a new semester

Tomorrow I start a new semester. I'll be taking a class called Advanced Topics in Drawing. I'm excited for it because I'm hoping that I can create my own perimeters for art, but I'm not excited for the instructor because she seems to be more into abstract and I'm a realist artist. Well, if I do get to pick out my own subjects, I'd want to go large in gouache and here are some images I think I'd like to work with.

I took these while at Philmont last summer:

And these are from my favorite DeviantArt western stock photographer, legends-of-the-west.

wine label designs - finished.

two finished pieces

I finished the painting of my draft horse commission and the painting of the cowboy and his pack horse. For the one of the draft horses, I added some colored pencil in places to help give it a little more definition. I spent about 3 1/2 hours on that one and 2 1/2 hours on the cowboy and his pack horse (I have yet to think of a good title).

So, here they are:

wine label designs.

They are finished. I designed three labels for the contest with OCAC, Oak Knoll Winery, and the Rose Festival.

My first one is of the image I painted for last year's contest and I just changed the text on the computer.

My second one is drawn in the style of a coloring book - bold black outlines with colored pencil for color. All the text is hand drawn.

My third one (and most favorite) is drawn in all colored pencil and there are numberous layers to create a soft look. I hand drawn the logos and used the computer to insert the text.

The due date is Friday and I will post them then.

it's a new year.

The year 2011 is now. I already have a good start with this winter break being so productive, because I've been making some art which isn't related to homework for a change. :-)

I've been working on a commission of the draft horses and I have at least four more coming of individual cats of my friend, Christiane. I'm also working on a wine label design for a contest in conjuction with my school and a local winery; last year I was the runner-up, so I'm hoping for the main spot this year.

With that said, I have high hopes for 2011.