Painting Studies: Gryphons!

Two themed paintings I created in Color For Illustrators in my final semester of college. They encompass two things I love: gryphons, and blue/orange compliments.

The first image is a still life, in which I discovered that candles are a special sort of challenge, because when you look at them they seem so much brighter than when you tear your eyes away and look at just how little it illuminates the nearby objects. My single small candle was quite weak, and couldn't quite compete with the cool light from the cloudy day outside. The pewter gryphon figure was reflective in a strange, muddy fashion as well.

The second painting, however, is a self-portrait! I own a gryphon mask and tail/gloves set created by Shannon Heartwood of Clockwork Creature Studios. I posed myself and took reference photos. You can see further images of the costume in action here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tierney_grylark/

Painting Studies: Color for Illustrators.

Up until this coming year, there was no Color class required in MassArt's illustration program. Now, it will be a required sophomore class this coming fall. Unfortunately, I missed out on that, and somehow dragged my sorry carcass through three and a half years without taking a proper course in color theory and use.

While it was a bit of a crash course when teamed up with the rest of my courseload-- particularly my challenge to make a concept art portfolio from scratch in almost a single semester-- it was helpful and informative. Most of all, it offered an almost zen retreat, wherein I could paint a study and it would have no pressure to be a final illustration that would be considered for my portfolio. In short, it allowed me to get back to really looking.

The Cloisters, painting from a photo I took in NYC, offered a lovely opportunity for a wide range of cools, along with some lightplay and an adorable little family. Acrylic on gesso'd paper.

More to come!

The Preoccupation With Ponies

It seems fitting that with the end of my senior year of college, I should turn eagerly to the frivolous as a balm to my increasingly nervous energy as graduation day itself looms.

Of course, still being in 'college mode', I end up asking myself why I enjoy the frivolous things I do, and why other people do as well. I don't mean the simple act of partying or letting off steam in that manner... I speak of... ponies.

Perhaps you've encountered the pony phenomenon if you use the Internet or social media to a certain extent; maybe you've caught a glimpse of the new face of ponies in their almost Powerpuff Girl-like incarnation, envisioned by Lauren Faust. And maybe you've just noticed a bunch of grown men obsessing over a little girl's show with motives that you- or the general public- have no idea of, but suspect to feel superior to. Gosh, so did I!

But as it turns out, ponies are addictive to an artistic mind, most likely because it invokes the hallowed tool of today's big-world games: the sandbox.

You hear 'sandbox' in reference to massive video games, like Skyrim or Grand Theft Auto. There's a plot, but you can not only take it or leave it, you can craft entire plots of your own simply by using the tools left for you. But ponies I want to relate to as a 'sandbox' in a purely artistic exercise in character creation and simplistic plot-making, a-la what we've been seeing from fanartists and writers on Pokemon for about a decade now. It is not only generally regarded as a good time to be had by all when an artist makes their own vision of a Pocket Monster, but rewriting the entire premise of the franchise has had fans chomping at the bit for gritty reboots and pseudo-philosophical implications since I can remember setting toe in DeviantArt.

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is essentially the same exercise. You could take it at face value, or you could imply the kind of dystopian universe ruled by the depraved minds of pagan goddesses in pony form. It's this entire act of reading entirely too far into the world that allows fans to take the concept and run.

Also, bright colors. Actually, it may just be the bright colors.