Monday, September 27, 2010

pirate life drawing


watercolor and charcoal

Drawing from last week's illustration class. Last week was model week, so we had models dressed as pirates to help us with our illustration project. It was pretty cool, I must say. There were even pirate sword props and everything. Old gunpowder-type guns too.

I'm working on my final pirate illustration this weekend. So far so good (on attempt number two). Hopefully will finish it up tomorrow, fingers crossed.

Monday, September 13, 2010

back to school


acrylic

Back to school time.... tried out a technique my illustration instructor showed us last week. Started by blocking in a loose drawing of the subject. Working with transparent colors in acrylics (by adding water to your paint), you start by blocking in the shadows with your darkest tone (we were shown with burnt umber). Then you work in a mid-tone, and then finish with the lightest tone and highlights. You can also adjust warmth or coolness of your chosen colors with a red or a blue. I think I used raw sienna for the mid-tone and naples yellow for the lightest tone. I forgot to take process pics for this drawing, will try to remember next time. Very happy with how this painting turned out - I think I should paint more often. The reference for this sketch is a photo of Tommy Chong from a magazine cover. It doesn't really look like him tho, haha.



painting by Howard Pyle (1853-1911).

Illustration class looks like it will be fun, our first project is to do a portrait of a pirate. I have to do research on pirates? Twist my rubber arm.

We are also being introduced to historic illustrators, which I am finding interesting, as I haven't heard of most of them so far. The above illustration is called "Marooned" by Howard Pyle, a famous American illustrator.

Monday, September 06, 2010

dr. sketchy session

More life drawing! These drawings are from tonight's Dr. Sketchy, a local figure drawing session that happens monthly. I experimented with colored conte and I like the results! I think I will be trying that more often! This is the second Dr. Sketchy I have gone to, they're pretty fun. Tonight's theme was "Mae West", so we got to enjoy her singing the whole evening. Some of her songs are quite humorous, which I didn't realize. I also learned she started her acting career at age 39. Pretty impressive.


conte


conte


conte


pencil


pencil


pencil


pencil


pencil


pencil

ECU life drawing

Some drawings from the ECU summer life drawing sessions.


conte


conte


conte


pencil


conte


conte

selection from sketchbook

These are a few drawings from my sketchbook that are not from a life drawing class. Recently, most of my sketches are from life drawing sessions. It's been good tho, I'm noticing definite improvement in my figure drawing. hooray!

a random jar.

ink

my ongoing anatomy project/study.

pencil

a sketch I did one night when I couldn't sleep.

felt marker