College Times

These were done way back in the day (2002-2003). I saw an artist who used a similar technique and thought it was interesting, so I gave it a try. These are 11x17, prisma color pencils on black matte board. I can't believe how much bigger I used to draw everything, although at the time I considered 11x17 to be small. Later on in college I realized that if I worked small, I would still figure out many problems in my work, but the montra of the fine art department was always "bigger is better" But we now know that it isn't the size of the boat, but the motion in the ocean right... ...right!?

Baby back, baby back, baby back...

So here are some more ideations for a couple of BBQ sauce lables...I looked at it as another opportunity to draw my favorite subject...women.

Enjoy

humming bird progress

Here is some progress of a piece I am messing with. It is a little off balance yet, perhaps another bird would help. Fun times. I found out today that I am 27...then my brother reminded me that I am actually 28...I can't believe that. Time is going by too fast.

Some more old stuff...

Here are some attempts at my drawing instructors and founders of Studio 2nd Street Ron and Vanessa Lemen. Still not really happy with them...sometimes my characture turns into more of a beasticature...this has happened many times before...especially when working form memory like these. Sometimes I just go with it, but sometimes I don't.

These sketches were done sometime before I was overcome with a mysterious medical condition. Still don't know what's wrong...it's almost been a year now...crazy how time goes. Doctors have ruled out pretty much every major thing (heart, lungs, nervous system)...everything is normal, yet I still feel messed with. I haven't been able to laugh without feeling like I was going to pass out for such a long time.

Needless to say, I didn't finish the drawings...so I figured that I would post them anyway in their unfinished state. Its just one of those things where you leave a drawing and situation so long you lose some of the feeling of it that drives you through...I hope I can remember that again someday and finish these off.

More humming birds and flowers...

This is a work in progress, still feels a little empty, but I am happy with it so far. Not sure what I am going to do with it in order to finish it...a back drop perhaps, maybe some colors? We'll see.

Elvuuuuus!

Taking another break from my "old sketches" stint. This was one of a bunch of studies done to prepare for a finished illustration for a bbq logo design. The other designs were based off of a Marilyn Monroe, and a J-Lo looking character. The client wanted a way simpler style in the end...something I am not really used to doing...but it was an interesting challenge, and I managed to compromise.

Chicks in Bikinis

This was an experiment with colored pencils in a monochrome fashion. The chick with the dark hair has small body syndrome, but oh well. I did this in the middle of a spontanious coke party...and I don't mean the classic kind. Considering that I am as strait-edge as possible...I felt pretty out of place...so I turned to my sketchbook. I guess I need to be more open to people despite our differences. Later on that night, our cat got into a bit of it...I slept in the living room, but that night...I didn't sleep at all because the cat was bouncing off the walls. Good times though...good times.

Nightmare on E Street

This was a sketch done at a cafe called the E Street Cafe...less than a block away from the school I went to in California (Studio 2nd Street). Every once and a while, there would be a live musical performance...and one night, a bunch of us went there to draw and listen. The atmosphere was chill, and these guys were pretty descent, although they were not really my kind of music, and I have a hard time recalling what they sounded like. There really isn't anything like that where I am living now...you have to go into the cities. None the less, it was a fun challenge to try and draw them while they were performing.

2007

These are a selection of figures done in 2007, influenced by various pinup artists.

More from 2007

Damn...2007 must have been a soul-searching year or something...wish I had that energy still :D

These are yet another page of studies. I think they were influenced by artist Joe Bluhm. After looking at his art, I always ask myself if I am exaggerating enough...the answer is always no. Nothing wrong with that, just how I like to interpret things. But I still admire an artist who can do that...especially live. As Crispin Glover's charcter George Mcfly would say, "I'm affraid I'm just not very good at...confrontations."

2007 flashback...and a recent event

So here is a bowl of vegetables I prepared yesterday, and was about to eat...'till I noticed something odd about them...do you see?

More Pen Studies...

Taking a break for a second from the "Blast from the Past" series...here are some studies...took about 3 hours each. The face on the top left is about the size of a nickle...so it lost a little likeness there.

