For the fishes, and a new PROCESS post!

"For the Fishes"
2013 Digital and Graphite.

So alot has happened since I last posted. Sorry bout the lack of posts. I can say confidently that it is not due to lack of content. As you can see above I've made alot of breakthroughs, not to mention I got a promotion at work, attended Spectrum Live 2, and watched "Up on Poppy Hill" directed by Hayao Miyaki's son (Goro Miyazaki)....so Yah. I've just been extra busy and slowly adjusting to my new illustration time starting at 3am.

So out of everything I could talk about, it is going to be on the NEW process I developed for the illustration above.

New Illustration Process:

To start off I want to mention briefly that Spectrum Live 2 was just as spectacular as last year. In fact I actually enjoyed it more because I knew what to expect and found myself talking "Shop" with everyone about everything. From inking, to type of paints, to helpful tidbits for Sculpey...I could go on.

  Now this actually leads to the new process. As you can imagine I talked to alot of illustrators at Spectrum, ironically the one tidbit that  I havn't been able to get off my mind is from last year. Master illustrator Scott Gustafson was there and I spent a considerable amount of time looking over his original drawings and paintings. While looking I asked many questions which one eventually led him to say, "I spent years and years fussing over value, and wasting time building it up, but recenlty I've learned to just punch it in" (Of course I'm paraphrasing).  

I've looked back on that conversation during MANY drawings and illustrations wishing I could counter his statement with, "Well that's because you've had years and years of experience. Illustrators like me can't just THROW the value in. I HAVE to do everything gradually...slowly bulidng up to my final line, or color, shape, value, etc. "  At this point, I can see experience helps, but it also ALOT about confidence. Just make the decision and boldly throw value in...

 Long story short, this realization resulted in the below process.

(Click on images to see large)

Conceptually sketch using the two colors above to slowly "clear the fog"

Utilizing shapes and lines, go back and forth building structure

Punch in the DARKS.

PUnch in the lights.

Add color to the highlights

Brighten and add color to the shadows (layer set on Soft LIght)

Birghten composition to get rid of all black.

Resutrate composition with local color.

Add highlights (layer set on overlay)

Do everything and anything to make the composition work and come together.

Illustration Friday founder says, "Farewell."

"Thank you and Good Luck Penelope!"
2013 Graphite and Digital.

Upon hearing the sad news that the Founder of Illustration Friday has decided to move on(see official announcement on IF's blog), I felt inspired to create a proper "Farewell" for Penelope Dullaghan.

You see Illustration Friday has been a stage which I've performed on for many years. The large audience, weekly topics, and strict deadlines were critical on many occasions, inspiring me to create when I wouldn't have otherwise. Aside from discovering countless amazing artists through I.F., the feedback I received from fellow illustrators gave a solid foundation for me to stand on when I first started out.  I can't thank the founder enough for creating and managing an amazing tool for as many years as she has.

I'm sure you would like to know that I.F. is not ending, Penelope is passing the torch onto another, I just hope that it keeps the same vitality, enthusiasm and support as it has for years before.

I wish I had time to color and finish the illustration above, but honestly I shouldn't have spent the time doing it in the first place! ^_^  ANyway, I have alot of great projects just over the horizon, so make sure to come back often!

Poster and IPOD paintings (massive post)

MTC Poster. 2013
Graphite and Digital.

Sorry its been so long, but I've busy working on my NEW house! (see before and after Videos here.)  

Despite spending all of my time at home remodeling, I crammed as much art as I could everywhere else using my pocket sketchbook, and playing with colors on my ipod touch (more on that in a minute.) I've learned a lot that way, and it has given me time to reflect and focus on what matters most with my art (FE: no more distractions). I've also spent a lot of time planning and preparing for a large project that will consume most of this year. Still have a lot to go before I publicly announce it, but I am very excited. I havn't quite finished remodeling, but the end is very near.

On a funny note, since it HAS been two months without my computer, and without photoshop, I had a mild mountain to re-climb trying to remember some of the finer points of my digital techniques. It was surprising the things I forgot…but fortunately I regained enough to beat a deadline (the poster above.)

Detail of MTC poster. 
(click on the picture...to enlarge.)

So as a bonus I wanted to include some of my IPOD paintings:

They are purely exploration, and fun. Sometimes from observation, sometimes contrived, & sometimes really random whims.

FYI: I use the program called SkethBook Mobile Version 2.7.1 (By AutoDesk).

