In the Garden

I think I posted a WIP version of this drawing before, but here it is (finally) finished. It started as a little doodle while I was riding the ferry. Image size is 5.5"x5.5", done in pencil.
-Sheila

Skull

This is another specimen that I photographed from the walls of the winter camp lodge a few weeks ago. I think it may be a raccoon skull, but I'm not sure. Conte over a charcoal base that I rubbed down first.

Mutant Space Dude

Dick Blick sent me a nice pad of bristol that I didn't order nor was charged for. I figured the least I could do is put a pencil to it in gratitude of the universe's abundance.

The universe might want to think twice next time.

concept gun

These are quick sketches for the handgun challenge over at Artorder. I had a quick concept I liked, then tried to vary it 3 more times. Just wondering if you guys had any input on your favorite silhouette. Obviously, some detailing is still needed, the placement of the skull...and then color. I'm open to any and all crits and/or comments.

Hope everyone on the east coast is ready for another round of snow...be safe.

-D

Little over 3 hours for these, as always PS.
Thanks in advance.

Dragon Master Studies

Nothing new today, but I thought it would be relevant to post some copy sketches I did some years ago. We can all benefit from copying the masters of yesterday and today; learn from it, then move on to your own vision.

Changeling Study

So after Adopting Dave Rapoza's (Crimson Daggers) weekly schedule concept, I decided to finally start cranking out my Master Studies. I am choosing specific areas of works that are either influential to me or have an art lesson I wish to learn embedded within them. Then I divide that quantity by a couple thousand and do one a week. The first one is Michael Whelan's Cover for Changeling Sea. I don't really want to put more than 2-4 hours in each of these ( I think this one came in at around 3.5), but I am sure I will break that rule as I go along. For the time being these will all be 8x10 and intended to capture specific elements of the painting. For Changeling, I really wanted to work on the drastic contrast of rimmed highlights. I was less concerned about the accuracy of clothing and hair, but going more for a deeper understanding of the light.

Next week's image will be Phil Hale's Poorly Casanova.

EFII - Focused

Sketch for EFII Illustration Friday - Focused.
To the inkwell!


Inked!
It's been awhile since I did pen & ink. Felt a bit rusty.

Pilot Speedpaint

Speedpaint tonight. Just me going crazy sloppy, and having fun doing it. Sometimes you just have to relieve stress. So here's my stress relief.

The Pilot

About 2hrs. PS

"Chantelaine" - sketch for pen & ink

Here Mark, just for you, one of my many unfinished sketches so you don't have to feel alone.
This one is headed for inking.
Really, it is...

Red Tail

I feel like I should be posting a finished painting too, but, I'm just going to post what I've drawn today.

This started as a rough sketch at the winter camp lodge last weekend, I liked how it was going, so I polished it up today. It's an immature red tailed hawk.

Romeo & Juliet's 1st Anniversary - licensed

Things happen in clumps. I received two requests to license this image within days of each other. And it's a painting from 2004, acrylic, 8x10 on hardboard, 5 color of paint used.
Pictured is being used in a for a poster for an Australian band. I traded out for the license fees on this one. Hey, we have to support all the arts and I like their music.
The second one is still under negotiation so I'll keep mum on that for now.
I guess the lesson is to have your old work out there, somewhere, always. Not necessarily in your main portfolio site but in other image collection like deviantart, ebsqart, conceptart.org and epilogue.
You never know.

Monster Nodal

I thought I'd share the stages of a job I just finished up. The deadline was pretty tight... at least for me. Three full page illustrations from thumbs to finishes in a week. It was an interesting concept done for a company that produces nodes that record seismic activity wirelessly. This beats the old technology of using cables that could be damaged by harsh environments or animals gnawing on them. This is where I find it refreshing that a large corporation would go with the idea of monsters chewing on the cables to highlight the effectiveness of their product. Quite a fun project to work on.

Space Mage

I've been kicking this one around for a while. Trying to mix sci-fi with fantasy. Either way I liked the idea and figured I'd post this sucker up here. Crits, comments, paint-overs and praises are all welcome. So go ahead and tell me what you think...don't be shy.

-D

Well Read Gorilla - Wayfinder 2 Fanzine

From Aaron Miller | Illustrator | Designer

This was for a short story in the Wayfinder 2 fanzine.


An account is needed at Paizo to download it. The account and download if the PDF are free.
Oil on panel. About 18" x 24".


It was a lot of fun working on the project. I got to try a lot of new techniques I picked up from Donato's latest video.

Oh Deer!

Another sketch from my sleepless night last Friday. This guy was hanging on the wall at the lodge.

So, I secretly told my self as a new years resolution I would do one practice painting a day to improve my oil painting skills. I told no one else just in case I failed I wouldn't look like an idiot. Unbelievably I've done it up to this point. A couple are still wet and aren't included but here are Januarys paintings. They range in size from 4 x 5 t0 12 x 16.

Rust Challenge

Hello all! I haven't met many of you (yet!) but am looking forward to doing so soon or at IMC. This piece is in response to the latest ArtOrder Challenge:

" A sword, a spade, and a thought should never be allowed to rust"
~ James Stephens
Irish poet and storyteller, 1882-1950

http://artorder.blogspot.com/2010/01/catching-up-and-new-challenge.html

I imagine mine will be the only blue one in the bunch. I look forward to seeing more of your great work! Grant

Warded Man in Oil

UPDATE: Got rather sidetracked today so I didn't work as long as I had wanted. Did play around with background and added first layer of transparent warmth to the knuckles, and parts of the face.
Been a very bad contributor here at Drawn Today since the holidays. I've been drawing, just not anything I can post yet. But this is a fun, personal project I've been doing on the side. Sorry about the glare in this photo. It's late and I want to track my progress on this portrait of Arlen, a character from The Warded Man by Peter Brett. I had been working on this digitally but decided to print out the sketch, secure it on to a masonite board with acrylic matte medium and proceed in oils. I've just applied the second coat and will start in tomorrow, working the background first. Any advise would be appreciated along the way.

Sunday Sketching -

I've been drawing larger views of the chapel the last few weeks (mostly because I abhor doing interiors and most architecture... No pain, no gain? I hate it enough that I'm bound to get better?). I do find it quite difficult to draw straight lines and parallels and right angles on my knee or in a sketchbook I"m holding in my hand, rather than on a more stable surface... ah well...

Compared to drawing in a slightly larger pad, stabilized on my desk and *copying* someone else's fabulous sketches (in this case Jean-Baptise Monge - whose fairy books are amongst my most favoritest ever). Maybe, someday, I can has drawering skillz too....?

Big Tree

Hi folks! I'm back after a long, art-deprived absence.

I finally cracked open a sketch book last week end at an "up north" cub scout Winter Camp event. Too much coffee and half a dozen snoring scout dads kept me up one night, so I spent the wee hours on a sofa, drawing. Debating whether or not to post some of the other results! Maybe I'll spare you all from that.