Digitally Remastered

Alright so here are a selection of drawings from the open life drawing sessions in San Diego 2007. Pretty straight forward...5-10 minute poses, later finished from memory and imagination. I have already posted most, if not all of these...but at the time I had digitized these drawings, the only thing I had was a camera...now that I have a scanner I decided to create a clearer representation.

Enjoy!

2007

More studies from my parents' wedding photos

Sketchez

Here are some sketches from the summer of 2007

He Say You Braid Runner...

Alright...I think this is late 2007. I am not sure, but I kind of remember being originally inspired by Blade Runner while doing this page...and then it just turned into another imaginative figure study.

I like to watch movies while I draw...or I guess listen would be a better word (occasionally I will glance up and watch). Its really weird how fast time goes when you draw. I like to use music and movies as a time gauge...kind of like the movie Hudson Hawk. For really complex projects, my favorite thing to do is play a trilogy, or a series. Star Wars, Lord of the Ring, Matrix...

If I know that I am going to be drawing all day...I will play the entire series of Nightmare On Elme Street (except part 2...haha), Friday the 13th, Jaws, or anything else I can find. I really like movies from my childhood. Eighties movies are a big staple in my selections. There is something about that decade that was so horribly awesome...it was like pop culture had exploded and the market was open to any idea, no matter how vulgar or campy...and movies were no exception. Hulk Hogan ice cream bars...need I say more?

Layin Studies 2008

These were poses out of an artistic nude book...the goal was speed...it still ended up taking me 15-30 minutes on each, but I like the result.

Lego Madness 2008

Drawing Night 2009

This was from another drawing night at studio 2nd street...good times.

Good Times

Alright, so the bottom is a study from one of my all-time favorite illustrators, J.C. Lyendecker. It was done right before New Year...which is why I chose to draw a baby (one of his trademarks was his "New Year babies"). I tried to be as painterly as I could with the strokes...concentrating on economy and efficiency. It seemed to go pretty smoothly, and I really felt as though I had connected with something in the style and approach...then again, it could just be because I didn't have to imagine any of his incredible design work...it was all laid out there.

The top one was done in 2009 at my friend, Justin Fox's house...a really down to earth artist. The dogs were inspired by his dogs...mainly Bella, although the other dog was much more of a character...can't remember his name...want to say Barney??? Anyway...these were some people that were there. I had more drawings of this event, but they are lost somewhere. I will have to post them once I find them. Enjoy!

Dr. Zeus Dr. Zeus

Amadeus...my second favorite movie, with Cinema Paradiso as the first. These were done in 2008 at an attempt to better understand composition and storyboarding. It ended up being just me drawing the still as fast as I could. These took about 15 minutes a piece. Done in ball point and a dried out crayola marker. This was one of about 4 pages I did.

It was no surprise how many awards this movie won back then. You have excellent story, acting, environment, and a soundtrack by Mozart. Each frame of this movie could be an illustration on its own, so finding interesting screenshots to draw was easy and enjoyable.

Paris Studies

This was done in the summer of 2007...near the end of the Paris Hilton fad...thank god. Almost everybody was drawing her because she was in every single magazine pulling various publicity stunts. These are actually flattering drawings compared to most artist interpretations.

More of the same...

These are from 2007. I find that working on the back of color copied paper with prisma color gives some nice, smooth strokes for half tones and rendering. The drawings are done with this technique, and ink for the linear/graphic containment. Unfortunately, some places have either switched the process, or the paper...maybe they save a little with the economy the way it is??? I think Kinkos still uses the same stuff though. Anyway...it was a nice discovery for myself :)

More Old Art

Alright, so in this post...I have two pieces, which are both photos of my parents' wedding...I can't remember if I posted either of these, but if I did, oh well.

The top drawing was done in 2005. It is all in pen, no under drawing...it took me all summer to get to. I think the actual drawing time was probably about 9-12 hours?? I would work on it here and there, but the thought of messing up was so daunting, it took me forever. It was done on a 12x16 paper.