As I mentioned earlier,  since I've been busy at home remodeling, I do art when I can.  The best time is when carpooling to and from work everyday. I was fortunate to have it where I never drive, and that means I get to paint whenever I want!  For example if traffic is really bad, instead of getting stressed about wasted time, I  paint! (Thanks Craig!)

Since I started these paintings I've noticed a huge improvement in my color theory. I've also found myself singling colors out in nature and falling in love with them and the relationship they have with colors around them.  This used to happen occasionally, but now it happens all of the time. Overall I am far more confident than I used to be, though I still feel like I know absolutely nothing. Sigh....

Now on to the PAINTINGS:   

FYI:They are in no particular order, and are only a selection from over 100 IPOD paintings I've made since Nov2012.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well, what did you think?  I also hope you enjoyed my MASSIVE post today! haha ^_^

Christmas 2012 & Vacation RESET

CHRISTMAS 2012~

For the past few months I've been working  on a special Christmas gift for my wife...I can finally reveal it! My wife has been keeping a blog for longer than we've been married and I have wanted to contribute for awhile now.  Included below is 3 of 18 illustrations I created to supplement her blog posts and photos.  Follow this link  to view the rest: 

http://cbelle-adayinthelife.blogspot.com/p/family-album.html

(Btw the picture of the crowded room is my front room...and if you look in the right hand side you might be able to see me in my studio/office. yah....needless to say my wife and I are VERY excited about finally signing the Purchase Contract on the house pictured above. LOTS more room!)


 Vacation RESET~
Earlier this month I packed my family up and we went on a week long trip away from home. This trip was needed since it had been about 8months since I started my full-time office job. I didn't realize it, but I was going stir crazy and needed a RESET. Aside from visiting family and experiencing "THe Art Institute" of Chicago for the first time, I wasn't expecting to get much else from the trip, but the quiet and relaxing time gave me time to look at life from a different perspective.

Some of the perspective change was due to experimenting I did during some down-time with some basic art supplies I packed. I found myself pushing boudries, and having a great time (and yes...without my precious technology!)  The rest of the post is some of what I walked away with...So Enjoy!

"New QUICK process"
2012  Sketch

1. Concept: Come up with a basic/vague idea.
2. Development: Strings/specific facts, thumbnails, compositional experiments/decisions. (basically these will be your guide at all times.)
3. Vague Notion: Draw vague notion of composition lightly.
4. Clarify some of the vaguness. 
5. Solidify: make structure solid, hit value boldly, and clarify details more.
6. Trace Lightly onto final paper.
7. Let Watercolor do most of the final details. Then go in with Colored pencils.
8. Finalize all details with regular pencil. FINAL. DONE.

Here is a more complete example (I actually did this on my trip, in my sketchbook):

"Tea-time Catasrophe"
2012 Sketch

 After this point, I am going to try and make a finalized pencil sketch or monotone watercolor  painting based on it and more strings/research I make...then scan it in, edit it and color in photoshop (Like some of my older illustrations.)


My personal illustration creed for 2013 (New Years resolution? ) :
      Through the hands of angels... some Art, Music, Stories, is delivered straight from heaven to lift up, inspire, and strengthen the human race. 

     These angels are normal people like you and me, except they took their talents and spent years perfecting it in order to bring happiness to others. 

     I want to be one of those people, which means I need to lift my sites higher, and not tread through the increasingly empty wastelands of mediocrity and self gratification.

IF- Tall

"Little Jack" 2012
4.25x 6.25 Watercolor, Graphite and Digital.

I can't begin to tell you how happy I am right now!  From concept to finish this illustration took about 5 hours, but that's not entirely why I am excited.  Basically instead of spending hours finalizing my sketch and having to painstakingly transfer it to watercolor paper, I CUT the middle-man out!

Normally I render a detailed/solid drawing, and then transfer it to watercolor paper. I HATE doing it that way because I feel like a machine cranking out a duplicate that usually stinks in comparison to the original.

For this illustration,  I printed my rough sketch off (pictured left) and with a light table began my final sketch ON the watercolor paper.  I started with a blue colored pencil, then finished the drawing with a .9 graphite mechanical pencil.  After that the whole composition came together using a combination of Watercolor, colored pencils, and digital techniques.

IF-LOST (and FULL illustration art process.)

I've been wanting to complete a full/complex illustration for awhile...ever since graduating It's been hard to find time or patience. I've also wanted to use and document the FULL creation process since I've learned several GREAT methods that make the whole process fun and controlable.  Sorry if it seems that my blog has become more of my ART JOURNAL than anything else.

