njbice - Tumblr blog

[njbice]

Make a bookmark with me! I love these Sutro Tower bookmarks because the Tower peeks out from the top of the book just like the real one does over buildings from all around the city. If you want one I listed them in the shop!

[njbice]

Here's what the printed workbook looks like! I have exactly five physical copies which I'm bringing to Santa Rosa Zine Fest tomorrow, Saturday April 20. Come find me at the Spooky Haus booth!

Last month I taught my first class at ARCH Art Supplies and it was great! I didn't finish my demo painting in class, so I finished it later. Here it is!

If you want to find out when the next class is, you can sign up for my newsletter or keep an eye out here or on Instagram.

[njbice]

I adapted the workbook from this class and made it available to buy as a PDF for anyone who can't wait or can't make it to my future classes!

https://shop.spookyhaus.com/products/cityscapes-in-gouache-workbook-pdf

Last month I taught my first class at ARCH Art Supplies and it was great! I didn't finish my demo painting in class, so I finished it later. Here it is!

If you want to find out when the next class is, you can sign up for my newsletter or keep an eye out here or on Instagram.

[njbice]

Class is tomorrow! Come play with compositions with me!

I'm teaching a class in a week!

I want to try digging deeper into one part of my painting process, this time it's thumbnails.

A thumbnail is a small preparatory sketch used to explore composition and value before starting a painting or artwork. By using thumbnails to explore multiple options, the artist can dig deeper than their first idea and land on new and exciting compositions. We will use value and shape in thumbnails to create a strong base from which to begin an artwork. Students will work both with a still life and with exterior cityscape photo references in order to practice with varied subject matter.

The class ticket comes with all materials needed, including a gray tone sketchbook, watercolor markers, chalk pencil, and micron pen. Rather than study rules and principles of composition, this class will guide students through experimenting with thumbnails for inventive compositions and to build skills and instincts for composition.

If you are in the Bay Area, I hope you can join me for this class! You can sign up here!

[njbice]

Coming up this Saturday! There's still room to sign up!

I'm teaching a class in a week!

I want to try digging deeper into one part of my painting process, this time it's thumbnails.

A thumbnail is a small preparatory sketch used to explore composition and value before starting a painting or artwork. By using thumbnails to explore multiple options, the artist can dig deeper than their first idea and land on new and exciting compositions. We will use value and shape in thumbnails to create a strong base from which to begin an artwork. Students will work both with a still life and with exterior cityscape photo references in order to practice with varied subject matter.

The class ticket comes with all materials needed, including a gray tone sketchbook, watercolor markers, chalk pencil, and micron pen. Rather than study rules and principles of composition, this class will guide students through experimenting with thumbnails for inventive compositions and to build skills and instincts for composition.

If you are in the Bay Area, I hope you can join me for this class! You can sign up here!

[njbice]

I'm teaching a class in a week!

I want to try digging deeper into one part of my painting process, this time it's thumbnails.

A thumbnail is a small preparatory sketch used to explore composition and value before starting a painting or artwork. By using thumbnails to explore multiple options, the artist can dig deeper than their first idea and land on new and exciting compositions. We will use value and shape in thumbnails to create a strong base from which to begin an artwork. Students will work both with a still life and with exterior cityscape photo references in order to practice with varied subject matter.

The class ticket comes with all materials needed, including a gray tone sketchbook, watercolor markers, chalk pencil, and micron pen. Rather than study rules and principles of composition, this class will guide students through experimenting with thumbnails for inventive compositions and to build skills and instincts for composition.

If you are in the Bay Area, I hope you can join me for this class! You can sign up here!

[njbice]

I recently helped organize an Ides of March figure drawing event! The theme was my idea and of course it was all for the memes. Posting now but also scheduling for next year, of course.

[njbice]

How is it being an artist in San Francisco?! It’s a place I’ve felt drawn to. Both as a queer person and a painter. One of my favorite authors, Jenny Odell (“How to Do Nothing” and “Saving Time”), wrote her books there.

I hear the seasons aren’t distinct, more a gradual unfolding of events 😄

Oh hey! I love it here, my whole art practice is basically about writing love letters to San Francisco and the Bay Area. The weather is pretty indistinct, we have nice days at all times of year. Somewhat more wet and cold in the winter and some very hot days in late summer, but also cold days in the summer and warm days in the winter. It means I can paint outside all year.

There is all the usual stuff about how difficult it is to make a living as an artist in one of the most expensive cities in the US (in the world?) but I've fortunately been finding my way. It always feels precarious, though.

Thanks for the ask!

[njbice]

Here's the painting btw

Went to Angel Island today and did a little painting of Alcatraz with the city in the background.

[njbice]

I think I have a couple of people who do consistently follow me here and not anywhere else so I just want to say that if this AI deal thing happens and if there isn't a way to opt out I will be taking my art down from Tumblr and probably leaving, which is kind of unthinkable because I've been here since like 2012 but I just can't be okay with that.

So anyways in case that happens if you'd like to keep seeing my art please sign up for my newsletter: https://njbice.substack.com/

You can also follow me on Instagram but fuck those guys too (it's also @ njbice).

[njbice]

I made a Victorian puzzle purse Valentine in preparation for this sunday's show! The text inside reads "Reminding you, my Valentine, you have two jobs: Be Gay, Do Crimes."

I will be making Valentines (not puzzle purses) during the show!

Get your tickets now!

[njbice]

FANCYPANTS: V is for Valentine

Join Fancypants as we dissect the fantasies and fallacies of this cardio-centric holiday! Doors at 6pm. Shows at 7pm, 8pm, & 9pm.

Let's reeducate ourselves as we explore the Mythology of Romance, explode the Chemistry of Attraction, and recalculate the Geometry of the Love Triangle. Each performance is a master class in Advanced Anatomy! Get your exercise by falling in and out of love with Fancypants, over and over!

Get your tickets here!

[njbice]

Finally went up to Twin Peaks for the first time and it's really fabulous.

[njbice]

I don't know why these posted with really weird colors but if you want to see how they are supposed to look I also posted this on my Instagram @ njbice

I'm finally going to try making a few full color prints of my paintings, but I need help deciding which ones to use. Please vote on the poll and if you reblog with additional votes in the tags I will take those into account as well!

[njbice]

I'm finally going to try making a few full color prints of my paintings, but I need help deciding which ones to use. Please vote on the poll and if you reblog with additional votes in the tags I will take those into account as well!

[njbice]

I fixed my newsletter! I had some trouble this month, so I switched to Substack which actually seems pretty cool.

[njbice]

I am back at it with figure drawing! If you are in the Bay area join us at Sketchboard for community and thoughtful figure drawing events almost every day of the week at this point. This year I'm stepping up as an organizer which is super exciting. Tumblr doesn't like links but just look up Sketchboard figure drawing SF (though we have east bay events on Thursdays now!) Or ask me.

The model is the fabulous Allen, who can be found by the handle @agplooks!