DOODLE OF THE DAY - YOUR HOLINESS?

Sometimes when I can't sleep I stay up scribbling in a sketchbook. The scribbles usually turn out to be nothing impressive, but sometimes they lead to bigger and better ideas. And the scribbles sometimes include scratching out notes, such as what my next painting should be, or an analysis of the progress of a current painting, or even an idea for a simple doodle. In this case, it was toilet humor...

Thank you for following the Doodle of the Day and the paintings, sculpture, drawings, works in progress, and other art by Los Angeles artist Lucas Aardvark :) To see older blog posts and other doodles, click HERE.

Doodle of the Day - Pigeon Tales

Today's doodle was inspired when I was sitting outside eating lunch and felt some little feet wander over my toes. The patio was populated with pigeons, and another customer next to me was disgusted by them, muttering insults.

Thank you for following the Doodle of the Day and the paintings, sculpture, drawings, works in progress, and other art by Los Angeles artist Lucas Aardvark :) To see older blog posts and other doodles, click HERE.

Oil Pastel Experiment - In the Moment

This picture is the result of an experiment, applying oil pastels to my latest abstract style. Although I've used oil pastels to paint representational pieces (click here for an example), I've not used pastels in this style. Oil pastels are unique in that they combine principles of oil paint with chalk, and while the final product can be colorful, it is more of a matte surface and not as bright as paint. It was a fresh experience because my latest abstracts have been limited to graphite, charcoal, oil paint, or mixed media, and none have incorporated pastels. It was time to explore new territory.

The approach to creating this was unplanned, meaning, there were no preliminary sketches or pencil lines to begin the piece. Rather, the oil pastels were applied to a blank piece of paper with free emotion. Clearing my mind of preconceived paths or “left brain” representations, I let the application of color and line dictate the flow of the painting’s development. It was a type of “living in the moment” art. Although perhaps a person could refer to some of the work by Wassily Kandinsky from the early 20th century, I made no conscious effort to recreate his style. This painting is more of an abstract self portrait of individual brainwaves and feelings present at the time of creation.

To see older blog posts and other works of art, click HERE. Thank you for following the paintings, the Doodle of the Day and the sculpture, drawings, works in progress, and other art by Los Angeles artist Lucas Aardvark :)

Doodle of the Day - Don't Call Me A Bum

Happy Friday! Hope you enjoy today's daily doodle. It was inspired by my weird family and friends. If you're a fan of the Doodle of the Day, please feel free to suggest ideas for future doodles! Ideas are always appreciated :)

To see older blog posts and other doodles, click HERE. Thank you for following the Doodle of the Day and the paintings, sculpture, drawings, works in progress, and other art by Los Angeles artist Lucas Aardvark :)

Doodle of the Day - New Car Alerts

Every time I turn on my car there seems to be another bell and light to alert me of something: "DING! Fasten Your Seat Belt" or "DING! Washer fluid needs refill." As long as the car is nagging me, why not include: "DING! Do your laundry" or "DING! Call your mother!"

But after being cut-off in the fast lane today by a dude going 45 with his right blinker on, I stumbled upon the idea that a more important alert could be added to the list of alerts and serve a valuable purpose in the cars of many, especially in Los Angeles where EVERYONE drives:

To see older blog posts and other doodles, click HERE. Thank you for following the Doodle of the Day and the paintings, sculpture, drawings, works in progress, and other art by Los Angeles artist Lucas Aardvark :)

Oil Pastel Study, And Other Art Updates

Thanks to those of you who made it out to the 59th Annual State Bar Art Competition at the Long Beach Convention Center, where I won First Prize in painting :) Again, your support is most appreciated!

In other updates, the City of Santa Clarita has commissioned me to create a work of art dedicated to its Santa Clara River Rally, and the efforts of the community in cleaning it up. I will keep you posted on how the work develops!

