David Hohn Illustration

Doodles

2012-02-14T09:05:00.000-08:00

I've been creating watercolor textures to use for various projects and as I look at some of them characters start to emerge. Here's a couple of little monsters that were hanging out on my desk yesterday.

Models: A different kind of sketching

2012-02-08T08:00:00.000-08:00

These are in-progress sculpts of Patrick and Beth, the two main characters from "The Imagination Station" book series I've been working on. While I've already drawn these characters many times I've noticed that there are some angles that are, frankly, tricky. These models are meant to make it easy to draw our hero's from any point of view.

Portrait: Charlie Sheen

2012-02-07T09:03:00.000-08:00

This is the same Charlie Sheen portrait as seen in my previous post only this time it was created using a "Gouache Relief" technique. This involves painting the white areas with gouache, letting that dry completely, then painting over the entire image with black waterproof ink. (That last bit is fairly scary to do) And finally rinsing the entire image under running water and scrubbing (lightly) over the surface so the ink and gouache washes away revealing the image.

This technique gives a finished result that looks a lot like a wood cut print and creates some really distinctive marks.

Tutorial: Perfectly Selecting Blackline Artwork

2012-01-17T11:10:00.000-08:00

This is a quick little tutorial I made for my illustration class. First time I've had a go with iMovie -- and it was a pretty pleasant experience. Always weird to hear your own voice though. This is a technique I've been using for years in my illustrations.

Characters: People Who Sat Still

2012-01-16T17:05:00.000-08:00

A collection of sketches made while waiting. These people were kind enough to sit still long enough for me to grab a likeness. (Bless 'em!)

Portrait: Charlie Sheen

2012-01-12T15:39:00.000-08:00

This is a new project for my illustration class.
The idea is to choose a celebrity and after researching him or her assign keywords that will determine how the viewer responds to the finished art. Not one to ask my students to do something I wouldn't, here is my interpretation of Charlie Sheen (circa spring 2011). My keywords were: "Manaical, Self Involved, Dangerous"

Here is the process I used to arrive at the finished piece:

I researched a bunch of photos of Charlie Sheen and chose one that had a single light source and strong cast shadows.
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Adjusted the photo so that it was more contrasty and the shapes that made up the features were clearer.
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The original photo did not have the feel/keywords I wanted so I modified his face to look more like the photos of Charlie Sheen when he was at his most volatile.
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Redrew the light and dark shapes so they could be transferred to watercolor paper
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Created and ink wash of painting of the photo, being conscious to use the brush to create quick angular strokes that would reinforce my keywords.
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I wanted to add a second element that would further reinforce my keywords and decided on the "catchphrases" Charlie would endlessly spout during this period. Again, actively using a mark making style that would suggest a person coming unhinged.
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The two pieces were composited digitally and this is the end result.
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What's really fun about this process is that you can easily substitute other equally compelling images to achieve a similar effect.

Ice Rink Sketches

2012-01-06T13:58:00.000-08:00

Went to the local ice rink with a bunch of other illustrators this morning to do some sketchin'.
Very different from figure drawing in the studio -- mostly in that these little ones didn't sit still for more than a couple seconds. Gotta' grab that pose quickly!

Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle

2012-01-05T07:48:00.000-08:00

I've been playing around with new ways to use my images (They're not just for books 'ya know!)
And spent the last couple weeks trying them out as wooden jigsaw puzzles. The cool kind, that were popular in the 1920's. This is one of the early efforts. Pretty happy with how it turned out. This is a 48 piece puzzle. Going to go for a 100 piece one next!!

Portraits: Visitors

2012-01-03T11:40:00.000-08:00

With the holidays we had a number of house guests over. These are a couple of the younger ones who were good enough to sit still while I sketched 'em.

Ed Emberly Illustrator

2011-12-30T15:48:00.000-08:00

In a effort to branch out a bit I'm going to deviate from my usual postings of a project or doodle that I've done and introduce some things (images, text, video etc) of other illustrators who I think are cool.I came across this Lynda.com video that they have made available featuring illustrator/author Ed Emberly. I've been aware of his work for years but never knew much about him. Well that has now been rectified! Take a look. (Be sure to hang in for the Paul Bunyan "promotional" poster. Totally worth it!)

