30 minute warm up sketch!

A quick warm up exercise I did this morning before working on commissioned paintings.

Almost finished . . .

Man, I wish I could just work on this painting and finish it already. But, because i'm in the middle of so many different projects I can only work on it a few hours a week. I'm really enjoying the process, I love painting traditionally, there's nothing like it!

Moleskine sketches #6

Some more quick sketches from my moleskine sketchbook . . . The man reading the paper was a two minute sketch I did at the airport while I waited to board my plane. I would have spent more time and that was my intention, but he got up and got on his plane. I stayed and sketched on it a bit more on it before I realized he was on my flight . . . and I almost missed my flight! Funny thing, he was sitting right in front of me to my right and I was going to sketch him on the flight from a different angle, but the flight was so bumpy. It was the worst flight I've ever been on, extreme turbulence . . . no fun!



A memory sketch of a guy I saw on the street.

Moleskine sketches #3, 4, & 5

A lot of random sketches, mostly from life while on the subway (red line or 'L' train), sitting in a cafe, or where ever I may be? I try to take my sketchbook everywhere and sketch whenever and whatever I can. I have several sketchbooks, some are for planning and prepping for final work. This sketchbook is "just for fun". With this sketchbook, the point is to relax, have fun, and draw whatever I want. I sketch with blue pencils, pen and ink, ball point pens, prisma color pens, pencil, acrylic paint . . . whatever I like. It's a place to mess around and just have fun. A place for me to play!



Quick animal sketches, some from reference, others made up. Fun and good practice.




These sketches are all from life with the exception of Riley, my brother and sister in-law's dog . . .

This is what I'm painting right now, at 11:08 in the P.M.

20 minute digital sketches . . . .

These are two really quick 20 minute digital sketches of very talented artist,
Damion Dunn.
I've decided to go with the top sketch and take it a bit further. Thanks for your input, it's been fun!

I'm crazy busy right now with a ton of work and haven't had as much time for sketching and drawing for myself. It was nice to do these this morning . . . a nice warm up.

Brian oil work in progress . . . #3

Getting close to finishing this one up. I've still got some rendering to do, softening edges and all that fun stuff . . . but it is coming along.

I feel I need to mention that the colors in these pictures are not 100% accurate, when the painting is finished, I'll take high quality pics of it.

Bloomie lll - Cover for the Village Voice!

This is "this" weeks Village Voice cover. I did the sketch Friday afternoon, blocked in the painting Sunday afternoon and then completed it on Monday. This was a fun job to work on. The art director for the V.V. was great to work with, and that always makes my job much more enjoyable.





There were some challenges with this job. The main challenge was maintaining a strong likeness while completely changing Mayor Bloomberg's appearance. The Village Voice wanted me to paint Bloomberg as "Clubber" from Rocky Three. A funny idea, but tricky to pull off. They wanted me to "beef" him up and give him Mr. T.'s Mohawk and beard. I was concerned that it would be hard enough to tell it was Bloomberg with the muscles and Mohawk, so I did two versions. One with the beard and one without. This way they could choose the image that would work best for their needs. I'm happy I was able to pull the likeness through the beard, muscles and Mohawk! Would be fun to see Bloomberg's reaction when he sees it!




This is obviously the beardless version.


On the stands in New York



Thank you Dan Springerfor taking this picture!

Interview and Step by Step for 3D Total.

My INTERVIEW with 3D Total.






Step by Step of my Aretha Franklin painting, with 3D Total.

Kim Jong Chill

This is a recent painting that I painted for my new book
"Seiler 2008-2009".It's sad how North Korean's don't have all that much yet they're "self proclaimed" god has anything and everything he desires. I figured he probably has his own McDonalds inside his palace somewhere? But they only serve Happy Meals, he likes the toys.

CURRENTLY IN THE MIX!

1. I'm working on a cover for The Village Voice . . . any New Yorkers out there, drop me a line, I'd love to get a picture of it on the stands!

2. Working on some Character design for Aardman Animation.

3. Working on an Oil painting for an upcoming show as well as a few acrylics.

Sketching with Jason Seiler DVD Review!

