Alex Chao Sketch Blog

One on One with Nature

2011-10-23T13:22:00.000-07:00

I just came back from a painting trip up the coast, where I ended up sleeping in my car in safe areas, and getting a hotel every other day so that I don't smell like a bum.

I left Wednesday and made my way up the PCH, to San Luis Obispo, Morro Bay area. Stayed a couple nights there, until Friday night, where I headed East to Bakersfield for some friends' get together for the weekend.

After that, I stayed in Big Sur/Point Lobos/Monterey/Carmel area for the next 3 days.

One of the most beautiful coastlines I have ever seen.

Unfortunately I didn't get much painting done during these three days as the weather was really against me.

If it wasn't foggy, it was raining, and if it wasn't raining, it was overcast. Still tried to do a few, but really, I just enjoyed the area.

If you guys have never seen these areas, I would highly recommend it. And definitely take the PCH/Highway 1 up. One of the most relaxing drives I've ever been on.

After this trip that I took, I really feel that I found my focus again.

I've made 'some' headway with Gouache. And I of course had to try a couple iPad paintings.

The 2nd one is the iPad painting. I had another iPad painting, but it decided to crash on me, and I ended up losing it.

By far, out of all my paintings, I feel the bottom one is my most successful.

I once had a teacher that talked about getting the 'truth' of a scene. I feel I got that the most with this piece. I tried to really push the color on this one, yet at the same time try to find the 'truth' of the piece.

Can't wait to get out there and do some more plein air painting!

Quick iPad Sketch

2011-10-03T14:11:00.001-07:00

Just a quick sketch from my brother's condo of the 405.

Gou ACHE.

2011-09-28T10:11:00.000-07:00

Under the Colorado Bridge this morning.
The sun was thinking about coming out, but decided not to.

I went back to gouache again. Hopefully I'll be making some headway with it.

Morning painting

2011-09-19T10:29:00.000-07:00

Went out this morning to do a landscape painting. About 2 hours? Tried out the iPad. I kinda like it, but I definitely need to have a better setup for it. Namely, an umbrella for SHADE.

MIA!

2011-06-07T22:56:00.001-07:00

I know, I know. I've been MIA for the past year. I've recently graduated from ArtCenter. I'm going to try to be more diligent about posting from now on. I'll start putting up quick sketches and paintings and whatnot. In the meantime, I've created a new portfolio site.

www.alexchao.net

Enjoy!

Matte Painting

2010-04-12T20:00:00.001-07:00

So here's the final for the Matte Painting concept I did earlier.

Cast Away!!!!!

2010-03-18T21:40:00.000-07:00

Here's a project where we were supposed to build a raft out of parts from a ship (as if the ship exploded or crashed or whatever) and put a fire as a 'special effects' shot in a layout. Been messing with this painting for a while now, and I figure I should just call it done. Anyway, enjoy! Crits and comments welcome as always!

Treasure Hold

2010-03-01T16:03:00.001-08:00

Here's my tonal for my layout. The prompt was: "Hiding in the lowest level of a ship filled with treasures from all over the world; about to be discovered"

Update: Here's my crack at the colored tonal.

LA Underwater!?!?

2010-02-28T04:39:00.001-08:00

Here's the color/concept composition of a matte painting in the works. Enjoy!

Crits are always welcome!! =)

Plane Design

2009-11-06T02:12:00.001-08:00

Update: I changed up the exploded view for some more cohesive pages in my portfolio. Hoping it might work better.
Also, I tried to put the plane in an environment so that it might add more interest.
Beat boards and layout with the prop implemented on the way soon!

Here's the finished color and material variations of the plane design, as well as the final design and exploded view.

Carriage Variations

2009-10-20T01:57:00.000-07:00

So I took the opportunity to do different variations of the carriage for my personal project.

I want to add more extravagant details and decorations to it, but time is a factor.
Probably going to go back to do it all, but for now, this is what I have.

Tumbleweed man!!

2009-10-08T16:37:00.000-07:00

So I promised myself I would start updating monthly. Since I haven't really done all that much that is postable work, I figure I will just post this up. It's actually for an assignment, but I kinda like how it turned out. We're supposed to do eight variations of these characters made up of basic primitives and texture it. So enjoy TumbleWeed man!

