Makeda

This song is so cool.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22HL5ZOOHGI


Perfect to listen to while drawing a quail.

Quail, work in progress

The Zulu

Zulu

This is Zulu.  Hate him, love him, he'll be fine either way, because he has a job to do.
 I've decided that my favorite part of this drawing is the name.

Kingfisher progress

I used to think it was really cool to save cardboard coffee cup clutch dividers when I worked for Caribou Coffee.  Wish I had more, actually.  They are 11 x 17", an acceptable size for me,  and also have a side that is a very comforting shade of grey.  It's a durable surface as well, allowing me to spread graphite around smoothly and also has a high tolerance for color. 

I made a sketch of a Kingfisher on one of these lovely, sustainable dividers about nine months ago, and just kind of forgot about it after that.  I feel like at that time, my style wasn't ready, I couldn't conceive of a process to finish it.  I looked at it a few days back and had a vision for it right away.    I'm using 15 different pens at this point, probably 18 or 19 after I finish the wood at the bottom.  Variety.

What a funny looking bird.  Still cool though, like the Grandmaster Flash of kingfisher drawings.  Hope to finish it up today or tomorrow.  Or the day after that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6e9G-ump3Y

waxwing completion

I think it would be really fun to wear this, so at this point I'm thinking that this is going to end up on some clothing.

waxwing

I've been wanting to have my art on a piece of clothing for a long time, and I think I've got the design for it.
The bird is based off a Cedar Waxing.  As always patterns are determined mostly by my initial sketch of the bird, and are aimed at achieving a synthesis between actual anatomy and abstraction.  I welcome any comments/criticism. 

run that back

This drawing has been sitting around for a over a year now.  I was trying to fit birds inside shapes one night, and this was me fitting a bird into a circle.  I think it needs something else in order to be finished, something for it to be standing on at least. 
 

A dope track for tonight:  Zion I feat. Planet Asia - Critical
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-l3EHv6r38k


And one more, People Under the Stairs - Earth Travelers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrIS13kmiRA

white guy rapping

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0Uo8ZYn3hk



If you were wondering what it sounded like when Robin Williams tries to rap, here it is.  Fern Gully is an awesome movie.  "I'm a fruit bat, and I'm ready to rap!"

Mockingbird

Fun Birds

I drew these for my own personal enjoyment. 

island crab bird

Some excellent tracks:

Shad
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txhH-W9miXg

Funkdoobiest
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVrC_sp6QOE

Collective Efforts
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdpzlwKWWss

Cannibal Ox
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pADgllloQg4

De La Soul
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNnHqFcBxGs

My bird art is for sale at E's Emporium the 5th through the 7th.  E's is a vintage/retro furniture store that opens twice a month.  I'm not sure which birds are going up yet, but they will be amazing.

http://www.es-emporium.com/ 


If you check out the website, you'll see a "featured artist" page.  Can't wait to check myself out on there.

Hip Hop

I found another interesting song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGJMQ14fcss


Next drawing will be a double bird.  It will make sense when you see it.

Warbler #3

This is another Townsend's warbler.  Is it too hot for you?  Probably.  I apologize for that.  This is Kyle Voigtlander.  It's 2012.

9/16

Welcome to the lounge.  Here's what's happened:

Townsend's Warbler #1 is for sale, and if you're in the greater twin cities area is availbe on the spot at Marla's Caribbean Cuisine.  Emily and Adam Johnson are the first proud owners, and are practically foaming at the mouth for the release of Townsend's Warbler #2, which will be available Tuesday.

T.W. #2 is the best yet, in my opinion, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder so you'll have to decide for yourself.

I still haven't fixed my scanner, so no sneak peaks.  Sorry. 

My product speaks for itself.

So do the Jungle Brothers:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmG3wVkdm7w

Townsend's Warbler #1

This is my rendition of a Townsend's Warbler.  There will be two more to follow, the second is over half completed already, and the third is still entirely in my brain. 

