From Ink In the Gutter: Working on Short Stories and Comics

Ink In the Gutter: This week we'll be looking at the midway process o...: "This week we'll be looking at the midway process of developing an illustration for one of the short stories called, 'The Cold Front'. After ..."

Back to Puppets

Hello all, and thanks to everyone who purchased sketchbooks and prints at APE. Future projects are being planned with a writer for more comics and illustrated stories. But for now I go back to working with marionettes in Oakland for the Halloween show at the end of October. Here's a drawing from the sketchbook.

APE AT LAST!

Haven't posted any updates in about a month, mostly because of the comic I've been finalizing. But finally I've finished the comic and all the screen prints for APE this year. I'm going to have free promotional buttons and handouts from the comic to help market the comic Cacy Duncan and I worked on. If you're not able to make it to the convention you can still take a look at the comic here inkinthegutter.blogspot.com. There's tons of screen prints which means I can sell them at a low price for all who are interested. I will also have a misprint section of screen prints at a very low price, practically giving them away!
I'll be sharing a table with Michael Manomivibul, he'll be selling awesome prints and screen printed t-shirts. Also down a few tables Grim Wilkins will be selling his self-published mega comic.
So if your in the bay area this Saturday and Sunday make sure to stop by and check out all the cool artwork, and don't miss out on all the fun.

Drawing and Learning

pen and ink on paper

Today I spent about six hours at the Bodies Revealed exhibit in Sacramento. I learned a lot about the different aspects of human anatomy, I especially enjoyed looking at the baby fetuses and craniums. I would highly recommend visiting the exhibit before it leaves at the end of October. I'll most likely spend another day at the exhibit before it leaves, if anyone's interested let me know.

In the Newspaper

I made it into the newspaper three weeks ago but didn't find out until today when I went to pick up the remainder of my paintings from the gallery.
I got a nice little review by an art critic.

Progress on Comic

A shot of all the pages inked in on my drafting table and a progress shot of the first page with digital alterations. I'm very close to the finish line for the comic, my goal is to have them printed by the end of September.

Commission

oil on canvas, 16 by 20 inch

Here's a quick commission I painted for a friend, the guidelines were to include animals and cute. I wanted to do a painting that could be hung on a wall two different ways so a spherical design came to mind when creating the composition.

Test Page for Comic

Here's a study page for how the inking and halftone technique should look on the comic. Still adjusting the halftone values to get darker tones but not lose my line work. Started on the final boards, they should take me between one or two weeks to complete then add in halftones and minimal blocks of color to complete the book. Enjoy!

Sketch

pen in moleskin, 10 by 8 inch

So I've been thinking of compiling a collection of my sketches into a small book for A.P.E. I seem to have accumulated several sketchbooks over the years which only I and one other person has seen. These should be a treat to all those who know me, and should give some insight into why I'm so talkative all the time(not really!). This brings me to a total of three separate projects I'm working on for A.P.E.
screen prints
11 page comic
sketch compilation
and I might also squeeze in a t-shirt if time allows.

keep on drawing!

Two More Screenprints

4 color process screenprint variations, 8 by 11 inch each


8 color screenprint on Reeves, 8 by 6 inch

The dog screenprints were done from a photograph and separated on Photoshop, and I did an ink drawing for the outline of the body and skull and imported that layer into Photoshop and overlayed it onto the black layer to create the 4-process screen print technique. This was my fist attempt at trying this technique and I enjoyed the final outcome, it rocks!
The bottom portrait is based on the Blade Runner character Pris.
Overall these prints are turning out really great and I'm having fun as well.

Screenprint for A.P.E.

Made another print for A.P.E.

Figure in Acrylic 12

acrylic on paper, 20 by 20 inch, 4 hours

I had two separate days to work on this portrait. The first day I painted a black/white underpainting, then on the second day I glazed over the underpainting. The end result turned out pretty well, I'll have to try this technique again one day.

Figure in Acrylic 11

acrylic on paper, 14 by 17 inch, 2.5 hours

The brushstrokes on the figures skin looked a bit digital in this painting. Not sure if this is good or bad?

Figure in Acrylic 10

acrylic on paper, 22 by 30 inch, 5,10,15 min

These were some quickie studies

Figure in Acrylic 9

acrylic on paper, 15 by 24 inch, 2 hours

Another successful attempt at capturing light, well who knew that practice made your skills improve...

Figure in Acrylic 8

Acrylic on paper, 15 by 24 inch, 2 hours

I'd have to say this is my favorite figure painting to date. I was able to capture the separation of shadow and light using the formula of cool shadow and warm light, which helps make the figure have more volume and form.

Figure in Acrylic 7

Acrylic on paper, 22 by 30 inch, 2.5 hours

Another figure painted in acrylic, this one turned out very yellow-orangeish. I've been getting much faster at painting doing all these figure studies, yay me!

Baby Skull

Acrylic on paper

A tetrad color study of a calf skull

Figure Drawing

graphite on paper, 18 by 24 inch, 60 min.

Figure in Acrylic 6

acrylic on paper, 15 by 24 inch, 90 min.

A friend said this reminded her of those old Russian propaganda posters. Maybe it's the red bandana?

Figure in Acrylic 5

acrylic on paper, 24 by 20 inch, 2 hours

Figure in Acrylic 4

acrylic on paper, 15 by 24 inch, 90 min.

The colors worked well with this painting. The greenish hues in the shadow areas complimented the red tones on the figures skin effectively.

Figure in Acrylic 3

acrylic on paper, 18 by 20 inch, 90 min.

I've been teaching myself how to paint quickly by focusing on the light and shadow planes of the figure and still have the final result come out somewhat decent. There's no time to blend!

Figure in Acrylic 2

acrylic on paper, 15 by 22 inch, 2 hours

A successful figure painting! Even though I had forgoten my tube of cadmium yellow.

Figure in Acrylic

acrylic on paper, 18 by 24 inch, 90 min.

A mistake I didn't realize until the end of the painting session was how large I had made his head. Yikes!

25 Paintings

The opening reception for the show was this past weekend, which had a great turnout. Now I have to patiently wait for the next two months and pray to the gods people like them enough to buy!
If there's anyone still looking at this blog, comments would be greatly appreciated.

20/20 Show

(the pinecone is one of my paintings)

So all 25 paintings have been turned into the gallery. I'd say the past two months have been strenuous but an incredible learning experience. I had to teach myself a few tricks on how to paint quickly but still have the paintings look like they weren't rushed. But more important news, I've finally reached a point in my painting technique where I feel confident enough to move onto more narrative images. Which is great because I have another deadline fast approachig, July!!!

Figures and Color

Both of these were done in oil pastel

Figure Drawing

Some figures for all your viewing pleasure.