Coldscape No.3 - Freehand Digital Art - 6th December 2011

[NOTE: click on the image to see full size]

Coldscape No.3, 6th December 2011, this is my third in the coldscape series of freehand digital artworks using 'Kolorpaint' a basic programme for Linux operating systems.

Chapel at Ditton Park - 8th December 2011

This is my impressionist interpretation of the Chapel at Ditton Park. I have only used pencil here on A4 paper. This was finished on 8th December 2011. The photograph was taken under an LED lamp. Compare with a photograph of the actual chapel:-

Narfon Tordat Industries - North East Side December 2011

This is Narfon Tordat Industries viewed from the North East. This has been sketched on A4 paper with pencil only. The photograph has been taken under an LED lamp. This was finished on 8th December 2011.

St Mary's Church Langley - 21st November 2011

This is my sketch of St. Mary's in Langley, Berkshire. This church dates back to around 1150ce, the tower was rebuilt in 1609ce. You can see (compare with the photograph below) I have changed various features and surroundings. Below are a couple different photographs of my sketch in different conditions, the above photograph is with flash. The first photograph below was taken under cool white light without flash.

This photograph below has been taken under LED lamp without flash.

The photograph below was taken from the west side. It was taken during the time of my sketch.

You can see in my sketch I left out the clock on the tower, perhaps I didn't have the time.

Coldscape No.2 - Freehand Digital - 18th November 2011 & a word on Linux

This is Coldscape No.2 I did this with KolourPaint a basic draw/paint application on Linux similar to MS-Paint for Windows.

For those wondering why I'm using Linux (an operating system that runs your hardware and runs software applications, like Microsoft Windows but different), I started using it after my 3rd major MS-Windows crash where I lost data. I started looking into Linux and since turning to it, have not gone back to Windows unless I had to for some software or hardware need, usually that does not occur. I have found Linux to be faster, more efficient, more stable, with more choice, zero cost and ZERO VIRUSES thank God.  Also no suspicious noises coming from the hard drive with Linux.

If you want more convincing about Linux, see here:-

 Why Linux is Better

Linux comes in many different 'distributions' and each distribution has many versions, a couple of the most popular at the moment are Linux Mint and Ubuntu, but there are many other distributions like Fedora, Debian etc. Here are links for Mint and Ubuntu:-

http://linuxmint.com/

 

http://www.ubuntu.com/

Coldscape No.1 - Freehand Digital - 3rd November 2011

I don't really want to get into doing digital art, I prefer to stick to the old school, olden day ways. I actually prefer handwriting on paper as opposed to typing on a computer screen too.

I did this with KolourPaint a basic draw/paint application on Linux similar to MS-Paint for Windows. I have tried to work in the same way I would with pencil or charcoal, a bit difficult using a mouse like a pencil though, especially if a cat's in the room

I do like the intense colour, marks and contrast that come out in digital art though. I guess that is like the difference between sketching in pen and ink as opposed to pencil.

You can do a good drawing in light pencil but the closeness of colour between the markings of graphite don't do the drawing justice until you use darker softer pencil or charcoal.

Dark Flower overlooking a Watery Plain 15th November 2011

This is my latest work 'Dark Flower overlooking a Watery Plain' it is predominantly in charcoal (willow) and pencil (6B, 4B, 3B). Drawn on A4 paper. The above image is shot with flash, the one below is under an LED (artificial daylight i.e. cool blue white) lamp:-

I guess if there was something that was a cross between a flower and a tree, this would be it. Someone trod on my charcoal sticks by accident, so most of them are broken and keep crumbling, so the sky here was improvised after another stick crumbled on me so i started using it as charcoal dust.

Riverside Settlement - 14th November 2011 and a word on preference of loose artistic style

This is my latest sketched work in my loose impressionist style. This is on A5 paper using charcoal pencil and pencil. 

This is one my favourite ways to compose a sketch of imaginary subject matter, to make horizontal layers with each layer being a component of a townscape/landscape. So here there are five simple layers starting from above:-

1. The Sky
2. The Mountains
3. The Settlement/Buildings
4. The River
5. The Foreground River Bank including tree and other plants.

You could actually see this scene as six to eight layers if you include the plain between the buildings and the mountains, the other river bank etc.

As soon as the first horizontal marks hit the paper, the landscape starts taking on a resemblance of a horizontal landscape as simple horizontal markings are easily interpreted with little detail. When I start a drawing like this I often have no idea what I will do and it takes on form and works towards the end result spontaneously. I hardly ever use an eraser as I kind of see it as cheating and a defeat of artistic ingenuity, creativity and adaptability. I prefer to work a mistaken mark into the composition even if it means taking the drawing or painting into a totally different direction.

