Ira Roslan - horror and surreal art

Words from the shadows (2)

2012-02-15T22:02:00.000+01:00

In the desert
Stephen Crane

I saw a creature, naked, bestial,
who, squatting upon the ground,
Held his heart in his hands,
And ate of it.
I said, "Is it good, friend?"
"It is bitter -- bitter," he answered;
"But I like it
Because it is bitter,
And because it is my heart."

Stumble of the day: Unholy Wine

2012-02-13T19:06:00.000+01:00

Eyecatching concept - "Possession" Collection - by graphic designer and photographer, Daniel Brokstad.

Words from the shadows (1)

2012-02-11T18:34:00.000+01:00

Many red devils ran from my heart

Stephen Crane

Many red devils ran from my heart
And out upon the page,
They were so tiny
The pen could mash them.
And many struggled in the ink.
It was strange
To write in this red muck
Of things from my heart.

New painting: "Treachery's Wedding"

2012-02-04T12:25:00.000+01:00

"Treachery's Wedding" (2012) Ira Roslan

60cm x 50cm

Acrylic on canvas

I've been extremely over the moon about putting this piece online - a wedding deep in emptiness, stillness and space, which was not so easy to plan.

This piece was inspired by the coming-together of two people, especially into marriage.

Secrets and lies come about... but entangled in joy and expectation.

A little of good and evil... depending on how you see it.

Close-ups:

It's the biggest painting I've ever done so far.

I love the colours, I love the way the couple hold each other, the way they focus away from each other, and the way they stare straight at you no matter at which angle you view the painting from.

So in love.

Work in progress: "Treachery's Wedding"

2011-11-05T16:16:00.000+01:00

Treachery's Wedding is my current work on medium-sized canvas, about 60cm x 50cm. Takes up pretty much every tube of paint I have. :)

I try to add as many details to it as possible with a HB pencil. I should actually be using a 2H pencil but for the time being I have no idea where my entire pencil collection went.

Look forward to roses, thorns, pearls, and tattoes. :)

I'll be posting better pictures of the outcome so watch this space.

Wanting to make my own canvas

2011-10-09T21:39:00.003+02:00

I like painting on ready-made stretched canvases, but after sometime they do burn a hole in my pocket. And they don't really come in sizes that I want them to be in. They're usually standard-size, or small, and that's fine for smaller paintings, but for the current collection I am working on, I really need my pictures to be a little big bigger than they are so that the intensity comes through. And huge canvases are so expensive.

It's been ages since I thought about where and how do I get my art supplies (the most important ones). And it's not until recently that I found two german art-supply companies, Boesner and Gerstäcker, which provide online services. And I could order from either of them a big fat roll of canvas to stretch on my own.
The next challenge is to find out which sort of canvas is the best one to use for my painting.

I would also need straight, dry woodpanels to make the frames and the fact that a huge DIY store is right down the street, it shouldn't be a problem. There's where I could get all the tools I would need such as a staplegun, nails, a saw that also cuts at a 45° angle, and a sander (to smooth out sharp edges) - the power tools. Other stuff like a measuring tape, a square (to create 90° angels), gesso (base paint for the canvas), and clamps (to hold the panels in place before nailing) are also necessities.

This could be the best shopping experience in my entire life. :)

"Beauty is Blonde"

2011-10-01T10:03:00.003+02:00

"Beauty is Blonde" (2011) - Ira Roslan

40 x 50 cm

Acrylic on canvas

...I put a little jealousy and reality in this one.

A little of everything but the truth.

Work in Progress: Beauty is blonde

2011-09-30T21:39:00.003+02:00

It's been a hectic week and I've been squeazing in as much painting time as I possibly could.

This picture was taken last weekend when I was halfway through my newest baby, "Beauty is blonde".

This one's 40cm by 50cm.

Some details.

This was a lot of fun (and mess!)

Painting Mariah

2011-09-17T18:29:00.003+02:00

I can't believe how busy I can be these days that I literally have to steal time for myself, and let alone for painting.

Waited some time before I posted this, because this artwork was meant to be a surprise for a good friend of mine.

Me in late August, painting a portrait of my good friend and ex-colleague, Mariah, for her birthday.

On the floor, where I sometimes prefer to paint my simpler works (while watching TV!)

The finished portrait.

Isn't she beautiful?

