Monday, November 2, 2009

Nil Desperandum

Horace gave us the most encouraging line of all: "Nil desperandum" which means "Never give up!". The only way for us to achieve to success... Maybe you have failed on this road before or have found big barriers blocking your way. Well, listen to that wise Latin proverb now like someone is whispering it to your ear; "Nil Desperandum" (Never give up!)

And move on!

I just finished the drawing below, I hope you enjoy it :))

"Nil Desperandum" (Never give up)
Coloured pencil on paper with mixed media, 2009
16"x 11" ( 40 cm. x 30 cm. )


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Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Major e Longinquo Reverentia

I put the finishing touches to "Major e Longinquo Reverentia" (Viewed from a distance, everything is beautiful). This painting makes us to think of how we judge other people's life, rich and famous people, politics, places, jobs, etc... without knowing their reality.

"Major e Longinquo Reverentia"
(Viewed from a distance, everything is beautiful)
Coloured pencil on paper with mixed media, 2009
16"x 11" ( 40 cm. x 30 cm. )

The picture below is my latest artwork that I am working on now. I just transfered the outlines with my film projector to the paper and drew the lines with pencil. Now it is the time to choose the proverb and put the beads together. Obviously the figure on the composition is telling an advice. It must be short and a clear subject, because I don't have the long space to put it. I wanted to use "Carpe Diem" but it was way too short :)) Well, few more beads, that's it! I chose "Nil Desperandum" (Never give up!).

"Nil Desperandum" (Never give up!)
Work in progress


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Friday, September 11, 2009

Acta Non Verba

My short vacation finished very quickly, back to the reality... Still working on the first coats of "Major e longinquo reverentia'' (Viewed from a distance, everything is beautiful). Advance stages soon will be here.

A finished painting called "Acto Non Verba" (Action, not words), I just found this photo in my camera's memory card that I have been forgotten to post it here.
I am a good listener more than a talker, so people "who likes to talk too much and do nothing about it" yes that is the reason of this painting. It's action time now!


"Acta Non Verba" (Action, not words)
Coloured pencil on paper with mixed media, 2009
15"x 11.5" ( 37 cm. x 27 cm. )

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Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Work in Progress Slide Show

Yesterday I finished "In Vino Veritas" (The truth is in wine). This time other than the hands I painted the wine glass as well. While I was working on it I took several pictures of it in different stages. Below you can see on the slide show.

Today I just started a new drawing called ''Major e longinquo reverentia'' (Viewed from a distance, everything is beautiful). I drew the outline and just put the first few layers of colours. Even in this ugly stage if you look from a distance it looks pretty good :)) I won't be in the studio till Monday, taking a small break in the south of our beautiful island. I will put pictures of it when I comeback...

Have a nice weekend!







"In Vino Veritas" (The truth is in wine) work in progress slide show



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Thursday, August 27, 2009

In Vino Veritas

A Latin proverb says "In Vino Veritas" the meaning is "the truth is in wine", in other words wine makes you to tell the truth. Let's make a test now. I'm inviting you to drink wine tonight, whichever is your favourite red or white, rose, it's fine. Oh no! There is no wine just you said, so find an alternative drink. Well, just drink few cup of it and find a crying/confession wall of yours (preferably a non big mouth fond friend). Start telling the truth, the truth that makes you whatever you feel like to tell (or the "wine" makes you to tell). No guarantee afterwards how you might feel like; relieved, great, honest, proud or little, guilty, silly or maybe in another mood that now i cannot bring it up to my mind ...

I have been working on this title for a few days since I received my new electrical pencil sharpener, no more lead breaks, it works great! I am in the ugly stage of painting now. I would like to give you an idea about how I build the painting with coloured pencils. it's quite slow process, layers and layers of work. I used seven skin tone colours up to this point; they were cream, light cream, light peach, jasmin, Deco pink, pink rose, beige.


Work in progress
"In Vino Veritas" (The truth is in wine)
Prismacolor premium pencils


In the studio, Gran Canaria, August 2009

We left the half of the week behind us, see you soon, have an artsy and winy days...