The other drawing was done sometime in 2006. Unlike the top drawing, this one was layed out in pencil, then drawn over the top with pen, then cleaned up with an eraser. Although the drawings are not as polished as the top one, I liked the process much better...there was less anxiety. But I do value the lesson in focus for the top drawing.

Despite what the common public thinks...I feel that drawing in ballpoint is much easier in the final out come than drawing in charcoal or other medium. The tip is always sharp and consitant, there is almost no smearing, and it is virtually permanant. The only draw back is that most of the pieces are smaller, and when it comes to fill in an area, you will either need a marker of the same hue and a slightly lesser value, or just a buch of time. There is something about working small that I like too...next post...

2007 Flashback

Another page of studies done bit by bit during slow times at Valleyfair. This one is from a series of ink brush samples. Just a way to pass the time...kinda like everything else.

Past drawings

I think this is winter, 2006

The portrait with hands was done in 2007 from a photo. The photo, however, was taken at a drawing session at Studio 2nd street that I actually was at, drawing this same model from life. The life drawing at the top was not as successful, but was a fun challenge and a good exercise...I was rusty as hell too, so it was much needed. The other one is a little off in her arm sizes...one is a tad bigger, the other a bit small.

My roomate Nick and I went from San Diego to Encinitas a couple of times for these sessions. This was the first time I was in Studio 2nd Street, but I had taken classes and met with Ron and Vanessa Lemen before (see side panel of inspiration for their blogs). I remember spending the full 3 hours on this head...and fighting the frustration cause I knew I had done way better than this before. With about 40 minutes left, Ron came in. He said hi to Nick and myself and then set up behind where we were sitting with a 4x4 foot canvas. All I could hear for the next 20 minutes were the sounds of charcoal swooshing around. When the bell dinged at the end of the interval, we all got up and stretched a little and I walked to see what Ron had done. He had whipped out a full on figure with everything in there...hands, portrait, clothing with all the folds, jewelery...plus the backdrop, and who can remember what else...it was really loose, but it was all there. In the next 20, he finished the drawing. I guess the next week, he painted over it and gave it to the model (at least I think). Anyway...I can remember looking at my drawing and then his and feeling really humble. I thought it was pretty funny, but I also learned that I need to move (or at least think) faster.

That is the thing that inspires me most about artists. Sure quality and accuracy are good, but if an artist can do these things in the matter of moments...that is really captivating. In the end, I don't really know if that is who I am or if it even matters...there are tons of great artists who take their time...and there is something to be said about that. However, I do know that a quick and efficient artist is what I strive to be.

Page o' Faces

This is late 2006. I was doing this to prepare for a gig...it was going to be my first time using art sticks. The gig was way over staffed with artists...probably about 7 all together. Plus, it snowed the night before and not as many people showed up, so I only drew about four drawings.

Gigantor Legs...

This was done in 2006 for a company that was promoting baldness as being beautiful...they ended up choosing some other designs that I did...but I think this one was pretty fun, for the time I spent. Looking back at it now...there are some things I would have tightened up...starting with the woman's hand. Oh well...I guess that's what happens when you grow.

Wabbits

Winter 2007

Bear Naked...

Don't remember, but I think I was talking to a friend about the concept of being nude vs being naked....and this is what came of it...a bear in underwear with a girl thrown in for good measure. I don't know what the list is about...maybe he is calculating something? 2007-2008

Double Post...

Oops...forgot to post the other night...so today there will be 2 blast from the past posts. This was done in the winter of 2007. I kind of like this style...hands and feet needed some work back then...they are always tough, but they are less tough now.

Actually, this is just an ad for Generals Layout Pencils.

Enjoy!

Another Blast form the Past

I think this is from fall 2007...but I am not sure. Hands are tough, always have been, but I think I have improved...I hope :) The queen at the bottom left was obviously inspired by the Evil Queen in Sleeping Beauty (or whatever her title is). The style of animation in that movie is one of my favorite disney styles for drawing human charcters. Even the animals, and how they fit into the realm of the style is really interesting...not to mention the insane backgrounds. To bad the subject matter is so horrible. I wish they would have done more with those goblin henchmen characters...those guys kick ass!

