Tiny Announcement

So... I may not be posting for a while. But I can't think of a better distraction than a brand new little daughter.

I'll be back though!

Fairy Nudity

Here is a sketch I did yesterday. The colors make me think of a 70's rock poster.

I have noticed lately that when I don't color things several of the comments tend to be "but what about the color?" Initially I found it odd (why does everything need color to be considered finished?), but then I realized I've made similar comments on other people's blogs. I'm guilty of really loving color too, and quite honestly, if I had the time, I'd love to fully paint and render everything I draw. I wonder what the universal appeal of a fully fleshed out painting is compared to a simple line drawing?

Here also is a recent design I've done for the graphic novel. I'll post more novel stuff in the coming months as I complete the final art for the opening sequences. For this street scape, I wanted to develop a "language" of repeating shapes and architectural details that would help identify the city every time the story brings us here. I want all my major locations to have a different sets of dominant shapes/details that will express the prevailing attitude of the place. This city, for instance, should feel cramped, elegant and not entirely welcoming. There is a character who has great influence over this place and it's important for his personality to be evident throughout.

Edit*

I reread this post and wanted to add to/clarify my color musings;

Many people love both line drawings and full color work. However, I have noticed that the general trend in art appreciation leans more strongly towards color work than line work and I wonder why that is.

This is something I have noticed when selling artwork (prints of paintings always sell better than prints of line work), also whenever designing professionally (fancily colored designs always get a better response from the studio folk than sketches) and on blogs.

Powerpuff Girls

The new Drawergeeks topic is triplets. At first I wasn't all that inspired, but I then I realized this morning that these monster-slaying-Townsville-saving ladies are triplets.

Birthday Portrait

Someday I would like to do a fancier painting of Stephen. I did another initially that was more painterly/detailed, but somewhere along the way it lost it's Stephen-ness.

Also, if you are interested in reading Fablewood, the latest anthology I've been published in, it is now available online! Check it out at Ape and Amazon. I'm told it's best to order from the Ape Entertainment store, as they currently have it in stock.

The Bride

I'm procrastinating. Really I should be finishing up some comic design stuff, but instead I ended up drawing something for the next drawergeeks topic, samurai.

I'm tempted to keep tweaking this, but I should probably get some other work done. Click for a bigger version.

Curvy Mermaid

When I start sketching for fun lately, mermaids tend to appear.

Also, check out this cool tattoo Jenn Wallin got of one of my sketches, done by the talented Danielle Distefano at 13 Roses Tattoo Parlor in Atlanta! Thanks Jenn for letting me post it. :)

Model Sheets

To be honest, I find model sheets kind of boring to do, but I'm also the first person to argue when working in a studio that they are absolutely necessary. So although I've been dragging my heels regarding my graphic novel characters, sets and props, I decided this week it was time to bite the bullet and get going. To keep myself from being overwhelmed (there is a lot to design), I've decided to focus on the first three sequences. This character is in all three sequences and requires a different costume for each. Lucky for me, these three outfits show up frequently in the book (particularly the central robes as they are worn by various characters), so it's a great jumping off point.

