Finn the Human

 

This is how I write essays.

I draw Finn.

Legit.

Tom Waits

Earlier today, I was suddenly overcome with the urge to draw Tom Waits.

So I did.

Pencil, Micron Pens, Tombow Brush Pen. 

About an hour.

The first picture that turned up in google just happened to be really cool. 

These are just a couple drawing from my sketchbook. I was trying to show gesture and attitude with the two on the left, and I don't know what my goal was for the one on the right.

Modeling

I'm taking a 3D modeling class right now. This whole semester, we've been creating a World War 1 flare gun. I never knew how to makes textures or UV maps or anything until now, and it has been an enormously fun project. I'm still working on the texture of it, but here is where I'm at right now.

One Week.

Hello, world. 

A lot can happen in a week. 

Lives begin and end. 

Leaders, new and old, can take power.

Discoveries that will change our most basic conceptions of 

what our lives are can be made

 I just drew a lot this week though.

Graphite, 20 mins.

My figure drawing continues to improve, and I continue to astound 

myself with what I can do.

Also, I saw a movie a couple of days ago that had quite a big impact on me.

Bronson, Faber-Castell Pitt pen and Black Tombow Marker

The movie was Bronson, directed by Nicolas Winding Refn, and based off of the real life criminal, Charles Bronson.

The movie's titular protaganist was a man whose primary joy in life was hurting others. He had almost no redeeming qualities, but throughout the entire movie I rooted or him without fail. This film is a success in almost every regard, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

I also had a minor art epiphany two days ago. 

Sketches, Bic Ballpoint Pen

 

I started drawing, and I didn't let the pen stop moving until I felt like I had a complete character. I gave almost no thought to anatomy, structure, or the quality of the final product. I ended up being incredibly happy with what I got, and even though these are not the cleanest, or the most finished drawings, each one of them has a unique spark of personality, and they are not as monotonous as my drawings tend to get. Loosening up and almost letting the drawing draw its self is an amazing feeling.

Winter Is Coming...

And with it, come the final projects. 

 Bring it.

I've been enjoying myself lately. My classes aren't destroying me, so I've had lots of time to explore my art on my own. I've been drawing  quite a bit, but as is always the case, about 80% of my drawings are pretty awful. then only about 2% of that remaining 20% is anything I would ever want people to see, and that's what I've got here.

The way I draw is evolving left and right lately, and that is largely due to my figure drawing class. 

Ten Minutes, Graphite

Drawing the human figure has helped me draw basically everything better, and figure drawing has become my favorite part of the week. Puzzling out what makes a human body act and look the way it does is such a fun, gratifying, challenge, and I don't ever want to stop doing it.

Sixty Minutes, Charcoal

 

Detail 

 
"I prefer winter and fall, when you feel the bone structure of the landscape. Something waits beneath it; the whole story doesn't show." - Andrew Wyeth

Stay warm people.

Terror

So I had kind of a terrifying realization earlier today. I'm sure that most of you by now have heard about the horribly botched attempt at restoring a fresco in Spain. Here it is is you haven't seen it.

 

The left is what it looked like, and on the right is the attempted restoration. Aside from the fact that a beautiful piece of art has been destroyed probably beyond repair, this new fresco is getting much more attention than the original. The number of people who travel to the small town of Boria in Spain has risen greatly, and it is mostly due to this monstrosity. The restorer, Cecilia Gimenez, is even trying to sue the church for royalties that she thinks she deserves. 

 

Here's Cecilia.

But the terrifying thought that occurred to me is that now this terrible piece of art will become a part of our world's history. When Art historians of the future look back at the art of our time, they will not see a stirring fresco depicting Christ's passion, but as Stephen Colbert put it, "a dough-faced homunculus". They will be baffled by this strange creature on the wall of a church, and may make assumptions about our culture that should not be made. One can only hope that this is documented as the terrible mistake that it is and stops getting all of the attention that it doesn't deserve.

Anyways, here's some stuff I drew this week.

Finally! Another Post!!

 It's been all summer and then some since I've posted anything, but here's some of what I've been working on.

 Lately I've been improving somewhat rapidly, and I'm getting more and more confident in my abilities. I have no idea what I want to do with my art, though.

 I don't seem to be taking any concrete direction, no matter how I try to steer myself.

 Despite that, I'm more motivated than ever before to improve myself, but I wish I knew why.

I'm sure I'll find out soon.

Early this morning, i finished a thirty second animation that i've been working on.

 

It has taken so much of my time, but it was worth it.

Here are some more drawings I've done recently.

This is a drawing from my notes on walk cycles.

And this is Larry Silverburg, one of the guest speakers who came this semester.

Here are some drawings I've done recently. The portraits and robot guy are doodles done during class and the tonal piece is a half hour location study.

Here is the finished walk cycle.

The arms and head kind of got away from me, 

but my next cycle will be better.

Here is a pen and ink Illustration I did a while ago for a class.

It was he first serious project I had done with pen and ink.

Woooo! Walk Cycle!

This is my first pass. I'll be adding arms and a head soon. 

But in the mean time, I'm super enjoying myself.

Leaf and Brick Drops

Here are the two animations I just finished and turned in today. I edited it all together at five thirty in the morning, so that's why the leaf stays on screen during the second title. I like how these turned out, although I still wish I could have had more time.

BAM!!! Progress!!! Here's the fixed ball drop.

Also, here's a bowling ball bounce.

More animations incoming soon. I'm working on a leaf drop and a brick drop.

Ball Drop

These are the ball drops I just did for my intro to animation class.

Here's the first one. It's got some problems.

 

So I went back and fixed it.

 

 

First Post

Hello World! My name is Jeremy Cummings. I am currently in my second semester at San Jose State studying Animation/Illustration. I've decided that I should chronicle my progression here, so that whoever wants to see it for whatever reason can.  I'll also probably post whatever else I feel like posting too. So watch out.