Angry Robot- Just the Art

by David Finley

Manage your Art Career like a Villain in 5 Simple Steps

by David Finley

How to Manage your Art Career like a Villain in 5 Simple Steps

1. Plan Plan Plan

 Evil-doers sure do plan a lot. They build giant planet-destroying space stations, pull off elaborate heists, and assemble cosmic gem fragments to gain immortality. Villains don't wait to be discovered, they announce themselves, and it all starts with a carefully constructed plan.

 Too often, you sit in your studio, hoping you will get discovered by the hidden throngs of fans out there just waiting to paw at and adore your paintings and drawing. You have no real marketing plan in place or profit strategy.

 Find new ways to talk share your work, new projects to grow as a creative professional, and new markets to sell to. Announce yourself.

2. Never Give Up

 No matter how many times Skeletor tried to conquer Eternia, He-Man was there to stop him. You could call Skeletor a failure, but he never stops trying. Eventually, He-Man is going to get tired of doing the same thing over and over again, but not his nemesis.

Take a lesson from good old Skeletor and never give up. Sometimes your master plan will need lots of tweaking before you get it right. Sure, the gallery downtown that sells traditional landscape oil paintings isn't interested in your abstract mixed media collages, but the fringe gallery near the park looks promising.

 Keep trying.

3. Take Chances

 This is a big one. Remember, the Joker was never content to just release enough poisonous smile gas to kill an entire building. No, he wanted to release it from a parade float in the heart of Gotham city and infect the entire metropolitan area.

 If you are disciplined and dedicated, you will eventually find at least a small measure of success with the art you create. Sure, you could coast on your successes, creating similar art over and over again, but the villain way is to push yourself farther, instead.

 You also don't want to just imitate work you made in the past. You'll hate yourself. Besides, the public is unpredictable and your artistic cash cow's milk supply can quickly run dry as public opinion shifts. Try something new. Stretch yourself.

4. Don't Share your Plot with Everyone Else

This is the weakness in the armor of the villian's evil plot. Sometimes, bad guys just can't help themselves, and they share every detail of their plan with the hero they believe they are on the brink of destroying. It almost always comes back to bite them.

 There are plenty of people around you who will discourage your wicked plan if you share it. Often, these people just want to protect you from the pain and hurt of failure.

 Failing is your opportunity to learn and revise your plan. Failing is evidence that you have tried something. Failing is just part of the process leading to success. Yet, for some reason, your friends and family will try to protect you from this.

5. Dress for Success

Question: What do Cobra Commander, Donald Trump, and Darth Vader have in common?

Answer: An incredible sense of personal style.

 As you begin your art career, your influences will show heavily in the work you create. Your expression is obedient to the techniques you use.

 Over time you will learn to express yourself with your own unique voice, and that is when you will make your best work. Best of all, as you learn to express yourself honestly as an artist, things like style and technique will bend around the truth you are expressing rather than the other way around.

 On a clothing side note, you may want to wear a nice tie or dress the next time you meet with a gallery to discuss your portfolio. It never hurts to leave a lasting impression of professionalism.

What is your Master Plan?

Are you ready to take over the world? Maybe you've been coasting through your art career letting things shift you one way or the next, but it's not too late to change. Take up your pen and draft a business plan.

Hatch your sinister plot to take over the world.

Thanks for reading!

-Dave, Grand Poobah of all Scofflaws

______________________

Buy this Print
Also available on canvas, iphone case, t-shirt, and laptop skin.

An Insiders Peek into the Artist's Creative Process

by David Finley

The Myth of the Creative Process

 We artists consider ourselves a creative lot. We'd love for everyone to believe creativity comes riding up to us like rainbow haired unicorns. But, for all you beginning artists and art enthusiasts, I'll let you in on a really important secret:

 Professional artists have to work at the whole 'creativity' thing just like anyone else. Why all the mystery? It's because we are as much in love with the classic myth of the artist drawing inspiration from a beautiful muse as you are.

 For example, which sounds more creative?

"I didn't know what my next piece was going to be so I decided drawing a bird was as good as anything. So, I made a series of small sketches and studies until I found one suitable for my project. Then, I labored vigorously for hours erasing, redrawing, and working with the piece until it came out. I'm still not happy with it, but I refuse to work on it any more."

or

"Since the beginning of humankind, man has envied the birds and their ability to fly. For my latest piece, I wanted to depict my own desire to fly symbolically though the simple image of a bird in flight."