1.Underdrawing  (1.5 hours at work on my lunch and breaks)

a Concept exploration

b Thumb and strings

c enlarge and redraw (grid thumb and map to larger size)

d Trace and finalize drawing (flip pages back and forth like animators)

a Concept exploration

  b Thumb and strings

c enlarge and redraw (grid thumb and map to larger size)

  d Trace and finalize drawing (flip pages back and forth like animators)

2.Final Drawing (a - g:  4 hours   h:  45 min at work)

a scan underdrawing. Warp/adjust  in Photoshop

b color comp

c Turn colors greyscale (desaturate)

d build value up, off of desaturated color layer

e carve into line and value layer

f Colorize and lighten everything (Hue/Saturation). Make new layer and 

finalize character lines.

g finalize value

h Colorize and lighten everything (Hue/Saturation) print and draw final BG

a Scan underdrawing. Warp/adjust  in Photoshop

  b Color comp

  c Turn colors greyscale (desaturate)

  d Build value up, off of desaturated color layer

  e Carve into line and value layer

  f Colorize and lighten everything (Hue/Saturation). Make new layer and finalize character lines.

  g finalize value

  h Colorize and lighten everything (Hue/Saturation) print and draw final BG

 3."Final" value and Colors (false start) 4.5 hours

a Scan final BG lines. hue/sat red away. finalize value

b mask layer (only paint color using masks)

c Lighten everything a lot (preparing for colors part 2)

d colors part 1-soft light layer (make a good base for colors part 2)

e colors part 2-multiply

f  final colors

a Scan final BG lines. hue/sat red away. finalize value

  b mask layer (only paint color using masks)

  c Lighten everything a lot (preparing for colors part 2)

d colors part 1-soft light layer (make a good base for colors part 2)

e colors part 2-multiply

  f  final colors

At this point I hit a wall. The colors were misbehaving and out of control, and the value structure was chaotic. I was about to say, "I'ts good enough" and just move onto my next step of Paint, Paint, Paint (where I spend 5 or so hours syncing everything up), but I wanted to get this illustration right, and push through the wall I've been stuck behind for awhile now. (I am starting to learn that walls aren't meant to hinder, but to make you grow and show how hard you want your goals.) There were several parts of the painting I loved, but I knew that small sacrifices must be made for the greater good...so I took matter back into my own hands and did a 5 hour redo.

4. REDO Final value and colors step (a: 20-30 min at wok. b - e  :  5 hours)

a value structure thumbnails

b turn color greyscale (desaturate)

c  Rework value (based on thumbs).  Do a very detailed rendering of value. Finish Value

d Lighten Value ALOT  (preparing for colors part 2)

e Colors part 1- Last time I did a soft light layer, this time I made individual Hue/

Saturation masks (colorize) for each portion of the drawing. Gets the 

same results. (make a good base for colors part 2)

f Colors part 2- layer set on multiply. Paint colors in. (use 3f as a guide. Also 

tried to keep colors in control and natural.)

a value structure thumbnails

  b turn color greyscale (desaturate 3f)

  c  Rework value (based on thumbs).  Do a very detailed rendering of value. Finish Value

  d Lighten Value ALOT  (preparing for colors part 2)

  e Colors part 1- Last time I did a soft light layer, this time I made individual Hue/

Saturation masks (colorize) for each portion of the drawing. Gets the 

same results. (make a good base for colors part 2)

  f Colors part 2- layer set on multiply. Paint colors in. (use 3f as a guide. Also 

tried to keep colors in control and natural.)

5. Paint, Paint, Paint. Finale (6 hours)

a Final colors (sync multiply layer)

b Finalize values and contrast. (using auto and levels features)

c Paint, paint, paint over value and color layers. no masks used. While painting 

add pure colors from swatches…conforming as needed. (discovered 

these last week:  winsor and newton  107 Pigmented Colors. )

d FINISH. (do whatever is needed to make it complete.)

a Final colors (sync multiply layer)

  b Finalize values and contrast. (using auto and levels features)

  c Paint, paint, paint over value and color layers. no masks used. While painting 

add pure colors from swatches…conforming as needed. (discovered 

these last week:  winsor and newton  107 Pigmented Colors. )

  d FINISH. (do whatever is needed to make it complete.)

Approx. TOTAL creation time: 22 1/2 hours

Unique aspects I learned:

Do color comp. then convert to greyscale use as value base.

Expore BG digitally. Print and do final lines of BG with pencil and paper

Lighten value layer ALOT, soft light layer, multiply layer. add final color, add pure color.

Here is a short movie I threw together of 73 screenshots over the course of creating the illustration. Sorry that it's not bigger... Blogger wouldn't upload anything larger. 0_o