I have also been commissioned to create the cover art for a new book coming out by author John Janda. John is an incredible writer, and I have worked with him in the past, in his novel American Spirit. Stay tuned for updates on this development :)

Currently, I continue to work on several other new pieces, and the above image shows my recent study in oil pastels, a medium mastered by the great Edgar Degas. It is further practice in color and layering. Although this piece is a "still life", it is not the subject matter that most concerns me - it is the process of viewing an object and translating that visual into an illusion of color on a flat plane composition. This process is the same whether the subject matter is a still life, landscape, portrait, abstract, etc.

What interests me is how the work is created, while the subject matter is secondary. This is, for example, why Degas is one of the greatest artists in art history - it is not his choice of subject matter of horses, dancers, or performers that gives his art a place in every art history book. And this is why a still-life, like those famously created by Paul Cezanne, can be just as interesting as an action painting or any other type of art.

Doodle of the Day - The Dog Whisperer

I recently moved into a new place, and I think EVERYONE on my block has a yappy dog! It's as if nobody has seen the show the Dog Whisperer before. I’m thinking of calling up Cesar Millan myself to let him know that the entire street needs help – teach those dogs to whisper. He could go door to door like he’s selling Bible studies, preaching his spiritual connection with the canine world, saving the dogs from their yappy anxiety, and even better, saving my eardrums and sanity! Come on people, get some of that pack leader mentality.

To see older blog posts and other doodles, click HERE. Thank you for following the Doodle of the Day and the paintings, sculpture, drawings, works in progress, and other art by Los Angeles artist Lucas Aardvark :)

59th Annual Bench and Bar Art Exhibit

The 2011 California State Bar Annual Meeting is taking place this week, today through Saturday (Sept. 15-17), at the Long Beach Convention Center (near the Aquarium). If you are in the area and have some time, please stop by, as some of my paintings are being exhibited at the 59th Annual Bench and Bar Art Exhibit, in Exhibit Hall B.

The paintings exhibited, like the one pictured here, are from my "obsolete law book" series.

It is free to attend :)

To see older blog posts and art, click HERE. Thank you for following the paintings, sculpture, drawings, works in progress, Doodle of the Day, and other art by Los Angeles artist Lucas Aardvark :)

Doodle of the Day - Your Widget Order Is Complete

Just another daily doodle...

To see older blog posts and other doodles, click HERE. Thank you for following the Doodle of the Day and the paintings, sculpture, drawings, works in progress, and other art by Los Angeles artist Lucas Aardvark :)

Abstract Painting - Final Stage

"He who works with his hands is a laborer. He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman. He who works with his hands, his head and his heart is an artist."
- Saint Francis of Assisi

Abstract 0911, 34" x 48", oil on panel, 2011.

Following up on the previous post on this subject, this is the abstract painting in its final stage. Finishing touches still remain. And even though I refer to it as the final stage, the stage is unique because it may take some time just sitting there against the wall in my studio. It may be that, as I've removed my focus from it, the painting will live with me for days or weeks and let me know whether it is done or needs some more work. Sometimes a painting will reveal its needs in a week which may lead to an overhaul; other times a week is enough time to understand that there is nothing else I can do to add to it. There is never a specific formula, and each artwork is different in this regard.

I will keep you updated on what happens with this one...

Doodle of the Day - You Are What You Eat

Happy Friday! This doodle was inspired when I witnessed a simple encounter on my fence yesterday afternoon, a bird chattering at a goofy looking squirrel. For an instant, I understood the language of bird, and this is what he proclaimed...


Perhaps the saying is true, that you are what you eat. Click on the image for a larger view. To see older blog posts and other doodles, click HERE. Thank you for following the Doodle of the Day and the paintings, sculpture, drawings, works in progress, and other art by Los Angeles artist Lucas Aardvark :)

Doodle of the Day - The Van Gogh Lizard

If Vincent Van Gogh had been a lizard...

