www.DavidArmacost.com

It’ll get refined over the next couple of months, but its up now and ready to go.

Also, I’m working on writing and illustrating a childrens book for adults. It’ll be available to download as a PDF soon, so keep your eyes peeled for that.

I’ve been sketching a lot more than usual this summer, mainly because I’m working so much and it’s hard to bring in a six foot canvas and oil paints to my job.

Hopefully I’ll be able to get at least one or two paintings done before school starts later this month. I guess we’ll see how it goes.

“Lay to rest the Atlantic” Pen and Ink on 14″x16″ paper

“Fake Polystyrene Man” Pen and Ink on 14″x16″ paper

“The Crossing” Pen and Ink on 14″x16″ Paper

“My Favourite Chords” Pen and Ink on 14″x16″ paper

More on the way soon. I’ve got to crank out some art before classes start again, I’m starting to feel the crunch.

“The Wind Still Cries” Acrylic on 3′x4′ Wood Panel

“Rabbit In Your Headlights” Acrylic on 3′x3.5′ Wood Panel

“One of a kind”  Ink on 6″x9″ Book Paper. Sold

“This is what he said…”  Ink on 6″x9″ Book Paper

I’m not sure how I feel about using books for the medium right now, it’s definitely different, but I dont know if it distracts from the drawing too much. Leave me some feed back so I don’t do 300 drawings that end up looking like crap.

“Resist!”  Oil on Hand stretched Canvas 4′x6′  Sold

I haven’t been a total sloth this summer though (my favorite animal AND deadly sin by the way) I finally started climbing again for the first time in two years. I went with my roommate Andy yesterday, and now my arms feel like they have fallen off the mortal coil and ceased to function.

Wizest Wizard competition tomorrow, I will slay the dragon. END>>>>>>>

“Dear Jesus, Are You Listening?” Color Reduction Print on Rives Lightweight 8″x12″

Color reduction prints are so cool to do, but its scary because it’s a multiple stage process and if you make a mistake you have to start all over again from scratch. I also decided to do a black and white print of the final layer…

“Dear Jesus, Are You Listening?” Woodcut Print on Rice Paper 8″x12″

I really like the way this black and white turned out, it has a totally different feeling to it compared to the color version. I hope to get some more prints done over the next couple months in my garage, but I have many great plans that may not come to fruition for the summer.

Memorial day this Sunday, time to grill out and have a few cold ones. Enjoy yourselves and stay safe.

“Ashley Seated”  Oil on Canvas 2′x3′

I’ve got a few ideas for painting projects over the summer. The first thing I want to do is a series of portraits of me and my roommates in a nouveau style, like Alphonse Mucha, as seen here…

We’ll see how that goes, this work is a lithograph print, so I’m not sure how I’m going to translate that into a painting. All good though, I’ll put up some more work sometime this week.

GET IN ZA CHOPPA!!!

“The Universal”  Mixed Media on Stonehenge Paper  4′x4′

This was my conceptual out of class project, I’ve been studying a lot of eastern philosophy and that’s kind of what this drawing is based off of, loosely. I don’t really like talking about the concepts behind my work, I’m always afraid I’ll come across as insincere. Plus I like people to be able to pull their own meaning out of my art. Anyways, I liked working on this piece because the figure is actually larger than life size, and I always enjoy working on a large scale.

The other final drawing was an in class model study, it turned out pretty surreal…

“Ghost” Charcoal on Stonehenge Paper  4′x4′  Sold

Again, large scale = awesome. I wish every work I did could just be massive. There are things that I wish I couldve done differently in this drawing, but when the poses are unpredictable and out of your control you just have to make it work as best you can.

I’ve got some more pictures coming soon of my final printmaking project, it’s a lot different than almost every work I’ve ever done, but I think it turned out pretty well. So keep an eye out for that in the near future, and don’t forget to get your pets spayed.

I’m busy okay? Get off my back, jeez. The end of the semester always turns into a waking nightmare for studio majors. Countly hours and tears are shed in dark rooms spilling on to a canvas, alright, thats kind of dramatic, but it can be stressful. Even though I’ve been lax lately in posting work, I’ll have an absolutely awesome one within the next week or two. I’m doing a color reduction print and I’m taking pictures at every stage of the process… it’ll be worth checking out, trust me. In the meantime, enjoy this print I finished recently…

“A Prayer For Justin”  Aquatint Etching on Arches Paper  16″x10″

It may be awhile before I put anything else up, mainly because I’m freaking out trying to finish all of my final projects for the semester, but once the craziness is over I’ll have some good work posted.

