After goblin week, I wanted to draw something that was completely different. Heres a pumpkin headed ghost I designed a while back and colored last night. I might create some other characters to go with it for my concept art portfolio but I want to make some changes to the design first, so we'll see. That's it for now, back to photoshop to work on coloring props.
Monster Monday- January 12, 2015
Rock Elementals live in the craggy, rocky lowlands and mountains. They sleep for long periods of time, usually weeks, months and sometimes even years or decades. They start life out as a small rock, adding other rocks to themselves to add better mobility and grow in size. There are rumors that some of the mountains and volcanoes of Orbis are actually Elementals who are in a deep slumber. This hypothesis has not be proven but there is evidence that elementals are difficult to detect and often go unseen to untrained eyes.
Monster Monday- December 8, 2014
Mimics are creatures that are able to replicate objects in texture and design to disguise themselves to trick others. There true form is unknown but they are thought to be an ooze that was infused with changeling DNA, that allowed the ooze to morph. Most likely created in a wizards lab and escaped disguised to multiply into Orbis' cities. It's unknown how many mimics exist or that an object is a mimic till it reveals it's face to fight back. Usually a mimic is harmless unless it feels threatened where it can change into a weapon and fight back.
Monster Monday- November 17, 2014
The origins of Gnolls is shrouded in mystery. Legend tells of shape shifters who formed a clan to protect their kind. But spent so much time in their nonhuman form that they permanently remained as beasts. They lost their ability to speak common languages and developed their own. Since the Gnolls left society due to being hunted for their shape shifting origins, they created their own society in the wild. Gnolls live in large clans all over the land from mountains to marshes, they are able to survive in all weather and terrain. They keep to themselves and don't welcome outsiders to their groups. Gnolls are rarely seen in cities or settlements besides there own and if they are in common society they are usually outcasts from clans. Gnolls are not interested in destroying other's lands but want to be left in isolation from the society that shunned them.
Toned Paper Experiments
For a while now, I've been using the toned paper with ink. I saw some illustrators using color pencils and markers on the toned paper getting interesting results. I decided to give it a try.
My first successful attempt was the Eye Squid. It took a few tries to figure out what worked. Inking the piece first gave a clear drawing. Then I used some markers and colored inks to lay a base color. I applied some of the techniques I used in photoshop like using a flat base to render on top of. Then I tested each color pencil on a random piece of toned paper to see how the results of each color. After I began to add the pencil on the drawing and created the final image.
Since the technique of ink/markers with color pencil was a result I liked. I drew a larger creature, a Fate Warrior, and used the same process to create the drawing. The creature was designed in my sketchbook and decided it would be a good character to experiment the color technique on the toned paper.
I've only drawn Quillkins a few times and thought it would be another creature to use as practice. This time I used other colors to help enhance the base colors. For example, the belly was colored with a muted yellow then I used a bright yellow color pencil then an orange pencil to add more interest.
The toned paper, ink/marker, and color pencil technique has been an interesting experiment, there are many drawings I started that turned in technicolor nightmares. But it was worth the time in order to create a basis of how I plan to use color on toned paper in the future.
Monster Monday- May 5, 2014
When in doubt, draw an ice giant. Drew this over the weekend to have a smaller toned paper drawing to sell while displaying my work for free comic book day. The drawing is 5 inches by 8 inches. The giant has different horns then I would usually draw, gave the giant deer antlers. And other details set the look that I currently use for Ice Giant designs. Over all was fun practice piece.
Monster Monday- April 21, 2014
With a busy weekend, I didn't have too much time between family gatherings, hanging out with fellow illustrators, and attending an art show, to draw for monster monday. I drew the orc last night and inked it today. Orcs are fun to experiment with design and the black, white, and green paper are one of my favorite combinations to create a drawing on. Now it's time to get back to work.
Monster Monday- March 24, 2014
A new creature this week are Quillkins.
Quillkins are small creatures that forage through out the Fable Wood digging for seeds and acorns. With their small claws they dig in the soft dirt for food. They live in hallow logs and trees for protection due to their small size. The holes are also used for defense by hiding their body in the dirt and leaving their quills exposed to disguise themselves as grass. Another defense for the Quillkins is to hide and travel together to intimidate predators. Other creatures in the woods work along with the Quillkins for their expertise in finding seeds of plants with healing properties.
I was flipping through my senior thesis I made nearly a year ago and was thinking about adding more creatures to the book and adding more information to the project. I want to re-do the pages I created last year as well as add a bunch of new creatures. And hopefully have a Kickstarter with both the new project and my collected book of drawings, toned paper and digital pieces Conjured Thoughts: volume 1.
