January 2017 Horoscope Illustration of Capricorn

First illustration of 2017. Wow. I had a few rounds of sketches before I felt comfortable with a composition. This still doesn't match what I had in mind. It is supposed to feel much tighter...but physically the creature wouldn't fit in properly. I really want to step away from this kind of style and be more design oriented. More emphasis on shapes and form than line. This picture fails to do that.

Once again, the illustration is for the hyperlocal blog, Greenpointers.com.

Here was the prompt:

This month is all about goals and aspirations. Now that we’re in Capricorn, matters of career, goals, ambitions are on the brain—and you’ll be focused on who you want to be in the future, and how to get there. The sun will be in Capricorn until the 19th, and Mercury will be retrograde through the 8th. This means you should hold off signing contracts or making major choices with your job--which is what the first week of the month is for. outstanding tasks from 2016.

2017 - Happy New Year

Mien Gott. I can't believe we're in the year 2017. Time seems to be increasing in speed. A frightening thought.

Here's December 2016's last illustration. I'm not too proud of it. Once again, it was for the hyperlocal blog, Greenpointers.com.

Here was the prompt:

December is going to be a lively and upbeat month, as the new moon in Sagittarius will be a positive change, especially fore fire signs. In general, everyone will be feeling the urge to express themselves and break down stereotypes and old-age boundaries. Essentially, this is a month of “breakthroughs,” especially when they involve conventions that are harming more than helping.

The colors are a bit all over the place. I'm still struggling to get a consistent color palette together.

Better to get a piece done and out than not do it at all, though.

"Finished, not perfect."

November Horoscope Illustration - Jupiter and Pluto at Odds with Each Other

I don't believe in horoscopes, but I did an illustration for a hyperlocal blog called Greenpointers.com
recently and thought I'd share it. This might turn into a monthly thing, which is nice. Keeps me busy.

Here's the description for November's horoscope that I based the illustration off of:

For instance, since Jupiter and Pluto are at odds with each other, it could lead to arguments, bankruptcy, breakups, job loss, etc. It won’t be pretty. But this could also mean a fresh start for you, and for politics, for instance. Clearly, we all are in a position where we could benefit from change, so while it may be uncomfortable, it’s also good for the long run. 

My friend Audrey is a graphic designer and very much into astrology. She told me I didn't get it right. I went in with the Greek mythology angle when it really has nothing to do with that. Eh, too bad.

Here it is:

Inktober - Didn't get too far, but here's what was made.

Life can really get in the way of the things you really want to do. So can laziness. Whatever, here's what I got done for the month (there are more drawings, but they don't fall in line with this series):

I started with 'not so great to work on, but great to look at' yellowed newsprint paper with a grid. I picked it up from some school supply store in Downtown Brooklyn on the way home. They have a bunch of old watercolor sets, paper, paints, pencils, etc. from the 70's and 80's. I bought a few things just for the packaging design.

These drawings were an exercise in symmetry, which I have a lot of trouble with. My brain has a hard time doing mirror images. The grid definitely helps. Angles and proportions are tough in general, but it's good to challenge yourself.

I read somewhere that Leonardo DaVinci would test his drawing abilities by drawing the same thing from different angles and perspectives. It's a good way to know an object inside and out to help you recall information when you're drawing from your imagination. Pretty cool. 

Sketches from my visit to the American Museum of Natural History - August 2016

Rest in Pieces, Big Figment

Brooklyn four piece band, Big Figment has called it quits. It's been months since their break up, but I never got around to posting the last few pieces I created for the band. In fact, there are a bunch of pieces still stuck in progress that probably won't see the light of day.

So this post is for those poor lost little souls, and an informal farewell to a strange, challenging, and glorious band. So long, "Biggie Figz", it's been real.

Cat Skull Watercolor - ARIZA Promo

ARIZA 2016

FIREBELLY SALAMANDER MONSTER DESTROYS BROOKLYN BRIDGE! Big Figment Poster Art by Alex Ariza 2014

I've always wanted to draw or paint the Brooklyn Bridge being destroyed. It is a gorgeous bridge, one of the most iconic structures in New York City. It's not easy to draw or paint, though, at least not for me. There is a certain quality or style that I envision in my mind's eye, but I keep missing the mark.

I want to focus on shapes and form over line quality now. It is a skill that I completely overlooked during my art school days. I got too comfortable and content with just drawing outlines of figures. I've always been intimidated by shading and trying to make things look three dimensional. Lacking any formal training, yes even in art school they don't teach you HOW to do it, I sort of neglected learning how to create space through values. Don't even get me started on lighting. 

I suck. I really, really suck at painting because of this flaw! I want to improve by challenging myself to step out of my comfort zone.

Less lines, more shapes!

Once again I had the band Big Figment in mind while creating this.

Digital Painting of a Giant Fire Belly Salamander Destroying the Brooklyn Bridge by Alex Ariza 2014

The American Museum of Natural History: Drawing studies of the Great Wooly Mammoth Skeleton

The Great Wooly Mammoth: Drawings and Studies

I went to the American Museum of Natural History sometime in mid-July to draw some bones with my old personal trainer and friend, Warner. He didn't have much time to stick around and draw with me for too long since he had a booked schedule at David Barton Gym, but it was fun nonetheless to draw with a fellow artist.