Twins game was pretty exciting. I had to step outside a couple of times to relax. Getting old sucks.

Until tomorrow.

Howser's Log

This was done in January 2009 when I first moved to live in Encinitas...enjoy

Journal Times

So this is from the spring of 2007. These were some people in a life drawing co-op...only $5 for 3 hours...just 3 or 4 blocks away from our house. In the winter of 2007, I moved to San Diego to live with one of my good friends Nick Navatta (see my inspirations link for his art). It seems like a long time ago, but as I am looking at this drawing, it is begining to feel like the whole experience happened just yesterday.

Although that experience was really challenging at times, I met some really good people, and had some good times. When I first moved out there, I had a mini lapse of confidence, and moved right back home about 2 weeks later. At the time, it felt like a failure, but I think the sudden contrast of environments really helped me to see the difference of life styles, and also made me realize that I needed to go back.

After about a week at home, I flew back to San Diego and started to live there again. Originally, I was going to work at Sea World, which would have been a really awesome and humbling experience because of the talent out there, but when I got back, Nick told me that the zoo was just 5 blocks away from where we lived. It was awesome working at the Sandiego Zoo...even though I didn't really agree with the business I worked for...the people were cool, and the animals were really inspiring to be around. The managers were really understanding, although they were probably a little annoyed with my flakey approach.

Everything was an easy bike ride away...and right next to the zoo was Balboa Park...a very beautiful and cultural area. There was also this sweet mexican restuarant just a block away from our house with these awesome breakfast burritos that weighed as much as a brick. I would get one almost every day after work...eat it, and fall asleep on our couch at about 6 pm. They are probably really unhealthy for you, but for $3.25, you can't argue too much.

Anyway...I am really glad that I had the chance to experience these things...those were really good times. More to tell about those times later...enjoy!

Journal Entry

Alright, so this is the start of many entries to come where I am going to be reaching back into the "Oldies But Goodies" files...This one is from 2007?

I am doing this for many reasons. It is good to give these pieces some exposure, I can see my progress, and it is essential for me so I don't forget what I liked/like about my own style. On that last reason...there is something in me even from my childhood, that is the fear of losing something. I think many people have this, but I remember it happening to me with basketball. The season would end...months would go by, and I would play different sports...when I came back to the next season...it was like learning all over again.

I eventually learned that to obtain that skill permanantly, you had to keep in practice...for me to gain back a lost skill takes about 2 weeks of solid drilling...then I feel comfortable enough to start to grow further. I think those two weeks really take a lot of energy though, so I am always hesitant to quit something for that reason...unless I lose interest.

So...I will post again tomorrow, with another random tangent of life as I see it...enjoy!

oops...forgot this one

Ahhh...solitude

Alright...so here are some various mannequins from art/comic books, life, and imagination. Starting to focus more on extreme/dynamic foreshortening...its pretty easy with a reference, but is still tricky without. But its fun.

More soon.

More Hoops

Well..What a busy summer. I am glad I made it through. Here is another of the few personal projects that I am working on. This is Andrea, AKA "Hoopninfa", a good friend and accomplished artist in her own right. She hails from Ecuador, and is a hoop dancer, swing dancer, and all around performance artist. When she is not hooping, she is teaching it to others...she is a great person!

I don't know if I will color this one...I kind of like it how it is...but there is that side of me that would like to experiment more in color...so, we'll see.

Well, those Celeb samples below never made it to the wall...I simply became uninterested after a second glance at them.

Hope who ever sees this enjoys...maybe something will spark soon...I hope :)

Peace

Another Celeb...

Bruce Lee Roy, that's who!

Alright...so here are a couple of caricatures I am working on for some park samples. They are not too exaggerated, but what the hell right? For Selma, there is still some issues with the symmetry of her face...I think it was because I had the eyes two different sizes from the start, and then everything else followed. And I am not entirely happy about the body. I want to make it more sexy, but then again, I also like the humor of a smaller body. And her hair style from that reference is still iffy to me. As for the Bruce, I am pretty happy with everything except the likeness...it is still slightly off.

