Matt Loveridge's Art Blog

Gentleman Frog

2012-01-30T08:40:00.000-08:00

It's interesting trying to make a living doing something that you really enjoy doing. I always find joy when I complete a project, you know that feeling of accomplishment you get, but I also think it's important to sometimes draw something just for sake of drawing. Even if it's not commissioned, has no purpose, and probably won't be shown in any galleries. It's good to remember how fun the actual act of drawing is. So sometimes you just need to draw a frog in a suit.

IF: Prepare (Toothfairy)

2012-01-19T07:46:00.001-08:00

It's never a good sign when you forget you're password to your own blog. I think that means I need to post more frequently. A lot of things have changed since my last post. I got a second job teaching art classes at an art center, and we found out that Jackie is pregnant . . . . with twins! Pretty crazy but we are excited. So all of that along with the holidays really hindered any new work. Well I'm back in the swing of things and will be posting artwork more regularly.

Enough talk here's my latest attempt to add to the old portfolio. It's my first attempt at an "all digital" painting, I still have to work out some kinks before I feel totally comfortable. I'd love some feed back.

IF: Hibernate

2011-09-30T06:14:00.000-07:00

"I know it's time to hibernate, but I still think 80% is too high"

Some of my friends may have already seen this painting, but it fit with the topic so good I had to use it. Let me know what you think.

IF: Shadows

2011-06-08T07:48:00.000-07:00

"When you’re a dragon your campfire stories might be too scary"
This is one I've been working on for a book I wrote called The Trouble With Being a Dragon. Let me know what you guys think.

IF: Soaked

2011-05-23T07:17:00.000-07:00

This is from a story that I wrote called "BAAAAH!"
Let me know what you guys think.

IF: Safari

2011-05-18T12:14:00.000-07:00

Suburban Safari

More shirt designs

2011-02-12T15:09:00.000-08:00

The ladies at Upsy Daisy Creations asked me to do 4 more shirt designs. Once again they were awesome to work with.

Fun project for some new clients

2011-02-05T09:41:00.000-08:00

These are a few images that I just finished for a new client. They are a small clothing company out of California called Upsy Daisy Creations . They were great to work with. They just told me they wanted an image of a princess, a knight, and a dragon and then they gave me free reign to come up with what ever I wanted.

Flight

2011-01-10T07:22:00.000-08:00

I'm not normally a winter-hater , but lately I've really been craving some warm weather. Since that's not likely to happen any time soon, I decided to paint something warmer. (plus it was a chance to paint my girls)

Kids, Kids, Kids

2010-10-18T08:37:00.000-07:00

I realized as I was looking over my portfolio that I could use some more artwork involving kids. In an effort to fix this mistake I'm adding some paintings I've been working on. I've still got some more pictures to add, but they may have to wait a little while so I can finish up some of my other projects.

IF: Beneath

2010-10-07T13:33:00.000-07:00

I had hoped to get this loaded sooner. my thought was to represent the varying people "beneath" the culture. Let me know what you think.
Chinese Dragon

IF: Spooky

2010-10-06T09:31:00.001-07:00

Yeah I know it's not terribly "spooky", except maybe that tree in the background. At any rate this image will also serve as my Halloween mailer so. . . HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

I do love Halloween. Hopefully everyone is getting their costumes ready, and not just going as "an un-costumed person". Be safe!

Masks not Included

IF: Star gazing

2010-08-16T12:32:00.000-07:00

Star gazing and roasting marshmallows. I'd love any feedback.

IF: Acrobat

2010-07-29T10:26:00.001-07:00

Death defying acrobatics!
Let me know what you think.

"Circus Peanuts"

IF: Expired

2010-03-22T08:31:00.000-07:00

I did this one a while ago but I felt like it fit the theme enough to re-post it for illustration friday. Let me know what you think.

Introductions

2010-03-07T06:32:00.000-08:00

Yet again this is a drawing for the Brotique blog. the topic was introductions. I got to use my new brush pen on this one. It is definitely my new favorite toy.

