It's in memory of our cat Poo, who passed away this year. It also heralds the addition of two new hellacious kittens, Terrance and Mr. Sparkles.
(And yes, I used ARTracker to plan this. Gave myself the afternoon to complete it.)
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Last post of '09!
Updated the ol' Scrolling Totem, as is the annual tradition.
It's in memory of our cat Poo, who passed away this year. It also heralds the addition of two new hellacious kittens, Terrance and Mr. Sparkles.
(And yes, I used ARTracker to plan this. Gave myself the afternoon to complete it.)
It's in memory of our cat Poo, who passed away this year. It also heralds the addition of two new hellacious kittens, Terrance and Mr. Sparkles.
(And yes, I used ARTracker to plan this. Gave myself the afternoon to complete it.)
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Plan
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you...ARTracker (TM)
I'll print out a stack of these and force myself to fill 'em out before embarking on a new piece. While it may seem unnecessarily formal, I'm not sure my informal approach was working. I'll be beta testing ARTracker in the new year!
Thanks to everyone who gave me advice!
I'll print out a stack of these and force myself to fill 'em out before embarking on a new piece. While it may seem unnecessarily formal, I'm not sure my informal approach was working. I'll be beta testing ARTracker in the new year!
Thanks to everyone who gave me advice!
Resolution
My coworker/bff Phu once said something poignant to me about our profession. When complimented on a comp of alien plants -- 15 on a single page and all very good -- he replied "Everything looks good when there's a million of them." Quality vs. quantity. If you don't have one, you'd better have the other.
In concept art, you have to continually prove you can be a "quantity" guy. The job flat-out requires it. Here at the end of 2009, I'm going to state -- to myself -- that I can do that. I can thumbnail and strategize until no stone is unturned. I will not suddenly lose that ability if I don't continually make use of it. There will be plenty of opportunities to prove that in 2010, and for the rest of my career.
But, when it comes to my aim of producing more pieces and less sketches, I must resolve to put aside iteration and go for the throat, planning in the mind and, if necessary, with written words before placing the first stroke. Good work starts with a clear goal.
Where pieces are concerned, my thumbnails will be appropriately small and loose. Once past thumbnails, I will draw ONE composition per page. I will not overload it with distracting, ancillary doodles or alternate designs. If need be, I will switch back and forth with another illustation to keep things fresh, but they will be DIFFERENT illustrations. At no point will I have MORE THAN TWO GOING AT ONCE. Today I had five pages going, and it overwhelmed me.
When I post on this blog, each post (with the exception of lifedrawing posts, which I will keep to a once-a-month maximum) will be of a SINGLE image rather than many. I will stick with each stage of a piece until it's ready for the next. I WILL DO THIS. CALL ME ON IT IF I DON'T.
Sketchpages are fun, and I'll no doubt keep doing them, but it's clear I need to establish some ground rules going forward. There will still be pumpkins and nudes, but hopefully this method will help me put more love into them, and get more out of the process.
In concept art, you have to continually prove you can be a "quantity" guy. The job flat-out requires it. Here at the end of 2009, I'm going to state -- to myself -- that I can do that. I can thumbnail and strategize until no stone is unturned. I will not suddenly lose that ability if I don't continually make use of it. There will be plenty of opportunities to prove that in 2010, and for the rest of my career.
But, when it comes to my aim of producing more pieces and less sketches, I must resolve to put aside iteration and go for the throat, planning in the mind and, if necessary, with written words before placing the first stroke. Good work starts with a clear goal.
Where pieces are concerned, my thumbnails will be appropriately small and loose. Once past thumbnails, I will draw ONE composition per page. I will not overload it with distracting, ancillary doodles or alternate designs. If need be, I will switch back and forth with another illustation to keep things fresh, but they will be DIFFERENT illustrations. At no point will I have MORE THAN TWO GOING AT ONCE. Today I had five pages going, and it overwhelmed me.