I am much more pleased in an aesthetic sense by loose, undetailed paintings and drawings rather than realistic, detailed and accurate ones. I am not totally sure why this is. I think it is because impressionist and expressionist work possesses more creative effort, more individual meaning, and more variation whereas realism ends up making all artists works similar to identical. There is also a hand crafted nature and character about impressionist and expressionist styled work which is absent in realism and detail.

There may be another more spiritual reason for my preference of expressionist-impressionist works over realism and that is the longing of the soul for another world. Realism is a reminder of a world where we know we are leaving and has many problems that plague us whereas scenes removed from reality by absence of detail, colour or un-natural colour, proportions etc take us to another dimension a bit like dreams do or visions of an afterlife described in revelation to possess giant fruits, trees, mansions etc. This would make sense as the creative side of the human personality is very much connected to the spiritual side which manifests beyond mere sense perception and mechanical, physical movement.

From the point of view of time, a loose style means the ability to produce more works. Reality is of course complex, detailed and full of minute variations of colour. Thus the sky is not a few shades of colour but in reality hundreds or thousands of colours, the varied light and shadow intensity on any object also results in that object possessing hundreds of shades of colour. It is this detail which must be at least partially reproduced in realism, whereas the  impressionist style can be abandon the accuracy of colour variation and average out the colour and the expressionist can exaggerate or unify it. The imagination is therefore more at play in the latter case whereas the scientific observation and imitation is more at play in the case of realism. This judgement is of course concerning the application only, as indeed the intent and meaning attributed to a painting can apply to realism as well as other styles (and historically it was the impressionists who moved away from deeper meanings rather than the classical realists who often served religious objectives).

Narfon Tordat Industries - Overhead View - 13th November 2011

This is an overhead view of Narfon Tordat Industries. This sketch is on A5 paper using pencil and charcoal pencil.

Windsorian Heights

This is 'Windsorian Heights' predominantly sketched in charcoal pencil, it is one of my favourite loose sketches I have done so far. This photograph is taken under artificial daylight LED lamp and so it maintains the clean blue-white colour of the paper. Below is a photograph of the same sketch taken with camera flash which has given a more warm light, tungsten colouring:-

Flowers beyond a House - 10th November 2011

This is 'Flowers beyond a House' my latest work, completed today 10th November 2011, sketched in pencil on A5 paper, I may have started this with charcoal pencil like I did with 'Flowers beyond a Door.'

I had a few dreams about flowers over a year ago, I painted some major artworks, oil paintings of flowers and it inspired me in real life to do some oil paintings of flowers, before that I had no interest in painting flowers.

Clonallen Gorge - 10th November 2011

This is Clonallen Gorge, finished on 10th November 2011, I had originally intended to use charcoal only, but I eventually used pencil as well. This is on A4 paper.

McLachan Castle - 10th November 2011

This is McLachan Castle. This was drawn mainly with pencil with a little charcoal on A3. I finished this off today (10th November) but maybe sketched this roughly about a year ago or so.

Bare Room with Flowers - 10th November 2011

This is 'Bare Room with Flowers', this was the imaginary basis for my painting 'Raufum bil I'baadi' [Kind with (His) slaves], which was painted on 29th April 2010. This sketch was even more skeletal than this before, just as a guide for the painting. But today I just added some more marks to make it a work in itself. You can compare the painting that emanated from it  below here:-

The kindness alluded to here is that of shelter, simplicity, beauty, nature and the cause of contemplation in those. This Name of Allah occurs in the Qura'n in the following verses "And there is the type of man who gives his life to earn the pleasure of Allah. And Allah is full of kindness to (His) slaves[raoo'fum bil i'baadi]." (al Baqarah 2:207) and "On the Day when every soul will be confronted with all the good it has done, and all the evil it has done, it will wish there were a great distance between it and its evil. But Allah cautions you (To remember) Himself. And Allah is full of kindness to his slaves." (aali I'mraan 3:30)

Flowers beyond a Door - 8th November 2011

This is 'Flowers beyond a Door', drawn on A5 in pencil and perhaps charcoal pencil. It was drawn on an angle. 8th November 2011

Haagenbrau House, 24th October 2011

Expressionist sketch of Haagenbrau House. This was drawn in pencil and charcoal. Dusk was approaching and it was a grey and windy day. 24th October 2011.

Twisted Town, Aerial View October 2011

This is my view of Twisted Town from above, we all live in Twisted Town. Sketched in pencil and charcoal October 2011.

The buildings and perspectives look different when viewed from different angles.

Narfon Tordat Industries 10th October 2011

This is a sketch of Narfon Tordat Industries, sketched on 10th October 2011. It is a strange place, I will often explore in order to find a scenic photograph or a place that can inspire my painting or a place to sketch that has some character.

