All Pencils Have A Purpose

People ask me, “Hey Tom, do you want some Crayola colored pencils? My children no longer use them.”

I never say no! In my world of art I use four types of pencils, and each brand has its own character. Some have a light and pastel appearance while others have a rich and more opaque look.

For example, when I’m creating a highlight or reflection in my illustration Crayola and Rose Art pencils are the best choice. After using the pencils, I’ll skid a kneadable eraser over a chosen area to develop a highlight.

On the other hand, when trying to achieve a darker richer look, Prismacolor is the best!  Prisma and Derwent pencils also offer colors that the others do not carry.

You wouldn’t believe the different textures and colors you can create with the various brands of colored pencils out there.

So if you have colored pencils your family no longer uses and you don’t know what to do with them… send them my way. I never say no!

Yours truly,

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The Yule by J.C. Leyendecker

I want to wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  

It has been and enjoyable 2015, checking out Facebook every day and seeing the information you have all shared.

I wanted to share an artist with you whose work I have always admired the most. His name is J.C. Leyendecker. Some of you may have heard of his name and have seen some of his work or vice versa. However, some maybe have never had the pleasure of seeing his magnificent illustrations. He was one of the preeminent American illustrators of the early 20th century. He is best know for his numerous covers for The Saturday Evening Post. Between 1896 and 1950, Leyendecker painted more than 400 covers producing 322 covers for The Saturday Evening Post alone. He is credited with "virtually inventing the whole idea of modern magazine design"

Leyendecker's work will live on for many years to come. The image I posted is titled "The Yule" and has always been one of favorites.

Finally, best wishes to you and your loved ones as we end 2015 and head into the new year! 



 

Thanksgiving

Here we are: Thanksgiving is upon us once again. I’m always grateful for this time of year because it gives me the chance to look back and reflect on these past twelve months and everything God has blessed me with.

Tomorrow, when I sit at our dining room table and look at my wife, children and other family members, I will be reminded that they have been placed in my life as the most important gift I’ll ever receive. Oftentimes, during the hustle of every day life I find myself forgetting that these people who influence every aspect of my life are the most important.

I look forward to eating a meal prepared by the hands of my wife and loved ones, laughing, reminiscing and preparing for the next year to come. Is there any way to show any measurable degree of gratitude towards God? All I can do is try to imitate his goodness by being sensitive to the needs of others and working to be the best version of myself every day.

May you have a blessed Thanksgiving!

2015-thanksgiving

Feed the Passion

Passion is defined as, "An intense desire or enthusiasm for something."

Artists have an insatiable need to create. I parallel an artist's career to some extent with an actor or actress traveling to Hollywood, taking a job or a number of jobs to support him or herself financially, and waiting for a shot on stage.

Since my leaving the graphic design field to pursue fine art, I have had to put on many different hats - taking jobs I would never have predicted doing in a million years. All unrelated to my field of expertise.

Taking the leap into acting, singing, writing, photography and art can be a rewarding experience but be prepared because it does have its challenges. I believe it's worth it!