Adam Pacio

Work in Progress shot of the next mandala being worked on by artist Adam Pacio. Finally completed the sketch portion of scratches in the 'obsidian' knapped starburst slab forming the center treatment for the new mandala. On to color next, thankfully.

Finished the initial 'scratches' treatment for the outer ring on the Obsidian slab for my next Mandala. It will be good to finally start in on the more colorful elements. Although I did layer subtle planes of color in the slab as I went.
#mandala #artist #humanarts

No wonder I was having such a terrible time with the Before sketch. I literally have to retrain my drawing hand (left hand) to handle the numbness and mobility concerns of my left-side nerve damage.

I'm really glad I started -- this HAS to be regained, however much can.

I realized as I started up working through the warmup exercises for the Scott Harris Character Drawing course that I have not actually tried to *draw* since the stroke.

Yes, I have been painting. But drawing in realism requires a kind of control that, post-stroke, I have to relearn.

Whups.

No one said this journey would be easy or fun. Just worthwhile.

Trust the process, acknowledge my hangups, and get the heck on with the course before I start to cry at the futility of everything.

Ah drawing, for such a simple skill, it seems to hit deep with the insecurities on me.

I know that this course is the answer. I've watched the whole thing through before starting it previously. But I come closest to hating myself as a person when I look at this art, and I need to get over this shit so I can start to learn for real.

I have not resisted anything this much in a long, long time. There's real toxic shame knotted up here in figure drawing. All the inadequacy and fears that I'm not "real", well, look at them here for all to see.

A "before the course" sketch of figures from memory. I hated everything about this due to my toxic shame that I've never learned character art. But yet, it's done, and it's shared. (Shoot me now, lol, I'm really struggling to restart this journey because of how long I've been so bad at figures).

Finally Started the Scott Harris Character Art course again. After a whole week of refusing to even begin the "before" sketch, I finally just shat this out, just to say I had done it and had pushed past it.

YouTube video by The Majime Chronicles What Happened When I Gave This Chef My Best Knife

One of the rabbit holes that Wicca can lead you down? A significant adoration for a masterfully forged knife.

Check this guy out. Shmexy blade.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9j4u...

Screenshot essay titled '3 Reasons It Matters That the Occult Studies the Magical Arts, Not the Magical Sciences'. The essay discusses the author's early misconceptions about the nature of Magic within British Traditional Wicca, emphasizing three main points: 1) Art is centered on the artist, highlighting the importance of the Willworker in creating change; 2) The intent of the artist is crucial, illustrated through the creative process of painting mandalas; 3) Recipes in Magic serve as training wheels, encouraging individuality and trust in one's own methods rather than judging others as right or wrong. The overall message asserts that Magic is fundamentally an Art, not a Science.

Magic is an art, not a science. It's centered on the artist, where intention and creative expression shape the outcome. Embrace unique approaches and learn from both successes and failures. #Occult #Magic #CreativeArts

Doc appointment. I managed finally to get my BP down below 140 systolic for the first time since being diagnosed with hypertension.

What did I change?

Apparently all it took was giving up corporate work for an ad agency. Who knew?

Screenshot essay titled 'Three Ways The Aura Of The Occult Can Seduce Practitioners Into Self-Sabotage, And How to Avoid That Pitfall', discussing the enticing aspects of the occult and their potential pitfalls. The text highlights three main points: 1. 'Sacred Theater Is Still Theater' emphasizes focusing on the message rather than the spectacle of rituals. 2. 'Symbols Only Work When They Connect You With Meaning' warns against becoming enamored with ritual objects without understanding their deeper meanings. 3. 'When The Exotic Becomes Familiar, The Sexiness Wears Away Until Only Chores Remain' explains how the initial allure of the occult fades with familiarity, stressing that true engagement requires commitment and introspection. The body concludes by advising readers to align their motivations with their occult pursuits.

The allure of the occult can lead to self-sabotage if practitioners focus on aesthetics over substance. Magic isn't just about props. Stay grounded in your purpose to truly harness the power of your practice. #Occult #Magic #SelfSabotage

I think I'm also avoiding entering the Drawing Mind. It's a very unique right brained activity, with a lot of effort involved to get the right results.

I think I'm also resisting the extra art time. There's something I'm still processing. I need to sort out what it is before starting classes.

That's the brass ring of a prize. The gold standard for artists like I want to be is the ability to switch completely at equal ease between Observational and Imaginational art, and to make it look believable, if not exactly 'realistic'.

Representation does, unfortunately, matter in art. LOL

That's the rub. I have a much better problem doing Observational art, and I do a lot with abstract because it approaches pure composition and color as the lift, not representation. Give me a reference image or six and CTRL+Z Undo and I'll (eventually) get an awesome sketch done!

But Imagination?

But I believe completely that drawing and art are skills to be learned, not talent to be bestowed by God. All you have to do is be willing to fail.

In public.

I'm still processing some real deep grief over losing the corporate career. I have a simple and 'just right' amount of daily art studies and practice to do now, but I just can't make myself begin.

The vulnerability of risk by showing just how bad I am with the course materials? Ugh.

