Learning to Paint...again.

When I was at University there were a great many things I was supposed to be doing and for various reasons just didn't manage to get them accomplished. One of those things was to actually learn Color Theory, how to paint (in general), how light works in your composition/painting, and various other things. In a nutshell, I was lazy. I was a good artist with anything I could hold like a pencil (pencils, inks, chalk, charcoals, etc.) and I was cocky. I'd had people tell me for years how great I was and not only did I let it go to my head, but I stopped trying to learn and grow as an artist. Essentially, and sadly, I peaked at 19.
Now, before you go hating on me too much, hear this part. I've paid for my sins in spades. I've spent the last 12 years doing exactly what you might expect a guy like me would have done. I continued to rest on my laurels and have only really worked part-time as an artist until 2008 when I made the leap of faith to go for it and make art my sole income. I can honestly say it's been a struggle and it's really, truly challenged my ego and sense of worth. Why? Because I had to swallow my pride and return to those lessons I should have learned all those years ago.
So hear I am trying to remember what I learned and trying to make use of any and every resource I can get my hands on to capture what it is to be a painter. Again, it's a great thing to have my biggest fan at home. I've started to collect art books, anatomy and otherwise, and I've taken many hours of tutorials and instructional training online as well. The internet is a wonderful thing for this sort of thing.
To make things even more difficult (I do love a solid, uphill challenge) I'm not only learning to paint, but primarily digital painting since my wonderful wife got me Corel Painter 11 for Christmas along with a new graphics tablet and I already use Photoshop CS4 for everything. So, here I am. I think I'm making some progress, but some recently downloaded .pdfs from a couple different sources (yes, they were legal downloads) have helped solidify the next steps for me. At the moment I'm focusing heavily on Composition, Light, Values and Tonal Qualities, Anatomy, some specific PS tricks, Mood, Emotion, Setting, and Feel, and of course, Color. That's a tall order in truth, but one I plan to devour and go on back to Humble City for another hard look at what's next.


Praying Dwarf
This is the current results of my attempt to learn to paint. This image was started as a pencil sketch, then scanned and underpainted in Painter, and then finished in Photoshop. I'm not 100% that it's finished as I feel there are things that could be improved, but I'd like to get some feedback and let it sit for a bit before going back to it. I'm just too close to it right now to make any solid decisions.










This image was a commission so the style was pretty specific. I was to emulate pulp era art as best I could, but still make it appealing to a modern audience. Sure. No problem. This image was also one of the first images I have made heavy use of reference material on since, well, forever. I've never been huge on reference, but I'm learning I should be. This image also marks the very first time I took the risk of a serious departure from my normal (old) palette of colors (which needs to be thrown out entirely) and started making some risky and (for me) unusual color choices.








I did this one around the time of the one above, but before the above dwarf image, and caught myself leaning hard on my pencil/ink background. It was a commission and the client was pleased with the result, so that skillset got me through the project, but I still look on this and see a more comic book-like style that I would like to be able to move away from.
There is still one other image between this one and the dwarf image above, but I cannot show it just yet. In looking at those three images I can see a serious transition happening. It's odd that it's so noticeable.








This was yet another commission, but was specifically supposed to be a comic book-ish style. Still, I fought the urge to push the realism-like vibe that I'm feeling these days in working on this. I am pleased with how it turned out though. This piece moves even further back in time and was done before the above image.













Now for something a bit different. This is my first ever speed painting. I know. It seems like every digital artist makes this a regular practice, right? Well, I'm still learning. Still, I think I have about 2, maybe 3 hours in this one. It's enough of a sketch to get the idea of the place, but far from a finished piece. I have a long, long way to go before I feel confident and relaxed enough to really create what's in my mind's eye, but I'm getting closer I think.

First Post of 2010

Added two new reference books to the listing today. Both are excellent and both were gifted to me by my loving and very supportive wife, Lieschen. It's good to have a fan at home. :)

As for artwork this year? I'm moving forward with the same huge project I have been working on. It's hugely hush-hush so I can't really talk about that. It's not fantasy, sci-fi, or supers, however, and I have been needing to get that fix. I'm working on some commissions from last year at the moment, trying to clear the docket, so to speak. Once that is all done I hope to work on some personal illustrations that I will be able to showcase here. I know I have at least one children's book, some comic-styled pieces, some paintings, and possibly some game art that I would like to tackle given the time. But for now I will show a piece I did late last year for an up-coming magazine cover for Keck Publishing.

