Illustration Friday - Poem - Haiku

OK, here's a very quick and dirty interpretation of poem. I had a good idea and I whipped it up PowerPoint of all things.

I'll be honest, I don't get poetry. It was always my least favourite part in English class. All the rhyming, iambic pentameters, and all the rules. I just found it a chore.

At any rate here's my submission for 'poem'.

Take a look at my other work, just click on the 'Daily Charcoal' header.

Another Robot

Here's another robot. This guy started off as a charcoal drawing, the I brought him into Photoshop. I like the sketchy look to him combined with the bold colours. I get the feeling I've borrowed this style and I think I know from who. If anyone else has seen this let me know.

To be honest that's the one thing I'm really trying to find; my own unique style. I like graphical/technical art, but I also like colour blends and transitions. Some of my work would be technical and abstract. As I'm writing this, I'm thinking that I don't have anything really 'organic'. It's all very graphical. I think I'll try to do something less ridged and more free flowing.

Well I'm off to work in my sketchbook with conte in my bed. Yeah I know it'll make a mess, I'm a nutter, thanks for caring.

Couldn't Resist

OK, I couldn't resist. I put little buddy in a very mediocre picture of mine. Just for kicks.

Little Buddy

OK, here's my Little Buddy. I'm not sure what I'm going to name him yet, so for now that's his name. I think I've finally found 'my character'. You know the one that you always draw. I've been looking for him for a while. Hopefully he's going to stick around.

Little Buddy started off as a sketch for Illustration Friday - Geeky. I was going to do some over the top Japanese type characters and use them as my Geeky entry. Needless to say, that didn't happen. Instead I found my Little Buddy. He didn't look Japanese per say, maybe more French or the New Retro style. Needing the practice I pulled him into Illustrator and tried to ink and colour him. It wasn't easy, but not that hard either. I'm pleased with the results.

I'm trying to get used to drawing him. I find it insanely hard to redraw the same thing over and over again. I've tried it on the train but he becomes a little wiggly. If anyone has some good tips on how to redraw characters freehand I'd appreciate it!

Illustration Friday - Discovery

Here's another Illustration Friday submission done in Illustrator again. I had a few ideas kicking around. Soneone had already done my inital idea (Archimedes in the bath) so I had to noodle around for something else. Seems like I'm still on the simple graphical kick. I was going to do something more abstract but this seems very fitting.

At any rate, enjoy.

People on the Go III

Here's another one from my "People on the GO" series. I think I bungled her nose in this one. Not bad overall though.

Illustration Friday - Geeky - The Pyramid of Geek

Well now, here's a topic that I was able to come up with TOO many ideas. I decided to go with my 'Pyramid of Geek'.

I have a few reasons I approached this topic this week the way I did.

First, I've been wanting to do something more graphic and less cartoonish, painterly, sketch or drawing.

Second, I wanted to stay away from drawing a geeky character (even though the horn rimmed glasses did make it into my composition).

Third, I wanted to better learn how to use the pen tool in Illustrator. As an aside, the pen tool gives me a headache every time I use it for the first 10 minutes then I get the hang of it, still it's a tough tool to get used to.

Fourth, I wanted to include all my geeky hobbies and things I have been/are interested in.


I did all the icons in Illustrator then played around in Photoshop. I feel the execution is a bit rudimentary, but the concept is sound. I got to tell you though, doing all those icons in Illustrator took me a while (still just learning).

I'm curious if most people can figure out what some of the more cryptic icons are. Click on the image above and you should get two at least. The first person that can provide me the most specific meanings for all my icons, including the top one, will get a print of the illustration signed and sent to their home for free!

The Vomitron 2000

In addition to drawing, I also like taking pictures and fancy myself a budding amateur photographer. I didn't feel like posting another drawing I was kinda 'meh' about, so I figured I'd put up some of my photos.

So here's some pictures of the "Vomitron 2000", well actually it's a Ferris wheel taken with a long shutter speed. I like the patterns of light that appear in the first picture, the second one is just insane.

Again, comments are always appreciated.

Back to the Charcoal

I haven't posted a charcaol abstract in a while so I figure I'd pull one out of my stash. I've also been busy with life in general.

Here's one from a few months back. Again, just sitting and drawing and sketching away until something came out.

Lately I've been trying to do more work in Illustrator and Photoshop. Those are both pretty big applications and you can do a TON of stuff with them. I'm just trying to learn how to master them. I don't know why I find Illustrator difficult. Connecting all the line segments and whatnot together and then making something out of them. I find Photoshop a lot easier.

At an rate, here's my drawing. I called it 'Roots'. Enjoy.

As always, any comments are appreciated.

More Crazy Photoshop Fun

Still playing around in Photoshop today.

This image was originally a picture taken at a 'State Fair' (we call it the Canadian National Exhibition - CNE for short). I love going there, always a fun day for me.

At any rate there were these two entertainers a guy and and a girl walking the grounds. It was a neat show they had. The guy was on stilts but had a suit around him that looked like he was sitting on this tall ostrich. The girl walked around with a magnifying glass. Her costume though made it look like she was floating. It was all very Ren-fair-esque (Renaissance Fair), but insanely interesting.