To see older blog posts and other doodles, click HERE. Thank you for following the Doodle of the Day and the paintings, sculpture, drawings, works in progress, and other art by Los Angeles artist Lucas Aardvark :)

Abstract Painting - More Progress in the Studio

This photo shows the middle stage of a painting on wood panel I am currently working on in my studio. It is a continuation of my first blog post on this painting.

After completing several layers of glazing over the underpainting, the palette was expanded, and thicker opaque layers of paint were added by blending, scraping, and scratching, while allowing certain areas of the previous layers to show through. It is planned that additional thicker layers will be added, but that can only be done once the latest layers dry to a certain point. The number of additional layers remains uncertain, but they will continue to be added until the painting "declares" that it is complete and nothing more can add to it.

For those who saw the blog post showing the beginning stages, you will notice that the painting is now at a horizontal rather than the vertical it was at before. This happens from time to time during the creative process and is part of the intrigue with abstract painting. The "top" of the painting may not be established until just before the work is completed. And again, the mission is to create a work of art that can stand alone in the end, holding the attention of the viewer by a striking presence and by ambiguities and prompting questions.

You can click on the image for an expanded view. To see all blog posts and other doodles, click HERE. Thank you for following the works in progress, and the paintings, sculpture, drawing, doodles, and other art by Los Angeles artist Lucas Aardvark.

Doodle of the Day - R.I.P. Cy Twombly

Cy Twombly was an internationally famous fine artist with contemporary works of art which were mere scribbles and chicken scratches made with pencils and crayons. His "paintings" often caused people to respond with "Are you kidding?" or "You call THAT art?"

Twombly was prolific in his lifetime as an artist, and sadly, he recently passed away at 83 years old. This link shows some of the scribbles on canvases that made him hugely successful. It is remarkable that his works of art were not dismissed as children's paintings. Or maybe they were children's paintings and Twombly proved that success in the art world has nothing to do with artistic talent.

You can click on the image for a larger view, and thank you for following the Doodle of the Day and the paintings, drawings, sculpture, daily progress, and art of Los Angeles artist Lucas Aardvark.

Doodle of the Day - The Gift of Charlie Brown

On Labor Day, I figure it's best to sit back, relax, and be inspired by all the great art and artists of the past. Today, I pay my respects to the great Charles Schulz, the cartoonist who gifted the world with Charlie Brown and the comic strip Peanuts. It is truly a creation of something special when one man can touch the hearts of millions of people around the world, for decades to come, with the introduction of a little character doodle!

Listen to his description, and watch Charlie Brown come to life :)

Doodle of the Day - The Rat Race

Does anyone else find it weird that we go to places like the gym to burn calories? I'm not saying I'm better than it - I do go to the gym and try to stay in shape. But there we are, running in place or lifting dumb objects, burning energy. Energy! Shouldn't that energy be harnessed for something productive? Couldn't those calories be combined for the creation of something more meaningful in the community? Instead, we emit exhaust into the air to get the closest parking spot to the entrance so we can get on a machine and work our tails off simply to break a sweat because, alas, maybe we all ate a cheese platter for lunch that afternoon.

There was a day when we lived in nature and sculpted our bodies by building stuff and eating to live. It is a bit strange the way society has developed. On the one hand, people in the world work and fight for food to have enough energy to survive; on the other hand, people work out to burn energy for free, creating nothin' for no one. All that energy wasted.

But like most people, I go to the gym to maintain a healthy body and lifestyle. It just seems that, in this "energy crisis", our calories shouldn't be lost in the ether. And I certainly hope that society doesn't develop into a situation where we go to the gym simply so we can flex our muscles like "the Situation" from Jersey Shore! That would be weak.

Anyway, you can click on the image for a larger view. Have a great Labor Day weekend, and thank you for following the Doodle of the Day and the paintings, drawings, sculpture, daily progress, and art of Los Angeles artist Lucas Aardvark.