Art Day 16

 Day 16: This first sketch is of General Lee on horseback. Composed in charcoal, this was a bit of a challenge. I had some trouble merging the figure of a man and the figure of a horse into one unit.
I also went a bit overboard on the shadow of the eye. Lee looks like he has sunglasses on.

Also drawn using charcoal, this second sketch is of a civil war soldier taking a rest.  Also a different angle and position: sitting in a chair.

Art Day 15

Day 15: U. S. Grant

Another Civil War general, Ulysses S. Grant, done in Charcoal (black and white) on army green paper (although there wasn't camo in the 1860s).

A second sketch of Grant, my first (done in pencil and about twice as large) was given away as a Christmas present in 2009.

Simple Things

Is it a curse to be so blessed,

            Or is it a blessing to be so vexed?

I have the whole world around me, how could life ever be a bore,

            Yet I always feel overwhelmed here, always like I have to do more.

 You know they always say they hope,

            Somewhere another door opens.

Well I’ve been trying to hang one more picture,

            But all the wall space’s been taken.

Because God’s given me all I ever asked for,

            And so much more beside,

It’s an army, truly, of open waiting doors,

            And I can’t find a place to hide.

All I want are the simple things in life,

            A job and a house, a few kids and a wife.

I never thought your blessings could be a burden

            Now they could be, but that ain’t right.

Something’s got to give, but I don’t know where,

            Do I give up and give in or just sleep through the night?

I have the whole world around me, how could life ever be a bore,

            Yet I always feel overwhelmed here, always like I have to do more.

Is it a curse to be so blessed,

            Or is it a blessing to be so vexed?

Art Day 14

 Day 14: JFK

This first portrait of JFK was rather an incomplete, quick and simple framework. Done with charcoal, it really doesn't look like him.

The second picture, also of JFK was something completely new. I used three different colors of paper as a base for different tones of the picture, namely, hair, skin, collar, and suit. I then used charcoal over the paper to define specific features like the eyes, ears, chin, tie, and lapel. I haven't tried this method since, but I think overall, it created an interesting effect.

State of the World Address

State of the World Address

Joy prized, the world drinks.

Glasses dried, the world clinks.

Peace idolized, the world thinks.

People surmise, the world finks.

Capitol lied, the world sinks.

Politicians sly, the world brinks.

Hancocks pried, the world inks.

Money prized, the world plinks.

Atheism arrives, the world jinx.

Love tried, the world kinks.

Family denied, the world links.

Hate applied, the world winks.

Dark knight rise, the world slinks.

Lead flies, the world blinks.

Death cries, the world shrinks.

Life dies, the world stinks.

Art Day 13

Day 13: Da Vinci

Keep finding more quick sketch portraits! This work is of Leonardo da Vinci, imitating his own self-portrait.
Not too complicated, the eyebrows were pretty fun.

Art Day 12

Day 12: E

A quick charcoal sketch of my sister turning around from a gun mount in historic mackinaw.  Different angle than usual.

Perfection

A short poem I composed a few days ago....

Perfection

Innocent as dew on the grass gathering at midsummer’s morn:

Fresh as a daisy, delicate in her long dark hair.

Maybe she is pure mountain air, never been breathed,

Clean as a clear, clear stream.

At the end of a crisp moonlit night, a bright beaming light

Shines a path to a draft of aromatic coffee grinds.

She walks down the stairs and I stare at her flowing gown. Tanned brown,

She simmers in the sun, simmering my glimmering hopes of affection.

Perfection is what I see, and I see no other, so it must be you.

Art day 11

Day 11: General McClellan (2009)

A pretty bad charcoal portrait of another Civil War general. Quick ten minute personality sketch.

Art day 10

Day 10: "Douglass"

A great man, the abolitionist Frederick Douglass was also part of my Civil War series. I thought his mustache and beard were awesome, and the pent-up anger and passion in his eyes quite inspiring. On this piece I really used my finger painting method to blend the skin tones. At the 4H fair in 2010, this piece won 3rd Best of Show for drawing.

Art Day 9

Day 9: General A.P. Hill (2010)

One of my favorite generals, this portrait was done on a late night when I was bored, hence the rather harsh look. Facial proportions were good, but I obviously didn't spend much time showing them in skin shading.