The purpose of these thumbnails is to do something in my style and size, and blow it up to 12x16 for a sample. I have only posted one sample back in 2004 or something like that...it was of Simon from American Idol...I hated it 2 days later, and took it down the next summer. I am rarely happy with my park stuff...I think the size and the materials have something to do with it. It turns out alright...but I know if I were to do it my way, it would look much better, and that bothers me.

Anyway...we will see if these ever make it to the wall.

Cutter

Here is an older drawing from my last sketch night at Studio 2nd Street. It is of a student and professional artist who everyone knows as "Cutter". I guess that he is a martial artist whose skill is equal to that of his drawing/art ability...which means you don't want to mess with this guy. He was in a few classes, and I didn't get a chance to talk much with the dude (mostly because of my stupid shyness), but from what I could tell, he was pretty awesome.

Anyway...this night, he dressed up like this and did these awesome poses...so I did this character sketch...it was really fun, and I miss that environment.

Enjoy!

more sketches...

Just see what happens...

The Second drawing down is copies from some handouts a while back, and on the same sheet are also some from imagination...the rest is memory studies...enjoy.

Buddy...studies...

Dude...here are some sketches done at work during the down times. These are actually from may...it is pretty busy this month, so less studying. The squirrel is from life...my dad caught one and I studied it before he released it...it was an interesting challenge...that poor guy was really scared.

Second to the bottom is a drawing of Matt L...the other Matt...drawin' and pimpin'...you know how it is.

Enjoy.

"Now I have a machine gun...ho, ho,..ho" ~Snape

Y'all look so lovely, give yourselves a round of applause, lookin' so lovely...And-uh, while you in the clappin' mood, why don't you give it up for my piece "Sexual Chocolate," it looks so lovely, wouldn't you agree?Its been a while...but now I have a scanner, thanks to my boss, Tom Richmond...check out his blog in my inspiration links on the right side.This beast is able to scan 12x17 pictures...this one is a 12x16 that I did out at the park in the first week with the airbrush. I have seen artists do this before, and have always wanted to try it out. I have to shake it to get it to work sometimes...but it does the trick so far. I have a bunch of sketches and things started/finished that I will scan soon too.Enjoy!

Yet another ballpoint drawing...

Finally got my computer up...now all I need is a scanner...and money to buy a scanner...

Portraits

Alright...here are some portrait studies inspired by the MauKun workshop I just got done video taping...enjoy it in all of its retro goodness.

Dear Diary...

Alright...so here are some things. My computer has a virus now too...holy shit right! So I am at the library. Anyway...the top is a self caricature, then there are some sketches, and then there is a painting using water color. All the drawings and paintings, with acception to the caricature, are about the size of a credit card or a little more (the actual drawings, not the surface)...so detail is pretty graphic for now. I did the red pen drawings on illustration board, as I plan to paint them too. The main purpose is to focus on color theory, so I chose a small size to save time and money.

I feel pretty good today, other than the fact that my breathing is feeling a bit muffled. Tomorrow is another appointment at the dentist, and then I only have one more left. They have to seat my tooth for a crown, which means that they are going to be sawing it in half. For all those who have never had a root canal, take care of all your teeth. And if you have a food trap or problem area like I had (from braces or just natural), get it fixed. This is not fun.

I can't wait to finish these appointments and get back home...maybe that will help too

Haha...OK, that is all for now...enjoy!

Red Pen Study

Alright...so its been a couple of weeks since the last post. I have been in weird health...plus I just had a root canal done. It was not fun at all. And, on top of that...taxes and moving are on the list of things to do. So, I just said it was time for a breather.

At any rate, this is another red pen study that I have done. I really like working in ball-point, and I have been doing it since highschool...mostly because it is really convienient.

I did manage to do a small series of pen sketches that I will be posting soon too. I plan to paint them afterwords with some water colors and possibly acrylic.

Enjoy!

Oh the colors children

So here are some sketches...the top are some character designs for fun...the rest are color studies...which were not as fun until the end.