I stood drawing for quite a few hours. My back began to hurt after a while, and I barely got any real drawing done. Doesn't help that tourists feel the need to stand right in front of you when they can clearly see you are drawing what is in front you of. I wish there was an easier way to go about this, but to my knowledge, there isn't! One day, though, I'd like to have the museum all to myself to draw every single thing that is in there. All of it is quite beautiful. It is by far my favorite museum in New York City.

Here are two of the most "finished" drawings I was able to complete during my visit. The scans came out strange and two toned for some reason. One side looks warmer than the other. Not sure how that happened.

These last few days living on my own has really helped me find out what I really want to do in life. I want to get into online marketing. I'd like to be a few things, actually, all of them relating to the internet. I've been teaching myself to code learning HTML5, CSS, Bootstrap, and even began the daunting, intimidating behemoth that is Javascript. I've been using Codeacademy to learn these different languages. My roommate, Allan, has been learning to code for a over a year now. He has encouraged me to try it out myself.

Eventually I would like to show some of my progress and web creations on here to show that I'm not wasting my time learning this. There seems to be quite a lot of opportunity for coders, UX/UI designers, and internet marketing folk. I want to immerse myself in that world, and change my lifestyle of uncertainty into something much more manageable and career oriented. Illustration is a wild profession that I just can't break into. The more years that go by, the more I realize it is not for me.

It's quite relieving to realize that. I am at peace with it. It took quite a bit of rejection and "going nowhere" to finally get the message. I appreciate art. It will always be a part of me. To make it a profession is ridiculous, especially when there are people far more talented, and far more driven to succeed than I am. I'd like to say that I gave it my best shot, but I know in my heart that it is a lie.

Be authentic. Be realistic. Know how you can be useful to others. I finally figured it out, and now it is just a matter of getting started in that new direction.

To those of you still chasing a dream, good luck!

A Guy From Queens Now Living In Brooklyn. Traitor? Trend Sheep? Pros/Cons?

I have left my home town of Richmond Hill, Queens to live in Greenpoint, a hip, up and coming neighborhood in Brooklyn.

I live right by the East River and can wave hello to Manhattan from my apartment. Never thought that would happen! Honestly, I've always thought that I would stay in Queens.

Some of my friends now think my hipster metamorphosis is complete. Once I get my bike from home and lock it up here I may have to agree. I will miss Queens, but something tells me I won't be away from it for too long.

I just hope I don't get too drunk one night and make my way all the way back home to Richmond Hill instead of my new apartment. That would suck!

I still need to get my art supplies over here, I'm just afraid of being overwhelmed with the lack of space I have here. My bed takes up about 80% of my room. I did bring my music recording gear, though, and that already takes up a lot of space. 

This will just force me to work digitally to pump ideas out. Before leaving my childhood home for good, I made this poster for the band Big Figment. The inspiration of this piece came from a Wikipedia article about an Eel City that my friend Peter Longofono had posted up. The image I had in mind was far more involved, but for the poster's sake, I had to simplify it to make it readable. 

I originally had the colors much brighter...which was okay, but the top one definitely matched the darker tone of the band best. 

Once Jennae, the lead singer of Big Figment, approved of the design, I added the show info.

The font, for those who care about such things, it's called Bebas Neue.

I explained the creation of the band logo in an earlier post.

Is Drawing People Without Their Permission Ethical?

Today I read an article my friend, S.B. Kosinski, posted on Instagram about a woman asking if artists have the right to draw people without their consent on the subway. The article was featured in The New York Times Magazine. Their ethicist, Chuck Klosterman, reviews this question:

" I was sitting next to someone on the subway who was surreptitiously sketching portraits of fellow commuters. I once spotted someone opposite me doing this, and actually changed cars when I suspected he was eyeing me as a subject. Being present in a public space does not seem akin to offering permission to record your likeness without consent, despite the intended (lack of) audience or purpose of the final piece. Unlike being captured in a tourist’s random photograph, this act seems to involve a level of scrutiny, focus and invasiveness that makes me uncomfortable. Is it ethical to draw someone without his or her permission or knowledge? CHRISTIANA MAVROMATIS, BROOKLYN"

When I first read this, I couldn't help but laugh at how petty and strange her complaint was. It was utterly ridiculous! Being an artist myself that draws people on the train quite often, I can say that my actions are of pure intent to practice and sharpen my observational skills, not to judge the person.

I find it strange why she would feel so uncomfortable for someone to draw her, that she feels the need to deem the practice unacceptable and goes as far as saying that her rights have been violated. Perhaps she has some sort of lack of self-esteem or some personal body image issues.

Whatever her reasons, I'm glad Chuck Klosterman took the time to answer her question. He basically says that a drawing of you is merely an artist's construction of what they believe you look like, and that if you are in public, people are allowed to look at you.

There are no rules or laws prohibiting people from looking at each other. Except, maybe, the unspoken rules of the street in a rougher neighborhood where looking at someone is a direct threat, or a silent agreement that you have "a problem."

Anyway, you should read the New York Times Magazine article, and let me know your opinion on the matter.