Who the F*** is Vincent Van Bro?

[Stronkey Kong]

 

Vincent van Bro, formerly known as Curl Brogo, is an American painter, powerlifter, and Adonis with bat wing lats and biceps big as your head. Partly a renaissance man, he paints meditative, impressionistic still life and landscape, surrealistic allegorical depictions of small animals, and abstract expressionist paintings and drawings depicting musical ideas. He lives and works in Indianapolis. 

 

There's my Wikipedia intro paragraph. 

 

I've made up my mind to go back to school and study art in the spring, end goal being an MFA. So this challenge will be centered on preparing for that, while improving my health and fitness... and lats and biceps.

 

Goal 1: Hunger. 

 

Carrying over from previous challenges. Eat only when the thought of steamed broccoli and fish makes me drool.

 

Goal 2: Pickup the barbell 6 days a week. 

 

Pretty straightforward. I'll do whatever feels right. As long as I do a set of something. 

 

Expect bear complexes. 

 

Goal 3: one morning walk each weekend. 

 

I just want to put a couple miles on my shoes each weekend to avoid stagnating over the weekend. 

 

LUYL goals: Art school prep

 

Basically a list Sidequests to prepare for school. 

 

Assemble a portfolio: I need 18-25 works for the MFA application. 10 to start the undergrad/transition. 

 

-- Create new works

-- gather old work

-- Take photos

 

Complete application steps:

-- meeting with art school admissions (Sept. 19)

-- complete school application

-- browse courses

 

Roommate search: I want to stay put, but I'll need some financial relief. I have an empty second bedroom,  might as well get a roommate and cut the rent in half. 

 

-- talk to leasing office

-- make an ad

-- spread ad on various media/networks

 

 

[Sylvaa]

I am so excited / happy for you!

 

[annyshay]

OMG. That new handle is amazeballs. Keep up the good work, sir! 

[Stronkey Kong]

I started working on a new painting. 

 

This is just a sketch in graphite and charcoal. The wings are smoldering and burned to tatters... it didn't come out that clear because charcoal smudges easily and the paper I used wasn't meant for it. Plus it's just a sketch and I wasn't worried about getting a detailed finish, just the concept,  composition, and some values. 

 

I was reflecting on my previous grad school experience,  and the new one I hope is in front of me. I think you get the idea.

 

[Laghail]

Following for art and bear complexes. 

[WolfDreamer]

Following because you and your art are so freaking awesome. And...

 

[Jord]

I see I'm not the only person who came here to comment about bear complexes 

[Stronkey Kong]

 

 

 

[DJtrippyT]

damn that looks tasty!

[Laghail]

Damn sir

[CallunaTook]

More art! I love it. Really, though, do you have an online portfolio somewhere that I can admire?

[Stronkey Kong]

17 minutes ago, CallunaTook said:

More art! I love it. Really, though, do you have an online portfolio somewhere that I can admire?

 

Right now,  just Instagram... 3 parts portfolio,  1 part food pr0n.

[CallunaTook]

 

6 minutes ago, Vincent Van Bro said:

 

Right now,  just Instagram... 3 parts portfolio,  1 part food pr0n.

If you link me, I'd like to look at it. I  have only seen a couple of your pieces, but so far I really like your style. :-)   

[Stronkey Kong]

2 minutes ago, CallunaTook said:

 

If you link me, I'd like to look at it. I  have only seen a couple of your pieces, but so far I really like your style. :-)   

 

I think if you just click on one of my photos posted above it should take you there... No?

[CallunaTook]

Oh, HEY! It does! Well, looky there!  Sorry for my ignorance, and thanks for humoring me! 

yay. 

 

[Jord]

13 hours ago, Vincent Van Bro said:

 

Right now,  just Instagram... 3 parts portfolio,  1 part food pr0n.

 

that right there is the best kind of IG

[Stronkey Kong]

 

Challenge update:

 

Hunger: I started out not so good here. I've been eating like an asshole this weekend. It started by meeting a friend for beers,  as usual,  then we got some food,  and Thai want so bad but I should skipped the pumpkin spice latte and the bag is cheetos. Today wasnt too bad thow. Skipped breakfast,  and just had a big meal for the afternoon, buffalo chicken wings and Mac and cheese. I did add cooped spinach to the mac,  and I didn't eat the whole box so that's okay. I'll live with that. 

