Character-a-Day: 6.30.14

It is Monday again, and I am back at the desk. Always a great feeling after bar tending for the weekend.

I started this week reading some more of Andrew Loomis’ Creative Illustration. As so, I decided to apply two of his more simple lessons (simple in terms of applying, but more difficult in terms of mastering) for today’s character.

Although there is not much character, I focused more on mood and composition. I applied one of Loomis’ approaches to informal design. Basically, he says start with a line running horizontal or vertically across the page. Do not center this line, and do not use it to define a third of the paper, or a fourth. From here, draw a diagonal from one corner of the paper to the other. Now, draw another line either vertically or horizontally through the intersection of the first two lines. Finally, draw diagonals through any rectangles you find, and draw vertical lines and horizontal lines where these diagonals intersect with the original diagonal. Do this to your hearts content.  Through this process, you will end up with not two spaces of a similar size, creating intriguing negative space which is ideal for informal design.

I left my initial composition of line and blocked in the areas that I saw a figure in.

For the next applied lesson, I simply used a four tone scale. Loomis says if you choose an arrangement of these values, choose one value for the background, in this case white/light gray, and layer the other three values (black, dark grey, light grey), you will more often than find yourself with a fairly appealing picture.

As this was a quick drawing, there is much that can be fixed, and or pushed further. However, with what I have present, there is a great foundation for a finished piece. The concepts are simple  andeffective! Feel free to try it out!

Have a great Monday everyone…

EG Claunch

Character-a-Day: 6.28.14

Hello to all!

I have another character completed for you, as well as a further concept of Val Anacori.

I also started reading another book titled ‘Creative Illustration,’ by Andrew Loomis. I had read parts of it before for class readings, but never really tried to process any of the information. Obviously a huge mistake on my part, for as many of you know, Andrew Loomis is friggin’ amazing. Sorry for the harsh language, but that kind of shock is needed to express such a talented and knowledgable individual. I will be sharing things I feel should be relayed to my fellow artists out there as I come across them in this book.

To those of you that are unaware of Andrew Loomis and all that he has accomplished as an artist, there is much we can learn from him. Whether you are a seasoned professional or a beginner. Check out some of his books here.  Also, please be aware that he has also written more than just Creative Illustration, I just happen to be reading that particular book at this time!

Anywho, cheers everyone. Off to work…

EG Claunch

Character-a-Day: 6.25.14

Today was an exciting and revelatory day for me for a couple of reasons.

First and foremost, this last week has made me realize how important it is to keep educating yourself in the arts. I got stuck in this rut of simply sitting at my desk day-in and day-out, touching up pieces of art I was working on, and never really pushing myself to grow as an artist.

For any of you that feel like you’re doing the same thing day-after-day and you don’t feel like your work is progressing, make a conscious effort to do some research, whether it be through reading, online tutorials, classes, or whatever.

In just a week of taking an hour or two to focus only on research and learning, I can feel an improvement in my work. Also, I’m having more fun with my artwork through exploring and experimenting, because I’m implementing new lessons I have learned, which keeps my process fresh. There is always someone out there that is better than you. Don’t take that age old lesson as an intimidating statement, but rather an exciting opportunity to learn from others!

So, today I finished up the book I’ve been reading titled, “Force: Dynamic Life Drawing for Animators,” by Michael D. Mattesi. Click Here to check it out.  The book finished today with a chapter on drawing force in animals.

This was a nice segue into some online tutorials I’ve been watching online, because today’s tutorial discussed rendering a character, and that character happened to be some sort of alligator, beast-like creature. I would like to take this moment to tell you all to check out Feng Zhu’s tutorials. It’s focused towards concept art and digital artists, but it can also help all artists with things like picking values for your art, composition, creating lighting, etc. You can check these tutorials out by clicking here.

So, after all that, I give you my character of the day, the WereKiba. I was inspired by my Siberian Husky, Kiba. So yes, it is your typical werewolf style character, but it was especially fun for me because I had an excuse to play around with my dog more than I usually do in the scope of the day. What project is better than that!

Anyway, I hope you all enjoy my dog. I feel this is a pretty accurate representation of his personality. Jokes! For the most part…guy gets straight up crazy sometime!

Take care everyone.

