Mini Chewie

Final 30 day character illustration completed!!!! YAY and whoooaaa!!!!
As I had previously done this lesson some months earlier I was encouraged to re-submit or tweak the design from that lesson. So I went back to the future (oh yeah) to re-submit another Chewbacca.
It was a busy weekend so this concept (above) was quickly hashed out old school - on paper with pencil. Took photo on ipad and imported into Manga Studio 5. Also used Sketchup for a little help with the gun.

Thanks for visiting and take care

If you liked this post, you may also like the following;

• Star Wars Fan art and Characters in motion

Pandora character with background

 

Have tried a new technique. Not so many outlines (dark that is) for the background and main character. Am really happy with the result as it feels softer.

Colour schemes

Only in the last day or too I have been studying up on different colour schemes. One such colour scheme that is in the above image is called 'Analogous'. This wasn't intentional either when I did this background. So it was very interesting for me to discover that I am naturally doing this. Kinda cool I reckon.

Definition of a 'Analogous' colour scheme as follows; '..are colours that sit on the Colour Wheel and have a common hue'. Example for above image is the dinosaur (mr bluey) in which he has 1-3 contrasts of that blue hue.

Helpful link for colour schemes

I would thoroughly recommend to check out this artist (on Deviant art) and there helpful tips regarding colour schemes.

As a side note, I have really enjoyed pushing the character design further by way of a background. It just gives so much more context of story for the character. 

Take care and thanks for visiting. 

If you liked this post, you may also like the following;

• Comic character concept - Pandora  
• Comic character concept - Pandora 14 years old 
• Pandora comic - model turn-around sheets: Front and side profiles

Tools used

• CS3 photoshop and illustrator
• Wacom intuos 5
• Reference for visual style (Brittney Lee) 

Comic character concept - Pandora 14 years old

This has been a great exercise to develop the character further and to see her as a young teenager of 14. I do hope to put up soon a very basic 4-5 sentence #'logline' of the story. 
The basic idea for now is that Pandora (Panda) is able to enter into her dreams which happen to be 'of other worlds'. One of those worlds happens to be with dinosaurs. Kinda cool I reckon!!!
The one thing I have found to be great about this exercise is 'connecting' more with the character. There are certainly more questions than answers. But I find that I'm more excited to be trying to realize and pursue the character and the story they inhibit.

# Logline; Whaaaat? 
A logline is a one (or occasionally two) sentence description that boils the script down to its essential dramatic narrative in as succinct a manner as possible.
A tagline is a piece of marketing copy designed to go on posters to sell the film
- In space no one can hear you scream (Alien)
10 Tips for Writing loglines 

As always thanks for visiting. Take care

Tools used:

• Photoshop CS3
• Wacom Intuos 5

Comic character concept - Pandora

Super excited. Super nervous. This is my first of hopefully many more concepts for a comic story that I am slowly developing. The story is very much in 'development' stage as are the concepts above for one main character. More characters to come overtime.
The character's name above is 'Panda', short for Pandora. 
If I haven't already said, I am currently enrolled with Oatley Academy Live. The curriculum so far is developing a 'personal project'. My hope is that one day the content I produce will be completed for a web comic and a physical hard-copy comic book. Funded through Kickstarter or Patreon.
As always, thanks for visiting. And if you (yes, you) have ever wanted to find inspiration, clear and thought challenging direction for your art. Check out Oatley Academy Live. You will not regret it.
Take care

Manga studio 5 girl image

Recently bought Manga Studio 5 or as it is known (Clip Studio Paint Pro digital). Wow, what an amazing program.

The features so far are really intuitive to use. Especially the brushes. They are so smooth and the responsiveness with the wacom tablet is in my opinion far superior to photoshop. 

In the past where I would have to do my inking on the ipad and then colour up in photoshop, I can now do all within the one program. Absolute time saver!!!!

Probably however the biggest selling point for the program is the cost price. I paid just over $30 (NZ dollars). This was with a sale that Manga had on recently. But I would be more than happy to pay the full price of $75. Also to note that upgrading is very affordable for the future. So well done Manga Studio.

So, in closing...couldn't recommend this program more highly enough. Can't wait to upload more yummies in the future from this program.

A question for you, yes you (the visitor).

If you have used Manga Studio I would love to hear any comments on how you have found the program. As always, thanks for visiting.

Take care

Tools used = Manga Studio (only)

Jack Frost illustration

We have had such a good winter so far. Until today (boo). Mr Jack Frost decided to pay a visit. It was so so cold. 

This illustration was a quick digital doodle (say that fast a few times). I tried some different photoshop brushes. They are more traditional and the overall feel is a lot looser.

Over the next few months I am hoping to try my hand at some differing styles to my more crisp outline style. 