Color is the final step for me...and quite frankly...I would rather just draw. I guess I am lazy like that...but I also feel like I would rather be a master draughtsman than anything else.

Anyway, the middle is colored pencil...which I actually like to work with...it took about 30 minutes...I was trying to be really loose.

The bottom is water color from the tube. I like this too...and it is actually more forgiving than I thought it would be.

I will probably take the bottom shrek-like character and try to flesh it out with colored pencil and ink...I wanted to scan and post this version just to see the difference.

Another one...

Alright...so this is the second week of the same pose done in the open drawing workshop...the other one can be seen below in red pen. This one took 3 hours. Sorry about the bad photo/lighting...I may reshoot and post it later...Enjoy!

Having some fun...

Alright...so here are some more sketches. The top is of a guy who studies at Studio 2nd Street with us...his name is Mike, and he works for "Topps" creating trading cards of athletes. He is a really good artist...and enormous. He was posing for us this last friday the 13th...it was our open sketch night at the school. People who attend have the option of posing for 20 minutes...that thing in his hand is a digital timer. I am glad he posed, it was fun to draw him.

The next is some random sketches...and the last is of a model that we had in the uninstructed workshop night...it was a three hour session, but the first drawing was a disaster for me, so this one is about an hour and a half...just going straight in with pen.

The Land of Scot

Here is a caricature of the legendary Scotland Barnes. We used to work together at Blockland, and now we go to school together. He is a really talented storyboard artist/cartoonist...check out his work here: http://scotlanddbarnes.blogspot.com/

Anyway, this is a sketch from memory, so I am not sure how accurate it is. I think I drew the jacket wrong. Scotland is really knowledgeable on historic artifacts and memorabilia and such...he was telling me all about his jacket once, but the whole time he was talking about it all I could think was, "I wonder when he is going to make some really outlandish comment." Shortly there after he put on that cheese-ball grin of his and started accusing me of being a womanizer, and how nobody can ever get me to shut up...he never lets me down.

That is probably the thing that I find most entertaining with Scotland...he takes the things that we are all either consciously or subconsciously thinking of saying, whether it is true or not, and actually says them...and they are usually at the most inopportune times like, in a movie theater or at a funeral...just to see what happens. I am too shy for some of the stuff he pulls, so I really admire it...and it is pretty hilarious too.

So there you have it...and if I did screw up on the jacket, I'm sure I'll hear all about it in class.

Enjoy!

Some mo'

Got some faces and an octopus girl. I am not really sure if this is what octopus tentacles really look like because I wasn't using any references, but you get the idea.

More Life Drawing

Alright...so the first two figure drawings are 3 hours a piece...the rest were drawn at the open drawing night at my school, Studio 2nd Street. Each pose was 20 minutes...fun times

More to come soon...enjoy!

Circus Pieces...

Alright...so I am finally done with this piece. The middle one will be entitled "The Ringleader and the Contortionist." The top one will be "Hoopninfa."

These are pieces I am entering into the artshow I was talking about in the previous post. It seems pretty low key for the most part (accept for the pornographic flyer you see here)...but what the hell...its a chance to get some stuff out into the public.

I have mixed feelings about the middle piece...all I can say is that I am happy enough with it to move on to other things.

Hope you enjoy!

Circus Time...

Here are some ideations for an upcoming show that myself and many of my friends from school and elsewhere are entering. I am way behind in finishing in time...but we'll see what happens. More pieces coming soon too...just need to photograph them and such...hope you enjoy!

Lady Wendlings...Duchess of Debinshire

This is another experiment with charcoal, white pastel, and a mars lumagraph (8B) pencil...Enjoy!

Some more hoooooops

Growing Pains...

Alright...so here is yet another attempt of that photo. Again...solid technique, but the likeness is just slightly, slightly off. I am pretty satisfied with this version though. I may do another one with the entire pose in it. It is really tedious, but I am learning a bunch so its all good.

Forgive the wrinkles and highlights...the paper became warped from so much ink.

