Brand New Look - Bold New Taste!

Not even Kryptonite can stop me!

Well, if you're here and reading this then I'm sure you've noticed the bold new flavor of this blog's redesign. It's all part of my passionately positive outlook. Something inside of me is feeling heroic, excited and ready to tackle the world! It's time now that the look and content of this digital space match that attitude.

So...BAM! POW! WHACK and KA-BLAM! Things around here are about to shake up! Don't worry, I haven't gone and gotten too big for my britches. I just finally realized that I (like absolutely everyone) have a superhero inside of me and it's time to let him out!

Come fly with me!

Coming Soon!

What up, ya'll!

I just wanna touch base and let you know I've got some explosive new visual goodness on the way. I've been deep in the lab cookin' up the magic potion so I haven't been able to drop anything new lately.

It's all coming soon, though. Thanks for your patience! Here's a sneak peek...

Colonel Sanders, that's just wrong!

I'm hoping you have as much fun viewing this as I did creating it! I was literally giggling through the process of creating the sketch. Enjoy!

Props to my brother Jared for helping me develop this idea. Thanks, bro!

A Fanboy comes full circle

I admit it. I was one of the masses who waited with bated breath for the release of the first issue of Spawn back in '92.

It was a helluva time to be a comic book fan. The industry was changing. Creators were stepping into the spotlight and charting brand new territory; blazing a trail if you will. Image comics was forming  from a roster of explosively popular artists and the fans were going absolutely bananas. I was one of 'em.

As a one time starry eyed fan boy all grown up to be a professional illustrator it was down right thrilling to touch this character with whatever meager measure of ability I've managed to scrape together.

Thanks to Todd McFarlane and all the Image boys who launched a dream in a magical time of creative risk and experimentation. You ALL inspired me and gave me fuel for the hustle!

Museum Watercolor Sketching - This place loves artists!

It's official - these folks are far and away the coolest!

I took another trip to the Milwaukee Art Museum recently. Here's a link to last year's trip. I fell in love with this place last year but this time they knocked my socks off with their kindness and hospitality.

As I was sketching, an attendant approached me and asked me if I'd like a bench or a stool to make myself more comfortable. Cost? Free. I was dumbstruck.

I've been in numerous museums where the only thing they had to say to me was "Put your sketchbook away. No drawing!" I even got kicked out of a clothing store once for sketching so this type of kindness was new to me. 

I accepted the offer and took a bench over to a painting that I wanted to sketch in watercolor. That's when the attendant said: "Oh we also have easels available if you'd like one." Gee whiz! This place is just amazing.

I didn't need the easel but the offer was wonderful and the museum's overall graciousness towards artists really impressed me.

Two crayons and a restaurant napkin

Two crayons and a napkin - now that's getting back to basics!

I recently spent a wonderful day in Chicago with my brother. We topped the day off with a trip to my all time favorite pizza joint - Gino's East!

You might remember my Gino's sketching adventure from last year. That one starred Gotham City's favorite man in tights so this year I went with ol' web head.

For the record: drawing on a napkin with crayon is HARD! Holy smokes it requires such a delicate touch to avoid ripping the napkin to shreds.

Now don't get me wrong. I know this sketch is garbage but it was fun hanging with my bro and trying to spontaneously muscle my way through a napkin drawing.

Somehow this little crayola concoction managed to garner some praise from our waitress and she asked if she could have it. My pleasure. How cool to know that it actually put a smile on someone's face!

Tools for creating White Effects - Part 3 of 3 - White Out Pen

Welcome to the third and final installment of this three part series dedicated to useful tools for creating white highlights, effects and accents!

Day 1: White Prismacolor Pencil
Day 2: White Gel Pen

Today's tool...White Out Pen

This little beauty has become a staple of my sketching kit. My favorite brand is BIC and these are available at Target, Wal-Mart and office supply stores.

Here's why I love it...
1. Completely opaque line which you can apply to any surface and on top of any media.
2. Easily fills in large, solid areas of white.
3. Easily creates a bold, thick line.
5. Very sturdy and long lasting. There's plenty of white out in every pen.

Things to watch out for...
1. Difficult to achieve a consistent line width. Keep in mind this pen was not made for drawing.
2. There's a bit of a learning curve because you've got to squeeze the pen as you're drawing with it in order to keep the whiteout flowing.

Here's a few examples of how I use the Whiteout pen in my sketches.

Here is I used it loosely in conjunction with white Prismacolor pencil to create the appearance of snow.

Here I was a little tighter with it and still using it in conjunction with white Prismacolor pencil.

Here I used the gel pen to create the white outline as a graphic element.

