Sketches and a Pastel Drawing

 These are the last of the drawings I will share from my figure drawing class.  I'd like to move forward and include some logo work or perhaps natural science art in the next posts. 
My favorite of these is of the girl leaning backward while sitting.  It took about three minutes of subconscious drawing.

End of Semester

I can't say that this past semester was the greatest, or even easy, but it was entertaining.  It started off very fun but the closer the semester inched to the holidays, it became ugly.  Freelancing, work, and school are a dangerous combination during the holiday season.  The school projects became more and more content filled as the semester progressed and work schedules intesified.  Sleep hours were converted to freelance time.

Getting sick about this time is a quick way to promote failure unless one is absolutely determined to make it through.  On that note, guess what I did the last month of the semester?  It's called the flu.  The flu was apparently the cool thing to do and my body was all for it.  In fact, my body wanted to get the flu twice in the last month of the semester.  It was fun(note the sarcasm).  I don't know how but I was able to finish the semester, often with a large garbage can next to me.  I was the closest thing the real world has to a human zombie. 

Well horror stories aside, I was able to complete some artwork during these compact times.  Below are more works from the life drawing class.

 

Giraffe

So here are a few work in progress pictures of the giraffe I mentioned in an earlier post.  On Arches 140 lb cold pressed watercolor paper, the giraffe is cut away to show different layers of its structure.  Much like the recent Bodyworlds exhibits, the painting shows areas of skeletal structure and muscle.  Yet to be finished but far more complete than what I have shown here, the complete painting will be available soon.

More Figure Drawing

 

     Since I have an abundance of life drawing work this semester, I figured to show you more.  As I become more efficient in the medium, an increase in quality becomes present.  I hope you enjoy these works.

     Just to further stress how having an area specifically set up for the use of pastel is important...  So I've been working in a cramped area.  I just stretched a sheet of watercolor paper and finished most of the drawing portion.  I set it aside to work on my pastel homework.  I was using an open window to blow out the dust from the pastel but when I took a break, I placed the drawing on my desk.  During my break, the wind direction changed to flow into the window blowing pastel dust onto my watercolor paper! 

     Speaking of watercolor, I have a few process drawing I wanted to share.  It's of a giraffe but I think some might find it highly interesting.  Perhaps I'll save it for the next post...

Well it definitely has been a while since I last posted.  In all honesty, my schedule has been very hectic lately.  Regardless, I plan to keep up this blog on a regular basis going forward and I have plenty of material to post. 

Since I last posted, I started going back to school.  I'm studying 2D animation via Internet at the Academy of Art University based in San Francisco.  A collection of sketches and roughs has built up already and I would like to show everyone them in addition to my regular work. 

These are two drawings I did early on in my life drawing class using Nu-pastel and toned paper.   I enjoy the things one can do with pastel but why does it have to be so messy?  Well it is not as messy as certain other mediums but it provides a nice dusting of color to everything in a ten foot range.  I would recommend having a well ventilated area before using them.  Also, keep it away from your computer area unless you happen to enjoy buying canned air on a regular basis.

Indiana Dunes

     Seeing as how I am pursuing natural science illustration, I think it's important to research the habitats of some of the animals I will be illustrating.   Over the past few weeks I have been visiting all the areas of the Indiana Dunes.  With my camera and a bottle of water I set out to take reference pictures, learn, and exercise.

     The first day, I went with my son to the State Park area and visited the Nature Center.  He loved it there, especially the bird viewing room.  The room had windows for walls on three sides.  Outside, bird feeders littered the immediate area where the tree line began.  We saw several types of birds from the order Apodiformes, Piciformes, and Passeriformes.  Present were Blue Jays, Cardinals, Red Bellied Woodpeckers, and a few Goldfinch.  Fox and Red Squirrels also added to the busy life around the feeders.

     Eventually, we went for a hike around the marsh and stopped at the bird observatory.  It took a little while to get started because little Aaron insisted the forest reminded him of a Scooby-Doo episode.  It didn't help that he had a conversation with the young lady working at the Nature Center about the cartoon.  Needless to say, with periodic stops to check for "the woodsman," we endured about a two hour walk(an hour and a half of which I carried the little guy).  Toward the end we heard several Pileated Woodpeckers and enjoyed observing one as it worked.

     On one of the trips, I took my brother along to Cowles Bog.  I haven't been everywhere yet but this trail is one of my favorites.  I say this despite the experience.  See when a White Tale doe is blocking the way out and becomes mad that we are interfering with her eating, the atmosphere gets a little tense.  Also, I failed to mention that not too long before, tornado sirens filled the air.  Maybe I didn't pick the smartest time to go out but I definitely will do it again.  The rain provided a nice relief to the strenuous hike.

     I did manage to snap several pictures during the rainy hike of a few deer and a northern leopard frog.  Surely a better camera would have made for some quality photos but I'm an Illustrator not Photographer.  I can't afford to have my own photos show me up.

     The trips are well worth it if you are a nature lover and the staff at the Nature and Visitor Centers are very kind and informative.  Granted, I finish some current work soon, I plan to visit the Dunes many more times ahead.  Painting trips are next on my list and anyone is welcome to join me.

Animation Short W.I.P.

In preperation for upcoming programs, I have been studying when time permits on the fantastic universe of animation.  Here is a very rough practice short to demonstrate a walk cycle, movement speeds, and the need to paint in layers.
This particular wip has been drawn traditionally on newspad for the grainy effect.  Photoshop painting has been added in the more finished areas.  The video was created using the animation feature in Adobe Photoshop.  A total of 133 frames were used at various delay times.