Step 3: Rough Pencils!!

The next step on our journey to completed illustration is the rough pencils. Here is where I work out more details, proportions, etc. in a more manageable size. The next step is the tight pencils where I further the details and change the things I'm not happy with. Among those things are: The guns are too big, I want them to be a little smaller and cooler looking (I'm not Rob Leifeld, bigger guns does not equal cooler). I'm going to change the expression on her face, I want it to be more "flirty and mischevious" and not "scared" looking. I don't like the way the vest is behaving, I want it to look more dynamic to convey action. Lastly I don't like the Lekku (her head tendril)..(yes, that is what they are called, yes I have that kind of knowledge just floating around in my head and yes I am THAT much of a Star Wars nerd) that is behind her and want it to look more "flowy".

Step 2: Value Study

So after I get my idea for my pin-up I do a value study. I tightened up the thumbnail from the previous post and fixed some things I didn't like about the first thumbnail. The proportions are a little better on this one and I like the facial expression a bit better.

The next step is to blow this up and redraw it on to some bristol board... stay tuned.

Si'nbad!

Here are some sketches of my SWTOR character. Just getting a feel for the character. I doodled these at work while ripping jobs and talking on the phone.

Figure doodles!

Here are some gesture drawing/ pose ideas for a reference shoot I want to do soon. I have been doing a lot of figure drawing lately and my work is improving quite a bit I think. These are basically “notes” taken off of drawings, paintings, pinups or photos that I want to shoot my own reference for in more natural conditions.

A lot of these poses are from a Gil Elvgren book (talk about a true master), he’s such a great pin up artist. I plan to take photos using these poses but from different angles as well. I also plan to start painting again soon (we’ll see how that goes! Lol).

Spartacus Character Studies

Here are more studies from my sketchbook for my Spartacus pages. There are many things that I am trying to accomplish with these pages. First, I want to capture the characters more than the likenesses of the actors portraying the characters.

I want to get a more natural look with my drawings, my friend Rachel pointed out that I tend to draw a lot of sharp edges and elongated, rectangular heads. Once she told me this I really started seeing it more in my art. To rectify this, I am forcing myself to start out with circles and ovals in the initial sketch as opposed to squares and rectangles.

Layouts!

This is basically how I write comics. They start out as a series of thumbnails and then I make rough layouts where I work out any problems, look for tangents and tighten up character design. Pacing, time elapse and clarity are all very important to comics (or any other media that tells stories visually), and this step is very crucial to good pages.

I tend to get drunk sometimes while doing layouts. I find that drinking helps relax your mind so that you can see the story in a different light. Often we get too wrapped up in seeing something one particular way and need to step back.

I like to reference great visual story tellers. Will Eisner is probably the king when it comes to sequential art, but you should also check out Darwyn Cooke, Becky Cloonan and Sarah Picelli. Another good source is Genndy Tartovski (from Dexter's Lab, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends). Particularly Symbionic Titan.

Study a Broad...

Thanks to Emily for modeling for me. Here are some preliminary sketches...