The Artistic Muse Debunked

 There is no shimmering, porcelain-skinned, purple robed goddess anointing us from a silver amphora.

 Our muse of creativity is one big lie.

 Creativity is more like the elusive White Stag of legend bolting like lightening through the thickets of dense forest as we give dogged chase. It is a tireless pursuit of a strong and canny animal you can never truly subdue or tame.

3 Ways to Pursue Creativity

 It takes a lot of work to chase creativity, but here are just a few tips to help you start the hunt.

1. Be as open as a child.

 Children seem to be endless wells of creativity, and well... they are. Their minds haven't yet been filled with all the things we adults consider impossible. It's conceivable to a child that a dog might, under the right circumstances, speak plain English. And, don't you dare step on a crack as you walk down the sidewalk. Think of your poor Mom and her back.

  What have you been taught about life that you no longer question? I'm not suggesting you ignore reality and reject science, but there are multiple lenses you can see the world through. Why not look through as many as possible?

2. Connect with Others

 Humans are social creatures, who are wired for relationships. We are much stronger in teams than alone. Remember the old proverb:

"One can chase a thousand, but two can chase ten thousand."

 Social interaction takes the strain off of your own emotional reserve, gives you more experience and knowledge to draw upon, and helps you learn to better communicate with your own audience.

3. Work Very Very Hard for a Very Long Time

The race for creativity is not a sprint, but a marathon.

If you paint, make paintings as often as you can. If you compose music, fill books with your songs. If you are writing the Great American Novel, then you better be at your desk daily.

 Justin Timberlake is a great example. He was "discovered" early on with the Mickey Mouse Club, worked really hard to find success with InSync, but he is a household name today because he continues to labor as hard as he has as a singer, writer, performer, and actor.

Your Creative Journey

 So, now you know the big secret we artists have been hiding. Creativity is hard work.

So, go. Chase your White Stag with vigor and tenacity.

Happy hunting, Scofflaws!

-Dave

Sweet Bird- Just the Art

by David Finley

The Birds in my Neighborhood

 My wife and I moved to North Carolina a few months ago. One thing I notice as I walk my dog is the sheer volume of birds living in our neighborhood. There are cardinals, mockingbirds, bluejays, and sparrows in my backyard alone. Along our street, there is a large group of robins, and because we're close to the ocean, we get seagulls and pelicans, too.

 The best part of it all is listening to all the different songs they sing.

 This bird painting is made with scanned textures similar to the technique I used to make my piece, Reach. 

 That's it for today. I hope to see you again tomorrow. Thanks for reading, Scofflaws!

-David

Buy this print at my Society 6 shop!

Also available on canvas, t-shirt, laptop skin, and as an iphone case.

The Seated Girl- a Fine Art Abstract Nude Figure Drawing

by David Finley

The Seated Girl

 This is a a nude figure study I made at one of my recent figure drawing sessions at the Cameron Art Museum. The initial sketch was working, but I wanted to expand the composition, so I started working with it digitally at home. There are lots of layers of overlaying brushstrokes textures and marks here, but the original still shines through.

As always, comments and suggestions are greatly welcomed, and since this is a "dofollow" comment blog, it will give you a nice link back as well.

Thanks for looking, friends!

-Dave

A Robot Girl washes in the Rain- Just the Art

by David Finley

Robot Girl Washes in the Rain- a Digital Illustration

Just the Art- A Drawing of a Cat Fighting Robots

by David Finley



What more do you need?

Made with pastel, ink washes, and mixed papers

Just the Art- ABC & Witch page 4

by David Finley

ABC and Witch- Page 4

 Jonathan and I are really excited as we see this book come to life more and more. It really is a thrill to be working on something kids enjoy so much. The feedback has been outstanding so far.

 You can see previous pages and get a more inside look at our process by visiting the pages below.

ABC Witch Page1
ABC Witch Page2
ABC Witch Page3 plus some process

 Since this is a Just the Art column, I will stop talking to you now.

 Thanks for looking!

-Dave, Grand Poobah of all Scofflaws

Some Happy News and an Interview Featuring Me

Please allow me to toot my own horn a little bit here.

 The good webmaster over at the art blog Togonis has honored me by featuring me as their second artist interview.

