I’m still adventuring in colouring sketches, and hence, cartoons. Difficult to figure out what’s too much, because I like the original drawing, done in roller pen in the sketchbook, just fine. But these flat colours with subtle gradations are all right. I also have to work on my colour sense, to let things blend into each other, and advance and recede as I like them. Much of it’s a question of confidence. I’ll play other little tricks as I gain it. Nice, as I’ve been saying, to have another skill.

Still playing with the digital painting. I think I get so carried away with the technical challenge I sometimes forget to make an interesting picture. Hence this horse, not doing much of anything. George Stubbs I am not! Actually, without the “ink” lines, this looks a lot like one of those paint by numbers kits. I promise I’ll get better with the digital painting soon. Still think you might be interested in seeing the process!

Of course, it would have looked better had I used a photo reference instead of drawing it and the reflections out of my head, but that’s the way I am.

Meanwhile, here are a few real ball-point pen drawings I did. It’s a medium I enjoy. Again, sort of frowned upon by the finer galleries, but I like doing the tones with crosshatching.

Went to a chat today by Peggy Burns, who is the marketing person for Drawn and Quarterly Books in Montreal, speaking at the Atwater Library. She talked about the history of Drawn and Quarterly, some of their artists such as Chester Brown, Daniel Clowes, Adrian Tomine, and Lynda Barry. Also got into a little of what it takes to get a graphic project published with their press. Very inspiring, actually. Even though webcomics are becoming more important as a way to get your work seen, it’s still good to have something paper such as a zine to be able to send, which they can hold in their hands.

They also like productions from a single artist, rather than the assembly-line or collaboration mode that many more mainstream comics are created with. Something slightly dismaying for yours truly was the idea that “funny” does not go along with graphic novels in North America. Still, I’m not going to change the sorts of things that I like to do, but do more of it, hoping that people like it.

I’m leaving the little notes I jotted here along with my sketches; samples of my horrible handwriting. That’s Peggy up above, and the rest are faces in the crowd. Look at all the arty people! It’s pleasant to draw them while they are paying attention to something. Thanks to ALEAQ for hosting the event.

Drawing things from DVDs. Freezing it this time, rather than just going on impressions as the movie plays. A lot of work filling things in with pencil! This and the below are based on Sharon Stone from the beginning of Total Recall.

And some random, imaginary profiles with my fine-line roller pen:

Good night, all!

That’s where these drawings are from. When winter sets in it’s less practicable to draw things out on the street. So I sit around looking at books, watching DVDs, also drawing anything that tickles my fancy. Hate drawing directly from photographs, but those give you different ideas, and also keeps one closer to reality. So here are imagined pictures I was drawing last night, mainly while watching episodes of “Star Trek Enterprise” on youtube via the computer.

I’ve finally learned a comic colouring technique that’s relatively fast, and that I’m happy with. Check this series of youtube videos from the Overground Comic Company, if you want to find out more.

Meanwhile, I’ve been drawing a stack of things. Here are a couple of angry guys on horses a la Frank Frazetta for you:

Could call these “Pen and Ink,” but that seems too grand. The titles become dull also, because of the idea of putting something plainly descriptive in so search engines can find them.

Sorry, they’re not together. Some other time! The guy here is my trying to recapture impressions of this character I saw on the street, who could have been a thug ordered by Central Casting. Don’t think I caught the exact look of malice on his face which unsettled me, though!

Women in pencil, and colour:

While i haven’t posted here for a few days (been busy here on my tumblr doing exciting gardening videos), I’ve still been drawing, so there’s a backlog of things to put up.

Today it’s black and white drawings from my small sketchbook. I’ve labelled it “VL” –not that that means anything, but it’s something I put into the file name, so, I hope, I will be able to look through books and find the original of a drawing, if I need it. Hard to organize these things, and there are so many sketchbooks.

I suppose it might make sense to number books consecutively, but I have several on the go at once. Thought if I could find the right letters scribbled on the cover, that would save me time, if someone wanted a printable copy of something I’ve done. The images going up here are only screen resolution. But you know, I’ve sold one to a documentary film, so it’s useful being able to find the original when you need it.

that’s too much explanation, and I will read it over sometime later and make it make more sense. In the meantime, more drawings.