Tag: erik davis

art2 Comments

Fall snail mail

mrerikdavis

I am a sucker for snail mail.  I always have been.  Sending and receiving, who doesn’t enjoy getting something fun in the mail? These are the latest pieces of snail mail I’m sending out for fall. The three images above are both watercolors on watercolor paper.  I quickly went back over the three paintings while the paint was still damp with a soft pencil to add a little detail.  I love the way the pencil on damp paint deepens the colors.  When I paint, I try to work with a limited palette to avoid the colors getting too muddy.  I … Continue reading Fall snail mail

Photography6 Comments

Textures and revisiting familiar locations

mrerikdavis

This weeks subject was texture.  I originally thought I would try to capture the profile of different textures, but I was having too many issues with the depth of field. I then decided to take a more traditional approach and things went much better after that.  Below are my favorite three texture images. I also had the opportunity to revisit a few local spots I photographed recently, I wanted to try to correct a few mistakes I had made before.  And this time it was nice and sunny, prefect for catching shadows and contrast.   I’m real happy with all … Continue reading Textures and revisiting familiar locations

art, Photography6 Comments

Photographing lines and the last begonia

mrerikdavis

This weeks photography challenge was lines.  It seemed easy enough, but I was trying to resist the easy lines and really look at this from a more abstract view.  I’m also finding I am seeing things in a more abstract view.  I love a great wide landscape, but for my shooting I am really steering towards shapes and forms.  I’m not sure if this is just temporary, or if this will be my niche, but I am really enjoying it.  A lot. I am trying something new with my posts.  In the past I would explain the image with text … Continue reading Photographing lines and the last begonia

art, Photography9 Comments

Time for some photography

mrerikdavis

I recently purchased a new camera, a used camera actually, and I’m so glad I did.   I have always loved photography but my creative energy and focus has always been steered towards painting and drawing.  Lately I’ve really been fighting some creative fatigue and boredom, and I feel my art has really reflected that.  The split second you capture an image with the camera it can never be repeated.  Ever.  There is something magical about freezing time and capturing a glimpse of the world that only you can see.  Yes other people can also see what you’re looking at, but … Continue reading Time for some photography

art, Loose Watercolors6 Comments

Staying loose and finding the joy again

mrerikdavis

I’ve been keeping things loose with the watercolors, and I haven’t been this excited about art in a very long time! As I was rummaging in the paper cabinet this weekend, I found a partial block of Kilimanjaro watercolor paper from Cheap Joe’s. You can find the paper here The paper is fantastic. It’s a cold press paper and it’s loaded with wonderful nooks and crannies that let the pigments flow and blend in wonderful patterns. The above detail is just one example of the wonderful blending on the Kilimanjaro paper. The following two pieces are both on the Kilimanjaro … Continue reading Staying loose and finding the joy again

art, Daily Sketching, Loose Watercolors4 Comments

Lunch bag and flowers

mrerikdavis

Urban sketching, loose watercolors, flowers…this has been my week so far. While eating my lunch at work yesterday my lunch bag and hat caught my eye. They both hang on a hook next to my desk. It’s something I use everyday at work, but for some reason this was the first time I actually looked at them. I used my new Cognitive Surplus notebook for this bag and hat sketch. The fine nib LAMY Safari fountain pen and a Zebra brush pen provided the line work while I used a handful of Faber-Castell Polychromos colored pencils for some color. The … Continue reading Lunch bag and flowers

art, Fountain Pen Sketches, Loose Watercolors4 Comments

Spring has arrived in NW Ohio

mrerikdavis

Spring has finally arrived to NW Ohio, the temperature was in the mid 60s this weekend and the flowers loved it! We did too. I found one of our hardworking garden toads hopping in the grass as I was mowing. I quickly scooped him up and moved him to a safe spot in one of your flowerbeds. Gotta save the toads! This also seemed like a good time to challenge myself with a little mower art. I am using a new notebook from Cognitive Surplus, great notebooks! I’ll do a more thorough review soon. I used my trusty Lamy fountain … Continue reading Spring has arrived in NW Ohio

art, Pencil Drawings15 Comments

Why do I make art

mrerikdavis

Why do I make art? That’s a question that has stumped me my entire life. Why? What motivates me to pick up a pencil, or a pen, or grab a paintbrush and record something on paper? I’ve been asked this question many times, and I never know what to say. I can’t point to a work of art, or a scenic vista and say that is what drives me to create. Many days I struggle to find something that sparks an idea or inspiration. But when I don’t make art I feel off. Something isn’t clicking inside me. The gears … Continue reading Why do I make art

art, Pencil Drawings4 Comments

Mugs and old places

mrerikdavis

The pencil sketches/value studies continue. The last two days I have been focusing on tea mugs and old buildings. I don’t like to use the word teacup, I always picture a very dainty and small decorative cup detailed in flowers and sitting on an equally small and detailed saucer. I could just say coffee mug, but I am not a coffee drinker. I am a dedicated tea drinker who loves hot tea from a large mug. I never really appreciated the complexity of drawing a mug until these last few days. A cylinder and some lines and a bit of … Continue reading Mugs and old places

art, Loose Watercolors, Pencil Drawings6 Comments

Value studies and loose watercolors

mrerikdavis

I’ve committed myself to really focus on the watercolors. I’ve always enjoyed watercolors, both painting them and looking at them. For years I have worked with watercolors, not really giving them a whole lot of thought, I’ve always just used them as an accent to the pen drawings. I think I just became comfortable, and maybe lazy, with that combination. But going forward the pens will be used for quick sketches and writing. To gain better control of the watercolors I am going back to basics. Lots of value studies and quick sketches. The value studies may never develop into … Continue reading Value studies and loose watercolors