More Random Sketchbook

These sketches are both recent and not so recent - just playing around with ideas - thinking concepting :)

In the Weeds

I'm still working this idea. Being knee deep in client work, it's very important to me that I don't lose touch with my own concepts. Even small doodles and quick roughs are enough to keep me grounded. It's a good way to start the work day - jot down a few quick scribbles to myself.

Random Sketchbook

Some recent and random sketch pages.

Rejected Nasties.

These are some early concepts for the bad guys in the story I'm working on at the moment. They weren't right for the story and were therefore rejected, as well they should have been, but I still kind of like them and may find a use for these guys later on. Their obvious charm and good looks will be required at some point I'm sure.

Dancing Nymphs and Faerie Twins

Another project I have going at the moment is Teeney O'Feeney King of the Leprechauns. This is a long term project which I've now been on for just over a year and hope to finish up this summer. It has been full of terrific things to draw like trolls and demons and of course leprechauns. These are some of my preliminary designs for the Faerie Twins and the Dancing Nymphs.

Hands

What could be more difficult than drawings hands ? Hands are always giving me trouble and so this tends to send me off on hand drawing stints. I'll draw my own hands (in a mirror or straight on) as shown above or I will draw from reference. If there is a secret to drawing hands, I'm still looking for it.

Magic Cards

I feel as though I should really post something a little more finished since it's been a while since I did. The problem is that I can't post any of the work I'm doing at the moment. So in the meantime here are a couple of Magic Cards from last year that I felt turned out rather well - not all of them did by any means but I don't mind these two. That goblin at the top has just raided a kitchen and is wearing some improvised armour. The door is a magic portal to another dimension - hence the light exploding out of the cracks - fun ! Both of these are watercolour and gouache with coloured pencil.

Doodle Night

This past Friday we went visiting and had a doodle night with some friends. The idea was to have a get together and sit around drawing and talking and snacking - fun !
These were my pages, created amid the din of music and robust conversation. It was good to get out of the studio but I'm back and have a lot to do.

Back to the Garden

I keep coming back to this pose. I've been drawing all kinds of various things for clients lately but I still come back to this idea when I get a free minute. I'm going to have to paint her when I get a chance - not sure when that will be - maybe in May. Until then I guess I'll keep drawing her and refining the idea.

Witch Garden

Even though at this very moment I'm up to my ears in free-lance work with a crushing deadline, not to mention several other smaller things adding their weight, I still find it necessary to occasionally step back and reconnect with my own imaginary world. In this case, one of my favourite places to go is an old witch garden. I imagine several acres of tangled, over grown garden behind a ramshackle witch's cottage. In this garden all manner of faerie folk and mythic beings live and cavort in complete solitude. This sketch page is just me connecting with my muse or plugging into the source if you will.

Sketchbook - Ball Point Pen

Ball Point Pen is one of my favourite drawing tools - great for fast, stream of consciousness drawing - very fluid - just a cheap old bic pen. I love them. Here I'm just working out some pose ideas and simple comps.

The Pod Gallery

My page at the Pod Gallery is finally up and running - a place where I can sell prints.

http://www.podgallery.com/index.cfm/hurl/msgId=1173/action=artwork

and a couple of sketchbook pages - giants peeking in windows - well, it's what they do.

Sketchbook - Witches

These drawings are a bit more recent. Witches ! This kind of drawing, from the imagination, is the direct result of the practice pages posted below - one definitely leads to the other.

Sketchbook - Gnomes and Faeries.

Some recent doodle activity.

Sketchbook - Practice

Something a little different this time. I try to start everyday with some warm up or practice drawing, usually from reference as a way to ease into the work day. It doesn't feel right to me to just jump into an assignment without limbering up a little. I do this for fun but I also think it's good for me. I don't normally try to draw a thing "straight", but am usually coming from some kind of angle such as simplifying or exaggerating or distorting in some way. This keeps it interesting for me. My straight depictions usually look boring and typical to me so I try to jazz them up a little.