I hereby dedicate the hip hop selection for this post to Brian Speich, please enjoy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bje_8Y7KUfM

First world problems

I've finished drawing the first in another seires of three.  These will all based on Townsend's Warblers, done in a yellow to brown color scale, with a few grays as well.  Unfortunately, my printer is out of cyan, and will not let me scan because of that.  So, until I have $18 I want to spend on ink I'll never use, I'll just keep drawing and post later. 

I'm listening to "open" and "close" by Com Truise right now.  If Heaven was 80's themed, this is what you would hear beyond the Pearly Gates.

Open
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQQy_cCc9QU&feature=related
Closed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xrHzs7iVxY&feature=related

Pyrrhuloxia

All done, prints available upon request.  Also another excellent song by the Pharcyde:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjsPG0Kspxo

Thanks for lookin' out Jedi.

Horned Owl

Added a branch for the owl to sit on, changed the background color.  Also found some excellent hip hop:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzbK_iEzF5Y

Camo Cardinal

Another w.i.p.  I only need to add a few finishing touches, then prints will be available. 

I can't find a link to listen to this song, but check out "Sincerity" by Eastern Sunz.  Hip hop is 90% fun, 10% honesty.  I love it.

Vikings

So I served three players from the Minnesota Vikings today, and one of them actually bought a print from me.  I'm still a Packer fan.



Everson Griffen bought this

 

Street Owl

This is a street owl.  I'm going to mess around with it a little more, eventually hoping to have it ready to print and frame.  Also I didn't feel like adding any background so to be more acurate I should say that it is an akwardly floating street owl.

I feel like lately I've been rolling along, so here's this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPKauUocLrc

Titmouse

My titmouse trilogy is completed.  I'm excited to try and finish up some other things I've had to put on hold in order to finish these.  Prints are for sale.

Titmice

Crested Titmouse #2

Second in a series of three.

I'm still trying to figure out how I want this to look.  It's getting closer.

Crested Titmouse

I haven't posted in a while, mainly due to the fact that I've picked up a second job.  Check out Marla's Caribbean Cuisine, as featured on Food Network's hit show Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives.

http://vimeo.com/41938361

It's been very fun so far, the only drawback being significantly less time for bird drawing.  It's afforded interesting experiences, such as meeting a former gallery director at Theater in the Round, and eating a hybrid Scotch Bonnet/Scorpion pepper, which was nearly the end of me.

I always make time for hip hop though, so if you just wanna chill check out this referral from Jedi, (thanks, Jedi! keep them coming.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4dusOtmv24

Also, no matter what type of mood you're in, you should let People Under the Stairs break down hip hop for you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5DK_p_CBWI

My digital camera is out of commission at the moment, but as soon as I get that situation figured out I've got more images to post.  Stay tuned and please comment!

Short Eared Owl

This is an owl.

This happened yesterday, and this is what I'm listening to right now, as I contemplate how wonderful it is to be an artist:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_prDWsKXSI

Oriole

This bird is from the street.

Spot Breasted Oriole, quite accurately named as you can clearly see the spots on his breast.  I'm having too much fun making birds in this way, it feels very freeing to rely less on a photo reference and more on how I think/want things to look.  The next step is to work bigger and add in more of my own detail.

I'm going to listen to secret agent while I make this happen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDsfiBzmLiY

Street Art

Street Art

I made some street art last night. It is based of a real bird, the Pyrrhuloxia.  Having established a rough outline, I departed from my reference and included my own bold colors and patterns.  Also, notice the peel here line because this is indeed a sticker.  Get ready, Roseville.

Also, I think the drawing looks better if you look at while listening to Guru's "Life Saver."  He starts to flow in French for about the last minute, it's beautiful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QB74T4YGgo

Livin the life

Most days I have to search to find my own music, listen to bits and pieces of track after track until I find one that really does it for me.  Today was exceptional though, since I got three excellent songs referred to me. 

The first, thanks to Jedi: artist, animator, middle school art teacher.  This is some classic, old school hip hop from Gang Starr
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcrG05S_xoE

The next two came from a friend of mine, a bilingual barista, hip hop enthusiast, fellow artist, and part time dream interpreter.  Thanks, Jenna.

windchILL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zJehWwNL-E

Common Market
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5mulfMiY9s

More tomorrow, hopefully.

