Haven’t had all that much time, so I’m putting up some odds and ends I’ve drawn.
The aging guy heads were copied, more or less, from the book Drawing People, by Barbara Bradley.
Flying things, and a nerdy kid.
An old-fashioned “War of the Worlds” tripod, and a farmer’s cart. Why? I have no idea.
The last Thursday in May means the Monthly Montreal Comic Jam. I actually worked on some pages of comics, but it’s more of a get-together for local artists, to share and show off, and also collaborate on things.
I got my bud Rick Gagnon to colour this picture of mine above, which turned out swell. He also inked over my pencillings for the character below:
Another of my pals works at the studio that produces the cartoon Arthur. All the animation is done with computer now, but there were boxes of old-school cels and backgrounds nobody was using, so we got these as gifts:
Here’s just the background, without the cel on top:
It was done in transparent inks, against a background of yellow underpainting to make the greens show up better.
I like the idea of yellow under, because it gives the picture warmness and its own light. I tired the same technique in a sketch I did of a couple of personalities who died this weekend:
I just like the colour. Lotsa work to do, and I’ve been slacking off. The usual worries, but I hope things will be all right.
Got a new book, called a Canson XL Series Mix Media. So, I’m practicing some painting in it. Here’s what happened. Trying to loosen up, and also get the nice colours goin’.
Drawing a lot lately, because I’ve got some illustrating gigs. These don’t exactly address the gigs, but they keep my hand in, and make drawing fun for me. Hence plenty of sketches. And I’ve got to put them up don’t I?
Allegra, my late lamented small black cat, in graphic watercolour form. This is about as smooth as I can get as far as tones, despite the thin sketchbook paper!
Bought a nice new sketch book, at l’Oiseau Bleu, one of the few remaining non-chain art stores in Montreal. I’m going to have to draw some of the architecture in the area around there, because there are interesting Beaux arts and Art Deco, even Art Nouveau buildings and details around there. It’s not a rich area, so some of the older things are hanging around longer, not renovated or torn down.
Anyhow, here are a few drawings from it. Except for the last one, which is from another, older book. I’ve got stacks of these things.
I’ve been in such a rut lately. Body seems to be failing: odd problems mainly due to stress. Jealous of other, better artists. But drawing these things makes me happy. Guess I’m not going to stop.
Was drawing a lot, late at night, in my tiny book. The tinyness helps me finish the drawings more quickly.
Went to my friend, Claude Lalumiere‘s launch, for his upcoming book of short stories: OBJECTS OF WORSHIP, at WORLDCON, the world Science Fiction / Fantasy convention, happening in Montreal this year.
Funny, two-level suite at the Delta Hotel in downtown Montreal. So I shot this snap up top of Claude, and the book’s illustrator, Rupert Bottenberg, almost pointing up their nostrils.
My sketch of Claude signing:
Rupert signing:
The book:
And the signatures:
The party! I met famous SF author Robert Silverberg here. Didn’t get a shot — I was too shy.
This took place on the 28th, the top floor of the Delta Hotel in Montreal. There were tons of exciting parties happening on that floor, so I went to have a look. Here’s a party:
Here’re some attendees (veterans of future wars?):
Klingons!
Popped into a workshop on cartooning, but not for cartoonists. More like a “chalk talk” for entertainment. Sketched, of course.
These are more drawn notes than proper sketches, as I was standing up. Notes for what, though?
Here’s the most amazing thing I saw all night: a real Gestetner stencil. Hadn’t seen one of those in action since I did the school newspaper in grade 6!
To see other photos I took that night, visit the set on flickr. Here’s the slideshow:
Had a great time, talking about science fiction, about working as an extra in movies, and see what everyone who looked interesting was up to.
Here’s a list of links from people I met:
I like the feel of a smooth ballpoint in the book. Not the most respected of media, but you can make nice gradated tones with it. I even like them when they blob, but not when they are sluggish, or don’t work so you start carving little ruts in the paper.
This one’s more just black wash on what is perhaps a ballpoint sketch (ballpoint is also waterproof):
Now this one is brush pen with watercolour, some ball point, maybe even a dip pen (I fooled with it a little over different days. That’s why it’s not such an easy, relaxed-looking drawing, maybe!):
Little idea what that engine is powering. Reminds me a little of turbines from the “Power Quest” Episode of that show I worked on.
Couple of half-sketch half paintings. Gal and gorilla. And long haired villain guy below:
Tried to get out to the comic jam tonight, but was driven back by the big rain, and a sore knee. Somehow conspiring to be as rotten as possible, when I wanted to get out. I guess that’s called story irony. Still think inanimate objects turn against me.
Two Quebec personalities from the glory days of Montreal. Maurice Duplessis (right corner), Quebec’s frightening Premier from times of yore, is laughing at a joke from the Mayor, Camillien Houde. What project is this about? Wouldn’t you like to know!
On chintzy paper, no less! Probably a reaction to trying to be so neat and precise the last time, and crying over a misplaced dot of green paint. These are at least more fun to do!
Still been sick and busy. Plus, my little cat is at the vet’s getting her tubes tied, or ripped out (whatever they do to spay little cats). So not much on the sketch front, outside of this.
Apparently, I missed strange goings on at the Montreal Comic Jam last night, which I will have to link to, when I get a link.