Click here to watch a sneak peak of the DVD and or to purchase the DVD or books.

My art on the streets of New York!

When I was in New York last week, I discovered that I have finally made it to the big time, my work was all over Times Square. Now if I could only get it into the MET?

These street artists were using the art of Kruger, Jan Op De Beeck, Ismael Roldan, Wouter Tulp, Chris Rommel, Tom Richmond and many others including myself to attract clients. It was funny, because these street artists can't draw at all. I tried to talk with them, but all they said to me was "Five dollar, I draw you for five dollar". I asked to talk with his pimp, but he didn't reply.






I went up to this guy and asked him if he painted that Nelly. I said "Wow, this is cool, did you paint this?" He said "Yes, I paint this." I then said "Really, wow, you're really good, what did you use to paint this". He replied, "Yes, I paint this." So I then confronted him and told him that is my painting, that I used acrylics to paint it, and that it was one of my first acrylic paintings. He soon realized that I was serious and then just like that, I no longer existed. He ignored me, it was as if I wasn't even there. Quite interesting. Another guy came over to me and said that he painted it by looking at my painting, that it was a "study" of my painting? I just smiled at him and said . . . "I tell you what, how about I pay you $5, and you let me draw you?" He didn't like that idea. Would have been fun.


THIS IS A FINAL ASSIGNMENT FROM A RECENT STUDENT OF MINE AT SCHOOLISM!


At the end of each semester, my students have to complete a "portfolio piece". A "caricature illustration" so-to-speak. This was Rich Lauzon's final submission! A BIG CONGRATS to Rich! He worked very hard, and I feel he put together a great piece! I critiqued it for him and gave him some suggestions which he said he'll work on. Perhaps when he finishes it, I'll post his final here for all to see?

My next semester for "The Art of Caricature" at Schoolism.comstarts this Friday on the 9Th of October, there are still a couple slots open!

Here's what Rich had to say about the course!

"This last assignment was extremely challenging. I fully appreciated how every lesson was pulled together in this final project. I particularly was impressed with the creative freedom that could be found within the project. I plan to use these techniques in future projects.

I have learned a lot from your course. How to paint, better composition, and, a very straight forward and streamlined process that allows me to create work more efficiently in this deadline oriented field. But probably the thing that clicked for me the most was how to “see” where to caricature. That it’s okay to make things smaller to make something else that has regular proportions look bigger. The skull lesson was also eye opening. That one really shows you what to distort and what to shade what to cross hatch as far as surface planes are concerned. That could be a how to book or DVD all by itself.

It is clear that you are very passionate in your craft. You strike me as a “teachable” for life and I am very humbled by your generous nature in sharing your secrets of your success."

Brian oil work in progress . . . #2

Working on a bunch of projects, many paintings, drawings and sketches as well as critiquing classes for Schoolism. This painting is coming along . . . . but for me oil paintings take some time . . . this still has a ways to go, and again, this is only a portion of the painting. The colors in this photo are closer to the original colors, but still not 100% accurate.

Brian oil work in progress . . . #1

This is a work in progress oil painting for an upcoming show. This is only a part of the painting . . . still a long ways to go, this is still just a block in.

COOL NEWS!
The president of the Edgar Allen Poe Museum in Richmond, and also a cousin of Poe. Is interested in my recent painting becoming a permanent fixture in the museum. Cool eh? Harry Poe's recent book on Poe won the Edgar Award this year in the critical/biographical category. Congrats to Harry!

IN OTHER NEWS!
I am currently working on some character design for animation studios, one being
Aardman Animation!

Moleskine sketches #2

I just got back from New York, I went to visit my Uncle David. Unfortunately he's very sick with cancer. He's more than just "an uncle of mine", I care for him dearly. I was going to be there before a serious surgery that he's got to go through, but last minute they re-scheduled his surgery for October 6Th. For those of you who actually read this blog, I would appreciate your prayers for my Uncle. Thank you.