It's a comprehensive interview that covers how I got started as an artist, what my inspirations are, and the driving force behind what I do. By all means, go check it out and read about my deepest darkest secrets!

Click here to read the interview.
(http://toginis.blogspot.com/2012/05/weekly-interview-2-david-finley.html#.T7R-D7-Kddh)

 In other news, my work is being featured at Melly-dos, a local gallery here in Southport, NC. So, if you're in Southport, be sure to swing by and pay them a visit.

Smart Art Tutorials- The Basics of Design part 1- Line

by David Finley

Line

 In today's Smart Art Tutorial we are going to discuss line as a design element, and just some of the ways you can apply line to your drawing and illustration.

 I've made some examples of various line types here:

The quality of line you choose when drawing can greatly affect the character and tone you are trying to achieve.

 For example, a rough line like the one on the far right lends a primitive appeal, and is ideal for making work that is gritty and raw, or even simple and childlike. By contrast, the dotted line on the far left is reminiscent of stitching patterns from a sewing machine and has a very precise feel. While I wouldn't recommend making an entire drawing with the dotted line, it is very useful for creating areas of contrast and interest apart from your other lines.

 You'll notice some lines have tapered ends, while others end bluntly.Tapered lines can suggest elegance flowing from one line to the next, while blunt tip lines make good stopping points for the eye.

Line Styles

 Consider your line application carefully, because it can subtly alter the tone you are presenting to your audience. Let me illustrate this point further with two drawings featuring my character, Finnigan the Duck.

 As you can see, the drawing above is loose and primitive, with a raw and spontaneous feel. There are lots of jagged and frayed lines. It's almost like a sketch. It can be a great drawing style if you're wanting to add a rudimentary simplicity to your illustration. Comic strips like Zits, Bloom County, Mutts, and even the last decade of two of The Peanuts make/ made great use of a looser, less polished, line.

 Now, let's look at good 'ole Finnigan drawn another way. This time with a more sophisticated, tapered, and flowing line.

In contrast to the first drawing, this one has smooth flowing curves with tapered ends like those created with brush inking. The line work will eventually be colored digitally and placed on a painted background, much like an animated cartoon.

The line quality is crisp, easy to read, and professional looking. This type of line is typically made either digitally in a program like Adobe Illustrator, or traditionally, with ink and a brush. It takes lot's of practice to get it right either way. For great examples, look toward Hank Ketcham's early Dennis the Menace, Walt Kelly's Pogo, and Tatsuya Ishida's Sinfest.

Line Weight

 The thickness of your line, also called line weight, is also an important tool as you make your own drawings. Thicker, heavier lines, will attract the eye more than thinner lines. We can see a practical application of line weight below. Fortunately, Finnigan the Duck has once again graciously volunteered to assist us in this lesson.


 As you can see, the first version of the illustration has a much lower line weight. Additionally, the lines are all of the same density. Because the lines are all the same thickness, the eye has trouble finding a focal point or a place to rest except the black shapes of Finnigan's eyes and brows. This would still be a problem even if all the lines were really thick, but of the same thickness.

 But, you want your viewer's eye to move around your drawing, not stuck in one small spot, right? The second version of the drawing has a varied line weight  creating better eye flow and movement around the figure. Our friend here has a bit more dimension because the lines that make up his form are reaching our eyes in varied ways, which gives him a bit more life.

Your Homework

 Now that you know a bit more about making lines, your assignment is to experiment with the ideas I've shown you here. Practice making lines with different object, like pens, brushes, charcoal, or even more unconventional tools. In college, I made a drawing with a used charcoal briquette I found on the ground.. You can dip leaves, twigs, and even rocks in ink to make interesting marks. Then, start making lines of different thickness.

More importantly, see what works best for the art you want to make.

 Thanks for reading, Scofflaws!

-Dave, Grand Poobah of all Scofflaws

Buying Art for the First Time

by David Finley

My First Art Purchase

There's a little piece of glass sculpture hanging in my kitchen window. Hues of vibrant red, lively green, and soothing lavender spray their color into my house as the sun passes through. Though solid, the simple sculpture seems to move and hum. Kinetic overlapping slender rectangles are suspended in the air by a single metal ring. It likes to dance in the sunshine providing splendor as I wash the dishes or peel carrots.

