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I began studying painting and drawing after an epiphany I had in the very halls of Northern Illinois University back in 2013. I realized that my current path was not what I wanted, and was inspired by the artwork hanging in the art building. I then began my journey of learning how to draw, and paint by vigorously Plein air (the act of painting outdoors) painting, attending life drawing workshops and doing master copies of my favorite works from Sabin Howard, Rembrandt, Sargent, and more. What's more, I would study my favorite artist's paintings in black and white thumbnail form. This helped me learn more about composition and gave me more confidence in planning out my own paintings.

I learned everything I have ever known from nature and those who came before me. I love illustrators from the golden age of illustration. Some of my favorites are Leyendecker, Loomis, Pyle, Wyeth, Dean Cornwell, and more.

I strive in my work to uphold the same principles found in great illustrations from that time and before. Such as strong composition, a full value range, and great color, and edge quality. My connection with art is a very visceral one; as I feel that my purpose in life is to create art, music, and writings. There is nothing else I'd rather do but revel in traditions of creation that are thousands of years old.

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#1

An Old Favorite Of Mine That I Entered Into The Sandwich Fair Last Year. Betta Fish And Koi Fish Hybrids With A Bold Shape To Relate The Three Of Them Together Harmoniously. Happy Tuesday, Y'all. 🐠🐳🐋🐬🦈🐙🦀🦐🦑🦋 #illustration #charcoal #artist #guitarists #koifish #bettafish

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#2

In The Spirit Of Jade

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#3

"... And When You No Longer Attach Yourself To Any Particular Outcome; Then, You Can Become Clear, And Learn To Blanket Your Heart And Put It To Bed To Be Raised Once More Whence Evasive Clarity Has Found The Other At An Unexpected Moment; And You Must Become A Fervorous Advocate For What You Know You Must Do, But Better Yet... What Will Work..." Excerpt From My Novel
graphite And Colored Pencil 11 X 14.
#illustration #charcoal #artist #guitarists #foxes #foxesofinstagram

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#4

Necrotic Dragon

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#5

Spiritual Dragonfly

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#6

Sun God Turtle

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#7

... And Never Let There Be A Rapidity Of Compulsion That Captivates Your Mind; For The Fear Of A Desolate Future Of Thine Self Est Be A Self Prophecy, Fulfilled By The Agony At The Thought Of Loss, And The Ineptitude Of A Strong Self... Novel Excerpt 🐍🐍
#illustration #charcoaldrawing #traditionaldrawing #snakesofinstagram

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#8

Workin' Workin' Workin'. 🐍
#illustration #artist #traditionaldrawing #mechanicalpencil #snakesofinstagram

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#9

"Inhale, There Is A Reason You Were Made The Way You Were. For There Is No Better Way Than The Path Of Respect, But It Can Be A Difficult One That Will Be Laced With Outcomes You Wish, But Simply Put, Have To Wait For Indeterminacy To Pass. Let No One Try A Hand To Force A Will Upon Your Way Of Living. Let No One Convince You Otherwise That Your Nature Cannot Be Taken Whole Heartedly, As You Venture Into New Chasms From A Desperate Leap. Truly, Lasting Compassion Comes From Diving Into The Aether Of A Story Unveiled Throughout Time, Told To One Wrapped In Care To Be Absorbed In Understanding. I Cannot Guarantee You Anything, Son. That Every Beautiful Sunset Can Be Seen Intimately By Your Eyes. That Every Beautiful Flower You Come Across Is Willing To Be Plucked By Your Character. I Know It's Painful... The Why Of It... For It Is So Easy For You To See The Core Of Another It Can Be Lost On Those Who Think Not Of Such Things... There Will Be Those Who Are Afraid; Solidity Of Soul Is Impermeable To The Waters Of Desire For Only So Long... The Way Is Found Eventually To Those Who Keep Their Heart At The Ready. The Villianous, Those I Made, Too, And For That I Cannot Apologize, But Would You Appreciate Something So Beautiful Becoming One With You If It Were So Easy? If Everything Wasn't Permitted, But Allowed? No Matter How Badly You Would Want To Protect It? I Would Surmise, No, Son. Not As Much Pride Can Be Taken With Such A Method As This. First, You Must Revel In The Beauty You've Found... And Hope It Shows You It's Colors." Teachings Of Suseji
excerpt From My Novel
#illustration #charcoal #artist #guitarists #elephants #writer #drawing #traditionaldrawing

