We Are Made of Star Stuff

I'm a big fan of science. I really enjoy reading books about future science, breakdowns of theory, and larger metaphors that science brings to humanity and life. Last year for APE I wanted to create some scientist portraits for prints but didn't have enough time. It shan't be so this year! I just finished the first in the series... one of my all-time favorite scientists, writers, and thinkers... Carl Sagan.

get them thoughts on paper

First was a lot of research and ideas. I had just finished reading Pale Blue Dot, so Sagan's voice and ideas were fresh in my brain. I also watched a ton of Cosmos while sketching.

notes and sketching

draw all the Sagans!

Once I had the idea down and drew Sagan a bunch of times to get a feel for his facial features and attitude, I settled on a pose and layout. Time for drawing and inking!

finished pencil drawing

After I settled on the drawing and liked how he looked, it was time to transfer to some bristol and get to inking.

love me some croquill dip pens... Hunt 102 for life!

completed inked portrait

There were other elements I needed to execute traditionally before getting digital. I painted a watercolor space sky with stars and a violet/red color scheme. I also wanted to have a border for the illustration with icons from the scientist's work and interests.

billions and billions....

After I had all the elements traditionally inked and painted, the power of Photoshop was needed. I colored digitally, messed around with a few different concepts, and settled on the final illustration.

I'll have prints this October at APE (Alternative Press Expo) so come out if you want one! Next on the roster... Neil deGrasse Tyson, of course!

Faith and Fear

I've mentioned before on my blog about my War Days comic project which will explore my time growing up at a very strict Catholic grammar school and how I became an atheist. I've been kicking this idea around for quite a few years now (since undergrad actually! Yikes!) and it's finally time! The first issue of War Days will be available at APE (Alternative Press Expo) in San Jose, Oct. 3rd-4th.

I may change the title before then, but then again I always struggle with titles so it may just stick. In case you're curious, the title War Days comes from how my sister and I would refer to our time at the school after leaving it and talking to friends about it. "Back in our war days..." Sometimes it really felt that hostile. Although, I'm not sure I'll keep it since it may elicit too many other thoughts and be confusing to potential readers. Let me know what you think of the title!

A lot of planning goes into making the comics. I have a notebook full of notes on my memories as well as some my sister shared with me. I then broke those up into sections and panel lengths. I'm trying to approach the actual comic creation a little more exploratory and freeform, but I can't help but plan beforehand.

Sketches for this comic's characters

I've drawn a lot of character sketches already to get a feel for how I want the comic to look, but also decided to sketch the characters that would appear in this comic so I could tape that up in front of me while I worked and have a reference point.

Finished pencils

After penciling the page out, I then transferred the drawing to bristol with a lighbox. I may try using blue pencils and then inking directly ontop next time, but there's a certain freedom I have when I know I'm drawing a separate pencils page. I don't feel bad if I make dark pencil marks or erase a lot, whereas if I was drawing directly on the bristol I might be more paranoid about drawing something wrong and take less risks.

After transferring the drawing, the laboring love of inking begins. I use dip pens and india ink--currently enjoying the Black Cat brand since it's very opaque.

Much coffee is had and reference is all in mah face

And the final comic page!

I have quite a few more pages to finish by October, so I will definitely be sharing more of them, but not all. You'll have to buy the comic to read them all!

Don't worry... there will be plenty of nuns...

Game of Thrones Pause and Draw

Season 5, Episode 4

As the season progresses, quotes may be replaced with my laments with the terrible changes to the plot and characters.

This is another great example.

Season 5, Episode 5

More episodes to come...

Sacred Black: An Art Order Challenge Entry

I've been following The Art Order for awhile now and have wanted to participate in the challenges, but hadn't yet... until NOW! This challenge was a cover for F(r)iction #2, an art and literary collection. The guidelines were the color blue, surreal in nature, and inspired by the mysteries within the murky depths of the ocean. It was time to get sketching!

I've been reading Pale Blue Dot by Carl Sagan, so of course the mysteries of the cosmos was on my mind. I think it's interesting how there are so many unknowns in the vastness of both space and the oceans right here on our blue planet. I started sketching a concept of a woman looking up into the sky which would transition to a strange, deep-sea mermaid within her imagination.

In the book, Sagan mentions the idea of "sacred black" and I was hooked on that phrase. He connects the adventure, awe and draw of the blue skies on our planet to the vast blackness of space. The chapter also goes into the different colors of the skies on various planets and how color works, so of course I was intrigued. I had my title. I still wanted to work in the girl staring at the stars and sky, but was finding it difficult to work as a cover. I was also concerned my concept of the mysteries of space and the ocean being connected might not be read well.

Some mermaid sketches and notes.

 

I decided to scrap the girl staring at the sky and instead focus on space meshing with sea. I'm also interested in black holes and the many unknowns about that phenomena, so I decided that would be the space connection. This way the illustration would focus on the deep sea mermaid and not be torn between two main characters.

Some final notes and planning.

Then it was drawing time!

Coffee is essential

I wasn't quite sure what pose I wanted the mermaid to be in, so after sketching some small thumbnails of mermaids in movement, I decided to get up and take some poses!

Posing. Posing with my arm. Posing...

Sketching from my references.

Then many coffees later....

The finished drawing!

Once I liked the drawing, it was time to ink.

Finished ink.

Then... PHOTOSHOP TIME. 

I listened to a lot of Coast to Coast AM.

And voila! The finished product!

Dat bioluminescence.

The Art Order challenge is still open for two more days, until June 14th! So if you have the time or a piece ready that fits, submit your work! 

Life Change and Game of Thrones

Sorry it's been so long since my last post. May was an absolutely crazy month. In the span of 3-4 weeks I visited Los Angeles with my partner, we secured an apartment, and moved. It has been a whirlwind of activity and I'm so very happy to finally be settling back down into normalcy. Now just to unpack my copious amount of art supplies and set up my new studio space!

In the meantime, I have been drawing--I swear! I started sketching some Pause-n-Draw with this new season of Game of Thrones. I have a time limit of 10 minutes per pause/sketch, and although that may sound like a lot of time, it really isn't! It's been fun to see how quickly I can capture the composition and mood of the scene. Also, it really makes me pay attention to the cinematography of the show more (this season is DARK).

For quicker updates on the Pause-n-Draw GoT project, follow my Facebook page or follow me on Instagram @datbootietho.

Enjoy!

S5E01

S5E01

S5E02

S5E02

S5E03

Massive Sketches Post

2015 has been the year of sketching and drawing more frequently which has been great. Thus, an obligatory sketch dump.

I've really been enjoying participating in drawing challenges. A lot of these sketches were from a draw-every-day prompt #doodleordie in February. I'm also still working on my 500 figure drawing challenge (only at about 20/500). I'll keep sharing more sketches here but for more frequent posts, check out my Facebook page or follow me on Instagram @datbootietho.