Mark Penix » Mark http://www.markpenix.com art through perseverance Wed, 23 Nov 2011 00:59:48 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Good Gone Bad http://www.markpenix.com/good-gone-bad/ http://www.markpenix.com/good-gone-bad/#comments Wed, 23 Nov 2011 00:59:48 +0000 Mark http://www.markpenix.com/?p=986 Realizing that there’s more to the world than just your own personal realm is an important aspect of being. The “whole person” concept is a recurring theme through judgement, which shouldn’t be passed but is spoken about as if we are to be measured against our peers in a fashion that, in fact, would make us all “peerless”. Interesting paradox aside, there are some important aspects to consider when negotiating the whole person concept.

What attributes make up the whole person concept, who is to decide what values or beliefs go into the whole person. Is it charity? Good will towards man? General philanthropy? Are those the only measures? How do we measure “good”, against what scale? These things are all very subjective in nature, and subjective to one another. Sample; does giving heartfelt, yet bad advice make you a bad person – some would argue that if your heart is in the right place, you can do no wrong. Others would argue that your heart can be anywhere but realizing the entirety of a situation to warrant advice, logic would come into play and be the most sound advice. Shall we not follow our hearts?

Many things to ponder.

]]> http://www.markpenix.com/good-gone-bad/feed/ 0 30 Years Old… in a Month! http://www.markpenix.com/30-years-old-in-a-month/ http://www.markpenix.com/30-years-old-in-a-month/#comments Mon, 21 Nov 2011 01:27:22 +0000 Mark http://www.markpenix.com/?p=983 Nerves are starting to get to me, the search for meaning is becoming more important in every passing day. Bad habits such as smoking and quad shot macchiatos are running rampant. Changes are happening for me, mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually; I am welcoming them.

I’ve “walked” this earth for 29 years, 11 months, exactly. I’ve been on both sides of the tracks, I’ve seen the good, the bad, and the indifferent in people. I want to be better. I will be better… not better than anyone else as I believe that’s a self-fulfilling prophecies of elitism, not a virtue I wish to extoll, but better a better me. What limits do I have, how will I know until I push myself to them.

Call it an awakening, a revelation, a eureka moment or whatever you want. I’m on a personal journey and I hope I can effectively communicate my path.

]]> http://www.markpenix.com/30-years-old-in-a-month/feed/ 0 The Bible: A Biography by Karen Armstrong http://www.markpenix.com/the-bible-a-biography-by-karen-armstrong/ http://www.markpenix.com/the-bible-a-biography-by-karen-armstrong/#comments Sun, 20 Nov 2011 02:55:25 +0000 Mark http://www.markpenix.com/?p=978 In the pursuit of spiritual guidance I have enlisted the help of a well studied friend within the religious realm. She has recommended a few books (and provided them).

After 12 years of age, I stepped away from religion thinking that it wasn’t a part of who I am. I may have been wrong, I may have been right. Here I am close to turning 30 (Dec 20th) and I have enough world experience to reevaluate my views on religion. That is what I plan to do.

I’m going into this with an open heart, and open mind, and no expectations. If I leave this experience non-the-wiser then at the very least I can say I tried. If I leave this experience a devout Christian then so-be it. Open mind, open heart.

The Bible: A Biography by Karen Armstrong was provided so that I can understand where the Bible has come from. I’ll be taking notes and posting a review of the book and my thoughts later.

Here goes… something!

]]> http://www.markpenix.com/the-bible-a-biography-by-karen-armstrong/feed/ 0 100 Portrait Challenge – 11 of 100 Jim Carrey http://www.markpenix.com/100-portrait-challenge-11-of-100-jim-carrey/ http://www.markpenix.com/100-portrait-challenge-11-of-100-jim-carrey/#comments Thu, 26 May 2011 01:17:25 +0000 Mark http://www.markpenix.com/?p=966 Post #11 of 100 – 100 Portrait Challenge (in pen)

New pen (“Just/BASICS” ballpoint pens) they ink a little lighter so it’s going to be fun to shade with these. His right eye is a bit off (your left) but overall I’m pretty happy with it.

Click the image to see it larger…

]]> http://www.markpenix.com/100-portrait-challenge-11-of-100-jim-carrey/feed/ 0 100 Portrait Challenge – 10 of 100 Al Capone http://www.markpenix.com/100-portrait-challenge-10-of-100-al-capone/ http://www.markpenix.com/100-portrait-challenge-10-of-100-al-capone/#comments Wed, 25 May 2011 02:12:25 +0000 Mark http://www.markpenix.com/?p=961 Post #10 of 100 – 100 Portrait Challenge (in pen)

Meh not happy… didn’t do any warmups, he’s too skinny, and his eyes are kooky.

Click the image to see it larger…

]]> http://www.markpenix.com/100-portrait-challenge-10-of-100-al-capone/feed/ 0 100 Portrait Challenge – 9 of 100 Steve Buscemi http://www.markpenix.com/100-portrait-challenge-9-of-100-steve-buscemi/ http://www.markpenix.com/100-portrait-challenge-9-of-100-steve-buscemi/#comments Tue, 24 May 2011 03:53:31 +0000 Mark http://www.markpenix.com/?p=956 Post #9 of 100 – 100 Portrait Challenge (in pen)

Meh it’s Steve… waddya want.

Click the image to see it larger…

]]> http://www.markpenix.com/100-portrait-challenge-9-of-100-steve-buscemi/feed/ 0 100 Portrait Challenge – 8 of 100 David Bowie http://www.markpenix.com/100-portrait-challenge-8-of-100-david-bowie/ http://www.markpenix.com/100-portrait-challenge-8-of-100-david-bowie/#comments Mon, 23 May 2011 02:42:15 +0000 Mark http://www.markpenix.com/?p=950 Post #8 of 100 – 100 Portrait Challenge (in pen)

This one looks pretty good I think :)

Click the image to see it larger…

]]> http://www.markpenix.com/100-portrait-challenge-8-of-100-david-bowie/feed/ 0 100 Portrait Challenge – 7 of 100 Cate Blanchett http://www.markpenix.com/100-portrait-challenge-7-of-100-cate-blanchett/ http://www.markpenix.com/100-portrait-challenge-7-of-100-cate-blanchett/#comments Mon, 23 May 2011 00:27:43 +0000 Mark http://www.markpenix.com/?p=944 Post #7 of 100 – 100 Portrait Challenge (in pen)

Eh, turned out okay I guess.

Click the image to see it larger…

]]> http://www.markpenix.com/100-portrait-challenge-7-of-100-cate-blanchett/feed/ 0 Caricature of a Friend http://www.markpenix.com/caricature-of-a-friend/ http://www.markpenix.com/caricature-of-a-friend/#comments Mon, 16 May 2011 12:55:42 +0000 Mark http://www.markpenix.com/?p=936 This is a caricature of a friend.

I’m pretty proud of this one, did a few initial sketches, then scanned it, lined it up in Illustrator and painted it.

I am calling this my “first successful use of Illustrator”

After I finished in illustrator I was staring at the original and decided to try out the crayola watercolors I purchased a few days ago. I haven’t used watercolors since the first grade, I remember it well… messy. I think I managed to do something good here. Colors look better in person but the scan is decent.

]]> http://www.markpenix.com/caricature-of-a-friend/feed/ 0 Self Portrait http://www.markpenix.com/self-portrait/ http://www.markpenix.com/self-portrait/#comments Mon, 16 May 2011 01:24:57 +0000 Mark http://www.markpenix.com/?p=930 1 1/2 hours, 3 sketches (light box), not happy with the final but it still looks okay. Need better inking pens… and a steadier hand.

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