We'll, better head to bed (warm thoughts, warm thoughts) as Mr Frost is coming again tonight.

Take care everyone

Thanks for visiting

Tools used:

• Wacom Intuos 5
• Photoshop CS3
• woolen beanie for my head

Jurassic Kid illustration

 

Just had to do an illustration with the up and coming new Jurassic World movie. I initially wanted to go with a fan art image but I was thinking, nah. Let's go to a more emotional place. Like how I felt when I saw the very first movie. Now I definitely was not that young (above image), but watching the first movie made me feel that way. As did the remaining movies.

The fourth movie doesn't quite have the magic of the first but it still has plenty of action and enough dinosaur carnage to keep anyone well entertained. 

As always take care, thanks for visiting.

Tools used:

• Illustrator CS3 for the crispy clean lines
• Photoshop CS3 for the rendering

Star Wars fan art illustration

It is finished - whoooaaa!!!!This has been a labor of love and hate as I have worked on this for the last month and a half. So glad I persevered. Probably the greatest lesson I have learned is if something is bothering you, get rid of it. That walking carpet (Mr Chewbacca) was edited and re-edited sooooo many times till I got the fur where I wanted it. Full respect to artists who do furry creatures. Seriously!!!

I will post up soon a basic little run over of the basics in this piece. Hope some stuff in it may help.

As always, thanks for visiting.

And a big shout out to the awesome artist Patrick Brown. His tutorial online through Skillshare was awesome and helped me so much. Thank you Patrick.

Tools used:

• Photoshop CS3
• Wacom tablet
• Sketch up for AT-AT Walkers
• Illustrator CS3
• a mumbling plea of "this wookie will not get the better of me"

What if your pet had super powers?

My third entry into #creativeprompt challenge from Henrike Dijkstra.

Today’s challenge was to come up with an idea regarding what if your pet or someone you knew had gained a super power?

Thought of the ongoing power struggle between pets, specifically dog vs cat. Hey, I am a dog lover myself so went with dog having a super power and using it to get one over the cat. Seen way to many Youtube videos of cat's been so nasty. So here's to all you dog lovers out there.

Tools used:

• Adobe ideas
• Procreate
• Photoshop CS3 for quick tidy up

Funny Wolverine illustration

Still can't get Wolverine out of my head. It's those killer curls, awesome. For this illustration I wanted to keep the image fairly clean and also wanted to try out the A-tone (mechanical tint) in photoshop. Credit here to Hi-Fi comics for the A-tone range.

Tried a new font called 'DK Lemon Yellow Sun' which my lovely wife suggested I use. Check it out online. Used here in the speech bubble. It has a lovely hand drawn quality about it.

A big highlight this week is finally joining up with Chris Oatley's Oatley Academy Live.  Lots to learn and lots and lots of people to meet. Very excited. 

So recommend that you go check him out. Find him here.

So long, take care.

Tools used:

• Adobe ideas on ipad for the inking
• Adobe illustrator for the type
• Photoshop CS3 for A-tone (mechanical tint)

Wolverine illustration

Fun concept of Wolverine.

I have a tonne of pencilled drawings, this been one of them. I said to myself, c'mon this needs to be finished. So I took a photo on my iPhone and then inked it using Adobe ideas. From there it was into Procreate to colour it up. Still can't believe just how great these two apps are. Couldn't recommend them more highly.

One of the main reasons for using the iPhone is the immediacy from using it. With a full time job and only so much energy to expend within a day this is a welcomed trade off. I can have the image inked and coloured whilst on the go. Just brilliant. T-I-M-E investment – yes!!!!

Here are the links for those great apps.

Procreate

Adobe ideas (Adobe ideas is now incorporate in an updated completely new App from Adobe called ‘Adobe Illustrator Draw’.

As always thanks for popping on in. Take care!!!

Tools used:

• Procreate
• Adobe Ideas
• Photoshop CS3

Star Wars Day_May the 4th be with you

 

Another step towards finishing this tutorial with Patrick Brown through skill share. Seriously check him out here.  

So here's to a little Star Wars fandom with Star Wars Day. Like a lot of fans I got a little giddy with the release of the recent teaser trailer Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Can't wait.

As always, thanks for visiting. Take care and God bless.

And hopefully will post up soon the next installment update of this tutorial.

Hulk fan art_inked

Avengers age of ultron is on this weekend. So can't wait to see it. And it just so happened that I was doing some muscular studies. One thing lead to another and....boom, the Hulk appeared. Hello Mr Hulk.

Always struggle with hands so I did a little reference gathering. Thanks Ipad camera. Luckily for you the viewer I didn't have to take off my shirt. Thank goodness for that!!!

