Narciso Espiritu - #nofilter Valentine

There's just things you miss sometimes. Especially when you've made a choice to not explore.

2014 Artist Spotlight I

Elisabeth Alba
albaillustration.com

Amanda Atkins
http://amandaatkins.blogspot.com/

Wylie Beckert
http://www.wyliebeckert.com/

Eric Braddock
ericbraddock.blogspot.com

Kristina Carroll
http://www.kristinacarrollart.com/

Jason Cheesemen-Meyer
http://cheeseman-meyer.com/

Anna Christenson
http://www.annaeatspaint.com/

Taryn Cozzy
http://www.taryncozzy.com/

Michelle Dickens
http://www.dickensillustration.com/

Tim Durning
http://www.timdurning.com/

Narciso Espiritu Jr.
http://narcisoespiritu.com/

Daniel Fishel
http://www.o-fishel.com/

Sarah Gay
http://heysgay.com/

Narciso Espiritu - Kyle Smart

Kyle Smart being smart.

Kyle Smart being dark.

So, Kyle noted in an email that he doesn't usually have anyone take pictures of him, resorting to cropping his head from friends' photos. I thought I'd draw him as accurately as I could. Then again, I do that for almost every portrait I do. And y'know, negatives always look cool. I had fun with this, and I had fun this whole month will all of you!

(I realize I never finished the third part of "My Love"; it's sitting here in front of me. I'll probably finish it tonight. Just because.)

Looking forward to seeing everyone's beautiful work in the future!

.Narciso

Narciso Espiritu - Love Song Shuffle

Tegan and Sara - Back in Your Head

Narciso Espiritu - Power Rangers

I used to love Power Rangers as a kid growing up in the 90s. Sometimes I still do.

Just some quick helmets. Trying to catch up.

Narciso Espiritu - I'd Do Anything for Love, But I Won't Do That

I think I wouldn't lie to myself or to another person about liking them/ loving them just because.

I mean, if you're not ready, you're not ready. I feel like it's wrong to take advantage of that.

Narciso Espiritu - Odd Couple

Has anyone else watched House of Cards on Netflix? The American version? Don't you love Kevin Spacey and Kate Mara? 

Narciso Espiritu - Mating Ritual

Was helping out a friend on Friday night. Banged it out in my sketchbook.

Narciso Espiritu - Freestyle 3

I've been having a rough couple days. I think I have a creative block or something. Still trying to burn through it, so I drew what came easiest to me. This is Caution, a character influenced from one Halloween night several years ago. Probably even long before that. Like when I was thirteen. Anyway, there's a couple of images of him on my website.

Narciso Espiritu - My Love 2: Adventure Time

The months immediately following Stephanie were times of rediscovering myself and adventuring into new territories. Although, these things aren't really that new. I guess it was an explosion of independence.

The way things started between Kasey and I were kind of in the shadows, since we had both just gotten out of relationships. You could say it was good for both of us, to get a release, but it just started out of fun. Like all things that start out of fun, it got serious. See, Kasey's ex-boyfriend, Raymond, and I were just starting to be friends... right before Kasey and I began seeing each other. (Awkward, and of course, big, heavy guilt.) Regardless, Kasey and I were spending so much time together that we created a bond. We ate at new places, explored new places, met new people-- she even got me into a workout routine (a routine I really have to get back into.) With bonding and all that time spent together comes feelings and ya...

Since I was just coming down from a seven-year relationship, I didn't want to lie to myself and say I was ready to fall in love again so soon. More importantly, I didn't want to lie to Kasey. She was and is too bright an individual to do that to, and I was done lying to people. In the end, I really valued her being there for me--really, being there for each other. That summer would have just been filled with ice cream and video games and I wouldn't be half the person I am today. (I would probably be twice the person after all that ice cream.)

(Ray and I are okay now, by the way. Or at least I like to think we are. [Sorry again, bro.])

Narciso Espiritu - My Love 1: Learning About Ourselves

Joining the Month of Love group, I knew that I would eventually be tackling some issues I've been dealing with for a couple years now. It was inevitable. Many people have encouraged and suggested dealing with my issues through some creative process, and Month of Love seems to be an appropriate vehicle. However, making this narrative was a lot harder than I thought. I found myself digging up wounds and tearing up some scars create visuals for "My Love," which explains my five-day delay.

My relationship with this woman, Stephanie, felt both long and short, wonderful and challenging-- like many are. Needless to say, Steph taught me a lot of things. I was stuck inside myself when I met her, and she helped bring me out. I was a messy person, and she helped clean me up. (I can still be pretty unorganized, but I'm trying my best.) She made me a better me.

I learned a lot of things about myself from our relationship, regardless of how we grew distant just as we reached our closest, regardless of our love became more and more great and complicated , and regardless of how we finally pushed each other away, I learned-- I like to think we learned-- more about each other, but more importantly, about ourselves.

I may be less experienced than most people my age when it comes to love, romance-- hell, even picking up a date, but through Steph, I became the person I am today, and found the person I want to be tomorrow.

Part Two: Adventure Time

Narciso Espiritu - Crush 1

(I'll only do this once, since the other Daily Drawing Challenge I'm doing on Tumblr coincidentally aligns with a free-love day on Month of Love.)

I guess it should be no secret that I (had/have) a crush on Jenna Kildosher, but we work together on Instigatorzine. So we should keep it strictly professional, right?

Right?

Narciso Espiritu - Freestyle 2

Yes, I was watching The Walking Dead last night.
Yes, I miss Daryl's poncho.

Narciso Espiritu - Freestyle 2 Pre-release

Still working on this one. I was at the day job from 12-7p. Post the finish when it's done!

Narciso Espiritu - A Face Only a Mother Could Love

The Phantom of Phantom of the Opera fame

I saw The Phantom of the Opera for the first time last year thanks to my friend Robert Jason Clark. It's probably the best play I've seen, but that's not saying much since I don't get to the theatre as much as I would like to. Like, what happens to Phantom after I watch Wicked?

I regrettably looked up cleft lips on Google for reference. Regrettably.

Drawing this was a lot of fun, though.

Narciso Espiritu -LITM

This guy is one of the bartenders at a local watering hole called LITM-- or Love is the Message. Everyone just calls it 'LITM' in Jersey City. I'm sure even visitors call it that. Anyway, this guy's name is Alan Cano. He works at this bar, he's pretty funny, and we may be related.

Yes, this is vaguely love-related.

(I do love this orange ink, though. Rich color.)

Narciso Espiritu - Love is a Battlefield

First time I dropped the ball here on Month of Love. To be honest, I was having too much fun with this one. I wanted to drop around thirty more heart knights in the back, maybe surround them with spade, diamond, or club warriors. Probably a project for another day. 

You can see all the fun I was having in the sketch below.

Narciso Espiritu - Heavy Heart

Narciso Espiritu - Love at First Sight

I saw this group for the first time last year at Webster Hall. They were wonderful.
You could call it love at first sight.

Curious?

Narciso Espiritu - Keep Trying

It's not easy, just like everything that's worth it.