Showing posts with label ashley webb. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ashley webb. Show all posts

Monday, January 29, 2018

At first you ignored us
Like we’re a passing fad
But then we raised our voices
And now you’re scared
[…]
Of all the power that we have
We’re coming for you
Now you can’t ignore us

We will stand
We will fight
We’ll take everything we need
We won’t lay down and die
This is who we are meant to be
There’s no second guessing

[…]

You call yourselves an army
You try to hold us back
But when the battle’s over
You’re going to see
All the power that we have

[…]

We’re coming for you
[…]
No, you can’t ignore like you did before

Sleeping Wolf – New Kings



Being a creative is empowering. Nothing is out of reach. As creators we are breathing life into every project that leaves our fingertips. Creation is our way of fighting back.

We’re at a point of time, which is always, truly there, but fluctuates with each Big Bad that tells us we can’t, or we shouldn’t, or we won’t. The truth of it is. We can, we should, we will. It seems though, that the world, collectively believes we have to yell to get our point across. The truth of it is, sometimes, it only takes a whisper. There isn’t a day that goes by that isn’t woven in our morals, and truths, and beliefs.

I’m here to tell you. You don’t have to yell. You just have to push. Every day. 

Yelling doesn’t make you stronger. Challenging yourself, and the way you think, makes you stronger.

Power may appear to come with money, and in a world domination sense, it does. I believe strongly though, that power comes through conviction. Your conviction. The same convictions that push you through your day. The ones that tell you to get out of bed, and go to your shitty job. Or get along with the mother/father of your children, for the children. To put in the time to hone your craft, pushing it past a hobby.

We shouldn’t ignore ignorance, but yelling doesn’t make it go away. It has to be outsmarted. It has to be carved through, not beat down, because the truth of it is: Ignorance will always exist. People can be taught, but that doesn’t mean they learn.

Sometimes, all it takes is a whisper.

The thing about a whisper is that it gets in the head of Ignorance. It frustrates Ignorance. Reaction is action. Not yelling, not arguing, or killing. A whisper is calm, but powerful. A whisper makes you think. A whisper is sneaky. A whisper is intimate.

A whisper is a song lyric, or a poem. A whisper is a piece of art, or the hero in a book. A whisper is the knowledge that the world is so much more than black and white.

“Raising your voice,” is a relative term. A phrase that begs to be explored. It can’t be taken at face value. Raising your voice is a mental act. A mental push to change, and grow, and teach.

My writing is my whisper. You can try to ignore it, but it still exists, and it still reaches someone. It can still teach someone.

My whisper is pushing the bounds of my creativity. My whisper is proving, through my words, that I can overcome the doubt. Not just the doubt of those around me, but my own doubt. My whisper is rooted in me. It grows from me. It spreads from me.



No one can quiet a whisper.

Be back soon, 
Ashley (Fictional Tortoise)

Wednesday, January 10, 2018

I’m not afraid anymore!” – Kevin McAllister (Home Alone, 1990)


      It may seem like a mundane quote, said by a fictional character in a movie, but it’s more than that to me. I grew up watching Home Alone, and over the years, this quote came to mean something to my Mom and me. It may have started as a joke, I don’t remember the specifics, but I do know that before long it was our go-to phrase when we conquered something we feared. Lately, this phrase has invaded my life. I say invaded, and that may seem negative, or harsh, but that isn’t how I mean it at all. It’s a positive. I’m not afraid to be myself. Could it be the anxiety medicine kicking ass, and doing what it’s supposed to? Sure, that’s probably a huge part of it. Also, though, I feel like I’ve cut my restraints and freed myself. And I’ll tell you how I did it.

     I started an Instagram account. No, not for me. My Instagram has been active for a while, although I’ve never been brave or dedicated enough to consistently post. This account is for my Chihuahua-mix dog, named Bode. He wears bow-ties. And it’s mostly written from his perspective, except for the occasional book quote. I read to him, he knows things, it makes sense. Anyway, his account has been active for about three weeks, and I’ve already posted sixty-ish pictures, that unravel the journey of his life and adventures so far. It makes me smile, and hopefully makes other smile too.

     After Bodie’s Instagram account, I started a blog, again, from his perspective. So far, he’s laid the foundation for how he came to be the integral part of a family, and he’s given a review on a particularly interesting treat. Look it up, (Bodie Goodboy) if reading this peaks your interest. 

     Anyway, the point is, creating/managing these accounts has gotten me used to daily posts, and I’ve found that I look forward to doing it. Through it, I’ve begun to become unafraid of any creative pursuit. I want to put myself out there. I want to tell my story, and the stories that play out in my head. And, the truth is, I don’t care what other people think. I’m doing what I love, and if I love it, then there has to be others that will enjoy it.

