☼ Bright ☼

Quick tests using colors I rarely use, which was kind of interesting – it was definitely a more vibrant set. Maybe the nice weather during the day is influencing me?

Besides the unusual colors for me, there were some things I wanted to try before continuing on with the Topshop illustrations. Now that I've figured that out, I can continue on... or it may be a different test, I'm wondering about some other things too  :p

One Piece

So here's a doodle that got unexpectedly serious... It started as a simple test to try out the brush pens I bought, which then transformed into a drawing of all of the members of the Straw Hat Crew from One Piece. I blame Zoro/Zolo wholeheartedly, it was an idle drawing of his face that started this mess. And the fact that I decided it would be a good idea to read the series again... after I hadn't since Volume... 10 or something. (One Piece is currently on Volume 68).

Here's the original. The rest of these are in roughly chronological order:

Sanji

Nami

Usopp

Robin

I really like Chopper, so I kind of held off on drawing him because I was worried I'd make him look possessed...

Brook

Luffy's face was a challenge to draw. There were times while I was drawing it that he looked um... frightening. I think bright, wide smiles confuse me.

... I ended up redrawing Zoro because the initial drawing looked pretty sad next to all of the following portraits.

Franky

The brush pen is lots of fun to use, and the best part is that it can create a dry brush effect if you use it right. Or am I using it wrong? Either way, I was hoping I'd be able to make that effect.

I used the Pentel Pocket Brush pen primarily, and a couple of brush pens that I do not know the brand of. The Pentel Pocket Brush is great for the more flowing lines and dry brush, the other two were less of a "brush" than a marker that had some flexibility. It allowed for greater control over the lines, but there weren't as many unexpected surprises and variation in line weight.

A Bloody Valentine

Somehow, this emerged while listening to Chet Baker's version of 'I Get Along Without You Very Well.' I don't know how it happened either.
The plant is a Jerusalem Cherry/Madeira Winter Cherry/Winter Cherry, which has bright red fruits that are poisonous.

So um... Happy Valentine's Day...?

(For some reason, this reminds me of Dilandau or Folken from Escaflowne. I think it's the hair.)

Happy accidents?

Recently I got a couple of white ink pens  :]  As you can see, not the most opaque application from this one, but I kind of like the little textures created by layering the ink.

6 x 9.5" watercolor paper.

As I was painting this, the dropper wasn't... well, dropping any ink. So in confusion, I squeezed a tiiiiny bit more... and then it splattered onto the paper. I thought I'd leave it because it looks kind of interesting. Just think of it as her heel exploded or something... while smiling.

Please check your inks before using them, especially if you haven't for a while.

12.07.12

4.5 x 7" watercolor paper.

I tried out the dry brush technique with some India ink to create the shape of the ribbon. I always liked the texture dry brush creates, and the freeness of suggesting a shape rather than creating lines for tight control. It was a little challenge for me – in the beginning I was concerned about messing up the whole thing, but I'm happy with the results  :]

Bonus:
Since it's almost Christmas, here's a more holiday-themed color scheme:

In flux.

Still experimenting, trying different combinations.

Simple things.

I guess it was about time for me to really appreciate simply being able to draw. I've become so accustomed to being able to draw what I had in mind whenever I wanted, it was very unsettling and frustrating to be unable to for a (relatively) long period of time. It's like when you're sick and relearn to appreciate being healthy.

So now, I've been happily drawing and painting – both digitally and by hand.

Space Case

I hadn't been able to draw anything for a week or two. After sitting and trying to work it out, it wasn't happening so I simply left it alone and wandered around. For now, I'm back and my hand is working like it's supposed to.

However, I didn't follow the golden rule of constantly saving while using Photoshop and... lost the entire drawing I'd been working on. Cue shock, disbelief, and lots of shouting.

So this is what I've got from when I reopened Photoshop and started on something new:

I thought it was kind of interesting like this with the space and suggestion of form.

More little steps.

Couple of images this week, still figuring things out.

Little steps.

Here's an experiment I did to try out some of the things I've been mulling over. I'm not entirely sold on the results, but I'd like to think it's a step in the right direction.

This was primarily an excuse to try out my scanner and the copper paint I got recently.

It's really dumb, but I think I got so eager to try the new scanner I got creative dam because there were too many ideas going crazy. I guess it carried over because I ended up with two versions on somewhat opposite ends of the spectrum...

Which one is your favorite?  :]