Anyway, I continued drawing after lunch with JessieBessieSipes in the Dinosaurs exhibit. This was a little tougher since they were all animatronic and moved around. Especially the triceratops – That thing looked like it desparately needed a bathroom.

And more work on the Psychopomp.

I didn’t mean to spray drips on the left side, or by the hand… Had too much turps.

It’s getting close to ‘done’ though. The skin parts and hair are done, just clothing, mothbits and the orbs. Might add some graphic kinda linework, too.

Got my grant application into DCA on Friday. I’m pretty much only eligible for the Development grant. I feel like I’m a great candidate though, pursuing this ‘new’ digital art-form.

I’ve looked into other funding bodies and there’s not a whole lot of support available to artists after training. One key factor is the course I’ve applied isn’t accredited (no degree or formal recognition etc) – it’s completely practical and very specialised, which is exactly what I need!

There’s also a Skills and Development grant I’m eligible for through the Australia Council. I believe that’s an annual grant though (due August), and for activity starting next year. Bleh. This course wasn’t even announced when the last round of funding was due, making the lengthy grant turnaround highly inconvenient.

I’ve decided to give oil painting a crack, and just spent the night painting with Richard Healy, who’s provided some useful input on the process of oil painting. He’s pretty great with the oils.

Anyway, here’s what I’ve been working on today. It’s something big like 48″x48″, and still a work-in-progress, but thus far I’m quite proud of my second ever oil painting! My first was a 6″x8″ picture of an apple. I think I was 9 years old at the time.

Here’s something I’m working on:

This is just a thumbnail.

Also I may revert the earth deity to look more like I’d originally intended:

A bit less humanoid and more disjointed and cumbersome.

The other night I got my portfolio submission into The Art Department, a new practical course offering the top tier of arts education in the digital realm.

There’s a new page up if you’d like to see what I submitted. It’s mostly things on my portfolio website, plus a bunch of drawings.

Anyway… If accepted I’ll be out of here come June. I’m a little daunted by living costs in San Fran though. My budget thus far contains scary numbers. ha :S

Was painting up this environment concept with the intention of making it folio-worthy, but no. I just couldn’t get past how cliché it is, so it shall remain as yet another speedpaint. I feel the composition, lighting and narrative is pretty good though. I wanted to indicate something had escaped, but not what.