Weekend Break - With Pencils

Wish I had a buckler.  It wouldn't help me through the work week much but then again… maybe I should try it!

I'm one year closer to 30 and feeling it in my bones.  It's tough having young people laugh and say your old, and old people laugh and say your not.  I thought being a teenager was hard.  I want a buckler…

This blog has been pretty low speed these last few months, but roughs for a couple of books have taken up most my time.  Publishers have deadlines and blogs don't, so aside the bloggidy blog gets pushed.  I really wanted to have a color image on the opposite page of the sad seafaring man.  I had a small sketch of a beautiful woman, and putting it in a two page spread below would look cool. When I get something I'll swap it out.  Have a great weekend!

Warm Up Sketches

The knife man with the funny pants has the last laugh.

Super Sculpey Tutorial

 I should stop saying, "coming soon" on this blog.  It never happens.  Here I've put together a little something on how I use Super Sculpey modeling clay, as I mentioned I would in my last post.  I've played with it for about two years now.  There's a lot to learn when working in 3D and more to consider depending on what you'll do with your creation - make a mold for production or just a one of a kind piece.

 I'm learning new things all the time and may find a better way but this is what works for me so far.

The first thing is to have a reference drawing in size to the desired scale of your finished piece.  Using wire I picked up at the hardware store, I created an armature to support the clay.  Toothpicks can work, but wire is best for long flowing shapes or figures.  Now with this one I did something new.  I made a small clay interior structure for additional support and then baked it.  The reason is I've had trouble in the past with the clay working it's way loose from the lone wire structure as I tried to shape it.  This gives the detail layers of clay applied later something else to grip.  I'm not sure if this is a proper way to use the Sculpey as you have to bake it several times in layers, but the pieces I did bonded very well.  I found that when I had to redo the boots on this piece, I had to carve and cut the clay off the original skeleton.  Since this isn't structural or anything, it works for me.

 

I used a brown shade of Sculpey for the boots and face since they cast shadow and catch light well helping me see the details.  The fleshy Sculpey is more pliable and was used for everything else.  I forgot to take a picture of it in this stage.

The grey figurine you see is painted with black and white Gesso.  I did this to help see any finger prints and imperfections I wanted to correct through sanding and carving.  It was about this time that I ran out of weekend and had to finish up.  The color figurine was painted using Acrylic Liquitex.  This paint has a slight sheen to it so for any areas I wanted to dull down, I just mixed the acrylic with Gesso.

Pencil Study

Still can't post most of the stuff I've been working on lately.  It's either incomplete or under contract.  I did manage to put together a tutorial on using Sculpey modeling clay.  I'll post it in the next few days.

Above is a pencil study for a piece in the works.  More coming soon.

Brandy and Brice - Colonial Pirates

Bloggers are allowed a nonsensical post every now and again over a period of time.  This is one.  An 18th century game mod is the inspirational source behind these little sketches, some of which were done on a tax form that didn't come out of the printer right… which reminds me I have something to do.  Also Tricornes are awesome fun to draw.

The Gael - Last of the Mohicans Theme made for some good listening while I doodled these.  I'll be gone for a bit as I've got a lot on my plate.  More paintings in the future.

Wearing of the Green

Star of the County Down 
(Music by the High Kings)

I'll try to post more here in the near future.  Below are a few tunes I'm enjoying this day.  Have a great weekend everyone!

Rising of the Moon - Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem
The Rocky Road To Dublin - Ryan's Fancy
Stedman's Landing from The Raven's Wing CD - Tom Morley

Preliminary Drawing

Saturday was a stormy start to last weekend.  It was nice to pull out a lamp, set myself up in a comfortable spot, and draw while listening to the thunder.

This sketch is of my brother holding a small spyglass that belonged to my grandfather.

Painting of Juliet

SOLD

On the Easel

A recently completed oil painting on board.  Thanks to my cousin Paige who modeled for me.

Angel Head Study

Adding Some Color

When I was younger I used to shade a drawing with colored pencil, getting the layers pretty thick, creating a wax like support for subsequent acrylic washes.  This keeps the paper from wrinkling and gives a fun painterly look.  I was playing here with different costume designs.

Feliz Navidad

Illustration Update

I recently did this illustration for the Choice Eats tasting event in New York.  You can swing by the Shannon blog to read more about it.  I also updated the ole portfolio with a few of the pieces I've had here on the blog.  Check it out.

The image below is a snippet from another I can't show in it's entirety just yet.  Trying to go for the retro look.

Sketchbook Scan - expressions

I've had a big project that I've been working on the last few weeks.  I've gotten a lot of practice drawing with my arm instead of my wrist, and using the side of the pencil more than the tip.  It helps with speed, fatigue, and proportion.  I can't show any of what I've done until sometime next year, so I sketched this stuff out.  Mostly wanted to play with expressions.  Happy Thanksgiving to all those in the States, and a great weekend to everyone!

Sketchbook Drawing - Ringwraith

Recent Illustration

I still need a better photo of this one, but I thought I'd go ahead and put it up. I painted this for my portfolio and after some editing and cropping hopefully for the blog header above. It's roughly 17" by 9 1/2" oil on board.

All You Need…

Sometimes all you need is a Great Helm and a two handed Iron Mace!

This one is acrylic on illustration board.  It's been some time since I got my hands in the stuff, and even longer since I've done a senseless bit of something for myself.  Brought back a few childhood memories!

A few months ago I finished this piece.  It's not one of my favorites or my best I think, but it looks much better than it did when I painted it in 2008.  And no, I do not have the courage to show that one to you.  It looked like a face on a shovel (really bad neck anatomy).  I had tried to paint over it and actually posted a close up back in January 2010.  You can click here to see all the posts on this one… sketches and stuff.

As I've said before, there are a few other paintings in the works, but the year seems to be picking up pace, not slowing down.  Hope to post them soon.

Update

Very random stuff drawn while waiting for a delivery.

Big thanks to everyone who has offered support here on the blog and in emails.  Your encouragement is greatly appreciated!!!  To sum things up without going into too much detail, it's always difficult when you have doubt in the things you were sure of (directions in life, plans that were made).  Everybody goes through it one time or another.  You just have to keep moving forward!

Random Sketches To Preserve My Sanity

The Wager

A night shot in the rain… Better place your bets!

I've been having a rough time lately, so I'm not sure when I'll be posting again.  I am however in the preparatory stages of a painting I'm anxious to share.  It's hard fighting back the urge to post my progress.  Maybe I'll do something closer to the painting's completion.