New Website

2010-02-15T15:42:00.000-08:00

In the attempt to look more professional, I've got a new website you can find it at www.mattloveridge.com It's by no means perfect but I'm still working on it. That way I can have all my best stuff on that site and still screw around having fun on this one. If your bored go check it out.

IF: Launch

2010-02-12T11:07:00.000-08:00

I have to admit I came up with this a while ago for a different project, but I'm going to re-use it because I think it works with the theme. The original idea was to finish it in color, but I got busy writing some other poems to go with it and never got around to it. Of course I kind of like the pencil look. Let me know what you think.

Brotique: "I thought it couldn't get any worse"

2010-01-21T07:32:00.001-08:00

This is my latest piece for the brotique blog. I've been trying out this style with the ink and brush, colored with color and texture sampled from other paintings I've done. I'd love to hear comments or suggestions. To read or see some of the other guys stuff from brotique go here http://brotique.blogspot.com/

Brotique: 67% Body Fat

2009-11-21T11:18:00.000-08:00

" I know it's time to hibernate, but I still think 67% is a little high!"

This is my latest submission to the Brotique Blog. Brotique is a group of children's illustrators & writer's. We get together a couple times a month and critique each others stuff in hopes of producing magnificent children's stories. I'll put a link up to the site and the blog as soon as I can.

Portrait of Grandpa Shoell

2009-08-10T22:26:00.000-07:00

This is a pencil drawing I was working on for Jackie's Grandpa. He asked me about a month ago to draw his portrait in pencil. He passed away two days before I finished it. He was a great man, and we will miss him very much.

A few more.

2009-05-18T05:03:00.000-07:00

Can you here me now?

Don't tempt death.

School assignment. We had to pose the women in the "little house on the prarie" dress and put her in a painting.

"Bullfrogs & Dragonflies"

A much needed update

2009-05-16T09:57:00.000-07:00

I think a wooden beaver would have plenty of trials in it's life.

An assignment for school. The assignment was "If these walls could talk"

Another school assignment, I was supposed to paint something from this decade that would be recognized if found 100 years later. I went with guitar hero.

I've been playing with washes lately, this painting was done in water color.

location, location, location. A little comment on the real estate market, sometimes you get what you pay for.

Black & Whites

2009-05-13T08:12:00.001-07:00

I finally have some time to upload some new stuff. I've been playing with ink a lot lately, so here are a few b&w spot illustrations.

BFA Project

2009-04-02T07:47:00.000-07:00

I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. I just got done hanging my senior show at the Harris Fine Arts Center (HFAC) at BYU. I haven't got any of them scanned, so I can't post them yet, but if your in the Provo area feel free to stop in and take a look. I've also got three pieces hanging in the student show in the same building. Hopefully now that I have a little more free time, I can scan my other paintings and keep things a little more updated.

p.s. I recently had the opportunity to go with a group of students down to Zions National Park. The trip was payed for by a grant from Avalanche; they are a video game company owned by Disney. We were down painting and sketching to get reference which we will use later to do a background painting that could be used in a video game. You can track our progress as we get ready for a show that we'll be having in the end of May at http://ziondesigntrip.blogspot.com/

Illustration Friday: Rambunctious

2008-12-13T05:38:00.000-08:00

Epic battle between nutcracker and squirrel. . . this is definitely the most "rambunctious" painting I have. I just finished this piece for one of my last assignments this semester. I was playing with some new styles and techniques. I had a lot of fun doing this one. I'd love any comments.

Illustration Friday: Pretend

2008-11-18T11:13:00.001-08:00

Who know's how to pretend better than kids. This is a painting from a children's book I'm working on. Anyway let me know what you think.

Illustration Friday: Adapt

2008-11-17T08:33:00.000-08:00

I figure you can either complain about what life hands you, or you can adapt and make the best of a bad situation.

I was experimenting with a modified color palette, and night scenes. I'd love any comments.

Grasshopper & The Ant's

2008-10-15T09:33:00.000-07:00

This was my latest assignment for school. I did an interpretation of the Aesop's fable of the Ant's and the Grasshoppers. Nothing personal against people who skateboard and use an ipod and text at the same time (unless your a grasshopper . . . dang grasshoppers)

Illustration Friday: Strings

2008-10-14T16:54:00.000-07:00

Just a real quick ink drawing for Illustration Friday. Hopefully the concept is self explanatory.

