Princess Bride and Warmups

Another week means time for another update.  Well almost a week. First up we have some pieces I did for Drawn Blanks.  Drawn Blanks is a themed sketch blog that I started with some friends.  Each week we select a new theme and do our own take on it.  Here we got Princess Bride and Silver Age Marvel.  Check out the blog at http://www.drawnblanks.com/.

Below those we have some watercolor warmups.  These are small 4x6 watercolor boards.

I am going to be getting back to my Marvel submission pages in the next couple of weeks.

Warmups

First up is the completed piece I showed last time.  Watercolors are super fun.  I love the way the colors mix and how easily it is to blend.

Next up is all my warmups for last week.  These are little 4.5x5 inch boards.  I really wanted to play around with watercolors, so this was a really great way to introduce myself to them.

I think the watercolors allow me to be more 'messy' which is my natural state. Markers are cool, but I always felt like I had to be so deliberate with them.

I finished my set of cards for 5finity and will be sending them back this week.  Hopefully they get approved.

Other then that I have some stuff I need to finish up so I can start working on actual stories again.

Down with the Warmup

So I was thinking about these warmups and while they are awesome practice for me, I doubt you want me spamming you all day long with my trashy art.

So I have a new idea!  I will keep doing my warmups but just not show them to you!

Well I guess that isn't really far.  How about this?  I will do my warmups and at the end of the week, I will compile some of the better ones and post them.

That way you can still see my dregs and not get daily spam from me.  I will also try to include a more complete piece as well.  So you can see why I warm up.

So in honor of that, I'll meet you halfway and give you a half-complete finished piece...does that make sense?  This will eventually have ink wash...maybe watercolors....do I dare?

Warmup: Catwoman

Ever do one of those drawings, where you don't actually look at what you're drawing?  Well I just did that with this one.  Wasn't really paying attention, just going with it.  But now that I finished and am looking at it, I can see a bunch of insanity going on.  Oh well...just a warmup right?

Funny thing about these warmups.  I am pretty much warming up to do nothing.  By the time I get off work and get everything else done, and finish the warmup, it is time for me to go to bed. 

I guess it is still good practice.

Warmup: X-23

 A little X-23 action.  I've actually drawn her a few times, but I never quite get her right.  Eventually I will.  Also I want to start doing some more poses that overlap body parts.  So we will see how well they go.

Also the random face was a test of a new stylus I got and my ipad.  I used sketchbook mobile.  The stylus was from a Kickstarter project I backed.  http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/donlehman/more-real-stylus-cap

The stylus works fairly well.  Way better then my finger.  But I have to press a little harder to get it to register.  Also the tip is rubber, it slides pretty well, but it also bends a lot.  So I feel like with all the quick movements involved with drawing and painting, I will eventually tear the tip off.

I did all of it on the ipad.  except the signature.

2 Guys and Guy

At San Diego Comic Con, I met a Deviant Art pal I'd been following for a bit.  Actually he was the winner of the Deviant Art SDCC contest.  So you know this dude's got some skillz.

Plus he is a pretty cool guy with a wicked sense of humor.  So today's warmup is a bit of fan art for his webcomic, 2 Guys and Guy.  Strip about 3 people that just have a horribly, dysfunctional relationship but in a humorous light.  Yes, the girl's name is 'Guy'.  Want to know why?

Then read my favorite comic

I would love to see Ost vs. Wayne (the blond dude in the middle).

If you like what you see, what not give him a quick, painless, single click vote on Top Web Comics?  It's the right thing to do.  http://topwebcomics.com/vote/13070/default.aspx

You can follow him on Deviant Art

Warmup: Black Cat

Another female and my 6th day in a row of warmup sketches.  Go me!

I actually do a couple of life studies and then I jump into one of these more complete pieces. I think next week I will move into doing it traditionally on 5.5"x7.5" pieces of watercolor paper so I can start testing my watercolor skills.

I also just got my first sketchcard job!  Cards came in the mail today.  I have no idea what the rules are about talking or showing the cards, but when I can I will show them off.

