So Many Digital Dreams...

Happy Friday, everyone! 

Today I'd like to share with you my mock book cover for Philip K. Dick's "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" I love the hell outta this novel and was super excited to draw some concept art, then book covers and interiors for the story. Many iterations later, I have finished the cover (for my thesis)! Now, allow me to share with you the process.

It all started last fall. I worked on this in my Narrative Illustration class at AAU for my thesis. Above l to r: the initial thumbnails at the top, then below several different versions. In the end, I was glad to have explored my options, but really wanted that dead-on, looking right at you with her goggles version. I then did some value and color studies and a tight drawing. I wanted to experiment with oil painting initially (I was obsessed with creating texture in oil paint at the time). I worked on it some traditionally, but when pressed for time took it digital to finish and overlay the lineart. Not terrible, but I wasn't happy with it and knew I would continue working on it.

I re-visited the drawing after getting some great feedback from Michael Buffington (an instructor at AAU).

I decided to tackle it digitally this time for color. I was happy with how it turned out, but when I had my final review one of the biggest problems I heard back on it was that there wasn't enough room for type and there was some confusion about why she didn't have arms. I made that choice consciously, wanting to be more abstract and design the overall shape as priority. I needed to revisit this illustration again.

Back to thumbnails! I decided to really push the designed elements and make it obviously pattern/shape based.

Voila! The final version. When I finished it about a month ago I was very "meh" about it, but after taking a break and coming back to look at it I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Dreaming

Wow, it's been a week or two, eh? Sorry about that, dear internet. I was in the depths of finals and then attacked by the laziness of the holidays. However, I wanted to get back to my treasured blog and you swell folks, so without further ado...

the last post of the year!

Here is the final work for my interior illustration for Philip K. Dick's "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" Above is the lineart, inked traditionally on bristol with dip pens and India ink.

Then I took that baby into Photoshop...

Ta-da!

I'm still experimenting with applying texture in Photoshop and I want to keep it flat, more of a style than trying to be realistically rendered. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about it, but I sure do love that owl! Man, that is one sweetass owl.

Have a great remainder of 2012 and I'll see you all in 2013!

Almost, but not yet forgotten...

I knew there was something bothering me today other than the slew of things unfinished... a blog post! Durr...

I give you the in progress of my interior illustration for "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K. Dick.

Still need to ink and then apply some washes before the finish due Monday.

Here's the rough lineart (as seen in the above photo taped to my desk).

I have a busy weekend ahead of me! Also, I'll be going back to Chicago on Monday and be there for ten days, so no blog posts for next week or the Tuesday after. I'm super excited to be back in Chicago for a bit and chill with friends and family.

I hope everyone enjoys next week's holiday chill (or unfortunately maybe not so chill) time, and god speed those who work in the retail industry.

A Dream In Progress

Today's main focus has been starting my painting for the cover of "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" I thought I would share some progress shots thus far.

Transferring the drawing to panel using graphite transfer paper. Now there's something I must say here. For the longest I forwent the transfer paper and did the cheap method of just coloring the back of your drawing with pencil myself, then transferring it. Now, that works fine and all... but I have to say I am not regretting the ten bucks I spent on the transfer paper AT ALL. And it's only been used for two illustrations so far. It really saves me time and also makes the lines much darker and legible than the self-graphite method (at least in my experience... perhaps if I had used darker leads..).

Morale of the story: if you're easily distracted and impatient like I can be, do yourself a favor and get the transfer paper.

Drawing's all ready to go on the panel. Time to start painting!

And an in-progress. Definitely gone farther and there's A LOT more to do on this, but I'm pretty sure I won't be able to finish it traditionally in time for the class deadline of Monday. That's where my handy dandy computer is going to come in this weekend. However, I am definitely finishing this piece traditionally for my thesis... just need to also meet the deadline of the Narrative Illustration class.

It's been a fun day of painting and I'm looking forward to many more. Painting, you teach me patience and to relax and not worry about the little mistakes or "errors". It can always be covered up and re-worked. And, hey, that "mistake" actually kinda looks cool and inspires me for something else. Way to go, painting.

Android Dreams

Behold! Lineart for the current project I'm working on: a cover for Philip K. Dick's "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?"

If you're not privy, it's the short story which the film Blade Runner was based on. Although I must say they really are two different stories, especially in mood. Philip K. Dick has a certain humor in his work which reminded me a bit of Kurt Vonnegut and that had me addicted. If you haven't read this short story or been lagging on reading any Philip K. Dick like I was, stop whatever you're doing and read some! Cause damn, it's good.

I'll also be doing an interior for the story. More posts to come on these projects as they develop!