So I'm working on getting an actual grown up website and a new blog to go along with that, but I'm not there yet.
Also a drawing tip, da Vinci recommended studying and trying to recreate the work of the masters. Lately I've been attempting to recreate some of da Vinci's drawn studies. The things I've drawn leave a lot to be desired from the originals but I have found a real appreciation for his use of line and shading, he used so little to create such beauty. I'm working to follow suit.
Update: here's my website  http://jmfineart.weebly.com/

Apology. Posting has not happened of late. There's been a snag in things and I'm considering moving to a new blogging format. But I haven't been very focused in my consideration. Hopefully I'll get things figured out soon, in the mean time, sorry!

Sacred Geometry: A Primer

As promised, here's the list of books that make up my library on sacred geometry.

*Sacred Geometry: Deciphering the Code by Stephen Skinner
*The Golden Section: Nature's Greatest Secret by Scott Olsen
*Sacred Geometry by Miranda Lundy
*Sacred Geometry: Philosophy and Practice by Robert Lawlor
* Quadrivium: The Four Classical Liberal Arts of Number, Geometry, Music and Cosmology
*Islamic Design: A Genius for Geometry by Daud Sutton
* Ruler and Compass: Practical Geometric Constructions by Andrew Sutton
*The Power of Limits by Gyorgy Doczi
*The Elements of Dynamic Symmetry by Jay Hambridge
*Geometry of Design by Kimberly Elam (this isn't the version I have, I have the older version I guess.)

Those are my geometry books, I really enjoy the ones from the Little Wooden Books series, there are a lot more books in the series that I want to get. I like that they're divided into sort of small bites and have lots of good and helpful illustrations. They're probably one of the best places to start your geometry research.
Sacred Geometry:Deciphering the code is also a pretty good one to start with, it does seem to focus a lot more on number than I really care for, but it does make a pretty good introduction to the subject. I do feel that Mr Skinner, or his writing style, have a tendency towards pretentiousness but, over all it's pretty good. Geometry of Design was an interesting one to look through, though as I mentioned above, I believe I have the older version and I don't know how the two versions differ. It's been a while since I read either Sacred Geometry (Lawlor) or The Power of Limits, I got lost a bit and overwhelmed when reading both of them, I don't know if that was me and where I was at or them. I haven't made it all the way through The Elements of Dynamic Symmetry, Hambridge seems to be more about the numbers and that's daunting for me.

What I'm about

I recently finally bought two books on sacred geometry that I've wanted for years, I just started reading one of them (I started reading it years ago, then it went back to the library...) and found this quote that I really liked.

"At a more exalted level, geometry distinguishes between the domain of the sacred and the profane."

-Stephen Skinner, Sacred Geometry: Deciphering the Code

Be on the look out for a post on my library of sacred geometry books. Also maybe just a run down of my art books in general.

PS I don't know about anyone else, but once people start talking about numbers in regards to sacred geometry, I find myself quickly getting lost or wanting to skip. Sometimes I can figure out what it's all saying and feel proud of myself but that's not all that often. Anyway, back to reading.

Genesis

This piece is based on Abraham 4:9-10 and Genesis 1:12.

Watercolor
9x9in
2012
Genesis
Photo by Hawkinson Photography

Sacred Geometry: A Primer

Alright, so today's task, say you want to center you're drawing or painting etc. a square in a bigger space, how would you do that in the way that looked best? Wouldn't it be great if you could center the square so with the space on either side would be a golden section? You can do that, here's how:

Take the width of your paper (etc.), that is the line that you're working with. Also, you should do this on a scratch piece of paper first, so draw a line the same size.

Find the perpendicular of your horizontal line and draw that in.

Set your compass in the center point of the horizontal line and draw a half circle on that line.

In the center of the half circle, draw a double square (or the corners of one).

Draw a diagonal line through each of the double squares to meet the half circle.

Draw a line to connect the diagonal lines.

Set your compass with the point in the center of the top horizontal line and set the drawing point to one of the diagonal line intersections. With your compass set the same way, put the point in the center of the bottom horizontal line and mark the two bottom points of the square.

The square is now the center of two golden sections. Leave the distance between one half of the semicircle and square between the top of your space and the square.

Piece of the Week

I made this book yesterday and though it didn't turn out quite like I was hoping, I'm still excited about how it turned out. I loved the illustration on this flier and I've been waiting for a chance to use it.

100 Dresses coptic

flier and book cloth etc.

3x3in

2012