Box o' Drawings and other WIPs

Every once in awhile a backlog of works that need finishing happens. Even though I try to complete each work before getting too far along on another, now's one of those times things got pretty much out of hand.

Sorry if my (lack of) video skills got you car-sick--but thanks for staying with my ol' blog :)

Btw, my original art is available for purchase here: 

Tom Sarmo at Helikon Gallery

and some originals and miscellaneous products here:

Tom Sarmo Online Store

Your purchase from either helps a lot and is much appreciated!

Preliminary Sketches

I'm working away at a bunch of paintings for an upcoming solo show at Helikon Gallery.

One of my favorite ways to relax away from the studio is adding pen-work to my preliminary sketches for those paintings.

 The original prelims are most often loose, red-pencil drawings on toned paper. I do a bunch, and they simply help me in thinking out compositions.

But when hanging out at home, I like to sit on the couch, pull out one of the preliminary sketches, and then apply outline and value using a brush pen, white highlights, and pen and ink. It's meditative (like fishing!) and a great way to unwind from a day at the studio.

 You'll be able to check out all the prelims and finished art this coming June at the show, and I hope you'll join me!

 

And thanks for checking out my blog :)

Recent Drawings from My Sketchbooks

http://www.tomsarmo.com

Some recent, selected works from a variety of sketchbooks. 

These fellows are spontaneous drawings from my head, with the exception of the blue lantern--drawn using an actual lantern as reference. 

Sketching is almost as good as meditation when I'm needing a bit of peace. I've been doing a lot of sketching lately.

I wish peace for you as well.

Thank you for checking in!

You Can (and oughta) be an Art Collector: Part One

By Elliot Lang

(Elliot's an artist/illustrator in Colorado. I bought this at his show at a local coffee house a few years back.)

This post, and the next few, are about the joys--and ease--of collecting original artwork. Living with original art enriches your life, the lives of your friends, and the lives of working artists,

The pieces you see are from my own collection. And I'm going to kill a few myths along the way:

Myth One: You have to be wealthy to afford original art.  

Nope. I am far from wealthy. 

Most of  the art in this blog-post series, while not huge pieces, cost less than dinner and drinks at a restaurant.

Facebook, Instagram, and other social media sites are great places to get acquainted with artists and the work that they do. But few of us really examine art on the internet. Scrolling quickly past a variety of images--and liking some of them--is a pleasurable pastime for me, but there's nothing quite like owning original pieces that I really get to know in-depth.

By Bernie Petterson

(Bernie Petterson is an animation artist from California. Got this one via his Etsy store.)

Myth Two: Art has to match your couch/interior/wall color.

Nope. It only has to please you. 

My couch is green. Bernie Petterson's cool sketch pleases me very much. 

I saw the piano player-piece after discovering the artist on Facebook.

By Justin Gerard

(Justin Gerard is a studio artist and illustrator in Georgia. I bought this fantasy sketch at his booth at Spectrum Live, 2015)

Myth Three: Art on your wall has to be a painting.

Nope. Justin Gerard's sketch is on my wall. Sketches are amazing things in themselves! You get a peek into the artist's thoughts and work process, for one; and two, they are often much more affordable than a full color painting.

What are you waiting for? Go find some some art to own and love--you won't be sorry!

And an added benefit: Your support of working artists allows them to make more art for you see and live with!

Please check out the sites, art, and stores of these featured artists by clicking on their names:

Elliot Lang

Bernie Petterson

Justin Gerard

Thanks for reading, and for supporting living artists!

I Like Blobs: Part 2

http://tomsarmo.blogspot.com/

The best thing about drawing blobs: The evolution on the page is always a surprise. Most of the time--when I'm sketching at least--I don't know what is going to unfold onto the paper, but that's always the case with blobs.

http://tomsarmo.blogspot.com/

Most always, I start with gestures.

http://tomsarmo.blogspot.com/

And lately, Colerase pencil has been the rule for gesture-drawing.

http://tomsarmo.blogspot.com/

My brother found this toad, and I know its blobbiness been a subconscious inspiration lately...

http://tomsarmo.blogspot.com/

...for sketches like this.

http://tomsarmo.blogspot.com/

A blob that morphed into a Norman-ish knight...

http://tomsarmo.blogspot.com/

...and one blob-sketch I kept messing with--probably to a fault.

Not sure what the next post will be--maybe more blobs. At any rate,

Thanks for checking up on me!

Ps. I'm on Instagram, and I'd appreciate a follow. You can click on the icon in the left column of this blog, or just search for tomsarmo_art  Thanks!