This is one of the first images of this type I have produced since starting this journey. I used reference from Iron Man to start the pose and then added a different design to the armor. I knew I wanted the color scheme to be white and red, and that I wanted his palm-blaster to be a major light source and focal point. I also knew I wanted a somewhat WWI look to things, thus the barbed wire, bomb crater, and rain. Initially I started off with a pencil sketch that was then scanned into Photoshop CS4. I inked him with my Intuos 3 Wacom graphics tablet and then started playing with light, textures, and laying in some basic values. Once I was satisfied with the various layers of texture and how they played off one another I began with the colors since the lighting had already been mostly handled. Finding the right combination of color tone to serve the mood and still make the central figure pop was a bit of a search and conquer process, but I feel I managed in the end. The customer was pleased, and that is ultimately the bottom line.

Flying Time

It's simply amazing to me how time slips past so quickly. I started this Blog basically as a place to collect my thoughts concerning all things Art and Artwork-related. What little I have up here is a good start to help me remember the foundations of my work, but there is so much more to cover. Still, I have had little time to reference or return to compile. It is with this thought that I return here. I hope to place here additions as a part of my new morning routine as part of my daily warm-up process. I may miss here and there at first, but I plan to make it a habit. We shall see how it progresses.
For now, however, I will simply post some notes on Inspiration. A very, very important word to the Artist, but ultimately a crutch if we are not cautious. Inspiration is, in no small part, inherently linked to drive and determination. I have had to ask myself, "What do you really want out of your work?" It's a tough question. Earlier this year I took a Technical Illustration position that has blossomed into a wonderful, steady gig. It's decent work, but a bit limited and restricted creatively. Still, it has taught me a good deal about deadlines and working to brief. With such boundaries around my work I have had to find new ways to get motivated. Inspiration has been difficult to come by on some days.
In Freelance work, which I do miss to some extent, Inspiration comes with each new project. As long as the project doesn't linger it's a breeze to get from concept to completion and never loose steam. Movies, music, comics, blogs, forums, games, and so much more (usually visual media for me) allow a great deal of mental spark to take place. However, with very specific and regulated work, an Artist has to look deeper. This is what I have settled on.

First, Take small bites.
This job is rather large, but it can be broken up into small portions. For instance there are several characters, objects, and environments. I typically set milestones for each week and sometimes days that I wish to achieve. These help to block out the work and make the job seem like several small jobs one after another. This allows me a sense of completion as I work through the mire of a really large job.

Second, Consider the End Goal.
The End Goal for me here is a job well done and a weekly paycheck. The job well done part is essential because it will lead to more high-end work and a great resume padding. Every Artist should definitely consider this. Reputation is everything for an Artist. If you have a recommendation or return work, you are golden. The other part is a given as well. A steady paycheck is a wonderful thing. It's simply amazing what you can do with a working budget as compared to the ebb and flow of Freelance work.

Third, Getting There.
Part of my problem is distraction. My mind wanders constantly and since I love to write as well as Illustrate I tend to get carried away with what I call Seed Ideas. The first thing I do here is clear my mind every morning. This is a series of checking emails, Facebook, News, and online games that I play (I try to limit this to no more than an hour total every morning, and usually while I eat breakfast). Once this is accomplished I have usually consumed a good deal of visual media and have already fired up the creative juices. I open Photoshop and try to get to work. I also dial in to a radio station, put on a CD, or even pull up YouTube to listen to prerecorded radio shows. Movies also work as long as they are out of sight. If nothing else I open a Word document and jot down any stray thoughts I have, date them, and then save it for a later look.

Forth, Rewards.
Several times a day I allow myself breaks. These are small breaks and are usually coupled with bathroom breaks and a trip to get a drink. I also check emails throughout the day and eat lunch on a semi-regular shedule. These little breaks help break up the monotony and give me a system of reward to look forward to for all the hard work I am putting in!