Quick Sketch using Paint Net

I have used this freeware when painting with my Genius EasyPen i405X graphics
tablet. It came with the tablet, but I have never come around to truly utilize its
functions, both hardware and software.

Turns out, this combination is something I could fool around with. Now There are
only so much you can do with Adobe Photoshop with any high end graphics tablet.
But this is what I have and this maybe the key to producing more artwork.

Did a quick sketch, also working my way around default brushes, and trying to get
the feel with a face sketch.

Maybe I'll do one from sketch to finish and we'll see what I can come up with

Tajiri

Tajiri The Japanese Buzzsaw

Peanut

Rediscover: Phantomanok

Phantomanok Sketch A Day 000

Phantomanok is an almost forgotten comics (komiks) series of my childhood. Published on Liwayway Magazine in the early 70s, written by Rodie Marte Metin and illustrated by Arem Cunanan  who, I fervently hope, to get in touch with to pay homage and maybe ask permission to base my character on, even the story.

I meant to do the studies on paper, like I always do. But since I do have this graphics tablet lying around, might as well use it and see what could turn up from scratch.

Gratitudes, for pointing me to the right direction, to Mr.Gerry Alanguilan  and  Mr. Randy Valiente  both distinguished artists whom I badgered for information. Visit their sites and be blown away!

Cryptids

Been busy. Work. Stuff you do to make a living.

Also, I am trying to scan old character designs and sketches for my story. These dragons are from our own Myth and Mythology. 

Cryptids.

Long lost creatures that should be rediscovered. I have to get back to the National Library to dig up more about these wonderful creatures that time forgot. Or were taken out of the books.

The Roxymorrons In Pencil

The pencils are done!

Now I can continue with the album cover/concept art. I have something to work on. Usually, I would do a "turnaround" or front, back and both sides first for each member, but I did the sketch with the Vespa first so All I have to do is model each band member from this and continue with the cover art.

Which brings me to work on this first before I set out to continue all the other projects I set out to do, including the Elemental Babe.

Old Works - Dalaga 000

There are some stuff I need to do for Elemental Babe, so while research is still pending, I still have to find my groove with the brush. So instead of sitting around doing nothing, here's another old illustration. I'm thinking the hair could use a little more work. That goes to the rest of it.

So I just had to use this as another study. Not much to see for now, just brush strokes and a bit more tweaking with the settings.

[ To view the complete post click the title or just click the image for a bigger view ]

For purposes of sharing this with others who might want to know:

PsD is A3 = 27.9cm x 43.2cm [11in x 17in] @ 240dpi

(or you could jack it up to 300dpi for print)

Since uploading for web viewing means you have to shave off some pixels, I usually process by using the Save-For-Web on the tools menu. The image is now @ 72dpi.

From Scratch 000

Looks like this one I will have to do and finish for myself now. I tweaked the anatomy a bit, and decided to do a bit more research with the raiment and armor, some more detailing and proper clothing. Those, and the right way to restart this project is underway. I just had to show you what has been changed so far. 

[ To view the complete post click the title or just click the image for a bigger view ]

Now that I look at this, I have concluded this idea was from a real, live person, though not as shapely and daring, but the idea of a tough but fragile looking, and often mysterious woman is really someone I know. maybe she'll see herself after this is over and done with.

For purposes of sharing this with others who might want to know:

PsD is A3 = 27.9cm x 43.2cm [11in x 17in] @ 240dpi

(or you could jack it up to 300dpi for print)

Since uploading for web viewing means you have to shave off some pixels, I usually process by using the Save-For-Web on the tools menu. The image is now @ 72dpi.

Green Devil

I keep asking "Why green?"

It's because I never liked red. This coloring for this old illustration ends here. Maybe I'll return to working on it another day, but this looks fine, for a very old drawing.

The Gate (A Short Film)

by

Joyrider Films

I have to share this. I'm a sucker for underdogs. This has got some real potential, heavy story. And because my childhood and teenage years were spent reading sci-fi books, and comics, Star Wars and Battlestar Galactica, I'm always on the lookout for stuff like this.

Figured since I do not have anything new to post, this one would do just fine.

Sketch A Day 205

These blog posts may have to take a step back.

Because I'm doing this:

which, may take most of my time when I'm here at home.

