What I learned from Fish Farts

After spending two months working on my previously mentioned but undisclosed "Spongebob Squarepants" project, I wanted to get back on the horse with something more personal which eventually became "Party of Two". However that also took about two months to complete.

I just had this feeling that if no one was going to tell me what to do then I had to start turning out projects faster in order to "earn my keep" in the world. 

Immediately I jumped into this idea I came up with of a cute little kitten hiding under the bed blankets, just letting a big one rip. 

 

"I haz the Tuna Toots."

It didn't take long to realize that I was rushing into this without thinking it through. This idea was simply that, an idea, and it had very little story to it. Plus something like this isn't really "me".

This gave me pause to reflect on my planning process and take to breath and be patient, wait on inspiration and how to develop and nurture ideas into fruition rather than force them to the finish. 

Heres what I've done since then.

Here's an artist at his desk, with time hanging over him and all his inspiration behind him with do idea how to make it all work. 

A Jack Davis inspired monster sketch that I did for a friend.

Now I want to hear from you. Where do you go when you're looking for inspiration or ideas? 

X-Men: The Next Generation

Either this date has some incredible cosmic significance, or its just an unbelievable coincidence.  

Party of Two

Yes loyal followers, after two months of work its finally finished!

Loosely based on an event from my own life towards the end of college were I was feeling utterly unprepared for the real world on the horizon. To celebrate the anticipation of graduation some friends were throwing a party at their place. I didn't want to go because I avoid crowds like the plague, but I was too afraid of what I might do to myself if I just stayed home alone. 

As predicted, I was having a miserable time. It was too bright, too loud and the amount of people packed into one room was enough to be a fire code violation. After being accidentally slammed into a back wall and having a strobe light test occur right in my face, I was just about ready to pass out when a gentle hand guided me outside. 

The two of us sat on the back porch in frigid temperatures for over an hour, just talking. During a lengthy lull in the conversation I felt something bubbling up inside of me that just couldn't be contained, and I just burst out laughing. It was the closest thing to joy I think I'd ever experienced. 


To learn what I experienced while making this piece, see The Making of "Party of Two".

The Making of "Party of Two"

This was actually an idea I'd started drawing around this time last year. This was about as far as I got. 

Wanting to see it through to the end, I started over by drawing about thirty different variations of the scene. I was also influenced by my then recent hobby of collecting movie stills for my inspiration files to go for a horizontal composition instead of vertical. 

Since I was trying resume my weekly postings to let people know that I was still alive and was in need of material to post I quickly threw some color onto these rough ideas. The response was both unexpected and overwhelmingly positive, so I decided that this is what I would be doing next. 

From there, I had my nose to the grindstone:

So, what have I learned?

Plotting out the composition by drawing over thirty different thumbnails really helped pull this project together, in retrospect, I wonder why I didn't hold to that pattern. Once I had figured out which sketch was going to form the basis for the final I think I was a bit quick to scan it in, blow it up and start working on the final. 

Drawing some slightly bigger scale versions after deciding on might have helped work out a number of the lighting and background details that I was struggling to develop towards the end. 

See the finished product and the story behind it here.

Party Progress, Portraits and Other Pictures

I'm a little late with this week's post. I finished rendering for the figures in my long-gestating "Party of Two" project and was debating whether to hold off showing it off until next week when I would (ideally) have the whole thing finished. I decided that given how much time I devoted to the project this week alone, I may as well try and get a bit of feedback before jumping into the home stretch. 

Some of the bigger changes since last time include making the sky all black and replacing the tree with a street light to try  put more focus on the couple and make the space they're in seem more tranquil. 

Continuing my trend of drawing portraits from "talking head" interviews, here are two giants of science fiction television, Patrick Stewart and Rod Serling. 

Just for fun, I skimmed though the "Misc" folder in my inspiration files, drawing rough thumbnails of whatever struck me as the most interesting. I think this could make for an interesting exercise in brainstorming ideas if I were looking though a collection of pictures that had a consistent subject or artist.

Now I want to hear from you. What do you think of the things I share in these posts? What do you like the most and what would you like to see more?

Promotional Poster

Recently I've been given the opportunity to create this ad to promote my business for a magazine published by the Michigan Comics Collective.

Included are some of my best original works. Check it out and spread some comments around!

Action Figures

Summer Bummer

Squirrel # 6

Map Site Graphic

Spider-Man and My Amazing Friends

This week I tried to capitalize on the release of "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" by doing daily drawings of the American Arachnid. Unfortunately, sketching such detail in colored pencil was rather frustrating as the waxy tip did not hold a point for very long.



Instead, I found I had much more fun sketching people at a group get-together. Drawing from life is strangely refreshing and therapeutic, despite how much these guys move around.

 

 

Party Progress

Now we're cooking with gas! With I've got the house rendered and the background bits in place, I can devote my attention to the fun figures.

Now I want to hear from you. Is there any pop culture character you'd like to see me draw? What to you think of the party couples new pose?