Archive for the ‘Art’ Category

Another tooting of my own horn. 2013 Golden Gate SCBWI San Francisco Conference.

Monday, March 4th, 2013

 

I have no idea why I chose the above image for this post.  But I’m lazy, and I don’t feel like changing it now.

I’ve just gotten home from the Golden Gate Conference for the SCBWI San Francisco at Asilomar.  For those of you that have gone to just the large LA or New York conferences I want to tell you that smaller events have some great benefits.  There were only about 140 to 150 people at this conference.  Like all SCBWI gatherings the people there were a real mix.  There were all levels of writers and illustrators there, from those  living- the- dream to total newbies.  I believe that I got to have face time with literally everyone.

I have some new BFF’s (Hi, Suzanne, Joyce, Matt, Kat, Tiffany, Kathrine,  and Tamara .  Sorry if I missed anyone.  I’m trying to be better at remembering  names but I’m pretty sure I missed of few there) .  My agent, Erzsi Deak, was there and she was one of the speakers.   I also got to meet  Jon Agee, Ed Briant, Patti Ann Harris, Lisa Jahn-Clough, Daniel Handler and Greg Pincus.  And I finally got to really meet Lin Oliver.  I’ve seen her a dozen times but I’d never actually had a chance to talk to her.

But my favorite part of the conference, because of my ego, was winning the Golden Gate Portfolio award!   I remained humble after winning and waited until I got back to my room to do my victory strut  (I’ve been told my victory strut is very disturbing).  Emily Jiang won the Golden Gate Writer’s Award.  (www.emilyjaing.com)  She is a truly awesome person!

Oh, and I forgot to say, Asilomar is a state park in Pacific Grove near Monterey.   It’s right on the beach and has beautiful historic buildings.  It’s the perfect place to meet friends and discuss children’s books!

I used to do photography.

Monday, February 25th, 2013

My niece in her disturbing-lack-of-eyebrow phase.

About 3,000 years ago I used to do Photography.

San Diego County Fair, possibly 1996?

Yes, besides oil painting, watercolor, embroidery, quilting and illustration I did b/w photography.  Before you get too impressed please note that I have a lot of trouble counting any higher than 10 and putting my shirt on right side out seems to pose problems for me.

Another niece and creepy rabbit with matching smiles.

These were originally created in the darkroom.  I have started scanning them into my computer and working on them in Photoshop.  When they’re finished I will be posting them.  It’s really fun for me to see these images since they’ve been stored away for 10 to 15 years.

Baby Lincoln

Thursday, February 21st, 2013

This is a new image that I am thinking about putting in my portfolio.

Nothing should hold you back. Drawing with flaws.

Monday, January 28th, 2013

 

 

Many future artist/illustrators hold themselves back by feeling that there is some great deficit in their skills. If you have ever said, “I can never be an artist because I can’t even draw a straight line”,  please get someone to kick your butt for me. Who cares about straight lines?  I sure don’t!  You can’t draw perspective? So what! Wacky perspective is fun! The most important thing is to relax and be your old weird drawing self.

Here are some of my “weaknesses”.

First, I can’t draw a whole scene. I have to put it together in pieces.

Second, I can’t draw figures facing to the right. They always have to face to the left. No problem. I just scan it into Illustrator and make a mirror image. I can actually think of a dozen ways to correct this problem without using the computer.

Third, my perspective is pretty weak.  So, I just get it close enough, and people think it’s charming.

So there, no more excuses.  Just draw.

And, by the way, the illustration above was made using pieces of the sketch below.  This is my extra special art secret, so don’t tell anybody.

Feeding the new kitty.

Wednesday, January 16th, 2013

Let’s play a game.

Wednesday, December 5th, 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to draw characters.

Monday, November 19th, 2012

Let’s begin by getting your mind and psyche in the right space.

If you use my tutorial I want you to:

  1. Sketch a little bit everyday, for at least a month.
  2. Allow the sketches to be crappy.  In fact, I give you permission to make crappy drawings.  How’s that!
  3. If you are sensitive about your work then don’t allow anyone to see your practice sketches.
  4. Repetition is more important than perfection with my tutorials.
  5. Use bold long pencil strokes and give yourself permission to lose control.
  6. When you let yourself lose control you are actually pushing your boundaries.  You are learning new things.

