JUST DRAW

Sometimes you just sit down and draw. No if''s, and's, or but's...........

Last night was just one of those nights, I was tired, exhausted even, just a long day, and I needed to relax. So, I pulled out a piece of paper..11 X 14, and sat there, and my hand started to idly move about and slowly a shape started to take, well ......... shape. 

The shape turned into a girl sort of crouching and leaning and as I drew, I started to become quite relaxed and just totally into what I was doing, and after about 90 minutes or so, I had a drawing.

 Whilst she is not quite finished, still need to do her hand and left leg, I sort of like her as is too. 

There is something to be said for just drawing, it is an amazing thing. Next time you are tired and need a way to relax or unwind.........pick up a pencil and let your day go and just see what comes out.

She was done on Bristol, with just a 2 B pencil and a kneaded erasure....

Sometimes the simple things are the best things........

POT ( O' GOLD ) PARTY

Every year I do one of these for our local St Patricks Day Festival and party....here is this years

END OF THE YEAR CLEAN UP

This rather cluttered picture is of my drawing table,and  although I wish I could claim to be this productive on a daily basis, these scattered images are the culmination of personal projects I have started and had to stop and or start again due in large part to other more pressing matters.

I tend to stop working on commissions during the last part of November and all thru December, the holidays are so close together and family time is in all honesty more important, but during this time I also try to clean up a few things that lay about for the year ( or 2 in the case of the Batman, Green Lantern and hidden Superman inks ).

Along with the 3 new Hippie Chicks I posted this morning..... yeah I know, I will go for a bit with out posting anything then here today are 2 .............. I have completed 3 other inks, and a cartoon for the Naughty Bits collection. I will post the 3rd of the 3 inks tomorrow since my computer is refusing to recognize my scanner today after scanning 6 images earlier, and the ink is a bit large and I do have to paste it together............it is the cavemen drawing in the top right hand side.

CEREMONY

 SHE WOLF

YES!!!   

Well that is all for now, if the computer and scanner make amends, I will get the other one scanned and posted as well as any other things I manage to finish during this time............there are maybe 4 oils I would like to get back to as well.....................

HIPPIE CHICK PIN-UPS

It all started with the song "Downtown", a young lady dressed in the current nuvo-hippy attire, and what is in my opinion not a very nice smelling substance called patchouli. Whether you like the aroma or not................it set my mind running because of the coincidence of time. I have Petula Clark singing a wonderful song. Downtown, and this rather attractive yet foul smelling young woman next to me.

Next thing I knew I did a quick watercolour of ...............

PATCHOULI CLARK

 .... and yes the image is somewhat based on the young nameless woman......

After the incident the names and images started to come to me and I couldn't stop, I started to write them down and do the paintings when I wanted........they were there and it really seemed like the thing to be doing at the time. 

So let me introduce to you a few more of the women that have come to me since the incident:

AMBER WAVES

SUMMER RAYNE

LORA BUSCHE

There are even little histories behind some of the names, like Amber Waves is a mid-Western girl  who loves to walk barefoot in the fields of grass, Ms. Busche is a natural girl who enjoys dancing at parties and enjoys life as it comes...............this is all pretty scary when you think about it, but I have honestly come to terms with these things and accept them as they pop into my head.

I have a file somewhere labeled " NAUGHTY BITS", that has more images that are not as tame as these, and one day I will get around to posting a few of them.

Any how, this is just a wee bit of what goes on in my mind as I relax and let the ideas flow. Most of these come out at night as I sit and watch t.v. before going to bed. I think this is why I don't really dream all that much, or have nightmares.......... I take care of it before hand, and allow myself the opportunity to just sleep.

SNAIL GIRLS

For those of you who are on my Facebook you are or maybe aware of my on going SNAIL GIRLS  drawings, but for those of you not on FB with me or are unaware of the series I am going to recap a little bit. ONe day I sat down with my sketchbook and doodled out a little thing of a faerie riding on the back of a snail sort of like  bull riding at a rodeo, I like it so much that I found a small piece ( scrap ) of paper that I had lying about and quickly did an ink thing of it:

....and here she is, the "first" Snail Girl. I believe I drew her in 2010.

At some point in the past year I was sitting in my living room ( aka Studio B ) and had messed up a drawing that I was working on, and as I sat there tore it up as usual, but then as I was sitting there looking at the torn paper, I drew a girl talking with a snail:

It was a fun thing to do, and I liked the image, for me it was sort of innocent a girl talking with a snail. After I a while I did another and another. All were done on torn sheets of paper of messed up drawings, and as my collection of Snail Girls grew I decided to keep the torn sheets of paper and have them on hand for the purpose of doing Snail Girls, this envelope sits by my chair in Studio B and is there ready and waiting for the next one to appear:

Here is an example of the approximate size of the drawings:

...and a few more closer images of the girls as well as an early family portrait:

As I continue to do these and looking back at them, I realized there is some sort of conversation going on between these two friends, and in realizing this, it became all the more important to me to continue with this until the conversation was over. At first it was for me about getting the body posture right, balancing the blacks and whites to where one did not over power the other, but now it is more about keeping the friends together...........sort of silly I know, but I like it.