 On its own, it is a beautiful piece of abstract sculpture, but for me it represents much more. This is the first piece of original art I've bought from an art gallery. I've always wanted to have a good collection. Hopefully, it is a contagious wish that you, my reader, shares as well, but every art collection has to begin somewhere, and this piece is where mine began.

How it Started

My road to purchase art from a gallery actually begins a little over three years ago in the same gallery who gave me my first chance.

Southport, North Carolina is a beautiful and quaint coastal town filled with great restaurants, antique stores, and a few art galleries. Most of these art galleries are filled with what you might expect from a ocean side town. There are beautiful photographs of the ocean tides, watercolor lighthouses, pen and ink pelicans, and paintings of various marine life. They are simple and straightforward, exactly the kind of art you'd want to hang in a beach house.

 These galleries, while lovely in their own right, were not the environment I was hoping to find to display my paintings and mixed media pieces. If you've taken the time to look at my work, particularly my fine art pieces, then you understand I definitely don't make quaint paintings of lighthouses and pelicans. Still, I perused each gallery in town anyway, if anything, just to exhaust my own curiosity.

 To my surprise, one gallery defied its competition. The sign out front read "Artshak". Artshak, would one day change the direction of my career, providing me with two very special friends and mentors. But for the time being, I scratched my head at the very casual name and strolled in anyway. The art that greeted me inside was unexpected. While it did feature some pieces that could be expected in a coastal town, the rest of the gallery was filled with an assemblage of contemporary pieces of sculpture and painting. Even the ocean themed work was a bit more experimental.

 It turns out, I had found a home. Within a month of that day, I sold my first two pieces.

Why Buying Art is Important

 When I sold those pieces, a part of me sprang to life. For one, I made money doing something I loved, but it represented much more. What I painted on a canvas was my own chronicling of life, filtered through my own voice; my passion and emotion laid bare. Now, my work was being passed on to someone else,  who continued adding to my narrative. It became their story, with the meaning altered by their own interaction.

 This is the power of art. It can be a gateway that binds and connects us. As the artist shares himself, the viewer learns more about herself.

 The closest comparison is an author writing a profound work of literature, with the reader integrating the story into their own life. The writer's story becomes the reader's story, too.

 We make art and intend for it to be seen. As we bring our art into the public forum it ceases to be a monologue, and becomes dialogue. It's why we see ourselves in Michelangelo's "Creation of Adam" or Monet's "Water Lillies" even though those artists have long since passed away.

 Selling art taught me the relationship a buyer can have with a piece. The buyers of my first two paintings requested to meet me and thanked me for making the work. It is a personal and wondrous thing to enter a gallery and find that special piece. The little glass sculpture I bought was like that for me. I knew I wanted it as soon as I saw it, simple as it was. It did help that it was in my price range, but there were other pieces I could have bought instead.

 Even now as it hangs in my window it speaks a daily message to me, one I hope you don't mind me sharing with you:

•  Art is beautiful in all its forms as long as it is true. 
• Art is the most powerful tool in your employ to touch others deeply and connect with them. 
• When you get discouraged and feel defeated, remember the effect your painting, drawing, or sculpture can have on someone else's life.
• Always remember no matter how tough the business side of art can be, you are an artist first and foremost because you love art and want to share it with others.

Giving Back

 If you can afford it, look at buying another artist's work. Build a collection. If you are an artist yourself, it's just good karma, or at the very least, good manners. That awesome feeling you get when you sell a piece will be passed on to someone else,.

 If you're interested in beginning your art collection I have two words of advice. First, buy what speaks to you, even if you just like the way it looks. Second, don't buy anything just to impress someone else. Would you want someone to buy your paintings who didn't connect with them or really want to look at them?

 On a final note, I bought my little glass sculpture above from Artshak, the very gallery who gave my own fine arts career a beginning. It seems fitting somehow. The piece was sculpted by an artist named, Michelle Arthur. I hope selling the piece and passing it on has filled her with the same joy selling my own art does for me.

I hope she knows how much her work has touched me.

 Thanks for reading, Scofflaws!

-Dave

 P.S. I'd like to share a little plug for Artshak. If you're ever in Southport, please swing by and check the gallery out. Visit their facebook page, which has more pictures, artist profiles, and examples of the type of work they carry by clicking here.

Make Your Art Feel Sexy Again

by David Finley

No longer just two kids in love

Admit it, you don't love art like you used to.