Gothmog toned paper drawing
For a while now, well since December, I've been working on a drawing of Gothmog from J.R.R. Tolkien's the Silmarillion. It took a few tries at creating completed drawing before I created the image I liked. While listening to the Silmarillion audiobook, I was inspired to draw Gothmog. Balrogs tend to be tricky because of the details of the monster is more descriptive of the fear it created and a few details of how it physically looks. I created my own version of Gothmog the Balrog that is not similar to the portrayal in the Fellowship of the Ring film but based on how I imagined Gothmog as I listened to the book.
Monster Monday- March 17, 2013
For Saint Partrick's day, I drew 2 creatures of Celtic legend.
Leprechaun's are widely known for finding a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. But there is much more to them then just gold. They are very experienced cobblers, fixing shoes at night while the village sleeps. I based my design much more on Folklore details then the stereotypical depiction of Leprechauns in pop culture.
Another creature for the week is Balor.
Balor is the king of the Formorians, a race of giants. He has one eye on the front of his head and another eye on the back. Making it difficult to sneak up on him. There was a prophecy of a grandsons slaying him and was killed by killing his grandkids. I couldn't find a clear description besides his unusual eyes. So I based the design that was similar to my Ice Giants since they are related as giants but of different races.
Monster Monday- March 3, 2014
Ice Giants are one of those monsters that I could draw day in and day out because of the variety of designs I am able to create. This Ice Giant is of a high rank due to having more sophisticated clothing of the leather chest plate, cape, and tattoos.
I drew this Ice Giant a while back to include into my new book Conjured Thoughts: Volume 1. Conjured Thoughts is a collection of ink drawing, toned paper drawings, and full color digital pieces compiled into a 32 page book. I'll have copies of the book at MoCCA Fest in NYC in April as well as Asbury Park Comic Con. The book includes never before seen drawings like the one above that have never been posted or published on the internet.
Monster Monday- February 3, 2014
A Tarasque is a dragon of the swamps. It does not resemble the common image of what a dragon usually is. It spends it's time on the ground, hiding in large bodies of muddy water. Camouflage is the technique the creature uses in order to hide it's massive body from armies that could take it down. It prefers to snap out of the water, grabbing it's pretty then drags it into the water to both drown and eat. The large club at the end of it's tail is it's defense from being attacked from behind and it's horns can pierce the best armor. Legend tells of the Tarasque slicing a knight in half with the power of it's jaws.
In Orbis, only one Tarasque remains in the bogs of the North. All others have been killed and kingdoms displays the horns and shells as relics of battle. That last Tarasque has not been seen in hundreds of years. Lots of people believe that none are left, but few believe that the harsh stench of the bogs is the Tarasque breath and don't venture into the swamps.
Goblin Week day 2/ Monster Monday- January 20, 2014
Next Goblin for the Goblin Mining Company is a crystal collector. Crystal collectors wander around the caves recently minded to pick up crystals to be transported to the carts to be brought out of the caves. These Goblins carry small pick axes to gently remove the crystals from the rocks and try to keep the crystals in the quality state. They place the crystals in their packs and walk back to the rails, where the carts are ready to transport the crystals out of the cave to the jewelers.
I started to flat the piece out in photoshop and have to make some adjustments to some of the colors, then render it. I plan on coloring all the pieces for Goblin Week, it just may not be possible with the other work I need to get done.
Goblin Week Day 1
Today is the first day of Goblin Week on Tumblr and Twitter. Started last year by comic artist Evan Dahm (Rice-boy.com) as a week to world build using goblins. The theme that links all of the goblins I'm going to draw is crystal mining.
The first goblin in the series is a basic miner. They are the ones chipping away at the cave walls to harvest the crystals. Crystals are the main source of trade income for goblins. They trade with other races since the crystals hold magical properties and are located in only a few known places, which happen to be mined by either goblins or dwarves. The goblins have pale skin since they spend a lot of time in the darkness. The hard hats and goggles are used to help protect their heads and eyes from falling rocks. Many goblins have been knocked out and even killed by falling rock. Sometimes they use their scarf to cover their mouth from dust so they don't breath it in. The clothing they wear is different to each goblin, though many prefer to wear overalls. Though goblins often get a bad reputation for being wild and crazy, many people consider the mining goblins to be hard working and easy to trade with.
Ocean King
For my last illustration for my undergrad. I decided to take an idea I've had in my sketch book since March to a final piece. Originally I was going to do an illustration with a horse, but I need to work on my horse anatomy before I tackle an illustration like that.
This piece went through many stages of edits. I create 4 completed drawings, inked 2 of them, and ended up having to redraw and ink it again. Each time there was improvement on the illustration, now I have 5 versions of one idea. Figuring out the colors for this one was also a challenge because I wanted it to be colorful without using every crayon in the box. Luckily with help from Prof. Gash, it came together. I'm very pleased with how it turned out and is the opener of my portfolio.