Day 8: General Johnston

Another "portrait of a general," this was my first well-done charcoal drawing. I used the "smudging" technique to define the cheek bones. (This is where I used my finger to paint the excess charcoal powder into the shades I wanted). Once again, the vertical light source created deeper, more intense eyes. Not violent, but certainly passionate. The beard/moustache were made by using a base of smudging as a base, but using harsh lines for bristly texture.

Art: Day 7

Day 7: Robert E. Lee

A part of a phase of portraiture focusing on Civil War generals (I had a civil war book I was drawing out of), this was a picture that really tried to define the character of the man just by his expression. I purposefully left the uniform minimal to draw the viewer's attention to the face. With a harsh vertical shadow, my shading created deep-set and severe eyes. This sharpness allied with defined cheekbones and nose fulfill a commanding persona, as fit in such a character as Robert E. Lee.

This work won Best of Show at the county fair for all age-groups' drawing. I was 14 at the time.

Day 6: "Picasso Lady"
A sketch copy of a woman painted by Picasso. Not very complicated, but interesting characteristics of the woman show through the portrait: tenderness, love, concern, shyness.

Day 5: FDR
Showing the progression once again, this portrait of president F.D.Roosevelt was a little better proportioned in the chin, mouth and nose, but the remainder of the work was a bit off. The Shading around the mouth was really the first decent skin shading I tried.

Day 4: "The Three Chiefs"

This picture was actually completed before my first one posted (Shakespeare) at an art class in 5th grade. Based on a family photograph of a Sedona AZ rock formation. The violently dark shadows in the rock compared to the soft clouds and bushes give an almost abstract appearance to the work.

Day 3: "Jaguar"

Keeping the "portrait" theme, I decided to try an animal with relatively human facial characteristics.

Day 2
"Washington in Stone"

The day after my Shakespeare portrait, I was parsing through random pictures to draw (calendars, books, magazines....) I found the Mount Rushmore Washington and drew it. Compared to the facial structure of Shakespeare, I was very happy at the time. I obviously didn't take time on the shading, but I was able to capture the mood of the piece.

Day 1...Shakespeare
My first real piece of "art."
For some reason, when I was 13 I started drawing profusely. This was my first portrait, but after finishing like 25 portraits I started to try other styles. Though I mostly used pencil, I also used pen, charcoal, watercolor, and acrylic.

I am going to regularly post my pieces in consecutive order to show the process of increased experience and patience adding to each work.

Cold Water

“Morning practice,” I would justify to a friend. “5 a.m. and back home before the sun comes up.” I refused another opportunity for a night out. Swimming was my life. For nearly eight years, I spent three hours a day or more pushing myself to the brink. Underwater, my head amplified every thought. With goggles fogged up, the lyrics of my least favorite songs repeated themselves in my mind, the beat matching the rhythm of my strokes. Drowning all sound, that eternal whshhhshshoosh of the water ceased only to be replaced by the voice of my coach explaining the next set. The pool was a harsh place, but I loved it.

            Oppressive and demanding, that cold water created me. I learned patience through the drill and the repetition. I gained self-confidence from conquering the nearly impossible practices thrown at me. I was taught that whatever I do, I should do it well. My coach regularly lectured the team before swim meets with the phrase, “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.”

            My determination came with the knowledge that every day had to be the best. I pushed myself, because under the water there wasn’t anybody else. Success wasn’t winning the race. Instead, success was found in the arduous fight for accomplishment. By struggling through those blurring tears, I consequently realized my goals to swim at a National level. Swimming helped me perceive that the reward is only attained by perseverance and effort.

            After a serious illness last winter compromised my training for weeks, I came to realize that although swimming made me who I was, swimming wasn’t what I was. I observed that while I wasn’t one-dimensional, I had become one-directional. During my illness, I filled the vacuum of my time once devoted to swim practice with music and art. By nurturing these elements of my being, I began to understand that I was more than just a swimmer.

I ultimately retired from swimming to reassess my appreciation for other aspects of my life. The decision was frightening. Ending my swimming career entailed a turnabout in my persona. I had been perceived as an athlete, dedicated to his training and racing Olympians. Without swimming, I risked losing my identification. Six months later, I thankfully watch that resolve permeate into all my pursuits, and I am equally characterized by other endeavors. Although the decision severely altered my daily schedule, it didn’t transform my character: I carry the discipline of the water with me.