Style

It seems that the term style is much bigger than I had originally thought.   It has even been argued that any aspect of a work of art can be made an element of individual style.  What is portrayed can potentially be made just as, if not more, significant in terms of style than how it is portrayed.  I feel that a clearly distinct individual style is something one has to have in order to be a great artist.  After reading about style in “The Routledge Companion to Aesthetics” the only conclusion I have drawn is that I need to make more work, a lot more work, in order to see what my style truly is. If I have developed one already, that is.  

As far as making more work goes, I think this will get me started:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQ_1eUmx7eY

Post Postmodernism

I met with my former academic adviser a couple weeks ago to discuss art and how to make a living.  One thing he said to me, was that no issue is black and white, that multiple perspectives do not negate the validity of truth.  I'm comforted by that notion, but reluctant to embrace it.  I don't believe in people making up their own truth, and I think this idea is kind of a gateway drug that will lead a person in that direction.  I believe that the validity of any perspective is dependent solely on its adherence to and pursuit of absolute truth.  I feel like listening to Ground Up will help me resolve this mental battle I'm waging.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=At4JMvlRnK8

Free use of the imagination

"A community whose life is not irrigated by art and philosophy, day upon day, is a community that exists only half alive. The fundamental values of a true community are to be found in poetry, art, music and the free use of the imagination, the pursuit of non-utilitarian activities, the production of non-profit-making goods, the enjoyment of non-consumable wealth. Here are the sustaining values of a living culture."  -Lewis Mumford

This is something I've always felt to be true,

but could not articulate. 

I believe it wholeheartedly. 

I'm off to draw an amazing hummingbird, 

and make the world a better place in doing so.

Also, I'm going to leave you with this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zm3aMQEIxsA 

Thanks, Jedi.

Kingfisher

I finally got a new title picture for the Lounge.  I decided to go with a double Belted Kingfisher theme, with their powerful, sharp, fish-stabbing beaks pointing towards the headphones, so in this new title I've captured everything the Lounge is about: my own, personal style of bird art, and excellent music.

Can you dig it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0RvHsa6sIA

I have the next two days off, and hope to accomplish as much as I can in preparation for an art sale going on next week.  I've found that listening to CYNE increases productivity by roughly 60%.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6Rdpy3e1FM&feature=related

It's beautiful today.  I came to work early to work on some digital painting, and it has been most rewarding.  Hoping to have a new heading picture for the lounge up in the next couple of days.  It's going to be epic.

Much respect to Giant Panda.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hd5YtUdF-a4

I enjoy both Radiohead and People Under the Stairs very much.  I was overjoyed when I found out I could take in both at the same time.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-1GfHOO_8c

Also, I am now a volunteer at the largest wildlife rehabilitation center in the country.  I'll be feeding baby birds, most likely with a syringe or something like the color picker tool from Photoshop.  I'm excited to be in such close proximity to birds.  It will be a great time for me to study them up close, and observe their movements.  I know it will benefit my art, and I think there's a chance I might find inspiration to animate.

Hip Hop

I asked a coworker of mine today if she listened to any hip hop.  She said yes, and then mentioned "apple bottom jeans," Christina Aguleira, and something else that I blocked from my memory.  Not hip hop.  Here's a lesson in true, retro, ultra funky hip hop by Souls of Mischief. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlUrk1RTQ7A

painting a painting

Worked 5.5 hours this morning, read about Biblical cosmology for my own personal enrichment, ran four miles, ate roughly 900 calories of pasta, and here I am, finally about to paint a painting.  With my last painting I kind of just did it, there was no premeditation involved.  That's right, Mondriardinals from start to finish took under two hours.

I've already got more time invested in just the composition of my current project.  I'm excited to see if following some art rules makes a difference. 

Also, I've been pierced by the arrow of God.  Your turn.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rP2ISUThbcQ&feature=related

I've spent the past two hours playing around in Photoshop trying to work out all the kompositional kinks for a bird painting.  It's all set, now just for the long, arduous task of drawing and painting it.  Well, laundry and a four mile run, and some dinner will precede any work I do on the canvas, but I'll get to it.  I'll also be listening to a Helena Beat remix at least three times throughout the rest of the day, by one of my all time favorites Com Truise.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGNsFH0NRP8

No pictures to post tonight.  Sorry.  I'm very tired, probably going to work on a new painting for a couple hours though, which is exciting for me. 

