What kind of art will I make tomorrow?
I love making #coronart, and the feedback and sales are phenomenal, and the daily routine is part of what's helping me win against the onset of a depression. But it's been a struggle, at times.
At first, full of energy and vigour, I challenged myself to do something new and not use black. Then, once the depression attacked...
I tend to be tough on myself. I make no apologies for it, but I'm aware that higher aspirations can often distract from present accomplishment.
Now, when the world is turning as strange and threatening as it always appeared to me, I'm working my ass off striving for those high aspirations, battling my depressions, and I do think I'm winning.
It would be easy to be tough on myself ...
In a sort of follow up to my "Timid" drawing, the next step down my personal anxiety spiral, that I'm successfully keeping at bay, is when the fear hardens into hatred. When I reside for too long in the fight or flight zone, I start to see the world like a predator scouting for prey. To see how I can hurt those around me with words. Go in for the kill. Win. And lashing out comes so easy f...
2020-04-27 19:17:55 +0000 UTC View Post
There is no undo button. All the little faults and flaws and mistakes malicious or well-intended, all add up. They are what makes us who we are today. Tomorrow we shape our redemption from the ashes. Yesterday remains always irredeemable.
#coronart day 44: Irredeemable.
Today's art is for sale for 200$, as part of the @artistsupportpledge #artistsupportpledge as star...
I get skittish. Being itself becomes threatening. Sounds, movements, lights, all attack me. Inside I'm raging. Jaws clenched. Preparing to strike back, because running away is no option. There's no where to run. Even home becomes a malingering deathtrap for one too timid.
#coronart day 44: Timid.
Today's art is for sale for 200$, as part of the @artistsupportpledge #a...
At dawn I headed out to the hills. From a pile of moss covered boulders stood out an equally moss covered tree. Lifeless, broken, and withered, except for some thin branches stretching towards the skies, crowned with a handful of tiny green sprouts. Not dead, just old..
#coronart day 43: Old.
Today's art is for sale for 200$, plus shipping, as part of the @artistsupportpledge #ar...
One step forward, just to tumble all the way back down. Yesterday, despite a gloomy image and text, I was feeling more hopeful. I was over the hump. Maybe I had truly kicked depressions ass, huh?
Today he struck back, with a vengeance. A timely reminder that this isn't just a battle, it's a war. And King Depression might have won today, but tomorrow I'll fight back. And the day ...
My worst depressive period every year usually strikes with the first sun of summer. I don't know if it's light itself or the damned smiling people, or whatever. I just shut down.
It's not summer yet, but the sun is out. At dawn I lie in bed, feeding on the headache, dreading the day. Is it better to fry in the sun, or in the darkness wallow?
(Spoiler alert: I fried in the sun. ...
"0 Glorious Apollonia, patron saint of dentistry and refuge to all those suffering from diseases of the teeth, I consecrate myself to thee..." - from the toothache prayer to St. Apollonia.
Glancing through some medieval art yesterday, my 8-year old asked "What are they doing to her???". Then we had to google the story of St. Apollonia. She was martyred in her home Alexandria in 249, assa...
When all I see are the enraging faults of others, I have to remind myself to slow down. Stop. Breath. And ask myself if it perhaps may be my own vision that is in error.
#coronart day 39: Error.
Today's art is for sale for 200$ as part of the @artistsupportpledge #artistsupportpledge as started by @matthewburrowsstudio on Instagram. For every 1000$ I sell for, I will...
Today King Depression was set to win. For a few days I've been failing, falling, deeper, erratic, aggressive, distant, hopeless.
Through exercise, mindfulness and art I had barely kept it at bay, but my body was failing. Aching in all the wrong places. Begging me to give in. Give up.
Today I awoke with a migraine. Went back to bed. I knew, I know... I know that if I don't fight ba...
Maybe it's not the darkness that calls. Maybe it's a tiny speck of light in the darkness, and you chase it further into the dark. Then the darkness becons you to stay. Rest a while. Have pity on yourself. You deserve it. You've chased it so long. You've worked so hard. Give in. Give up. Rest here in my dark embrace. Do you continue on and master your fate, or kneel down and obey your mast...
2020-04-18 06:46:21 +0000 UTC View Post
The pin drops. The world plunges into chaos. Upended, uprooted, drifting on the infinite sea of unknown. When we find land again, it is the ruins of a dead world. Yet we rebuild, from the havoc.
#coronart day 36: Havoc.
Today's art is for sale for 200$ as part of the @artistsupportpledge #artistsupportpledge as started by @matthewburrowsstudio on Instagram. For every ...
I once heard about someone jumping into the water to swim with school of dolphins at sunset. Turned out they were hammerhead sharks. Taking on a daily art challenge is kind of like that. Some days they're dolphins, some days they're hammerheads, but you each day you stand on the edge, looking into the dark waters, and say to yourself: I dare you.
#coronart day 35: Dare.
Today's ar...
So, yesterday I completely forgot to mention that the Covic Creative Convention is finally live, and I'm represetned with 5 images for sale. Here's the think to where you can find my art, and tons of more: https://www.covidcreativeconvention.com/#/drawing-illustration/
Shane Izykowsky and the others have done...
