I’m colouring more little sketches via Photoshop and my Wacom stylus. While it’s still not a gorgeous drawing, I’ve used a number of effects here, and am not flipping through layers accidentally.
What’s that mean, the non-Photoshop user asks? It means the process is so involved, you can’t even complain about it to a non-specialist.
Anyhow, more, better digital paintings are coming.
I’m getting back into the thing of posting what I drew lately, as long as it’s not too dreadful. It’s been hard for me lately, because I’ve been trying new things, and am not totally comfortable with them. Or even convinced that I should be trying them and not doing things more useful. But life usually has a way of finding a use for it all. So, I’m mainly trying to work more, and keep cheerful. Drawing helps a lot.
These are people passing by, and things seen in a park. Also more head studies. As I was saying, I’m trying for a happy medium between accuracy and freedom. Some of the pen sketches were drawn without guidelines, which pleases me when they work out.
I’m trying hard to draw what I see, rather than relying on shortcuts and “symbols,” which are like cliches in one’s style. Actually, I’m pleased with how it’s working. Can draw better trees, and likenesses now.
Most of the pencil drawings were done with my intention of making them bases for later digital paintings. I’ll get back into watercolours. Maybe share with you some of the things I’ve been doing for commissions.
Mainly drawing heads, in pencil:
Haven’t felt much like sharing. I’ve been working on things like digital painting in Photoshop, creating websites with Dreamweaver, and also studying a method created by Andrew Loomis in the 1940s for drawing heads accurately.
Using guidelines always makes my work stiffer and more wooden, and I’ve been working on loosening up, while maintaining that accuracy.
The structure at least lets you get things in the right order and proportion, while the guidelines give you something to judge from, rather than trying to keep the whole drawing in your head.
I’ve done so many of these, though, I feel as if I should create a whole new blog or tumblr dedicated to drawings and paintings of heads. I hope all this works out. Wish I were more relaxed and self-assured.
I’ve been occupied with things— haven’t really been blogging much. Also haven’t gotten out for a while to the monthly Montreal Comic Jam. That happens near the end of the month at a strange little bar in east downtown called l’Escalier. (“The Stairway”) Very studenty, hippie sort of bar….
Anyhow, the event has morphed into sort of a social thing with individuals who like comics sketching away on their own projects, rather than any kind of “jam,” but that’s how these things change.
I don’t have much of a multi-media report on the event. I showed up, however, and my old pal Rick Gagnon was there. He did a splendid job inking my drawing of a silly pomeranian dog:
“Woof! Woof!”
Here’s also his interpretation of my sketch of one of the bar’s patrons:
Well, that’s kind of it.
I’m still drawing, by the way. It’s a process. Drawing a lot of heads, actually, but not really blogging them. More on that later.
I wrote an article for the estimable Kristian Gravenor’s blog about true crime and good times in Montreal, Coolopolis. [link] It’s part of a series about people’s first apartments. Let me know what you think!
Writing for someone else’s blog is like writing for a magazine, except that you have to be your own editor. (and people catch you in the comments if you mess up!). Still, there are a couple of things I’d like to fix, typo-wise, if I had the chance.
I get a little teary-eyed when I hold and look at this:
A gentleman in Vancouver who works in real estate sent it to me. He saved it from a pile of stuff, then googled, and found my page dedicated to my grandmother. [link] So he e-mailed and graciously sent it to me.
It’s in a little plastic holder, and the ribbons along one corner are real. Her handwriting looks a lot like my own around that time. She’d be maybe in her early 20s, training here to be a teacher. You can read more, from her own hand, on my site.
So nice that the internet allows you to do and see these kinds of things! (I’m also cited in a biography of Boris Karloff (published or not? I may have to try and find out), because the famous horror actor married one of my grandma’s sisters.)
Garlic is fun stuff, and good for you too, they say. A friend of mine is co-organizing a festival devoted to it in the Quebec riverside town of Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue. Read about it here: http://steannegarlicfestival.wordpress.com
My connection is that I drew the bulb which made it on the festival T-Shirt:
Another friend said it looked like a bum, and now I have trouble seeing it any other way. Drat.