I have to mention that all the drawings are done to the shape of the paper and not tearing the paper to fit the drawing, that would be cheating. The shape of the paper helps to determine what is being said in the drawing. The more of these I do, the more intense the conversation becomes in trying to find a posture or pose that I haven't done before..........who likes to repeat themselves in a conversation.

At the top of this I posted the "first" snail girl, well in cleaning out some things and trying to tidy up the place I found this:

This is the actual First of the SNAIL GIRL images, she was done in 2004, six years before the other First. As you see in the first to images the gals have wings and are in a sort of ironic action pose...........bull riding a snail and surfing on a snail, just something that leans towards my sense of humor, but as I went on they changed, no wings and more of an equality between them.

Anyway, this is some of what comes out in the evenings as I kick back and chillax to end my day. In the next few posts, I will be going to put up a few of the pieces that come out as I wind down and relax in the evenings before going to bed............or on the nights that I can't sleep and get up and try to get sleepy.

IT GOES WITH THE COFFEE

I am not sure what anyone else does with their mornings coffee, but for me, I like to sit down and do a little doodling and sometimes you just come up with something fun.

Well I had been playing around with a few ideas for a Vampirella image, and had a couple of sketches laying about:

...........and the next thing you know, I am sort of hanging out on the couch, watching Reservoir Dogs and by the end of the movie, I have this sitting in my lap:

It was a really fun morning, good movie, COFFEE, and a nice little pencil piece!!

NEW YEAR........NEW SERIES

With the advent of the new year, I have decided to embark on a personal project to do in the inbetween times.........I have always sort of wanted to do a project on my favourite movie monster.....sort a Famous Monsters of Filmland thing......those mags had some of the greatest covers and art work. So, with all that in mind, I did this little image of the Phantom to start if off, and will be doing others as time permits, but here we go...................

THE PHANTOM



A FEW ROUGHS FOR THE FUN OF IT

After making yesterdays post on the FRAZETTA TRIBUTE SHOW I thought I would post a few roughs for the pieces I am doing as my entries.


This is the original concept for the Conan piece, the sketch in the upper left is the beginning, then I started playing with the fellow impaled on the tree, and fleshing himout.....sort of became fun so he is a lot more detailed in this than just a normal doodle

Now we have a rougher but more fully lain out rough of the painting with a few production notes of what I want going on in the piece, complete with coffee stains, (I think Frank was around while I was doing this and bumped my hand............I was pleased, sort of made it seem more of a tribute)





............just sort of a colour schemey thing ..........

.......here we have a bit of progress on the actual painting..........

This little yellow doodle came out of nowhere one night. My wife and I were at the local community theater's ( the Rush County Players.....aka RCP) awards program.......The Hammies, and while I was talking with a friend of ours, I sort of rudely began doodling while listening to her, and this ol' boy popped out..............he is drawn on a folded up paper place mat .......

......so in the morning when I got up and looked at the doodle again, I thought to myself....."I really should do this one" so I re-sketched it and did this little colour rough.

..........and here we have him in progress....................

 Originally the emblem on the shield was the bird from the first Death Dealer, but as I was painting on it I thought that the Frazetta "F" would be more than appropriate. I hope the family will understand and not be offended.

Evening Sketches

I have publicly stated so many times about my compulsion to just sketch or doodle.....I can't  help it, it is an ithc that I have to scratch one way or another. Most recently I have been scratching the itch in what I feel is a more productive way.

Instead of just randomly doodling a hand or a leg, face or what have you, I have been trying to do full sketches more in the vein of getting a more refined rough done for a painting or ink, anything that would lend itself to a bigger and better finished image. The forementioned method of doing head, hands, and feet ( great band with Albert Lee as well ) is productive, but I am wanting something a little bit more from the time spent. Now I haven't stopped doing that, but am spending less time on it.

These few sketches here, I've done late in the evening, just kicking back and relaxing. They have mainly been done before turning in for the evening. They have honestly helped me to sleep better at night as well. They have really relaxed the mind and body and gotten me some good doodles as well.

Axe guy, possibly a figure for a battle scene, could be another Conan, who knows but nice fellow.

Kull, he is floating but is obviously standing on something, and I will figure that out at somepoint, I like the attitude of the pose and will find a fitting background for him ................suggestions always welcome if you like.

