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More from Blotch
Justa cattle dog fella.
Category Artwork (Traditional) / All
Species Dog (Other)
Size 560 x 888px
File Size 172.5 kB
The phrase "True Blue" suggests it's an Australian cattle dog in an outback scene. We don't have coyotes over here, we have dingos instead. We don't have rednecks either, but we do have bogans.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Cattle_Dog
http://www.urbandictionary.com/defi.....php?term=Bogan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Cattle_Dog
http://www.urbandictionary.com/defi.....php?term=Bogan
I typically put masking fluid down first over the character, then do the background. Makes it much easier to do sky washes and such. :]
I have a couple of photos of in-progress pieces, buried in my Scraps folder, where you can see the masking fluid:
http://www.furaffinity.net/full/1260720/
http://www.furaffinity.net/full/708472/ (nsfw)
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/1792723/ (nsfw)
I have a couple of photos of in-progress pieces, buried in my Scraps folder, where you can see the masking fluid:
http://www.furaffinity.net/full/1260720/
http://www.furaffinity.net/full/708472/ (nsfw)
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/1792723/ (nsfw)
GAHHH!!! Damn*grumble*gnash*rumble*huffhuffhuff*.....I had almost gotten over my craving to watch more westerns!! ( "Crossfire Trail", "Monte Walsh", and "Quigley Down Under" are some of my favorites)
And now I see this handsome hunk who stands representative of the living embodiment of self sufficient people. A cowboy had to be able to do an amazing amount of stuff just to take care of himself. So much of that knowledge is completely lost on most folk nowadays.
Thanks very much for doing...and posting this one. I like this a lot.
Beautiful art, as always. The textures look so life-like.
Ah, the title reminded me of my time in Australia...
Here's to cattle dog he's true blue.
He's a piss-pot through and through.
He's a bastard, so they say.
He tried to go to heaven but he went the other way!
He went down, down, down, down!
Was that by any chance the reference for the title?
Ah, the title reminded me of my time in Australia...
Here's to cattle dog he's true blue.
He's a piss-pot through and through.
He's a bastard, so they say.
He tried to go to heaven but he went the other way!
He went down, down, down, down!
Was that by any chance the reference for the title?
There's much more to this picture than meets the eye. After all, it's not really art if the artist simply wanted 1000 people to think "That's cool" and then forget about it. Art is meant to convey an emotion or idea, and here Blotch does BOTH if you study the picture.
First, what do we see, as an audience?
The obvious spotlight of the picture is a dog, a Blue Heeler. Some other important portions of the picture are the extremely barren background, the cracked, realistic fence and the very blue, very well done sky. I thought that the blue fade-out near the dog was a nice effect; so is the piece of wheat hanging from his muzzle. The shadow technique used in this piece is unwaveringly beautiful, especially on the relaxed clothing.
It's a really cool piece, needless to say. The key points of the picture are the sky, the dog, and the fence, all of which show a lot of thought and preparation.
What is the artwork about?
It's about the current political attitudes in America, especially from working-class Democrats.
I know, it is crazy, but here's how I got to my solution.
First, let's examine the color blue. I don't think it's a stretch to say it applies to Democrats; I also think the blue dimming as it reaches the middle of the picture shows that the dog, the Democrat in the picture, is at best moderately blue.
Also, notice the location in context. According to Wikifur, Blotch lives in Colorado, a state that is EXTREMELY reminiscent of the background. In fact, Colorado is a recently converted Blue state in the 2008 election period. Isn't that convenient? Therefore, it is safe to assume that Colorado is the location of the picture. This assumption is useful because it allows us to place the perspective in context; it allows the audience to extract meaning.
But, because of the dog, this is not the end of the story. We can find a few examples to support the conclusion that the dog is at least SOMEWHAT loyal to the Democrat agenda; first, the fact that dogs are inherently associated with loyalty is a big "dur." Next, the title: "True Blue" is a phrase that means loyalty and unwavering support for a cause. Finally, the species is a huge clue. Blue Heelers are known for their energy, intelligence and independence. This interpretation gives a distinct view of not the new voters, but instead, the picture is supposed to represent the OLD-style Democrats, the farmers and the working-class! Y'know, the ones who are fairly moderate, don't really love the government, and yet voted Democrat in droves last year...? So, basically, we've established that the dog is a moderate, a Democrat, and is more dedicated to the CAUSE, rather than the PARTY. This is not a politically charged piece.