Stumble of the day: Kris Kuksi

2011-08-22T10:51:00.001+02:00

"Expecting to Fly" by Kris Kuksi

See more at kuksi.com

Stumble of the day: Jeff Soto

2011-08-20T22:42:00.002+02:00

See more of his works at jeffsoto.com

"Mr Doll and his Doll Factory"

2011-08-14T15:25:00.006+02:00

Aus Ira Roslan - Horror and Surreal Art

"Mr Doll and his Doll Factory" (2011) - Ira Roslan

30 x 24 cm

Acrylic on canvas

(click for larger version)

This might just be my own birthday present to myself. :D Welcome to my first painting on canvas.

I completed this one so late on my birthday yesterday and I didn't even realize that I had spent 6 hours straight in my studio painting the last two dolls. I was so beat but beyond happy.

Work in progess: Mr Doll and his doll factory

2011-08-10T17:40:00.000+02:00

A sneak peek at what I'm working on at the moment. This one is fun to paint, but a little tricky. And I don't know how many times my brush flew out of my fingers like a stick jetplane.

Welcome to my workspace

2011-08-08T17:01:00.000+02:00

Me hanging up some of my paintings.

My artworks from 2010. What a fun year it was.

A lot of floor-space to go crazy on.

Where it all happens.

Welcome to my working space

I have a little room in the attic that was used as a storage space. It is still partly used for storage but I've taken the rest of it and turned it into my own creative corner.

It was a fun process as I really wanted to get it set up as soon and as basically as possible and start working on my project.

I'm still not done with the room. I do need a shelf for my art supplies, a low table and an adjustable chair but I was so excited to start painting that I'd settle with what I have at least for these couple of days.

It feels good to have a space to make as much of a mess of as I want to and not worry about putting every single thing away when I'm done for the day. Coz this is where the fun is going to be at :D

Day by day!

What inspires me (Part 2)

2011-08-03T19:54:00.001+02:00

What inspires me (Part 1)

2011-07-30T16:49:00.006+02:00

Stumble of the day: Jane Kenoyer

2011-07-24T18:24:00.002+02:00

Things we cannot untie by Jane Kenoyer
See her works at thejane.com

Stumble of the day: Museum of Bad Art

2011-07-23T14:10:00.004+02:00

This museum is in Boston, USA.
I think if one were to put some of them in a 'fine art' gallery, viewers would think they are good art.
What do you think?

Stumble of the day: Necklaces from human hair

2011-07-21T12:50:00.003+02:00

Created by artist Kerry Howley from England - these delicately interwoven strands of hair has earned an award. She spent more than 60 hours working on each necklace.

Today's bonus

2011-07-17T17:08:00.002+02:00

Ads the way I like them

2011-06-27T23:08:00.003+02:00

Advertising Agency Shackleton from Madrid, Spain, made really creepy ads for the 13th Street (Calle 13) horror channel.

Click for bigger versions.

"Find Them and Kill Them"

2010-12-11T22:32:00.009+01:00

"Find Them and Kill Them" (2010) - Ira Roslan

21 x 30 cm

Acrylic on cardboard

I really don't know how long this piece has been bouncing around in my mind but I'm glad to have had it finished today.

The lack of internet connection lately has been quite frustrating in every way and the times I used to spend online researching and appreciating art is now spent painting, taking walks, and hitting the books as much as I can.

Despite that being a nice change of routine, I loath being unable to update as much as I would like to. This has to change.
And it shall.

'Threesome'

2010-11-23T09:22:00.003+01:00

'Threesome' (2010), 21cm x 30cm, acrylic on cardboard
Ira Roslan

What a good feeling to have finished another piece. This was based on a sexual dream I had.

Sneak peak

2010-11-22T20:30:00.002+01:00

It started snowing today and I feel so cheered up. :)
Here's what I'm currently working on, right this moment. Sitting in my kitchen (aka Studio), next to the window where I can see at least 20 centimetres of snow outside.

New painting: Make Them Leave

2010-11-03T10:24:00.004+01:00

"Make Them Leave", Ira Roslan
21cm x 29.7cm, acrylic on paper

Work in progress: Make Them Leave

2010-11-02T10:22:00.008+01:00

Monday morning.

I woke on Sunday, rolled over and opened my eyes... I saw, through the blurriness, the faces in this coming painting... somehow an image made clear among a bunch of colourful, folded clothes in my open wardrobe.

It's coming together.

New Painting: Big Girl

2010-10-22T13:15:00.007+02:00

"Big Girl" (2010)

21cm x 29.7cm, acrylic

Turns out that using up my creative 'dryspell' for something useful like art research pulls me in so much that I forget about actually creating. Perhaps that is why I've been feeling rather empty lately.

This was a piece that was unfinished until Tuesday morning when it felt just right. I still remember what it was like holding on to balloons full of helium for the first time. The euphoria, as a child, amazed at how something could be so light and easy. Like promises, sweet words, and romance.