Getting to know Ed

Ed Emberley, Children's Book Illustrator | by Ed Emberley

View this entire course and more in the lynda.com Online Training Library®.

Portrait: Helen Acker

2011-12-16T15:38:00.001-08:00

Portrait: John Lock

2011-12-07T10:25:00.000-08:00

I titled this John Lock because I'm pretty sure that's who served as the reference for the original sketch (or rather Terry O'Quinn the actor who played him in Lost). Of course a day later as I did the watercolor I "lost" (see what I did there?) my reference so a lot of this is just plain 'ol made up.

Portrait: Evil Accountant?

2011-11-11T08:00:00.000-08:00

This gentleman is from a site of old Australian criminal mug shots. Who knows exactly what this guy did -- but he doesn't seem all that sorry about it.

Portrait: Steel Worker

2011-11-10T08:25:00.000-08:00

Some faces are just begging to be painted. Today I was playing around with a gouache technique.

Travel Sketch: Maui

2011-11-07T11:23:00.000-08:00

New Book Cover: Tuesdays at the Castle

2011-11-07T09:31:00.000-08:00

I just found out that a book I did the cover for is now available at your favorite bookstore!
Written by Jessica Day George, it got a great review blurb from Kirkus:

“This enjoyable romp turns mischief into political action and a stone palace into a cunning character. These kids are clever, as is George’s lively adventure. May pique castle envy.” —Kirkus Reviews

This is a splendid YA fantasy and I had a great time coming up with all kinds of cover concepts.
And what the heck, since you're here at my blog what better place to show some behind-the-scenes stuff:

In hindsight it would have been awesome if I had waited until Tuesday to post this -- ah well, enjoy!

Travel Sketch: Maui

2011-11-05T10:20:00.000-07:00

Went on a vacation to Maui recently and did some snorkeling and sketching at a place called Black Rock. The name just appealed to the Pirates of the Caribbean fan in me. But it was the visiting sea turtles that really made my day!

Portland Sketch: Oldtown

2011-10-31T13:48:00.000-07:00

A sketch from a while back of Old Town in Portland. Not long after this sketch was finished I was accused by a random (and fairly disturbing) guy of "mentally harassing" him. All in all, a memorable sketching afternoon.

Location Drawing: Japanese Gardens

2011-07-22T09:00:00.000-07:00

More from the Japanese Gardens. These are great to play around with limited color palettes.

Location Drawing: Japanese Gardens

2011-07-21T09:00:00.000-07:00

Another sketch from the Japanese Gardens

Location Drawing: Japanese Gardens

2011-07-20T12:43:00.000-07:00

If you are going to be a substitute instructor then it's pretty great to take on a class you'd be doing any way. I filled in for a "Drawing on Location" class at AiPD this week and had the pleasure of spending the afternoon at the Japanese Gardens here in Portland. Truly beautiful. Definitely worth a visit if you've never been.

Travel Sketch: Santa Cruz

2011-07-17T15:35:00.000-07:00

Headed down to Santa Cruz for the weekend to hang out with some very cool folks and did some sketching in my free time. I'll be posting these for the next couple days as I get them scanned in.

Portland Food Carts: Salt and Straw

2011-07-13T17:48:00.000-07:00

My new favorite unhealthy indulgence. This uber-cool ice cream cart carries all the traditional Portland flavors you'd expect: Stumptown Coffee Cold Brewed with Cocoa Nibs, Brown Ale and Bacon, Blue Cheese and Pear, etc. But my favorite is Honey Balsamic Strawberry With Black Pepper. If you are in Portland it's located on NE Alberta. Totally worth the trip.

Brushes Painting App

2011-06-30T22:35:00.000-07:00

Here's a little something that was done using the iPhone "Brushes" app.
Fairly cool application (and great for killing time while waiting for an appointment) but really hard to export out of the application and into the wider world.

Portrait: Mug Shots

2011-06-28T08:39:00.000-07:00

Came across a great website of1940's mug shots. Great hairstyles, and really honest expressions.

Concept Sketch: Guy with huge sword

2011-06-27T11:13:00.000-07:00

Projects of all stripes have been keeping me busy these last few weeks, but I thought I'd post a concept development test that I did this morning.