When I post on this blog, each post (with the exception of lifedrawing posts, which I will keep to a once-a-month maximum) will be of a SINGLE image rather than many. I will stick with each stage of a piece until it's ready for the next. I WILL DO THIS. CALL ME ON IT IF I DON'T.
Sketchpages are fun, and I'll no doubt keep doing them, but it's clear I need to establish some ground rules going forward. There will still be pumpkins and nudes, but hopefully this method will help me put more love into them, and get more out of the process.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Stacy Moran - refsheet
I must have too much free time on my hands.
Many girls who pose for gentlemen's magazines are pretty, but not all are beautiful. Stacy Moran, in her prime, is what I'd call a classic beauty. Her natural, soft features (34C-23-32) and tendency to wear her hair pulled back reminds me of the pinup models of the 60s, who, though before my time, have become my quality bar for feminine beauty. Even Stacy's nose is perfect. Look at it and tell me porn is a bad thing.
Though technically "vintage erotica" material, this retired Penthouse Pet of many monikers is still synonymous with my image of ideal womanhood. Pornhounds in my age range will remember her regular appearances in Club International, which I realize sounds pathetic, but bear in mind -- this was back when I was still smuggling magazines into my parents' house and hadn't yet fallen prey to video or the Internet. I suppose whoever you're exposed to early on has a way of embedding themselves in your consciousness, but in all sincerity, I don't know of any contemporary starlets who even come close to Stacy. And it's not as if I haven't been looking!
Googling her will bring you up to speed on the sizzling pictorials you've missed. You can also see brief snippets of her on YouTube, and for the hardcore aficionados there's a low-quality recording of her with some VERY unworthy dude, but I don't recommend watching any of it. Some things are best left to the imagination.
I read a rumor that she now teaches kindergarten in some Texas school, no doubt inspiring a new generation of sexually frustrated artists. Stacy (or whatever your real name is), I salute you!
Many girls who pose for gentlemen's magazines are pretty, but not all are beautiful. Stacy Moran, in her prime, is what I'd call a classic beauty. Her natural, soft features (34C-23-32) and tendency to wear her hair pulled back reminds me of the pinup models of the 60s, who, though before my time, have become my quality bar for feminine beauty. Even Stacy's nose is perfect. Look at it and tell me porn is a bad thing.
Though technically "vintage erotica" material, this retired Penthouse Pet of many monikers is still synonymous with my image of ideal womanhood. Pornhounds in my age range will remember her regular appearances in Club International, which I realize sounds pathetic, but bear in mind -- this was back when I was still smuggling magazines into my parents' house and hadn't yet fallen prey to video or the Internet. I suppose whoever you're exposed to early on has a way of embedding themselves in your consciousness, but in all sincerity, I don't know of any contemporary starlets who even come close to Stacy. And it's not as if I haven't been looking!
Googling her will bring you up to speed on the sizzling pictorials you've missed. You can also see brief snippets of her on YouTube, and for the hardcore aficionados there's a low-quality recording of her with some VERY unworthy dude, but I don't recommend watching any of it. Some things are best left to the imagination.
I read a rumor that she now teaches kindergarten in some Texas school, no doubt inspiring a new generation of sexually frustrated artists. Stacy (or whatever your real name is), I salute you!
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
proposal / support
Here's a refinement of a concept from a previous sketchpage. Would you believe it took me a whole day to get this far, and that it still didn't result in a "finished" piece?
Here are some gesture studies inspired by a fortune cookie. The starred one best communicates the concept of "accepting support graciously" -- too much distracting and contradictory stuff going on in the others.
In the spirit of accepting support graciously, I'd like to admit to a worrisome problem of mine, in the hopes that my art peers might offer their advice. It involves follow-through, or a lack thereof. Above are two ideas that, were I to take the time and "buckle down", could lend themselves to finished illustrations. Yet I have no interest in doing so.
I blame this on one (or a combination) of the following :
1) I have mentally "solved" them, so they no longer present a sufficiently stimulating challenge.
2) I am fearful of "killing" drawings by replacing spontaneous, energetic lines with resolute, dead ones.
3) I am hiding in my roughs because, deep down, I know I haven't the skill or patience to render.
