Recent Sketches: Out on the playground

More of my model

Sketches from our various outings over the last few months.

My new model

Been a while since I updated this blog.
I do have a good excuse, and we will be seeing more of him over the years.

Gouache Relief Strawberry

This is the result of a gouache-relief demo from my illustration class. I love this technique because it requires giving up some of the control we all strive for in paintings. In this case the lines are the areas not painted and the colored (or white-ish) bits are the areas that get painted.

Or you could just think of it as a really quick fake lino cut process.

Summer Fun

Been a little while since I posted anything new. This is due to my attending the The Illustration Academy. The program has been amazing. This little image is pretty much how I feel coming into the studio each day.

Author Sketch: Matt Phelan

Headed over to A Children's Place Bookstore on Saturday to catch illustrator/author Matt Phelan talk about his book "The Storm in the Barn" which was just turned into a theater production by Oregon Children's Theater. Matt was in town to watch the world premier. Really excellent work and a super nice guy.

Roller Derby Sketchin'!!

Had the luck to be invited out to watch the uber-awesome Rose City Rollers in a scrimmage last night and did a bunch of sketching. This was my first time watching roller derby live -- and it won't be the last.

Travel Sketch: Las Vegas

Went on a trip to Vegas recently. Very interesting place. Odd too. They've created something unique there.

Portrait: Charlie Sheen

New medium! (Same ol' Charlie)
This is a version of Charlie Sheen done as a monoprint.
Could be my favorite version yet.

Doodles

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.

Portrait: Charlie Sheen

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

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

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

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

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!

Travel Sketch: Maui

Travel Sketch: Maui

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

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

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.

Sidewalk Stroller

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.