Plein Air Painting Class

2008-10-08T10:42:00.001-07:00

This was my out of class project where we use the landscape as subject, and use the style that we would like to go into. I tried to gear this one towards children illustration. It's done in guoche

This was my first in class project. Our class painted in the country between Springville and Provo. This was my first time painting outdoors, I thought it was a lot of fun. Oil on masonite board.

Sketches from the Sketchbook

2008-10-08T10:26:00.000-07:00

Here's a few sketches out of my sketchbook. I did a few studies of some trees both realistic and stylized for a project I'm working on. Also a few character designs for the same project. I have some more sketches I need to upload, it's just hard to find the time.

Illustration Friday: Packed

2008-09-30T22:04:00.000-07:00

sometimes a comfort zone is a luxury. I welcome any comments. Ink and digital.

"You are what you eat"

2008-09-22T10:24:00.000-07:00

My first assignment for school. We were working with the phrase you are what you _______? I decided to stick with the obvious you are what you eat. I was wondering where a cannibal would do his shopping, probablly walmart, they have everything there.

Illustration Friday: Memories

2008-09-03T11:39:00.000-07:00

This will probably be my last picture for a while. School starts today so unless the stars align and I have an assignment that works for the topic of the week, I'll just have to check out other people's great work. Ink and digital, I'd love any comments.

Illustration Friday: Routine

2008-08-24T08:17:00.000-07:00

"Brand new day, . . .

same old routine."

I guess there are worse things in the world than doing the same thing everyday, especially if you get to draw everyday. Digital painting done in Corel painter. I'd love any comments.

Illustration Friday: Detatch

2008-08-17T09:11:00.000-07:00

This is far from my original idea which was a little more gruesome, but I still had a lot of fun with it. Ink and digital. Please feel free to comment.

Illustration Friday: Sail

2008-08-10T22:46:00.000-07:00

This became a lesson in re-learning gouache. I really wanted to involve a mouse somehow, I just wasn't sure what would motivate a mouse to go sailing, so he's chasing after the moon, which we all know is made of cheese of course. I welcome any comments

Illustration Friday: Poof!

2008-08-07T15:45:00.001-07:00

This is my first entry to Illustration Friday. The word was "Poof!" I figured if a Magician and Fairy-God Mother's magic crossed, then "Poof" you'd get a mess. I'd love any comments.

This was going to be my first time entering anything into Illustration Friday but I ran out of time. The theme was "Sour".

Sketchbook

2008-06-17T14:20:00.000-07:00

These are a bunch of sketches from my Sketchbooks. Mostly pictures of fellow Illustration students and some doodles.

Character Design Class

2008-06-17T13:24:00.000-07:00

I took a Character design class last semester and I really enjoyed it. Our teacher was Todd Harris. The class really focused a lot on the story behind the characters.

This was our first assignment. We were asked to come up with our own story and provide the characters. The basic idea of my story was about a viking family with a confrontation between the two brothers. The oldest one being the heir to the throne by birthright, and the second wanting him out of the way because he feels he is inadequate to rule the people.

These were some characters for a story about post-apocalyptic animal superheroes (kind of rolls right off the tongue doesn't it). I really like drawing animals so I thought this one was easy to get into.

This was our Final. We got to choose from The Wizard of Oz, Little Red Riding Hood, or any other classic and put a twist on it. Then we needed to show the main characters progression as they went through the story. I chose The Wizard of Oz and I set it in The old west. My main character gets separated from his family, and has very little self confidence. He is befriended by three different outcasts that help him to grow in some way. In the end he is reunited with his family and has to face his fears.

On the way to class one day I was thinking of the story of the Tortoise and the Hare. I thought it would be fun to replace the hare with a snail. It doesn't mean the tortoise was any less persistent, even if he does finally have the advantage.

Correll Painter

2008-06-17T12:59:00.000-07:00

These are a few of my assignments from my painter class. I really liked that class. I thought Don did a great job. I really want to spend more time with painter once things slow down. I haven't done a lot of things in painter, but I really like the freedom it gives you in certain areas.