The Creature...........yes our old friend and in my opinion the best movie of the classic horror films. He has an environment, and I am torn between doing an ink on this one or an oil. I am not sure which, the layout really lends itself to the ink, but see the painting as well. I might do both although I really don't like to do that. Not sure why, I guess I feel ......done it time to move on and get something new, but with this guy, I really might do both. Voice an opinion if you want, would love the help.

KEEPING IT IN MIND.........

I posted this image over on my Facebook page, but as I did it, it made me stop and think a bit about the image, how it came to be, AND the fact that this is a memory picture.

I was driving home one day when I passed this old guy on a scooter and the image stuck in my head, his positioning, the body posture clothing, and so on. The cigars in his pocket, the beer in the milk crate on the back all of this came into mind when I sat down to do this drawing this morning ( 9-5-2009 ).

There is something to be learned here...................drawing from memory. Pulling things from your head and lifes experience is a valuable thing. We cannot always find an exact reference photo of something, cannot always take the photo ourselves, and on occaision we have to make stuff up, and having a visual memory of things is a valuable asset.

Next time your sitting around wondering what you should draw or looking for something to do............think about it and then draw something you remember. See what comes out.

Thunderfoot Part II

Ok, just for fun here are some of the thoughts I went thru in creating the Thunderfoot dragon.


The first sketch is the basic idea and position I had for the image, a note to myself on his feet to help add to the concept. As I was sketching and coming up with all of this, I was making some mental notes as well, those didn't make it to the sketchbook, but were used in the image none the less.

After the initial concept, I continued to dwell on the subject and honestly to some degree obsessed over it, making notes and refining sketches and the concept..........

At one point I took the time to work out the bone structure for his wing and shoulder mechanics...........I am actually still playing with this structure, just because I am not satisfied with the anatomy and I feel I can do better..........

.....the image as I posted it .....................

...............and the whole thing put together with text and completed.

ITS ALL IN THE BAG

A little more on the subject of the Setch-A-holic.


I am a card carrying confirmed sketch-a-holic, and am proud to say incurable. It is something that I cannot stop doing. If I don't have a pen or pencil with me, I am honestly composing and sketching images in my head.....these are just harder to keep track of and catalog as I get older, when I was younger they were easier to recall and put down, now I have some masterpieces that only I have seen and you will just have to believe me on that account.
When we go places there are certain things that have to go with me. Right now I have what I think is the ultimate in sketch equipment, it is a canvasmessanger bag , and is just chock full of pockets pouches and compartments for all the things needed to keep the compulsion to sketch and draw fed.

I do know and realize that I have said in a previous post "you really don't need a lot to do this with if you really want to." All of this stuff is not really a necessity, but it does make things easier for me if no one else, and may God bless my wife Dana for putting up with it and me. I will draw on anything, and have.........borrowed pens and stuff from people to get it done.

A) the aforementioned Creativo Messenger Bag

B) Tracy-nite panels for sketching out paintings........8 X 10 and 9 X 12

C) Moleskin Notebook

D) coloured pencils

E) a little watercolour set...this one is a cheapo Prang thing, nothing fancy just gets the colours down

F) a little metal clip to hold paper down if it is a windy day

G) Strathmore Bristol pads....8 X 10, 11X 14, and 14X 17......you just never know

H) an aluminum ruler........it was longer but a hacksaw solved the problem of not fitting into the pocket chosen for it

I) a smaller Moleskin Notebook....pocket sized, more later on that one, but I have been there before in another post

J) loose leaf paper

K) sketchbook

......there is also a refillable brush pen on one of the pads that I just forgot to give a letter.

Here is a look at some of the pockets..........I mainly keep 2B's and HB's with me. The HB's are good for sharp lines and give you some good darks, and the 2's are good for softer things.........but you all know that.

This bag stays with me 90% of the time and I will not go anywhere without it. It will travel with me even if it never comes out of the car. I sort of have other things that come with me in those situations that call for me to be more discreet or just won't allow the bag to come with me. For thosetimes I have my commando supplies.........

......THE COMMANDO KIT..............

Yes that blue thing is a travel toothbrush holder, the pencils, eraser and sharpener fit perfectly into the thing. I would almost swear that it was intended for the use of holding sketching stuff and that the whole toothbrush thing was an after thought.

The Moleskin Notebook is 3 X 5 and fits into most any pocket, the pencils are usually the same, one HB, and one 2B, the red pen looking thing is an eraser, and a bullet pencil sharpener...........those things are the best.

If anyone out there has any suggestions or just wants to share what they use or carry, let us know, we all might learn a new trick to the trade.

Thanks

STORAGE SPACE.......

For a lot of us.............sketching and doodling is a compulsion, a need.........WE HAVE TO DO IT!! and I like a lot of folks will draw on just about anything I can get a hold to. So needless to say I have a LOT of loose papers lying about with this idea or that on it, which actually is what I am here to talk about today.