Bridge at Black Potts Weir, 8th October 2011

This is the bridge at Black Potts Viaduct, a railway bridge over the Jubilee River. Under the Viaduct is a Weir, so the area can be referred to as either Black Potts Weir or Black Potts Viaduct (the later more appropriate if you are crossing by train).

I have taken my usual liberty with altering some features of the landscape but its main elements are recognizable enough.

Its hard to see much purpose to this bridge as it doesn't really seem to lead anywhere, as further up there is a road bridge and footpath next to it while this bridge seems to lead into a tiny area of woods leading on to short path connected back to the road bridge! Its almost like the bridge was installed as a joke for hikers, to make them think they may actually be getting somewhere. Perhaps it is just for a few residents on the other side where the River Thames connects.

This is a quiet area and although the odd jogger might run past or a local family on their afternoon stroll, it is a place on the outskirts of Eton towards Datchet. It isn't a place where people are usually likely to explore or even find.

This bridge was the place I filmed several scenes for my short abstract expressionist film 'Surface Blur', towards the end of that film you can see the Black Potts Viaduct.

This is production still from 'Surface Blur' taken on the bridge itself:-

Here is the film itself:-

 

The bridge also appears in my short film, 'Inspired Thought', here is a beuatiful production still from that film, taken from a similar but different view to the sketch:-

Here is the film 'Inspired Thought - Jungfrau Director's Cut' where you see the bridge clearly in a couple of scenes, you also see Black Potts Weir:-

Varnoch Grove - Under Daylight & Tungsten September 2011

This is Varnoch Grove, drawn with pencil and charcoal September 2011.

The first photograph is taken under artificial daylight (i.e. cool blue white) the second photograph is taken under tungsten (i.e. warm light). You can see this makes a big difference to how the picture looks. The first photograph has a directable LED beam and so the sky has been focussed on to give the illusion of light in the picture, where the tree canopies are. The lighting conditions under which a picture is viewed clearly and sometimes dramatically alters the nature of what is seen. If you can the internet for famous paintings you will notice many different images for one painting due to the different lighting conditions of photography. The question may arise, What does the real image look like? Of course there is no true answer to this as seeing as the picture can not be viewed without light and every light will alter the way the picture looks. You may be able to make an argument that warm light is an artificial light and therefore the artificial daylight is the most normal rendition of an image as seeing as warm light needs technology/electricity. However, daylight changes under natural atmospheric conditions (season, elevation of the Sun, cloud etc). Warm light can also be imitated with a natural source such as fire (such as candlelight or a fireplace), so it can not be said that warm light is altogether artificial either.

Zayd Depaor talks about features of Landscapes and Architecture that inspire artists, photographers and cinematographers.

Filmed in the Memorial Gardens, Stoke Poges, Buckinghamshire.

This was filmed on the Canon FS200, this short piece was edited on OpenShot video editor for Linux.

To see more art by Zayd Depaor see the following:-

http://www.artbreak.com/zayd_depaor

http://www.twitter.com/zayd_depaor

http://www.facebook.com/zayd.depaor
http://www.art-3000.com/artist/zayd_depaor/

http://www.youtube.com/user/ZaydDepaor
http://artfellas.com/profile/depaor
http://picassomio.com/zayd-depaor.html
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zayd_depaor/
http://www.paintingsilove.com/artist/zayddepaor

http://zayd-depaor-films.blogspot.com/

The All Merciful [Ar Rahmaan] - Acrylic on Canvas

Ar Rahmaan - The All Merciful. Acrylic on Canvas painted in the style of Islamic Symbolic Abstract Expressionism.

Ar Rahmaan is one of the most frequent Names of Allah from the Qura'n. It means 'The All Merciful' The aspect of 'rahmah' [mercy] that Allah extends to all of creation.

Examples of where this name occurs:-

It occurs in the first chapter of the Qura'n, "Ar Rahmaanir Raheem" (al Faatihah 1:2)

The Qura'n says, "Say: "Call upon Allah, or call upon Rahman: by whatever name ye call upon Him, (it is well): for to Him belong the Most Beautiful Names. Neither speak thy Prayer aloud, nor speak it in a low tone, but seek a middle course between." (al Israa 17:110)

and "Gardens of Eternity, those which ((Allah)) Ar Rahmaan has promised to His servants in the Unseen: for His promise must (necessarily) come to pass." (Maryam 19:61)

and "Not one of the beings in the heavens and the earth but must come to ((Allah)) Ar Rahmaan [The All Merciful] as a slave." (Maryam 19:93)

and "On those who believe and work deeds of righteousness, will ((Allah)) Ar Rahmaan [The All Merciful] bestow love." (Maryam 19:96)

and "When it is said to them, "Adore ye ((Allah)) Ar Rahmaan!", they say, "And what is ((Allah)) Ar Rahmaan? Shall we adore that which thou commandest us?" And it increases their flight (from the Truth)." (al Furqaan 25:60)

and "If anyone withdraws himself from remembrance of ((Allah)) Ar Rahmaan, We appoint for him an evil one [shaytaan/devil], to be an intimate companion to him." (az Zukhruf 43:36)

