Happy New Year. It’s been a while since my last post. Partly because I took a break during the holidays, and partly because this illustration took FOREVER. This is from the Santa Streak 2011 in Astoria Park, Queens. It’s an annual charity event that involves running, underwear, very cold weather, and a group of slightly crazy Astorians. And ridiculous amounts of alcohol.
I hate this painting. But I’m trying to let go of my perfectionism and am posting it anyway. I thought the subject matter was pretty hilarious and was motivated to start the painting, but my motivation quickly ran out after I sketched out my runners. I put so much time and detail into the sketches that by the time I had transferred the sketches to the acrylic paper, I was tired of working on it. I also think it’s fugly because the composition is boring, the background is too primitive, and the colors aren’t working together. Oh well, it is what it is. It’ll be a good reason to make the next one better.
Here are the 3 main runners I sketched in my sketchbook.
I tried to trace the sketches onto the acrylic paper, but the paper was a little too thick to see the detail clearly, and I ended up having to redraw much of it onto the acrylic paper.
This is the painting midway…I got lazy and waited until the end to paint in the rest of the background. It wouldn’t have been so bad if the background were simple, but the trees and shadows made it more complicated and should have been completed first.
In other news, check out my new Mac and desk! It was a very Merry Christmas indeed!
