I have not posted in the last 21 months or so... you've probably noticed.  Graduate school has kept me extremely busy.  However, it's almost over, two more months and I'm done.  I'm excited to move on, get a job and start to really develop my career.  Unfortunately, I have not had a lot of time to further develop my traditional art lately and am looking forward to picking up the paint brush again.  The program has helped in indirect ways, however.  I feel my use of color has improved and most importantly my conceptual drawing skills have improved significantly.  One other thing, and funny enough probably the most important is my story telling abilities have really improved, which is very important for all aspects of my art.  In any case if your interested in what I've been doing for the last 21 months check out my web site, www.EsplinStudios.com

I have posted a few drawings from my work, as well as my masters project I am currently working on.  I am creating an animation explaining Cervical Cancer and the importance of getting regular pap tests.  It will be used by an outreach program, Salud es Vida, aimed at helping educate Latina women in Southern Georgia about the importance of Pap examinations in early detection of Cervical Cancer.

Look forward to more posts soon.

Neal

This is a cross section of the uterus showing the cervix.  It is an image I created for my masters project.

This is the inside of the heart.  I created this drawing for a poster about the possible implications of a tooth abscess.  Although rare it is possible for a tooth abscess to lead to endocarditis and even go on to the brain to form a brain abscess.

Works in Progress

Here is some Fine Art I've been working on in my spare time. 

Brains and Cadavar Sketches

Here are a few sketches from the cadavar.  It's been a great experience and priviledge to explore the human body.  I've gained a great deal from my observations.

This is my colored version of the skull.  It was colorized in Photoshop

This was a pen and ink.  Not finished at this stage.

Medical Illustration

I thought I would post some assignments from my Medical Illustration Program.

This was our first assignment-pen and ink; a lot harder than it looks.  I spent a great deal of time doing this, I think I did about 9 versions before I felt like I got it right

This was our skull-done in carbon dust; once you establish your drawing you grind up carbon pencils and apply that "sauce" with a brush.  Kind of like painting.  It creates a nice even gradation of value. 

This is my first computer generated assignment-a medical instrument in Adobe Illustrator.  I am working on a more complex instrument in Photoshop right now.

Works in Progress

I thought I would post a few pictures of what I have been working on. 

 This is a study of my daughter... I am thinking of doing a piece about the words of King Benjamin in the Book of Mormon.  Talking about our reliance on the Savior he encouraged his people to help those around them.  To paraphrase, In the eyes of the Lord are we not all beggars in need of help.  This is going to be my little beggar.

I am trying to put together a piece for the Art contest hosted by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  The theme is "Make known His wonderful works"  This was a study of one of my daughters.  My orignal idea was to have several children surrounding their mother and father while they taught them out of the scriptures, but I don't have the time for such a large and complicated piece. 

 This is the wipe out/in for the still life I am working on.

I have found if I try and figure out my colors before actually starting the picture I have better results.  Here are two ways I have going about doing that.  The picture above is a copy of the drawing and I have written down the pigments I used to approximate the local color.  The bottom actually shows the work of trying to figure out those colors.

 I just got this painting framed and really liked the frame.  I think it really pulls out and supports the painting effectively.

New Painting

I recently started a new painting and thought I would share the value study and drawing.  I've been doing a lot of studies lately as well, trying different things.  I've been learning a lot.

Welcome to Georgia

Life has changed drastically for myself and my family.  We moved to Georgia and I will start a masters degree in Medical Illustration at the Georgia Health Sciences University in the Fall.  This is a bit of  change for me, but combines two things I enjoy greatly, science and art.  I have included several paintings as well as studies I have been working on lately.  I miss the GCA and feel very fortunate to have studied there.  I am a little surprised but I miss New York City too, but the next two years will be a unique opportunity as well and I look forward to the adventure. 

The tomatoes were a quick setup I completed in a couple of hours.  I blocked it in with paint and got to work.  It was  a good opportunity to get back into painting again.

The American Flag and World War II helmet is something I've been working on for a while.  I completed the underpainting in New Jersey and started painting it here in Georgia yesterday.  Since the setup changed I've had to rely heavily on photographs, my value study and a new setup that is not exactly the same but close.

 

 The bottles are something I started and havn't finished up yet.  I put a first layer down, but the details need to be ironed out.In art school we only used graphite and I have had a desire learn how to use charcoal. I have included several skull studies I completed to help me become more familiar with the medium.