     I’m carving my creative path in the cement, and this is the beginning of the trail.

     Be back soon,

     Ashley (Fictional Tortoise) 

Friday, August 7, 2015

Artist Promotion


 



Title: Artist Promotion
Medium: pencil
Scale: Varies

Notes: Following suit with the previous post, if you've followed me for any amount of time, you know how often I randomly sketch during lunch breaks. I have to do this to maintain any semblance of sanity. Here's a few of the quick sketches that I did during my lunch breaks over the week.

In order: 


Try to spend your day today being productive!

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

According to Plan



Title: According to Plan
Medium: Mixed Media

Notes: Now for something a little different... Typically I scan, retouch, etc. But I've been working on larger scale pieces lately, and this one was just too fun!

Ashley commissioned me to do a portrait of the Joker. No big deal right? Then she was looking at it when I got done, and she was like... "This frame just looks TOO basic. Let's fix that..."
Short car ride later, we come home with a frame, paints, sandpaper, and matte-paper. She then proceeds to grab the frame, analyze it and grab that sandpaper and scuff and scrape on the frame itself, giving it tooth and texture. Then she splatters paint all over it. It ends up looking really decorative and awesome. Then she grabs the paintbrush and writes all over the final piece.
I matte and frame it for her and we call it a day!

I'm wondering if she'd glitz up other frames.....

It's now sitting on my wall of what is slowly looking like it will become the DC Villains wall.
(In case you're wondering, the pieces - from clockwise, starting at top left - 

Gotham Girls by Garrie Gastonny
Harley Quinn by ME!
Two Loot Crate Exclusives)

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Dr. Staten


Title: Dr. Staten
Medium: pencil, pastel
Scale: Original is 8" x 10"

Notes: Ashley went out the other day and I was just sitting here drawing the day away. I look over at my art supplies and simply shrug and go, "Welp, guess it's time to stop procrastinatering and start using these damn pastels..." Long story short, I decided to start doing a study in random colors just for fun. I'm drawing away, la-de-da, and in walks Ashley. 

She looks down at my piece that I'm working on and says, "Who is that? (eyes get bigger) That looks like Dr. Manhattan." I look down, not even fully realizing what I'd been working on, as I was just experimenting. 

"I didn't quite realize that he looked like that, but not that you mention it... he does kinda look like Dr. Manhattan doesn't he?" I respond.

"Nah..." she begins to walk out of the room, "that's obviously his brother, Dr. Staten Island." She responds, dripping with New York accent. 

My eyes get big and I literally cannot stop laughing.

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Fictional Tortoise Header


Title: Fictional Tortoise Header
Date: February 17, 2015
Medium: Photoshop CS6
Scale: Same as above.

Notes: Ashley 'commissioned' me to make her a banner header for her twitter page. It was a fun project to practice even more realistic painting styles. I also thought it was fun and interesting to make the background look more retro, while slightly realistic as well.

Monday, January 5, 2015

Impressionist Ashley


Title: Impressionist Ashley
Date: January 3&4, 2015
Medium: Photoshop CS6
Scale: Original is 16.5" x 22"

Notes: Going back in time here to try and see how well I can redo an old piece that I did quite a while ago... 

Original is here.

I tried to use an impressionist painting technique while doing this piece. Couple that with the techniques learned from previously and this is the result.

Saturday, November 22, 2014

Fan Art Friday: Sons of Anarchy - Oh Juice


Title: Fan Art Friday: Sons of Anarchy - Oh Juice
Date: November 21 & 22, 2014
Medium: Photoshop CS6
Scale: Same as above.

Notes: Ugh. I actually ran a little late on this one. At least I can say that I'm legitimately sick this go around, but that's never an excuse, is it?
Another suggestion by Ashley. This is just so damn funny!
More soon.

Friday, November 14, 2014

Fan Art Friday: Sons of Anarchy


Title: Fan Art Friday: Sons of Anarchy
Date: November 14, 2014
Medium: Photoshop CS6
Scale: Original is 3840px x 1716px

Notes: While thinking about painting, somehow this tradition was born. Ashley was just talking about a bunch of different things, and she was like... you know what would be awesome? Fan. Art. Friday. I was like... THAT'S GREAT! And thus, a thing was born. Now I just need to keep it up.
I thought it would be fun to put an impressionist spin on a digital painting.
So I present to you, the first in a long string of paintings: Sons of Anarchy.

