Release the Kraken!

So this is my progress this summer, on the craft room!

An older woman used to live in the condo before us, and she chose the downstairs master as her bedroom.  It had this one accent wall in gold that I assume matched the theme of her bedroom.

 

 I mixed a blue we used in the bathroom with a hint of the green we used in our kitchen to make this less saturated blue.  Here is a shot of the paint still wet:

 

We had a dark teal that we used in the loft that I knew I wanted to use to paint on something awesome.  I brainstormed for a while and thought about painting big peacock feathers on the wall or big dandelions.  Then, from the inspiration of a little bit of googling I decided on octopus tentacles.  I started out by drawing them with white chalk on the walls and then moving on to the paint.  It took about two coats to get them fully painted in.  Here's the finished wall:

We really like the room now.  We plan on adding a twin bed for guests and accenting the room with different nautical scuba/steampunk-esque elements.  I guess you could say we want the room in the theme of the video game, Bioshock. (No mom, this is not a beach house, we are not talking Outer Banks lighthouses nautical (cause we're too cool for that)).

 

So, then I got curious about the artists for Bioshock, so that brings me to business to present not one, but two artists!

Craig Sellars

 http://www.greensocksart.com/

Craig Sellars is a freelance artist working in the video game industry.  He was one of the main concept designers for the game, Bioshock.  He has experience in feature film, tv, and the video game industries. He has worked for Disney and EA (Electronic Arts).  His recent commissions have been with LEGO and and Microsoft.  Sellars began his education at Sheridan College with a degree in Animation and studied Industrial Design at Fanshawe College.

 

 These are some of Craig Sellars digital concepts.  I chose the top because it reminds me of Left 4 Dead and the Walking Dead.  The empty deserted kitchen looks like a family was sitting down for breakfast and ran out when a zombie apocalypse broke out.

Then here is one from the video game I've been talking about.  This one is actually from the next game in the series, (so cleverly named) Bioshock 2.  

Mike Sebalj

http://www.mikesebaljart.com/index.htm

Mike Sebalj is another one of the concept artists for Bioshock.  He again, works in the video game industry as an illustrator and production designer.  He studied at Fanshawe College and received a degree in Industrial Design (same as his co-worker Craig Sellars).  His latest work has been with the release of Bioshock 2 and the Darkness 2.

 

Here is one of the rooms in Bioshock 2 with a break down of his added elements.  Bioshock takes place in an underwater city.  I just love the glow of the water and the creepy statues...

Here is one of the grand staircases to the city by Sebalj.  One of my favorite elements about the game is the color palate of the blues/teals/greens with the rich golds and reds.  Such a contrast!

This little learning session has actually given me more inspiration for my craft room.  I think I will go put up some Bioshock posters and steampunk elements to drive my mom crazy :) (No lighthouses in this underwater room!).

Live Long and Prosper

Busy Busy Busy!  Finally finished painting the new place.  I am really excited to venture to painting the craft room as we have lots of leftover paint.  Maybe in the next blog I will post some progress!


So, time for more research...

Jason Bard Yarmosky

 “Growing old shouldn’t preclude anyone from enjoying the same sense of joy, experimentation, and exploration that we associate with young people.”  Yarkmosky is a painter based in New York.  He paints realistic portraits of an elderly couple, who happen to be his 84 year-old grandparents.  In his art, he likes to show aging in contrast with youthfulness.  

I stumbled across this artist in a Hi Fructose article because it was eye catching.  I like the idea of nostalgia and innocence shown in his works of art.  Yarmosky paints very large, as the work on the left is 72" x 48".  I picked this piece, Sound of Silence, because it reminds me of cosplayers at the anime conventions I go to.  I can only imagine this painting being a portrait of myself at 84, as an elderly woman embracing youth.

See the resemblance?  This is Ian and I at Katsucon 2012 dressed as Cosmo and Wanda from the Fairly Odd Parents.