EG Claunch

Character-a-Day: 6.24.14

After reading a chapter from Force: Dynamic Life Drawing for Animators, I got inspired to do a quick character that focused on cloth and drapery. Now, I have taken rules I have learned from this chapter, as well as lessons from a book called “Drawing People: How to Portray the Clothed Figure,” by Barbara Bradley, as well as “Dynamic Wrinkles and Drapery:  Solutions for Drawing the Clothed Figure,” by Burne Hogarth. Both are excellent books to gain a better understanding of how the human body effects different materials, and how those materials form and drape in response. Links to the books below…

Drawing People by Barbara Bradley
Dynamic Drapery by Burne Hogarth

Anyway, as this character was completed without any reference, it is ripe with mistakes, but I was happy with what I was able to do by simply trying to recall all the rules and tricks from my readings. Overall, I think the drapery is effective in revealing the figures form.

I also decided to include the initial sketch of the figure.

Hope you all enjoy. Have a great day.

EG Claunch

 

Character-a-Day: 6.23.14

For today’s character, I decided to use the next character I’m developing for my upcoming story. This gentleman’s name is Val Anacori. After the initial concept of the character and his backstory, I obviously needed a face for him.

Scott McCloud and Marcos Mateu-Mastre, both authors and artists I have mentioned earlier in this blog (Making Comics and Framed Ink respectively), mention that your characters, if they will appear and reappear in the story, should have some unique characteristics. This way, the audience can recognize them whenever they appear.

I looked to Yu Darvish, ace pitcher for the Texas Rangers, and Zack Fair from Final Fantasy VII. A couple of piercings and I had a character whose look really matches the story I have developed for him. Some of the characters I create don’t come as easily, so it is quite a treat when everything falls into place!

Anyway, I hope that you all enjoy and look forward to meeting him!

Take care,

EG Claunch

Character-a-Day 6.19.2014

For today’s character, I was really feelin’ some Dragon Ball Z! I watched a couple of those Honest Trailers last night, and I had to say that the Dragon Ball Evolution Trailer was pretty damn funny. Worst part of the movie? No Vegeta. I understand that the movie took place during the Dragon Ball series and not the Z series, but no Vegeta? Not like breaking cannon would have made that movie any damn worse, I mean come on….one of the best characters in the story. Anyway, feast your eyes on some Akira Toriyama characters!

Hope you all enjoy!

EG Claunch

 

Character-a-Day 6.18.2014

Today, I applied a some of my reading from a book titled, “Force: Dynamic Life Drawing for Animators,” written by Michael D. Mattesi.

It is a great book that delves into the influential forces that effect our body every moment of every day. It discusses things like directional and applied forces, the rhythm of one directional force into another for a consistent rhythm, how the curves of the body relate to one another, and much more. There are a lot of basics in there, but it is always good to brush up and refresh. On top of that, there are some lessons there that are new and are continuing to help build on my technical foundations.  Click Here to take a look at the book.

I was very aware of the directional and applied forces with this character today, and I think it came through nicely.  The relationship between the ribcage and the hip is well established, her center of gravity in line with the line of balance, giving her a very sturdy, powerful stance.  Even with such a grounded stance, there is still some nice rhythm of movement beginning with her left hand, leading up to her right shoulder, curving back into her ribcage which bounces over to her right hip, and continuing down into her right kneecap and ankle.  I plan to continue this thought process with future works, as I feel it has brought a bit more life to my illustration today, and I am very pleased with the quick results!

Anyway, off my soapbox…hope everyone’s day is a good one…take care all!

EG Claunch

Possession

For the next series of my Character-a-Day, I will be creating whatever comes up as I put stylus to tablet. I usually start with a loose gesture to get a feel for what my pose will be, and the character essentially begins from there.

I titled this piece possession as the focal point of the picture is a gauntlet that is essentially a living parasite. I felt that the ball and chain helped communicate a feeling of imprisonment, an indentured servant of this menacing gauntlet.

Was the beast that wears this demonic glove a noble being at some point, or an evil spirit hell bent on destroying everything in its path? I’ll let you decide.

Thanks for your time everyone.

EG Claunch

 

Character-a-Day: The Vatman & the Watchman

Two more characters for my “Character-a-Day,” which has recently turned into a character every so often. I will try and do better!

Character-a-Day: The Security Officer

The Lands of the Terra Messiah are full of people that like to celebrate, live lavishly and care free. Because of this, there is much crime, including theft, murder, rape, kidnapping, smuggling, counterfeiting, extortion, etc. However, the Lands of the Terra Messiah are also home to the best security forces in all Asu. Many of these officers are ex-military. However, there are also simple people of moral integrity. Then again, there are also officers who just want to bash some heads, and others that are corrupt. Essentially, it’s much like you and I understand the police forces of our day and age!