Colorado has been shown to have a strong ranching and agricultural economy, and this economic downturn is KILLING them. The coalition of working-class voters has been looking for a solution, and through this new President they are finding hope and further support behind their ambitions. This ambition is to better their economic situation; consider the connection between the date of this piece and the Economic Stimulus Package. Obviously, many of these older, more Moderate Democrats are going to be worried about the package; this is why the piece works. To sum up, these working-class Democrats are worried that the package won't work; they want to see other options, but they also want to support the party that stood for them during the election. It's loyalty.
The piece works because it shows how these moderate Democrats, while still looking for options (that's why he's leaning on the fence) in these troubling economic times (barren background), still support the new President and his agenda, hoping for a better situation.
Finally, what does the artist probably think? Let's look at the character again. I can plainly see the piece of wheat hanging from his muzzle, and in most pieces, wheat represents prosperity and abundance. Blotch, as a collective, thinks that the new Democratic regime will reward the old Democrats for their loyalty and support, and that the new plans will work.
How is it possible to judge such a piece?
First, I think you can judge the piece by its ability to show its message. The title, coloring, background, and fence ALL apply to the theme. The clothing choice and "personality" of the dog really helped with the emotion that the piece conveys, and helped me to realize what type of Democrat the artist was trying to present. (Wondering why the dog wasn't obviously gay, especially after the last few pieces posted? It's because that wouldn't fit the personality or theme.)
Next, I think the artist presents a pretty positive message. The idea of hope and loyalty for a new political rule is great! It supports the nation, regardless of political affiliation. Also, did you notice the crack in the fence? That's cool; it represents the breaking down of political barriers. That's why it's not all THAT bad that the cattledog is looking for other options, albeit rather complacently.
Finally, that's my only problem with the piece. The facial expression is not... expressive. Neither are the clothes; just because they lend to the theme, it doesn't mean they show anything special. I want something better with the face, such as a worried look, or a hopeful look, or anything other than... complacent. He just has a smile; no name, no background, nothing lends to the picture. The audience simply has to make assumptions about the past; this process isn't helped by a lack of emotion.
Otherwise, it's a hella good piece.
I do feel like I should defend my interp to some extent. First, it IS an Australian cattle dog, fine. Therefore, it should be in Australia, right? Wrong. I would first refer you to a picture of Kenket on her LJ page; notice the hat. Also, notice that she is in AMERICA. Plus, if this was a picture of Australia, what does that do to the picture's meaning? I don't study Australian politics, and to me, all meaning would be lost if this was Australia-based. Even if the artist meant for it to be in Australia, it kills meaning and doesn't really apply to anything current. Besides, the artist lives in Colorado, and Blotch makes a huge point in his tutorials that artists "Draw from LIFE." I really doubt that this piece applies to a foreign country... and I just like my interp too much.
First, what do we see, as an audience?
The obvious spotlight of the picture is a dog, a Blue Heeler. Some other important portions of the picture are the extremely barren background, the cracked, realistic fence and the very blue, very well done sky. I thought that the blue fade-out near the dog was a nice effect; so is the piece of wheat hanging from his muzzle. The shadow technique used in this piece is unwaveringly beautiful, especially on the relaxed clothing.
It's a really cool piece, needless to say. The key points of the picture are the sky, the dog, and the fence, all of which show a lot of thought and preparation.
What is the artwork about?
It's about the current political attitudes in America, especially from working-class Democrats.
I know, it is crazy, but here's how I got to my solution.
First, let's examine the color blue. I don't think it's a stretch to say it applies to Democrats; I also think the blue dimming as it reaches the middle of the picture shows that the dog, the Democrat in the picture, is at best moderately blue.
Also, notice the location in context. According to Wikifur, Blotch lives in Colorado, a state that is EXTREMELY reminiscent of the background. In fact, Colorado is a recently converted Blue state in the 2008 election period. Isn't that convenient? Therefore, it is safe to assume that Colorado is the location of the picture. This assumption is useful because it allows us to place the perspective in context; it allows the audience to extract meaning.
But, because of the dog, this is not the end of the story. We can find a few examples to support the conclusion that the dog is at least SOMEWHAT loyal to the Democrat agenda; first, the fact that dogs are inherently associated with loyalty is a big "dur." Next, the title: "True Blue" is a phrase that means loyalty and unwavering support for a cause. Finally, the species is a huge clue. Blue Heelers are known for their energy, intelligence and independence. This interpretation gives a distinct view of not the new voters, but instead, the picture is supposed to represent the OLD-style Democrats, the farmers and the working-class! Y'know, the ones who are fairly moderate, don't really love the government, and yet voted Democrat in droves last year...? So, basically, we've established that the dog is a moderate, a Democrat, and is more dedicated to the CAUSE, rather than the PARTY. This is not a politically charged piece.
