This is a style of illustration that I love to do--simple pen and ink (well, digitally simulated pen and ink anyway). Some of my favorite illustrators of all time have been masters of this media and, strangely, many of them were most prolific during the late 19th and early 20th century. Heirich Kley, A.B. Frost, Charles Dana Gibson, Thomas Nast, Arthur Rackham, John Tenniel... These are all masters of the line and their influence has crept into the very fabric of our popular culture.This illustration was done to test some of my brush settings in Corel Painter. I am trying to get the look of a hard crowquill nib--one that doesn't give a lot of variation in the line but is still fluid and loose. I yanked this sketch out of the sketchbook and went to work... Anyway, please let me know what you think!
16 comments:
Was that done on the computer!? The lines look so smooth. OOooh. I Love it so very much! A+
I absolutely love the character of it. I don't understand what was done on the computer though, and what was the earlier sketch.
I love those illustrators too, and would love to be able to work more like them. I've got a long long ways to go.
This is a WONDERFUL illustration!
love it, he's full of life and the cats are very fluid.
Wonderful drawing.
wow, great drawing, I can never get my sketch's this smooth in Corel
Thanks for the comments everyone!
This has a little Thomas Nast flavor or perhaps some Bill Mauldin. Nice perspective and great drawing.
Wonderful!Great lines and concept!
OMGosh! You were born in the wrong century! This is amazing. You are one talented person! Love those lines!
The lines are very clean and smooth. The cats are lovey too.
Wonderful piece!
It's amazing how this piece brought warmth to my heart...Just lovely! (^_^)
James--I love this piece--but please take a moment and look over your list of "influences..."
Sure, they're great, but didn't you leave someone out? Who used to draw Bert and Ernie for you when you were three?
love
yore mama
You're right mom... You are a big influence on me. Boy is my face red. Sorry!
Maybe one day you'll set up a blog with your old cartoons on it so I can link to them!
Hi, James-
The fiddler is a wonderful drawing!
I've been trying to get a closer approximation to my Pelikan 120 fountain pen nib (on Arches cold press watercolor paper) in Painter and Photoshop and I've not been happy with the results. Would you be willing to share the settings you used on the Painter Crowquill pen for this illustration? And do you use a particular paper or canvas for your backgrounds?
I now have a Wacom Cintiq, which makes drawing on a tablet feel much more natural than it did with my Wacom Intuos 2.
Thank you in advance,
-Elwood
Hi James,
I LOVE this illustration, so much that I had it tattooed on my right forearm. I'm a terrible fiddler, but love the instrument. I'm also a cat lover:) I have searched and searched for a banjo illustration that might complement your illustration, but have never been able to find anything close to it. Would you ever be inclined to illustrate a banjo player? I would be happy to pay you in return for your fantastic artistry. You can email me at jhudson@uaschools.org. Cheers and keep up the lovely work!
Post a Comment