Thursday, January 28, 2010

Thought of The Day Jan 28, 2010

Five-Step-Solution for those who find it intimidating to fill a 100-page sketchbook: 

Step 5- If after following steps 1 through 4 you don't succeed at keeping a visual journal, it's not the end of the world but it does speak loudly of your (lack of) commitment to the craft. 

Sketch compulsively and observe keenly if you wish to capture the figure with authority, anything less is a waste of your gift.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Thought of The Day Jan 27, 2010

Five-Step-Solution for those who find it intimidating to fill a 100-page sketchbook: 

Step 4- If you're just starting to draw the figure this may be your first sketchbook. It would be wise to NOT show it to working professionals at conventions. 

I understand you want feedback, the thing is most professional comic book artists HATE looking at beginner's work and they're not honest. 

A nasty or disingenuous reply from your hero can crush your dreams and your spirit.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Thought of The Day Jan 26, 2010

Five-Step-Solution for those who find it intimidating to fill a 100-page sketchbook: 

Step 3- Sketches are NOT finished illustrations; there's more pressure to perform if you're convinced each drawing must be a masterpiece. 

Jot downs ideas as well as quick live gestures. The main goal is to gain confidence and discipline but don't forget, you're not drawing for the mere sake of filling pages. Have fun!

Monday, January 25, 2010

Thought of The Day Jan 25, 2010

Five-Step-Solution for those who find it intimidating to fill a 100-page sketchbook: 

Step 2- Go to the last page of the blank spiral sketchbook and open it wide. Pry the wire loops open carefully, one at a time. 

Remove 80 sheets and close the gaps. Now you only have 20 sheets to draw in and the book is not so intimidating. 

Once you fill those, add another 10 or 20 sheets until your fear is gone forever!




F.U.  True story: (no donkeys this time)
Throughout my adolescence, friends and family members who knew I liked to draw, gave me all kinds of sketchbooks as gifts.

Generally, I couldn't wait to break them in but inevitably I ended up drawing in just a few pages and putting them away. So I have all these sketchbooks with one or two drawings and not much else. 

Fear of failure, fear of success, fear of anatomy, fear of ruining the book. Fear is a powerful thing. Remember: "Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering, suffering leads to ugly drawings"

Back then I used to envy those compulsive sketchers. Me? I used to draw once a week and sometimes (when I got funky) I wouldn't pick up a pencil in months, so I know how that feels. Fear can paralyze you unless you take action and beat it.

Once I destroyed my fear of failure, the sky was the limit. I fear nothing and no one now, not even myself :)

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Thought of The Day Jan 24, 2010

Five-Step-Solution for those who find it intimidating to fill a 100-page sketchbook: 

Step 1-Buy a cheap spiral bound, all-media sketchbook. Stay away from fancy books such as moleskins or leather bound books. If the sketchbook is luxurious or expensive, you'll be even more reluctant to draw in it and—god forbid— ruin its pristine pages. 

Leave the moleskins to professionals (and to the trendy fools)

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Thought of The Day Jan 23, 2010

Today's Thought of the Day is being brought to you by the letter "H"


Friday, January 22, 2010

Thought of The Day Jan 22, 2010

Pornography is Erotic Art without the pretense. 

When my mother in law saw my books for the first time, she said: "Oh, I didn't know Alberto drew pornography!" my sister in law 'corrected' her: "No, it's not Pornography, it's Erotica" 

Personally, I don't know which one is worst. Ever since that day I quit explaining to people what I do, whenever I'm asked I just say "I Draw Naked Women"

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Thought of The Day Jan 21, 2010

Most artists draw tiny comprehensive sketches (thumbnails) before they draw a final. This is so helpful in so many ways, I highly recommend it. 

But for those students who want to simplify the form I suggest doing thumbnails AFTER the final. Trust me, you'll learn lots from deconstructing your own drawing. 

I Often end up scrapping the final and keeping the thumb. 




F.U.  Usually a 'finished' piece is a dead piece, this is why Anthony Ryder and people like him do more harm than good to students of the form. So by re-drawing it the size of a thumbnail you'll get some of that energy back and a totally different drawing will emerge.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Thought of The Day Jan 20, 2009

Motivation works in mysterious ways. Mr. Tandazo, my life drawing teacher, whom I adored, back in the 10th grade told me: "You're all over the place, you lack discipline, you'll never become a successful artist" He was right, of course, but I hated him for saying it and vowed to one day prove him wrong.


I was so hurt that it never dawn on me (until fairly recently, anyway) that this was precisely what he wanted me to do.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Thought of The Day Jan 19, 2009

Never leave for tomorrow what you can do in about a month.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Thought of The Day Jan 18, 2010

Line drawing is the most important, hence the most difficult to master of all the disciplines in figurative art.

Most painters and sculptors are lousy at drawing. I guess they feel as if drawing is just a step towards the end result (which is true but it doesn't need to be)

It's a shame because if they'd learn how to draw, their work could gain greater insight and even more depth.

When I paint I solve complex foreshortening issues with specks of certain colors, in drawing I can't hide my ignorance behind cheap tricks.

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Thought of The Day Jan 16, 2010

Back when I started drawing women I wished for long flowing lines to match the ideas in my head.

I found that the vellum paper finish (tracing, onion paper) against the wax of the Col-erase pencil made my lines smoother with minimum smudging. The strokes seemed to flow with almost effortlessly. I stopped using vellum but I do believe it helped a lot.