My own little Studio Space

 I have been working hard to get a small little area of my bedroom turned into a studio space.  I'm very happy with the results.  I mounted a spot light I bought from  a friend on top of the tube that my canvas was shipped in.  It works great.  I then stacked some boxes in the corner with a 1/4 piece of birch on top with surrounding cardboard with fabric draped for a still life platform.  Right now I am painting several blue bottles I got at a garage sale with a metal cup.  I really like the colors.  Still a little unsure about the composition.  I also am working on the flag and WWII help I posted about a while ago.  I have included the value study I did for it.  I'm excited to get working on the actual painting.  I am suppose to start a part time job tomorrow so I won't have as much time to paint, but I'll at least get a little cash flowing. 

Bitter Sweet

This past week was a bitter sweet.  Sweet because I've been producing some nice work and I'm happy with everything I've learned, but bitter because Tuesday was my last day at the Grand Central Academy of Art.  I feel very blessed to have had the opportunity to learn from such painters as Jacob Collins, Ted Minoff, Scott Waddell, Josh LaRock, Mason Sullivan, Che, Chris Waddell, Camie Davis, and Sam Wisneski.  All extremely talented and wonderful teachers.  We'll see what the future brings for the time being I am working on some still lifes at home and looking for a part time job to get a little cash flow going.

Apples and Still Lifes

I finally got a picture of the still life I finished up a while ago. Enjoy!

I have really enjoyed painting Still Lifes lately.  I just finished one but have not been able to get a good picture of it.  It contained a Corning Ware Bowl with a green apple and bright red cloth background.  I learned a great deal about reflective light.  I'll get it up soon.  I've started a new still life combinng a few old books my mother-in-law gave me, a candle stick I got at a garage sale and a bell my wife got some where.  You can see the thumbnail scketches I did to explorer different compositions and the progress of the final idea.  I should start painting soon.  I have some figures I've done recently too.  I'll get them up on the next post.  Life continues to be hectic. 

First Still Life

Here is my first Still Life Painting!!

Tony, my still life professor gave us almost a week to have this painted.  It was my first still life.  I'm happy how things turned out.  Although I didn't finish it it was a great exercise and helped me get warmed up for the semester.  We intend to paint, glass, metal and other objects through out the year.  I'm pretty excited.

Here is a portrait drawing I did in my night class Portrait Painting class. Our regular model didn't show up so this was  a single day pose.

Here is another portrait drawing.  Not the original model.  She's been sick.  Single day pose.

Back to School Fall 2010

School kicked off this past Tuesday.  It's exciting to be back although I don't look forward to the commute.  Life requires sacrifices though to get what you want.  Here are some things I did this summer.

 


This is a still life I am working on.  I'm going to crop it differently once I transfer it to my canvas.  Composition wise it is really simple.  Old American flag with a WWII helmet in front.  

This is the portrait from the color figure painting workshop I took this summer with Douglas Flynt.  He was an incredible teacher.  I learned a ton.

I tried to sketch a lot this summer, especially out doors.  My girls wanted to be outside all the time.  I enjoyed these plant studies.

I was working on a lot of studies this summer.  All of these hands were done from life, mine or my wife's.  I wanted to paint them and started to, but life got too busy.   

These were also all taken from life.  I enjoyed these quick sketches.

Ecorche

I'm taking a workshop on figure painting in color. I'll be done Friday and should post some pictures of my work. I'm happy with what I've been learning. For now I thought I would post some pictures of my ecorche work.

Crazy Summer!!

This summer is not turning out like I had anticipated. I had planned on working all summer and that has not happened, which might put school in jeopardy this coming school year. I have had the time to put together what I learned at school this past year. I have been doing a lot of sketching in my sketchbook and working on some paintings. A large part of my efforts have gone into trying to understand color theory and the actual application. I will be taking a color figure painting class for two weeks starting tomorrow. I hope that will help answer a lot of questions that I've encountered in my explorations. I have included some pictures of what I've been doing.

End of Year

The school year is officially over!! That's good, but sad too. We had an end of year show and it is really inspiring to see what everyone has accomplished. This summer will be interesting. I'm hoping to get as much drawing and painting in as possible, but I also need a job or I won't be going back to school next year. I have included a picture of the cast painting I'm working on. I didn't get as far as I would have liked, but I am happy with what I accomplished. There are a few areas I need to go back over, but I feel that it is big step in the right direction. Some of the things that I believe helped were slowing down, using a smaller brush, really trying to get on the form of the cast, and using linen which is really nice to paint on, but very expensive. I also included the final figure drawing for this year.