ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY: EQUIPMENT

This was a sketch I did a while back. I am a big fan of the colonial period of US History and of the American Revolution in particular. One of the things that always amazes me is the amount of "accoutrements" that an 18th century soldier requires. The gun itself requires constant maintenance and attention if it is to remain in good working order. Anyway, I thought this would be a fitting submission for the topic given how much equipment this fellow is carrying.

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY: FEARLESS

This is a value study I did from a discarded sketch... I kind of think it fits the theme of "fearless" in that we have our little explorer undertaking the EXTREMELY hazardous task of exploring the dark depths of the sea... Anyway, this is my first post in a while. Thanks for looking!

THE SAD GIANT

Here is the latest color comp... I just sketched this up in painter. Trying to maintain a loose touch with this piece. I like where it's headed but I think it still needs some detail. The giant looks a little plain. I am working on maybe some new greeblies for him--visual detail/elements. We;ll see. Anyway, I'll post more as I move towards the final piece. Thanks for looking!

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY: CLUMSY (CONCEPT)

Okay, not a finished illustration but a concept... I am working on doing some new pieces for the old portfolio and I very much am steering towards a fantasy focus with some of the new pieces. I love fantasy art and I happen to think that some of the best illustrators working today are fantasy illustrators (but that's another post altogether).

The process... First, I made a rinky dink model in Lightwave which I placed in a basic environment with some basic lighting. I am not looking to get too dramatic. I just want to give a sense of space and perspective. I just need a wireframe set to work on.



Then, I import the basic wireframe sketch into Painter and then draw/sketch on a separate layer set to multiply--so I can see "through" the layer beneath. I don't do this often but creating simple "sets" in a 3D program can help me work out problems with composition, placement as well as provide a more believable structure to work with. There are dangers to using this technique however. It can sometimes make the illustration look flat and almost TOO believable in how the objects are placed. It is still necessary to apply some "flair" to the elements to give them a little more character. I did this because I wanted to really mess around with the perspective a bit.



This is another sketch I did... You can still see some of the model underneath... Looking at this now, I see that I have a pretty good start but I need to refine the building AND the giant a little more. They need a lot more character. He needs to look a lot more like a big petulent baby and the woman below needs to be set in the scene better so that she stands out a little more. Still, I am pretty happy thus far. Stay tuned folks!

LITTLE BOT FINAL

I changed the color of the cricket to stand out a little more... I think it works better but I need to look at it a little more. Anyway, let me know what you think!

LITTLE BOT: WET VS. DIGITAL MEDIA

Okay... So I spent some time the other day messing around with this image--in an attempt to try and combine wet media and digital elements. One problem... My studio where I do most of my painting hasn't gotten above 40 degrees in the past two weeks. I made a valiant effort at starting a painting yesterday but ultimately decided that, for now, I'd have a lash at doing this completely digital.

You see, the problem I have been having is that most of my digital work looks too polished and, well, flat. My sketches and pen work seem to be very vibrant and energetic--but when I attempt to render one of those sketches in color, it seems to go limp. So, I am still struggling with how to bring the same energy and organic quality to my full color illustrations that exists in my sketch and line work...

I don't know... I mean, I am very happy with the result here but I still can push it a little more I think. Or maybe I need to just own up to the act that I am just a draftsman and not a painter?? No... I am not willing to throw in that towel just yet. I'll figure it out...

Anyway, here I treated this just as I would a watercolor. I started with a tight pencil sketch and then slowly added washy layers of color starting from the background and working back to front. The last areas to work on would be where I finally add the lighter highlighted areas--which, were I working in wet media, I would just add with guache or acrylics.

Really though... I am continually frustrated because I don't really feel like I am comfortable or confident enough in any media... I am trying to break this tendency to be tentative. The upside is that, drawing every day is making me better at all of it. It really is a muscle that has to be exercised. Now, if only I could burn calories by drawing...

IF: CONFINED

Jumping out a little early on this week's Illustration Friday topic...

For gentlemen like me--that is, those that find men's fashion "confining," I think this might have some particular significance.