Blog Interview: Blu Penny Sketchbook Stories

2011-06-07T14:32:00.000-07:00

Illustrator Cindy Ann Ganaden recently asked me to participate on her uber-cool "Sketchbook Stories" blog feature. I wrote a bit about the process that goes into creating a chapter book cover.

Head on over and check it out and stay to read about all the other illustrators she's already featured. Just click on the button below

Watercolor Test: Landscape

2011-05-27T08:37:00.000-07:00

Playing with compositional theories (rule of thirds) and watercolor techniques (laying pigment down heavy and pulling out to model form). More of a formal test, but still fun just the same.

Sidewalk Stroller

2011-05-26T13:01:00.000-07:00

The inaugural drawing of my brand-spankin' new set of mid-toned sketchbooks. (Very excited to be drawing in these again!) This stroller was just sitting on the sidewalk today, and while I admire the engineering that has gone into modern "baby-jogger strollers" there's just something evocative about this design.

New Books: The Imagination Station Series

2011-05-18T09:29:00.000-07:00

For the last year I have been working on a series of books "The Imagination Station" with Focus on the Family and Tyndale House Publishers. I've recently received my advance copies of the first two books in the series and wanted to show off the covers. Click the horizontal images for all the wraparound cover art goodness.

Turkey Transport

2011-05-13T13:33:00.000-07:00

Portrait: Einstein

2011-04-08T17:32:00.000-07:00

Start of a new term at AiPD -- and as usual I gave my students a "however you want" inclass project of drawing Einstein. This is my take. Kinda' fun to look back at all the versions.

Portrait: Depression Era Dude

2011-03-29T17:19:00.000-07:00

Came across a selection of historical photos from the Great Depression. Wonderful expressions in those (and some impressive hairstyles too!)

Still Life: Onion Study

2011-03-08T09:30:00.000-08:00

Left this on my kitchen windowsill until it started to sprout. I loved the curves that formed as the stalks reached toward the sun.

Character Sketches

2011-03-07T23:40:00.000-08:00

Having some fun with characters, watercolor and the new natural media brushes in CS5.

Costume Drawing

2011-03-01T09:32:00.000-08:00

Headed down to do some costume drawing at AiPD last night . . .

It all started off pretty realistically

Then I went for a stronger sense of rhythm and movement

Then I moved away from realistic proportion

2010-12-08T23:13:00.001-08:00

Recent Sketch

2010-12-07T20:37:00.001-08:00

Recent Sketch: Allen Say

2010-12-06T11:00:00.000-08:00

Illustrator and author Allen Say was doing a talk / book signing at A Children's Place bookstore this weekend to promote his recent book "The Boy in the Garden". I headed down to listen and check out all the new titles and couldn't resist doing a drawing while the talk was going on.

Recent Sketch

2010-11-19T10:33:00.001-08:00

These are some recent watercolor doodles. I really want to get the negative shapes to be as interesting and informative as the positive shapes.

Travel Sketches: Air and Space Museum

2010-08-31T09:00:00.000-07:00

Travel Sketches: Air and Space Museum

2010-08-30T09:00:00.000-07:00

Headed out to the Air and Space Museum in McMinville this weekend. Never been before. If you're a fan of machines that hurtle people through the air at wildly inappropriate speeds you should definitely take time for a visit.
I'll be posting some pages over the next couple days.

Recent Sketch

2010-08-26T07:06:00.001-07:00

Recent Sketch

2010-08-25T09:42:00.000-07:00

Looking to do some work on my house and had to head down to the planning and zoning department.
Always a good time (ø_ø) plus I was able to get some sketching while I waited and waited and . . .

Recent Sketch

2010-08-24T10:17:00.000-07:00

I have a great book of Fantastic and Mythological Creatures. These are just some of my interpretations.

Recent Sketch

2010-08-18T15:12:00.001-07:00

Stepped out for lunch yesterday at my favorite Thai place and did a sketch while waiting. It isn't much too look at from the outside but sooooo tasty.

2010-06-11T08:51:00.000-07:00

Recent Sketch

2010-05-07T09:40:00.001-07:00

Recent Sketch

2010-05-05T08:23:00.001-07:00

Recent Sketch

2010-05-03T07:36:00.001-07:00

Recent Sketch

2010-04-30T08:29:00.001-07:00

Recent Sketch

2010-04-28T07:51:00.001-07:00