I know I am not the first to think of this solution to what to do with all those bits and pieces of paper, but I honestly have not seen anyone post anything on it either, but my solution to the piles of paper lying about is 3 ring binders (notebooks we used to call them back in school) and clear sheet protectors. They are easy to use, are expandable, and don't take up much space. You can lable them if you want to get real specific about what is in which book, I have one labled "ERB" which I keep all my Tarzan, and Burroughs stuff in, I have one for Conans and Robert E Howard, one just labled "roughs" and one just for doodles and such. Another cool aspect to these things is that you can take them to cons, set them out on your table and sell the sketches and what nots without tearing up your sketchbooks and things as well.

Quick easy and keeps the mess to a minimum.

Its not what you got but HOW you use it.

Just recently I was talking with a friend, and he stated how he used to love to draw, but just didn't have the time,the space, or the right stuff to do it anymore. Now I just recently talked about the whole time thing in WAIT A MINUTE, so now I think I will talk about STUFF. I work on an extremely tight budget, but I do work and do get some things done.....not as fast or as much as I would like, but I do draw, and paint. I am using the drawing table that my parents bought for me 30 years ago.........no problem with that, its a good table. I have an easel........one I built out of 2 X 4's and some masonite and screws and such.......it works for me., and yes I do have a studio space in our home, but even when I didn't..........I still drew, and did some watercolours.......not really painted, as I have stated, I took a few years (20) off to pay bills and all that sort of stuff........ I still work 2 jobs and still take care of the house, cook ,clean and all that...........but still make the time to draw and paint.

Ok...enough on time...............the statement "the right stuff" got to me. I actually got up, walked over to their computer, pulled a sheet of paper out of the printer, picked an ol' yellow pencil up from the desk and said " there now you have the right stuff".

My point being..........you really don't need a lot to do this with if you really want to. Space not really an issue.......got a house, apt ....whatever...........I sort of use my whole house as a studio, I do only paint in the "studio" tho, but if I didn't have that, I honestly think I would be set up in the kitchen or laundry room..........somewhere I will find the room, because I really want to tdo this............to coin a phrase " its in me and has to come out"(thanks to John Lee Hooker).

Here are a few examples of what I am talking about:

these are my drawing pads, drawing board, sketch book and such, I carry a toothbrush holder around to hold some pencils, a sharpener and an eraser, the "palm pilot" is a small moleskin notebook that I sketch in when I am supposed to be payint attention at a function........concert, school thing, or church.

This is as it says.....my nite stand, the pencils and erasure and sharpener are right there for when I have that idea in the middle of the night.....,or for when we are just sitting watchin the tube and I want to sketch.

this is my home made easel, for when I decided to get back into painting.............it was originally a tripod thing, but went to this format to hold extra boards and such.

Basically all I am saying is that if you want to do it.......just do it, you don't need all sorts of fancy stuff to make the art, just the drive and the ability. A yellow school pencil is basically a 2B........ I have all this stuff lying about because it is what I want to do. I do make the time for it, but I would do that even if all I had was a yellow pencil and some computer paper. I wanted to paint, so I built an easel to do it. You don't have to do that, but you can sit at the kitchen table and draw and paint just as easily.

When I handed my friend his own pencil and his own paper, he started to say something about "its not" .......I just asked him....

" do you want to draw or not?"

IDEAS or where did you get that.....

This may just be a fun topic for me and anyone else who may happen along and read it. I know I get asked this question ALOT!!!!!!:

" Where did you get that Idea.....how did you come up with that?", or even " where can I find refrences for this, that or the other thing?"

Well for me....its in my head for one, it is in the books I read, and even the stuff I watch on tv. I find ideas come from anywhere and everywhere. I see it as I drive down the road, or like today I was watching the History channel and they had a thing on about the Mayans......guesss what---------NOW I WANT TO DO A PAINTING ABOUT MAYANS. So it is everywhere for me.

Ideas and subject are the easy questions to answer. Reference for things maybe more difficult..........but not really. Reference stuff is EVERYWHERE.

Like I say at the top of the page:

"In my world, dragons still exist, knights in shining armour still rescue damsels in distress, and trolls still live under bridges waiting on billygoats."

.....and yes they do.

In the town in which we live, our courthouse is (to me) a castle, or a large villa for some noble, or even a courthouse



......these two photos are the courthouse in another town near us.



For me the refrence is there ready and waiting.....I just have to see it. It is all a matter of perception, here is another example, when I was working on the painting Primal Dawn I had to paint ape fur.....I didn't have an ape or a zoo close by....so here is my reference for the fur




Yes that big mess of hair belongs to none other than our dog Bob.

Well that is it for now, I will be doing more of these as I go along, but in general.....IT IS EVERYWHERE for everyone, whether you are a cowboy artist, fantasy, space, whatever you do, it is right there for you, you just have to look and see it.


Tracy