Monday, November 3, 2014

InkTober: In Memorial

 



 


Title: InkTober: In Memorial
Date: October 2014
Medium: Ink
Scale: Varies.

Notes: Every InkTober thus far, I have been very productive. Somehow this one got away from me. It's okay though, this semester has been one of extreme growth and I can't complain. I still had lots of fun sketching really fast for this InkTober and I hope to jump in next year.
Babies


Title: Babies
Medium: Gouache on Canvas
Scale: Each 'piece' is 3" x 3"

Notes: At the upcoming Holiday Bazaar at MCA, I will be selling these with their Illustration Club. Just a quick, fun experiment with some gouache.

The Offering


Title: The Offering
Medium: Gouache on Illustration Board
Scale: Original is approx. 3.5" x 14"

Notes: Ashley has a huge fascination with all things water-borne, so I thought it would be awesome to paint a piece specifically for her. The photo didn't turn out the greatest so it looks better in person, but it was a ton of fun to just stop questioning and just paint.

And More Zoodles

 

Title: And More Zoodles
Medium: Ink, Graphite, Charcoal
Scale: Each 'page' is approx. 2.5" x 4"

Notes: Zoodles is probably one of the best things to do during a lunch break. I would suggest anyone to go and just draw up all the animals and people at the local zoo. They are sooo much fun! More to come on these...

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Creepiness


Title: Creepiness
Date: January 5 - 7, 2014
Medium: Photoshop CS3
Scale: Varies

Notes: It's amazing what kind of weird stuff pop out when you listen to your fiancee read The Strain...

Anatomy Simplification Again


Title: Anatomy Simplification Again
Date: January 3 - 6, 2014
Medium: Pencil
Scale: Varies

Notes: Yet again, discovering more and more ways to simplify facial features. I'm sure more of this will keep coming up for some time to come.

Friday, November 22, 2013

Comic Studies


Title: Comic Studies
Medium: Brush & Ink
Scale: 9" x 12"

Notes: These were some quick studies I did for my comic pages. They were all really fast and done with brush and ink.

Pencil Character Studies



Title: Pencil Character Studies
Date: November 19 - 21, 2013
Medium: Pencil
Scale: Varies

Notes: Just making sure that I keep my pencil work up because I've been doing so much digital work this semester! This is always my favorite thing to use material-wise...

Schnouzies


Title: Schnouzies
Date: November 22, 2013
Medium: Photoshop CS3, Pencil

Notes: Saw another of Marc Brunet's tutorials and decided to have a go at it. It makes drawing noses soooo much simpler!

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Comics 1: Final Comic - Bakhtak










Title: Comics 1: Final Comic - Bakhtak
Date: October 30 - November 18, 2013
Medium: Photoshop CS3
Scale: Each page is 5.5" x 8.5"

Notes: Comics are harder than one would think to do. Sure I can do the art all day, but the dialogue is a whole different ballpark. 
This was more or less a comic created for Ashley, she came up with the creature, and I wanted to really push myself and see if I could create an entire comic based off of it. Whether or not it was fully successful is up to everyone else, but I tried to make sure that I could hit the deadline with this one. As always, there are a few things that I would change now that I look back, but I just wanted to make sure that I wasn't late with my project.

Monday, October 21, 2013

Ashley's Version of a Bakhtak


Title: Ashley's Version of a Bakhtak
Date: October 15 - 18, 2013
Medium: Photoshop CS3
Scale: Original is 6" x 19"

Notes: The original version of this is from Iranian folklore.
Again, I'm just trying to push my painting skills further and further. This was an excellent test of my painting skills and also some character study. I'm trying to push further and further outside of my comfort zone to really see what I can do.
"My version of the Bakhtak:
Gives you bad dreams, a constant weight on chest (you are unable to move). They take glee in filling people with bad dreams, suffocating, or causing sleep paralysis. She is a woman that can grow roots from her fingertips that secure into the mattress and tie her to the intended victim. She lives in trees and draws the life force from them with the evil of nightmares, therefore she obtains some of the power of mother nature and uses it against her. She has wisps in her eyes, not pupils. She uses these to hypnotize her victims if they wake up. She is generally beautiful and delicate looking. She has words on her skin from the influence of people's nightmares, which she feeds into trees - killing them. Her rival is mother nature." -- (creature created by: Ashley Webb)

Inktober Days 14 - 17 





Title: Inktober Days 14 - 17
Date: October 14 - 17, 2013
Medium: Brush and Ink
Scale: Varies

Notes: Again, more of that inktober love. I have to scan the next few days...

Follow Mat @artofmatk

Follow Ash @ashley.storyteller