here is some of my art.

[Javaman]

I just got turned down by an art site that would have displayed my art for purchase. It wasn't contemporary enough. That's okay, I just feel a little down right now and I need an ego boost.

If you think it sucks say so, I can take it, if you think it's good, let me know, I could use the boost. (Man, talk about a trap! LOL)

[femmocrat]

1. I think the flower is lovely.

I especially like the shading on the lower leaf.

Not as fond of the wrinkly feet, though, sorry.

[Javaman]

2. Thanks.:)

Feet aren't for everyone. By the way, those are the feet of Ram Das's teacher. :)

[nolabear]

9. I, on the other hand, think the feet are wonderful!

The tenderness and detail are wonderful...feet in all their used-up, battered glory. I also like the New Orleans mask, and since I know what it's derived from it's all the more striking.

Look somewhere else. You'll find buyers. I envy your talent.

[lunatica]

3. Javaman, they're absolutely excellent. Your talent jumps out

They probably turned them down because they're drawings. For some reason people think drawings aren't legitimate or real art. It happens to be one of my favorite mediums to work in. Here's one of my drawings so you know that I know what I speak of. I love your work!!

[Javaman]

5. Wow, I really like your work.

I love the quality of your line.

I strive to capture that kind of ease that you put across in your work. Brilliant use of light and shade.

I love the eyes.

Do you work in various lead weights?

I usually stay in the 2B to 3B area.

[lunatica]

15. I use the soft charcoals and pencils but what makes it work for me

Is that I use vellum paper and a smudger and eraser to achieve that extra smooth blending I strive for. The vellum is so smooth that it's actually difficult to keep the charcoal on the paper which makes the blending with the smudger effectively subtle (the thin shadow across her nose is done with a smudger as are the feather like hair effects on the dark side of her hair). The highlights on her hair I create by using an eraser to take away the charcoal. Then when I'm done I have to use fixative to seal the charcoal onto the paper or it will all blow away.

Once I discovered vellum I was ecstatic because I could actually achieve the softness and the smoothness I wanted. Especially when doing childrens' faces.

[Javaman]

18. I has an amazing effect.

It reminds me of the old nitrite negatives from the silent era. It has that "bloom" quality.

Truly, beautiful work.

[Steerpike]

14. Lunitica

Light as a feather...the shadow work is superior...the ability to render the interplay between lightness and dark is a sign of a great artist.

[Robeson]

4. No, it doesn't suck. And there are many, many art sites on the net....

...I'm sure you could find another one with no problem. I like them all.

[Javaman]

6. Thanks :)

I have to caste a larger net. I draw mostly for myself, this was the first time I was putting myself out there.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

7. Wow, those are all excellent.

I love the shading and texture as well.

Good luck with other sites, Javaman. :toast:

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

8. There is more than one way

to skin a cat! I think your work is as good as many others who sell. It's just a matter of DOING it! Lotsa places to get is sold. Look on the net or set up your own website. Mine is very reasonable....

[8 track mind]

10. New Orleans is quite intense

very good work!

[dixiegrrrrl]

11. Wow.

Yes, you are talented. Very.

I have to say, they are all good.

But the New Orleans is so deeply haunting. Superb detail, too.

[tainted_chimp]

12. Lovin' the feet - a lot.

What are the dimensions?

[Javaman]

19. Off the top of my head...(I'm at work now. lol)

it's on 11 x 17 paper, I believe, I will double check when I get home and give you the right dimensions.

[Steerpike]

13. Good Morning!

Technically brilliant. Well done!

As for the vendor who rejected your work...the sensibilities are different for large vendors. Usually anyone who has the balls to submit to a gallery or vendor has talent. It's not a mastter of talent...Artist are a dime a dozen...especially now that the internet has allowed even the most serious shut in to post their artwork. I'm amazed at the level of talent I've observed of non professionals on the internet.

Making an assumption here...the vendor is looking for something besides generic student work. Your work is well done and beautiful, but I assume (once again) that the vendor has a shitload of drawings of feet, flowers and sad faces. And color can be an issue. Smaller less expensive pencil sketches usually don't offer the profit margin to make it worth a vendors while.