Here's the thumbs for the rest of the assignment. I dunno if the last two on the right look reflective enough. Crits are welcome!

Image and Idea

2009-08-13T18:21:00.001-07:00

This was for my Image and Idea class. The main part of the class was about putting two things together that don't normally go together, and not being able to capture the image with a camera. So the first one was about creating a super hero (or villain) from an inanimate object, and I chose an outhouse. I tried to play around with those splashy ink effects and sort of the look where the picture isn't all that clean.
The second one was to pick a charity and create a poster for them, keeping in mind about putting two things together that dont' normally go together. I choose the Center of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technolologies, which pretty much just deal with alternative and clean energy.

Digital Landscaping!

2009-08-13T03:16:00.001-07:00

This was for my digital landscaping class with Mike Humphries.
The class entailed going on location every week, and every 4th week taking our best painting to the lab to touch it up. I think I practically just painted over 100% of all my paintings for all three of these, but I did learn a lot.

Toward the end of the term I started being able to use color more freely I think. That's why I think the first two seem a bit dull, while the third is a bit more exciting. I dunno. Gonna be painting more over the next off term.
I'm a bit too embarrased to show my actual gouache paintings, but here are the retouched up ones.
Definitely more paintings (hopefully traditional) to come!

Style

2009-04-11T20:43:00.000-07:00

This is for my Style class, probably my favorite class this term. Learned a lot about different styles, as well as design.

First one is of "ToadGo's" which is a play off ToGo's. We were supposed to design a fast food restaurant with its' play area in the style of a specific artist. I chose Charley Harper.

Second one is a musical tribute to a specific musical artist, and we were supposed to take the form language of the instruments the artist uses as design a tree/layout based off that. The layout was supposed to be in the style of a specific artist, of which I chose Thomas Hart Benton.
I chose the Cranberries for my musical artist, of which you probably cannot tell. Had the most trouble with this one, but I learned a lot about gouache doing this one.

The third layout is of a 1950s gas station around late afternoon done in the style of Eyvind Earle.

AN UPDATE!!!! FIGURES!!!!!

2008-08-11T11:13:00.001-07:00

So... I'm updating, haha. This term was just about figure drawing, so that's just what I've been concentrating on. I had Analytical Figure Drawing to help me with my anatomy, and then Inventive Drawing for just practice. I ended up filling up two newsprint pads, as well as a third Biggie newsprint pad. I think I went to a lot of workshops in the first 8 weeks of the term, but then the last 6 weeks I just couldn't bring myself to pick up a pencil. Anyway... I just posted some of the stuff that I thought turned out pretty decently. I hope you guys can see improvement, haha. I would feel pretty depressed if nobody sees improvement in my figure drawing.

These poses ranged from 1min - 40min.
Yay for updates!!

Digital Life Paintings

2008-04-15T15:38:00.000-07:00

These are some of the paintings I did in my Digital Life class. Each pose was 1 hr each.

End of Spring Term

2008-04-15T15:04:00.001-07:00

This is a portfolio page from my Sketching for Entertainment class. Most of the class consisted of layouts, and I have to say I was probably the worst person in the class. Haha.
Everybody in there was just damn skillful. Anyway... this is the only layout I had that turned out decent (partly because I hid my lineart with photoshop). The layout was from the Velveteen Rabbit btw.

Going through this term, I've definitely found what I need to work on. Above all, I really need to just draw more, both in terms of props as well as figure drawing. Over the next couple terms, I hope to get that to a reasonable level. Seems like the more I learn, the more I HAVE to learn.
My Sketching for Ent teacher, Will Weston is helping me out with picking classes for next term. He wants to work with me so I can get to a reasonable drawing level. Part of what we were talking about is that my layouts were suffering due to my drawing level.
I think I've been going about my assignments the wrong way. I keep thinking they are exercises to help me improve. Indeed they are, however I should probably think about them as portfolio pieces. One being better than the next. Then perhaps I can get more out of them. This term definitely got me to change my mindset on things.