While in New York, I did manage to do a few pages of sketches in my favorite sketchbook, my moleskine. I stayed with my friend Fred Harper who lives near Wall Street. The drawing on the left was sketched of Fred while he was sketching. We were in a low lit Pub/Restaurant it was like drawing in the dark . . . I didn't know what it looked like until we got back to his place. A fun sketch anyways.

The sketch on the right is of a man who fell fast asleep on the subway somewhere in Manhattan. I couldn't resist.

Just a reminder that my next class at Schoolism.com

Schoolism is worth it!

I'm about to start my 8Th semester teaching The Art of Caricature for Schoolism. I often get emails from people asking if they'll get anything out of the class, if it's worth it. So I wanted to share a little about my class at
Schoolism and what it's all about.

It is a course on caricature, but more than that, it's a course about developing yourself as an artist. Pushing yourself and taking chances. I teach how to see people differently. Caricature is not about picking out one or two features on a person's face and then blowing them out of the water with your "mad" exaggeration skills! It can be so much more than that, and it's more enjoyable when it is. What I'm after and what I teach is to capture personality, character, and the essence of a person.

When I draw people, I'm not trying to be "funny". I don't focused on what I "should" or "could" do to be super funny. If I capture the person's essence, and even if the exaggeration is minimal, it will be funny, because the truth was captured, or enhanced. Hence the title of my blog, "It's Funny Because it's True". Of course I throw humor in there, but it's like cooking, just a little seasoning here and there so that the meal as a "whole" is delicious!

In my course I cover everything from exaggeration while keeping likeness, to structure, form, anatomy, cross hatching and other drawing techniques, values and color techniques, painting and much, much more! Near the end of the course I explain my process for drawing people in any environment or position that an art director could muster up. The students finish a piece that they can use for promotion, a nice piece of art that they can hopefully grab the attention of art directors with.

I've taken on students who could barely draw and by the end of the course they were doing better work than is seen in most publications out there . . . no joke! This is why I continue to teach for
Schoolism.
On the other hand there have also been a few students who were pretty good, but had poor work habits and or thought they were too good to listen to my advice (why they signed up, who knows?). And they failed miserably.

If you really want to learn, and if you're willing to work hard and push yourself as an artist, you will finish the course a more confident and equipped artist! I don't play around, I tell you how it is, but mostly I care about you and your art and want to help you reach your goals!

The only thing standing in the way of reaching your goals artistically is you!


Here's a little something written by a previous student of mine,
Torren Thomas.
When I first saw Torren's work on the first assignment, I knew there was talent, but more than that, Torren had the ambition and passion to grow and achieve his goals! Torren worked very hard, and did some great work throughout the course!



"Since i started my blog and website I've had a few people ask me how much i benefited as an artist from taking classes through the schoolism.com online courses. though i always sing the praises of school whenever i am asked, i think its easier to show you than it is to tell you. As i stated in a earlier post I'm currently working on a few paintings that may or may not end up hanging in Antonio's Pizzeria, the new restaurant a friend is involved in. one of the signature sandwiches on their menu is the" Tony Soprano" and since I am a huge fan of that show i thought he was good person to start with. Well how does that fit with Schoolism? I'll tell you. while working on this piece i came across an old painting i did of Tony Soprano in summer 2007. i think you can see the differences between the two. So for anybody that is on the fence about signing up for a schoolism course, DO IT. It is some of the best money you will ever spend."
-Torren Thomas






Tony Soprano before The Art of Caricature at
Schoolism.com





Tony Soprano after The Art of Caricature at
Schoolism.com


If interested in, or want more info, visit
Schoolism.com
Click
here
to see a sample critique from one of my past semesters.

My next course starts on October 9Th, spaces are filling up, sign up today!

Edgar Allan Poe - watercolor

I painted this on Tuesday and Wednesday of last week. Typical quick turnaround like most jobs I do for The Weekly Standard, but this one was different because it was painted traditionally. It would have been nice to have more time, but for the time given as well as my frame of mind last week, I feel quite good about the final product. I'm also very happy that I was asked to do a watercolor, as watercolor is one of my favorite mediums and I hope to do much more work like this in the future. For me, painting with watercolors is more intimate than other mediums, I feel my emotions of last week were captured in the painting.