Enjoy

Hoopin' Lessons

I think its pretty clear what's going on here...Enjoy!

Listen...she's going to say the words!

Alright...so the top one is a more fleshed out version of the thumbnail from the previous post. I added in some mice. I will do another one on an even larger scale (this one was blown up to 8.5X11) once I have some feed back from my instructors.

The next is a mousicature I guess...it is of some people I know, and maybe you know too?

And the last two are from yet another scene in the movie Labyrinth. The red version is the actual drawing, and the green is flatened and tampered with in photoshop...I will finish this one out fully rendered, but thought I would post it at this stage to show the process and also because I like the graphic qualities so far.

Enjoy!

Ground Control to Major Tom

Alright...so the top studies are done in red in copic marker and red ball point. The girl is the 2nd of 3 studies...the other two posted earlier. The thumbnail is for an illustration I am working on. And the guy is David Bowie as The Goblin King from Jim Henson's The Labyrinth. His likeness is slightly off still...he needs more hollowed looking cheeks, his eyes are too big, and his hair is a little off kilter...but I am pretty happy with how this technique is shaping up, and also how there is more of a feeling of atmosphere. This one took about 3 hours.

As for the mice...I was just having fun...I may take a few of the characters and inject them into the illustration I am working on, or I may use them for an entirely different series of illustrations...I don't know yet.

Anyway...Enjoy!

Alright...so here are some studies I am doing of a friend. I took a photo of this page to give an idea of how I establish a rough mannequin for the gesture of the pose...I also did a portrait study of a different photo on the same page...
...on this page you can see the finished version of the pose...I can see that I made her left foot too big...this is good, because now I can go pack to my earlier phase and see what an incorrect lay-in looks like, so in future studies, I don't make the same mistake. However, I am glad that I made the foot too big, because that means I am addressing another of my problems, which is perspective/foreshortening. So...the mistake isn't too horrible after all haha! I also redid the portrait study...I think it is pretty close as well, but still does not feel like the person...one more study should do it.

And here is just a singular vignetted portrait. Again...very close, but no cigar on this one. I will say though...these are sellable drawings...just like to push as much as possible.

Anyway...hope you enjoy!

Thumbnails

Here is a page of thumbnails I did at a friend's house...these were just to try and focus on composition, and work on my idea/creativity skills...they were fun to do. The top left corner is a poor caricature of one of the hosts...just trying some stuff out...sorry Magdiel...next time.

These are a page of thumbnails. The page is roughly 8.5 by 11...these were from imagination mostly...with some real world inspiration.

Here is a full page sketch (8.5 by 11)...this took about an hour and a half to complete...It is done with Tombow (sp) ink brushes...I think I worked a little slower with these because I am not so familiar in working with them quickly. The perspective is off here and there...but it is nice and loose for the most part.

These are thumbnails on the same size paper as the ones above...2 are in red ballpoint...the others are in ink brush. The ink brushed versions were blocked in more painterly this time...for the most part heheh...Enjoy!

Figure Drawings...

So...here are the 2 remaining life drawings that I had promised from my "Extend Pose Figure Drawing" class. The top one took 9 hours and the bottom took 3...I actually like the bottom better, and wish I could have spent more time on it...I guess the fact that I was feeling rushed may have forced me to trust myself more and move forward quicker.

At any rate...they are what they are, and it was a pretty fulfilling experience...Enjoy!

The Finished Piece!!!

Alright...so my clients for this project were nice enough to let me post their finished illustration. If you look at earlier posts, you can see the process I took...with all the studies and such. All in all...I am pretty happy with the end result. I think next time will be even better, faster, and more efficient in this style of illustration.

So thank you Todd and Phil for giving me this opportunity...Enjoy!

Thanks everyone!

Alright...so here are some more studies of women...still pretty simplistic, but I kind of enjoy it for now. I am going to have some more class work soon...just kind of taking a breather for a day. Thank you to everybody who has commented...it really makes me feel good about what I am doing, and I have enjoyed being inspired by all of your art too! Sometimes it seems pointless, but reading peoples' comments who I know I can respect and trust in really validates why I became an artist in the first place...so, thanks again!

