This online magazine, Coreopsis, based in Berkeley, California, has an interview with me, also a gallery of my work. Quite thrilled with this. Above is the image I did as a “cover.” Still quite cold here, and this is appropriate, because there are three skating rinks in the park across the street. May have to open up a stand there.
A little sad about Shirley Temple, whom it seemed was an icon of indomitable “cute” childhood, and also proof that you could be a child star, and then turn out all right. Drew this image not as a portrait, just as an idea, based on her image.
Also did some proper faces from magazines, in watercolour and watercolour pencil, this time. I’ve been focussing so much on trying to do the digital thing I’ve forgotten how much I enjoy watercolouring. Even when it goes wrong, it’s somehow pleasing.
I’m getting used to the idea that most of my drawings not done from a photograph will be slightly cockeyed and spidery. Still adventuring in the digital realm, however. For better or worse.
Was practicing making little crescent moons with the “pathfinder” tool in photoshop, which is a pain, sometimes. It finally worked, so I drew this to go with it.
This is a rough for a project I was a little worried about, but which turned out all right. Will share that later, when it comes out. Fond of showing you a bit of process. It’s my incredibly detailed rough. All I had to do after was to build a full-size set, hire models, and then trace everything with a “Camera Obscura.” Then do hundreds of colour tests, etc., etc.
Well, not really. I drew this on the computer, then traced it to get a rough idea of where everything should go. I really should pay more attention to values, contrast, and colours. But as I said, the final thing turned out all right.
It was fun to do a bit of real illustrating, which has been scarce of late.
Oh yeah, here’s another digital person:
I’ve been drawing much more than I’ve been putting up. Still entranced with digital, but I’m beginning not to care what’s what. I’ve got stacks of sketchbooks, but can organise the computer things, as well.
This one is unfinished, but I put it here to give you a look into my process.
The digital thing is fun, and can be consuming, but I love the look of real pen lines on paper.
This is supposed to be Barbara Bain from the old “Space 1999” TV show.
I watched this Youtube video, and it actually gave me some inspiration in terms of portraits from photographs. I drew these three in about an hour, not trying to censor myself, but paying attention to edges, and the placement of things.
I can hardly call them “sketches” since they don’t fit in a book. I don’t think much about what I’m doing ahead of time. Hence all the grouchy faces. Still, I enjoy the medium.
The one big deal is that computer drawings are hardly ever finished. You do something on paper, it’s done. If something’s not quite perfect, you move on. But computer pictures can be messed with indefinitely. It’s a little harder if you’ve “flattened” the image (that’s computer talk), but still possible. And you always see things a little differently a few days after you’ve done something. So even the truly pathetic ones have some hope. All hail the “liquefy” tool in Photoshop!
Don’t worry. I’ll get back to “real” media sooner or later.
Not sleeping. Trying to draw backgrounds at the moment, with this little computer. Wonder what it looks like on a larger screen!
Really want to keep it loose, see what happens.
I don’t know. These are fun. I still think I’ve got the digital painting thing, but there is always something new to learn. Afraid I’ve been neglecting my watercolour, however.
Hoping this works. My blog was destroyed, and this is the first post on the new server.
Yay! Success!