Sketching For Illustration Final

2008-04-15T14:50:00.000-07:00

This was the acrylic painting final due for Bob Kato's Sketching for Illustration class. Dimensions were 15"x25". The requirements for the painting was an crime scene, interior looking to an exterior. At least one light source in each.

Digital Life Assignments

2008-04-15T14:45:00.000-07:00

These are two pieces I did for my Digital Life class over the term. It was one of the funner classes I had all term, though I didn't really know what I was doing in there, haha.
Anyway... the class consisted of 3 assignments. One master copy, one narrative illustration, and one matte painting. The two posted are the narrative illustration and the matte painting. The narrative illustration is a children's book about a boy caging a bird and eventually setting it free at the end because he learns that some things are meant to be free. The matte painting is a WW2 bombing scene from the perspective of a small town.

Landscape Paintings and my Painting Final

2007-12-18T17:19:00.001-08:00

So the first one is my 2 ft x 3 ft painting. Took sooo long. Kevin helped me a lot with the composition and everything. Still could use quite a bit of work, but for now I don't want to look at it for a while. The paint fumes in my room have killed quite a bit of brain cells as is. Maybe I'll do some touching up on it toward the end of my break. The waterfall landscape below it is a study I did for it prior to starting my final painting. I probably should have done more clear studies as to what I wanted for my final painting. That's probably why it took me so long. eh... you paint and you learn I guess. The last painting at the end is an acrylic landscape. I think I'm kinda getting the hang of it. Gonna definitely do some more over the break. The plan is to do probably one every two days or so. But anyway... that's everything that I have until next term unless I do some more work over the break.

Last bit of in-class Oil Paintings

2007-12-18T17:12:00.000-08:00

So I'm finally done with school!!! Yay!!! Actually I shouldn't be too happy. It was a pretty easy semester compared to a lot of my classmates. NEXT semester is gonna kick my butt though.
Anyway... this is the remainder of the oil paintings I did for class. I'm pretty happy with the one on the bed, and the paintings of the two figures are just starts... Didn't have that much time to work on either of them. I think I had 2 hours each? Maybe I need to improve my speed a bit. Anyhoo... that's the rest of my oil paintings.

Two Birds with One Stone

2007-11-11T17:55:00.000-08:00

So I went to the Descanso Gardens today to do some painting. I finally got my portable easel to use so my back wouldn't be killing me by the end of the day when I'm painting. This painting is both for practice as well as a color study that I'm doing for my final for Composition and Painting. I'm planning on putting a figure in the water or on the rocks in the background. Haven't completely figured it all out yet. But this is a small version of a 2ft x 4ft oil painting that I'm planning. I think I'm finally making some progress with acrylics. It finally makes sense why I should be painting from background to foreground now. The things that are receding are receding in this painting are actually receding, so I'm happy with it. I think I'm going to take out the yellow grass on top of the waterfall for the final painting, however. It makes the whole thing look like a giant hut. Not something I'm really going for. Hopefully I'll do well on the bigger painting. I'll post the progress as I start to work on it. Probably sometime later this week. Well that's it for this weeks update.

Acrylic Studies

2007-11-01T12:43:00.001-07:00

Just doing some more acrylic studies from photograph after I saw the 3rd term review at ArtCenter. Some of the stuff up was pretty damn good, but then there were others that were kinda... ehh...

But anyhoo... it still inspired me a bit to work harder and step it up.

The first painting is of landscape painting at Caltech once again. I was somewhat happy with this one. I actually did two that day, but for the second one I stopped in the middle to chat because I got lazy. So I'm not goign to post it. Doesn't even look like anything. Hahah. Well anyhow. That's that for this past couple weeks.

Update on Oil Paintings

2007-11-01T12:37:00.001-07:00

So a little more work to post. Revision of the painting I did of Miguel. Still not happy with it overall, but I laid it to rest because I don't want to work on it anymore.

The figure of the girl is from in class... head a bit small and the color of it is a bit too cool. Also the figure itself I think is stretched. That's what I get for not being careful with the lay-in when I first started the painting, but whatever. It's a painting not a drawing!!! So I'm still happy with it despite that!!!