 Making a living as an artist is tough. Deadlines are getting shorter and shorter, and your time drawing isn't as fun as it used to be. It seems like you're doing too much work with not enough return on investment and the projects you've been hired to do are cliche' and unfulfilling. You wouldn't even add them to your portfolio.

 Sure you might still say it's a labor of love to your friends, but what you really mean is your painting is a demanding and unforgiving mistress who will never ever let you rest. Oh, if only she would just shut up and leave you alone! Where's the tv?

 You once beamed as you told your friends what you did for a living. Now, the thrill is gone. Maybe you're wondering why you and art ever fell in love in the first place.

 What has art done for you lately?

 It's certainly not making you feel like that child who first picked up a crayon and watched as their drawing came alive. You used to lay in bed fantasizing about your next piece, but lately you find yourself putting a pillow over your head trying to forget the commission due in two days. Plus you saw art flirting with another artist the other day at the gallery open house. What was that about?

Maybe she doesn't love you anymore. Would she be better off with someone else? Do you still love her?

 Then, you remember how she made you feel alive like nothing else. You remember when you swore you'd die without her. You remember when you worked at that coffee house for tips just so you'd have enough money for you and art to get better acquainted in college. And, after all these years, admittedly, art is still looking pretty damned good, even with all those children you made together.

Rekindle your Romance with Art

No one enjoys admitting this, but one day you will realize the blame is on you. With all those commissions you've just been using art to fulfill your own needs. She didn't want to do that photo realistic portrait of your friend Barney and his six kids. Sh wanted to ,make that mixed media piece about encroaching technology and man's place in society. You made her make that portrait neither of you enjoyed just so you could earn more money.

 She has become a means to an end who you've drained of everything she originally had to offer you. You used her for money! Now, she might leave you. But, there is hope.

Art still loves you. So, don't be afraid. Go out and get her.

She just needs to know she is still sexy to you. When was the last time you attended a figure drawing class together? Have you made a point to doodle just for the sheer pleasure of being together? Will you let yourself get lost in her lines, textures and curves? Will you lose hours in he presence?

 Make your art feel sexy again. Rekindle your romance. Take the time to savor her presence. Trust me, if you reach out to her, she will make you feel like that child again picking up a crayon for the very first time.

 She will love you passionately, again. I promise.

 The road you have traveled together is only the beginning. With rekindled fire, you and art will make better paintings, drawings, sculpture, and mixed media pieces than ever before.You will discover new ways to experience her, and in turn, she will bring out the best in who you are.

 Thanks for reading, Scofflaws!

Dave, Grand Poobah of all Scofflaws.

 By the way, you can buy this print at my Society6 shop.  It's also available as a laptop skin, iphone case, and greeting card. Thanks for supporting the Haven!

Just the Art- Songbird 2

by David Finley

My Songbird- Saying I Love You with Art

 It's no secret I love my wife, but it's really gratifying when I can express it with art. Sometimes it's just easier to say something with an illustration than with words; like the way she charms me and lights up my life. Sure, it might sound corny and mushy, but I don't know what I would do without her.

 The process behind this piece is complicated and difficult. It involves meticulous drawing, a lot of layering with vector shapes and lines, then overlays of scanned paint textures. Rinse, and repeat.

 It's worth noting that this is the second version of this picture. If you would like, you can see the first version of this drawing by clicking here. It had a wavy texture to it that was bothering me, so I removed it with this version.

 Thanks for looking, Scofflaws! I'll be back tomorrow with advice on making sexier art.

 See you then!

- Dave

By this Print at my Society 6 shop

Illustrating a Childrens Book- an Inside Look

by David Finley

 Maybe you've dreamed of writing or drawing a children's book someday. There's magic in those memories now safely storred away in your subconscious, of your father, mother, or grandparents opening a book filled with vivid images and wonder, and reading.



 Picture a child's room, with its bright blue walls. A model airplane is suspended by thin wire connected to a ceiling dotted with plastic glow-in-the-dark stars. The room is mostly dark, lit only by the warm glow of a Spiderman lamp resting on the bedside table. A freckle faced young boy has just finished brushing his teeth with bubblegum flavored toothpaste and now waits impatiently as his father selects a book from the shelf. Tonight it will be 'One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.'