Hulk inked on ipad over sketch using the wonderful adobe ideas app.

Happy friday everyone (that's tomorrow) New Zealand time.

Take care and thanks for visiting.

Tools used:

• Adobe ideas (on ipad)
• Free model (may need to mention to smile for next time)

Star Wars fan art_Concept completed

Han, Chewie now all setup with background elements (AT-AT walkers). Next is to ink these guys up following Patrick Browns tutorial. Then it's onto colouring. Really looking forward to that.

The AT-AT walkers were sourced from Sketch up and finished up in illustrator.

I am thinking probably a Endor feel for the colour palette (forest colours).

As always, thanks for visiting. Happy Wednesday!!!!

Star Wars Fan art_Chewbacca Sketch

Continuing on from a previous post  - click here - I have developed Chewbacca. I will post up soon both Chewie and Han together in a background. As I love the AT-AT walkers from Empires Strike Back, they will definitely be in the shot somehow.
Thanks for visiting, hope you had a nice easter. Love holidays!!!!

Bye for now.

Star Wars Fan art_Han Solo Sketch

Way back in January of 2015 (in a galaxy far, far away) I said about doing a post for Han Solo. Ta-dah..here he is!!!
This sketch is for the next awesome online course through Skill-share by Patrick Brown, awesome artist. The course is called Characters in a scene - Sketch to digital. Recommend enrolling in it.

Next to follow is his partner in crime, Mr Chewbacca. Arrggghhhh (wookie sound).

As always, thanks for popping on in.

Character Concepts

I really love this part of the concept process. Fleshing out shapes and building up hopefully memorable character ideas.

I have until only recently been drawing directly on the ipad using these two awesome apps (Procreate and Adobe ideas).

I recently listened to a Chris Oatley podcast with artist extraordinaire Brett 2-D Bean (here).

Chris asked Brett about his approach to character design. Brett mentioned that he gathered very little reference to begin with. This freed him up to explore ideas and also not become a slave whilst reference gathering.

This is something that I have tried to aim for whilst drawing in the initial concept stage. The biggest reason for this is to find 'my voice'. This doesn't necessarily mean finding 'my style' per say. My voice is what am I trying to communicate. It just so happens that my work is humorous and lighter in content as opposed to darker themes. This is what I am drawn to (no pun intended).

Disclaimer...hehe. Brett did go on to mention that when he first started learning to draw he had to use reference. Couldn't agree more. As you become more confident (which means after drawing hundreds upon hundreds of images) you will not rely as much on drawing (whatever).

As always, thanks for visiting and have a great week ahead.

Tools used: (both on ipad)

• Adobe ideas (app)
• Procreate (app)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Pizza toppings

TMNT fan art!!!!

What can I say. I love these guys. They are super fun to draw and as a character design they are awesome.

And they love pizza, c'mon. What's not to like.

I initially started with Raphael (Big dude). Then threw together some random face sketches and drew them on the ipad through procreate (another great drawing app). 

As I didn't have a strong idea how these were all going to fit together I did what I normally do...leave it for a few hours, come back and see what ideas were culminating in my brain. Still nothing, so wrestled with it throughout the week until I stumbled across the idea of a pizza menu. Then everything feel into place.

As always, thanks for swinging on by. 

Tools used:

• Photoshop CS3
• Illustrator CS3
• Adobe ideas and Procreate on ipad

Zombie illustration

Originally this all started with the character at left. Not content to just leave him as he was I thought, he needs a background. The dog was random initially, as was my first concepts to have the dog on a leash. But it just didn't look right, not dramatic enough.

So I jumped on google and after some looking found these funny images of dogs with their bones. From there all the other elements fell into place as I now had a direction.

Loving sketch up - so great to get quick references for 3d structures...like the dog house, fence and house in background.

Thanks as always for visiting. Keep well.

Tools used:

• Photoshop
• Illustrator
• Sketch up
• Wacom tablet

Batman Caricature

Did a batman caricature for one of my wife's workmates (Paul) for a leaving present. Was such a fun project to do. I have also included a picture of said Paul with said caricature, both looking happy.

Initially I started the caricature in pencil (no.1) with a really big zoomed up image of Paul in photoshop.

An earlier concept was to have Paul surrounded by other characters from the Batman series like Penguin, Joker and Bain (no.2). But it felt too busy so that idea was dropped. 

When the caricature was completed a simple background of green was firstly used. But again the image was lacking context. Thanks to my lovely wife we brainstormed and came up with the idea for the city line backdrop. So much more gotham!!!

As always, thanks for visiting. Any comments always welcome. 

Tools used:

• Soft 2b pencil
• Adobe ideas on ipad for inking
• Adobe illustrator for plinth and cleanup
• Photoshop for colouring