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.

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.

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.

Couldn't Resist

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

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!

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

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!

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.

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!

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!