Colorado has been shown to have a strong ranching and agricultural economy, and this economic downturn is KILLING them. The coalition of working-class voters has been looking for a solution, and through this new President they are finding hope and further support behind their ambitions. This ambition is to better their economic situation; consider the connection between the date of this piece and the Economic Stimulus Package. Obviously, many of these older, more Moderate Democrats are going to be worried about the package; this is why the piece works. To sum up, these working-class Democrats are worried that the package won't work; they want to see other options, but they also want to support the party that stood for them during the election. It's loyalty.
The piece works because it shows how these moderate Democrats, while still looking for options (that's why he's leaning on the fence) in these troubling economic times (barren background), still support the new President and his agenda, hoping for a better situation.
Finally, what does the artist probably think? Let's look at the character again. I can plainly see the piece of wheat hanging from his muzzle, and in most pieces, wheat represents prosperity and abundance. Blotch, as a collective, thinks that the new Democratic regime will reward the old Democrats for their loyalty and support, and that the new plans will work.
How is it possible to judge such a piece?
First, I think you can judge the piece by its ability to show its message. The title, coloring, background, and fence ALL apply to the theme. The clothing choice and "personality" of the dog really helped with the emotion that the piece conveys, and helped me to realize what type of Democrat the artist was trying to present. (Wondering why the dog wasn't obviously gay, especially after the last few pieces posted? It's because that wouldn't fit the personality or theme.)
Next, I think the artist presents a pretty positive message. The idea of hope and loyalty for a new political rule is great! It supports the nation, regardless of political affiliation. Also, did you notice the crack in the fence? That's cool; it represents the breaking down of political barriers. That's why it's not all THAT bad that the cattledog is looking for other options, albeit rather complacently.
Finally, that's my only problem with the piece. The facial expression is not... expressive. Neither are the clothes; just because they lend to the theme, it doesn't mean they show anything special. I want something better with the face, such as a worried look, or a hopeful look, or anything other than... complacent. He just has a smile; no name, no background, nothing lends to the picture. The audience simply has to make assumptions about the past; this process isn't helped by a lack of emotion.
Otherwise, it's a hella good piece.
I do feel like I should defend my interp to some extent. First, it IS an Australian cattle dog, fine. Therefore, it should be in Australia, right? Wrong. I would first refer you to a picture of Kenket on her LJ page; notice the hat. Also, notice that she is in AMERICA. Plus, if this was a picture of Australia, what does that do to the picture's meaning? I don't study Australian politics, and to me, all meaning would be lost if this was Australia-based. Even if the artist meant for it to be in Australia, it kills meaning and doesn't really apply to anything current. Besides, the artist lives in Colorado, and Blotch makes a huge point in his tutorials that artists "Draw from LIFE." I really doubt that this piece applies to a foreign country... and I just like my interp too much.
I blushed and then frowned when I saw your response. I recently saw something life-changing, though.
I woke around 4'o'clock in the morning, slowly blinked my tired brown eyes and, right ouside my bedroom window, witnessed the unfurling of crimson and peach and gold that we all know as a sunrise. It dawned on me that beauty doesn't need a deeper meaning: it's just there.
True Blue is just there.
The only message here is one of simplicity; a specked Austrailian sky, a barren landscape, a cracked fence, and an expressionless, humble rancher. The proportion for the body looks slightly off to me, but who cares? I want to know who this farm-dog is, what he's thinking, what put that smile on his muzzle. Does he know we're watching him, or not? Even the subdued colors of cotton and fur draw me right into his world.
Does this piece remind you of the Mona Lisa?
I woke around 4'o'clock in the morning, slowly blinked my tired brown eyes and, right ouside my bedroom window, witnessed the unfurling of crimson and peach and gold that we all know as a sunrise. It dawned on me that beauty doesn't need a deeper meaning: it's just there.
True Blue is just there.
The only message here is one of simplicity; a specked Austrailian sky, a barren landscape, a cracked fence, and an expressionless, humble rancher. The proportion for the body looks slightly off to me, but who cares? I want to know who this farm-dog is, what he's thinking, what put that smile on his muzzle. Does he know we're watching him, or not? Even the subdued colors of cotton and fur draw me right into his world.
