Robots, spacechaps, #doodles

I haven't rendered out an image for a while now. There are a couple back burner pieces and pages that I'm itching to get onto paper. I get really amped thinking about possibilities of a finished piece: compositions, palettes, contrast hierarchies. But sometimes you just gotta doodle: loosen up, make room for new ideas, and just have fun. 

Still sorting out some settings in Sketchbook 2011. Good news is, my full retail copy of the software arrived today -- time to put it to work and get my money's worth!

Botto #stetches at #illustration club

Getting back into the swing of things

Who is this scummy dude? #characterdesign #sketch #cartoon

Short term illustration project for this week. Super rough character designs based on written description. I won't post the actual verbiage because I'm pretty sure it's licensed content, so YOU tell ME : what, when and where this guy is.

I wanted to do some more variations tonight (and a little more Motorcade work), but I got some reading to get done before I pass out.

"Motorcade," Victoria Capella gesture sketches

Only three so far, but I feel like the exercise really helped me nail down her shapes.

Style test doodle for "Motorcade"

A style test doodle for "Motorcade." Monochromatic palettes with lighting accents? Not sure how to approach this. Will revisit it later today.

Me vs Paper: #sketchbook snapshots - semi #NSFW

My tablet PC has really spoiled me over the past couple years. I live by the mantra of "Ctrl+Alt+Z", and it definitely has made my relationship with analog art a much rockier one than before. I did pick up this awesome 50% black brush pen that's been great for putting down some clean shadows - so, a little stoked about that.

In any case, here's some sketches I've laid down in my caveman tome. I'm focusing on an illustration series / possible mini comic that I'm calling Motorcade, right now. Combines sassy ladies, motorcycles and Rush references into a hideous little package.

Without further adieu (not entirely safe for work; some anatomy foundation drawings, crotches and nipples):

Los Hermanos Robo, shape study

Some retooling. Really gotta get a handle on the design element of 'character design'. Happier with the overall silhouettes.

As usual, all done on my Toshiba Satellite R25 tablet PC.

On another note, I also need to start thinking about an actual portfolio site (decidedly, after I started listening to Art & Story and Big Illustration Party Time). The blogger thing is getting cluttered!

Wrestlemaniacs, character design sketch

I was lent this slick DVD on char. design by this talented person. I've only made it about 1/3 of the way through, but the first demo on the disc was enough to get my mind cranking. There are so many bases I need to cover in my art, and I hadn't realized it living in my tiny shell. I'm hoping to wrangle up more resources of this sort to get myself looking at my work (and others') in some new ways.

I owe the descriptions of the characters to Shane Hosea, to whom I still owe illustrations for the Botto book.  ..Shoot.

Tribute sketch, Happy 94th Birthday, #Will Eisner!

Now I enjoy comics, graphic novels, or whatever you'd like to call them. However, I wasn't a huge comic book collector or fanatic, so my familiarity with actual artists is limited. When I wrote a few research papers about sequential art, however, I did take great interest in Will Eisner's work. While my line art is nowhere as precise as his, I do consider Eisner's aesthetic to be one that's I constantly use as a point of reference.

His body of work --both as a writer and a draftsman-- is incredible, inspiring and moving at times, and his expository works on sequential art methodology is essential for anyone who pursues narrative illustration.

Mr. Eisner: you, sir, are sorely missed. The least I could do was a 20 minute tribute sketch  -- even if the resemblance is minimal at best.

Digital art, straight painting practice.

Practicing no-line digital painting. Currently using Photoshop CS5 + Toshiba Satellite R25 tablet PC (Wacom digitizer, 256 levels of pressure, no tilt or rotate support). Pretty happy with the direction so far.

See previous progress snapshots after the break.

Tweaked the facial expression, fixed the shirt wrinkles. He has feet now. 

beast in the west / train robbery - progress

Cropped down progress still of the line art for a scene featuring the monster gunslinger.

monster cowboy color sketch

Linux / GIMP Paint Studio Practice: snowfield illustration sketch

New software. Practicing using GIMP Paint Studio for the Windows > Linux transition. Painful :/

Human anatomy, color and values

Not sure where I'm taking this one. Just started drawing her on my lunch break, and four hours later I barely have the base colors down on the whole body. This is the most complete portion of the painting.

mdf: panther alpha concept

"Command Trike" concept for the MDF short; rough sketch thus far.