Category Archives: Pencil

Touching Tongues

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I get most of the ideas for Sketch of the Day first thing in the morning when I’m in the shower. I then go to station number one and begin sketching. I set up work stations in my house every day. This way, if I get bored or stuck at a task, I switch stations. I will say that not all of my stations are all work. Station number four or five (depending how many stations are set up in front) is always the BB gun and a target range set out in my back yard. I am surprised how many things I can get done in one day using this method. I have learned in my professional life that I must slack off and allow my mind to wander aimlessly. That is precisely how I come up with how to execute the drawing, or what my next best idea is. I allow it and I welcome the opportunity. Stop by the house some day and I’ll prove it.

The next part of my evolution using these merging styles is to figure out exactly how I will execute different textures and what would I get if I combined two very different techniques in many different ways. This was a creation to do both. Some textures were planned, such as the leather of the boot, and some not so planned, such as the plastic fabric of the torso.

Travel

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DISCLAIMER: Any resemblance to STAR WARS is completely coincidental.

I was shooting for World of Warcraft. Hehe.

I have been creating art in some way since seven thirty this morning. I am creatively exhausted. Not really. I could keep at it for a while longer. I lose complete track of time when I draw. Time flies when you’re having fun.

Same technique, only I am really playing with perspective here. If you notice, from the signature in front, all the way to the blimp in back, there are seven different planes I worked with. I tried to keep some sort of relationship with each other, while maintaining their separate planes in space.

SteamBot

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I love steampunk. I am going to invest in a steampunk costume some day. The Lines & Light show closing party is a costume event and it would have been ideal. Living in Atlanta, you’d be surprised how many events require alternate attire to fit in. I would surely get some mileage from it.

I used the new backdrop technique again. This time, the character is interacting with it. I am really enjoying the merging of all these new techniques I am trying. So far, there isn’t anything not working in one way, shape or form.

Itch

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Okay, here it goes;

You’re lying in bed, just about to doze off. You have situated yourself into the optimum sleeping position when all of a sudden you get an itch. The itch is in a spot that is not easily accessible.You have two choices…

Choice number one –

Lie as still as possible and try to ignore it until you fall asleep.

Choice number two –

Scratch the itch, with the possibility that you may not be able to strike the exact same slumber pose again and at the very least, you’ll set yourself back a good five minutes.

Either way, you are faced with an itch. This is my rendition of what an itch may look like.

Just a subtle warning, I may get a little creepy leading up to Halloween.

 

DogHouse

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Contrary to popular belief, I suck at Pictionary. I am just finishing the roof and putting the bone at the front door when someone on the opposite team is yelling “Doghouse!”. I really dislike that game just for that reason alone.

I used the “line-only” technique again. I am really digging going back and forth between this technique and the one I used yesterday in Green Machine. I feel like when I figure out how to effectively combine the two, my pencil will explode.

Green Machine

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When I am creating, I am at my best.

I just said that a second ago. I sound wicked profound.

Wow.

So, I guess I should stop writing stuff and get back to it then.

This piece is inspired largely by Mike Brown. I incorporated some elements I discussed previously, such as the backdrop effect from TubeRoBot and some new ones. I kept the tones on the neutral side and used lights and dark lines very sparingly. I like the effect a lot.

Baby Girl

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For Caleb’s fourth birthday party, I got him a Thomas the Train cake, complete with a solid plastic version of Thomas on top. Although, he received more than one boy’s share of presents, he gravitated right for the plastic cake topper. He kept that thing tight in hand for days. He had it in the bath and in the bed. This picture reminded me of that. The whole time I was drawing this, I was thinking about when my oldest boy was four years old. That was part of my “work” day. Did I mention that I was also in my jammies?

So, I discovered a new artist I really like, and I decided to use his technique, which is very similar to mine. His name is Greg Call. If you click the link, please look at his sketches, they’re way at the bottom.

Guitar

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I created this watercolor about twenty years ago. I recently gave it to a friend of mine who likes this type of guitar. It’s funny, if you stop and think about it. I drew this twenty years ago, not knowing that I would even live in this state, let alone hold onto this particular drawing that long.

This is a watercolor I did for a school project. I’m not sure what or why.

Wensley Dredger – Parade Ready

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I think I will measure the success of this blog by how many hits I get from “work” computers. I love to check out other artists work online. When I was a corporate artist I called it research & inspiration – totally legit, by the way. I could waste a whole day doing just that. If you get a chance, check out one of the most talented artists I know, Tim Hynes. He’s the type who picks up a stick, starts carving, and turns it into a work of art. You just can’t teach that level of creativity. It’s awe inspiring.

I kept the wheels sketched, just because I like the mechanics behind them. If I put spokes or solid rims, I would lose that. I wanted to go with a steampunk look, so I used a vintage looking smoke stack to drive that point home.