Sunday, June 29, 2008

Just for Kicks


About 3 weeks ago Jon Foster did a demo for us. After said demo, inspiration hit me, and I decided to try my hand using Painter IX to create an image. 
Here's the result, after about an hour off trying the program out. Seems like a fun way to do color studies. 
Who can guess who the model is?
Kewpie dolls to the winner. No actually kewpie dolls will be handed out.

How far we have come

HOW FAR WE HAVE TO GO

Here is my third piece form the academy. The concept, as presented from the great Gary Kelly, was to be assigned a color and produce  apiece that represents that color.
I received the color yellow. My early concepts involved the idea of cowardice, particularly involving the idea of a cowardly boxer (yellow belly). Gary helped me refine the idea to a more universal idea of a humanoid coward, backed into a corner. 
After trying to develop a figure using ink in the fashion of Gibson or Flagg, I ended up looking to Polish Posters on the last night for inspiration (a thank you to Sterling for this suggestion). 
Many of my Wash U friends will recognize the style here is reminiscent of my sketchbook. 
However, please notice the more refined nature of the line work! Things are much more orderly than usual (save for the legs, which are itching for a redo that I want to provide ASAP).
After finding a 50s war movie called ATTACK, the type fell into place. This area also shows me bending the rules a bit, providing potential for growth. 
after alot of time working on pose and composition, this pseudo polish poster sprang to life.
Cheers

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Brother Francis of Utah

Hello All,

Here is the final for project two at the academy. The project revolved around depicting a character from a novel in a format that conveyed a specific emotion. My character is a monk from Walter Miller's A Canticle for Leibowitz. The overall mode is supposed to be that of anxiety or nervousness. I plan to touch it up later but overall am pleased with the final.
great to be drawing and painting.

Monday, June 9, 2008

And The Program Begins...



Greetings friends,

Well I have just completed the first week here in Sarasota and I can't describe how amazing the experience has been. We just finished our first project (I have some finishing touches to put on it, so it wont be up for a while) and are now onto portraits of fictional characters.

I figured I would put up some figure drawings I've done while here to show what I've been up to. The first is a five minute piece, and the second is fifteen minutes. I actually like the five minute one the most. Their teaching us this great technique which involves forming the figure out of a silhouette. I'm still getting the hang of it, but so far I'm enjoying the quicker results I get from it.

I've been blown away by the talent here. That and the immense knowledge of the faculty. I strongly encourage my fellow image makers to look up Mark English and Jon Foster. I have seen presentations by both and am amazed by their work (Mark is a living legend in illustration, and Jon is about the best illustrator to work in fantasy that I have ever seen). 

In other news, to my compatriots at the summer studio, I have not forgotten the Amy illustration, I've gone through two major revisions and will hopefully have something soon. Of course, seeing as how little free time I have that could be awhile.... but hopefully soon.