As I said before this was the last illustration I created for my undergrad and it feels good to end on an illustration like this one. It's crazy to think of all the improvements I've made over the past 4 and a half years of college. I remember taking my first illustration course creating my first illustration. I now have a process that works for my thinking and my style has really developed since my freshman year. It's funny because I can see from my old drawings that it was a crude version of how I draw now. I was lucky to have some great professors who really took me under their wing to spend extra time to help me take my work to the next level. Now it's time to start sending out my portfolio and postcards. As well as continue my personal projects for the up coming convention season. Looking forward to what 2014's has to offer.
Monster Monday- December 2, 2013
Another Treefolk, sorry if people get tired of them but they are a joy to draw. A while back I got a few pastel pencils. Most of the time I sketch with a keep pen (because I lose nice pencils all the time) and wanted to try something new. I've seen many people use pastel pencils on colored paper so I decide to give it a shot. The colors I got were Sepia Dark, Sepia Light, and Red Chalk. The feeling of the sepia pencils bothered me, it reminded me to much of charcoal. I hate using charcoal, but the Red Chalk felt more the normal pencils I use in illustrations.
I sketched the piece all with the red chalk on the yellowish paper. Since I was experimenting with the pencil, starting off small was a good idea. A portrait of the Treefolk flowed from my pencil and resulted in the drawing. It was enjoyable to create since it's been a busy week with the holiday and other work.
Monster Monday- October 21, 2013
This week is one monster, been busy getting ready for a shop visit at The Comic Shop of Delaware for their Halloween weekend Spookabration.
It's interesting to think that there isn't one story that defines the werewolf in literature. In Folklore, people become werewolves by wearing a magic belt or cape that transforms them into an actual wolf not an anthropomorphic hybrid. The hybrid that is popular now is inspired by the Universal classic 'The Wolf Man'.
For this design I used both classic elements and modern ideas. The wolf is a strong creature it needs to feel strong, so a large jaw and all over powerful body. For the face, I used human proportions to add in the human element to the wolf. It's not the most original design but it works well for a modern werewolf figure.
Monster Monday- September 23, 2013
Tree Folk have been dominating my sketch book since the beginning of summer. I can't stop, there just so cool. This was a inking practice for an illustration I am currently working on for one of my classes. It has to do with tree folk.
Later on this week I will post Illuxcon Part 2 as well as share some sketchbook pages.
Monster Monday- May 14, 2013
The past week has been busy for me. It's finals time, had to finish an animation and study. While I did a lot of sketching now that 'the other people' is complete, I didn't get a good chance to sit down to create a finished drawing. So here's a sneak peak at a new watercolor I am working on. It's the green man previously posted a while back with fleshed out color and rendering. The scene is going to be when the sun is setting and the woods get dark. I started out rendering the figure to see how far I'll take the background. This piece won't get finished up till I move back to Asbury and get settled in. I have lots of new exciting illustrations planned as well as my next book 'the iron halls'
Creating Goblin on Warpig
This week I create a piece for illustration Friday, for those who don't know what it is, it's a website that supplies one word a week for challengers to illustrate. This week's word was 'Wild', I decided to create a toned paper drawing
The first thing I always do is pull out my sketch book to explore ideas. I know I wanted to have a goblin riding some animal but I wasn't sure. So with the theme 'Wild' I decided to go with more of an Savannah them since that feels like a wild world of animals. I then chose a Warthog as the animal, I pulled out my ipad and looked for reference photos. What I like about having a tablet is that I can lay it down on the other side of the sketchbook like I can do with printed reference, so I can sit in a comfy chair and not at my desk all day.
After I've created enough sketches to feel comfortable to move onto the final image, I'll go through my drawers to get the right piece of paper. For toned paper, I like Strathmore tan. Its smooth and takes ink really well.
I draw with a 2H pencil, starting out with the basic shapes like I did in the thumbnail drawing in the sketchbook, because once details are applied it feels more committed to the piece and what happens if I need to move the head an inch over? After blocking, I use an HB pencil for the details, I don't tend to use a 4B or anything because it smudges and makes it hard for me to ink. Once details are done, it's time to ink
I always ink on a flat surface, even when I ink at my drafting table I lay it flat and hover over it like a hawk. The brush I use is a 'round 0' but I've tried many brushes still I found one that I've liked, it's like finding the right pencil. For ink, I only ever use FW black, everything else never lives up to its standards. I start out inking large shapes first, then smaller, and finally the small little details like patterns.
After the ink has completely dry, I get white gouache (Winsor Newton) and a fine brush to add whites. Most of the time it takes 2 layers to get a flat white, but I am also careful to not buckle the paper since it isn't made to take a large amount of water.
Once it's all dry, scan, and use some photoshop magic and its ready to share.