Until the helium fades away and the pretty perky balloons roll around on the floor like a disappointment.

Art Movements: Baroque

2010-10-20T18:51:00.007+02:00

Baroque

Origin: Europe

Period: 1600's to 1800's

Style: Violent movement, strong emotion, and dramatic lighting and colouring.

Baroque is probably well-known for its religious influences, but I would also like to notice not just the subject of a baroque painting, but also the technique, colours, and lighting used.

What I like about Baroque is how intense it is from the moment you first look. Baroque paintings and architectures are both very strong and captivating.

Below are some of my favourite paintings by some important Baroque artists.

Peter Paul Rubens,

Massacre of the Innocents, 1611

A painting that sold at an auction at Sotheby's, London, in July 2002 for £49.5 million :)

Peter Paul Rubens,

Fall of the Damed, 1620

*****

Michelangelo Buonarroti,

The Last Judgement, 1537-1541

On the walls of the Sistine Chapel, Vatican City. A work the took 4 years to complete.

Michelangelo Buonarroti,

detail from The Last Judgement.

Minos bitten by a snake

(it is on the lower right corner of the full painting shown above)

******

Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio,

Amor Vincit Omnia (1601-02)

Cupid prevailing over all human endeavors: war, music, science, government.

Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio,

Judith Beheading Holofernes (1598-99)

The apocryphal Book of Judith tells how Judith saved her people by seducing and killing Holofernes, the Assyrian general.

After viewing some of these Baroque paintings, I could only sit back, sigh, and let that awe-ful feeling take over me. Massive.

Stumble of the Day: Artwork

2010-10-13T09:18:00.002+02:00

Kamilah, Untitled (2010)

Artwork by my little cousin.

Oh I love it when it's in the family :P

Stumble of the Day: Strange content

2010-10-11T12:05:00.004+02:00

The Horribly Slow Murderer with the Extremely Inefficient Weapon by Richard Gale

Stumble of the Day: Artwork

2010-10-11T11:24:00.002+02:00

"Another Conversation"

by Rory Coyne

(via)

Art Movements: Abstract Expressionism

2010-10-11T11:09:00.002+02:00

"At a certain moment the canvas began to appear to one American painter after another as an arena in which to act. What was to go on the canvas was not a picture but an event."

- Harold Rosenberg

(writer, educator, philosopher, art critic)

Origin: New York City
Period: 1940s - 1950s
Style: Rebellious, anarchic, highly idiosyncratic and, some feel, rather nihilistic

Below are my personal favourites by some important artists during the Abstract Expressionism movement:

Willem de Kooning,

Woman V (1952-53)

"I see the canvas and I begin... It's a necessary evil to get into the work, and it's pretty marvelous to be able to get out of it."

Jackson Pollock,

The She-Wolf (1943)

"Painting is no problem. The problem is what to do when you're not painting."

Theodore Roszak,

Surface Embellishments For Mit Bell Tower And Spire (1956)

Richard Pousette-Dart,

Crucifixion, Comprehension of the Atom (1944)

Richard Pousette-Dart,

Symphony No.1, The Transcendental (1941-42)

Stumble of the Day: David A Magitis

2010-10-01T11:00:00.000+02:00

A painting by David A Magitis called "Spit".

Amazingly done.

See more at his gallery.

Stumble of the day: Artwork

2010-09-30T23:23:00.001+02:00

"Two Faces" by Azha

(via)

Stumble of the day: Artwork

2010-09-27T12:10:00.002+02:00

"Mask" by DieWolfSeele

(via)

New painting: Bundle of Labels

2010-09-25T16:10:00.006+02:00

"Bundle of Labels" by Ira Roslan

21cm x 30cm, 2010, acrylic and ink on paper.

This painting is inspired by the ego that lies in all of us. What we sometimes call 'the other side of me'. The one that makes you say 'I can't live with myself anymore'.

But who is this 'myself' that we sometimes talk about? Are we as individuals one or two persons (or more)?

The ego, something I am very intrigued about, has the tendency and ability to feed itself through anything and everything that rises out of a situation. I realized it, that when life goes well for me, the ego tends to feed from it and then it starts to put labels on me: Successful, talented, the best, clever etc... and not only that, it puts meaning behind those labels, telling me that I am what it tells me to be. That if I screw up then these labels will say something else: Stupid, pathetic, loser, not good enough, slow, and so on... and the ego would damn well convince me that I am ALL of that.

If the ego says I am 'The Best' then with the fear of not wanting to be labeled 'The Loser' it would make me do anything just so I don't get there... whether I have to hurt someone, bring them down, or lie my way through.