It's been 4 years almost, but while Character Art and figure drawing from imagination represent only 20% of the areas in drawing I still need to master, because it's my absolute worst, I will see 80% of my improvement overall come from this class.

Now to do it, and post ugly crap for a while! 🤪🎨🧑‍🎨🖼️

I began to take this course back in 2021 during isolation for Covid. The instructions were to watch the complete course entirely through once before going back class by class to actually do the work.

I DID the full course review and started the exercises for a month before getting interrupted.

The Complete Art Drawing Course: Draw Characters Like a Pro Learn How to Draw People and Character Designs Professionally, Drawing for Animation, Comics, Cartoons, Games and More!

I'm about 6K hours into the 10K hours to 'mastery' needed for any skill, and drawing is definitely a skill, NOT a talent.

I'll be posting my homework and lessons as I take a Udemy class by Scott Harris, the Complete Character Art Drawing Class.
www.udemy.com/course/chara...

A promotional photo for the Kalour 12 piece Black, White, & Color Charcoal Pencils set. I'm returning to sketching and drawing classes once more to finish up my art studies that began back in 93, paused until 2020, and are now close enough that I must complete my 10K hours and finally master this skill before I die. LOL. Back to class - focusing on my weakest drawing skill - character art. I'll get the most massive improvement by working on the thing I'm currently horrible at.

It's been decades since I've been this excited by a new pencil set. #returntosketching #charcoalpencils #learningtodraw #characterart #studies

A screenshot essay titled 'The Hidden Truth I've Learned About People and Faith.' It discusses the author's personal insights on faith and belief over 54 years. The main points include that true belief is quiet and often not vocalized. The author compares faith to the certainty of the sun rising, stating that rational people have no need to proclaim it loudly. The essay argues that individuals who spread their faith often do so from a place of doubt, seeking validation for their beliefs. It suggests that authentic belief should lead to personal fulfillment, thus negating the need to declare one's spirituality to others.

In my 54 years, I've learned that true belief is quiet. The louder someone speaks about faith, the more doubt they often carry. Real conviction needs no validation or loud proclamations. Let's embrace silence in faith, not noise. #Faith #SelfDiscovery #SpiritualJourney

A screenshot essay titled 'Four Reasons Why It Is Essential For New Students of the Occult to Clarify Why They Are Studying Esoterica'. The body contains four points explaining the importance of clarity in one's purpose when studying the occult: 1. The complexity of the occult, which lacks consistent rules. 2. The diverse source material of Western Esoteric Traditions, influenced by various cultural and historical contexts. 3. The risk of losing direction without a clear intent, as differing philosophies may lead one astray. 4. The necessity of brutal self-honesty to avoid self-deception, highlighting the importance of genuine motivations in spiritual practices. Each point is presented in a structured, bulleted format.

New students of the occult must clarify their motivations for studying esoterica. The path is diverse and complex, and understanding your "Why" helps avoid confusion and frustration. Embrace brutal honesty to ensure your journey leads to enlightenment rather than darkness. #Occult #Esoterica #SelfD

Saying Art isn't worth making anymore due to AI is like saying just because ChatGPT exists we shouldn't bother speaking.

My Art is My Journey and My Artwork is Me. Even if AI reincarnated DaVinci himself, what does that have to do with MY artistic expressions?

Only non-artists think that way.

The news on the above, of course, is that I've ordered a $5 copy of that book again from ThriftBooks, as I start doing a literature review and a survey of all the artists and art movements playing in the Mandala space! #doyourhomework #arthistory #shouldersofgiants

Also of note -- this book was also where I learned how to use different Values of the same color to give the illusion of light shining from within art on the page. Something I still use to this day.

A long time ago back in Art School in the 1990s, I picked up a copy of this book. It was my first introduction to both drawing mandalas by hand as well as Art Therapy of mandala work. #mandalas #mandalaartist #arttherapy

A screenshot essay titled 'Five Lessons I’ve Learned From Studying the Occult For 30 Years'. The content includes an introductory paragraph about the author's 30-year experience in studying occult philosophy and providing guidance to new students in Western Esoteric Traditions. It lists five key lessons: 1) Understanding your purpose in studying the occult; 2) Recognizing that true belief is often quiet and does not require external validation; 3) Realizing that the allure of esoteric practices may not sustain interest; 4) Accepting that magic is a subjective art rather than a precise science; 5) Viewing tradition as a guiding vibe, not a restrictive prison, and knowing when to part ways if beliefs diverge.

After 30 years of studying the Occult, here's five lessons I've learned which can really help new Seekers.
#occult #spirituality #esoteric #artist

The scratches will still be finessed for the final treatment, but they will NOT be redone. Sketchy and imperfect it is. Kinda can't wait to get back to working in color, though. But I'm only half done after 3 days of the starry scratches treatment. Onward!

For the next Mandala I'm playing with stone textures for the main starburst in the center. Thick slab of obsidian, knapped points, and scratched petroglyph surface treatment for the outer ring. Unfortunately, the hand-made treatment on the scratched part is hard to stay consistent and takes 4ever.

WIP post for the efforts getting the next mandala rendered. I do love intricate and challenging goals for myself.