These lessons from the pool have been incorporated into all my endeavors. I try to outshine myself by applying my determination to my studies and papers. With patience, I devote more time to a piece of art, expecting an improved finished product. I have confidence while performing an oboe or piano solo.  Although I am not swimming, my head is still underwater, vigorously blazing a path through the travels of life. The same endless songs drive me forward. The cold water will always feel good.

Freedom (a Definition?)

People think that success comes from overcoming the obstacles of life, such as getting a good job, having a loving family, leaving behind a legacy of some sort. This success leads to freedom.

Is this really true? What is freedom? During the "glory" days of America, when the number of immigrants arriving was overwhelming, when it was the "American dream" and success that led to the influx of opportunity-seekers searching for the "Liberty" of America. (Liberty is the opportunity, freedom is the supposed result). What was it they actually came for? Nowadays American freedom is the success in a monetary/materialistic way, but I think that true Liberty comes from having the opportunity to overcome those obstacles.

You see, the melting pot in the late 1800s was caused by the "free" opportunities in the growing American economy. These foreign peoples came from places that were oppressive, where whether they had the ingenuity and entrepreneurship didn't matter, they obeyed the higher orders of the social system and government. They came to America to seek the ability to seek that elusive success. They were free to not only yearn for it, but actually attain it. Obstacles are always the same, yet freedom is the ability to overcome them.

We have the same obstacles and goals: earn our bread, leave a legend, improve society. Instead of giving freedom to attain the obstacles in a fair and moral way, actually working for our own well-being, our society oppresses those who are fortunate in their endeavors. America as the people allows "freedom" in the form of incentives like health care, graduated income tax, and such, in favor of the laziness and apathy of this generation.

The Liberty isn't the outcome, it is the process. If we have the society-recognized "success" forced upon us, and that is a form of freedom (it is free for those who don't succeed), but not true liberty. It's slavery.

Now I am not saying that parks, education and all that is bad, I'm just saying that if the people want it, let them pay for it themselves. Let a person take it upon themselves to lead an organization for free healthcare; teach true morals, don't suppose that all humanity is stupid and evil (more on this another day); and return the government to its rightful state. The only "laws" should be those controlling negative interactions between two parties, not endless regulations trying to appease everybody, and so displeasing all. The Declaration of Independence was on one (1!) piece of paper, the original Bill of Rights had what, ten amendments? The congress can't even know what a bill says now, since they are all 2000+ pages!

Just something to think about.
Is where this country going actually towards liberty and opportunity?
Thanks for listening

Here is a good video I found recently (pardon for the language):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zqOYBabXmA&feature=related

Another Year

Ever wonder why everybody celebrates New Year in January? For me at least, everything is starting again NOW.  The calendar might say September, which might only be another month, but instead, once again I fill my time. Is this the last year of the same? Is this a start of something new? Maybe an end? All of those combined? Really time keeps flowing: we live until we die. We don't start a year perfectly fresh, but with all the past experiences, whether joyful, or sorrowful, we continue on. Someday might be the last, but for now, keep it up, you've only just begun!

Lawn Mowing Fun

"Just a spoonful of sugar" sings Mary Poppins in the movie, "Helps the medicine, go down, the medicine, go down." But really, try it. Have fun in everything you do, and in so doing, the "job's a game." My favorite way to have fun while mowing the lawn is to make shapes and squiggles and zig zags in the grass. Not only does it look pretty amazing, but it adds variety to the monotonous back-and-forth of "regular" mowing. So take the spoonful of sugar, and the job will go by twice as fast. Jazz life up and try something new, because fun isn't just for kids.

Nature's Heroes

During the 4 hour car ride for my recent vacation, I decided to write a poem about the forests of dead, decaying, and regenerating trees. Thought it turned out kind of cool.

I pass a field of fallen heroes
Broken and battled, but still standing
Through fires and storms
They still provide a bird's landing

Beaten and weary,
The poor remainder,
Survivors of nature's fury
The once proud contenders

Ambassadors of the forest,
Having lost their colors
No more mothers
No more fathers

Returning to the ground
From whence they came
Giving room to newcomers
To take on the name
  
Oak, Maple, Beech and Pine
Which once stood high, proud and fine.
Years, decades, of regeneration
Leads to renewal, life, resurrection

Andrew J. Mattson

underwater

So I haven't posted in over a month. That doesn't mean I have nothing to say, quite the contrary. I have so much going on that nothing stands out to write about.