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Saturday, August 22, 2009

New Drawings

Late last night I wrote a post in Turkish version. Another perfect day today in Gran Canaria, 25CÂș :)) My latest "Ars Longa Vita Brevis" (Art is long, Life is Short) project is coming out well. Only, I've been broken few of my coloured pencil leads so I made my search in the net, the experts say it's normal when you use mechanical ones, they suggest an electrical or battery operated ones. Of course right away I ordered an electrical pencil sharpener. The good news, I realized last night the comments were open to only for registered members, I fixed that now, it's open to anyone who reads this post.

What about to talk on Latin Proverbs a little bit? ; Below you are viewing one of my new works called "Etiam quod esse videris" (Be what you seem to be or seem like who you are). In my opinion, this phrase to be told a person who needs a quick shake and get alerted. We are surrounded by with these kinds of people in our everyday life. Most of the times we choose to ignore them or we play the stupid boy. The ego in human soul is huge, there are so many classism, racism etc... I expressed my feelings in this painting that I wouldn't
be able to say it loud in any circumstances. Anyway, I had chosen some proverbs, just simply to tell something as well, for example "Omnia causa fiunt" (Everything has a reason) as you have seen it on my previews post.

"Etiam quod esse videris"
(Be what you seem to be or seem like who you are)
Coloured pencil on paper with mixed media, 2009
16"x 11" ( 40 cm. x 30 cm. )

Well, another one "Homo homini lupus" (Man is a wolf to man). Absolutely it's true, no need to be a philosopher to understand.(See below). For the last one "Cave cave deus videt" (Beware beware god sees you) I am sending a message to liars and unfair people in a way saying "don't think that you are the only smart one and everybody else is stupid."


"Homo homini lupus"(Man is a wolf to man)
Coloured pencil on paper with mixed media, 2009
16"x 11" ( 40 cm. x 30 cm. )


"Cave cave deus videt" (Beware beware god sees you)
Coloured pencil on paper with mixed media, 2009
16"x 11" ( 40 cm. x 30 cm.)





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Monday, August 17, 2009

Bringing Out A New Artlog!

Welcome to my new blog;
"Birsen Ozbilge - Contemporary Art"
I have been thinking about to start an artlog long time ago. Well, finally today I found the strength to deal with the building process. It wasn't too complicated but to give the blog a modern and unique look took many hours, of course, it was worthy.
Lately, I am working on a new drawing project called "Ars Longa Vita Brevis" (Art is long, Life is short). I used Prismacolor Premium Coloured pencils on Gvarro 224 gr. Aquarelle paper and attached mixed media to the paper, stringed silver coloured plastic beads with letters on them. The beads tell famous Latin Proverbs, I am sure you have heard many of them once in your life time. Carpe Diem, Homo Homini Lupus, Cogito Ergo Sum etc...
I wanted to say something with my artwork but this point somehow everything came up to my mind was so cliché and I found this idea to bring wisdom from ancient to modern times using famous sayings and mottoes. While I was choosing them, I selected the ones just telling the simple truth and make sense with everyone's judgement. Also, I did a transition on the subjects while I was drawing, another words to say, I completed the whole figure by different working valued stages. Closer to the beads you'll see more realistic work done. So I worked on the hands more detailed and on the face just worked with simple lines and finally left with mid toned plane background.

Here now, you are viewing few of my finished drawings from this series. More posts will come soon and some of my work on progress drawings as well. Thanks for visiting my artlog.

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"Ars Longa Vita Brevis" ( Art is long, Life is short )
Coloured pencil on paper with mixed media, 2009
16"x 11" ( 40 cm. x 30 cm. )
"Cogito Ergo Sum" ( I think therefore I am )
Coloured pencil on paper with mixed media, 2009
16"x 11" ( 40 cm. x 30 cm. )


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"Omnia Causa Fiunt" ( Everything has a reason )
Coloured pencil on paper with mixed media, 2009
16"x 11" ( 40 cm. x 30 cm. )