Digital junk...

Been doing these quick comp for a while now. Just looking for a comfortable way to work digitally. Basically trying to use as little "auto-pilot" as possible while taking advantage of the digital medium.(I know those are two contradicting idea...) It is basically an one hour quick study with Photoshop. Just another medium on the list of skills to keep up...

Recent studies

I am almost through with the pack of ugly Strathmore colored paper. I have no clue why I bought it. Have to pay respect to those trees who donated their life for art. In any case here we go...(All of these were done in under 2 hours, with breaks in between.)

Finally back to my normal color palette. Feels good to be using familiar paints and just focus on painting.

This one was done using some cheap watercolor set I found on the floor, with the exception of my white gouache.

We had a no show and a friend of one of the regular agree to pose for us.(Yes, naked. What are the odds?) After a few minutes, her knee hurts and had to change th pose. This is the under drawing of the unfinished painting.

The painting was just an excuse to put the highlight on the hair.

Just decided to work on the face a little more for a change. It just happened to be lit by multiple lights, contrbuting to the headache...

The model has a really good muscle structure and kind of a Egyptian looking face. For some reason, I end up focusing on the deltoid.(No pun intended...)Yes, he is blue. This is the second last piece of bright yellow paper in the pack. One more to go.

Back in business

Finally received a new tablet in an unnecessarily large box, the last component of my computer, and got it up and working properly. Although I am not a big fan of the slick surface of the Wacom, unlimited supply of paper and paint is very hard to resist. Did this sketch to get a feel of the pen and the new size.(about an hour) Just some flying object flying toward factory/lab type structure. The goal was to develop everything else, so I can put the glowing flame thing at the exhaust.

Dependancy on technology

My computer have completely died off this week, taking tons of precious archives along with it. Another reminder of the reason for my insistence on minimal reliance on technology.
Here is a recent test for the handling quality of paint. Feels good when the material works. Digital medium is great, but it is no good once any of the complicated setup breaks. Why drive a car when it is close enough to walk?(Assuming one knows how to walk...)

Reference photo

After many requests to see my reference photos, decided to post a few to share. These were all shot within the last few months.

Out sketching again...

Went sketching at the Anthropologie museum yesterday. Of course, it just happened to be the day it started snowing...

A piece of the totem pole that broke off.
Not sure what it is for. Some sort of ceremonial mask.

Piece in progress 2

Added some soldiers near the creature for scale. Hopefully the ground plane reads a little better. Still need to seperate the soilder on the left more from the dark fence behind him. Probably need to push distance between planes more ... Anyway, time to expose it to the sun and rip it apart.

Piece in progress

Just another digital piece in progress. Thought I should post the progression for a change.

Work in progress

Work in progress. Trying to establish the basic approach and the overall posture and lighting. Still a long way to go I guess.

Quick Sketch

A quick story sketch. Just messing around with the color scheme.

Merry Christmas 2007

A little better lighting...

Well, the famous weed lady have not shown up in the workshop for 3 weeks in a row now. So, I don't have to worry about someone moving the whole model stand half way into the painting.(She had to do some thing to justify her job I guess.) Still have the challenge of painting under 20+ lights under an hour, but at least it is consistent.

What? why am I updating blog 5am in the morning? It is just common sense.

This is some mix media stuff I have been playing with lately. Doesn't really improve the quality, just made the process faster. Took about half of the time, and doubles my usual working size.

Same mix media stuff with a different brush.

This one took the same amount of time as well. No mix media, just limited palette.

Cheap fillers

What the heck, I will just post something to fill the empty space...

Got to get with the program. Basic "Academy syle" sketches.

Just some dudes on the train.

A hot shot abstract expressionist expressing his big ideas to some young girls with low cut dress. He talked long enough for me to finish the sketch.

Just another brush and ink practice. Need to use up my old ink some how.

Color test

Just a quick color test to decide on the palette.

Loose watercolor

Just happened to notice my watercolor seems looser than I remembered. A quick sketch today on the side of the river before dark.

Going mad

If I am going mad, might as well go all the way. Found some crazy set of paper with ugly colors, along with the usual 20+ light setting and cheap watercolor and chalk. Keep rubbing the chalk while the dude next to me splashed red acrylic on my paper. Man... I am really going mad...

Not so Feng

Not so Feng attempt at Feng style. Still got a few mechanical issues to work out. Back to drawing my circles and lines...

Pencil test

Just a sketch to try out the look of the main character's face and the visual qualities of the approach.

Fall

It was just too pretty not to paint it.

Rejected designs

Finally, one of the concepts has gone far enough for me to start working on presentation pieces. Still a lot more to go but finally getting close. To start off, here are some of the rejected sketches.(The one I haven't burned anyway. *smile*)