New on my Mark's Male Art...

There is a new painting up on my male art blog!

Going Digital

                                                Self-portrait, digital painting (Painter 12), 2011.

I'll admit that for a long time I was a bit of a digital snob, viewing digital art programmes as a clever box of tricks that was somehow "cheating". Part ignorance, part jealousy, I guess. I actually first encountered  creating art on a computer back in 1986 as an art student. For a few weeks a couple of friends and I went along to evening sessions at the College Computer Department and drew blocky, black and white images, reminiscent of drawings done on an Etch-A-Sketch. It was a novel experience at the time.
So it's 25 years later and I have decided I want to try this digital art malarkey seriously. My reasons are various. I'm inspired by the beautiful work I've seen. It's clear that digital programmes have become sophisticated to the point that they really can replicate traditional materials, but with extra bells and whistles and none of the mess. Once you have paid for the (fairly expensive) programmes you are going to have to spend less on those traditional materials too. This is an important consideration if you're doing work that will be used once to illustrate an article on a website but then will languish in your art folder because it's not really saleable.
Over the last few weeks I've armed myself with a Wacom drawing tablet and trialled some programmes. I purchased Painter 12 and Manga Studio 4. I really like Sketchbook pro too. Aside from tackling how these programmes work and how to use them to best effect (Rhoda Grossman Draws' "Digital Painting Fundamentals with Corel painter 12 has been very useful) the other big learning curve is drawing with a tablet and pen. There is a disconnect as you are looking at the screen as you draw, rather than your hand. It's very curious and almost like learning to draw again.
Still, while I have a long way to go, I feel I am making progress and most of all, it's fun!

Toxic Reality

Katherine Tomlinson, the writer of NoHo Noir, has some excellent new fiction available.

Toxic Reality, a collection of short stories.

"Urban nightmares. Poisoned dreams. Murderous thoughts. This collection of stories spans the genre continuum but every tainted tale has a dark heart and a shadow side. From the blackly comic “Bagging Some Zees” and “The Unicorn’s Best Friend” to the pulp noir stylings of “Gun Control,” “Scarification,” and “The 4th of July,” Katherine Tomlinson delivers a lethal dose of toxic reality on every page."

You can get it for your Kindle here:

U.S.

U.K.

You can also find Katherine's previous collection, Another Day In Paradise and L.A. Nocturne, as well as short stories Fairy Story and The Smallest of the Summoner's Bells on Smashwords, available in various e-reader formats.

NoHo Noir: Mother and Child Reunion

6.8 x 9 inches, Tria markers, 2011.

The latest illustration for the NoHo Noir series written by Katherine Tomlinson, illustrated by me, and featured on the Patch.com North Hollywood and Toluca Lake site.

Rouzan's mother has something to say.

Read this latest shocking installment here!

NoHo Noir: The Long Goodbye

9 x 6.8 inches, Tria markers, 2011.

The latest illustration for the NoHo Noir series written by Katherine Tomlinson, illustrated by me, and featured on the Patch.com North Hollywood and Toluca Lake site.

Ethan moves "out"....

Read it here!

NoHo Noir: Brother Where Art Thou?

6.8 x 9 inches, Tria markers, 2011.

The latest illustration for the NoHo Noir series written by Katherine Tomlinson, illustrated by me, and featured on the Patch.com North Hollywood and Toluca Lake site.

T and Gertie go on the lam.

Read it here!

NoHo Noir: A Coupla White Chicks Sitting Around Talking

6.8 x 9 inches, Tria markers, 2011.

The latest illustration for the NoHo Noir series written by Katherine Tomlinson, illustrated by me, and featured on the Patch.com North Hollywood and Toluca Lake site.

Lyla and Naomi have a conversation.

Read it here!

NoHo Noir: A Matter Of Perspective

9 x 6.8 inches, Tria markers, 2011.

The latest illustration for the NoHo Noir series written by Katherine Tomlinson, illustrated by me, and featured on the Patch.com North Hollywood and Toluca Lake site.

Si and Kelly look at the world from the same place but not the same time.

Read it here!

NoHo Noir: Boom

6.8 x 9 inches, Tria markers, 2011.

The latest illustration for the NoHo Noir series written by Katherine Tomlinson, illustrated by me, and featured on the Patch.com North Hollywood and Toluca Lake site.

Sometimes the only way out is up.

Read it here!

NoHo Noir: Otherwise Engaged

6.8 x 9 inches, Tria markers, 2011.

The latest illustration for the NoHo Noir series written by Katherine Tomlinson, illustrated by me, and featured on the Patch.com North Hollywood and Toluca Lake site.

Sera crashes a party.

Read it here!

NoHo Noir: Money For Nothing

9 x 6.8 inches, Tria markers, 2011.

The latest illustration for the NoHo Noir series written by Katherine Tomlinson, illustrated by me, and featured on the Patch.com North Hollywood and Toluca Lake site.

Cristo cashes a check.

Read it here!

NoHo Noir: Lullaby and Goodnight

6.8 x 9 inches, Tria markers, 2011.

The latest illustration for the NoHo Noir series written by Katherine Tomlinson, illustrated by me, and featured on the Patch.com North Hollywood and Toluca Lake site.

Erika and Gertie are home alone.

Read it here!

NoHo Noir: Walking After Midnight

9 x 6.8 inches, Tria markers, 2011.

The latest illustration for the NoHo Noir series written by Katherine Tomlinson, illustrated by me, and featured on the Patch.com North Hollywood and Toluca Lake site.

Lem takes a stroll down memory lane ... in his underwear.

Read it here!