2020-04-15 08:24:03 +0000 UTC View Post
First of all, we're into the second month of my #coronart challenge. I'm extremely proud of how it's going, with over 1100 members on my FB group and 11k posts on Instagram, and countless other hashtags and challenges blooming. I certainly didn't create it all, and loads of people seem to have come up with the same idea around the same time, but I'm very pleased to be part of such a creative bl...
2020-04-14 10:18:02 +0000 UTC View Post
It's so easy to obsess about what you get. If I do this, how much money will I get? How many followers? Will it get me into the right galleries, festivals, or connected to the cool peeps? But it's not about what you get, it's about what you bring. And in the end, with all your burdens, all you can bring is yourself.
#coronart day 32: Bring.
Today's art is for sale for 200$ as par...
Every day, together, we journey into the unknown.
#coronart day 31: Unknown.
Today's art is for sale for 200$ as part of the @artistsupportpledge #artistsupportpledge as started by @matthewburrowsstudio on Instagram. For every 1000$ I sell for, I will purchase artwork from another artist for 200$. Starting to save up to my third purchase.
Stay home, support artists,...
I was on the verge of a hypomanic episode as I started my #coronart challenge. Everything was easy, too easy. So easy it couldn't last. In my bipolar cycles, the highs are often short and disastrous, immediately followed by a crash into the depths of depressed. This time I fought the hypomania. Through exercise, routine, drawing, meditation, discipline, through my beloved wife...
2020-04-11 19:43:16 +0000 UTC View Post
Well, isn't that unusual?
#coronart day 29: Unusual.
Today's art is for sale for 200$ as part of the @artistsupportpledge #artistsupportpledge as started by @matthewburrowsstudio on Instagram. For every 1000$ I sell for, I will purchase artwork from another artist for 200$. Only need to sell 1 more to buy another original artwork.
Stay home, support artists, make #co...
We've always built and lived on the remains of those who came before us. But now, as much as ever, don't pile on.
#coronart day 28: Pile.
Today's art is for sale for 200$ as part of the @artistsupportpledge #artistsupportpledge as started by @matthewburrowsstudio on Instagram. For every 1000$ I sell for, I will purchase artwork from another artist for 200$. Only need to sel...
"Please don't bury me, in the cold, cold ground, I'd rather have them cut me up and pass me all around"
John Prine died of the corona virus. Today is the day to put the black back in my art. I came to Prints music late, but he was not only one of the artists I've listened the most to the past few years, but his weird and wonderful lyrics are without a doubt the ones that I've thought th...
Being locked in our seperate homes, more than even our thoughts, words, art, and spirit seem to journey around the world, influencing and connecting with thousands of others. Time to reflect deeply, and channel the best of yourself. What's your trip?
#coronart day 26: Trip.
Today's art is for sale for 200$ as part of the 2020-04-07 12:49:25 +0000 UTC View Post
We all have our dark secrets that we'd like to burrow deep down. Today, mine is that I'd much rather play Animal Crossing and dig for fossils than draw. But I keep drawing, because that's what I need to do.
#coronart day 25: Burrow.
Today's art is for sale for 200$ as part of the @artistsupport...
2020-04-06 13:28:32 +0000 UTC View Post
I'm releasing the Self To Self poster, which previously was exclusive to higher tier patrons, for free download, free use, and print on demand sale. This is because I feel it's sort of a message that people can use now. I will also be focusing some time on releasing more of my art from the exclusive Pre-Release and Project galleries, not only because people need it now, but because loads of stu...
2020-04-06 07:49:49 +0000 UTC View Post
"Eternity is in love with the creations of time" said William Blake, and it's as true for me as for any artist. My art is almost defined by the smallest amount of time possible spent. My live metal sketches seldom take more than 10 minutes. My inktober art I try to do in under half an hour. This one took all of 7 minutes....
2020-04-05 11:49:56 +0000 UTC View Post
When homeschooling our two kids, we quickly figured out out that if we've not been outside spending some proper energy before noon, we will pay the price the whole day. And it's seldom sunny and rosy like in todays drawing, and the trees are certainly not in full bloom! How are you coping with your kids?
#coronart day 23: Noon.
Today's art is for sale for 200$ as part of the ...
2020-04-04 17:38:36 +0000 UTC View Post
There's so much going on, that I'm going to share with all you patrons soon, but right now I just have to get through each day, day by day. I'm doing very well, just very hectic. Hope you're all doing well. Here's todays #coronart post:
A joke, a smile, a stern face, a shield to guard me against the malingering world. But inside I remain open, raw, exposed. And try as I might to be ...
2020-04-03 16:26:32 +0000 UTC View Post
"If the norns rule the fortunes of men, then they deal them out exceedingly unevenly. Some live a good life and are rich; some get neither wealth nor praise." Ganglere, from the Younger Edda.
Today's art is for sale for 200$ as part of the @artistsupportpledge 2020-04-02 13:20:55 +0000 UTC View Post
When sleep seems to come too late and en too early, I know I have to be careful. I've heard experts say that as good as no one can actually go unharmed without their full 7 hours, but when I'm up high on my bipolar cycles I start feeling 6 hours is ok. 5 hours. 3 hours. No sleep 'till deadline! But that always leads to the crash. So I just have to fight. Fight to sleep.
Today's art ...
2020-04-01 19:28:17 +0000 UTC View Post