4) My short attention span is the result of a mental defect for which I require medication.
5) I am lazy.
Doubtless there are others who struggle with similar issues. I'm curious to hear solutions.
Here are some gesture studies inspired by a fortune cookie. The starred one best communicates the concept of "accepting support graciously" -- too much distracting and contradictory stuff going on in the others.
In the spirit of accepting support graciously, I'd like to admit to a worrisome problem of mine, in the hopes that my art peers might offer their advice. It involves follow-through, or a lack thereof. Above are two ideas that, were I to take the time and "buckle down", could lend themselves to finished illustrations. Yet I have no interest in doing so.
I blame this on one (or a combination) of the following :
1) I have mentally "solved" them, so they no longer present a sufficiently stimulating challenge.
2) I am fearful of "killing" drawings by replacing spontaneous, energetic lines with resolute, dead ones.
3) I am hiding in my roughs because, deep down, I know I haven't the skill or patience to render.
4) My short attention span is the result of a mental defect for which I require medication.
5) I am lazy.
Doubtless there are others who struggle with similar issues. I'm curious to hear solutions.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Saturday, December 19, 2009
lifedrawing log - 12.19.09
Last lifedrawing post of the year! I know you guys probably get sick of seeing this stuff, but it's more to help me monitor progress. I find these sessions fulfilling because they present some very interesting and specific problems to be solved within very narrow timeframes. Concrte goal, concrete deadline. Before I can get bored, there's always a new pose, a fresh challenge. What's more, I'm completely shut off from all other distractions and demands for the duration, so I tend to think more and do more. Plus I get to listen to all the music I've been neglecting, so double-win.
am
pm
Comparing it to stuff I did at roughly the same time last year, I'd say my shit is definitely zippier now...less rigid and static. I owe that to Drawn To Life Vols. 1 & 2 by Walt Stanchfield, who preached analysis and communication over crosshatching and copying. Dude is definitely the best teacher I never had, and his essays will be at my bedside for years to come.
am
pm
Comparing it to stuff I did at roughly the same time last year, I'd say my shit is definitely zippier now...less rigid and static. I owe that to Drawn To Life Vols. 1 & 2 by Walt Stanchfield, who preached analysis and communication over crosshatching and copying. Dude is definitely the best teacher I never had, and his essays will be at my bedside for years to come.
Who's kickin' out the jams?
My camera died in the process of documenting today's output, so while I wait for a recharge, I'll take a moment to pimp my friend and coworker Dan Beaulieu who, as I like to say, has been kickin' out some serious jams these past few weeks.
I'm especially fond of Cosbynaut.
I'm especially fond of Cosbynaut.
Friday, December 18, 2009
lifedrawing log -- Dr. Sketchy
Against my better judgement, I decided to check out Austin's chapter of Dr. Sketchy. Kinda saucy/burlesque-y, and the organizer was cool but...
1) Their MC was a wannabe stand-up comic who insisted on subjecting everyone to her act. I'm trying to forget she exists.
2) We had to sit through a fund-raising video for the local Burning Man crowd who were wanting us to help finance next year's wooden hippy-shrine, to be painstakingly erected for the express purpose of setting it ablaze. Woooowwww, zen, maaaan...
3) Half the crowd were gawkers who were just there to booze it up and see half-naked girls. "Sketchy" of a different variety.
4) Texas-themed Christmas music. 'Nuff said.
In spite of these things, I got to hang with some cool people and draw.
1) Their MC was a wannabe stand-up comic who insisted on subjecting everyone to her act. I'm trying to forget she exists.
2) We had to sit through a fund-raising video for the local Burning Man crowd who were wanting us to help finance next year's wooden hippy-shrine, to be painstakingly erected for the express purpose of setting it ablaze. Woooowwww, zen, maaaan...
3) Half the crowd were gawkers who were just there to booze it up and see half-naked girls. "Sketchy" of a different variety.
4) Texas-themed Christmas music. 'Nuff said.
In spite of these things, I got to hang with some cool people and draw.
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