Posts pertaining to traditional art; oil paint, watercolor, gouache, acrylic, sculpting, etc.
Hey everybody I’m having a giveaway on Instagram for a free Krampus print.
How To Enter: Follow @john_vanhouten on Instagram. Repost this image and tag @john_vanhouten and hashtag #freekrampus on Instagram. The contest will run through December 31st and the winner will be announced on January 1, 2016.
Good luck!
I don’t ask for help very often but this is a quick and easy way that you can help support me. You can vote for me (5 votes per phone number!) by texting WIND or PARADE to 1-405-888-5477.
Voting is between May 2 and May 8 (ending at 4:00pm on May 8).
You can vote for me 5 times per phone. If you want you can vote for 1 painting 5 times or split up your 5 votes. You can also vote in person at the Holland Area Arts Council (150 E 8th St, Holland, MI 49423). You might even be able to vote more than 5 times by voting via phone and then in person!
This is a quick and easy way to show your support and help me win some money so I can keep doing what I do.
Here’s a recent photo of a personal model sheet drawing that I’m creating. This photo is from my Instagram.
Here are some process photos for an older woodcut print I made of my dog Loki.
The aforementioned woodcut print (one of two variations):
Here’s the preliminary pencil sketch:
I used a projector and transferred my pencil sketch to the woodblocks (MDF). I had to tape the woodblocks together so that they wouldn’t move as I drew on them (and they did move a little bit). Note that I flipped the image before transferring because when you print it prints in reverse.
After I had my drawing on the MDF blocks I then had to use woodcutting tools to gouge out the recesses in the wood and then it was time to ink and print.
And here’s a photo of the blocks inked up, before I ran it through the press. I made a custom jig to hold the blocks together using some spare cardboard. I think that was my brother’s idea.
Here’s a picture of the first page of my new Moleskine watercolor sketchbook.
And did I mention that I’m now on Instagram? You can follow me @john_vanhouten
A while back I completed my first ever pastel drawing. If you follow me on Facebook then you’ve already seen this image. But for those of you who don’t have a Facebook, here it is! It’s a girl at the beach with her basket, looking at the waves and intense sky. It’s based on a location in Saugatuck, MI.
This drawing is already framed and ready to sell! It would make a great addition to your cottage or beach house! Message me if you’re interested in owning this original artwork.
EDIT: SOLD! 🙂
So there’s a trending hashtag on Twitter/Facebook/Instagram this month called #inktober. Basically, you just make an ink drawing everyday and post it using that hashtag. I am a few days behind but that’s okay. Today for #inktober I made a drawing of Marvel’s Deathlok.
If you missed it on Facebook, here’s a painting I made of a man fighting a giant baby. I might have some process photos around here somewhere.
It’s acrylic on watercolor paper with some digital adjustments after it was scanned. Drop me a message in the comments if you have any questions or, obviously, comments.
If you follow my Facebook page then you may already know about this but The Art Order has the remaining tiny paintings from the Tiny Painting show from Spectrum Fantastic Art Live 2014 for sale in their online store.
My painting, Psychotropic Cavern (from this blog post) is for sale in the Art Order store. You can go directly to my painting by clicking here.
Don’t miss out on owning an original painting by yours truly, John VanHouten!
This image appears larger than the actual painting (unless you are viewing on a smart phone).
Here’s a tiny 3″ x 3″ painting that I’m calling “Psychotropic Cavern”. It’s acryla gouche and colored pencil on board. I created it for Jon Schindehette‘s tiny painting show at SFAL. If you go to Spectrum Fantastic Art Live, be sure to see his tiny painting show featuring over 200 tiny science fiction/fantasy pieces (and buy mine)! It certainly looks like a neon black light poster but sadly it doesn’t look that great under a black light. I’m now inspired to try to make a black light illustration now.