they say…

always add a picture to your post, it’s more engaging. Well, I don’t have an image to put in this post. I haven’t been drawing much lately, and would like to get back into the habit. Tonight I’ll break out some paper and pens. Tonight I might drink a few beers. I have three different color pages, three of each. I’m thinking a series of sorts. I’m also thinking that the drawings will be slices, or cross-sections of my normal process – adding more space. Color is important, and today is grey and rainy. I’ll start with pencils, move onto pen and ink and finish with colored pencil (maybe gouache). That’s the sequence I’ve been following (with or without the initial pencil work) for several years. Then I’ll post it to Instagram. The drawings will be filed away in a box or folder. Lately I’ve been going through old paintings – in order to create more space I’ve been un-stretching many of them and rolling them up. They only take up a fraction of the space that way, and I’ll be breaking down and burning the wooden stretchers (in a backyard fire pit that my sister bought me for my birthday). I would like to sort through all the drawings at some point and figure out a better archiving process. I sliced some out of a sketchbook years ago and put them in clear plastic sleeves in a binder – but I think I like flipping though a sketchbook when possible. I’m not sure why I’m posting today. I feel like I’ve neglected this site, and every so often I get motivated to revive it, update it, and make it sparkle. Maybe I’ll post more only word posts. Maybe I’ll delete this next week. I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy. I’m looking forward to the future.

John Otter featured on ArtQuench

I was recently invited to be a featured artist at ArtQuench magazine, sharing my backstory. It took me longer than expected to write. I’m usually not one to share much about where I came from, I’m much more interested in where I’m at now – but the process was pretty illuminating.

Encouraged by his artistic mother John learns at an early age the techniques of drawing. His travels to different environments affect his work and allow him to grow in new ways.  John’s exceptional work shows his range of talent and inspires us to continue to grow in our craft. 

Read the article here:

ARTQUENCH FEATURED ARTIST JOHN OTTER TELLS HIS STORY