MikeJL Blog - Drawings

Drawing Blog

nospam@example.com (Mike) — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 10:28:45 -0700

Been posting on by other blog Orcs and Dragons. Gaming little also.

Note: blogspot has really improved. Might move all blogging over.

Work flow and Media

nospam@example.com (Mike) — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 11:24:48 -0700

I do not have any art training. Just go through lots of podcasts, video tutorials, drawing books and lots of practice. I feel I’m improving however I need to get grounded on my work flow and media.

I know the style I like, and feel I am best at; I call it a gritty comic look. example: www.darkhorse.com/Features/Desktops/387/Conan

My workflow is:
- Sketch
- Scan
- Re-ink
- Render and color

I like the process however struggling with how much sketch detail to do, how much re-inking and what is the best media to use.

I purchased ArtRage for a few reasons; one is the smaller set of tools. Here is what I will try to move toward:

- Sketch (detail, and use art pens to line)
- Scan
- New ArtRage paining (standard paper, 1024 x768 100dpi)
- Open scanned sketch as tracing image
- Use the “Paint tracing image to current layer”
- Remove tracing image
- Add new layer (transparent and top of original drawing)
- Use oil-paint tool (50 % pressure, no thinners, 17 % loading)
- dab around in strategic places, just to get the overall color scheme right
- Use Pallet knife (30% pressure) to blend
- Use a non loaded brush with some thinner for additional work (like shine effects)

I’ll try this process on this sketch I did call "Trouble Arising":

Update:

New workflow and techniques worked way better then I expected: I present "Trouble Rising"

New Canvas and Inspiration

nospam@example.com (Mike) — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 10:41:47 -0700

I had my eye on this book ever since I flipped though it at the local book store. It arrived (Amazon order) yesterday and really has my drawing juices flowing.

The Future of Fantasy Art

I also got a copy of ArtRage 2.6

I was looking for a simpler drawing program. This offers a nice suite of drawing tools and some features that hooked me:
- Drawing rulers and stencils
- Reference Image viewer
That and the price of $20 was a great deal. I’ll still use Corel Painter for some greater details and effects.

So I’m using this sketch in ArtRage to get use to using its features. This sketch, showing a warrior moving swiftly into battle,

as a study in capturing motion.

Throw in the new Wacom Bamboo Pen I got and I have my hands full, literally, of good drawing going on.

Bamboo Pen Weekend

nospam@example.com (Mike) — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 10:14:42 -0700

Some time ago I joined Twitter.. I joined to win stuff. And it paid-off; I won $50 Amazon gift card from a massively.com contest. So I ordered a Bamboo Pen tablet

My Pen setup.

It arrived Friday and I LOVE IT! I took a few hours to get use to it, at least enough to do this drawing titled “Three down”

Excited to do more with it.

Halloween Wall 2009

nospam@example.com (Mike) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:32:36 -0700

At out Halloween parties I like to hang paper and do a mural. I've done three so far (here is 2006 wall)

2006 Wall pic

This year is our "Hell-Of-a-party" so its a hell of a party theme for this wall. I wanted to document the process on making the wall. .. here it is and I'll update as I go..

Starts off with some idea sketches..
Succubus with an admiring demon dude

Demon DJ ...

Do a a few layout sketches
First draft.. added bartender

Draft two added demon from invitation and little rework..

Next pick-up some test paper and media.
Try out a few different charcoal and black media..

Do a test sketch..

After taking some drawing utensils for a test. Did some measuring and come-up with needing:
- Six three yard sheets of red paper.
- Five more of the Sharpie brand black pencils (wax like and does not smear)
- One fine point black pen (for detail work)
- One soft graphic stick and dry brush (for doing “smear” work like smoke, etc)
- Tacks and tape.

10/15 Got the stuff I need.. $25 not bad.

Next .. hang the paper.

10/20/09 - Paper was put-up. And started on the bartender part.

10/26/09 - Lots of drawing dome this weekend. Taking pics on iPhone and the back on red does not photo the best. Will wait till more is on the wall and try on my camera. Still .. its looking awesome. Very happy with the work.

10/28/09 - wrapping up on the drawing. Filling in some areas. I'm trying to get a good photo. The red background plays havoc with my iPhone camera. Going to try with a better camera whe I am done. Post a frew pics however it looks muhc better in person.

Pixelmated my Orc Rage

nospam@example.com (Mike) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 09:02:30 -0700

I wanted to try an alternative to Corel Painter Essentials 4 so I got Pixelmator. I like Corel however its been a bit buggy on my Mac lately (crash a few times and few GUI issues where I had to relaunch).
So I did little re-inking / layer work on my orc rage sketch in Pixelmator last night. I collect lots of concept art books so I wanted to give it that look. Very happy with the look I achieved.

This was more experimentation than final work. I need to take time to learn more on Pixelmator. So far its off to a good start.

UPDATE (9/12/09): Love Pixelmator. Wa able to do some good coloring and background effects:
Few tutorials for me..

Coloring lineart in Pixelmator for Mac from Merced on Vimeo.

Sketch - Orc Rage

nospam@example.com (Mike) — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 19:10:05 -0700

New sketch .. Orc Rage:

Plan to re-ink and color the larger version on my Mac.

RARRR!

Green vs. Green

nospam@example.com (Mike) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:07:22 -0700

Did a few different thing with this piece. Came out very cool...

Green Vs. Green

Enjoy

Green vs. Green

nospam@example.com (Mike) — Wed, 20 May 2009 10:44:02 -0700

Quick Sketch of Orc vs. Green Dragon titled “Green vs. Green.” Started to re-ink and like to do a few changes. This may be one drawing where I do some major changes during re-inking.

Here is the sketch..

Orc Scout Draft

nospam@example.com (Mike) — Wed, 13 May 2009 09:31:46 -0700

Still like to do some more work on this (touch up and little more with background .. however here is a draft Orc Scout..

draft 2

Was pretty happy with it do so wanted to share.