Devil inside

So here is one from my days in art school. I was very influenced by Mucha for a while. So this sketch comes from that time. Plus I have had this odd association with satyrs and devils through out my time in art school. I guess it is the ideas that saytrs are a creature of lust and free expression. And during the middle ages the Catholics church viewed all pagan icons as evil and sinful. Hence the devil comes from the images of satyrs. But I have always liked this sketch and someday I will expand on it and recreate it.

Crooked ways

I know some of you want to see me do more story telling. Well to be honest, I am kind of in a crisis of faith with that. I no longer know that is what I want to do with myself. But what else is there? I don't know, but I feel I have to see if I can get to a nice middle ground with that. I do love sequential story telling. But I have to discover a better way for me to get into it. But I will see what I can do. No promises though.

He's no good to me dead...

I heard about this technique on another blog about using toned paper and markers to set the values. Then after he values were set you go over the markers with color pencil. I tried it out with this pic of Boba. I think the original looks better than the scanned version. But all in all, I liked it.

Wonderful World of Wacom

Well the other day I finally broke down and bought a Wacom tablet. I am not really a "pro wacom" person, as the first couple of times I used one I got frustrated and decided to just use the mouse. So all the stuff you have seen that was in color, was all done by a Mac mouse. I actually like coloring with a mouse. Infact there are a number of illustrators who color just with the mouse. But it does frustrate me since I have been taking drawing classes most of my life and I couldn't use the hand expression with my coloring. So I finally bit the bullet and got a Wacom. Now if I could save up for that Epson 1280 printer I want.......

It pays to advertise!

A friend of mine had noted that I hadn't done a sketch of an animal in some time. So since I had some great shots from a trip to the zoo, I decided to do a zebra. Now why it has blinders and a sign on it. I guess its just my sense of humor. Sometimes when I am drawing I get a little bored and start adding things to spice it up. I'll have to get back on the ball and do a few more animal sketches...

Spontaneous Pirate Day!

So it would seem there are very few people who actually check this blog on a regular basis. But this was expected. Well, to those of you who do manage to drop by and check out what I have done, I raise my glass to you all. I appreciate the support in all forms. You are all true friends. So as for the post. This is of course meant to be a nod to you all for checking in and up on me, but as most ( if not all ) of you know, I am a big fan of pirates. I think every boy grows up imagining he is a pirate, a super hero, and/or a ninja. Well for this over sized boy, I have always been a fan of pirates and their rebellious nature. While living in SF, my friend Chris and I would have a Spontaneous Pirate Day. This meant that we would show up to the gym that we worked at dawning eye-patches, bandanas, and showing nothing but pirate movies on the televisions. It was always a good time asking everyone around why they weren't dressed up for pirate day and asking them if they got the memo. And of course, we never sent a memo. But it was fun to see how sad they would be thinking they missed out of this event. Yeah, we were jerks that way...but it's the pirate way...arrrrgggghh!

Saddle up!

OK, so it has come to my attention that it is possible that no one reads or even looks at this thing. Except maybe 2 or 3 that I know for sure. Not that it matters too much. It's a process for me getting my work out there for people to see. But if you do check this blog, Let me know. Just leave a comment here so I can have a rough estimation of how many people do and do not read this thing. And the story with the Viking...this is how I imagine everyone surfs the net. Or is it just me?

On my high horse

So I was thinking of the farthest thing from water. And naturally the farthest thing from water is the desert. Now being a somewhat historical movie buff, I thought of the crusades. Mostly because they happened in the desert, and I didn't want to do another cowboy theme yet. So what I always think is interesting about the crusades is that one religion felt they had to conquer another one by going way out of their means and resources to conquer something and someone whom they barely knew about or understood. And in the end nothing good came from it, only death and sadness. Very relevant I think.

Water on the brain

Water, water everywhere...um...no. No water. But the mind still resides there. Well I really gotta get past this and try sketching something new. I will make it a point to do something unrelated to water in the next few days or so. Man, I think I have a problem.....

Mindbender?

Here is another head study. I realized after I drew this one that he looks a lot like an old G.I. Joe villain named Dr. Mindbender. Perhaps my childhood is calling out to me. Or it could be that I have been watching a lot of Robot Chicken lately. Well, what ever the case may be... he has a damned fine mustache!

