Catching up on the last month

It's been a while since I last updated, so here's a sampling of the stuff I've been drawing since the last update, with a bit of random process for one piece I did. Very messy course of events.

First, I did this image in PS to practice working digitally, something I don't do all that much and definitely not from scratch, no scanned art work. It was timed at about 45 minutes. I give it an okay.

Below are various Overhill related images. Beginning with some fox studies to get an idea of how to draw Fionn for the upcoming pages; then some very off model sketches of Mullein and Tsuba and a larger version of a doodle that just worked; a more polished sketch of the two.

Lastly, I was working on a gift for Princess Tutu LJ community's gift exchange for the 7th anniversary of Princess Tutu. My giftee wanted fanart, and I initially latched onto her very clear fondness for evil!Mytho with pretty much anyone, specifically with Rue. I was going for an emotional piece, trying to get across evil!Mytho's malice and Rue's growing regret and conflict about what is happening. Also, how no matter what relationship evil!Mytho is involved in, it was not going to be healthy one. The approach was partially inspired by "Dangerous Game" from Jekyll and Hyde. Only I couldn't quite get it to work.

I began with this sketch, done at Dragon*Con, and I pretty much stayed with it for most of my attempts.

I followed up with some sketches of Rue and moved quickly to attempting some more compositions, tests of facial expressions. These led to the image of Rue below. She turned out well, but I could not for the life of me get Mytho to work in the piece. I realized I was focusing so much on Rue's expression that she had pretty much taken over the piece. That, and Mytho is a pain to draw. I tried a few more sketches based off of the videos on YouTube and attempted a few more tries, but nothing was working.

Since the initial idea was not going to work; time to change approach. Thankfully, my giftee also wanted a pic of Femio and Lilie, a crack pairing that has grown in popularity over the last year. I kept the idea very simple, and came up with the images below. Final version colored in Copic markers.

Dragon*Con 2009 art

The previous weekend was Dragon*Con, and it was an opportunity to do a little bit of art. Most prominent opportunity was a ConceptArt.org meet-up at one of the artist's studio-loft. It was a lovely place and the atmosphere was so warm. I slowly warmed up to the people there, though I was a little awkward because I was probably the only one there who's not a professional artist. We were very luck in that one person, Emma, was able to get a model to come in. It's been forever since the last time I'd done any life drawing from a model, making it awkward for me to get the drawings done but very enjoyable to use the opportunity.

In addition to the life drawing at the meet up, I got a little sketching done towards a Princess Tutu exchange drawing. I have some changes to make to the sketch below in order to get it to work, but the overall idea is there.

And lastly, I entered the quick sketch contest held on Monday before heading out. I went in with the intention of doing a sequential piece, but I couldn't focus on any one story moment and simply went with the little mechanic girl image. I didn't win, but one of the judges did commend me on creating an image with a story behind it, which is a plus in book. Maybe next year.

The Girl

Below are some ink sketches I did of the little girl I've drawn a couple of times. I'd like to do more with her and her companion giant robot, so I did some sketches to try and peg her design a little. Need to work on her a little more. She also needs a name.

Bridgman studies

I haven't had much to post the last couple months because I have mostly been doing studies, specifically studies off of George Bridgman's book, Bridgman's Complete Guide to Drawing from Life. To be honest, the book isn't really by Bridgman so much as a compilation of drawings and lessons from his earlier books, including Constructive Anatomy and Bridgman's Life Drawings, which you can actually find as either PDFs or print books (thank the gods for Dober Books), and may be more clear about drawing things like hands. Bridgman, along with Loomis, tends to be one of those artist-teachers whose works are referred to and suggested over and over at ConceptArt.org for learning to draw anatomy. Yes, it is exaggerated, but this exaggeration helps to identify things for later studies on your own. I personally like when he breaks it down into planes and masses.

You can see below a selection of the studies I've done. I started at the front of the book, where he discusses things like rhythm, balance, body planes and light/shadow, and body masses. I then skipped ahead to work on hands, which I've always had a problem. I'm still working on hands, but I am now moving back in the book a little to work on the torso as well.










Hopefully, I'll get back to more imaginative drawings and paintings, as well as some studies, soon.

Drawing Day (AG 003)

Yesterday was Drawing Day, where people all over the world are encouraged to draw just for the fun of it. I wanted to meet the goal, so here is what I drew and posted elsewhere.

early June images

Gestures from the zoo playground.


Routine gestures.


First few Art Grind images. So-o behind.

Glory of Love - finished

Materials: Copic pens, color pencils

"Glory of Love" - inked

April Drawing days 22 & 23

Wow, I haven't really updated all month. I have been drawing, just not much to post. I did however have something to post today.

Firstly, I have a quick little drawing I did yesterday. It will be part of a long overdue character meme. It's Tsuba turned into a girl.


And today's challenge image. The challenge was to draw a picture inspired by a song. I have recently rediscovered "Glory of Love," and it so fits Ahiru and Fakir at the end of the series. So, yeah. Here you go.

April Drawing day 1

It's begun again! April Drawing has started, and today's prompt was April Poisson, aka April Fish; draw a strange fish. I don't do fish well right now, so here's my colorful fish.