And if the ego says I am 'Doomed' then it makes me believe that there is no way out, and in turn convinces me into a spiral of depression. Not only that, it actually makes me like being depressed and feeds itself by making me believe that the more depressed I am the more attention I may cause... and why? What for?

Well... for the ego of course! Oh, doesn't it love attention!

A motivational writer whose book I once read a long time ago wrote, "Be miserable if that makes you happy."

There's strangely two sides to what that could possibly mean:

1) Feed your ego with what's not perfect in your life (eg. be a walking bundle of labels all of which you have claimed to be your identity), or

2) Accept that things *are* the way they are. Period. The more you try to go against anything (or rather let the ego make you do so), the more you'll only make it worse.

It's not an easy choice, but it is a simple one.

What inspires me (Part 1)

2010-09-22T17:55:00.005+02:00

Making art: Bundle of Labels

2010-09-15T21:50:00.006+02:00

A sneak peak of my next painting.

I'm making a larger painting this time, taking a break from art cards :)

Did a few sketches in the past couple of days, and there's all week (plus two weekends) to go all crazy about painting. Will be keeping my camera nearby for the progresses and finishes. And listening to my favourite music too is making painting a very happy experience.

Stumble of the day: Lupe Flores

2010-09-02T20:31:00.002+02:00

"You complete me"

A simple illustration that says a whole lot.
No one can live up to complete someone else.
I've had to learn that the hard way.

Check out Lupe Flores.

Stumble of the Day: Artwork

2010-08-15T21:40:00.001+02:00

"All his love for ice-cream"

by JerAllen

Stumble of the day: Dominic Murphy

2010-08-04T12:06:00.003+02:00

Giving head.

Artist: Dominic Murphy

The sarcasm, wit, and macabre of his artworks are one of a kind. I'm so infatuated!

See more at his Gallery or website.

Stumble of the day: Weird pic

2010-07-28T19:37:00.003+02:00

(via)

Stumble of the day: Justin Aerni

2010-07-28T11:26:00.003+02:00

"Bite the hand that feeds"

(...if the hand feeds lies)

Creative doesn't justify Justin Aerni's gallery.

His works are like illustrations coming alive from an evil children's book.

Check out his official website.

Stumble of the day: Dan Harding

2010-07-27T22:14:00.002+02:00

"Still Awake" by Dan Harding

Looking at it is like looking right into the eye of what keeps me up late at night.

Love it.

See Dan Harding's gallery of demons.

Stumble of the day: Majskorv

2010-07-25T21:21:00.002+02:00

Wonderfully done flamboyant psychadelic art.

It just cheered me up :P

Check out Majskorv's Gallery.

Stumble of the day: Lord Ego

2010-07-24T14:59:00.004+02:00

"Mommy's Little Monster"

An artist who goes by the name of Ego, whose artworks I find very soft, gentle, and almost untouchable, like what it feels like to walk straight into a mist or fog.

See more at his blog, or gallery.

Stumble of the day: Clint Carney

2010-07-22T20:17:00.004+02:00

"Becoming You" by Clint Carney

I also had no idea that he's a singer for the bands System Syn and Fake, and also the keyboard player for Imperativ Reaction... bands whose songs I once had a hard time trying to find on the internet that I eventually gave up.

Good to come across this by accident now.

Check out his awesome, violent, and fucked up art at his website :)

"The Orphan"

2010-07-20T12:20:00.005+02:00

"The Orphan"

2.5" x 3.5"

Acrylic and ink

Demons Series art card #8

I had no idea what made me wake up at 04:58 this morning and not want to go back to sleep, but I thought about this piece which I had meant to start on much earlier. So out of bed I went, and spent the whole morning painting. Turned out pretty much the way I wanted it to. :)

"The Orphan" concludes my Demons Series - 8 cards in the collection altogether.

More at my Gallery or Facebook Page.

Stumble of the day: Jeremi Rimmel

2010-07-19T12:11:00.002+02:00

The controversial Miscreation Art by Jeremi Rimmel

AutopsyBabies.com

Stumble of the day: Chet Zar

2010-07-16T13:24:00.002+02:00

"The Man Who Knew Too Much"

Poor guy... it makes me want to know more about him.

Painter of the dark: Chetzar.com

"Coquette"

2010-07-15T11:30:00.000+02:00

"Coquette"

2.5" x 3.5"

Demons series art card #7

Another painting I finished last evening. "Coquette" is a term used for women who like to flirt or play with a man's affection. It doesn't have to be a good or a bad thing, coz it's pretty much both at the same time. Naughty and nice :)

Stumble of the Day: Karla Ruiz

2010-07-15T11:18:00.003+02:00

Reminds me of my jet black hair - one of my favourite paintings by Karla Ruiz, also known as SuicideKitten.

