said but I went anyway. On Wednesday, I went back to the school and talked to this guy and he was everything I didn't expect. He reminded me of my favorite teacher at my old school full of life and energy. He gave me the rundown of everything I wanted and needed to know. So as we continued to talk he gave me some information. He said I could still get into the classes that I need in order to graduate & start my career. I was shocked, so shocked that I couldn't say anything, but I was so happy at the same time. He took me on a tour of the school, well the art department, and I realized this is where I needed to be. After the tour we went back to his office and he gave me some emails to teachers that I needed to get in touch with and I went home. I was so happy that I couldn't explain what happened to my parents but I knew I had to get in touch with these teachers. So I went home and emailed them. 

 

The next day I checked my email and they replied to me. Both saying that they are trying to start more classes and see if I could get into one but the other said he could try to get me into one of the classes if they don't start the new class. I was overjoyed when I read the news that I came to the realization now that the picture below represents my week. It shows a girl leaving a place of comfort to a place of the unknown but she knows she has to survive. Lastly, this experience taught me it's not over. It's not over until you give up, I made an effort to go see these people and talk to them and it worked out. This is just a taste of what growing up is, leaving the comfort zone and doing what you have to do in order to get what you want. Next is getting these Adobe products, which is another journey within itself and I will be posting more about it next time but until then enjoy my painting and I will see you guys later. 

Art of the week

I am horrible at doing these daily sketches now that I've been working more at my job. Also I'm in school doing some design work, working on using photoshop, illustrator, flash, & a little dream weaver. So expect more from me in the near future. But this is the picture I showed you guys a while back but I'm just now doing it. I've once again tried out the water color but once again I tried it with one type of brush. I did not like it at first but it grew on me so check it out. 

Also I'm working on a new project which I'm going to use acrylic paint. Here are the rough drafts of this sketch and also the sketched finished product. In other news I finally got into the school of my choice so I will be attending that school this fall & hopefully graduating soon. Even though I can't wait to finish school and start working I think I can start my career before I graduate if I want. All I have to do is keep drawing, learning, & getting better and also keep post for you guys to enjoy. So until next time, I'll see y'all later. 

The Aunt Project

This is what I've been up to this whole week I call it the Aunt Project. Recently my aunt's dog passed away and her other one is really sick. My brother, I would say little brother but he's taller than me, comes up with the idea that I should paint our aunt a picture. This was a great idea so I got to it. I did a thumbnail for the sketch, after that I sketched it out and inked it up, and lastly painted it. I used pastel watercolor pencils so as you can see it's kind of sketchy and needs some work plus I used one brush for the entire painting which was good but had its limitations. It was my first time using it which was frustrating at times because I had no clue what I was doing but it turned out ok. So here it is the Aunt Project. Also I bought some more brushes which were on sale Saturday and framed it for her which was good and only cost me $6.00, thank you Hobby Lobby. I just wanted to say if you have a talent don't keep it to yourself. Well that's it for now, I'm working on something for my cousin & I'll show y'all later. 

thumbnail

the sketch plus some paint

framed and wrapped

final

Throwback Thursday

Today I was looking through my portfolio and found this I called it childhood, I think. If you look closely you will see all my favorite cartoons Ed, Edd, n Eddy, Charlie Brown, Foster Home for Imaginary Friends, and many other shows that I used to watch. I did this is 2011 in my first art class that I ever took. Now I see some of the flaws they were talking about and what I could have worked on but my eye wasn't as sharp as it is now but I do like what I did with the hands and so did someone else I forgot who though. I was not only looking at this but also some of my old stuff that I did and I have progressed maybe that is a good thing looking back on old works and see how I progressed instead of looking too far ahead and expecting myself to be this great artist. Anyway, here it is:

Side Project #1 [FInished]

Well I did it in two days, it wasn't that hard at all, so here is the final product. The funny thing about this was the fact that my mom didn't notice that I started painting this a day ago. Also when I was painting her & my sister pulled up, I had the blue tape over the black parts so paint wouldn't get on them. So at first glance or from a distance it looked like I painted the whole thing blue, my sister then had the nerve to say it was ugly. My family is too honest at times but then she noticed it was tape & she took what she said back. I left the buckets their natural color/texture to give it that old look. My mom said it looked like an old married farm couple but I thought it looked like a brother & sister helping out grandma & grandpa on the farm. It's funny how people can interpret something different off one picture or artwork. I hope you guys like this as much as my family does, here is the finished product: 

Today was a long day. Woke up at 7:30 a.m. to drop my brother off at school, came home couldn't go back to sleep so I ate breakfast & went to sleep. Woke up went to the gym, came home finished this up, took a shower, & I'm off to work in a couple of hours. I just keep reminding myself of what Big K.R.I.T. asked in one of his songs "...So what you been creating on your free time?". So I'm trying to use all my hours to my advantage. Okay, anyway, talk to y'all soon. 

Side project #1 [Day 1]

Well my dad had me to touch up some old statues, I think you can call them that, because he said it needed to be touched up. Personally I like the old look on these things but hey he's the boss, plus I live under his roof so I'll do what he saids. He wants the body to be black, he wants the boy to have blue overalls while the girl has a red dress, thinking about it now it doesn't seem that bad. I finished up the bodies & I'm about to work on the clothes tomorrow. I actually enjoyed this, I haven't spray painted anything in a while. But the bad part was being out in the freezing cold for a while. It only took me a hour & a half I think, I'm not for sure but I enjoyed it. Anyway here are the before & after pictures: 

Before. 

After. 

I will keep the buckets covered for now because he never told me what he wanted me to do with them. This is probably gonna be a three day thing I could finish it up today but I have work & we have to get our house together for our annual Christmas Party and it will be at our house this year so you know what that means...a lot of cleaning. I hope you enjoyed this I will talk to you guys soon. 

AFRO

This was a quick painting that I did a while ago back before I started this blog. The painting does not have a true meaning but it represents natural beauty. Most of the paintings I do have realistic people in them in their natural setting. This is just practice that kept me busy and kept my hands moving in order for me to advance my skills. I call this painting Afro and their are will be more to come so stay tuned for more.