I am kind of nervous cause I am supposed to do 10 cards and I only have 10 cards.  The cards are custom printed, so I can't really mess up and start over on a fresh card.  I think there may be some lightboxing involved on the first couple.

Wish me luck.

Warmup: Buffy

Buffy is one of my favorite shows of all time.  Doesn't really make sense that I've never drawn her.  I think the reason is because I don't do likeness very well.  As you can see here, the cheerleader outfit and stakes are what sell this as Buffy.

I think doing caricatures and likeness is a different type of skill.  One I never really practice.  As much as I would like to be able to do it, there is just so many other things I need to learn.

Warmup: King Shark

Well here's a character I didn't even know existed.  I found out about him when I saw the cover for the new Suicide Squad.  The one with the evil looking Harley on the cover.  I didn't even see this guy in the background at first.  I still know nothing about him.

Wonder if he would be a good match for Aquaman?

Warmup: Aquaman

Let's just keep the ball rolling with another character I've never drawn.

I don't really know too much about this guy.  King of the seas, can talk to sea animals.  He just always seemed pretty limited to me.  But who knows, maybe he is super awesome and I just don't know.

I will prolly check out Justice League #1 when it comes out.

Warmup: Juggers

Never drawn this guy before.  But Skottie Young did it recently so thought I'd give it a go.  I've always been confused by this guy's helmet.  I am not really sure how the head works in this thing and how the mouth and eyes are visible.  Almost as confusing as Wolverine's ears.

I guess they are superheroes...they don't have to make sense.

Anyways, another daily warmup.  that's two in a row. Look at me go.  If you have any suggestions, let me know.

Spidey Warmup

Just a quick spidey warmup.  Will try to do more of these and get better at them.  This is the first one, so no promises!  Let me know if you have any suggestions and I will try to incorporate.

Art Jam Sketches

Some sketches done at my local comic store.  They run a weekly art jam.  It is pretty sweet stuff.  If you are near the Orlando area you should check it out.

A Comic Shop

Some anatomy studies

Just some anatomy studies. I am trying to learn the skeleton and also the muscles without any skin over them.

I also sculpted a skull in some playdo. I want to learn to sculpt also.

Warmups 11292009

Just some warmup stuff I've done over the past month or so. I was really busy with some projects, some art, some writing. I also think I am going back to school. Art major this time instead of computer science...blargh.

I am starting to learn some digital painting and environmental painting. Which is hard.

Warmup

This one didn't flow so well. I haven't had a chance to draw as much this week and I think my skills have decreased a smidge. oh well, can't be perfect all the time.

Man with a Gun

Warmups are fun. I can pick something I suck at drawing like....buildings or cars or trucks or robots or....today it is guns. And since it is a warmup I don't have to care if it sucks or rocks.

And today it is well...eh.

So here is the final drawing and the screencast of me drawing it.

Ha cha cha!

Jump Jump

Quick warmup of a dude jumping over a wall. Had some problems with this pose. All I knew starting off was that I wanted his foot to be in the foreground and went from there. Maybe not anatomically correct, but good enough to translate the idea...I hope anyways

Screencast Test

So I've started watching some artists as they draw on USTREAM. It is pretty neat. So I figured I'd give it a shot also. The is my first test, trial run. As you can see, the first part you can't really see anything. Not sure if i can change the contrast or darkness or what. Will try that for next time.

If you skip forward to about 3 minutes in, you will actually see what I am drawing. I don't think there is any audio capture, it is really low. So don't crank your volume. maybe next time.

No reference was used for the truck and I didn't think of perspective before I started drawing. So just a really loose warmup piece.

1 and 2 and 3 and sketch

Warmups are always good for getting the kinks out. it is like stretching before running. Here are a few I've done recently.

I think the really tricky part is to remind yourself that no one has to see these. I tend to erase sometimes and there is no point, so move to another piece of paper and leave that crappy drawing right where it is. It lets you get more comfortable which leads to thinking less.

Of course I say no one will see it, but then I post it here. oh well, you can see my suckiness and feel inspired :-)