Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Digital Painting: Demo for Class

 

Title: Digital Painting: Demo for Class
Date: October 24 & 29, 2014
Medium: Photoshop CS6
Scale: Each of the Originals are 2200px x 2200px

Notes: Alright, so perhaps this one needs a tad bit of explaining...

So, once upon a time, I thought it would be very beneficial to learn digital painting. I thought I would never catch up to my peers as there are soooo many people that are really, really badass at digital painting. I was literally struggling to even learn the basics of digital painting. I had my little bamboo and I would just sit and try to paint something... anything.

For quite a while it was something that I went out of my way to avoid. I felt somehow that the tablet would be something that could be learned later, or somehow I would magically just "get it" one day. I would try all sorts of different things. Scanning a drawing and then painting over that - didn't seem to work. Painting with big strokes - that didn't seem to get me where I wanted. Scribbling to get an image to magically appear out thin air - that definitely didn't work.

I would just give up time and time again to just draw again. With a good 'ole pencil. The crazy thing is that you can track my progress on this blog.

Anyway, point being that through perseverance you can really get there. I am finally feeling like I'm getting somewhere. I know that with all creative endeavors, it's a fleeting thing, but this should at least stand as a testament that I'm getting somewhere.

So all this is to say that, somehow I got to a point where I could teach people a little something!
I got asked by my teacher at the beginning of the semester if I would like to guest teach the entire class. Boy was it intimidating, but ultimately, I know that teaching can not only make a person better, but I was willing to - nay needed to - share the knowledge that was passed down to me.

Somehow, the entire class - everyone! - seemed to have made improvements in the small time that I taught. It was invigorating. So I thought that I would follow suit with everyone and join in on the portrait study that I had them work on. I love answering questions and I'm constantly joking that if I don't know it, I'll find someone who does. 

Tenacity is an insane thing. And I hope to keep continuing on this crazy tradition. Not only has my fiancee really pushed me constantly to get to a better level, but I've surrounded myself with all manner of creativity. The space that we occupy is littered on almost every surface with art of some sort. She is my catalyst. Couple that with the fact that since the beginning, when I first asked Grace Liu some time back what it means to really work in the art industry, I've been constantly inspired to keep pushing forward.

All I can say is that no matter what, just keep pushing - it might take time, but you can get where you need to in time. Just keep at it!

Also... I've done both of these studies before, and I thought it would be interesting again to show the progress.

July 20, 2014 & January 14, 2014, respectively.

 

Saturday, October 18, 2014

Dean Cornwell Master Study


Side-by-Side comparison.
Dean Cornwell on left, Mine on right.

Title: Dean Cornwell Master Study
Date: October 9 - 16, 2014
Medium: Photoshop CS6
Scale: Original is 6134px x 7400px

Notes: My color master study. It's kind of awesome and odd to look back at this one from awhile ago... You can see the first time I attempted this study in 2013, below.
I still think that one isn't too bad of an attempt, but it was supremely grayed out... I think my color vision has increased ten-fold from then, and I also think that my accuracy is quite a bit better. But all-in-all, wasn't too bad of an attempt, even then...

Check this out: July 16, 2013 (see below)


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Sargent Master Study


Side-by-Side comparison.
Sargent top. Mine bottom.

Title: Sargent Master Study
Date: October 9 - 16, 2014
Medium: Photoshop CS6
Scale: Original is 3750px x 3096px

Notes: Gray scale master study. This one is a drastic improvement. Granted the study below isn't finished, but even from the get-go this one is completely superior in every aspect.
Sargent is amazing! 
Improvement is awesome to see and I can't wait to check back next year!

Check this out: December 31, 2013 (see below)

Illustration 5: Absolved Character Archetype #4 - Hellions





 



Title: Illustration 5: Absolved Character Archetype #4 - Hellions
Date: October 1 - 16, 2014
Medium: Photoshop CS6
Scale: Sketches vary, Final is 11" x 17"

Notes: You know how that moment hits you? That moment where you realize that what you've painted is not exactly what was in your head? I think it's safe to say that's what happened here. There was something that fell apart at the conceptual phase that should have been more realized early on. All I can say is that I need to draw like a billion more children to get a proper handle on drawing them without reference.
That and I was experimenting with new lights and differing color palettes.
Either way... this was one that needs a redesign from the ground up.

Sunday, October 12, 2014

InkTober: Days 1 - 4 and then... 10



Title: InkTober: Days 1 - 4 and then... 10
Date: October 1 - 4 & 10
Medium: Ink
Scale: Varies

Notes: Okay... so... InkTober has come.
And I got real sick and.. excuses, excuses, blah blah...

Just saying that I'm on board. Just a bit laggy.

Zoodles!

 

Title: Zoodles!
Medium: Ebony Pencil

Notes: Just a small sampling of the zoodles drawing that I've been doing since the beginning of the semester.

Mad Moxxi in Oils


Title: Mad Moxxi in Oils
Medium: Oils
Scale: Original is 9" x 12"

Notes: Oils are a hard thing to manipulate. If anyone has any tips on how to mix colors... I wish I had a tube of every color, ever...


Thursday, October 9, 2014

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

White Zombie - "Electric Head Part 1 & 2"

Digital Painting: Self-Portraits


Title: Digital Painting: Self-Portraits
Date: September 26 & 30 & October 3, 2014
Medium: Photoshop CC / CS6
Scale: Original is 3000px x 3000px

Notes: For digital painting class we were to paint four different variants of self-portraits, each using different approaches. Of course the realistic approach suits me best, but it was fun to try different ways of painting.
Illustration 5: Absolved Character Archetype #4 - Foundling (WIP)







Title: Illustration 5: Absolved Character Archetype #4 - Foundling (WIP)
Medium: Photoshop CS6
Scale: Varies.

Notes: Just working on the next character archetype. I can honestly say that I have the character down it feels like, but the background needs a ton of work. I think I want to go the creepy Sam Wolfe Connelly route on this one. Have some dark stuff in the background, because let's face it... these kids are psychotic!

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