Thanks for joining me in this 3-Part Series. I hope it was helpful and fun. As always feel free to shoot me a comment or email if you have any questions. Thanks again to Blake for writing in with a question about these tools and inspiring this series.

I'd love to hear from you if you've tried these techniques or if you've got any fun suggestions for new tools to use!

Tools for creating White Effects - Part 2 of 3 - Gel Pen

Welcome to day two in a three part series dedicated to useful tools for creating white highlights, effects and accents!

As I mentioned yesterday, these are useful tools for sketching on tinted or colored paper.

Yesterday's tool: White Prismacolor Pencil

The second tool up to bat...White Gel Pen

I fell madly, deeply and hopelessly in love with this tool (sorry, Lauren) the first time that I tried it. My favorite is the Gelly Roll (medium tip) by Sakura. You can pick this up at most art stores or online.

Here's why I love it...
1. Nice opaque line which requires no pressure from your hand like a pencil does.
2. Extremely fluid line flows easily from the pen - very easy to work with.
3. Works well for tight drawing or loose sketching.
4. Creates a pure, saturated white which is a level up from even the best white colored pencil.
5. Fantastically sturdy. It's great for field sketching and really holds up to rough handling.

Here's a few examples of how I use the white gel pen in my sketches.

Here is I used loose, sketchy touches of the gel pen on top of white Prismacolor pencil to create the water effect.

Here I used the gel pen to create the white outline as a graphic element. I also used small touches of it for highlights and texture on the scarf.

Here I used the gel pen to create the thin white outline and all of the small highlights/graphic elements. White Prismacolor pencil was used to create the general light tones on the shirt and face.

Tune in tomorrow for the third and final tool in this 3-part series.

Drop me a line if you've got anything you'd like to add or if you have any questions!

Tools for creating White Effects - Part 1 of 3 - Prismacolor Pencil

Over the next few days I'd like to showcase three dynamite tools that I use for creating white highlights, effects and accents!

Sketching on tinted or colored paper gives you the opportunity to use the natural tone of the paper as your middle tone and then explore creative ways to add white accents to your work.

The first tool up to bat...White Prismacolor Pencil

 Prismacolor pencil is an extremely versatile tool for creating white effects. Here's why I love it..
 
1. A full tonal range is achievable depending on the pressure of your hand.
2. The soft lead allows for a rich, deeply saturated white (the best I've seen of any pencil brand).
3. Colors easily on top of any existing media (super helpful when you want to go back in to something and add those last minute touches and effects).
4. Works beautifully tight or loose.
5. These pencils sharpen to a razor point in most pencil sharpeners.
6. These pencils are sturdy. Carry them around in your sketching kit without worrying about breakage.

Here are some various methods for using the White Prismacolor pencil in sketches.

I was pretty tight here. Notice how I softened the edges of the highlights in the hair as well.

I used a heavy handed, saturated approach here to create snow.

I kept it light and loose in this sketch to create the impressions of some clouds. Also a few highlights in the grass.

Here I scribbled in the white very loosely to create these cherry blossoms.

I used the pencil sparingly here just for accents.

 Tight use of the pencil here combined with pure black to create an old time cartoon feel.

On pink colored paper I applied heavy pressure for the thin outline, teeth, eyes and jewelry. For everything else I used light pressure and softly laid in the tone.

Drop me a line if you've got anything you'd like to add or if you have any questions!
Tune in tomorrow for the second tool in this 3-part series.

BIG THANKS to Blake for writing in to this blog recently to inquire about methods of applying white effects. You inspired this 3-part series, man!

Tattoo Remix

The beautiful thing about illustrated tattoos is that they're so easy to change.

I had a little fun creating this remix of my 2011 New Year's Girl. She's got some new colors and a brand new tat. Frankly I'm flattered that she thinks so highly of me.

Sketchbook Page Uncut

I love to jam-pack a sketchbook page. It's important to be loose and carefree in a sketchbook. Sketchbooks (as opposed to finished pieces) are a golden opportunity to fail, learn and grow without the pressure of performing well or pleasing a client.

This particular page was filled in four different locations.
1. A Casino (upper left hand corner sketch of the girl).
2. Deli (the top character and wardrobe study).
3. Airport (all of the lower left gesture sketches).
4. My parent's dining room table as I'm home visiting (all of the sketches in red).

In fact, you may even recognize the sketch in the lower right corner as the basis for yesterday's New Year's Girl.

Happy (sexy) New Year!

Happy New Year, Everyone!

A lively gathering, a highly anticipated countdown, noise makers, confetti and... a lower back tattoo. Alright so maybe that last one isn't a tradition yet but a fella can dream right?

In keeping with my "New Year's Girl" illustration tradition I offer up this festive little lass. So here's to all you dreamers (like me) who intend to log some real progress this year. Go get 'em!