Anyhow, here’s the press release for the festival, and assorted other material:
For Immediate Release:
Quebec’s Premiere Garlic Festival Gears Up for 6th Edition August 18Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC: It’s Garlic Harvest time, and that means the annual celebration SATURDAY AUG. 18th (over 1000 attendees last year) at the Ste-Anne’s Farmers Market is devoted to tasting, shopping, and learning about garlic. This year there are some new things added to the roster designed as a destination for the foodie, the curious and the whole family.
NEW this year, a free outdoor film screening of the folk cult documentary, Garlic is as Good as Ten Mothers, by Les Blank, at Co-Op Grand Orme, 20h00.
Returning this year – THE GREAT GARLIC DESSERT CHALLENGE.
All cooks are challenged to share their BEST GARLIC DESSERT. Last year’s winner, Montrealer Janice Benthin, took her Triple Garlic Cheesecake recipe to the top at the Gilroy Garlic International Festival, July 28, 2012. She was one of 8 finalists chosen from 200 entries around North America. Submissions should be received by 10 am Saturday August 18th. A panel of 3 judges will determine a winner based on criteria including its “GARLICOCITY”.
Returning this year – The GARLIC GROWERS’ COMPETITION.
Open to ALL growers, the contest will showcase garlic specimens in 2 classes: single bulbs & braids. Think you know what a perfect garlic bulb looks like? Submissions should also be received before 10 am Saturday August 20th. Prizes available for both contests. Contest details can be found on the website.FOR SALE: Garlicky foodstuffs at the 40+ vendors’ tables. Amongst others, BBQ Garlic Sausages; Bruschettas, Garlic Pestos; Goat Cheese with Garlic; Roasted Garlic Empanadas from Madame Taco…
LOCAL FARMERS will be selling varieties of their certified organic garlic bulbs and/or garlic braids for eating and planting. Taste it to believe it.
GARLIC ‘TALKS’ from local garlic experts, back by popular demand!
Daniel Brisebois, the event organizer says:« This garlic festival has become the destination for garlic lovers in the region. I never get tired of talking about garlic and in the 5 years we’ve been holding this event, more and more folks come out There is always something new to learn. People are never disappointed”.
The Ste-Anne farmer’s market is dedicated to local, ecological food and agriculture. All artisans and producers come from the region and many are certified organic. The market is at the waterfront, at the intersection of Ste. Anne and St. Pierre Streets.
-30-
Near the Saint Paul lock.
While I don’t believe the stories, these are fun for me to draw.
Despite the punning title of this post, this isn’t Walt Disney. He’s actually the cartoonist who designed Porky Pig. I’ve forgotten his name at the moment, but watched a bio about him on youtube, where a number of these interesting documentaries can be found, if you know where to look for them.
UPDATE: Augh. Okay, I remember. The man in the picture is supposed to be Mel Blanc — the guy who did the VOICE for Porky Pig, hence contributing a great deal to the character.
More cats and things:
Here are a lot of my charming neighbours, at a get-together we had this last Tuesday (July 17, 2012) to work on building planting boxes for the Ruelle Verte (“Green Alley”) around my corner in Montreal. The folks from the Sainte-Marie Eco-Quartier built the boxes, and then everyone celebrated with a BBQ in the alley. The Eco-Quartier is a community organization which starts these projects with neighbourhood volunteer help, and it also does other green things such as recycling, setting up gardens and composting.
It was a pleasant evening, even though my conversational French was rustier than even its usual sad state. The kids were cute, and as I was leaving in the dark, all of them mobbed me for a spontaneous group hug, which was surprising, to say the least.
I also managed to leave behind my bag, which had watercolour junk in it. That was returned the next day. My neighbours are great, and the ruelles are a great idea. They prettify things, and bring people together in a positive way.
(BTW if there are pictures you’d rather not have up on the web, please contact me and I’ll take them down).
