Back to Basics

Life is still busy. My interest in Illustration Friday has tapered off. I wasn't in a good head space to really come up with something good/interesting/witty with the last few topics. Also, I haven't been nuts about the topics either.

At any rate, (I think I say that a lot). Here's an older one just in case there is anyone out there that comes by semi-frequently (if you do I'd love to hear from you). I think I'm going to go back to drawing these abstract charcoals. They seem more moody to me than some of the other digital work I was doing.

Illustration Friday - Blues

Long time since I've posted. Life has been busy. Here's a quick one I scratched out on my tablet. Just something fast and loose as I haven't done ANY drawings lately.

As always, click on the title bar to check out other work. Some better, some well... you'll see.

Illustration Friday - Visitors

OK here's a quick one I whipped up for Illustration Friday - Visitors. This was originally a photo that I accidentally took without the flash. I liked the way it looked and immediately thought of an alien abduction. Some color shifts, overlays and some of my own magic and style and I came to this image.

Hopefully the Illustration Friday police won't kill the link. I think it's suitably far enough away from a photo.

As always let me know what you think and take a look around my blog by clicking on the title banner.

Illustration Friday - Captain

Here's my entry for Captain. I think his hat is too small to be a ship's captain, so lets say he's a Spanish Conquistador Captain! I think he's sad because he's lost all his men.

I'm feeling OK with this one. I wanted to do something in Photoshop again and not have it look like my 10 year old niece's work. I think I had a major art block for about two weeks.

As always, take a look around my site by clicking on the header, and comments are always appreciated.

People on the GO - REDUX

Ok, so here's the guy from my first "People on the GO". I pulled him into Illustrator a while back and gave him some colour.

When I finished it, the style looked familiar but I couldn't really figure out where I had seen it before. I realized later that he looks very Hanna-Barbarra-ish. Couldn't help thinking he looked like "Black Vulcan". Check it out. Do you see a resemblance?

As a side note, no I didn't remember his name that's the magic of Google. As well the only reason I remembered him was because I'm fan of "Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law".

Enjoy this fun post.

Illustration Friday - Emergency

OK, well after two weeks of very weak digital entries for Illustration Friday on my part I decided to go back to basics. I pulled out the coloured conte sticks and just let it flow.

Here are my thoughts around this week's challenge and my response. When you have this big emergency happening (and I have had a few in the last twelve months) there's all this commotion around you. The emergency is staring you in the face ready to consume you. It's big and scary and your adrenaline is pumping. Yet, you can focus and be calm. Thoughts become sharp like razors. Know what you have to do and execute it. This is how came to my image for this week.

An interesting side note, I could see anger being very similar to danger. Maybe more red. But instead of a focus the middle is empty.

Let me know your thoughts, and please check out the rest of my blog by clicking on the header. I warn you though, my last two are slightly embarrassing. I was going to delete them, but I figured it's a good reminder of how things can go bad.

Photo manipulation

Well, I'm still in a bit of a funk with the last two posts. I've hit a wall when it comes to drawing lately. Here's a quick photo manipulation that I did. Nothing fancy. It's basic but kind of fun.

Illustration Friday - Missing

Here's a late entry for Illustration Friday. I wasn't going to do anything this week because I wanted to do an illustration that was more refined. I couldn't let this idea go though, so I just roughed it out in a sketch then into Photoshop. Sadly again, this took me longer that it probably should have.

At any rate, here's my entry for Illustration Friday - Missing: Missing Opportunities.

As an aside, I think I've peaked with Photoshop for now. Instead of progressing my skill I feel like I'm regressing. Instead of getting better and more complex, I feel like I'm getting worse and more simplistic. I'm really not nuts about the execution on this one. Ugh.

Well let me know what you think.

Humbling Post - first all Photoshop drawing (not complete)

Tonight I tried to do something completely within Photoshop. All I have to say is WOW, it's a lot tougher than it looks. Getting the idea out of your head and into Photoshop is not easy. Right now this thing just looks so hokey and amatureish. Well I guess you got to start somewhere.

I didn't really have a plan, I just was doodling and deling layers when something didn't come out right. Not to say that this did, but it at least started forming into something. I think I have to re-configure my workspace if I want to do 100% digital drawings. I also think I should move off of my laptop and onto a real PC with a nice big screen.

I've been reading some hardcore Photoshop magazines from the UK, the last one I got was Imagine FX magazine. This magazine is for people that want to get into concept art for videogames, movies and TV. Most of the art is sci-fi fantasy stuff. Similar to 'airbrush art' of old. Not that I like all of that stuff, but some of it is really good. Also from a realistic/technical standpoint it's quite astounding. The perspectives, realisim, anatomy and lighting is phenominal.

