Character Project

One of the things I've been trying to work on is a character study.  I know for illustration I need to be able to recreate the same character in different positions with different expressions.  So, I've been inching my way through such a project using this character that appeared among my doodles.

Although she seems rather simple, she's a good challenge for me (if you hadn't noticed, I tend to get caught up in details).  Instead, I'm trying to capture a lot with a little less than usual.  I'll share as soon as I can.

Just for fun...

Just on a whim I started some doodles, using the same shapes as a jumping off point for each - the circle within 2 circles as shown at the top of the page. Even though I didn't have a specific idea of what to do most of the time, I would just build on the shapes and see what they became. Inevitably, once you eliminate the obvious, you just build and build, but it doesn't really become anything in particular (i.e. the thing at the bottom). Still, it's pages like this that can lead to future projects.

Summer's Here...

While we're continuing to do math through summer (rather than spend the first few months of September re-teaching everything), the multi-subject demands of the year are gone. Like last summer, I plan to add to the portfolio. I also have an unfinished color study project from last year.

Last night, I was able to spend a few minutes out in "the studio" (aka drawing table in the garage - only usable during the warm season...luckily we live in California so that's a lot of the year). I didn't really have a specific direction; just did a bit of doodling (see above) and searching through the sketchbook for potential subjects. My 6 yo daughter came out to join me - she drew the cat on the page above, and I added the patterning - fun time. Getting started can sometimes be the hardest part. I don't think any of these doodles will go anywhere, but you never know what might come out...

Anyway, some plans for summer include: 1) illustrating a fable or other scene from an existing story, 2) doing a series of scenerios featuring one character, 3) doing more paintings in acrylic paint try and master the media, and 4) do a series of 4 holiday card designs. Of course, a lot depends on whether or not we sell our house and have to move over summer. It's always something...

I Guess My Art is "For the Birds..."

I've been flipping through some of my old sketchbooks that I have from back in my college days (these ones date from 1988 to 1992). It's funny because I would never have remembered some of those pictures if I hadn't seen them again. However, once I see them I can remember where I was, who my friends were at the time, etc. For some of them, a lot more memories come flooding back - where I was at the very time I drew them. Some were studies for college assignments (most meaningless) that came and went and I never saved. I even found the recipe for an oil varnish mixture that I used and wondered what I did with. However, I guess it really doesn't matter now because I'm trying to work with acrylics now.

Anyway, I've noticed that when it comes to doodling and just playing around in my sketchbook, birds seem to come through over and over. I'm not sure why. I've never considered myself a "bird" person - maybe it's just something about their features. Or, perhaps it's the variety of birds that is sort of freeing - you can get very creative, ornamental, or abstract and still end up with a bird.

Here is a drawing done in ballpoint pen from back in '88. Apparently, I did several sketches with this tool back then (it was always handy), but until I saw Andrea Joseph's work, I don't think I ever took it seriously as a medium (check out her stuff and prepare to be dazzled). With the variety of colors available in ballpoint these days...

These other 2 were more recent doodles.

Of course, I've already posted the chicken drawing and the "Invitation to Dinner" (dialogue with bird and worm).

And there's a couple birds in the doodles of about 5 posts back (I think you can handle the scrolling).

Peace at last...and a few doodles

I'm on the verge of Monday - although most of the world is already there. The kids are all in bed, I've got tunes from my Pandora station playing in my headphones - ahhhhhhhhhh bliss.

It was Soccer Sunday at the "Y" and I played again...well, for a little while anyway. I strained a muscle or something up the front of my thigh. Since it seemed to get worse, I decided it would be in my best interest to stop. The sad thing is that I first strained it while warming up! Sheesh! Oh well...

I did spend a little time in the studio this evening - haven't been able to get in there all weekend. I'm furthering my study in acrylic paint, doing another version of the study I shared a few posts back. But, since it's night and I still don't have a scanner, I knew I would get a good photo. So, I'll have to wait to share.

Instead, I have a sketchbook page-o-doodles that I like a lot. Yes, I love doodles. They're great to look back on and pull from for something more.

Switching Gears...

I've been working a lot in pencil recently, expanding my horizons a bit more with my "comfort" medium. While I've always enjoyed working in pencil, I am able to work more quickly and decisively with it.

I've completed the anatomy studies now, having done the muscles of the face and neck at work the other night. I think that's all I'm going to do on that subject for the moment. Eventually, I might find a resource that will show the muscles from different angles and in different poses - particularly the arms and legs.

I don't know how artists are content working in a single style or medium. Too much of one thing gets a little dull after a while, and I'm looking forward to branching out. I'm anxious to work with other media and explore different approaches, different looks. Switching to ink, I played around with some quick doodles just for fun today.

I've heard that some illustrators sometimes "discover" a character in their sketchbook - that it starts as a doodle or something random. Then, as the character develops, its story can evolve into a picture book idea. I'm hoping that something like that will happen with something I've drawn, but so far nothing has really struck me in that way.

A Study in Backgrounds

One of the areas in need of work that I failed to list on my things "to do" is to practice background work. Whether my images are doodles or preconceived, it's easy for me to become completely preoccuped with the subject itself and treat the setting as an afterthought. The temptation is to complete the subject and move on to something new. But, needless to say, ignoring the background isn't going to help me in the illustration world.

The image shown here was started as a doodle but with the intent to place whatever evolved into a setting of some sort. The inspiration for the doodle came from a metal spiral handle on a condiment caddy at Carl's Jr. (the spiral line on the ear of the dog). Once I knew what the subject was going to be, I placed the fence behind it. I almost stopped there, but since this was an exercise in backgrounds, I opted to push it further. I then added the structures behind the fence, the overhanging foliage, and defined the foreground detail.

I was pleased with the background overall - the scale and value of the buildings really sets them off in the distance. However, if I was to redo this as a final work, I would give the dog more of a dynamic pose. This is one of those situations where, since it started as a doodle, certain aspects of the drawing were committed before I really realized what it was going to become. In this case, the stiff pose was unchangeable.

Now, one more thing I've come to realize about backgrounds is that some images are better off WITHOUT them. I mention in the intro to this blog that I would include my "failures" as well as successes throughout my journey. So, begrudgingly I post the original doodle drawing that became the plant-like clownish characters of a couple posts ago. Wanting to practice backgrounds, I created one for these characters. The detailed folds really competed for attention and the vine-like linework of the drawing were lost in it.