Cheers.

“How Brave”!  Zinc Etching on Arches Paper 8″x12″

After I finished this one I had to do a modern interpretation of this print that somehow related to it. I couldn’t think of anything with deep philosophical meaning, so naturally, I made a giant cyclops eating colonial soldiers.

“How Hungry?”  Zinc Etching on Arches Paper 8″x12″

I guess this is what happens when you run out of ideas. Sometimes I enjoy more lighthearted art, I think a lot of artists right now are taking themselves too seriously,  so I think it’s nice to see silly stuff every once in awhile instead of images about the war in Iraq or anti-big business propaganda, I couldn’t even tell you how much art I see now about those subjects.

I’m about to start my last painting of the semester, my professor wants me to work a little smaller than what I normally do so I can focus more on color, which I need to do. I usually have a really good sense of how to get the paint to move around the way I want it and make interesting marks, but I dont spend enough time worrying about color mixing.  One artist I really admire is Jenny Saville, her colors are usually pretty neutral, but her paintings are absolutely amazing.

She has a book of her works out right now, but its hard to find. It’s on my amazon wishlist right now if you’re feeling generous though…

It really did end up being a weekend long party, and I’m so grateful for my friends, even though they embarrassed me and sang happy birthday loud enough that I’m sure the neighbors accross the street could hear it.

In other news, I have a month of school left, after that I’m moving in to my new house which has a legitimate back yard. We’re definitely getting a kiddie pool. More art coming later in the week, and theres a possibility I might be part of an art exhibit in the fall. Keep your eyes pealed.

Anyways, we’re finally at the point in my printmaking class where we’re doing wood cut and linoleum prints. These are my favorites, the marks you can make are so visceral and powerful. I just finished my first one today.

“The Architect”  12″x12″  Woodcut Print on Rice Paper

I’ve got to do one more of these next week, our concepts are supposed to be based on dreams and nightmares. I’ve never had a dream about a wolf-headed figure, but it looks cool, and I have had dreams about levitation. So I’ve got to figure out another design kind of along that same concept.  If you’ve had any cool dreams or nightmares lately you should tell me, who knows, maybe I’ll use the idea and you’ll see it on here later in the week.

Until then, Armacost out.

ps… don’t forget… Redhawkradio.com Thursdays at 11pm.

“Blessed Redeemer?”  11″x17″ Monotype Print On Arches Paper

“Bloody Mary”  11″x17″ Monotype Print On Arches Paper

“Come All Ye Faithful”  11″x17″ Monotype Print On Arches Paper

This was actually the first series I did in printmaking this year. I love monotypes, it lends itself better to those inclined to painting, the only downside is that it’s a one shot deal. So this series is one of a kind, I’ll never be able to duplicate them, which is kind of sad but it makes them unique, which is cool I guess. Make me an offer for the whole series if you’re interested.

I’m hoping to experiment with monotype more over the summer, I’ve got some ideas for series that might turn out nice. I’d also like to try to do some portraits of people in monotype, there’s so much room for experimentation with this process, I want to try a lot of different stuff. Anyways, hopefully next time I’ll have that cyclops picture posted, we’ll see how it goes.

Stay classy

Anyways, here’s my take… “Death At The Chapel”   11″x17″  Xerox Print On Arches Paper

“A New Hope”  11″x17″ Xerox Print On Arches Paper

“World Without End”  11″x17″  Xerox Print On Arches Paper

So yeah, thats that. The concept behind it was something of a past-present-future idea. “A New Hope” is the past aspect, where we began to use the power of the atom for war and conquest. Then “World Without End” is referring more to the present, where nuclear power has become more commonly used for sustaining our way of life. Finally “Death At The Chapel” is supposed to be a looking glass of sorts into the possible future. Plus, I love any excuse to use gas masks in my art.  I had a lot of fun doing this series, but there’s only one copy of each which is regrettable, I wish I could of done a few more.  You should probably buy some, I need to pay some bills.

I also just finished another printmaking series, it was a masters print (I chose one of Goya’s works) and then we had to do a modern interpretation.  Mine is pretty ridiculous, but turned out pretty good, all I’m gonna say for now is that it involves a giant cyclops eating colonial soldiers… pique your interest a bit? I’ll put up pictures soon, keep an eye out.

