Friday, September 12, 2008

You Taught Me Three Words (Cont.)

    Added to Traditional Medium Section (9/12/08)

    

    Ta-dah! Here is Jake; one of the greatest guys you’ll ever meet. This one took about half a year or maybe more. Mostly because I wanted to get it just right and I worked on it here and there during breaks from school. I must have layered a hundred times. I moved his left eye (twice), his lips down and up, his ear to the right, and colored his beard nearly all tertiary combinations. Well, it’s a process. It’s not like that’s anything new. ;o) 

    This is how I work in photoshop too, actually. I sometimes take a crummy drawing (or one that has a refined kind of crumminess to it haha) and digitally paint on top. My photo reference is in another window and I use it to help me draw the figure/face. The Escape is an example, with No. 1’s face which I completely painted differently than the original drawing:
From there I alter the pose, increase lighting, and add mood just like I would while editing a photo except it’s pixel paint. Um, it’s kinda’ hard to explain. Anyway, I don’t like to let my sketches control the process. They are only there to help. So, there you have it. Bye! 
Posted by bmadd in 21:26:08 | Permalink | Comments Off

Emancipated

    Added to Traditional Medium Section (9/12/08)

    http:bmadd.com/trd_emancipated.html

This is a piece I did in 2006. I left it in my parents’ basement. The story I illustrated was written by one of my professors in which a young girl is pregnant and as a punishment, gets thrown out of the house. The chimney was my favorite part to paint!
Posted by bmadd in 20:57:08 | Permalink | No Comments »

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Mojah’s Torment

    (Added to the Butterfly Boys Section 9/9/08)


     http://bmadd.com/bboy2_pain.html


Hi! I just uploaded the next piece in my series. This one depicts Mojah alone and vulnerable after 
the “The Attack”. Mojah’s turmoil is covered up by anger. He isn’t always a big, tough guy. Also, in case you 
can’t tell from the web I put a little sleepy mask on the moon. :o ) 
No. 1 and Mojah aren’t the only ones in their world. Those little buggies are smoke goblins! They only come 
out on a foggy morn or night, pestering anyone who happens to be nearby. So, I’ve been thinking I should 
change these blogs into a storyline, possibly with dialogues and stuff. I’m not sure yet, maybe. ;o)

Posted by bmadd in 21:41:21 | Permalink | No Comments »

Saturday, August 16, 2008

You Taught Me Three Words

Coming Soon to Traditional Medium Section


This is a portrait of my friend Jake. I painted with oils for the first time in a long time (at least, other than exercises at school). I actually got quite a few colds from using terpentine. Some kind of allergic reaction or something. Oils are very toxic anyway so now I have to make sure I don’t sleep with my paintings next to me if I work traditionally. Doh! Can’t wait to scan and post it!!
Posted by bmadd in 20:50:26 | Permalink | No Comments »

The Escape

(Added to the Butterfly Boys Section and Traditional Section 8/16/08) 


    http://bmadd.com/bboy_escape.html

    This one kinda’ reminds me of a Renaissance style. Or should I say I was inspired by the Renaissance style?? I had a lot of fun with those clouds. Maybe I’ll write more about this one later. For now, I think it’s pretty self explanatory. No. 1 narrowly escapes Mojah’s wrath and flies away to safety. You’ll notice the moon is pretty ticked off. I thought it would look cute and innocent. I really like merging innocent cartoon styles with realistic, dramatic ones. It makes for good comic relief I think.

Posted by bmadd in 20:41:19 | Permalink | No Comments »

The Attack

    (Added to the Butterfly Boys Section and Traditional Section 8/16/08) 


    http://bmadd.com/bboy_attack.html


Update: you can download this one now. Click underneath the image on “download” and take a look.

    Aaaah!!!! Can I just say this piece took me forever!! xO It was about a month and a half to make. I think because I was busy and stressed during the process. Moving into a new apartment, catching up with the Oprah show, stalking cute boys, and practicing my traditional painting skills pulled me away from it. Anyway, the story behind this one is about the first meeting between Mojah and No. 1. Obviously, it’s not in any way cordial. Mojah is angered by No. 1’s appearance. He loathes those damned wings! So, he retaliates violently. 

Posted by bmadd in 20:37:59 | Permalink | No Comments »

Portrait of the Cupid Pixie

    (Added to the Butterfly Boy Section 8/10/08)


     http://bmadd.com/bboy_cupid.html

    I don’t think cupid is a cute and chubby baby, bearing arms. Rather, I imagine it as an aged, tired pixie who works overtime. Nevertheless, it’s compassionate and full of heartfelt wisdom. Cupid’s job is to untangle all the love energies and balance them as best as possible. When it notices Mojah and No. 1 fighting, it cannot help but intervene and take on the hardest task.

 

Posted by bmadd in 20:36:24 | Permalink | No Comments »

Mojah’s Cocoon and Wings

(Added to the Butterfly Boys Section and the Traditional Medium Section 8/16/08)


    http://bmadd.com/bboy2_wings.html

    http://bmadd.com/bboy2_cocoon.html

    Mojah started from a cool hair cut I wanted to see on a guy. The fantastic dreadlock mohawk!! I wanted him to appear rebellious and masculine; the polar opposite of No. 1. Unfortunately, a lot of bad events took place outside the exterior of his cocoon. Wars and destruction influenced his growth. So, he’s somewhat a victim of circumstance and born into a fighter. For all the trouble he’s been through, Mojah turns on the creatures who could otherwise love him.

Posted by bmadd in 20:34:39 | Permalink | No Comments »

No. 1’s Cocoon and Wings


    
    No. 1 is a character who closely resembles me. After all I use myself as model reference a lot of the time (oh and I never, ever trace photos in Photoshop!! although I have done it before eep). Being your own model is affordable and great for getting unusual reactions, emotions, and poses. He embodies my life and experiences but I didn’t want to name him Beau. At least if I ever have to kill him off it won’t hurt, right? :o P Besides that, the cocoon imagery isn’t necessarily about birth. The butterfly boys eventually go through their metamorphosis regardless of whether they want to or not. No. 1 is the beginning of a story about happiness, struggle, misfortune, pleasure, love, and life. 


Posted by bmadd in 20:32:33 | Permalink | No Comments »

An Introduction

So, I’m writing a new blog. This will be a way for me to notify you when I post new images and paintings on my website. I’ll describe my pieces like how long they take me to create, the stories behind them, my creative process, and other stuff. For my own sanity, I am NOT going to write about any personal issues, beliefs, current events, or anything involving my opinion unless it relates to art. Just a heads up about my butterfly boys. In no way are they supposed to depict gay men in a derogatory sense (the fairy concept). I love mythology and fantasy. I just dig the cocoon/butterfly metaphor. Although, I mean I use myself as a model so I’m pretty sure I’m the only person who could get offended. :o P The story involves GLBT themes mostly because that’s what I know and understand. But the story is also about growing as a young person. Check out my portfolio: www.bmadd.com

Posted by bmadd in 20:29:14 | Permalink | No Comments »