But regardless of all that, I deciding to go with the Olympic/sport theme. I used to be a swimmer. I like to say I am "retired," rather than "quit," it sounds better, but that is another future post.

I think most people don't know the intensity of swimming. I give props to the athletes in the world hardest sport. It's true. Swimming is completely unnatural to us humans. In the Olympics it seems to be an exciting, seemingly short race, that we, not in the water, can have fun speculating about. Will so-and-so be able to pull ahead at the 200? or can so-and-so successfully hold off the competitors on the anchor of the relay? Watch the race people! These PEOPLE are not horses.... and you have truly NO idea what they go through every day.

Think about it. Take Michael Phelps. 2012 was his fourth olympics. Phelps has been training for ONE THING for 20 years. Getting up at 4 something, swimming, and getting home again all before the sun comes up in the morning. Trudging into AM practices in the middle of winter, when you jump into the pool and it takes you the whole 2 hour practice just to get warm. Seeing your friends having fun, and constantly having to refuse a social life in the form of the perpetual "No, I have practice." Singing the same thing over and over again in your head (because you can't say anything to the other people in the pool, due to your head being underwater the whole time other than the 20 seconds every five minutes), in beat to your stroke tempo..... BA da da da BA da da da BA da DA DA..... and repeat for 2 hours. Oh and another 2 hours tonight. While doing this there is a constant wheeshshshshshhh from the water flowing past your head that amplifies every thought you have. There is no form of encouragement other the Coach's staggered whistles: no music, no teammates to talk to..... Though to tell the truth I have carried on conversations over 10x400 IMs when you see your lane mate 10 times for 10-20 seconds over an hour and a half. Self-encouragement is ok. Phelps has done it for 20 years.

I tip my hat to you swimmers out there. You're a beast.

And I can end my rant about commentators on swimming. I put my head back underwater.

40 Miles

The road lays open before me, endless hills, sunshine on the trees. This is the good life. With the wind in my ears, I am free to ride wherever I choose, and I choose everywhere. A 40 mile bike ride can be a exhilarating experience. Same is true for life. Let yourself go. Let the road take you where it wants. Follow the broken road. By giving myself to God, restriction gone, I can be myself. I can work. I can play. I can serve. I can lead. But without the restriction, it is now all for the Lord. By humbling myself, and pledging my sword to His cause, I become free. Free from this world's anxiety. Free from Satan's throes. Free from my own flesh. I am free to serve God to the best of my ability.

Grilled cheese and politics

Homeschooling is great. Where else do you have the opportunity to eat grilled cheese and talk politics at the same time? I have been blessed beyond my imagination, and I only really realize after the little things. People always ask: "So why do you like being homeschooled?" and there is never anything I can put a finger on. But I think this is it. Grilled cheese and politics.

A New Bike

Is a buying a new bike really that big of a decision? Should I get a crossover bike? A mountain bike? Road bike? Racing? Triathlon? Cyclecross? And what about the gear? Pumps? Tires? Shocks? Gloves? Glasses? Helmet? Well, the last one is easy, but as all decisions are, I am taking this one too seriously. Does it really matter what I choose to buy? What is the purpose in the first place? It should really come down to use. I should pick the bicycle that gives me the best use, for the best price. A balance. So also should I choose what I do with my life, except instead of for me, it is for God. If the reason for life is to glorify God, than the reason for all decisions should be to glorify also. Unfortunately this doesn't always happen, but we can try our best, and when the day ends, we can say "I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." Does my life matter, or does the bike matter, unless they are put aside for God?

First Post

Well, all my friends are doing it. Blogging. It's a weird word. I finally made a blog, and, I must say, it's pretty cool. Hopefully I will share my thoughts on "whatever" in a fun and inspiring way. Hopefully you and I will learn much. Life's road is a complex thing. We are guided by God's hands to sometimes totally unexpected places, yet all these places serve their purpose in our growth and development as God's children. We have a lot to learn.