A paint-by-number portrait
January 13, 2010
“This is one of my best features … soft, warm and much friendlier than the crooked teeth they hide.”
A John of many talents
December 10, 2009
“Hi, my name is John C. Kuchera and I am an Artist.
To who it concerns: John C. Kuchera is now living in Harlem, a downtown boy
from the early 1980s is now enjoying the open spaces uptown.
John C. Kuchera has been painting and drawing for years, his style is refreshing and
enjoyable, he uses many a medium but he likes pen and ink and oils with
acrylic. A printer, photographer a porter at Columbia University, farm
worker, security guard in Maine (guarding mice) a janitor cleaning banks,
even a copy writer, his most famous copy was, Yes, Virginia we do toilets
(for a Cleaning service) © Kuchera”
Thank you, John, for guarding mice and adding your peace to this site.
A tribute to all the awkward people
September 15, 2009
I suppose writing exercises improve one’s technique, but it usually makes me question certain aspects of my life. Let’s take the first free-writing topic in my creative class this evening:
Write about the last time you got into trouble.
Failure. Blank canvas. I don’t get into trouble. I haven’t. Why haven’t I? Total nerd. New weekend goal: Get into trouble.
And the second free-writing subject:
Write about the first awkward moment that pops into your head.
My head swells with clumsy conversations, inelegant exchanges, and floundering fumbles. And this is only from the past week. Names, faces, and a wave of anxiety collectively hit me and quickly fade into comic relief.
I like awkward. I live by it. It’s the only thing that really makes sense to me. I’d much rather live my days in a sticky dish over a polished one. By definition, awkward means difficult to deal with. Sounds like a challenge!
Linger outside of your comfort zone. Get out there, squirm, and learn.
If you’re reading this and you’re a bit clumsy at times, send me your best story. If you’re a troublemaker, I can learn a thing or two. Teach me your ways.
Nose too small, Mouth too big?
July 21, 2009
Drawing by Lorraine Bier - Austin, Texas
“Here’s a self portrait I did in a recent drawing class. I thought it was pretty good, so I framed it, planning to give it to either my boyfriend or father. Boyfriend says it doesnt look like me. I said ‘so what’s wrong- nose too small, mouth too big, face too long, what?’ He says ‘it’s just wrong.’” -Lori
Lori, I hope you yanked it out of your boyfriend’s hands and gave it to your father! Thank you for sharing your doodle.
Drink & Draw = Pure Genius
July 7, 2009
The genius artistry of the west coast makes me want to relocate.
I’ve never been to Portland, but I’m ready to move there tomorrow. Maybe. Is it because of the roses?
No folks, it’s more about The Drink & Draw. It’s pure social-genius in an artistic form. A group of artists, of all levels, meet at a bar on Sunday night and have a few drinks.
Anyone can start their own drawing or add their own artistic touch to a creation that’s chillin’ in the center of the table – just waiting for some magic.
The concept is captivating, and the scene actually happens in other cities as well (Sacramento, Montreal, and Seattle).
I want to play. Anything near me? I’ll look into it. New York City can always use more collaborative opportunities for artists of all levels. Take a look and check it out if you’re ever visiting P-town or the other locations.
The Beer Dragon was created by Stuart Hiner at a recent Drink & Draw event
I was the creative one.
June 30, 2009
Artwork by Jerod Mcknight using ink, watercolor, and color pencil
“Where do I start? I am a Graphic Designer/Illustrator of a sort. I have been drawing my whole life. Drawing is my whole life, I guess. For some reason everybody always wants my self portraits. I don’t know why – probably because I’m so goofy looking. Whatever!
The drawing below is just a black ink sketch of myself looking in the rear view mirror of the car while we were driving down the road. Black ink is my most common media, and my styles vary within that media.
So I guess a little about me then… I was born in Roseburg, Oregon the youngest of a bunch of kids… like 1 full brother, 2 half brothers, 2 step brothers and 2 step sisters. Anyways, I was the creative one.
We moved to New Zealand when I was 9 and eventually I attended the Palmerston North School of Design. In August of ’01 I came back and attended P.N.C.A. here in Northwest Portland, which I got my B.F.A. Now after the in and outs of life, I am trying to reflect my life through my art.”
