Sketch A Day Dec.13

 Merry Creatures 001

Sketch A Day [Found Sketches]

Just a sketch I did several months ago.

Things have been hectic kind of late. So many stuff needed my immediate attention, some more pressing than others, but I'm back, finding a whole lot of time to draw and sketch this coming days, me being alone in the apartment most of the time.

Sketch A Day October 10

These words seem appropriate for this sketch:

She can kill with a smile
She can wound with her eyes
She can ruin your faith with her casual lies
And she only reveals what she wants you to see
She hides like a child,
But she's always a woman to me

She can lead you to love
She can take you or leave you
She can ask for the truth
But she'll never believe you
And she'll take what you give her, as long as it's free
Yeah, she steals like a thief
But she's always a woman to me

Oh--she takes care of herself
She can wait if she wants
She's ahead of her time
Oh--and she never gives out
And she never gives in
She just changes her mind

And she'll promise you more
Than the Garden of Eden
Then she'll carelessly cut you
And laugh while you're bleedin'
But she'll bring out the best
And the worst you can be
Blame it all on yourself
Cause she's always a woman to me
--Mhmm--

She is frequently kind
And she's suddenly cruel
She can do as she pleases
She's nobody's fool
And she can't be convicted
She's earned her degree
And the most she will do
Is throw shadows at you
But she's always a woman to me
--Mhmm--

"She's Always A Woman" - Billy Joel

Sketch A Day October 8

I started this about 4 hours ago, while at work. There seems to be a lull anywhere from 11am to 3am so like I did before, I doodled.

Wonder what this one will turn out.

Sketch A day - October 6

Grumpy Dwarf Sketch

I think I'll stop with this and do some more sketching.

One thing about being able to do something with my hands is, it's never too bothersome to get some used typewriting paper, whip a pencil out and just doodle till an idea hits me.

I think a Dragon is a good follow up from this Dwarf-Elf-Wizard thing, don't you think?

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 001

The armor is not exactly what I had in mind, so I'm still looking at references. There are lots of historical armor and fictional that I have to sort, plus I want it to look "in-character". From the pencil sketches, which I will scan and post, I'm falling in love with the metal workers and craftsman who have made such intricately detailed ceremonial and battle armor that kings and knights have donned through the ages. There are cultural styles that need to be incorporated so it's really a slow process.

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

This project was supposed to be a commercial one, but that is going nowhere so, I'm making this my own. Makes staying at home enjoyable.

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.

Coloring 002

Slow progress.

Coloring 001

I was sketching characters for a band I heard -  The Roxymorrons - and was really trying to get that feel to it. But after 6 revisions I stopped and decided to practice my coloring using brush presets on Photoshop (natural brushes 1 & 2) with my Flex WSeries graphics tablet. Being a painting noob that I am, this has become another "track my progress" thing. 

Still have a lot to get used to.

But since I have nothing better to do than wrack my brains for ideas on the character designs, might as well clear the head with coloring this very old work. This pairs with the blue angel several posts ago. But I will have to finish this in a different way. A bit more refined. A contrast to the blocky illustration, but it's where the fun is.

On a different note, if you happen to see The Roxymorrons on the bill. look at the skinny, tall guy with the baby face and Jedi hair - that's Paul Bernardo - I work with him, and in addition to wielding mean guitar licks, he's a very good 3D artist.

From The Vault - The TOEI Experience

Top - One of the last clean-ups I did from the Dragonball Z Tv Animation series. I remember adding Piccolo and the Dragon with the shades, plus some odd details here and there. I love that series. When I started work at TOEI Animation, we were doing DBZ, Slamdunk, Sailor Moon, Gulliver Boy. Enjoyed the experienxe thoroughly. Such gifted artists working there.

Bottom - Pretty much describes my feelings about doing these characters. I used this as a poster for my drawing workshops years ago.

From The Vault - A Game

I managed to keep the sketch of a concept packaging art for a game. Yes, I do sketch on paper, something you might want to do from time to time.

A little back story:

There was supposed to be a game in development last time I was with an animation studio, a  mobile app that you could play with other subscribers using contact lists as targets and allies, rather cool if you ask me. But this didn't make it to the development, and the project, don't know how it ended, or if it made the publication (another case of people handling the project with no vision nor the audacity to learn anything about the gaming community and the current trends with it) and I kept the this concept instead. Maybe I'll give this to Rose Tan, if I ever get around to finishing this that would fit her novels. It has a LOVE feel to it, now that I look back.

Sketch A Day 206

Sabinah will have to rest for a while. Not only do I need to write a back story for her, I really need to do some moneymaking gig. We all need a little extra source to get through this life. But that doesn't mean she'll be gone for long. She's really a support character for Chicken Wings, one of my own stories.

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 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.