I also thought I'd include a few thoughts/notes on how I approach character model sheets.
-I use animation paper for rotations, drawing each angle in the center of the page. That way I can flip the images and ensure that proportions are accurate. Good animation paper is also a bit translucent.
-I like to draw rotations nude... the characters, not me. Ha. Most characters will end up wearing more than one outfit and even if they don't, I want to know what's going on under that costume.
-I may not always draw a back and 3/4 angle, but if a character is going to be drawn several times, it's super important to do at least a profile and front view. Nothing drives me more crazy than character designs that no one bothers to design a profile for.
-I always do the rotation in a neutral pose. There is nothing more time consuming (and not that important) than drawing a character rotation in a complicated expressive pose. Plus, expressive poses can sometimes hide flaws in the design. If I can draw the character in the boring neutral pose and the design still says something about the character, I know I've got a design that works.
-For costume design, I do draw a more expressive pose that I'll use as a kind of "paper doll". It's not necessary, but the costume has a lot to do with personality, so I like some personality to be there. That said, it's also nice to have an uncomplicated 3/4ish pose, because that way you'll be able to see the most of the costume you are designing.
-When working on costume designs, I ask myself "Is this an outfit the character wants/likes to wear, or is this an outfit the character has to wear, like a uniform?" For example, the last costume in my line-up is an outfit I want the character to be comfortable in. The middle one, on the other hand, is something he dislikes wearing. I've tried to make it stiffer, heavier, more confining.
-I also like to think of costume design like a wardrobe. I want to think of the outfits as having pieces I might mix and match as the book goes on, to give the feeling that this is a real person who owns a bunch of real clothes. For instance, the first outfit has a long vest-jacket that could be worn with the last outfit. The boots could also be swapped.
-When it comes to colour, I like each outfit to have a colour theme and be cohesive. Ultimately, this character will be just one element in a drawing with many others, I don't want it to get too distracting.

Tarzan

Finished my drawergeeks entry early. I'm pretty happy with this painting and it came together much quicker than usual too. Yay! As I worked on this, I started wondering why Tarzan is so often depicted as clean-shaven. I guess I could have thrown in a moustache, chest hair etc. too, but why is that?

Thank you also to everyone who has been stopping by the blog lately.

Dinner Party

I decided to paint a sketch I did a few weeks ago. Click on the image for a larger version. I had thought I might colour it, but I think I like it black and white. Or maybe I just like it black and white because I know I should probably work on some other projects today.

Apparently Fablewood will be out in comic stores very soon, if not now. Exciting!

Robots and Monsters and Love

So the theme for Toon Club is Robot and the theme for Drawergeeks is Monsters Under the Bed AND today is Valentines, so here you go. The monster drawing makes me think of Scott Campbell's funny Flight comic. I think it's the little people on the head thing.

I've now officially finished my graphic novel roughs, which means I can move onto actually working on finished art. This has me VERY excited. I also hope to now spend some time updating my website and maybe even setting up the print shop I've long promised. At the very least, I hope this means more blogging. :)

I'm also giving a "how to" talk about comics at the DFW Writing Conference at the end of the month, so if you're in Texas, come check it out!

Some Cuties

Just a little post to tide the blog over while I'm busy wrangling graphic novel roughs and getting ready for the new family member.

I would love to do finished art for The Dindle. Here are some character design ideas for the dindle and his friend... the cats are from a separate story.

Mermaid and Flight 5

I know... yet another mermaid. But I was doodling for fun the other day and mermaids are fun. The last mermaid I posted here is actually becoming a neat sculpture by Cleveland, a Blue Sky modeler, check it out.

And as promised, here is the art from page one of The Changeling, my comic for Flight 5. I think half the fun of working on anthologies is challenging myself to try out different styles of art and storytelling.

Salon Lady

Drew this today while Stephen was getting his hair cut. I'll be sure to post some Flight art this coming week so stay tuned.

(Stephen's hair looks better than hers.)

More Sketchbook Characters

Did some more sketching during writing group last night, mostly random stuff, although the hick is for the next drawergeeks topic.

Hope everyone has a great holiday! I plan to eat lots of food. :)

Pirate, Boy and Lyra

I've been very busy trying to complete my Flight 5 story before my parents arrive for Christmas, but here are some random drawings I did while waiting for the monster Flight page files to open or save on my computer.

I saw The Golden Compass several weekends ago and thought it was much better than the critics made it out to be. The little girl who played Lyra did a fantastic job.

It's too bad though that books somehow don't 'count' to the public unless they are made into films. I'm reading The Golden Compass now, and although the film is an admirable attempt to capture a very complex story, there are just some things better read than seen in a theater.