Artwork by Jerod Mcknight
Jerod is the founder of Ink About It, an out-of-the-box mecca for designers.
Pisces are good kissers.
June 27, 2009
Artwork by Emily Molloy
“This is me. Emily.
My self-portrait doesn’t look much like me. I always draw my eyes way too big and for some reason my lips too. I actually have thin lips. I think I’m in denial and that’s why I draw them big. The only time I see those thin lips are when I look at pictures of myself.
I received an email today describing the different zodiac signs. I am a pisces. And this is what it said: ‘The Dreamer; Generous, kind, and thoughtful. Very creative and imaginative. May become secretive and vague. Sensitive. Don’t like details. Dreamy and unrealistic. Sympathetic and loving. Kind. Unselfish. Good kisser. Beautiful.’
I agree with most of it. I’m definitely a dreamer. I always have been. I’m constantly thinking about the future and forgetting to live in the present. Unrealistic? Probably. But…maybe not…I usually get everything I ask for. I don’t mean materials. I mean things in life.
For example, in 9th grade I wanted to move to NYC. I imagined myself walking across the busy streets with my brief case and going to work. I wasn’t really sure what I would be doing but I had that idea in my head. A few years later I forgot about that dream… But after graduating from college I found myself…living in NYC, walking across those busy streets and having an awesome job. It just kind of…came together. I’ve had a lot more of those ‘dreams’ turn into reality. So I’m not really sure that unrealistic is the right term to describe me.
Dreamer, generous, kind, thoughtful, creative, imaginative, sympathetic, loving, good kisser (I hope so, even though I have those tiny thin lips), stubborn, and overly sensitive (sometimes). This is me.”
Emily resides in Los Angeles, California, and she started Elephant Shoes in 2008. Her pillows designs are my personal favorite. I am also a Pisces (Emily and I share the same birthday) and yes, I am a good kisser too. Who would admit otherwise?
Emily's pillow design
Morgan’s Monsters and Mythical Beasties
June 22, 2009
Artwork by Morgan - Austin, Texas
“As a child I was only allowed to draw on the back of already used paper. My father kept a bin of scrap paper on his desk. Old junk mail, business letters, homework assignments, or even grocery lists (my folks were recyclers way before it was cool to be recycling). That was the only place I was allowed to draw, anything else was ‘A waste of paper’.
My father was very strict, and didn’t approve of fantasy being the subject of my drawings, he said it was ‘a stupid, waste of time’. As a kid I loved the work of artists like Maurice Sendak. I often tried to emulate his lushly imagined style. I couldn’t show my Dad the pictures I had made of dragons, or monsters, or (embarrassingly my favorite subject as a thirteen year old girl) unicorns. I could show Dad drawings of animals or plants as long as they were done in a properly scientific style.
For awhile I told people I wanted to be a scientific illustrator, but in freshman year of high school I got a dreaded ‘B’ in art. Anything less than an ‘A’ was ‘a failure’ according to my Dad. I took it very much to heart. I had failed at art and my drawings were a waste of paper. I gave up any dreams of being an artist and went on with the business of growing up.
Then 30-odd years later somebody showed me how to use Photoshop to make digital art and suddenly joy and creativity blossomed in my life again. Now there was no paper to waste. I’d been through enough life that I no longer blindly accepted my Dad’s views on the value of or lack of value of certain types of art. I had a ball creating any image that crossed my mind: monsters, mythical beasties (no unicorns though, thankfully I seem to have outgrown those along with my A.Y.S.O. soccer uniform and my belief that STYX was the hottest band ever formed), dark fantasy forests teeming with imagined animals.
I am a freelance lighting designer but my spare time is now completely taken up creating images on the computer. I don’t remember ever being quite so happy. When my husband got me a T-shirt for my birthday that said ‘I draw pictures all day’, I almost cried. It was the first time I didn’t feel inwardly guilty about just sitting down and drawing.”
Morgan is an artist from Austin, Texas, and her work is incredible, just like her story. Check out my favorite design called “Talks to Snakes”. Send your story and self-portrait to me. TheMathematicsofGlamour@hotmail.com