Upon finding Yarmosky's artist statement, I really like some of the things he says.  "My paintings examine the relationship between the limitations of social norms and the freedom to explore, particularly the juxtaposition between the young and old. The carefree nature that is associated with youth often gives way to borders and boundaries placed on adult behavior."  I thought about exploring something similar in my senior seminar works.  I really like the innocence of one's inner child in contrast to the social expectations put on adults.  Yeah we get weird looks walking from the hotel to the convention with pink and green hair, but it's all about having fun.

Well back to my sketchbook and the paint cans, I've got big plans for the craft room.  But to end things on a good note, how could I leave you without a picture of our cute kitten?

Pilot

Well...Hello there blog.  This is my blog for my senior seminar in studio art at Christopher Newport University.  I will be writing weekly about things that inspire me along with research on living/working artists.  Oh yeah, and I'm sure you would like to see progress of my own art.  I have a feeling there will be a lot of playing with materials to determine what I would like to do for this class.  So, *deep breath*, here it goes...

Where should I start?  My name is Leslie Haynes and I was born and raised in Williamsburg, VA.  I recently moved about 2 miles down the road from my parents house into a cute little condo with my fiance, Ian.  Moving a week before finals?  Talk about difficult.  Along with slowly getting our place painted, I work at Busch Gardens as a lead in the body art department.  We are responsible for face painting, temporary tattooing, hair wrapping, and now lets add feather/synthetic extensions to the list.  This is my 6th season working for the park, and my boss, lives across the street from me!

I am a transfer from Thomas Nelson Community College, where I spent two years and earned an Associates Degree in Social Science.  I am very happy to be apart of the CNU family.  I am a studio art major and can't wait to graduate in Spring 2013.

My fiance Ian, is not artsy at all.  He graduated from ODU with a major in psychology and a minor in sociology.  He now works down the street from our condo as a security officer at a time share complex.  He inspires me in my artwork and deserves a shout out because he is allowing me to use our 2nd bedroom as an art studio for senior sem (thanks love!).  I can't wait to get it all set up with all of my art supplies.

My inspiration comes from my work as a face painter.  A year ago we were still using brushes and paint, but now we have switched over to airbrush face painting.  One Fall, I worked as a special fx make-up artist and applied make up to performers at Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens.  I love to switch media, but my passion is in painting.  Most of my inspiration comes from video games.  Ian and I are huge nerds and I love putting my skills to the test by making us costumes of our favorite video game characters that we wear at anime conventions around the area.  So I'm really hoping this will be an opportunity to showcase my nerd art in blog form.

The Wolfe Brothers: Brian and Nick Wolfe

Twins, Brian and Nick, are the owners of Wolfe Brothers FX.  They are my inspiration as a face painter as they are artists currently operating in the field.  They were born in raised in Florida where they began face painting at Universal Studios in 1998.  The quickly received attention while working in the special fx department at the park.  In 2004, they decided to leave the park and create the Wolfe Brothers FX company.  They supply face paint, airbrush makeup, and step-by-step make up guides.

They have made it big in the world of fx makeup for their vibrant use of color and shading to create 3-d effects.  Recently, in 2011, they competed against 42 other countries to win the World Champion title at the World body painting Festival.  Today they make appearances at conventions and continue to write step-by-step face painting guides.  They own and operate www.wolfefx.com and are known as the "evil twins" at www.eviltwinfx.com. 

Their creation of the hyrdo color face painting cakes has made a big impression on face painting.  Their formula is made up of traditional face paint and theatrical make up, all in a water based formula.  It is by far, my favorite paint to use (seeing that a face paint can last throughout the day on a small child without fading just goes to show the quality of their paint).  When I first started at Busch Gardens, we were using a brand called Snazaroo.  When we found the Wolfe Brothers paint, we quickly switched out the old paint for theirs.

They impress me by their ability to change theme.  They can go from creepy to pretty with just a swish of a brush.  One of the hardest parts of painting faces, is the ability to use the face.  Everyone has a different face structure.  Some have tall foreheads, when some have none.  When a person has little surface area to paint, you have to altar your design to fit their face.  The Wolfe Brothers always do a wonderful job in understanding the face and body.

Time to break out the face paints and borrow Ian's face... after I finish painting the downstairs bathroom.  May the force be with you...

Leslie