creative

Mother of Civilization

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Around 12,000 years ago, while the men were out hunting dwindling big game, a #woman noticed that seeds from wild gatherings dumped on a trash pile began to grow. She took these seeds, planted & tended them, and soon had enough food to more than meet the tribes needs. This pivotal moment for #mankind allowed us to settle down, grow in population, create a #society and do all the glitzier things that followed. Everything from the Roman Coliseum to the Voyager spacecraft, now in interstellar space, would not have been possible without this un-named woman, who, by chance, discovered #farming – #art #digitalart #digitalartist #new #sunset #wheat #history #civilization

Untitled Egypt-like Thème

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I don’t have a title for this, it’s simply an #egytian like theme involving a #beautiful #pharoah like ruler, maybe a candid shot of #Nefertiti if one stretches it and forgets all the fashion, culture, and standard icons of ancient Egypt (it’s #farby ). Maybe it can be representative of an Egyptian influenced outer state such as somewhere near Somalia or something? As I said before, I create the first weird thing that pops into mind when I put in the time. #art #artwork #digital #digitalartist #new #illustration #render #fantasyart

The Beholder

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The Beholder. First thing that popped into my mind when I sat down to #create is really a continuation of yesterday’s #art in #miniature – here we have a twist on the saying #beauty is in the #eye of the #beholder – the beholder being #nano #bots – it’s also because one of the coolest things one can #artistically produce is the #iris – a world unto itself. I guess the scene is #horror at first glance, unless you take into account the #ants may just be admiring nature’s wonders as we humans do a placid lake or landscape. #digitalart #digitalartist #new #humanscape #closeup

La Conquistadora

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Men have often tried to conquer her, through the centuries risking war and #treasure to find her #eldorado , but Sierra Madre rarely gives her riches to these #conquistadores , as they often look in the wrong places. It leaves one wondering, who is really in control?

So I wasn’t going to publish this, I’ve been sitting on it for a couple days, but I figured, if ones #art isn’t offending someone, it’s not true #artwork – it’s definitely not serious, and I was laughing while creating it. I’ve said before I try to create the first thing that comes to mind, and my mind is out there like Pluto. #digitalart #digitalartist #new #cheeky #tongueincheek

Fantasy v. Reality

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A woman dressed in medieval armor sits at a modern office desk with her head resting on her hand, embodying a clash of fantasy v. reality. A sword leans against the desk beside her while a computer monitor, keyboard, and mug adorn the surface. Ceiling lights illuminate the surreal scene.

One of the types of art I’ve enjoyed creating is the juxtaposition of adrenaline charged high fantasy, with the cold mundane-ness of reality. I’ve done a few creations to this end. Let’s explore:

The first is, “A Warrior Walks into a Bar.” I created this from multiple angles, because there is a lot more going on than just another portrait.

I did a second take to focus more on the server and her reaction to the impossibility of someone bringing their horse into the bar – which has been done in cinema.

Another cool thing about alternate angles is that it can showcase other players in the scene and what they are really doing, for example, the bartender saying to the Warrior that horses are definitely not allowed in the bar.

Finally, there’s the boredom that any gamer feels when having to ‘adult.’ In this case, our hero can’t wait to get out and slay the dragon, but she has to do the TPS report first.

The Princess

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A person with flowing red fabric behind them poses dramatically over a table with a candle in a holder. The person has wavy grayish hair and a fierce expression. The background is neutral, emphasizing the dynamic fabric and candle.

The muse of painting has deserted me. I’m not sure when she’ll be back. No worries, her sister the muse of digital artistry is alive and well!

I’ve been doing digital work for about a month, and have already become quite prolific. All of my work is available on my Instagram feed @robmedleyart. I’ll be posting those creations here over the next few days.

My latest work is entitled “The Princess.” It’s about incorporating and celebrating women of color into classic fairy-tales, which seem to be boringly cast full of white characters. There’s so much diversity in the world that I find it tragic our folklore doesn’t follow suit.

Anyway, there are two versions of the Princess. The first one I thought was super beautiful, but in discussing her with my friends, found that I was buying into tropes that were tired and dated.

So, I went back to the virtual drawing board. I’m much more pleased with the results of version two.

Both are beautiful, but I feel there is more going on in the latter and the scene feels more alive.

It’s Been a Minute

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A woman with dark hair tied up in a bun is crouched on the ground, holding a long sword over her shoulder. With intense makeup and bold red lipstick, she wears a serious expression. It’s been a minute since she trained here, in an outdoor concrete area with walls, clad in her sleeveless outfit.

I just looked at my site and saw my last article was published in April of 2018, almost a year ago. For those that held on, thank you!