The subject of 'rahmah' [mercy] has been addressed much in the Quran and ahadeeth [sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad {saw}].:-

Jareer reported that the Prophet Muhammad (saw) said "Those who show no mercy to people will be shown no mercy by Allah." (BUKHARI, MUSLIM)

Mua'wiyah ibn Qurrah related that his father reported that a man said 'O Prophet of Allah, when I slaughter a goat, I am merciful to it.' The Prophet (saw) replied "Even if you are merciful to a goat, Allah will be merciful with you." He repeated this twice. (TABARAANI, BUKHAARI in 'Adab al Mufrad')

A'mr ibn Shua'yb reported from his father, from his father that the Prophet (saw) said "He who does not show mercy to our young or recognize the right of our elders is not one of us." (ABU DAWOOD, HAAKIM, TIRMIDHI, AHMAD, BUKHARI in 'Adab al Mufrad')

A'bdar Rahmaan ibn A'wf said he heard the Prophet (saw) say "Allah said 'I am Ar Rahmaan. I created kinship [ar rahm] and I derived it from my Name. I will maintain those who maintain it and I will cut loose those who sever it.'" (HAAKIM, BUKHARI in 'Adab al Mufrad' similar from AHMAD, TIRMIDHI, ABU DAWOOD)

Abu Hurayrah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said, "Allah has divided mercy into one hundred parts; and He retained with Him ninety-nine parts, and sent down to earth one part. Through this one part creatures deal with one another with compassion, so much so that an animal lifts its hoof over its young lest it should hurt it". (BUKHAARI, MUSLIM)

Abu Hurayrah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) saying, "When Allah created the creatures, He wrote in the Book, which is with Him over His Throne: `Verily, My Mercy prevailed over My Wrath"
(BUKHAARI, MUSLIM)

The mercy is symbolized in this painting by the green of life, provision, resurrection and Paradise. The soft sweeping curved strokes also are gentle in nature and easy upon the eye. The picture has harmonized colours indicating mercy.

Ditton Park, Berkshire - 26th September 2011

This impressionist location sketch is based on a view of Ditton Park, Berkshire. The House was once owned by the Crown under the reign of Elizabeth I. It is also the place where the British Radar Defence system was conceived in the 1930's.

I sketched this in pencil alone, 6B for the darkest areas.

From the photograph below, you can see that I have changed many features and given my usual loose and impressionist-expressionist treatment of topography, effectively recreating many of the elements of the scene. 

The overall effect on the viewer is that he will recognize the scene to be the real scene before him but also not recognize it to be the reality before. General but not in particular detail, impressionistically but not photographically, artistically but not scientifically.

You would perhaps prefer to live in the real building with straight walls rather than my somewhat distorted impression with expectedly unstable walls.

Jubilee River at Eton October 2011

I sketched this quickly a couple of evenings ago, it was past sunset, light was fading. One of my short films includes part of this scene from another angle.

I have sketched in my impressionist style of sketching, in this case that means getting a feel of the main components in the scene and applying a very loose treatment of the features with no concern about detail.

It is almost as if, each element of the landscape is only taken as a guide or inspiration and then every component reinterpreted and transformed. This is probably my favourite style of 'location art'. I don't like the idea of precise detail and proportion in my artwork, as at that point the work gradually loses identity and artistic signature. Accurate realism in art reduces all works to the same or similar output regardless of the artist and I don't believe that to be appealing in terms of diversity, expression and style.

I used charcoal and pencil for this. I did intend to apply slightly more detail to this, but I think I will leave it as it is.

Welcome to my Art Blog

Hello/Salam to anyone who is looking and reading. I am Zayd Depaor, this is my new art blog dedicated to my artistic vision. 

I hope it will be a useful commentary and exposition on my work. I have quite a lot of works to put up here and I am continuing to work on a large project.

Please do leave feedback, comments, questions and anything else you think is relevant.

I am also a writer and filmmaker, i do have a filmmaking blog which I started quite recently http://zayd-depaor-films.blogspot.com/

The painting above is called 'The Witness' (Ash Shaheed) in Arabic it is one of the Names of God in Arabic which can be found in the Qura'n. It is an oil painting on canvas painted in the style of Symbolic Expressionism. Much can be said about the symbolism in this painting but I will leave that for now.