This artwork is entitled “Purple Square to the Right”. The devil doesn’t like it over there, I think it’s making it difficult for him to concentrate on his glare, but whatever. Deal with it.

The artwork is approximately 10″x8″, drawn with pens, colored pencils, and paint pens on card stock paper.

Popularity: 1% [?]

This is an abstract drawing / painting of a dog entitled “I didn’t want purple on the dog so I put it in a square to the left”.

The artwork is approximately 11″x13″, drawn and painted with pens, oil pastels, paint pens, and watercolors on card stock paper.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Due to the overwhelming number of requests for more information about my life, process, and art, and my inability to respond individually in a timely manner, I’ve decided to post a broad biography and artistic statement for you to use for your research and reports. I appreciate your interest in my art, and am sincerely thankful for your positive feedback and curiosity.

~Michael D. Edens

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I was born in 1980 and raised in Rochester MN, with my Mom and Dad, a younger brother, and younger sister. I currently live in Houston TX with my wife. When I was a child, I had a strong urge to create things, not just artistically, but I liked being inventive and imaginative. I enjoyed drawing and sculpting a lot, and would spend hours playing with homemade playdough, crayons, and construction paper. The enjoyment I got from these activities is a feeling I’ve pursued most of my life.

Other people, even my parents, didn’t always understand my art. Abstract art was especially confusing to the people around me, and I was encouraged to paint pretty landscapes. I enjoy pretty landscapes too, but there was more that I wanted to express. And I understood that sometimes I was able to express myself and my emotions with colors and abstract shapes.

Eventually, I found other people at school and over the Internet that understood there are a variety of ways to create art as well. It took a long time to find encouragement and support from other people, and I suppose it was never a guarantee, but I couldn’t stop creating, doodling, and sketching even if nobody else in the world affirmed my work. I also began to see there is always more to learn, both about the process of creating from other people, and about myself and how I would like to create.

As I’ve grown up, my understanding of the process of creating art continually changes. I learned a lot about technique, color theory, and practiced a lot. And every other artist’s work I see influences me in some way, whether I realize it or not. Even day to day events can influence art too, like a particularly interesting sunset, or an interesting scientific concept, or the makeup on someone’s face. I don’t walk around all the time like this, but sometimes I am able to let everything that I can sense in this world pour through me, and I let my interpretation come out on paper.

The process is difficult to explain in words, but it’s a very non-judgmental, observant process. In a way, it doesn’t feel like I’m the one creating the art. For example, I usually don’t plan on what I’m going to draw, or what colors I will use. I open up to the world around me, and the images and color choices seem to pop in to mind when they are ready. I suspect this is due to years of learning about art, and practicing until I don’t think about the process too much. I could always use some more practice, and I was about 25 years old before this process felt comfortable. However, I’m still unable to repeat it consistently.

Additionally, as all of this artistic growth was occurring during my high school years, college years, and beyond, I was going to school and working a lot. I’ve sold a few drawings and paintings here and there, many to friends and family, but I’ve been primarily working as a Marketing Specialist for businesses and individuals for the past 10 years. I love my job very much, because it allows me to be creative in a different way. But I still use the same process of taking in as much information as possible about a person or business, and creating a plan that gets them attention for their work. This creative process is a big part of my life, but again, I suspect it will change over time.

I also feel that it’s important to note that I don’t primarily create art for money. While I think most working artists are fantastic, and I would enjoy trying it someday, I currently create from a uniquely spontaneous attitude, both in subject matter and style. Also, in terms of consistency, there are times when I will draw every day for weeks or months at a time, and other times I’ll focus on activities like reading, playing games, and dealing with the day-to-day events of life for months or years at a time.

For more information and examples of my artistic process, I’ll refer you to an Interview with me in 2008, as well as to time-lapse videos of my drawing/painting process via YouTube. And for more biographical facts, there’s the original School/Work Biography and Art Resume.

I’ll end with noting that I personally don’t think there is any right or wrong way to create art. I think it’s an expression that is unique to individuals and their experience of the world, which changes over time. Practicing art the way everyone around you says it should be done can be helpful, as there is a lot to learn. But through it all, for me, real joy comes from loving and accepting myself completely, living life fully, and expressing my unique perspective. And thanks to the Internet, sharing with the world.

Thanks again for your interest in my art, life, and process. And good luck with your artistic pursuits!

~Michael D. Edens
12/24/2009

Popularity: 1% [?]

Free hearts for everyone! Share the love. 

True love doesn’t hurt, and sustainable love starts from within.

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This is an 10″ x 8″ drawing of a dog in a sweater, created with oil pastels, pens, colored pencils, and a little white paint pen. The friendly pup’s name is Johnny Cash, and he’s one of the first subjects in a new series of animal portrait art drawings. The drawing style begins with light colored pencil for the initial sketch, black pen for deep dark detailed areas, oil pastels on top, and a touch of white for highlights.

Johnny’s an awesome dog with a great sense of humor. Don’t let his day naps fool you; he loves to run laps around the house. And when he gets to go to the dog park, look out! He runs non-stop! Johnny enjoys it so much that he’s fully aware of when his owner is ready to leave, and he loves a good game of chase before heading home.

Special thanks to his owner for providing a fantastic reference photo!

Popularity: 2% [?]

The following artwork is an 11″ x 14″ drawing and painting of a fedora hat, created with colored pencils, markers, oil pastels, pens, watercolors, and paint pens on paper.

The fedora was often worn by Michael Jackson (b. 29 August 1958, – d. 25 June 2009) during stage performances and public appearances. The article of clothing became nearly synonymous with his image along with other accessories such as a single white glove, white socks with black loafers, and mirrored aviator sun glasses.

Popularity: 2% [?]

These are two drawings of abstract faces, one with primarily blue colors, and the other with primarily red colors. The blue face is approximately 9″ x 12″, drawn with pens, colored pencils, paint pens, and painted with watercolors. The red face is approximately 8″ x 10″, drawn with pens, markers, paint pens, and colored pencils.

The accompanying video shows the drawing and painting process for the abstract red face in a time lapse format.

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This is a warm toned drawing and painting of an abstract face yelling “Ahhhhh!”. I mixed paint pens, colored pencils, and watercolors to draw and paint the 8″ x 10″ artwork.

The accompanying video shows the drawing and painting process of the abstract face in a time lapse format. The video begins after the initial sketch of the face had been completed.

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“Blue Boy” is approximately 11″ x 14″, drawn with markers, watercolors, and paint pens on paper. The strokes are swift and gestural, with abstract shapes and lines loosely forming a wide eyed expression on a boy’s face. The accompanying video shows the drawing and painting process in a time lapse format.

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This is an 8″ x 10″ quick sketch of my dog Spot, drawn with pen, colored pencil, and paint pen. He’s a pure white five year old Jack Russell Terrier who developed rapid onset cataracts this past week. The vet says his vision has deteriorated to the equivalent of looking through a cloudy shower door. And we learned the hard way yesterday that “fetch” will have to be put on temporary hold. The little guy has a lot of energy, and he’s still young, so I’m starting to save up for surgery. The quality of his life is important to me.

Here is one more drawing of Spot; a watercolor painting of the dog from 2005.

Popularity: 1% [?]