~ iPad Pro Summer 2019 ~

Going into summer I was feeling pretty rough. My health hasn’t been good (mental or physical) and I know change is needed. Photography hasn’t been as fulfilling lately and I have been really wanting to do more art lately. Digital art has always been something I wanted to do but I could never really get used to the Wacom tablet as it just never felt right.  A few years ago I tried out an iPad Pro with the pencil and was SOLD at how comfortable it was to use to draw.

I got the nice big version of the iPad with the pencil 2 and a very cool case for it. So far I couldn’t be happier. It fits with my style of art and it’s so fun to sketch and doodle on it.  The power of the iPad Pro is amazing as well. I use the app Procreate and it is outstanding to have tons of layers open as I draw.

I used to always open sketchbooks and a big inhibitor of drawing was that I always wanted my art to look perfect. Many sketchbooks just sat blank due to my lack of knowing what to draw and my desire to make it look great. The iPad takes away my mental barriers and lets me just sketch or doodle away. Giving my the layers allows me to change things if they don’t work out and instead of ripping a page out of the sketchbook I can just delete it or just start fresh and get it to where I want it to be.

Definitely stoked to draw more and I love the portability of taking the iPad with me wherever I go. Excited to share some art here and also photos too. Here are some recent drawings and photos of my precious iPad Pro.

Polar Vortex

This has been some super cold weather last few days.  I have been totally staying inside and not going anywhere.  This morning with wind chill it feels like -42.  I have not been doing much photography but I feel this time has given me some time to edit and really consider where I am going to go creatively in 2019.  I am really going to try and write more as well.  This blog is a lot of fun and for personal growth as a writer I should really give it a shot.  I never really did feel like writing was my jam which is why I was more into creating images with sketches and now with a camera.  I prefer to allow my images to speak for themselves rather than try and write.

I also want to get back onto working on my YouTube channel.  I think it would be fun to show more video work with my cameras.  Possibly mix in some video from my gaming and blend it in with photography work.  Throw in some photography tutorials along the way.  YouTube has been something I have ignored for a long time and I really think it could be a fun way to expand on being creative with photography.

I hope if you're somewhere caught in this polar vortex you're staying warm.  Enjoy the day and look for ways to be creative in your own life.  Without creativity this world is a super dull and boring place to be living in.

This is a great video by John Spencer

~ Mural Mosaic Vegreville ~

The town of Vegreville is going to be the first of 150 towns across Canada to get murals created by the talented minds of Mural Mosaic  and on May 20th, 2015 it was revealed.  The mural was made up of 1500 tiles that were painted by community members and many of the students attending schools in Vegreville.  The mural is located on the wall of ATB and will join together with the other 150 murals to create a larger image.  Recently elected MLA Jessica Littlewood was there to represent the Alberta Government.  It was a fun day and some very cool art.

I teach art at the High School and was able to paint a tile and have my students be a part of this amazing experience.  Of course I shot some images. Here are a few of my favorites from the day.

~ 356/365 ART attack ~

© Randy Pond Photography - www.randypond.ca
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Sorting my art stuff and came across some old drawings and random sketchbook stuff.  I have decided that 2014 will be the year I put myself back in to doing more art.  randypond.ca will be featuring some of my art starting Jan. 1st! :)  I am excited to start showing more of a side I have kept hidden for a long time.  The photography is fun, but I DO LOVE art and everything about it. -Randy

~ 252/365 Drawing on CS6 ~

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© www.randypond.ca
Grabbed my tablet and did a sketch for today's 365.  Wanted to just post it but it's a photo a day, so I snapped this photo of it.  My goal is to do more actual drawing and art and balance it with photography. -Randy

~ Calgary Arrival 199/365 ~

© www.randypond.ca
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This guy is one amazing artist.  Thanks to Wil I was able to get my photo of the day.  I was able to stay with Wil while in Calgary and so happy to see some of his current projects.  Inspiring work!! :)  Thanks again Mr.Wil! -Randy

~ 178/365 The Media League ~

© www.randypond.ca
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My Media League team got our prize packs today from The Media League!!!  Each member got a TML sketchbook and championship tshirt!! (coach included!!)  So now I have a sexy TML sketchbook to draw in this summer!!! Thanks for all my friends that supported my team! -Randy

~ 121/365 Jae Lee Books ~

Jae Lee's an awesome artist, love his work and picked up some books today in Edmonton.  I had one book in this series and found 3 more.  :)  Big comic nerd here..
-Randy

~ 46/365 Bronze Statue ~

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Back in Red Deer College I created this bronze sculpture, it was really a challenge for me as 3D art was never really my thing.  I really like how this turned out and am really happy I had the experience to do something like this.  Decided since I am kind of drained at the end of a crazy week that this needed to be a quick picture for my 365.....so have a good long weekend everyone, lots of photo ideas planned for the next few days!!! -Randy

~ WORKS FESTIVAL 2012 and Canada Day ~

WORKS FESTIVAL 2012

The WORKS is one of my fave festivals in Edmonton.  However I hate when it is on, because it's one of the busiest times of year for me.  Wrapping up on school does not give me a lot of time to go in to Edmonton and check out the WORKS....however this year my friend and amazing artist Wil Yee was there as a featured artist.  He put a proposal in and was doing an outstanding project there, a lovely mosaic mural.  He asked me to submit a piece and I was honoured to a part of this.

I was able to swing down to the WORKS on Canada Day with my friend Sonny and see the final mural.  Sadly the piece I had done was rained on and damaged, a few other panels were damaged from rain and the elements, but overall it is one impressive work of art.  Quite impressed with Wil's work.  Can't wait to see what he cooks up next.

Canada Day

I got to hang out with Sonny and we went to the WORKS and saw Wil's work, then we went to go play pool and discovered the place we wanted to go was closed.  So we went to grab food at Cafe Beirut and then a little walk by the river valley then I decided it was time to head home to the kittens.  As I drove home I saw fireworks going off over Mundare and then as I got in to Vegreville I could see them going off over the town.  Fun times. :)

Here are some pics from my Canada Day:

~ 110/365 Mask ~