My first "How to Draw Eyes" video is launching today!

I recently created my how-to video and I am SO EXCITED to have it officially launched!

There IS a FREE demo video that you can watch to get an idea of what it is like.  After watching the free video, the 3 part video series is for sale for $25 online!

I hope you get a chance to check it out! 

Thanks!

Stephen

Comic Book Camp Day One.

I had a wonderful time today working on new comic books. We created our stories, outlines, story boards, and began drawing our comic books! So much Progress and so much fun! Here are some of the shots from today's busy work day. Such professional looking artists! Drew, Ben, Bennett, and Cole. And me, Stephen.

My Top 12 Favorite Drawings

I am on Pinterest.com and I frequently pin works of art I come across, onto one of any number of categories/collection boards.  About a couple months ago I started a board titled My Top 12 Favorite Drawings.  I initially pinned many more than 12 before putting on my Editor's hat and cutting some out to arrive at the predetermined number.

My hope to to show what many people already know, but my not think about.  First, that drawing takes skill just like any form of art. Second, Drawing is not merely a remedial step in the process of making real/fine/better/higher art.  Drawing is equal to painting, sculpture, print making, etc.

You may ask what my qualifications are to join my top 10 list.  To answer that, I'de have to give my priorities.  For instance, I am drawn (no pun intended) to figures, they must emote, which is to say I feel something different when I look at them.  In the case that the drawing is not of a person, then it must fit my aesthetic; which is, for lack of a more eloquent phrase, Visually complicated.

So without any further a-du, I present my personal top 12 list:

Sol LeWitt inspired wall art - abstract image with thousands of lines. Posted by Marie Plocharz
Rich, Deep, mysterious, captivating

Mario Freese: "Air Lines"
Minimal relative to the other drawings in this list, yet complex in reality. conceptual, light, atmospheric

King Jack by Christine MacTernan.
Layered, narrative, moody, character driven, text is used for texture and context

by MATT MIMS
Captured time: many moments in one, consistent line weight, moody, clever, love the composition

Graphite Drawings on Behance

 by Graf n'Arq

Beautiful drawing, minimal, commanding of attention, simple yet detailed

Portrait drawn with Tea, Vodka, Whiskey and Ink by Carne Griffiths

With this drawing/painting, I was mainly impressed with the creativity and uniqueness in the multitude of media.  The imagery is not extremely unique (though I like it), but the process is inspiring. Cubist.

Adolf von Menzel (Polish/German, 1815-1905) Portrait of Old Man (1884) pencil on paper. 8 1/2 x 5IN.
Historic, inspiring, detailed, weighty, narrative

*Emotional* 

Sign Language: Ginny Grayson

*Emotional* Minimalistic

Easter Island »  Ian Ingram

*Extremely Hyper-Realistic!*

Lee Jeffries
Dark, Haunting, realistic, weighty, Emotional, High Contrast, Serious

Patrick Palmer
Dark, Emotional, Narrative, Mysterious

"The Illusion of Control Tower" Charcoal and graphite on paper, 59" x 21.75" by Laurie Lipton

Complicated, heavily labored, narrative, clever, mysterious, deep, intellectually confrontational 

Dream Adventure Series #4

"Dream Adventure Series #4"
Stephen Lursen
Mixed Media painting and digital painting in Photoshop
2013

Dream Adventures Series #2, and #3

I have always been fascinated by dreams and the magical feeling of flying at night through the clouds.  

Who knows, maybe it started back when I first saw the Movie Aladdin when he takes Jasmine flying on the magic carpet. "I can show you the world,Shining, shimmering, splendid..." 

Or maybe Lion King when Simba sees his father in the clouds... "Remember who you are... You are my son and the one true king..." Well apparently Disney Movies played a large part of my imagination growing up! Hahaha

So here are my first two digital paintings I have made (with my mouse) based on the original mixed media painting I posted earlier titled "Abstract Safari I".

"Dream Adventure Series #2"
Stephen Lursen
Mixed Media and photoshop
2013

"Dream Adventure Series #3"
Stephen Lursen
Mixed Media and photoshop
2013

Dream Adventures Series! Coming in August!

This will be a series where you can let your imagination fly.  Our studio is a place where judgment is low but expectation is high, and I want you to come with me and paint like you have always dreamed of painting.  What inspires you most? I will help you make those thoughts a reality.  The painting you will work on will be a mixed media piece, I will work with you leading you step by step, and you will be proud of your masterpiece!

Step 1: Paint an abstract colorful background.
Step 2: Layer on with a stencil or two to make the background more dynamic.
Step 3: Once you have decided your dream theme (mine was African wildlife at night) then you will cut out silhouette images of your thematic imagery.
Step 4: arrange silhouettes and collage them onto your canvas.
Possible step 5: Collage in a poem or quote to express your feelings about the painting.
Step 6: Final painting layer to tie the whole work together.

Here is my example for the series, I hope you like it!

Check our class calendar @ Donnadowneystudios.com to see if you can make the class dates! I will schedule the first round of this class in August!

If you don't already, like our facebook pages at:

https://www.facebook.com/StephenLursenArt?ref=hl

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Donna-Downey-Studios/118913388163596?ref=hl

For the love of Coffee... or addiction....

I just finished this painting! Its dimensions are 8" x 16" (x 2" deep) acrylic on canvas. I will be adding it to our line of options at the studio for private painting events and paint and pour events. I worked at Starbucks for 5 years from 2008 - 2013, so I know all about the need for a good cup of coffee.  Furthermore, I know how many of you out there know about that too! :)

If you would like to have a painting like this in your kitchen or home then I already have the perfect online workshop for you called Coffee Cup Workshop in my online store!

Thank you! and Happy Painting!

Sincerely,
Stephen

Cool Safari I

This is my fun graphic print I recently finished, wherein the cool "King of the Jungle" makes his mark sitting atop his favorite rock overlooking the Pride Lands. Well, thats what the lions called the land they lived on in Disney's "The Lion King".  So that works well for me too.

Cool Safari I

Digital Collage in photoshop

Printed size 12"x9"

2013

Abstract Safari I

I just finished this acrylic painting on Canvas today. This painting is 16" x 16" square.

Abstract Safari I

Acrylic on canvas

16"x16"

2013

People pictures... Well, the drawing and teaching of drawing... of people...

I have taught a number of people over the last month or so about how to draw people.  I made some "how to" videos which will be going on sale online @ DonnaDowney.com very soon.
Here is a little gallery of the images and where they came from:

Student: Ben 

(self portrait drawing - followed by 2 paintings based on Da Vinci and Van Gogh)

Homeschool art class, Day one: How to lay out the face

Homeschool Art Class, Day two: Self portrait

Homeschool Art Class, Day three: Self Portrait in pan pastel

 Art Student Reagan, self portrait drawing lesson:

Some of my drawings of faces

Some of my paintings of faces

Adult student's painting:

Drawing/painting the face class @ Donna Downey Studios: