I’ve always found it amazing how people take the coming of a New Year as if it was more than just a new Date on the Calendar. They make resolutions and promises. They try to break from their routine in hopes of genuine change.

I actually like this; I like the idea that we have that much control over our future and that there is a designated “Date” that everyone in this world has the RIGHT to change if they see fit… It’s Magical.

But the realist in me always takes over. Nothing changes; life tomorrow is simply a distorted reflection of life yesterday.

I personally want to give in to the hype and give myself a fresh start. It would be amazing if we can forget about all our hurts and let go of all the regrets we carry with us day after day.

So if I did make resolutions or changes they would be the following:

• Be open to my emotions and those of others.
• Be willing to let go of the people who don’t want to be here and grateful for the ones that do.
• Commit more time to my Art Work.
• Find a way to work faster
• Play more Video Games… That’s Right! More Video Games!!!
• Learn not to “Over Think” everything.
• Find Happiness… In whatever form it comes

Change… Hope… New… Beautiful things to look forward to.

A New Sketch and Muse

Often I find it hard to know when a sketch ends and a full-scale drawing begins. Truth is I very much avoid the end of a sketch. I am so in love with the process of trying to figure out the start of a drawing, learning the subject and all the nooks that make them unique; I enjoy this part so much that I fear the final results. Because it is in the final results that one judges the Artist… Not his process.

Sometime you find a person who’s smile is so captivating you can’t help but want to spend all day and night trying to capture it. The Sketch above is of my friend Anny… She has such a big smile it needed to be called Art.

Note:

I started a new book because the old one had too much baggage… Does that make sense? But then I find that the very baggage I try to avoid finds its way back into my pages.

Portraits

Since childhood I have been fascinated by Portraits, and now I’ve become obsess with them, all kinds: Pencil Drawings, Paintings and Photographic Portraits.

I’ve been drawing faces as far back as I could remember. I remember constantly being frustrated as I try to better capture a person’s likeness. Even now I still strive to better myself in hopes that I can do justice to the subject I’m drawing. But it wasn’t till recently that I realize how deep one must go to make a good portrait. Because an Artist needs to be able to notice the smallest details that make up that individual unique face. The slightest angle and direction of each line and how they force shadows to settle on the surface; all this things create a face. A face that will not only speak of the subject’s identity but also on their character and all the things that adds up to make them so.

For an Artist a portrait can be haunting. It’s a testimony not of their skill with pencils, brushes or through the lens of a camera; it is a testimony to an Artist’s ability to see. Seeing is a visual Artist’s greatest tool… Something I’ve yet perfected.

In the end of the day a portrait has the potential to be more than just a person’s likeness. It can speak, be a voice for both the subject and the Artist; and in these rare moments a portrait can also be a voice for the viewer.

Note:

I’m far from being at the skill level I hope to be. But I have this need inside to bush on. Knowing this brings me great joy because I’m confident that in time I’ll find my place and be confident with my style… Soon I hope.

Sketchbook and The Study of Self

As far back as I could remember I’ve never been able to keep a sketchbook for more then a dozen or so pages. It seems that eventually I hit that mark where I can’t bare to look at the drawings in the book. I get overwhelmed with feelings of regret; telling myself I could have done a better and cleaner job. I then trash the book and start all over. This really gets in my way and stops me from seriously collecting a body of work. But I think I’m coming around.

The problem is that I take all this too seriously. I’m caught up in trying to better my skills that I forget how imperfect a “Perfect” piece of Art Work is.

One of the most common things in every sketchbook I have ever own are that most of the pages were sketches of myself. People often laugh that I draw myself so much; it does seem a bit self-absorb. But Drawing one self has been a tradition among fine Artist. One doesn’t always have access to models for life studies, drawing outside is a good alternative but that can be distractive at times (for me), so drawing yourself is a great alternative.

Besides… How I can I possibly dare to capture the truth in someone’s image if I can’t capture my own truth.

So expect to see lots of “Lupe!’ drawing in this WordPress

I was born in Mexico and lived there for a minute, but was mostly raised in New York City. Being a true New Yorker made me a collage of contradictions; an eclectic statistic; something that confuses me at times. But the one thing that has been constant in my life has been the Arts.

Since childhood, it has been the source for my curiosity and ambitions. The foundation to seek knowledge and understanding; Art is the fire that wills me to keep pushing forward even when myself and others are pushing back.

I hope this Blog/Journal becomes another outlet for my creativity and record my journey through artistic discovery in hopes that I can one day call myself an “Artist”.

Note – My OCD kicked in like crazy so this is actually my third time I clean out this blog and started from scratch. I hope I can keep it together and not make it a fourth.