Well...back to it...Enjoy!

Portrait Sketches

About 20 minutes or less a piece...enjoy!

Bunch of Stuff

Alright...so the first drawing in this post is a gift for these two roomates...it is only part of the final piece...the final will be more complex with elements. These guys are the best clients I have had in a while...they are totally open to ideas, and trust my artistic intuition...this is why they are going to have a really nice piece in the end...I am pretty excited to see how this ends up myself!

The other three drawings are from my conceptual environmental design class...these are tiny drawings (thumbnails)...to give an idea of scale...each of these pages of drawings is about 8 1/2 by 11...one drawing fits about the size of a credit card. We have reference for all...some are direct efforts to copy...some are inspired by a pile of junk...some are completely imagined. They are about 10 minutes a piece...I will have more soon too.

Well...until the next time (imaginary audience)...Enjoy!

More Orchid Studies...with Bees

Enjoy...oy...oy...oy...oy..oy! Echo...echo...echo

As the world falls doooooown!

Wish I were you right now Norm

My dog Norm...some nude studies in quicksketch style...enjoy!

Life Drawing...Extended Pose

This one is a 6 hour pose...
...this is 3 hours...

...this is 9 hours. Depending on our next model...the remaining 4 weeks could be spent on one 12 hour pose...or, it will be two 6's. I have found that by slowing down, I am seeing things more clearly...I may not finish the pose, but what I do finish is finished better. This post is in chronological order too...Enjoy!

Patty

Well...it seems as though I want to keep doing this approach for a while...so here is another...

Enjoy!

need to add the hoops later...Enjoy!

Dinos:Part One

Deep Tissue Message

Well...here is a more finished piece...I used a sketch from that sheet posted a couple back...there is a glare on the aprin where the wax from the prisma (used to color the hair) caught a glare from the lighting...oh well.

Enjoy!

More Women From Memory

Eh...some kinda messed hands and poses...but some good too...Enjoy!

I Like Studies

They call me Mo, cause I always want mo'

Friends, charcters, and a color test...that's the stuff!...Enjoy!

Still struggling

This one took about 2 hours...looks better, except the face is a little long in the nose and chin...next time I won't second guess myself. Rendering is more believable, but not entirely true to the subject...still alot of room for improvement.

Stuff

Ninjas and Starwars...enjoy.

Alright...so here is an attempted portrait of Marko. I did a 20-30 minute study from life and then spent about an 1-1.5 hours bringing it to a finish on my own. It ended up looking more like a cross between Marko and Pee Wee Herman...both of which are over idealized. I think the chin and neck are too big, the back of the skull needs more mass, and the features are still too platonic. That is one thing that I am really struggling with. I keep on hearing people say that my rendering is good...but to me, it looks to perfect and not natural enough to the light. I also think the features may have drifted a bit from the original structure I had designed. I guess it just goes to show how little I still know. I remember instructors in the past telling me to study Vanderpol (sp) for rendering features more believable...guess I need more work. Anyway...sorry Marko.

Zelda

Another Medusa for the Purgatory Sketch Club

Some people say that looks like me (Perseus), it isn't supposed to be, but maybe there is something subconcious here...my desire to dress in a pleated skirt while chopping off a serpant lady's head...who knows

Sketch Dump

Life model caricature, animal studies with crayola marker, Thumnail studies of Ron Lemen, hand studies and Cuba Gooding Jr. Enjoy!

Nude jumper, kid cuteness, study of Leonardo, superhero WIP, Medusa ideation...enjoy!

Sketch Dump

Hands/feet, horses, charcter study, character study in animals, sketch night at Deny's...enjoy!

Sketch Dump

Aesthetics, tattoo design idea, character studies, animal comparisons, digital painting from life...enjoy!

Sketch dump

Alright...so we have some Leyendecker, Rockwell, and general figure/character studies...enjoy!

Christmas...'07/'08

2005-2006...I feel so old

2005-2006? How the time goes by...

Old Art...2007

Old stuff...2007

Some old stuff...2007