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#10

"... Emblazoned Upon The Crest Of My Soul Is The Capacity For Swift Compassion Only To Be Backed Up By Logical Realization Of Fear At The Aspect Of Being Emotionally Decimated By Something I Cannot See..." Excerpt From My Novel 🐓🐓🐓 #illustration #charcoal #artist #guitarists #rooster

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#11

"... And All Of Your Hope Shall Cement Itself In The Intertwined Labyrinthine Complexities Of The Human Condition... And Be As It May, There Is No Unbeaten Path To Weather This Storm..." Excerpt From My Novel
#illustration #charcoal #artist #guitarists #cicadas #egyptian #lifeanddeath

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#12

Study Of A Great White, 2. 🦈🦈 Pen And Ink, 5 X 7 Inches
#illustration #charcoal #artist #guitarists #pendrawings
#sharks

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#13

"Imagine A World Where I Simply Got Rid Of All Of You. What A Slate Existence That Would Sow. Gone Would Be The Social Ineptitude Your Collective Lack Of Acceptance Would Spawn; Gone Would Be Your Inability To Adapt To Varying Personality Traits You Found Annoying Before. You Would Simply Not Exist. Maybe Then Humanity Would Learn How To Coexist With Those They Could Not Handle When Man Walked And Traversed This Universe. There May Come A Day When You Look Onto Your Fellow Human, And Think, 'I Care Not For You, Or Your Needs; I Care Not For Where You've Been And Where You're Going.' This Seems Understandable Considering That You Yourself Are Perpetually Busy Trying To Figure Out Your Own Destiny And Path, But Heed Me, That Destination Is A Lonely One When Riddled With Self Indulgence. Isolation Will Be Your Prize As You Have Forgotten What It Means To Be Empathetic, And The Universe Will Respond In Kind. For, In The End, The Ultimate Travesty Is That Of Selfishness; To Forget That Compassion Is What Makes Humanity So Beautiful To Deified Eyes." Written By Trevor Murrey
excerpt From My Novel.
#illustration #charcoal #artist #guitarists #novel #creatures #magicthegathering #storytime

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#14

Betta Fish Study 1. I Love These Guys. ♡
#illustration #charcoal #artist #guitarists #bettafish

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#15

Abyssal Dragon God

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#16

Fun Study Of A Lighthouse. Pen And Ink With Colored Pencils. I Enjoy The Quickness Of This Type Of Mixed Media Approach. It Just Feels Good To Draw.
#illustration #charcoal #artist #guitarists #pendrawings #lighthouse

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#17

"Nighttime Is My Favored Time Between Passing  Astronomical Events Transpiring To Birth A New Dawn; It Has Always Been That Way For Me Since I Was A Child. During That Time, Out In The Countryside Where I Grew Up As A Boy, Everything Ceased Moving And Time Could Be Given To Thought; And The Complexities Of The Day Lived And The Days Yet To Be. Silence Is My Friend, Solitude, My Shield Against A Mind Of Mine Swinging Out Of Control At The Prospects Of What It Would Be Like To Be An Adult... What I Would Contribute To The Universe. Would I Be Remembered? So Peaceful Is The Cosmic Night. Ever Still As I Write These Words I Take Refuge In The Sleep Of The World. Everything Makes Sense Now When Life Slows Down Thanks To Biology And Its Governance Over The Mind And Body. Men, Trying To Flee From Its Grasp At The Aid Of Substance, But Neigh, The Dark Always Wins... I Do Believe It Is This Very Reason That I Write To You, Agevius... Humanity Has Nowhere To Run Now... It's Time For Us To Sleep. What Was It Again? There Could Be Heard, Weeping, Not For The First Born World Lost; But For The New One Crafted By An Oblivious Architect. I See Now... The Root Of Oblivious Is Oblivion; We Stand Upon Our Demise."
(Written By Trevor Murrey, Excerpt From My Novel.) #illustration #charcoal #artist #guitarists #magicthegathering #creatures #traditionaldrawing #mechanicalpencil #monster

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