Technofetishism

well this is a new drawing, based on a few ideas about merging nanotechnology with neuroscience to create this organic entity, a large global synchronised mind, that is connected to everything or something like that... i want to try and explore this in sort of a symbolic way, trying to fuse organic forms with technological synthetic forms and see what happens. I hope I will have time to refine this one before our group exhibition in june this year.

Segments

Firstly here is a work in progress, did this once I got home from work. Can't wait to get this one finished- I am really happy with the ideas and their subsequent manifestation in visual and metaphorical form, which I will explain once it's done. For now though, I will only post up a segement, the nude figure.
The second image is just an experiment with coloured pencils.

Garden Sketch.

today's efforts.
Work tomorrow...guuuughhhhhhhhh

Rapture

further experimentation with oil pastel and pencil combinations, still searching for the atmosphere and mood that I'm after. Hope you dig it!
The scanner makes pastel looks so harsh which is VERY frustrating, as it is much softer in real life, i swear!!! It's the main reason I use it...



quick sketch

Flower

This one is just an experimental combination of a few different styles. I have learnt a lot and feel confident in taking the themes and technique further with the next one. It was about 2 days work, about 30 by 50 cm.

The principle theme is the relationship between humans and technology and the possible fusion between spiritual transcendence and the “technium.” It is inspired by the writings of Kevin Kelly, Mark Pesce, Terrence Mckenna and many others. I particularly like the plant metaphor for technology (broad term: includes language, culture, etc.) as it describes quite nicely the synergistic relationship between us and what we create (and what we try to control, etc.).
Of particular interest as well is information theory and how this is shaping our world view and our humanity.

I will probably think about what needs to be fixed and come back to it in the next couple of days to fix up and refine things, although I am super excited to start a new one, going to explore people fusing into machine driven pulsating trees and maybe use car engines or refineries but fuse them with organic shapes and patterns or something.

PS I really need to get a new scanner!! any suggestions y'all? cheers




Some progress shots:

the curtain

just another one. it looks much harsher in the scan, pastels do not come up nicely I find, they are much softer in the real life one.



Progress of an area:

trying to keep outline as direct and simple as possible, trying to group halftone shapes and work out what is going on with the ulna and hand as it connects to the wrist. also trying to find landmarks of the humerus bone. i find it very hard to say "just enough" with anatomy and not overdo things, i think less is more. hopefully i can get better at this.

Another day

here's the finished version, all scanned in. It's 60cm by 30 cm.

Hope you like it-although I notice a few things that will probably end up being changed it is by and large finished. Learnt a lot about the media with this one- the paper is cotton and the coloured pencil blends together well with the oil pastel. Actually had a lot of fun, normally its a struggle and although this was quite difficult, I still enjoyed the process more than usual.

Moar

it has been a very productive and focused week.

finished a new one, well almost, but I think I want to leave this slightly unfinished. I am quite happy, as I managed to get an idea that has been floating around in my head, or more of how I wanted it to feel.

This is only half of it, there is a bottom half- I will wait till I can get a photo of the whole as it is too large to scan in its entirety.

Head after a few hours- just mainly focusing on placing tonal shapes in the right spot- the shape and general edge will give the likeness. Trying hard to get it to look structured. This was a real challenge. Keeping hair and light area as the paper tone. using straight lines mostly.



Then finished version- tried to fix any drawing errors, modelled a few more planes, tried to soften areas on cheek and chin, to get more variety in edges.
I learnt from sargent and my teachers to unify the lights in one consistent tone- so I used a white pastel and connected it from the nose up to the hair on top, focusing on its distinct shape and character.
One thing I am struggling with but enjoying trying to introduce is this sort of simplifying, which is so hard to get right!! but if you can it gives the drawing a much fresher look.



Finished the previous one, only took a couple of days more to finish it. Learnt a LOT in terms of how the pastel and pencil interacts together, and learnt a lot of "do nots" in general. It was really just one big experiment for me, and I'm glad I did it. It's about 45 by 60 cm.

Fleshing it out

I think I will try update this at least everyday, although some days i have work so i might post something else instead to keep it going...its kind of fun to share process images, of which i have quite a few anyway...

planning to get a photo up later tomorrow with the whole image. it wont be as clear as this scan but it should hopefully give an idea as to where this silly thing is going.

tomorrow i'm hoping to get a lot done- finish off the monster and get started on the figure, which will be really really tough by the looks of it, so should be a good challenge!!

cheers

Couldn't resist

Got home from work and needed to do a little bit more before bed.

Response to Ian's question: I am using pencil for the bulk of the rendering and trying to add in touches of oil pastels, usually at quite a similar tone to the paper (ochre, terre verte, light pink oranges, purples, light yellow, etc.)
at this stage just placing where the lightest lights are, what parts are diffuesd light, etc. going to be tricky to keep the monster in consistency with the image's light source....
soorry if ive babbled too much.

just worked on head a bit more, around eyes, etc. and started up the monster. wish i had an A3 scanner, but can only scan a small part of the image each time..

will keep this updated as it progresses!!

thanks!!

Face part2

ok thats enough for me, time for a beer and then sleep. I have work for the next 2 days, so expect an update on tuesday night, if anyone is watching this space :)

Progress on Face

Going to try update this thing a few times a week, seeing as I have the website for my finished work, i can flood this one with progress shots and things.

This is very early start- and only about 1/4 of the total image.

just trying to keep everything light and clean while i adjust proportions, etc. before i dive into full on rendering.

cheers

Bird feeding

Need to photograph my work better, I have a feeling its a camera issue, I think even with good lighting, the clarity would be minimal.

Below that are 2 scans- although the board sat above the scanning surface and so its still a bit hazy.

NEW WEBSITE! www.rodluff.com

Hello, huge props to Lindsay Holmwood for designing my new website, awesome job!
I have some new art up and hope you can spent a little bit of your time checking it out!!
I will be posting more, thanks for looking!!!
Click the image to go there or type in www.rodluff.com.

Hyperconnectivity for sale!

Hello all!

This is an article about this new drawing, available for sale through Phone Booth Gallery, framed, approx. 17 x 20 inches. graphite on paper, which can be shipped if you decide to buy it!
Thanks!

click image to view blog entry.

Fetish Rainbow

Don't raaaaaaainbow on my parade, just sweat pink shiny beads of bliss!

hyperconnectivity

hyperconnectivity

second attempt



sketchbook

new sketch

Propoganda

New Paintings (For sale! )

EMAIL for prices rodluff@gmail.com

THANKS for looking!
All paintings are Oil on Canvas
70 x 50 cm Homeless woman feeding birds in Hyde Park, Sydney







Oil Single Session Sketch ( homeless man in hyde park)



Smoking





Homeless man in hyde park



Schizophrenic homeless man buying chips in Town Hall Woolies



Pitt St busker parts 1 and 2



Sketchbook Pages

Gallery

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