Cake

I battled with this one for some reason. First I thought about showing a newly-wed couple smashing each other in the face with cake (apparently that's tradition in some families). Then I even tried to draw a Cake Fashion Nugget (musical reference), but in the end I just went down the literal path. I got antsy and just wanted to get something up.

I think cake is amazing, when you're a kid, and its your birthday, especially when you're turning 11, and well ...

Check it!



P.S. Carrot cake is the #1 cake in the nation.

"Could you hand me a Coaster?"

So on average I spend $200.00 a month on gasoline out here, and I live 5 minutes from a train station, that will basically get me to work just as efficiently as my truck. Yesterday I was inspired to start taking the train or "Coaster" to work, and bike through downtown once getting off the "Coaster." Turns out this is great in several ways:

1. I don't spend money on gas (although the monthly Coaster pass is a bit cheaper than gas, I still don't save that much money)
2. One less car on the road, one less idiot to worry about.
3. Less polution (not that it matters anymore these days)
4. I dont have to deal with traffic
5. But! More importantly it gives me an opportunity to sketch folks on the train!

Check it:

Hoops, I did it again!

My deep affection for sports and competition helps peak my interest on paper as well as the hard wood. I think pro-athletes have crazy body types, they're finely tuned machines for sure, but basketball brings out the extremes. From Shaq, to Tayshaun Prince, to Steve Nash to Mugsey Bogues, you get all body types in basketball. I think I find the super skinny, really lanky guys are the most funny:

Figuring things out

A while back I took a figure drawing class out here, just to keep my pencil sharp, and keep the better half of my brain focused on what pumps me up rather than being dragged through the 1's and 0's all day long.

You can check out all the notable drawings / sketches that came from that class here:

Figure Drawing Class 1

Here are a few images to get you started, so let me know what you think:

(2 minute blind contour)


(a loosey-goosey quick sketch)


(a block / form study)


(and another form study)

Furnisure

I'm not sure I like using a pen as much as I do a pencil, but because it's all I had with me when I went home, I tried some studies of the furniture at my mom's place. She's got some ornate looking chairs, with frilly pillows, and a couple solid oak side-tabel/ottoman type pieces. The light wasn't that great, and the pen is tough for me...

Check them ooooout:

Sorry

I was originally going to do something with Sorry the board game, but I couldn't think of anything half way decent. Plus, my brother whips me when ever we play, so the board game leaves a sour taste in my mouth.

Instead I came up with this:

The Full Monty

I originally drew the sketch of the Devil head and the Jesus head a while back, with the hopes of making it into something bigger. The Devil grew (see below), but I've yet to get a solid idea for a drawing of the both of them.

Angels and Devils

This is my first Illustration Friday contribution, hope ya'll like it:

Stephen A. Smith 2.0

I think I got him this time, though I wish I hadn't drawn so close to the spine of my sketchbook. I'm a real dingus sometimes. Lemme know what you think.

Stephen A. Smith Version 2.0:

Quite Frankly I'm Stinkin'

Man, I sit at a computer all stinkin' day and then I come home and try to NOT sit at my computer, but my brain is so fried from 1's and 0's all day, picking up a pencil seems like holding a telephone poll and drawing feels like trying to scribble on a post-it note.

Tried a couple paintings tonight, and sketched for a while. Most of it isn't worth keeping. I just can't seem to get rollin' tonight. Creative juices are all sapped up by my nerdly day job.

LaVar Arrington was on Quite Frankly tonight. You know, its that show on ESPN where the guy yells at his guests for a half hour.

Here's my version of Stephen A Smith:

Water, Wind and Fire!

More paintings. These turned out pretty cool. I like doing this the more I experiment with brushes and all kinds of blending tools.

Check 'em out. Its late, time for bed.

Walk The Line

My first legit pencil test is done (I think). This came out a little quicker than the last Robot Go-Round, partially because I was able break the legs and arms into sections. Also note that I was going for a goose-stepping kind of walk. Was looking for something robotic and mechanical, and for the most part I think I got it.

I think on the second pass of the arms in front of the body, I've got one frame that freezes the arm at his side. I've got to go back and fix that. Plus I should probably try and score a light table and disc. My table and current set up is not cutting it.

Click the image below for the animation:

Ghouls Night Out

More quick paintings. I really really like the textures and such you can get from the charcoals, chalks, and pastels. Super sweet app:


Corel Painter ix.5

Waves

Another Corel Painter study:

Sunset Study

Man, Corel Painter is a cool app. Lots of neat brushes, painting abilities, paint mixer palette, auto blending, all kind of water color tools, and tons of blending options. I've got the trial version at the moment, but I'm pretty sure I'm buying it.

All the fun of paining with out the mess and without the wait. Is that so wrong?

Here's a quick sunset study:

Blob Guy

Here's another Sketchbook Pro image. The pen and computer thing is an adjustment for me..

Alias Sketchbook Pro 1.1

Whelp,

This software came free with a Maya 7 Tutorial book I bought:

Alias Sketchbook Pro Software

So I guess its about time I give one of these things a whirl. A while back I got my mits on a Wacomtablet and used it for some things, nothing very ambitious, as it is really weird to use right off the bat. The hard part is you're not looking at the piece of paper, canvas, whatever, as you use your implement, you're looking at your computer screen, but at the same time your brain is trying to understand why it can't look down at the pen and stylus for a visual response, or result.

Its very foreign to my brain, but its got a world of possibilities. Purists will scoff at the fact that you can Control + Z with a painting, but hey, they didn't create paint thinner for nothing, right?

Also, these types of software, and these tablets in general let you do 'normal' things with the styluses (pens), or is it styli? Its got a nib on the tip, a small lever where your thumb would rest, and the other tip of the stylus has a larger nib similar to an eraser.

So, you're going along, you're drawing, your painting, you're sketching. Oops you goofed up, flip the stylus over like you would a normal pen, and erase with the opposite nib. Great features and usability, they're so choice, if you have the means I highly recommend picking one up!

Here's a quick doodle I did. Its so bizarre, you should go check this stuff out:

Word!