But It's a Dry Heat

Author Archive

Monica Bellucci

And…today’s victim in my portrait painting study is the lovely Monica Bellucci. Well, she was lovely until I got ahold of her. LOL.

For comparison, the same painting, but with a filter added to warm up the colors.

Figure Studies, Part Three

More little sketchy sketches, done as two-minute warmups, and then given a bit more oomph with color and a few details. The goal is to keep them loose, with an emphasis on maintaining the fluidity of the gesture.

My reference with this one had a pretty challenging forced perspective.

This one, lol, got flagged as “suggestive nudity” on Bluesky. Ah, we are in the age of the internet nanny.

Figure Studies, Part Two

One of my favorites from my ongoing very quick, timed (2-minute) figure studies. I’m calling her “Green Girl.”

Figure Studies, Part One

My morning warmup routine currently consists of doing timed, gesture studies. I usually keep each study to 2 minutes, which is just enough time to get the main lines of action down, but not enough to get lost in details. Later, I’ve been going back and adding a bit of color and a few details to the ones I like.

This one was fun because of the forced perspective, the photo taken from above the model, her feet far below her and pinching off in the perspective.

Itty-Bitty Nazgul

Revisiting an old cartoon. The old version…

And the new version…

The original definitely has its charms. But what’s funny is that even though I thought my horse-drawing skills were good back then, they’ve definitely improved in the years that followed. And, a solid year of doing figure-drawing studies also improved my hobbit drawing ability.

El Tecolote de Navidad

Saw a photo of this adorable little burrowing owl and was compelled to draw it. As it was December, I gave the little fellow a festive hat.

I’m Alive

Rebooting and re-animating this site as a secondary (more like tertiary) place to post artwork. Though I continue to post stuff on social media, the constantly changing landscape of socials is pushing me back to also having a place with more permanence.

Honestly? I know no one likely to see this and that’s appealing as well. Posting to the void rather than chasing influence.

Anyhow, this horse was one of my earliest attempts to paint with Krita. Previously, I was using an old version of Photoshop to create digital art, but when that wouldn’t run on my new computer, I gave Krita a try.

The sequence of events actually consisted of me trying Corel Paintshop Pro, which was functional but not optimized for digital drawing and painting. Looking into free, open-source options, I came across Krita.

Initially, I found it a little frustrating because I was accustomed to Photoshop and to some extent Paintshop Pro.

Now? I love it and recommend it enthusiastically. It’s got all the functionality of most paid drawing and painting software, a terrific workflow and really great brushes and tools. Plus, there’s loads of help available online if you get stuck.

If you’d like to give it a try, here’s the main Krita site.

2021, The Do-Over Year?

If only it were as easy as a reboot.

With the inevitable parade of spineless, traitorous Republicans slithering from the shadows of sedition, demanding that Democrats let “bygones be bygones” in the wake of the horrific, violent insurrection perpetrated by a Right-wing mob on the U.S. capital, January 6, 2020, this needs to be said: There can be no unity without accountability.

For too long, in the interest of comity, Democrats have allowed the Republicans to control the narrative and bowed to their demands that Right-wing rhetoric and violence to go without any repercussions or justice. All in the name of so-called “unity” and “healing.”

One cannot heal without first treating the disease. Cancer cannot be cured without first excising the malignancies.

ACCOUNTABILITY BEFORE UNITY

 

The Quiet Place or Adventures in Horrible Parenting

On a Facebook post, I said that “If you’re a fan of this movie and a parent, I pity your children.” I wrote that unapologetically; the intent was to be provocative and offensive. Just five minutes into this movie, I was stunned by a plot that relied on parents doing the equivalent of letting their toddler play on the freeway. Even more so, dismayed by the love slathered on this hot-mess of a movie. After moving beyond the “all people are stupid” rants, I started to examine why a blatantly terrible movie can be perceived as good.

The premise of The Quiet Place is that Earth has been invaded by blind, vicious aliens that hunt using ultra-sensitive hearing. The few surviving humans stay alive by being as quiet as possible; even the tiniest noise can invite attack. According to the newspaper articles collected by the movie’s patriarch and pasted conveniently on the wall in his lair of useless technology, the aliens are indestructible and don’t eat what they kill. (Which begs the question: What do they eat?)

The movie opens in a small country store. A family of five–Mom, Dad, Teen Girl, Tween Boy, and four-year-old boy who shall be hereafter referred to a Monster Meal (M&M)–are wandering aimlessly about the shop. Mom is carefully, quietly (more…)

Independence Day: Resurgence

Watching Independence Day: Resurgence, one can’t help but think that if this is the best that humankind has to offer, then the aliens would be doing the universe a solid by exterminating us.

I admit, the original movie had its appeal, a goofy, over-the-top, cheese-covered heart, which is sorely lacking in the sequel. Sure, Independence Day was populate with archetypes, but none were so painfully cliche as in Independence Day: Resurgence.

Interjecting new blood into the franchise is Liam Hemsworth in the role of cocky, reckless pilot who will save the day, but is tormented by past fuck-ups, all self-induced, of course. Let’s call him Top Gun, because who the hell cares what the character’s real name is? The obligatory comic relief is provided by Top Gun’s Sidekick, who’s there to leer at Exotic Asian Girl. Top Gun’s love interest is Generically Pretty White Girl, a former ace pilot and coincidentally the daughter of ex-president WhatHisName, from the first movie. The plot is all about coincidences. It’s built on a teetering Jenga tower of coincidence. Top Gun’s rival is a former friend who is aggrieved by whatever it is that Top Gun FUBARed in the past. Once upon a time, Top Gun, Rival, and Generically Pretty White Girl were a best friendsies threesome. But, no more. The instant Top Gun and Rival reconnect, on the moon base, Rival punches Top Gun. Which is the extent of their testosterone-fueled angst.

If this sounds like the plot of an anime, well, it should be. If (more…)