My Current Desktop and Happy Vining.

It's been a big switch when I quit my old procession (Software Engineer) and ventured into the unknown. So this is my current desktop.

First it's a REAL desktop and not a computer screen.

Second, I've had to learn a whole new set of tools. You would think a pencil is just a pencil and a paint brush is just a paint brush, but noooooo, they are tools into you mind and that's what needs re-tooling.

The tactual nature of these tools and operation as much more rewarding (and frustrating too) than typing code in an IDE. That had it's incentive but that well went dry and life changes, so I changed.

The pleasure of creating colors (no RGB involved) ad hoc wise is interesting. Getting the technique to merge them on paper is very tough. You do not know what you're going to get, so you just have to go with it.

I'm glad that I can do a lot of other things instead of Software, but I hope that others in my past procession work on other paths for when they leave the field. If they don't leave the field, the field may leave them. With the average age of software engineers in the late 20's early 30's, those in the 50's may want to lookup from their keyboards and smell some flowers of life.

It took me about 1.25 years to make the transition and I was planned for it, scheduled it and put my plan in motion myself. It's hard for me to comprehend how it works (or doesn't) for those who's transitions are not voluntary. I've met a couple of doctors (I procession that is 100% absorbing) that failed in their transition (similar to what my own father when through but his was not a doctor). Transitions are like Tarzan swinging on vines through the jungle, to get anywhere on the new vine you have to let go of your current vine. Or you get stuck!

Don't get stuck, learn to let go.

Comments

There is no "Right" way.

It's not that your way is not the right way, it's that everyone has their own right way. So which is the right way? Is there a right way? Software development is full of discussions that revolve about the "right" way of doing something. The terms used in discussing software design, tools and implementation are so undefined as to make them meaningless. Code is not designed and written in a vacuum, it's designed by real people in real companies, each with their own constraints and issues. Code that may look like a hack could have been the result of an employee dragged out of bed at 2am by a company shirt that only cared that they they did not lose their personal client the next morning. Everything must be looked at in context. A project written to "Best Practices" may never be finished before development funding dries up. Goals, vision, constraints and thoughts should be somewhat aligned for project to be successful (or at least enjoyable ...

3rd Try is a Charm

I've been trying to draw / paint these barns for a couple of years but never felt or got them right. This time I think they turned out right. So What went wrong before and what's right now with this drawing? This time, the light was right. It's coming from the upper right and the shadows just looked right. The other thing is the corn field on the left had to "be in season", otherwise it's just a plowed field. I had taken other photos from different angles but they never felt right. This angle has the road, power lines, corn field, etc. all leading to the right. The shadows on the lower right helps fill in that corner (don't forget about the corners!). The last part is trying to draw (ink paint maybe) the trees in the background. Not so easy when they are kind of a blob is green shades. So yeah, it's composition that is king. Many times I just don't see it until the drawing / painting is finished and when it's right it feels goo...

So THIS is My Style?

If I play around long enough my style will appear. I'm guessing that this is kind of it. I'll keep working on other techniques in watercolor but for now this appears to be my style. I do like it and others appear (to my face) to also like this. Not every one of my paintings is a success. About 1/3 so far, but when they do I am rather pleased that anything good comes out of it at all. I do love color. Color is happy and outdoors is full of color, be it the west or back east with the greens. Color color color. Also doing some painting on hot press paper and see how that goes. Later......

A Person, Artist, Software Engineer, Geologist.

Search This Blog