Peace

Totally punk rock, yes indeed. I saw that buckle and I had to have it, so yeah. I don’t know what else to say about the trip, I got a new pair of pants, almost identical to my old pair of pants, basically, tight and gray. I’ll probably get made fun of while wearing them. Although, my mustache currently makes me look kind of scary, so maybe not.

Oh, and I remembered that artist that my painting instructor said some of work looks like.  His name is Werner Buttner, he’s from Germany and I believe is still making paintings today. This is one of his works…

Maybe not the best example, but his work is hard to find around the internet. I have a big book with all of his work that I’m borrowing from my professor, it’s really interesting. His figure studies are done using massive amounts of thick paint, making them kind of abstract and almost gross, but I really like them.

Anyways, thats all I got for now, check back later for pictures of my print series.

Whatever I got some new pictures of some work I’ve been doing, couple of complete things, and a work in progress. This is a drawing I’ve been working on for the past few days in figure drawing…

Graphite on Vellum 22″x30″

I figured I might sell it if anyone was interested, actually most of the work I put up on this blog will probably be for sale.  Comment and leave your info if you’re interested in anything.

The next piece was the first painting I did for my figure painting class this semester.  I’m not entirely happy with it, but then again, I’m usually really critical about my own work. I think the background of this painting is absolutely atrocious, but what can you do?

Oil on hand built canvas 4′x3′

I guess the one thing I’m happy about regarding this painting is that I had one of the only paintings in the class that actually looked like the model, which right now is hard for me to do, so I was pleased with that. For some reason when I’m painting or drawing someone it’s still hard for me to make it look like them, that’s something I want to get better at before I leave school.

The last picture I’m gonna put up is an acrylic painting I’m starting, It’s got about two days work into right now, but I’ll definitely put another picture of it once it’s done. I’m having a lot of fun with this painting, my instructor is giving us a long leash to pretty much do what we want and be expressive, so I’m trying to take advantage of that and let this painting be a little more abstract than what I normally do.

Acrylic on hand stretched canvas 4′x3′  In Progress (update: Never Finished)

Oh yeah, it’s monochrome. Guess I forgot to mention that. I’m only using black, white, and burnt umber to make this painting. Which is a little bit challenging, but it’s nice not to have to work about color mixing as much.

Well, thats all I got for now, I’m sure I’ll put up some more stuff later this week. In the mean time… Happy trails.

I’ve been working hard in studio lately, trying to get some good stuff produced. Unfortunately I have a drawing 4 project due on Friday that isn’t really started yet. Whoops. It’ll be a cool piece if I can somehow pull it off. I might put a picture of it up later if I feel like it turned out good. Also I just finished a couple printmaking series that will be for sale, they deal with the decline of Catholicism and nuclear fallout. Pictures coming soon.  Speaking of putting up pictures of my work this is the self portrait I did at the end of last semester… Untitled. Oil on 4′x3′ canvas  NFS

This painting might be featured in the next issue of inklings, which is a publication for up and coming artists and writers around here, so keep an eye out for that. I was thinking about selling it, but then I realized nobody would want a big scary portrait of me in their house, shoot, I don’t even want it in my house, it creeps me out. Oh, btw, it’s on a 4′x3′ canvas so it’s pretty big, I love working on large canvas because it gives you more freedom and expression with your brushstrokes, not everyone likes that though.  My painting instructor compares the way I paint to a german expressionist artist whose name is escaping me right now, but if I think of it I’ll put up a link to his stuff.

Well I’ve got an exam to jet off to, but here’s a link to one of my favorite painters Francis Bacon http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/bacon/ Check his stuff out, it’s pretty mind blowing, I really hope to be able to paint more like him someday.

Well until next time, peace out girl scouts

So like I said before, I’ve been making some t-shirts, here’s a picture of one of them…

I’m pretty stoked about making a bunch this summer. I’ll be able to do any kind of design someone wants. Also I’ll be able to get rid of most of my wardrobe and just have a bunch of unique shirts that I made.

Now for something totally different… spring break is next week, and me and Emily rented a room at a bed and breakfast for two nights, so we’ll be able to just relax and catch up on our sleep and have someone else cook our food for us, I’m pretty excited. We were also planning on going to the Cincinnati Art Museum, they’re going to have a collection of Salvator Dali’s work, which I’ve never seen in person, but I almost got “The Temptation Of Saint Anthony” tattooed on my ribs a while back. 

Basically, this week is going to kick my ass, but next week is gonna be super low key and relaxing, which is just what I need.