If you're looking to achieve more fluid and cleaner lines, give tracing paper a try.


F.U. After you have done the preliminary sketch, lay another sheet of vellum on top and go over it with the pencil as if you were inking it. Only this time you draw faster and without fear, using longer (and less) strokes. I used to do this several times until the drawing became sharper and streamlined.

By the third or fourth re-draw, you will clearly see the difference between the first and last sketches.

For really long lines, do what architects and industrial designers do when they project, put a dot on each end and draw the line in one take from dot to dot.

The idea is to gain confidence in your stroke, not much different than playing baseball or throwing a football around, the more confidence the more chances you'll take.

By drawing on top of your own sketch you won't be ruining the original so you can be as bold as you can be.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Thought of The Day Jan 13, 2010

There are two lines of work in the USA, which (in order to operate) don't require a state issued license.

Two industries where prices aren't regulated or determined by the market but rather set arbitrarily by the parties involved. Both businesses are so remarkably similar in nature that at times it's hard to tell one from the other.

The first profession is Art, the second one is called Prostitution.


Comment by Mary Apikos: But both are mediated by dealers and trafficers/pimps. Both involve people in power relationships in which one person usually gets fucked.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Thought of The Day Jan 12, 2010

A Proposal/Estimate is the most important form a freelancer must put together.

You should be able to specify your terms to avoid needless pain. If the client hands you a contract, you have the right to amend it if you consider it unfavorable to you.

If you accept unfair terms because you need the money, at least make sure to add the following line:

"I hereby reserve the right to tell you to Go Fuck Yourself"

Monday, January 11, 2010

Thought of The Day Jan 11, 2010

I had a most interesting night, I rode my bike over the 59th Street bridge into Manhattan to meet Wade and Angela, on the coldest fuckin' day ever.

I made it back home barely alive but I won't be able to have children ever again. Turned on the tv and caught Woody Allen saying: "You're always trying to get things to come out perfect in art because it's real difficult in life" Good point, Good night.

Saturday, January 09, 2010

Thought of The Day Jan 9, 2010

Most figure drawing students feel the need to hang on to every single piece of badly drawn art they ever made.

Bad drawings are a contagious ill. They're garbage and they should be treated as such.

There's nothing to learn from keeping a poor effort around. It breeds more bad art, despair and low self esteem. Bury theem or trash them NOW!

Measure your progress against your best past drawings.

Friday, January 08, 2010

Thought of The Day Jan 8, 2010

When I went to bed this morning, I dreamt I was staring directly into the bottom of a cliff. I was thinking about 'The Thought of Day' and peeing straight down. I would hold it for a few seconds and then I'd let it flow, and then I'd hold it again just to admire the bright yellow streams as they slowly evaporated in mid air. It was beautiful!

And then I woke up in a pool of water.

Thursday, January 07, 2010

Thought of The Day Jan 7, 2010

As artists, how do we avoid objectifying women?

First, you must arrive at the understanding that women aren't objects but subjects.

The line might be thin but is also strong. If —as it has been said— Art mirrors the artist and not his/her subject, then you must respect the subject because the subject is in essence, YOU. If you don't value and respect yourself, you'll never respect your subject


F.U. We can stop an uninformed viewer from perceiving what we do as artists as objectifying women. I did say 'it's a thin line'.

It has little to do with execution and everything to do with honest intent and purpose.

People (read the viewer) do what they do and they want what they want. If your intention is to exploit and utilize women, or men or children or whatever, rather than to honor your artistic bend and integrity, unless it's painfully apparent, it's up to you to recognize and come to terms with.

If you do it in ignorance, then learn, educate yourself. Study the subject and most importantly study yourself, try and see things from a woman's perspective.

Wednesday, January 06, 2010

Thought of The Day Jan 6, 2010

.

Facebook Picture Tagging is a wonderful thing . . .


. . . . IF THE MOTHERFUCKIN' PERSON YOU ARE FUCKIN' TAGGIN' IS ACTUALLY IN THE MOTHERFUCKIN' PICTURE!!!

Tuesday, January 05, 2010

Thought of The Day Jan 5, 2010

Distilling the figure into a few well-placed lines explaining space, likeness and weight is like driving an 18 wheeler through a drinking straw.

It's a well known secret that the secret to solving this dilemma lies in a combination of speed, volume and patience. Fans of instant gratification need not apply.

(Wow! The first TOTD that's not patronizing, mean-spirited or morbidly sarcastic)

Monday, January 04, 2010

Thought of The Day Jan 4, 2010

Dream of getting into comics but hate anatomy or you just find it takes too long to learn?

Draw zombies. That's right!! Dead people (as well as robots) are easy to draw.

There's no wrong way to draw them. All comic professionals who can't get it together, draw zombie (or robot) books and the fans LOVE them!

Best of all, no one will ever suspect you're lazy and a big failure at drawing live humans.

Sunday, January 03, 2010

Thought of The Day Jan 3, 2010

Not to get mushy but this I thought while I was drawing something I won't show anyone: At this moment, someone is loving a person who will never love him back, a soldier is killing someone he has never met, a poet is writing a poem no one will ever read and so forth. I wonder how many people could be thinking this very thought at this very same time, even though I'm sure I'll never know the answer.

Saturday, January 02, 2010

Thought of The Day Jan 2, 2010

.

Lines are as imperfect as the artists who draw them. But if they're lucky, they can grow up to become as sublime as the women who inspire them.

Because all women are sublime and all lines are jealous.