NEW PIECE: COLOR COMP

This is a new piece I am about to start on. It was born out of many of doodles done at preschool board meetings where I serve as the health and safety chair. Let's just say they can run a little long. Anyway, I have been pushing this idea around in my head for a while--even from about four years ago when I did an illustration of a little bot looking at an ant. I don't know why, but I am fascinated by the story possibilities involving tiny robots and insects.

My plan is to render the final image in guache/watercolors. We'll see what happens. Currently, it is way too bleedin' cold to even be in my studio so I am moving the whole painting operation inside. It's funny, I think I have been crutching on digital software to create these images lately. Why? Because it's 1. Faster 2. Easier to make changes. 3. Cheaper 4. Easier to publish. Still, I have seen some illustrators get some fantastic results from combining wet media and digital media. Again, we'll see. I am interested to see the results myself.

CHRISTMAS CARD

Happy Happy Holidays everyone!!! I have lots of things on the horizon for after the holidays so please do stay tuned! Til then, have a happy and safe holiday!

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY: ENTANGLED

Just whipped up this render of a sketch that I had posted previously... I think it suits the topic.

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY: MUSIC

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!

KRISMISS CARD SKETCHES

These are some sketches for this year's Christmas card... I have been struggling with ideas this go-round but still managed the get some pretty good sketches from the sketchbook. I think I am leaning towards the dog and kitty.

I have started working with wet media again. It's been a little bit tough, but I really do like the look of wet media--watercolor and guache being my media of choice for renderings. As I knock this together, I'll be posting some images soon.

SKETCHBOOK DROPPING OF THE WEEK

Just wanted to share the latest bit of insanity from my sketchbook... I am going through an "octopus" phanse right now. They're kinda fun to draw. Anyway, this just struck me as hilarious--of course I am probably the only one who will think so. Still, if I can't amuse myself, what's the use of being an artist?

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY: FAST

From the sketchbook... Thought it was perfect. Working on something for Halloween.

BOOYAH...

Back on the blogosphere people after a wee break. I have been getting out the old sketchbook and have been doing a wee bit of drawering here lately. Lot's of pencil work and keeping the chops nice and frosty. I have a few nice gigs coming up--a piece in Highlights magazine and a series of illustrations for ETV for a summer production. Yes, that's right Wavy Davey and I will be back at it--bringing everyone some more historical-themed "visualizations" for everyone. This production deals with SC colonial figure Charles Pinckney. Pinckney was a signatory to the Constitution and a former Governor of South Carolina. It should be a hoot since the colonial period is my favorite period in US history. Anyway, I'll holler when she's set to pop. In the meantime, I apologize for my absence and hope folks will stick around to see what I am up to! Cheers...

FOR LEO: THE KING IN SPACE

A while back Leo and I were playing in his room in a small tent which was serving both as a castle AND as a spaceship. I kept asking why it was a spaceship AND a castle. Without missing a step Leo said, "Because the king is in space Daddy..." Too right. The king IS in space. Never underestimate the imagination of a three-and-a-half year old!

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY: TANGO

Just jumping out early on IF this week. Lots going on...

ALIEN ORCHESTRA

Here is another piece for my "Alien Orchestra" series. I love creating characters more than anything. I always have. I just pulled these guys out of the sketchbook and painted them up in Corel Painter.

These are part of a larger portfolio of wok I am hoping to show to children's book publishers. Creating the work is easy... Self promotion. That's the hard part. Stay tuned.

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY: HOLLOW

Well, the drum is hollow right? This is a taste of a larger portfolio I am working on. Getting ready to make a big push to get my portfolio/website/marketing materials together. I hope to have everything up off the ground by September-ish (my birthday). Anyway, I will post more updates on this effort soon...

This particular piece is part a series I'm calling, "Alien Steam Punk Orchestra" along with a few other alien, steam punk-inspired pieces. These are fun to draw and paint and I can do them all day long (who wants to stop when you're having fun, right?). He started as a pencil sketch which was then imported into Corel Painter where he was finally rendered. I'm going to post more of these lovelies as I get them done. Thanks for looking!

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY:CRAVING

For all the smokers and FORMER smokers out there...