Excited of this project because:

1. I get to do what I've always wanted - a complete portrait of a character.

2. This will have to be finished in color and effects.

3. I'm a sucker for elementals. With nice looking buns.

Sketch A Day 204

Somehow, the feathers on her hat goes well with the Gypsy-inspired cloak and robe. I think this will be her look. Early on I decided to have the character in a motherly body, not the slim, model type, to have some bounce and feel to it. Besides, humor and magic go hand in hand.

Now the real work is about to begin . . . 

Sketch A Day 203

Some more details are going to have to be added before I proceed with refining the lines, along with searching for the right references with jewelry, clothing, etc.

Drawing and illustrating is a constant learning process, at least for me. I often need my details to be from real things. A car needs to look look like a car, not just a box with wheels. The first Sketch A day series was just me getting the hang of using a tablet and the brush presets with Photoshop. This time, it's really the grunt work, nit-picking details,  anatomical liberties, shadows and all those things an artist considers before getting down with the final phase.

Sketch A Day 202

Some clothing catalogue can be very handy for reference with sketching the clothes. And then there's the environment to think of, the stuff she throws around, and boy am I so into this right now, my CD player is set up to play Joe Satriani's music to get me going.

Sketch A Day 201

Looks like the ol' mojo is back. Let's see what this turns out.

Made some adjustments with my tablet. Before, I attached it to a piece of rubber mat, but a friend pointed out the pen is hard to control. My fault, I was thinking of having something to absorb shock. So I took the rubber bottom out, and taped it to my table, where I do stuff. It does feel more responsive now.

See? Old dogs can learn from young ones. Thanks to Paul Bernardo for that piece of observation.

Tattooed Angel

In the hope of breathing new life on some of my earlier, unpublished (DeviantArt doesn't count, I cancelled my account before everything got too . . . fancy), I tried to process, paint and add some color to an otherwise very flat illustration. The idea then was to get rid of the  embedded "animation" style of drawing. Tough luck, while some of the habits were broken, I still draw on a makeshift lightbox (one of these days, I'll do a step by step so that you who want to make your own lighted drawing surface) and do revisions, several, and finalize a character design.

Black backgrounds are really just the easy way out. But since this is an old ilustration, I could just do that and improve the next one. 

This is 1 of two, with the other is, you might have guessed - a devil - done sometime 2006, I think.

Sketch A Day 006

Lessons learned:

1. I'm a total noob when it comes to using a separate surface tablet.

2. The Flex W Series tablet from CDR King is good as a starter graphics tablet. For the price it's pretty handy with illustrations like this.

3. I have to improvise with my brush selection. Haste is never an excuse for for poor workmanship but keeping this will help me track my progress

4. Always ask those with a longer experience with these things to keep on the right path.

I will be doing pencil work too. At least my confidence in that department is already firm and secure. Thinking of new stuff to do with my set up.

Sketch A Day 005

I'm expecting my load at work to suddenly fill up now that the Impeachment Trial is done with. So I might as well post this one.

Although I'm not too keen on publishing this one. Still smacks of being a noob.

Somehow, I have this feeling that I'm doing things wrong, too eager to to do things. Any suggestions? I'm open to any ideas you may have. I think I can still improve from here, but I don't want to scratch a few layers on the PSD file just yet.

Sketch A Day 004

Now, I know what it feels like for digital artists. My brush choices are often wrong. My skill in drawing is the only thing that's keeping this work in progress from going south. Four days into this and I am beginning to understand brush selection, though looking at this, I have lots to learn. At first, I thought I'd do the paper & pencil thing and just trace over the sketch, but that is a cop out. No, I think I mayhave to explore more of the options.

I have always been disappointed with the way I do my eyes. Often, I try to keep the lines minimal. But working with brush is something else. Best part about this is, I'm still learning. Not too shabby for an old man.

Sketch A Day 003

My shadows are way off. I would like to be as adept with the tablet as Anna Villaluna . You should see her work. Marvelous artist. And she can wield a mean guitar too.

Testing and experimenting with brushes is hard. But I love the process of making mistakes and improving the next time around. Am I making any progress?  I sure hope so. Another good thing about digital drawing is the fact that you can use the layers to go back and forth with lines and blending. Erasures are also easy to do.

But it's never easy to do illustrations. If it's easy, I'm not doing it right. Good thing I've learned some patience along the way.