THE MERRITS OF THE MUCH MISSALIGNED TRACING PAPER

The other day in conversation, the topic of tracing and tracing paper came up with the phrase, " well at least your a real artist and don't trace stuff, you can draw ". I really found this kind of funny since I use tracing paper ALOT in my works, I like the term "Layout Paper" but it is all the same to me.

Yes,I do draw out all my own stuff, but tracing paper is a vital tool in the artists tool box, and does tend to get a bad rap. As most of us already know there is no one right way to do anything, and as time goes on.....there will be even more right ways. There are some artists who use a projector to transfer their drawing onto their painting surfaces, some whom I have heard will take their image, scan it enlarge it, print it and the paint right over the scanned image...........all cool to do, it is their image and their works. I myself will take my drawings scan them, enlarge or reduce them to the size needed for the space I'm working in. No one way is right and the fact that they were traced, or scanned or whatever does not change the fact that the image was originally drawn by the artist using it, and as I have grown as both artist and person, I find myself using more and more "aides" to create my works. Some of it is convenience, others practicality, time constraints and even just plain lazy.

Just a few of the ways that I use it :

A.....to work out or fix a part of an image so that the erasing doesn't ruin the original paper or whatever I am working on.

B.....these are images straight out of my sketchbook that I liked so much that is didn't really see any point in "re-drawing " them and loosing what it was that I liked about the image. Each of these two examples were actually taken and then scanned into my computer, and enlarged to fit onto the board they were going to be transfered to.

C....these two images were drawn directly onto the tracing paper while sitting on the board they were intended for so I could get the sizes right for the painting.

So just because you see tracing paper laying about somewhere, don't automatically assume that it is being used to copy something that shouldn't be, and don't get all high and mighty about not using it either. The stuff is good, practical, and a lot cheaper than having to start over if you ruin the surface of the original paper.

OPEN TO CHANGE PT II

After writing all that about being Open to Change, and saying I had come up with the image....well when I sat down this morning to work on the drawing, I realized that the sketch wouldn't work, so I drew this out and am sure it is the final position for the piece. Using this figure will also add another element of depth to the composition as well so, there you.......be open to the changes that present themselves.

OPENESS TO CHANGE

O.K., I know this is going to sound pretty simple and very basic, but being able to go with the flow or OPEN TO CHANGE is in my humble opinion a key to being a good artist/illustrator. It also sort of helps in your day to day life as well.

Getting stuck on a certain position for a figure or what not in your layout can hinder you or set you back on whatever it is your working on.

Changes can even happen at the last minute by the client, the AD or whomever maybe involved with the piece. The change may come just because of something like it just isn't working, or "I don't like it". Which is exactly what has happened to me on an ink I am currently working on. After doing 2 pages of roughs working on a position for one particular figure in this piece, I just was not satisfied with the action, position, and all that, so I just sort of put it up for the night and was going to come back to it in the morning.

As can be seen in the two pages of doodles, there were variations on the theme. So, even as I am fleshing out the idea, I am playing with the concept of maybe this will work better.

Well the morning came, and I pulled out the ol' sketching stuff.........not hard to do since it is everywhere .......and said to myself, "what if I did this?". Well I did it, and sure enough it is the right one.

Being open to the change as well as being able to recognize it and accept it are keys to getting the work done and having a good piece. So be open minded in what you do.

Simple to say, but sometimes not all that easy or simple to do. Very basic, but without the basics where would we be?

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.

PAINTINGS FOR SALE

Here are a few pieces I have done recently on a smaller scale for fun/practice and are now available for purchase.

TARZAN STUDY

oils on masonite

11 X 14

$175.00

.....a few of the places in my world as well:

THE ABANDONED TEMPLE OF THE CARDHU

oils on masonite

8 x 10

$100.00

PASS TO WOLFSHEAD PEAK

oils on masonite

8 x 10

$100.00

If you are intersted in any of these or something else on my site http://tflynnargallery.com/ please do not hesitate to contact me at Tracy@tflynnartgallery.com . If you are intersted in commissioning me for a piece again please feel free to contact me.

Thanks

Tracy

AT THE EATH'S CORE II

Here is a quick preview of one of the Earth's Core portfolio inks.

HAPPY NEW YEAR as well.

Tracy