See more of her works at her website.

Stumble of the Day: Katy Towell

2010-07-14T09:04:00.005+02:00

Check out the Illustrations, Movies, and Design of Katy Towell.

Stumble of the day: Artwork

2010-07-13T13:24:00.000+02:00

"Let's Be Friends"

(via)

"Killer"

2010-07-12T17:02:00.003+02:00

"Killer"

2.5" x 3.5"

Demons Series art card #6

Work in progress: "Killer"

2010-07-12T10:16:00.002+02:00

"Killer" in the making.

The new week is here. I started the day early at 06:30, watching a strange documentary about Neanderthals and Homosapiens. Soon I wasted no more time popping out of bed and working on my next painting. I've started on the background and now the fun begins. :)

Stumble of the day: Artwork

2010-07-12T09:38:00.002+02:00

"Take out your heart"

(via)

New painting: "Narcissist"

2010-07-11T18:11:00.003+02:00

"Narcissist"

2.5" x 3.5"

Another finished Demons Series art card. This is #5.

See more at my Gallery or Facebook page.

Work in progress: "Narcissist"

2010-07-11T17:34:00.004+02:00

Starting with the background and working forward.

Finishing the background and the skin.

Painting in more details before the final touch.

Finally came around to posting the progress of painting Narcissist. And sometimes I don't know how I can manage to work with such a small space - something I'd have to deal with for the time being until I feel like reorganising.

Stumble of the day: Chris Kapono

2010-07-08T08:39:00.003+02:00

Forest and Coral art cards made with polymer clay and other trinkets.

Check out Chris Kapono's Gallery.

Stumble of the day: Weird pic

2010-07-08T08:20:00.003+02:00

(source)

Work in progress: "Narcissist"

2010-07-05T16:35:00.003+02:00

I normally sketch a draft of my painting before working on it, and I leave it alone for awhile before coming back to it to see if I still like the way it is. When all is good I'll start painting it, and depending on size and details, it could take me hours or days to finish.

I never rush. It's always the process that's the most exciting part to me.

So this is currently the next painting I'm working on - Narcissist.

Stumble of the day: Mariano Villalba

2010-07-05T15:04:00.006+02:00

One of his works from the Evil Circus Series.

I really think circuses could use some demon clowns.

Check out Mariano's gallery.

Making a blog plan

2010-07-05T14:13:00.003+02:00

I spent a few hours on Sunday brain-storming ideas for my blog. Whether or not they made sense, I let anything and everything out that came to mind before striking out the ones I didn't need. And quite a lot of ideas came through!

Making a blog plan is what I'd recommend to anyone who's new to blogging, or already been blogging but is also considering to revamp their blogs. It doesn't mean that you have to take hours (like me) to brain storm ideas, just take your time whether it's minutes, hours or days. No matter what you want to blog about, it makes it so much easier to know where to go and to know what to stick to when you have a vision.

I've blogged since 1999 and opened (and re-opened) websites for my artworks, but there wasn't much that was interesting about all that. I figured that rather than writing down the story of my life or spending too much money on hosting so I could put up finished artworks as they are without much of an explanation, I'm going to start again and I'm going to start small.

I'm pretty excited about what I've planned for this blog. I'm going to share with you inspiration, imagination, love, humour, darkness, joy, and horror.

All in good time. :)

About me

2010-06-30T14:38:00.008+02:00

I depict what I see in dreams, peaceful and traumatic experiences, and the creatures or demons that bear me the message: Take it easy.

In my work I deal with difficult emotions like rage, fear, jealousy/insecurity, and sorrow. Some describe my work as bright and joyful, and some describe it as sinister and gnarly. I see stark and simple.

At a young age I started sketching and by now, as a self-taught artist, I've used techniques of my own. Yet I am still learning and constantly developing my own style as I go along.

I'm mostly inspired by music from Björk, Thom Yorke, Amy Lee, and Jason Mraz, movies and film directors/producers such as Tim Burton, M Night Shyamalan, Henry Selick, The Quay Brothers, and artists like Salvador Dali, Mark Ryden, Katy Towell, Mia Mäkilä, and Karla Ruiz.

I was born and raised in Singapore, and currently living in Germany.

Dream: Sleepwalker

2010-03-31T10:23:00.010+02:00

I made a quick sketch of last night's dream. It was merely a spectacle to me, just watching a woman asleep and then climbing out onto a glass window that strangely opened up like oven doors. She rolled over before finally falling off the edge.