Keep in mind. You can make great art and you can sell art. But, to do both requires a certain calculation that may preclude the former. Isolate a market niche...observe what is hanging in the galleries...seek out the advice of gallery owners regarding the saleability of your works. Art is not the kind of business you can afford to be thin skinned. If you want to sell your art and support yourself and family you might have to tailor your art to the market.

It is nice to make some cash from your art. But, even if you can't, take heart that you sir make some beautiful work. You create something...from nothing...if that is not god reaching out and touching you...I don't know what is.

[lunatica]

16. What a good post!

It really isn't personal. There are people who think their work is better than it is but Javaman isn't one of them. He's obviously taken his talent and disciplined it with developing his technical skills. In the end though, the talent, whatever that is or where it comes from is anyone's guess, always shows through, even with a lack of technical skill and discipline.

[Javaman]

20. Thank you so much for your input. :)

It was a shot in the dark for me. It has been years (many, in fact) since I have offered up any of my work for public critique.

You are dead on with what you say about what is going on out there in the art world. I know my style is a little passe' but it's what I do. LOL I've never really been into color (although I have done pastel years ago), I just enjoy the simplicity of pencil on paper.

You are also dead on regarding the pursuit of art as a vocation. Creating to demand or to current trends. That's just a fact of life. Perhaps if I were younger and had more time (don't we all wish for that lol), I would branch out and be more daring with my work, but as it is now, I draw primarily for myself on subjects that grab me.

The flower was an experiment in capturing the delicate. The feet and the face were things that moved me.

I have always considered myself a "hack" artist", just drawing when something inspired me, but never able to sit down and draw for the sake of just drawing. Odd, I know.

My current work and two other ideas I have in the shoot tend to revolve around social issues. That seems to grab me now. Portraits of working people. I'm not going to attempt to ever compare myself to the great author Studs Turkle, but as he wrote about the worker person, I want to do the same with my art.

Whatever becomes of it, I haven't a clue, I just hope I'm able to help people reflect a little.

Thanks again. :)

[CBR]

17. These are really good. Thanks for sharing. nt

[GoCubsGo]

21. Nice work!

After seeing the flower, I have to ask...Have you looked into doing scientific illustration? I am willing to bet there are some taxonomists, etc., out there who might love to have someone like illustrating their finds.

[Javaman]

22. I never actually thought about that.

the piques my interest.

I will search around.

Thanks for the suggestion. :)

[hibbing]

23. Very Nice!

Hi,
Those are all awesome, thanks for sharing. I love the New Orleans one, but find myself intrigued by the feet also. Nice variety of your work.

Peace

[Forkboy]

24. I think all three are fantastic.

Art as a biz is tough, and not something I was ever really interested in. Once I started selling art it became a job and the fun drained out of it (it's never fully returned either). The ideal is to make money doing art YOU want to do, but that's easier said than done. Not impossible, by any means, as there are some amazing artists out there doing their thing (check this fine artist out...http://www.laurielipton.com/Gallery.asp ). But it's tough, and probably requires taking a lot of rejections before it starts to catch on.

But if nothing else, look at what you've created! That feeling may not pay the bills, but it can't ever be repossessed either. :)

[unpossibles]

25. those are excellent

Have you considered a site like eBay? I have a friend who is putting some of his paintings up there. Not sure how I feel about it, but it's a potential route to sell your own work I suppose.

[supernova]

26. Keep trying to find a gallery

to represent you. So, one said "no." Big hairy deal.

Your technique is beautiful. The feet and the tears on the face are really striking. It's hard to make water look like water in 2D.

If you want to make a little quick cash, consider going to all the art street fairs this year. There are a ton of artists trying to sell their work at these things. I don't know how many make a lot, but I bet a fair number of them make their expenses.

[frogmarch]

27. Wow, they're all fabulous!

Don't give up on marketing your work. You're an excellent artist.