Here are some drawings...
...and here's me showing my respect for Chinese culture.
...and here's me showing my respect for Chinese culture.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
"Avoid Half" - shadows
The following philosophy comes courtesy of my art lead, the knowledgeable and versatile Arnold Tsang. I asked him how he plans his shadows and he said, "Basically, you want to avoid cutting the image in half." "Avoid half" has since become my mantra in many areas. You can see how, in the example below, it looks better when you give an object over to light (left) or to shadow (center) instead of something uncomfortably in between (right).
Notice, too, that doing this creates a more readable pattern when you squint. I used to think lighting choices were arbitrary, or that you had to slavishly calculate how light rays fell, but (at least for non-realist illustrators) not so! You have to make a DESIGN DECISION based on what you think will make the most pleasing pattern, and lean hard in one direction or the other. Will it be mostly light or mostly dark? You don't want your piece to resemble a yin-yang!
To a lot of artists, this is second-nature, common sense stuff, but I was happy to learn it. Passing the savings onto you!
---
Also, head over to Babe Lab for a new interview with my good pal Josh Singh, as well as a nifty card trick!
Notice, too, that doing this creates a more readable pattern when you squint. I used to think lighting choices were arbitrary, or that you had to slavishly calculate how light rays fell, but (at least for non-realist illustrators) not so! You have to make a DESIGN DECISION based on what you think will make the most pleasing pattern, and lean hard in one direction or the other. Will it be mostly light or mostly dark? You don't want your piece to resemble a yin-yang!
To a lot of artists, this is second-nature, common sense stuff, but I was happy to learn it. Passing the savings onto you!
---
Also, head over to Babe Lab for a new interview with my good pal Josh Singh, as well as a nifty card trick!
Sunday, May 15, 2011
j/k LOL
Who's got two thumbs and zero discipline? *points at self* THIS GUY!!
So I drew a bunch of disembodied heads again. Sue me. Oh, and here's a bonus pic of yours truly at a Renaissance Faire holding a giant turkey leg --->
Before you ask, yes, Nyancat is totally appropriate for this type of event. Nyancat is appropriate for ALL EVENTS.
So I drew a bunch of disembodied heads again. Sue me. Oh, and here's a bonus pic of yours truly at a Renaissance Faire holding a giant turkey leg --->
Before you ask, yes, Nyancat is totally appropriate for this type of event. Nyancat is appropriate for ALL EVENTS.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
sick and searching
Ill this weekend...just me and my therapy pumpkins. When everything else is a strain, you just want some things to be easy.
((The little stars indicate where I was observing something, or someone.))
I think it may be high time for me to exit this "mega comp of disjointed head drawings" phase and enter into a "one-drawing-per post" phase like so many artists I admire. Seriously, my heroes aren't doing this, and for good reason : no one remembers cascading pages of jumbled sketches! It's hard to let go of ingrained habits, especially if you feel like they're strengths, and try new, uncomfortable things. I'll save iteration for the workplace and strive to be more decisive when I'm off-duty.
((The little stars indicate where I was observing something, or someone.))
I think it may be high time for me to exit this "mega comp of disjointed head drawings" phase and enter into a "one-drawing-per post" phase like so many artists I admire. Seriously, my heroes aren't doing this, and for good reason : no one remembers cascading pages of jumbled sketches! It's hard to let go of ingrained habits, especially if you feel like they're strengths, and try new, uncomfortable things. I'll save iteration for the workplace and strive to be more decisive when I'm off-duty.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Friday, May 6, 2011
morning studies -- week 1
Trying to get back into the habit of doing studies/warmups when I get into work. Apologies to Jeremy Pantoja.
Bonus Aletta...
Bonus Aletta...
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Sunday, April 24, 2011
eyedropper / name dropper
If you're on this list, I used something you told me about color while I was messing around in Photoshop tonight. Thanks! I love my friends! Can't wait to start applying this on, you know, real stuff.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Thursday, April 14, 2011
"Snot Flings & Horned Things" or "When Concept Artists Go Crazy"
Sounds like the name of a new sketchbook to me...
I am, as ever, fighting against neutrality. I find I do "neutral" right off the bat, then (and only then) proceed to more extreme variations. "Neutral" is never, ever interesting! Gotta get that through my skull!
Non-sequitor fun fact : Did you know that they make zombie/cthulhu dildos? And that spooky girls (and probably gay dudes) buy them? Eeerily true. This begged the question I'm sure we all ask ourselves at least a few times per day, "What would anatomically correct, offworld sex aids look like?" I'm sure there'd be a market for at least a few of these...
...so if your adult novelty business is interested in producing a line, get in touch! Like my pumpkins, I could keep exploring alien phallic shapes forever, but the fact that I did *one* page is probably damning enough. Hidden in this jumbled pile are two cylcopses with some unconventional speech balloons. Can you find them?
I am, as ever, fighting against neutrality. I find I do "neutral" right off the bat, then (and only then) proceed to more extreme variations. "Neutral" is never, ever interesting! Gotta get that through my skull!
Non-sequitor fun fact : Did you know that they make zombie/cthulhu dildos? And that spooky girls (and probably gay dudes) buy them? Eeerily true. This begged the question I'm sure we all ask ourselves at least a few times per day, "What would anatomically correct, offworld sex aids look like?" I'm sure there'd be a market for at least a few of these...
...so if your adult novelty business is interested in producing a line, get in touch! Like my pumpkins, I could keep exploring alien phallic shapes forever, but the fact that I did *one* page is probably damning enough. Hidden in this jumbled pile are two cylcopses with some unconventional speech balloons. Can you find them?
Monday, April 11, 2011
destinationless
Some artists are really diligent when it comes to challenging themselves and expanding their field of study. Personally, I think you should draw what you like, even if it's goofy, crass or crudely wrought! Drawing without purpose is kind of like traveling without a destination. Regardless of where you wind up, it still beats staying at home.
Speaking of artists who do what they like, here's a bonus pic of me and my art-crush, Miss. Monster, taken at Monsterpalooza! I loaded up on inspiration, so expect to see many more monsters and aliens soon!
Speaking of artists who do what they like, here's a bonus pic of me and my art-crush, Miss. Monster, taken at Monsterpalooza! I loaded up on inspiration, so expect to see many more monsters and aliens soon!
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