Back to the grind stone

I just wanted to post a quick post to get myself moving as I have finally started to transfer the images from the sketches to the boards to be painted on this long and exciting painting process. It is taking quite a while but I know it will be worth it.

Image quiality isn't the best but progress is happening.

Road block

This was one of my favorites, it has a neat design, some better reference and more of a clean idea. 

Key Leaders

 

I am finally finished with the Battalion art project. I will admit that it did not have the grand ending I was hoping for with actual paintings happening. The framed artwork consisted of the preliminary value sketches for the paintings. I guess the 'Army' decided that the supplies needed to actually paint the project were not needed for training and are a hazard to the health of the soldiers so the funding for the project was not provided as agreed upon. I was not really surprised that the funding was pulled, even after good hearted XO tried all he could to make it happen. 

It is a little frustrating as this occurs in a long string of not so happy incidences that have befallen me at the hand of the Army. I will be continuing to pursue the completion of this project. It will not have the backing or support of my chain of command and will have to happen on a much tighter budget. I am have already purchased the backing upon which the paintings will be painted and with some gesso purchased for some personal projects I would like to begin preparing the boards for paint soon.

I like doing the full value drawings and paintings as they give me another idea of how things will look as a finished product and I can make needed changes to the project before it is too late. I don't always do this step so it has been a blessing in disguise to have been asked by the Battalion XO to put the full value on the sketches. I don't know if he realized that the full project would never be fully completed as he has a lot to do with the funding but he gets some credit for this step actually happening. 

I am afraid some of the detail that I enjoyed from the drawings were lost in adding the value. I tried to keep some by adding the line work on top as the value sketch came from a completed drawing yet it was a value sketch that was wanted to be framed. I have the other twelve sketches that will be coming on the blog throughout the month. It will be a great month for blog updates, now I just have to keep moving on the art work. There is a ton to do and so little time to do it. 

I think I see how easy it is for me to get distracted and not get projects completed. A new thing comes up and switch gears. The past few paintings I have completed, I had the capability to sit at a desk and paint in a way that the chance to get distracted couldn't come up. It was great. This project will require some effort to stay focused and see it through to completion. Due to the limited time available to dedicate to the project I will have to show some serious determination! Onward we go!

I can't say I haven't done anything in the past month. I have finally finished with a request to draw a full leg sleeve tattoo. I will add again that drawing tattoos is not my favorite thing to draw in the world but as I make them more artistic and work at applying my own style in ways that make the drawings into works of art they become more to me than a prospective tattoo. I have asked for a few pictures from people that get the tattoos but I have yet to get any photos back.

This image was a midevil inspired one. The individual is from Puerto Rico as can be seen from the flag. He asked me for this one back when we were in Kuwait and I put it off till we returned to the states. I like the way it looks and he sounded super pleased. I was notified that he would be starting the line work to be done the following monday. I haven't received any photos back as I once again asked for some photos of the work in progress and of course the finished ink. I know I won't be getting any tattoos any time soon, but to each their own I suppose. 

 

First rough

The work begins with the concept in mind. I will be composing several paintings to commemorate the work my company and other soldiers did and I have pencil to paper. Officially I have been working for a few days now but I wanted to keep you updated on the progress so far. This is a scene of a evening checkpoint that was conducted. I am not sure if a vertical format would be better. I think I will but I wanted to see it in the horizontal just to make sure. This is going to be a long journey to complete this job but I am looking forward to every pencil line and each brush stroke!