I do get the feeling though that the guys that are into this might poo-poo the more abstract or figurative work. Similarily all the conventional artists poo-poo the digital art.

Check it out at http://www.imaginefx.com/.

By the way, did I mention I'm still trying to figure out what/how I want to make art? I know I've deviated from my original concept of daily charcoal drawings and I've added a lot of digital work. Oh well, it's not like I have hordes of people are reading this blog daily. As a side thought I wonder how long I'm going to keep this up. My little expeiment today in Photoshop has disheartened me a little. Plus my other hobbies are calling me. (see HERE )

At any rate, if anyone is reading this let me know what you think of my stuff.

Angry at Nothing

I had a grumpy day today. I don't think I got much sleep last night, and work didn't help. So here's a quick drawing that helped calm me down a bit. It's pretty much how I feel though, angry at nothing.

Rejection - after the fact

Here's one that I came up with after I did 'Rejection' for Illustration Friday. This drawing started off as 'nothing' then it became an interesting doodle, then finally a little cartoon. I like how the girls hair turned out.

Illustration Friday - Moon

Yet another kooky idea I had for this week's topics. The fun for me with Illustration Friday are the concepts over the execution. So here's my interpretation of "moon". How many times has this happened to you? Or were you one of the guys in the window?

More serious and less potty-brained pictures can be seen throughout the rest of my blog. Just click on the header.

People on the Go IV - Green Portrait

I've seen this sort of illustration done a few times before, and in an art blog I saw recently. I figured I'd give it a try. I'm happy with the results. What I'm not happy with is the amount of time it took me to do this. I had a couple of false starts (using the wrong tools) and had to re-do the highlight and the shading to get it right. Still though, I feel it took me too long to complete this.

I'm still having a hard time with backgrounds. I tried a couple of 'canned' backgrounds, or just flat brown, it didn't look right.

Can anyone give me a hand with the backgrounds, I need a few ideas there.

Again, comments are always appreciated.

Fourth Pastel - Indy Cigarette Girl

Ok, here's my fourth pastel. I worked on it over two nights. It's based on a photo of mine included in the post.

This is one of my better and earlier photos. I'm pretty happy with the photo. I think I did do a little tweaking in photoshop getting rid of some background items and darkening the hair to meld into the background.

As for the pastel painting, I'm satisfied with it, I wouldn't say proud, but satisfied. I did draw it using the smoother side of the canson paper and I think that helped. I used black paper but in retrospect I probably should of used a lighter colour as it would have made her skin tone more fair.

Items I know I could have done better are;

1. Right eyebrow: The angle is a little off. Erasing that big of a black area would have made a mess.
2. Eye proportions: the eyes are a little far apart and there's not enough skin between the left eye and the side of her head.
3. Right side of the face: I couldn't get the contours right.
4. Right shoulder: Again, not sure how I could of fixed that without making a mess.
5. Hair ends: I'm not sure how I could of ended the hair better.
6. Background/Trimming: I copped out and just used black.

One cool thing I learned during this is that brown and blue make a good colour that can be used as a shadow for skin tones.

I'm looking for some real critiques so let me know!

My First Pastel - or - I feel like a first grader.

OK, so here's my first pastel. Well actually it's my second. Technically maybe my third. My first was a portrait that I never completed. My second one was so horrible I ripped it to shreds. With two failures I put my pastels away and cried. Well, I didn't cry, but I was a little disheartened. After months of therapy (Actually, I've been busy doing other things like this blog, that I doubt anyone reads other than the Illustration Friday people, but they only look at my weekly entry) I finally got over my first two and I figured I better give it another go. So this my third pastel, although not all that great is somewhat bearable. I did learn a few things while doing this. Here's what I've learned;

First: It's a lot harder than it looks to do a good pastel painting/drawing. I have a couple of books on how to draw/paint using pastels, and boy do they make it look easy.

Second: Don't use the wire side of the canson paper. It's painful to use and you get this annoying screen pattern throughout the drawing/painting. (edit - I found some examples online where this looks ok, I guess I'll try it again)

Third: Pastels and computer mice don't mix. Don't touch anything until you wash your hands. My mouse now has some permanent orange/grey pigment on it.

Anyways, let me know what you think. I'm prepared for the worst.

Colour Conte Abstract

Ok here's a quick one. The colours got dulled a little bit during the scan.

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!