 The father briefly considers putting the book back in favor of something that will leave his tongue less twisted, but it was one of his favorites when he was young and he wants to share that experience with his own son. He heads to the boy's bedside. A jolt of pain shoots through the man's foot as his heel finds some carefully hidden legos in the carpet producing a limp which accompanies him on the rest of his trek until he settles in his usual spot next to his son's pillow.

 He reads the title aloud be fore opening the book, and watches as worlds of imagination and story unfold for the child he loves so much.

Becoming a Children's Book Illustrator

 The reading of the bedtime story is an age old tradition I hope all generations to come will continue to enjoy. These books bond us as children to our parents and open our minds to greater possibilities. It's often our first encounter with real literature and real art. They are narratives built to teach us, passing on our cultural ideals. The impact of these stories on us as we develop into personhood is immeasurable.

 These books are also filled with some of the most amazing and creative art I've ever seen.

 Inspired by artists like Dr. Seuss,  Mary Blair and Maurice Sendak, I decided to recieve the torch of Children's book Illustration, preparring it for future generations. I'd long ago fallen in love with these stories and now I want to make my own. Yet, the opportunity never quite materialized until recently.

My Children's Book- ABC Witch! 

 It just so happens I have this friend named Jonathan Hickey, who is a fantastic writer. I've called on him as a guest contributor to the Haven for Scofflaws, so his name is familiar to many of you.

Jonathan is one of those people who feeds my own creativity as I work with him. So, when he started talking about a quirky Alphabet based story he was making up for his kids, I jumped at the opportunity to draw it.

 The story is very simple. A, B, C, and friends are having a normal day until a witch disturbs their routine. Then a chase ensues! Jonathan was kind enough to lay the story out with thumbnails like the one below so there wouldn't be a lot of guess work for me. Here's page three as it originally appears.


 The simplicity of the imagery is very important, so as I made the finished art, I focused on basic shapes, adding bits of texture from scans of brushstrokes and marks.

Your Children's Book

 So, now you know more about my project, but what about your children's book? What worlds are waiting their deliverance from the tip of your pen? What stories of struggle and triumph rest peacefully in the deep slumber land of your subconscious? What is the project you've always said you wanted to do someday?

 I understand that life is filled with distraction and responsibilities, but do yourself the favor of bringing these worlds to life now rather than later. The book you will write someday almost never gets made, but the book you work on now almost always does.

Thanks for reading, Scofflaws!

-Dave, Grand Poobah of all Scofflaws

p.s. You can see page one and two of the project by clicking the links below:

ABC Witch! page 1

ABC Witch! page 2

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In Tribute to Maurice Sendak

Image and words by David Finley

Where the Wild Things Are

 I learned today that Maurice Sendak author and artist for books like, Where the Wild Things Are, In the Night Kitchen, and Seven Little Monsters  passed away this morning. Although I never met Mr. Sendak, the news left me with a lot of strange feelings. It's odd to mourn for someone whom you've never met. There is a sadness that lingers, but it feels almost selfish because it's really all about how his death affects me. I mourn because his work inspired me as a child and now he's gone and it's up to the next generation.

 But, after a bit of scanning around the internet, I realize that so many others feel the same. And, although my feelings about this might be a bit centered within myself, it really shows the power and emotional impact true art can have. Maurice Sendak wasn't afraid to put dark imagery or tackle controversial topics. Despite working primarily in children's literature, a field often dominated by the bright and cheery, Sendak communicated with his audience honestly, even when that honesty wasn't pretty.

 His passing is a reminder to keep telling the truth as an artist. I hope the work I make as an artist and writer from this point forward will honor what he labored so hard to build.

 Maurice Sendak, you will be missed. We love you and thank you for all the wonderful stories and art you gave us. We thank you for being honest with us through your work, and thank you for helping us grow into stronger artists and writers by your example.

 I leave you today with this video of Mr. Sendak himself. I think it personifies what I love about the artist behind the work.




Thanks for reading Scofflaws!

-Dave

Illustration Friday- Hitched

by David Finley

Just the Art- Carl Bear and the Honey Bees

by David Finley

Today's Just the Art feature illustration is 'Carl Bear and the Honey Bees'. This is an updated color and texturized version of a ball point pen sketch you can see here.

 My main focus and emphasis was on energy and movement, with an arching flow in the composition highlighted by the stream of honey and bees. The heavy energy is contrasted and anchored by the right angle boxing of the tree and branch.

