Commuter Office

I left my job at Pacific Lutheran University back in February to focus on art and school. Three weeks into trying to be a stay home dad, I was offered a temp position at Amazon. I figured I could tolerate the 3 hour commute for 30 days. It is now September and I am still at Amazon. Out the door by 5:20am, at the latest, arrive at my desk at 8:15am. Work 8 hours with 30 minute lunch, at my desk, and back on the train by 5:12pm to arrive at home by 7pm. Initially I waited till the family went to bed and I would work on my projects and school until midnight, sleep on the train and repeat until I crashed after about a week and half. I wasn't as productive as I thought I was being, so I did the math. Three hours, five days a week that is 15 hours a week, and I am rested. Versus eight to midnight 5 days a week which left me exhausted during the day. I am more productive in the morning and right after work so I draw on the train, and I can spend time with the family when I get home. My wife is enjoying the foot messages I now have time for. For a moment I regretted my decision to leave my job that was only a 7 minute walk from my door, but I have always believe the universe puts you where you need to be and my commuter office seem to be the place.

Panel 5 page 2 "A Softer Apocolypse"

Figure Studio 2 Assignment 1 - Peter Paul Rubens

For our first assignment for Figure Studio 2 we were ask to choose a artist from a list given by our instructor. It was a list of figurative classical painters. On the list was Rubens, perhaps one of my most favorite painters. His work had a subtle erotism, which he worked into paintings depicting religious, mystical and contemporary themes.

Rubens was one of the most prolific artist of the Borque. He was not only an artist, but a diplomat, scholar, amateur architect, and could speak several languages. . Helping to negotiate peace between Spain and England. (Neret )

Rubens setup studios throughout the European continent. Studios which allow him to increase his production and transpose his ideas to innumerable canvases, sculpture, tapestries and engravings. ( Neret )


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/42/Peter_Paul_Rubens_-_The_Judgment_of_Paris_-_WGA20312.jpg

The Judgement of Paris is one of many themes that Rubens revisited. The work is lyrical throughout its composition. The poses and gestures of each figure a reaction to the others. This helps the eye arch across the canvas before returning to investigate the intricacies of the each froms. The employ of light and shadow frame the areas of interest helping to focus the viewers gaze. The bright saturated colors of the foreground help the bodies burst off the canvas while the more muted colors of the background helps to push the scenery into the distance.


https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgtL-BHQBDFmlMirzOYe7yF8SChMhQyZ-W1QnSPd8ozDa-HAUT-4A5LZNAkGHCH-FBtEjb6BiiaRRiN3lTOJowHQGmEbnqyM-DsF9PCUu1Vg2O5FPal4eA_LG9iBtUJwX60l0oPM0p6Tx/s1600/rubens.jpg

Rubens was a master of the form with the ability to capture all the minute turns of the surface. His use of cross hatching to build and define the surfaces of the musculature disappears when viewed as a whole. Here you can see how is understanding of gesture exhibited in his drawing translates to his paintings.

This skill and his ability to depict his models flesh in a very life like way puts Rubens as one of the premiere painters of all time.

Neret, Gilles. Rubens. Koln: Taschen, 2004. Print.