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Do you hear the drums Fernando...?

Here is a guys face I did and liked it. I had no real clue about what type of character he would be until I did the glasses. Thats when it hit me that he looked like a 70's disco dancer. I think I will call him Fernando after the ABBA song.

What the #@$^% !!!

OK... So some times this stream of consciousness thing goes bad. I have no idea what this is about? But it makes me smile, so here you are. Hey, not everyone can be a winner.

Sketchy Bastard

Yet another anatomy sketch to go in the books. I have been a little lazy with the blogging for the last couple of days. But in my defense I have been working on some other things for my website redesign. Hopefully I can get that all squared away and off so there will be more time to draw and less of the prep work. I will see what I can do about getting back on track. But no promises.

Deep Sea-ted withdrawals

When I lived in SF and went to the Academy of Art the last place I lived was in the Sunset District. This was great for two reasons. One, I was near the SF Zoo. One of my favorite places to go take photos and be a lone. And two, was that it was near the beach. I think this connection with the ocean ran deeper than I had ever though of. In my recent drawings and illustration the water seems to be a common theme that runs throughout them. Much like this sketch you see here. Now I find this to be a little odd seeing as how I grew up in the AZ desert with no water in sight. In fact, I hate swimming. But for some reason I find that the ocean holds something for me. But what ever the case, I am trying not to do too many water related ills. I don't want to become anything like Wyland. That would be hell.

Self Incriminating

This one has a soft spot in my heart. Mostly because I remember riding the Muni in SF and seeing all the graffiti in the tunnels, and it always made me smile. I have to say that I always thought the artist had to have a pure love for what they did in order to risk getting arrested to do it. I find that in a lot of things we as a society just go with the current and don't try and mix things up much. We think that voicing our opinions are enough....but what good does that do with out action. You can have a peaceful protest with out making a scene and getting something beautiful out of it. Personally I think Graffiti has a great influence on those who are willing to be open to the imagery and message. So please, to all those who do what they do... Continue. For all of us.

Idling hands

So as promised here is a sample of my prep work when working on an illustration. I tend to do a practice series on things that are tougher for me to get. While I have drawn my far share of hands during my time in and out of school. I think they are something that you have to stay in practice with to do them convincingly. Hands pretty much make up who we are. As an artist I need them to live. And if I don't use them to create, then its over for me. Hence the blog name. But we rarely study the movement of the hand. That's why I needed to go back and do a series of them just to do one that would give me the action and the storytelling I needed for the illustration. Anyway hope you like the glimpse inside.

Bernini

Yet another back shot? This is actually a sketch of a sculpture done by my favorite sculpture, Bernini. Its no secret that my favorite of all art movements is the Baroque movement. And as sculpture I feel that Bernini far out does any of his predecessors. That includes Michelangelo. Now I love Michelangelo, but the detailing of the modeled figure in Bernini's pieces is just too superb. The way the figures are handled and the softness of the way the marble is handled is the best I have ever seen. The flesh is treated in such amazing detail that I almost expect to see the figure exhale at any moment. But as for why I did a sketch of an already established artist? I use the forms to work out issues I have in my own work. Its like a constant reference for the mind as to the way to turn the figure in space. I tend to revisit sculpture pieces and do a lot of sketches of them. It is a dramatic step up from the act of drawing from a ceramic bust in the class room. Just away for me to continue my art education.

Set and match

I dunno the story behing this one. I just try and work out my hands most the time I sketch. Its kind of my excersise for the hands. Calisthenics for the hands if you will. But I know that I only post more "finished" sketches so I will work on doing more prelims and screw ups for you all. More of what I do to work out as well as what I come up with. That way you can know whats on my mind as well as what is the end result. Hey, I guess this sketch makes sense after all. Huh, go figure.

Equal opportunistic

So I figured since I posted an image of the back side of a female, I might as well post one of a man too. But truthfully I miss the art classes at the Academy and being able to draw from a live model for 6-12 hours a week. I loved going to the workshops and seeing how the rest of the students were progressing. And a little competition never hurt anyone either. I have been mulling it over that I should take a non-credit class at the local community college. At least that way I would be able to draw with a group again. But the only thing slowing me down is when can I find the time. That special thing that there seems to be so much of, yet not enough.