 

Barbell: Before I ate I did pick up the barbell and do some bear complexes. 

 

65# for sets 3, 4, and 5 reps

 

Walking and art school prep:

 

I went to iupui here in Indy at the herron school of art to talk to an admissions person. Mostly he gave me a tour of the building and we talked about the program. It seems like a really good place to go.  They have a lot of nice studio space and a ton of fabrication equipment. We also talked about my background and how to bridge the gap to getting in. There are a couple faculty members who came to art from science backgrounds so he's going to try to get me meetings with them. The next step is applying to the undergrad program so I can get prerequisites and some letters. Unfortunately,  I'd have to wait an extra year to apply,  but it's also extra time to develop my portfolio and map out my path. 

 

Afterward,  I walked around the campus a bit. I was trying to find another admissions office, but after going to one building and realizing it wasn't there and was at another end of campus I said fuck it. If I really need their help I can call or email them and save myself the time of waiting for a drop in appointment. 

 

In other new I did my grocery shopping. I got another 9.5# pork shoulder to throw in the slow cooker. I also got some healthier snacks to stave off the hunger while at work.

 

Also,  my IG is starting to get some interesting followers including a couple art groups and individual artists who follow those groups. And more NF folks.

[Laghail]

IG is one of the backdoors into NF community, well played sir. What's your eating plan these days? 

Also, well done on the bear complexes. Those wipe me out.

[Teros]

Clicked to find out who the f*ck Van Bro was.  Was not disappointed.

[Stronkey Kong]

Started this last night and worked on it a bit today. I posted it to IG and am finally getting a hang of this hashtag crap cuz now I'm getting tons of likes and followers.

 

It's been a good weekend. (I work wed.-sat. )

[Stronkey Kong]

3 hours ago, Laghail said:

IG is one of the backdoors into NF community, well played sir. What's your eating plan these days? 

Also, well done on the bear complexes. Those wipe me out.

 

Was gonna post the bag of pumpkin spice,  Krispy Kreme mini crullers, but didn't want to clog up my IG with non art or non homemade food pr0n.

 

Other than that I'm just trying to eat as little as possible during the day,  then having a good protein meal with veggies. I also seem to benefit with a carb load once a week to recharge... but I should probably refrain from using that as an excuse to buy donuts.

[Jord]

but, but, but, donuts are everything

[Stronkey Kong]

I left work early today and found a jumping spider at home so I decided to draw it. 

 

The portfolio is coming along. 

[Jord]

On 9/23/2017 at 7:19 PM, Vincent Van Bro said:

 

 

The portfolio is coming along. 

 

The stuff you are posting to IG is great! 

[Stronkey Kong]

 

Update:

 

Hunger: I feel I did okay here this past week. A bowl of cereal in the morning. A bag of chips for lunch. And a good meat and veggie dish for dinner with some rice or tortillas is about the norm.  Friday,  tho,  a friend passed through town and we went for Ethiopian food and I had a couple beers. Then yesterday I had a couple Moscow mules.  Other than that I'm eating on the lean side.

 

Barbell: terrible. Not once since the last bit of bear complexes. Things got a tad more physical at work, so I haven't had the energy. 

 

Morning walks: Yesterday I had to help my step dad year down the old chicken coops. Took out some fence posts.  So that'll count.  I'm going to have more Sundays helping them out with their move. But as long I get some extra movement out of the house that's fine. 

 

Art school stuff:

 

I completed the application. All I need to do is come up with the $65 app fee and submit it. But now I've got to think about it more. 

 

Is it really worth going into more debt? I mean,  it is,  but does the value match with what I can get and the progress I can make? It might just be that getting a roommate could help me afford materials and better Internet access and the occasional day off to work on my art.

 

I gotta a good deal of progress on my art this weekend. A couple breakthroughs on technique and I'm steadily gaining followers and likes on IG. And today I posted my jumping spider painting for sale on Fine Art America just to get my feet wet in sales.

 

Idk. I guess if I go through a few steps and see what happens is progress.  And if I reach a conclusion of yay or nay on going back to school by the end of the challenge that's good.