 

 

 

Here it is super quick:

  1. You know those generic cartoon expression images  in “How to Draw Cartoons” books?  Copy them over and over until you’ve got them memorized.  Be able to draw them without looking at your samples. ( You can find a bunch of sites on-line that have these cartoon expressions.)
  2. Now collect images by your favorite artist and copy them over and over.  And, while you’re copying ask yourself questions like:  What makes this character  so cute?     How does this artist handle eyes or hair or the body?     How does this artist show emotions with his/her character’s face and body language?  Study the art!

      3.   Draw your favorite artist’s characters over and over until you can draw them by memory.

       4.   Now play! Sketch and sketch.  Make cute images, silly images, and sad images over and over. Don’t second guess yourself.  Allow yourself to make horrible drawings.  Use idea’s you’ve seen in other peoples work.  Or maybe start with another artist’s character and change it.  Morph it into your own charater. Got a stupid idea?  Draw it.  Wind up drawing something you like?  Save it but keep drawing, and drawing, and….

If you do these exercises you will learn a lot about the vocabulary of character design and at the same time teach yourself what you want to see in your own characters.          

 

Here are some of the people I have learned from:

Hyperbole and a Half – (This site proves that you don’t need to be the most realistic artist to be awesome)    http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/

Patrick McDonnellhttp://muttscomics.com/default.aspx

Bill Watterson – (He doesn’t seem to have an official site)   http://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes/

Peter Reynoldshttp://www.peterhreynolds.com/dot/

Looney Toon Cartoons.  You can find many of them on YouTube.

Here are some of my favorites:

What’s Opera, Doc? – (Sample ) http://youtu.be/KTYQmHr9Myg

Witch Hazel – (Sample)  http://youtu.be/gYtgsLnEl38     (Sample)  http://youtu.be/Wej1LoOzaLY

Drip Along Daffy – (Whole Cartoon) http://youtu.be/FhS-n9qpWRI

The Unfinished Tiger. How to loosen up your drawing style.

Monday, November 12th, 2012

A lot of artists/illustrators wish that their style was looser and more fluid. They want their characters to be expressive. I might be able to help or at least let you know what I do to add life to my art subjects.

Draw from memory. I know that sounds scary but it works.

Let’s take the tiger I am currently working on. I’m still not satisfied with him but he’s getting closer to having the right feel. I first started by studying photos of tigers. I do some basic sketches so that I understand what a real tiger looks like. Second, I study how other artists have handled their ideas of what a tiger is. Have they drawn their tiger with a big forehead or little?  Small eyes or large? etc… When I think I understand which characteristics I might like to have in my tiger then I start drawing without using any reference except what I have collected in my brain.

The drawings I do are fast, but clear. I only work on one pose at first. I don’t worry about different angles or poses, because I am just getting to know who my character is. So I draw and draw and draw, the same pose over and over making minor changes. Because I am drawing the character over and over my pencil lines become more relaxed. My pencil knows where to go.

So far I am not satisfied with my tiger. Sometimes it only takes a couple pages to get what I want, but ones like this tiger I ‘ve done at least 20 pages of sketches. Often I get tired and can’t “see” the character in my head anymore so I take a break. I will also review what I have already created and it’s not uncommon for me to spot things that I like in early sketches. I will try to incorporate anything that I liked into my next sketches.

Once I have gotten the character just the way I what it I will continue to draw he/she several times to memorize every detail. By this time my lines just flow with confidence! It’s time to start drawing the character in various angles and positions. But by now I really have the character’s image deep in my mind and it’s easier for me to feel that they are real.

Does this work for “realistic” work?  I think so.  Instead of relying on tracing paper to copy and redraw a image, try just drawing it over and over.  Make changes as you go until you get what you want. Because you’re getting to know your illustration so well your sketches will show increasing confidence.  Increased confidence will create fluid lines.  Fluid lines give life to a character or scene.

One last tip.  Spend some time drawing from memory with NO model at all.  Draw a person, a room, a toy,  etc…  It doesn’t have to be perfect, just keep drawing it over and over making corrections.  Keep trying to draw from your memory and see how much you can remember.  Two things will happen, first you’ll be surprise at what you can tease out of your brain. Second, your work will take on a look that is true to your personality.  Pretty awesome!