 Don't worry, Carl will be just fine.If you like this picture a lot, you can own a print by clicking this link right now.

Thanks for looking!

-Dave, Grand Poobah of all Scofflaws

Just the Art- Nude Study on Drapery

by David Finley

Female Nude on Drapery

Today's Just the Art feature is a nude female study I've titled, "Nude Study on Drapery".  I made this piece a few days ago at the Cameron Art Museum's figure drawing sessions. The initial sketch and tones were made with pastel and washed on wood. I also used a cloth and my fingers to smudge and manipulate the marks a bit more.

 This is my second foray into my recent experiments with working directly on wood. Again, I am really enjoying the warmth and texture the wood is giving my work. You can see the first by clicking here.

To purchase this print or any of my other exciting (if I do say so myself) pieces, please head over to my shop at Society6 by clicking this sentence.

Thanks for reading Scofflaws!

-Dave, your Grand Poobah.

Just the Art- Reach2

by David Finley

Art about the Afterlife

I've decided to put a new segment on my blog called, Just the Art. The decision to do this came about for a few reasons, but mostly, to give the art a chance to be featured outside of the article it accompanies. It also give me a chance to talk about process which will hopefully help some of you aspiring creatives out there. Please enjoy!

 I talked about this piece a little bit yesterday in my article about connecting with others through emotion. In yesterday's article I wrote:

"I wanted to explore my own feelings, questions, and thoughts about death and the afterlife. A beloved pet of mine died a few months ago and a deep part of me just wants to know he's okay.


 I've poured through near death experience stories, read theological debates, read the counter arguments of atheists, and combed the Bible. There are no definitive answers.


 So, I decided to "paint these questions out" on a piece of wood. On the surface, this is a piece about a woman and a cat enjoying the celestial radiance of the moon in all its splendor. Underneath, it is my plea for emotional resolution and a manifestation of my hope.


 This painting is about a lot of things. It is about my desire to have friends and family who will share the journey on the other side; to join those who have gone ahead before me. It is about the unknown. It is about who God is." 

 This piece marks an exploration of new technique and presentation, where I work on wood using pastel, paint, watercolor, and ink for staining. Because the wood itself has such a beautiful grain and warmth, I don't want to eliminate it completely.

 The pastels I use are Rembrandt brand pastels and they are incredible for their strength of pigment and blending ability. In addition, you can add water to them and spread them like paint. Pastel layers are then built up and washed, then combined with watercolor and acrylic to get a stronger hue. The piece is finished with black ink.

 A slender board will be attached to the back of the wood panel to separate it from the wall for gallery display.

 Thanks for reading, Scofflaws. I hope this gives some of your out there ideas for your own pieces.

-Dave, Grand Poobah of All Scofflaws

Finding Emotional Truth

words and image by David Finley

Emotional Connection Through Art

In order to connect with your audience, you must communicate an emotional truth. But, it's harder than it sounds. Emotional truth is being completely honest about yourself, who you are, and what you feel. You are displaying a portion of yourself naked, exposed for possible judgment.

 It takes courage.

 My painting above is an example of how I've tried to do just that. I wanted to explore my own feelings, questions, and thoughts about death and the afterlife. A beloved pet of mine died a few months ago and a deep part of me just wants to know he's okay.

 I've poured through near death experience stories, read theological debates, read the counter arguments of atheists, and combed the Bible. There are no definitive answers.

 So, I decided to "paint these questions out" on a piece of wood. On the surface, this is a piece about a woman and a cat enjoying the celestial radiance of the moon in all its splendor. Underneath, it is my plea for emotional resolution and a manifestation of my hope.

 This painting is about a lot of things. It is about my desire to have friends and family who will share the journey on the other side; to join those who have gone ahead before me. It is about the unknown. It is about who God is. 

 Hopefully, I've connected with you and the risk of exposing my inner self is worth it. Hopefully, it will inspire you to share your own emotional truth. May you find your voice and make work that matters.

Thanks for reading!

-Dave, Grand Poobah of all Scofflaws

Children's Book Illustration Project- Page 2

by David Finley

 Here's page two from the story, "ABC, Witch!" written by Jonathan Hickey, and cheerfully illustrated by me. You can see page one  from yesterday's article right here.

 Read more of Jonathan's thoughts and see his drawings of the thumbnails to this story at his website, Work From Home.