Does this piece remind you of the Mona Lisa?
Ah, then you're missing out on the beauty of the piece.
Pull up the Mona Lisa in a seperate tab and you'll see the similarities: the soft, distanced eyes, the carefully folded arms, the subdued background, and of course, that smile.
Whether you see it or not, thank you for returning my attention to this incredible piece. I completely missed the point last time, but now I see it clearly.
Pull up the Mona Lisa in a seperate tab and you'll see the similarities: the soft, distanced eyes, the carefully folded arms, the subdued background, and of course, that smile.
Whether you see it or not, thank you for returning my attention to this incredible piece. I completely missed the point last time, but now I see it clearly.
I'm not missing out on anything. I can't believe you're comparing this to the Mona Lisa. There isn't really anything special about the Mona Lisa (as referenced by Marcel Duchamp in L.H.O.O.Q.) but for the fact that art was always placed on a pedestal and had an "aura" created around it to make it seem like it was sacred and to be worshiped, and the Mona Lisa is the best example of this - due to being hidden away in the depths of a gallery - only available to the upper classes until the 20th century. Again, though, you're reading toooooo far into this.
The piece's style is similar to the Mona Lisa's; while there are clear differences in lighting and color choice, both pieces are comparable in the engimatic smile, background style, and overall mood. Both pieces carry their power in simplicity and facial expression, so for me, the comparison is easy to see.
How am I reading too much into it...? I'm not saying they're the same or placing a value on either piece; I'm simply pointing out that the styles are similar, nothing more, nothing less. I do appreciate that Blotch used a sharper lighting style and a simpler, crisper style than Leonardo, but I also really hoped you'd see the similarities, too. I don't understand why the comparison is invalid, I guess. ^^
Either way, it's an amazing piece, something we can agree on. :P
How am I reading too much into it...? I'm not saying they're the same or placing a value on either piece; I'm simply pointing out that the styles are similar, nothing more, nothing less. I do appreciate that Blotch used a sharper lighting style and a simpler, crisper style than Leonardo, but I also really hoped you'd see the similarities, too. I don't understand why the comparison is invalid, I guess. ^^
Either way, it's an amazing piece, something we can agree on. :P
You are comparing a watercolour of a dog-man done by an internet known artist to the MONA LISA.
think about it, chump. You're very obviously placing values on both pieces because you wrote a fucking essay about it.
I don't think it's that amazing; it's a beautifully done watercolour but the main reaction I get is that I wish my watercolour was that crisp. Aside from that it doesn't floor me, it's just aesthetically pleasing and nothing more.
think about it, chump. You're very obviously placing values on both pieces because you wrote a fucking essay about it.
I don't think it's that amazing; it's a beautifully done watercolour but the main reaction I get is that I wish my watercolour was that crisp. Aside from that it doesn't floor me, it's just aesthetically pleasing and nothing more.
I wrote that essay months ago. Now, I just wanted to talk about art; you seemed nice at first, but I guess I was wrong.
It's fine if you don't agree with me, and I still believe the art styles are similar, but you don't need to call me names or curse. ^^ You still haven't shown how my comparison is wrong, just insulted it.
Just curious, what do you consider amazing? My criteria is based on effectiveness: was the piece well executed and does the piece potray an idea or emotion? I felt the message was one of simple living, simple thinking, and a simple life. The piece's artistic style resembles da Vinci artwork, although (personally) Blotch pulls it off much better. This is a piece I can remember.
It's fine if you don't agree with me, and I still believe the art styles are similar, but you don't need to call me names or curse. ^^ You still haven't shown how my comparison is wrong, just insulted it.
Just curious, what do you consider amazing? My criteria is based on effectiveness: was the piece well executed and does the piece potray an idea or emotion? I felt the message was one of simple living, simple thinking, and a simple life. The piece's artistic style resembles da Vinci artwork, although (personally) Blotch pulls it off much better. This is a piece I can remember.
awesome! it's almost like a photo xD
i've always wished i could draw as well as you :P
i've practiced as much as my patience will let me though and i can't even make the lineart look good xD
and for the painting.. well i've never tried. It looks more fun than drawing on the pc though :P
look forward to seeing more from you :) they're getting better every time ^^
i've always wished i could draw as well as you :P
i've practiced as much as my patience will let me though and i can't even make the lineart look good xD
and for the painting.. well i've never tried. It looks more fun than drawing on the pc though :P
look forward to seeing more from you :) they're getting better every time ^^
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