A Little Bit of Everything

I've learned a few things recently. That Pro was better than College Football this season (until late in the Playoffs), and that I can't draw with a non-photo blue pencil to save my life. I've simply got to come back over it with the trusty mechanical HB before inking. I discovered this while hurriedly drawing the big red eyed guy one morning last week. It's one of those times when you're in a rush to finish before starting the daily grind. I was royally messing it up when I had to break, and was harassed by the thought of my failure all day. Yet another motive for procrastination.



There are various styles here, which is kinda neat. I went for a more animated film look on the character sheet up top (again that's a comic story idea that's coming together), and here are a few medieval style drawings intermingled with other dragon character sketches. I've resumed work on that story after overcoming a slight case of writer's block. Writing... hmm... Now there's something I will be working on this year!

By the way, the dragon sketches are random and do not feature parts of the actual story. There is no swordplay or archery or theatrical violence of any kind.

(pause)

Don't tell me you're disappointed!

Want to brush up on your writing skills?

Well take a look at the intro for Plan 9 from Outer Space, often referred to as the worst movie ever made. This film makes mediocre writing look great! I managed to watch the whole thing just to say I did... you know like skydiving or something.



Here's the Wikipedia article on the film. The mistakes are worth reading about if you can't watch the movie.

Painting with Oils

Just a quick post today. I recently put the finishing touches on the face in my latest portrait. You'll have to excuse the glare to the left and center.

I think I'm finally starting to settle with a painting technique I'm happy with. After I rough in the painting I apply thin layers and then accent tones with a coarse brush on the wet paint. You can see the effect better in the unfinished* painting below. It's a scan of an old piece I scraped down and repainted a few months back. I had hoped to post the whole image one day, if I'd just get around to finishing it. I haven't even put the epaulets on Col. Mustard yet!



*unfinished: this is how I escape saying I didn't catch the mistakes.

Well here's a little something...

Hope everyone is ready for the new year, because I know I'm not. January 1st always feels like an approaching Monday to me.

Does anyone remember the Goat comic I talked about some months ago? (I just checked and can't believe that was in May!!!) Well this is page three of a short story. I inked this awhile back as I was listening to a football game (I don't recommend that) and I feel I've learned a bit since. Below that is the old character and color test.

And would you believe me if I said I've had a graphic novel story idea developing since college? Six years of work is finally starting to come together... characters, plots, subplots, action, and most importantly to me, humor. Sketches of the various characters are hidden throughout my latest entries. I've even gone so far as to purchase a website domain name, so am I serious about this? Yessiree Bob!

A new year is coming folks. Let's have a bright outlook and go get 'em!!! (grimace)

Merry Christmas!

In case I don't make it back before the holidays, here's a quick sketch from this afternoon.
Have a very Merry Christmas everyone, and a Happy New Year!

Art and Links, or... Links to Great Art!

The Tree is up, and the Vince Guaraldi CD is on repeat, spreading Charlie Brown Christmas music throughout the house. I really wish I had something to show right now, but I haven't been too happy with personal sketches lately. I don't think I'm every happy at all come to think of it, except at that moment when I have an idea, and rush for pencil and paper. After that I struggle and bumble along and employ every trick I know to make it look as good as I can. Creative process I guess.

The images here are old, except for the Santa girl. I thought about not posting her since I had a complaint (not exactly) that my girls were sometimes too hot. I don't know what they're talking about...

moving on...

Anyone who knows me, knows that animation is tops on my favorites list - particularly pencil tests. I love character sketches that show movement, which is something every good illustration should have. And thank heaven for the internet, because I easily found some! (Warning: I am running the risk that you will leave my blog and not return for the rest of the day, there are so many cool things over there... Check out the blog links below to see more.)

One blog features the art of Glen Keane. The video below is a thumbnail animation, at least I think that's what the pros would call it. Heck I don't know the terms, who am I kidding! I've watched it about six times and the expressions achieved by using merely a few lines floors me.



And here's da links...

The Art of Glen Keane, by Raul Andres

Pencil Test Depot, by Jamaal Bradley

And just because it's a precious well of inspiration:
Harald Siepermann's portfolio

I'm going to get some good stuff here soon folks. Some of my latest posts have been a little "blah!"

Winter Weather, Paints, and Portfolio Updates

Trying to put a few layers on my latest painting before I start on my next book. I hope everyone is enjoying the beginning of this holiday season. Thanksgiving was terrific for me, and my family and I are really looking forward to Christmas. Below is a work in progress of the newly appointed Archbishop of Mobile, the Most Reverend Thomas Rodi. I've worked on it for two days now and have made some pretty good headway. These are the preliminary layers... lots of detail to come.

Here is a small oil study from a few weeks ago I painted for future reference. I went so far as to make a couple sculptures for this one to help with the lighting. Unfortunately they didn't turn out very well but they did serve their purpose.

And if you get a chance, check out my updated portfolio over at Shannon Associates. Most of the peices added I have shared here already, but there are some black and white illustrations from the Last of the Mohicans that are new.

I have a blog?

No seriously... It's been difficult getting my thoughts down as I've been devoted to my art heavily these last few weeks. I'm up to my eyeballs in paintings - oil studies and roughs. It's the first time in awhile that I've had success, or at least fun, painting with oils. I've expanded my palette by several colors which I think has made an improvement.

And I know if I don't start posting more, I shouldn't be surprised if I have no visitors at all to this blog! So here are some insanely diverse sketches. Many irons in the fire right now.

The Last of the Mohicans

It's tough finding time to blog these days. In this post are a few of my illustrations from the book The Last of the Mohicans. It will be available January 2010 through Magic Wagon, a division of the ABDO Group or your educational wholesaler.


The book offered a great opportunity for some rather dramatic images.


I like how the angles turned out in this one. Originally I was going to have the party viewed completely from the side, and was about a quarter of the way into it when I had the idea for this composition. It was worth the extra work to change it.

This was the second illustration I worked on (finished it right before I went to the beach a couple months ago) and is one of my favorites - I love the tension and Cora's rigid posture. She's not taking any guff!

Over the next few weeks I'll share more illustrations and some of the roughs and prelim sketches. Stay tuned!

Colonel Mustard I Presume

Several weekends ago, I took a trip to the beach with family. Overall it wasn't bad, but I came back more tired than ever. While at the condo, we played a few rounds of the board game Clue. It was the first time my brothers had ever played it and they caught on rather quickly. Andrew however seemed to have the notorious problem of rolling ones and twos, making his trek across the board slow and arduous. Each time he played as Colonel Mustard, and I had the idea for this painting (still unfinished). He is known for giving people "that look." Below is an example of how game conversation would often go.

Colonel Mustard: I believe the crime was committed by Miss Scarlet with theeeeee.... Revolver!

Professor Plum: Where?

Colonel Mustard: In the leg.

Mr. Green: He means what room?!

Colonel Mustard: In the Conversationary.

Professor Plum: You mean the Conservatory?

As for the painting, there are about three layers on the face. Probably could use a few more but I've already spent more time on it than I thought I would.