Where did I go? The short answer is ‘nowhere’; which is both true and ironic. I’ve been working a lot. Since being mortal is part of the human condition, I had to eat, pay rent, etc., and as we all know, art doesn’t a living make, unless you know people, have rich parents, or are talented enough to rise above the noise of the global art market – a billion artists souls vying for your eyeball time.

I haven’t been painting on canvas, per se. Like her musical sister in 2013, that Muse packed her bags and left me for brighter pigments. I’ve had a canvas on by easel since April, but all I’ve managed to do is hit it now and then with a duster and compressed air.

I have been exploring the other arts, like digital illustration, writing, and painting miniatures (which I did as a teenager). I’ve also been taking the aforesaid miniatures and composing photographic scenes, which is fun in itself.

Here’s some of the work I’ve been doing. I usually post to Instagram first, but since I’m paying for this site, I might as well use it, eh?

So, have I been productive? That depends on what one considers art. I’ll leave that for you to decide. Some day, canvas muse may come back, or rekindle as the musical muse did briefly, but I’ll always be doing something creative.

The Watcher

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My favorite time of the year is here, Fall/Halloween. I’ve geared up the darker art to celebrate. This one I call “the Watcher”. I love gargoyles, so I painted one. The bushes are a combination of fantasy and berries I encounter on my daily walks. 

Techniques used include spray paint, acrylic paint, brushwork, finger-painting,  and the use of these styrofoam balls one can find in a craft store.

I wanted to do rain, but you can’t have a full moon in view with rain falling, apparently. I wanted to keep that accuracy.

Nature Rocks

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I may add some highlights to the Roses, but I’m bored, and as Rey found out when turning over her scavenged goods on Jakku, what was worth four rations yesterday, is only worth 1/2 today.

About the painting:

The idea stems from an audial affair I had with an old friend, Concrete Blonde. Concrete Blonde, for those wondering, is an 80’s band fronted by still smoking hot bassist Johnette Napolitano. Her gothic voice, driving rythym, and intense lyrics sucked me right back in as I was navigating my music collection.  

I was listening to the song ‘Caroline’ a lot, especially on my many recent road trips. One day, curious, I pulled up the video…

…And I sort of became inspired. So, the rocker in the painting is Johnette, although I’m horrible at 1:1 realism, and she’s wearing the dress from the video. I took artistic license with the guitar, sue me.  Here’s a still:


The roses? The song ‘Caroline’ is from the album ‘Bloodlettng’, which is chock full of roses. It’s been remastered for its 20th anniversary, by the way:


So that is the story. I guess you could call it fan art? Really, it’s stream of consciousness painting to good music. 

As for the title? Nature does rock. It fits and I’m a fan.

Castle’s Fall

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Nestled in the hills overlooking the sleepy valley, the Sandmen of Castle Dream-guard keep watch on the distance.  For in the far-off mists the armies of the nightmare realm gather for their nefarious purposes.

The castle is modeled on my favorite, Lichtenstein Castle.

Spray Paint and Acrylic on Canvas, 18 x 24.  Unframed. Available for purchase here.

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Harvest Knights

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A surreal painting depicts a vibrant, oversized orange moon against a pink and purple sky. In the foreground, a lush landscape with tall, dark trees and dense foliage evokes the Rites of Spring. A small arched bridge crosses a tranquil stream, with mysterious ruins to the right.

“Harvest Knights” Acrylic and Spray Paint on Canvas, 18 x 24. Deep in the night, under the blood moon a pair of knights rush along a deserted road, past ruins of long forgotten folk towards an urgent engagement. At least that’s the idea. The skills never match the concept.

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Rites of Spring

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A surreal painting depicts two gnarled trees with twisting, leafless branches against a dramatic gradient sky, reminiscent of the Rites of Spring. The ground is covered in warm-toned, orange-brown grass, with a small patch of vibrant green plants and colorful flowers in the foreground.

Deep in the night as the vernal equinox reaches its apex; while the moon blankets the land in cold light; the sleeping children of Nature stir.  The trees begin the dance of awakening, twisting and undulating in reverent celebration.  Their movement coaxes the Earth Mother to coalescence; like the creation of a galaxy, swirling, spinning, concentrating the forces of life against those of decay. The first buds begin to bloom, a supernova of light their birth cry – Spring has arrived.

That was the thought.  I’m fascinated with the pagan past of humanity, wrapped in rich mysticism which is completely the opposite of the modern fascination with the cold facts of science.  This interest is reflected in this painting.

P.S. There are no people in the painting.

The painting itself is a mix of spray paint and acrylic brushwork.  It is flawed, at least I see the big flaw, but until I figure out how to fix it without destroying the composition, I guess its finished.  The dimensions are 18 x 24. It’s for sale at $200 plus shipping (should be about $20, I’ll pick up anything above that).

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