This is my first assignment, The phrase that I had to Illustrate was "Elephants are the only animal that can't jump" That's why the elephant is getting picked last. (I know the feeling)

This was my final Painter assignment for the semester. The subject was, "I was in the house when the house burned down". I hope the cause of the fire isn't too subtle. Like I said, earlier I really enjoy painter. I can't wait to play with it a little more over the summer and get a little bit more proficient with it.

Illustration Friday: Opinion

2008-06-13T09:32:00.000-07:00

It is of my opinion that Norman Rockwell was one of the greatest painters, in both technique and story. I've always loved his paintings. I'd love any comments.

Walrus Stampede

2008-06-13T09:26:00.000-07:00

This article was about shrinking Ice floats forcing walrus' on to overcrowded beaches where they would stampede at the site of a polar bear or a plane or anything. I felt bad for all the innocent Polar bears starting a stampede just from their showing up for a day at the beach.

Bad Dreams

2008-06-13T09:20:00.000-07:00

This is a painting I did for my class of one of my bad dreams. When I was a kid I would sometimes have these dreams that I was alone in my neighborhood, then all these wildabeest's and German Shepards would come frome every where and start chasing me until I barricaded my self in my house. For anyone who believe that dreams need to mean something, feel free to analyze this one.

Alice in Wonderland

2008-06-13T09:14:00.000-07:00

This is an acrylic painting of Alice right before she meets the Cheshire cat. We were supposed to only use one color with black and white. Can you guess what color I picked. I was pretty happy with this one. It was the first acrylic painting that I wasn't totally frustrated with.

*Special thanks to Lindsay for posing for me.

FBI protecting hit men

2008-06-13T07:29:00.000-07:00

I really don't remember the story for this assignment because I fell asleep the three times I tried to read it because it was so boring. I only remember three things.

The FBI was protecting these hit men for being informants.
J. Edgar hoover was over the FBI for a long time.
J. Edgar Hoover looks like a bulldog (which are fun to draw)

Snowmen VS Video Games

2008-06-13T07:25:00.000-07:00

This was the redo on my first acrylic painting. The story for the assignment was about how the sale of sleds is declining due to kids changing interests.

Tree House

2008-06-13T07:06:00.000-07:00

Courtney Granner came to our class to see our work and give it a critique. Courtney teaches at San Jose State University. I really like his style of work. The story he gave us was about two boys and their tree house. I tried to make it look like it could really be a tree house that two boys could make. If I had to do it again I wouldn't have worried about doing it realistic. I would go more stylistic.

Gouache Painting

2008-06-13T05:27:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure why I'm posting these cause they're old as dirt, but they're my first gouache paintings so I feel the need to put them up.

This assignment was to take a nursery rhyme an put it in a different setting. I took Jack Sprat and his wife and put them in a McDonalds. I really didn't want to ask anyone to model for the wife for obvious reasons, but luckily when I took my girls out for lunch to discreetly get some fast food reference, there was a group of rather large women eating lunch together. I got my daughter to pose for me then I focused past her and took a picture of one of the lady's taking a bite. I was quite proud of myself at the time, but in telling the story I feel a little shame. I'm sure I'll get over it.

This painting was on an article about people who are afraid of everything. I Think I could work on the quality of paint but I was really happy with how the concept turned out.

* SIDE NOTE - for any of my family who might read this. I was never sure how to pronounce this word correctly so I looked it up. Gouache is pronounced "gwash" kind of like squash, not "gowcho" like an Argentine cowboy

Figure drawings from '07

2008-06-12T11:21:00.000-07:00

These are just a bunch of old figure drawings I found from last year. The first two where done in pencil the rest are my maiden voyage with charcoal. I've got some drawings that are more current I just need to get some pictures taken of them. Then I can post them

Fortune Cookie Assignment

2008-06-12T08:50:00.000-07:00

I found this old drawing and thought it was pretty fun. It was done in Illustrator. The assignment was to take the fortune from a fortune cookie and illustrate it. I think my forutne was "You know what you want, now get to work and make it happen".