My watercolor technique takes a long time, I build and build thin layer upon thin layer, I let the watercolor do what it's supposed to do. Let it drip, let it bleed, let it wander.





I love the texture and the transparency of the medium. There's some nice bits in there.






Here's my lousy sketch.

The World has Lost a great Artist, but I have lost a good friend!

Last night I received the worst news, that my dear friend of 9 years, Ismael Roldan passed away at the young age of 45. This is very difficult for me to accept, I'll try to keep this brief, but I just want to share a little bit about Ismael and what he meant to me.





Years ago, when I was first getting started as a professional artist, I was really struggling to figure out how to get work, how to develop my art professionally in a way that would grab the attention of art directors. I wasn't getting the kind of work that I wanted and I was getting tired of seeing the same artists being published over and over again and not understanding how they got where they were? I had a handful of artists at that time that were my inspiration. I would collect they're work out of magazines and hang them on the wall in my studio. I thought that if I surrounded myself with excellence, I would eventually pick up some of this excellence.

One of my most favorite artists at the time was Ismael Roldan. His work was inspiring to look at. Great exaggeration and likeness, great structure, humor, draftsmanship, perspective, you name it, he was what I wanted to be like.









So one day I gathered up the courage to write him an email, I basically told him that I was a big fan of his work and that I would love to work for publications as well, I thanked him for the inspiration and I attached a piece I had just finished that I was really proud of (to show him what I could do).

Well, I wasn't sure if he would ever write back, but to my astonishment, he wrote back that very same day. I remember being so excited and nervous to read the email. The email was straight up IN YOUR FACE truth about how horrible my work was! A very harsh and blunt critique. He told me my hands sucked, that I lacked knowledge in structure and form, and he actually went on and on. Even though the critique was harsh, he was able to somehow be very kind, he said one good thing, he said I could render like non other, but that won't help any if I can't fix the rest of my problems.

I was crushed, but at the same time, I was motivated to prove myself to Ismael. I didn't want this artist that I looked up to so much to think I was horrible. So I began to work on the things that he pointed out flawed in my work. I drew hand after hand after hand. I worked on skulls, and bone structure, I studied cross hatching and form. I sent him email after email, everything I did, I would send to him. And every time, he'd slam me harder than the time before.

I kept coming back for more, time and time again. Eventually, we became close friends, and slowly, we also became "peers" and we began to exchange work with each other seeking perspective and ideas from one another. I still remember the first time he sent me one of his paintings and wanted me to be honest and tell him what I thought about it. As time went on, we began more and more to talk about our kids and how important they were and how blessed we felt to have kids. Occasionally we'd talk about art, but mostly about life and what we were up to that week.





This is me with Ismael last year at the ISCA's 17Th Annual caricature convention where I won the Gold Nosey as well as many other awards, including a Guest of Honor Awarded by Ismael. That award meant more to me than any of them, and receiving that award from Ismael felt like coming full circle as an artist. I remember seeing him in the crowd as I received my awards, he looked like a proud older brother. Ismael told me that the first email he sent to me was so harsh, because he wanted me to know the truth so I would improve, but mostly he didn't think I'd ever bother him again. It was to his astonishment that I wrote back again and again. He tried to get rid of me, but instead fused a friendship that I hold very dear.


I will never forget the kindness and time Ismael shared with me. He took me under his wing and I wouldn't be where I am today as an artist if it wasn't for his talent and kindness. I feel as if I have lost a friend, a mentor, an inspiration, but mostly, a brother.







Throughout the years, Ismael and I exchanged caricatures of each other. This is the most recent one that he did of me, and the most recent one that I did of him. We also exchanged originals, I own several originals of his. He also sent me books throughout the years of artists that he thought would inspire me. The man was generous.











Ismael, you will truly be missed!

Blue Shark Sketch

Hey artists out there, have you sketched today? Why not? Sketch each day, even if only for a little bit!

Business Bear - sketch

Do business Bears where business socks? Enquiring minds want to know!

Bear sketch, just for fun, sketched with Sketchbook Pro.