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.

THE EYES OF THE BEHOLDER

Here is a quick pencil I just finished this morning, for a contest over on the ArtOrder forum.

The Beholder.

I had started this one around 8:30 in the morning, and completed it by roughly 11 a.m. It was honestly a good time, I had not sat and just drawn like that in a long time, and just had a blast with it. Might have to make it a regular thing.

A LITTLE UPDATE AND IN THE WORKS

This is just a little heads up for what is coming up in the near future.

There will be a new Conan piece coming out shortly, it will be the best one I have done so far, and is based on Beyond the Black River.

I am currently working on a comission for a bookcover that will be released later this year.

I am also currently working on the next ArtOrder challenge.....MUTATION NATION.

We are still waiting on the dates and location for the BEAUTIFUL GRIM artshow and auction, as soon as that is available I will be posting it here as well.

Well that is about it for now.

going for tha Green

HAPPY ST. PATRICKS DAY

BEGINNINGS

Seeing as this is my first blog for the year, I thought I would talk about ......Beginnings. Every picture has to start or come from somewhere.

As an illustrator, the images that I create do not come from some divine inspiration or muse, but 98% of the time come from some kind of text giving me a description of what is wanted, some of it very specific :

Art Description:

Assassin Devil
— 6 feet tall
— Devilish humanoid
— Female
— Indigo skin
— Unappealing devil face with the left half covered by frightening iron mask that looks like a demonic face
— Two horns
— Lithe but muscular
— Wears dark leather armor with iron parts that resemble demonic body parts (iron pauldrom with iron horns sprouting from it)
— Wears a cloak made of shadows and darkness
— Wields a black longsword made of shadowstuff
— Has devil feet.
— Looks at us dourly with her sword held at the ready
— Vignette image on white background

............ sometimes something as vague as "I need a warrior with a pruple sword".

Once givin the description........the divine inspriation comes in handy in putting the words into a picture.

The longer more specific description above comes from over at Jon Schindehette's blog ArtOrder. It is the first of the challenges I worked on this year........anothe beginning.....and is what gave me the idea for this blogs subject.

Since I have my first step ....... a discription of what is needed for the illustration, the next step is to turn that need into an image, so I start to scribble.....and that is litteral. My first initial roughs are nothing more than little gestural scribbles:

these little scribbles are on the back of the piece of paper where I took and printed out the description for the image. I had folded it up and kept it in my pocket for reference and it also gave me little sections to do my doodles in while playing with the image. The one on the bottom right is the one that I liked best and started there to develope the concept further.

Once I had my visual concept, it was time to take it further and get a little more detailed:

In the top left of this you can see the refined scribble. That was the first thing drawn on this page, the others are me still playing with the concept and looking for the best positioning to make it a non-static pose.

These two sketches are a continuation of the process, and they really weren't working for me, but the sketch in the center.......

....that one said work with me. I liked the positioning and the movement of the figure. The attitude of the head. It all worked better for me than the original concept, so I went here and fleshed this one out more:

....and this is the finished sketch I went with for the painting:

So, there is the process from beginning to end, description, concept to completion, and its like the Dave Edmund's song says " From Small Things Mama, Good Things One Day Come". From the humble little scribble to the finished painted image.

KRAMPUS CHALLENGE

According to Wikipedia entry, Krampus is a mythical creature who accompanies Saint Nicholas in various regions of the world during the Christmas season. The word Krampus originates from the Old High German word for claw (Krampen). In the Alpine regions, Krampus is represented by a demon-like creature. While Saint Nicholas gives gifts to good children, the Krampus warns and punishes bad children. Traditionally, young men dress up as the Krampus in the first two weeks of December, particularly in the evening of December 5, and roam the streets frightening children and women with rusty chains and bells. In some rural areas the tradition also includes birching by Krampus, especially of young girls.

I had started out to do this challeng over on Art Order, and even got the drawing done, but sadly enough I got busy with a few things and did not get home in time to send in the drawing, such is life, but I do not regret it since the time was well spent with my family, and they do come first.

Anyways here is the little ( 11 X 14 ) ink I did for the challenge. It is on a heavy Bristol and available for  $45.00 .

This will most likely be the last post for the year, I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Years, and that all will be safe.

Tracy

Quazi's Paradise

here is the painting just off the easel for BEAUTIFUL GRIM