A lot of firsts.

I received my chance a few months ago. I inquired about being a feature artist for a First Friday event. The first Friday of each month showcases artists in the heart of downtown Raleigh. Atomic Salon and Drink Drank Drunk gave me the opportunity to get the acrylics out from storage and start painting traditionally again. Being slated for an October show at a cool venue, provided the stage to do what subject matter I love to do.

While Hurricane Joaquin was rearing his head off of Cuba, the rain continued to hit NC just days before the show. I thought for sure, nobody was going to come out in the muck. The turnout was incredible. It was really great to be introduced to so many cool people.

Thanks to everyone who had helped get my work on the walls and the one's who enjoyed my art enough to purchase a piece or two. I truly appreciate it. Feel free to visit Drink Drank Drunk and Atomic Salon from now till the end of October to see the remaining art still being shown. There are still pieces of art to be had.

Please contact me at mikeinscho@gmail.com if any remaining pieces interest you.

Oak Hollow Open 2015 Stamp

  Oak Hollow Open Tournament Director and friend of mine, Phil Lawrence reached out to me after seeing the recent Great 8 stamp. He told me to just "do what you do" and sent me past years event examples to get my wheels turning. As a fellow Graphic Designer/ Photographer/ all around graphics guy, he gets it.

The idea behind the stamp comes from memories of playing the temporary course as a motivated intermediate disc golfer back in 2010 or so. You see many new courses, new faces and make great memories playing the tournaments blind. I remember Festival Park. I remember it well. Driving into Festival offers you a beautiful hillside view of Oak Hollow Lake and wood dock for Hole 1.

Out of all the crazy ideas in the thumbnail process, the scene of Festival made the most sense. With the suggestion of Phil, we decided to use a scenic shot of the signature Hole 9. It's an elevated tee throwing over the water and tight landing zone onto the green. I wanted to create a sense of energy that was in the rough draft. To do that, I was able to live trace my pen drawing into Illustrator and then go back through and clean up trouble areas.

The end result came out killer and really speaks to why this tournament gets bigger and better every year. Thanks to Oak Hollow Disc Golf Club for giving me this opportunity!

Thumbnail session 

Final

Octoalien weirdness.....head

Hasn't happened in a while, but creative energy comes at the weirdest times. Here's something I did tonight in ArtRage on the iPad.

Sketchbook

It's been awhile since I've posted last. I'm working some efforts and finished a few that I'll be posting here soon.  In the meantime, here's some sketchbook doodles.  

Graffito: Steampunk Graphics

I received an email from Graffito Publishing one night. They were wanting to use an older piece of artwork that I created for a Steampunk: Myths and Legends online contest for CGSociety.  I gladly, told them "Sure!" and signed authorization forms and went on my merry way. This fall, Steampunk Graphics was released and I honestly thought there would be cuts to many of the art they were able to use.

Pretty cool to open up the book to the Individual Works section and get a two page spread of your art. Never thought that was going to happen.

I want to thank Graffito Books for reaching out and wanting to use my art in their book.

Graffito Books 

Sol Spinner

I was presented with a great opportunity. I play disc golf. It's a serious hobby of mine since back in 05'. MVP Disc Sports/ Axiom Discs (both operating under the same roof in Brown City, MI) approached with an idea to start an "Artist Series" where they would seek and find unique artists to create a stamp pertaining a certain theme. They would be able to chose what color combination to go with, to support the design. Pretty much I'm running the pilot for this new line and couldn't be happier. The idea was to release this in the summertime.
Anyone knows how blistering hot it gets here in the south. No one wants to leave their air conditioned living room on some days. That blistering sun is something trying to be captured in this design. I don't surf or skate but I've always had a love for the artwork making it's way on boards.  I want to thank Chad and Brad Richardson from MVP Disc Sports / Axiom Discs and ZAM.  Not only for the support but allowing me to be the first design coming off their press using gold foil. There were a lot of firsts with this one. 

This disc is a limited release (only a 1000 made) Axiom Clash. It sports an orange Proton flight plate/ white GYRO™ rim with gold stamping. It will be available on September 12th. 
Here she is! 

Promo/Concept art

Here is a few promo/concept art pieces I did for Sanction Studios.  I can't say much, but more to come.

Rough draft/Neon Chain-Color Study#1

Rough draft/Neon Chain-Color Study#2

Final Promo concept used.

Fallen Earth: Sector 4 Concept Art

Steampunk Graphics

The Gate

Halloween Hullabaloo Art Show @ Haw River Ballroom Saxapahaw, NC

 

Master of Sand

30 minute spitpaint:

"Master of Sand"- A different take on the subject but I enjoyed it. 

"Alien Cathedral"

30 minute spitpaint

- Need to use proper curves to make all the angles to be correct. I dig the palette and will most likely use 3d on the final to set it up. 

"Robot Lady"

30 minute spitpaints:

Didn't really sell the "hanging lifeless" effect but I think I'm going to keep working on this one at a later date. Getting the anatomy passable ate up a chunk of time. Inspired by Daniel Dociu's Puppet illustrations.

Tuesday Spitties

30 minute spitpaints:

"Charon"- Based off the idea that if souls weren't buried with coins that they would have to wait 100 years until Charon would allow passage.  I like the atmospherics in this one but need to refine the silhouettes of the souls to be a bit clear in the foreground.

"School girl with astronaut helmet"- Well..I told myself that I was going to try and do more character work this year. Ran out of time messing to get the eyes right. Bounce lighting and visor reflections are really lacking to give it realism. A tattooed bar code or insignia on her forehead could be cool too. She seems more womanly than child like. 

Ice

Speed Paint: Planetwalk