I hope they are back next year, I'll take more shots. If they sit still for long enough.

Illustration Friday - Twist

Here's my entry for "Twist". This week was more just playing around in Photoshop than anything serious. I'll admit, I think this week's topic was a little weak. I have another ideas kicking around in my noodle not sure if I'll get to it though.

Tutorial Fun - Green Bubbles

Here's a quicky little thing that I did following a tutorial from the magazine "Photoshop Creative". It's $20 bucks and comes from the UK. It's a good magazine, you just have to pick and choose the issues you buy.

At any rate, here's some green bubbles.

Playing around

Here's another robot I was playing around with tonight. He's a little rough around the edges (literally). I was more just going through the motions than really working towards something great.

I do need some help though. I can't think of a good background for this bugger. I'm having that issue with these quick drawings (see other robot, and my IF-Suits).

Well if anyone has some ideas, please let me know

People on the Go II

I was into sketching people on the train for a little while. I have one that I posted up earlier.

Here's another one. I'm pretty happy with this one. I have a couple more ready just in case for the future. If anyone is really interested I'll post them up quicker.

Unfortunately, most of my drawings are of people sleeping. Seems like that's the top activity on the train in the morning or the afternoon. The only other pose seems to be a sour, or just a straight face. Hard to find some real emotion.

I think I'm going to start drawing on the train again. This time I'll try taking a different train car. Being a typical commuter, I'm a creature of habit and sit in the same car, most of the time in the same seat.

At any rate, let me know what you think!

Future Dude

Here's my "Future Dude". He was my first successful digital colouring work within Photoshop. I initially drew him out pencil then scanned him in. Using the tutorial from Steel Dolphin (see my links) I coloured him in.

Don't mind the bands around him. I used "Save for Web" so I can save some space on my blog. Although I still have plenty of space left, I figured I'll start saving where I can.

Let me know what you think.

Illustration Friday - Camoflage

Here's my entry for this weeks theme of 'camouflage'. I think I was influenced by the one guy who did a wolf in sheep's clothing for 'suits'. I think this one is pretty self explanatory. Enjoy!

Another doodle

Here's a doodle I did a few years ago that I just found. It was during a meeting at work. I don't think my manager was too impressed with my artistic talents.

Illustration Friday - Rejection

Here's my entry this week for Illustration Friday - Rejection. I sat and thought about it and had a couple of ideas. One of them was already done a few times (kids rejecting food). I didn't want to do a sad person sitting in a corner.

So the idea I came up with based around the actual point of rejection. I was trying to capture the moment of rejection; the expulsion of something unwanted, pushing away and getting rid of whatever.

I also figured I'd do something more abstract/figurative. Also seeing as my blog is called "Daily Charcoal" I figured I should do something using charcoal.

I believe the images above capture that. Let me know what you think.

Doodle Time

Haven't posted for a while because I've been busy. Here's a little doodle that I did tonight. I'm growing a little tired of my abstract charcoal drawings so I've moved over to more a comic style (for now anyways). I'm still trying to figure out 'my style'. Well enjoy this dude. I was tempted to use him as my entry for "rejection" for Illustration Friday.


EDIT: I kept thinking this dude looked like the son from "Sanford and Son". I couldn't remember his name (Lamont). A colleague at work helped me out.

Quick Post

I was playing around with Photoshop tonight. It's nothing too major, all the colours are flat. Trying to get a good idea to render within Photoshop.

Which way is up?

I'm trying to figure out which way this goes better. I had originally thought the drawing should be oriented with the buildings/boxes going up. I didn't think it looked right so I rotated the image. Let me know what you think?

Illustration Friday - Suit

Here's my first Illustration Friday entry for "Suit".

How about eight suits; business, armor, bathing, birthday, clubs, spades, hearts and diamonds?

Click on the header to look at my other sketches, drawings and rants!

Conte City, Final!

Ok, after reworking it a few times, I think I'm finally happy with it. Onto something new!

Squares 2

Here's another 'squares' one. I know they aren't really squares, but thats ok.

Squares

Here's a quickie post. I've also taken another crack at the Conte City desktop (1600 x 1200). Enjoy!

edit 1: I don't konw why you can't click on the pictures. I'll take another crack at it later on tonight. I tried something and it didn't quite work. I will try again.

edit 2: The desktops are based on sketches that I've scanned in and photoshopped.

edit 3: Yay, got it working!

Fox or Owl?

My back catalogue is almost depleted. I'm starting to run out of drawings. I need to get cracking on more. At any rate here's another one. Is anyone reading this blog anyways?

Staircase

Here's a spooky dreamy staircase drawing. It's from my primary school. I've seen this image in my dreams a few times.

Conte City desktop!

Here's a little desktop I just created. It's for 1024 x 768. If there's interest I'll make it for other resolutions. Try it out and let me know.

Tiki Tiki

Here's a couple of Tiki looking drawings that I did. Or maybe they are more of a Myan glyph.

Avocado

Here's another colour conte. This is another one that spontaneously came together. The only bummer is that my sketchbook is bigger than my scanner so I can't get the full image on here. You can't see the vignetting I did all the way around the image. It really frames the drawing and gives it a much better look. I might try and take a picture of the full drawing and put it up at a later date.