Downward Facing Dog

JayD · #1 09-22-2008, 10:55 AM

A couple of things:

This is only the beginning stages of this piece--RobinZ you mentioned doing something in my natural style (as opposed to au natural!) so here it is:

Thanks to Cindy Brunk who has been semi-mentoring me (I am her pro bono case or charity!!!!) for her help with establishing the compostion.

NOW

I have left the wax bloom on there for now because if I remove the bloom and spray the fixative around my wife, she will have an asthma attach so I have to wait for her to skidaddle.

The piece is not worked in a tradtional style--it is cross hatched quickly and rather ruthlessly

I got the idea for this piece when I was being a couch sloth and ran across this tv show on FitTV calle "Namaste"--I thought to myself, cute girls excercising --what could be better--so I started watching and I got caught up less with the girls and more with the poses--it was like watching living sculpture--I was absolutely transfixed. Well I talked a couple of friends that I know who were involved in this stuff into posing for me while I took some photos --then I did what anyone would do--I started researcing yoga and this tv show and I saw a lot of harsh comments about how the show was overtly sexual--I was not seeing any of that so I decided to take out the sex part (whole body) and leave in abstract shapes and forms.

Again, forgive the waxy build up but wife and asthma come first--my next post will have the bloom corrected. Here is stage one to "Downward Facing Dog"--Oh, I was thinking of darkening the body to push out the abstract forms--any thoughts?

home4art · #2 09-22-2008, 11:15 AM

Oh, I really like the abstract and painterly quality of this. I could see a whole series of these abstracted figure studies!
About darkening, I don't know. Can you play with it in a photo editing program first? I guess it depends on which shapes you want to receed to the background and which you want pulled forward. In this sort of composition I would think you could even have fun with color variations - such as the sections of the bodies wouldn't necessarily have to be literally represented as skin tones, but rather an exercise in figure/ground relationships, just a thought.
How large is the piece and what paper?
Ann

Brattgirl · #3 09-22-2008, 11:16 AM

This is interesting, JayD. I like it. And even without the title, I could tell what it was.

I had bought this workout video called Yoga Booty Ballet...LOL...and they did a few yoga moves. My favorite is the one they called "child's pose" in the video. You kneel down, rest your butt on your heals, and stretch your arms out on the floor in front of you with your head between them and just REST. lol. I could stay in that pose ALL day....but you don't lose much weight or tone much muscle that way. LOL.

Great peice...very creative. Can't wait to see finished product!

JayD · #4 09-22-2008, 11:22 AM

Well, until I cropped it, it was 16 x 20 and so then I know and God knew and now only God knows!

I think I want the background darkened a bit--not sure--I want to push the body abstracts out a bit. I am not going for total 3d so I don't want the images lost in a dull background--now I could be wrong and the slate gray is ok--I am just not sure.

I will consider your thoughts on relationships--that is very interesting.

OH--you won't beleive this--I was looking at this poor girl's wax bloomed back and I got to thinking "wouldn't it be cool to do a a painting where wax bloom played an important part in the theme of the painting?" Then I though of Vincent Price and the House of Wax (not the stupid one with Paris Hilton)--you could do a disfigured male and let the wax bloom mottle the face! Hmmmmm.....

JayD · #5 09-22-2008, 11:25 AM

Jenna, when you get a chance look up the book "Yoga for Regular Guys"--I wont say much more except that it is a very funny book and mixes poses from "regular" guys with poses from "yoga babes"--the auther of the book is one of the actors from Rob Zombies movie "The Devil's Rejects".

Thanks for your comments--I almost destroyed this piece out of frustration until Cindy helped me with the crop.

Doxie Mama · #6 09-22-2008, 11:37 AM

I really like the pose in this drawing, makes you want to take a much closer look at the subject. Just draws me right in.
Maria

**TessDB** · #7 09-22-2008, 01:08 PM

Oh, this is great, JayD! It's a fab concept both as a single piece and a series.

So... have you put yourself in this pose yet? Give it a try, and see where you feel the emphasis in your own body, and maybe let that guide you on where you want to adjust shading. Does that make sense?

For me, when I do this pose, it's in the muscles around my shoulder blades and in what hubby calls the "sweet spot" of my lower back... just above my tailbone. There's a delicious sense of *stretch* between the two, all along my spine...

Getting settled to watch...

Rosemary

JayD · #8 09-22-2008, 01:18 PM

Rosemary, uh...yeah..I did--I have been in that pose for about a week now--I can't seem to bring my way out of --the kids from across the street came over and took me outside and started using me as a croquet wicket.

Not as easy as it looks--but it is so beautiful--I am trying to learn this on my own for now--later when I don't come close to repeating my never to be mentioned performance in disco aerobics, I may go to a class.

Peanut Butter · #9 09-22-2008, 02:46 PM

I really love this one, Jay!!! The way you have it cropped is spectacular.

Disco Aerobics??????

GoldenArt · #10 09-22-2008, 03:07 PM

Let's see, been in that position about a week, let wax bloom shape a man, .....Oh now I see, a self portrait? Oh sorry, looking for the future work in this series. Jay this really is interesting, can't wait to see where you take this. Rick

**ocmd123** · #11 09-22-2008, 06:31 PM

I really like the style of this, Jay. It reminds me of another artists work, but not being an art history buff, I can't begin to put a name to it. Anyone else see it? Love the concept of the work, too.
I've been wanting to do a drawing of my lab. She's had bad hips since birth, and sleeps in this ridiculous position on her back, leaning against the wall, with her legs sticking up every which way. We say she's doing doggy yoga. I want to draw her in that position and call it 'Up Dog'.

ZB3 · #12 09-22-2008, 09:49 PM

Lord have mercy on Jesus.

Here I open this thread, thinking I'd see a puppy and...well, JayD, it's different, that's for sure.

And you did an excellent job on the rendering, as usual.

Best wishes to your wife, with her asthma. My sister in law has that. It's very scary!

Uh...would you like the name of my shrink? He's real good.

Namaste13 · #13 09-22-2008, 09:51 PM

I love the picture. Being a yoga teacher myself, I truly am inspired by my students who muster their way through the poses. The Namaste show is geared for 'teaching' but on a different level as in made for TV. The show assumes much knowledge. As far as sexual, it depends how it is viewed. To me, as a yoga teacher, I only see the beauty in well executed and aligned postures..now back to art...LOL...OMCD123: I would love to see Upward dog! I too would love to draw my doggie doing doggie poses but she doesn't sit or pose long enough...Again JayD...wonderful connection...Namaste

Brattgirl · #14 09-22-2008, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayD

Jenna, when you get a chance look up the book "Yoga for Regular Guys"--I wont say much more except that it is a very funny book and mixes poses from "regular" guys with poses from "yoga babes"--the auther of the book is one of the actors from Rob Zombies movie "The Devil's Rejects".

Thanks for your comments--I almost destroyed this piece out of frustration until Cindy helped me with the crop.

I love The Devil's Rejects!! And the first movie, House of 1000 Corpses too! I have both movies, and a couple of action figures...Ok, actually, I love Rob Zombie. lol. I have all his solo albums and a couple of action figures. lol. Gotta love Todd McFarlane!

I think I heard an interview on the radio with Diamond Dallas Page about him having written a yoga book....is that the one?

ZB3 · #15 09-23-2008, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Being a yoga teacher myself, I truly am inspired by my students who muster their way through the poses. The Namaste show is geared for 'teaching'

Is that where your nickname came from?

JayD, I'm sorry about joking around. Human bodies are hard to draw, especially those in elaborate poses. You did a great job here. And I sure didn't mean to insult yoga. You can tell I know nothing about it.

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