My Airbrush Area

Here are a few shots of my airbrush "studio"

I have a little room in the backyard dedicated to tubs of girl clothes, did I mention I live in a house full of females, and a spot for me to work.

I cannot airbrush in the house because I am very, very messy.

My little room provides an excellent place to spray away.

My easel is an old kitchen table I cut, the other piece is on the adjoining wall used as a workspace.

I hang my homemade stencils and idea sketches using baby hangersHere is a closer shot of my work area. Right now I only have one brush working. Our recent displacement as our house was finished led me to leave the rest in a bit of disrepair. I hope to have the other three that I have up and running soon. It is hard to get really bright colors when you have to switch colors on the same gun, you never can get it quite clean enough. I went back and chose a few of my favorite shirts to share with you.
And a banner I did for my mother in law's birthday. Thankfully she liked it. We placed it in her front yard the night before her birthday. Did this on a bed sheet.

Painting on Wood

I really enjoyed using bare wood as a canvas. I like this idea because you can use the natural grain of the wood to add interest. I bought these plywood sheets already cut 24 x 24 at Home Depot along with some furring strips to give it some structure and depth on the wall. I bought enough to make 2 which was fairly inexpensive.

The Jeep I hit in the parking lot that day cost me a lot more, but that's a whole other story.

I chose this piece of plywood because of the way the knots lined up on one side. I also like the way the grain almost looks like wind behind the tree, which goes back to the whole idea of utilizing the natural grain in the wood. This piece became a birthday present for Darcie.

Here you can see the strips I used for structure. They are glued on and tacked with a brad gun. I tend to overbuild things, a habit I thankfully inherited from my Dad.

This last one is a Fleur De Lis I did to sell on ETSY, where it still sits today. Not the most creative thing in the world, but I see a lot of this kind of stuff in stores, so I gave it a shot. I think I will stick to the stuff I like rather than what I think other people will.

I am planning to do another for my bedroom retreat to hang between the guitars I posted earlier. This one will be a guy playing stand up bass, the sketch is in the works. Hopefully I can get started on that this weekend.

Louisiana Living

I really do love Louisiana, so it only makes sense that I would love the show Swamp People. I was scared at first that it would make Louisiana people look stupid and backwards, but after seeing two minutes of the Jersey Shore, my worries were dispelled. Swampers look like Einstein next to those idiots. If you have not seen it check it out(Swamp People not Jersey Shore). Camie was a little concerned as I watched, maybe that I would want to try out what they were doing. I did get a small Swamp People experience today at Camie's Maw Maw's house.

Check it out:

My cheap ways pay off

A resurgence of interest in art really hit me when we wanted to decorate our new house. I am extremely cheap when it comes to certain things. I usually think I can do whatever it is we are going to spend money on much cheaper than we can buy it. This attitude drove me to try and paint on canvas for the first time, and I loved it. Keep in mind that I am not a very skilled photographer.

My very first attempt on canvas was a piece for above the piano in the living room. Part of this painting makes up the header of the blog, as well as my ETSY shop

Feeling like I had success I tried one for the master bedroom. This one however did not meet the approval of my wife, and I agreed that it did not fit our bedroom decor. It ended up in Cassidy's room.

After a little more direction from Camie, I came up with the piece that now hangs over our bed. This one was more in line with her thoughts.

I did one other large canvas (this one and the previous three are all on 30 x 40 canvases) as a Mother's and Father's Day present for my Dad and Darcie. I got so hooked that I bought some smaller canvases that were on sale. I think they are 16 x 20. I also discovered painting with Posca paint pens about the same time. The next two pieces were done with paint pens on canvas.

Finally i found an even cheaper way to go. I used the piece of wood that was in the box for my TV as a "canvas"

I used both acrylic paint and paint pens for this one. I later found that I could go to a hardware and pick up pieces of plywood and some furring strips to make canvases utilizing the wood grain. I will share those next time. I think i may hang this guy next to the band above the piano. I suppose I will need a trumpet player too.

Shared some life, now some art

I have always had an interest in art. I like to draw, paint, and airbrush. I would love to learn to tattoo, but tattoo machines don't come with erasers.

I love old school tattoo art, and I am heavily influenced by that (not that Ed Hardy rendition of old school tattoo, but the real deal). I have also recently become a huge fan of an artist named Drew Brophy, who does surf art.

My favorite thing to paint on lately has become guitars. I just finished this one. A tribute to my favorite movie The Outlaw Josie Whales. Check out the volume and tone knobs, 12 gauge.

I have a few more hanging on my walls at home

There are still a few more primed and ready, as soon as I think of something to put on them.

Getting Started

Okay, I am going to try this whole Blog thing out. First off I guess I should explain the whole "zigawaniduk" thing. That comes from a long time ago while playing a little Skate or Die on the Commodore 64 with my friend Brad. Punching in random keys to generate player names ended up in a handle I would use for for all of my video game and online fun.
Now for those who don't know me, I am married with three beautiful daughters here on earth, and another little girl waiting in heaven. Let me share a liitle of them with you.

I love to play bass with Carly

Carly D and Camryn T-Paige

Cassidy G

And my smokin' hot wife Camie

My passions in life are Jesus, my family, teaching, art, and music.

As I sit and type this, my wife asks what I am doing. When I tell her, she giggles.

Is that a good sign?