Caltech Landscape Painting

2007-10-21T18:35:00.000-07:00

So it was Sunday landscape painting again. This time at Caltech... ... oddly.
There were actually some pretty spots to paint at there. Didn't realize the campus was quite pretty.
These were once again acrylic paintings in my sketchbook.
So the first one I wasn't too happy with. I'll blame it on the fact that I had to warm up. Had a lot of trouble with the building, and the fact that the sun changed, and made it at one time seem cool and another, seem warm.
The second one I'm a lot happier with. I realized I need to work big to small, and design each shape as I go. Each shape should look interesting whether it be big or small. So the second one I started with a pen sketch, and then worked from there. I think overall, it worked a lot better, and I got a feel for the colors more. I did have trouble with some of the trees. The dark green in the top left was supposed to be a tree that was close to me, overhanging my composition. But I think I'm slowly getting the hang out it. Maybe a few more weeks and I'll start seeing some improvement. Well anyway... there that is.

Painting all Day

2007-10-17T00:27:00.001-07:00

So I've been working on this oil painting mostly all day. Been about... 12 hours since I started?
Have to say it turned out not as good as I wanted it to, but it was harder than I originally thought it would be. Had a lot of trouble with some of the colors. Particularly when a yellowish light hits a black surface, I have a hard time determining what color it ends up being. Well I can't say this is exactly done, but it's good enough to turn in for the time being. I hope I can go back and refine it some more in the future. Thanks to Miguel for letting me use his as a model. Doesn't look like him, but it's okay. Nobody know that. Muahahah!!!

Oh yea. Forgot to mention. For the painting, I managed to bust out my ESCODA KOLINSKY BRUSHES!!!! Kevin originally gave them to me about... a year ago? Just never had the heart to use them because they were just too nice. =)
But now that I've used them, I must say... if you have the money, GET SOME! They are AWESOME! They're not stiff like bristle, yet holds a lot of paint in them. They also come to GREAT points at the end.

Sunday Landscape Painting Day

2007-10-15T22:55:00.001-07:00

So I started going landscape painting on Sunday mornings with a couple ArtCenter classmates (Juan and Mark) until the sun sets. Thanks Juan and Mark for the invite. This Sunday was Pasadena City Hall. It was actually my first time being there. It was quite pretty.
These paintings were painted with acrylic. I think I was struggling with it quite a bit when painting these. More the first one than the second. The first one took much longer. I just couldn't get the right colors right. If you actually took an x-ray and scanned that picture, there's probably about 10 layers on the house from trying to get the color right. The second one I obviously couldn't finish. I started as the sun was about to set, and within about 20 min, the sun was pretty much down. Still I tried to capture that super warm pinkish light from however much time I had left. I think I was trying to work a bit looser, and also my mixing was better on the 2nd one. So I was pretty happy with what I had.

So on another note, this term is pretty frustrating in that there's so much academic work. I have more academic work than I have art homework. I suppose that's just this term though. Hopefully it changes soon. I told Juan and Mark that I had more time than the average ArtCenter student and they suggested that I start spending a LOT more time on those painting homework assignments and making them portfolio pieces. Probably good advice.
Well I'm just trying to get as much drawing time as I get, which is evident by going Sundays, as well as various workshop days. Think I'm going to start doing some acrylic studies at home. Anyhoo, I've jammered on long enough.

Update on life

2007-10-15T22:34:00.001-07:00

So I've been working on a number of things. Just haven't gotten around to taking pictures of them and finally posting it. First off, here's some of the paintings I've been doing in my Painting and Comp class. Pretty fun class. Learning a lot although all the teacher does is reiterate what I've always heard about painting. I guess that's just what art is. It's all in the mileage. For the portrait, it's a bit unproportionate. I'll blame it on the fact that I was a bit rusty. First painting for the term. Haven't painted in a long while afterall. The second painting I think was more successful. I think I'm pretty happy with the way I captured the light. Overall I think it was a bit more successful than the first. I guess I can say I'm improving bit by bit.