Also, some bed time beats:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJnqr5sm7-s&feature=related

Mondriardinals

Oil on canvas

Behold!  My latest painting entitled, "Mondriardinals."  Two cardinals and some lines.  I showed this to another artist and dear friend of mine and was told it was a weird, awkward hybrid of Piet Mondrian and Audobon, hence the title.  An apt description, no?  Her work deals with light and is very clean, functional, and thought provoking at the same time.  You can check it out here:
http://cargocollective.com/shainarenaelund

You can also check out this 8 bit masterpiece from Groundislava if the cardinals didn't quite do it for you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwYdS4TjSQw&feature=related

White guy from Wisconsin

I am an average sized white male, hailing from Ladysmith, Wisconsin.  And these are the sounds I like to hear:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTUbCuS93IU

I listen to a wide variety of genres, but good hip hop will always have a special place in my heart.  I'm off to my weekly meeting with the Gunnar Collective.  We're a group of Christian artists who talk about art, and Jesus.  Yes, art and Jesus.  I've seen a few performance pieces that were all right, but rubbing dirt on a blind guys face and restoring his sight?  Performance art by Jesus.

No images to post tonight.  You should check this remix out though:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWb5jf3F3Hw&feature=endscreen

It's Starfucker's alter ego, Skeletron, with a mashup of their tune "Dragon Monkey" and Gucci Mane's "Running Back."  Simply amazing.  If you like it, I recommend listening to this one as well: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLlvkJAkkMc

All their other choices of songs to remix were pretty terrible, so I don't much care for those.  Polished Turds.

N.S.O.Y.A. Update

http://voigtlanderlounge.blogspot.com/2010/02/stab-at-painting.htm


Just a link back to an old post I updated tonight.  It's an abstract painting, basically me trying to figure out how oil paint goes down.  Not an easy task, as it turns out.  This owl, however, suggests that I am making significant improvements in my technique.  It's not done yet, don't judge. 

Professional Sparrow

Today, I applied for a position with the Wildlife Conservation Service.  From what I understand the work would consist mainly of monitoring sparrow like birds in Yellowstone National Park.  I think it would be beneficial to find a job that directly correlates to my artwork as this position would.  Also, I thought it might be wise to draw a bird on my resume to show the folks at WCS what I'm all about. 

Just realized all my contact information is visible in the picture.  Guess you all know where to find me now.  If you're not creepy feel free to come live the high life with me in #223.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnF3n5ojX6o&feature=topics

I wish my initials were W.I.P.

I have no work that is ready to post yet. All ideas and nothing to show for it.

 I've got two paintings coming up, a bad-ass mother owl, and a double perching bird composition which will be entitled, "Black death/Red death." They'll be all right.

I'm thinking about my drawing process too. I want to have complete control of it, and make sure any part of it that lacks principle, or reason, is discarded. Arbitrary rules? No, thanks.

Off to my nephew's birthday party for a few hours, then back to the drawing table to make some birds that are gonna stretch yo face.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgcHlZsOgQo&feature=related

Outsider Art

I read this quote on the wikipedia page for "Outsider Art"

Jean Dubuffet characterized art brut (outsider, or raw art) as:
"Those works created from solitude and from pure and authentic creative impulses – where the worries of competition, acclaim and social promotion do not interfere – are, because of these very facts, more precious than the productions of professionals. After a certain familiarity with these flourishings of an exalted feverishness, lived so fully and so intensely by their authors, we cannot avoid the feeling that in relation to these works, cultural art in its entirety appears to be the game of a futile society, a fallacious parade."

Amen.

it's all for the birds, all of it

Nobody can touch this original work of mine. This bird is portrayed much larger than it is in reality, because it has been torn away from all context. Forget angry birds, they are nothing. This is a real bird, with real malice, and ill will towards you. Let its gaze penetrate your soul, and see your faults. All pain is an illusion.