A new character!

A fun little dude for a video or demo reel...

This was a fun little project. I had recieved a commision at just the wrong time. It was a fun little idea that I wanted to fancy up. The original sketch was fine for what it needed to do for its purpose but for the sketch here I wanted to do more. I had to change a couple of things and the coat of arms was an actual coat of arms from Italy. I don't remember where from and I am sure it would be easy to find on the internet. The individual that asked for the work has some lineage back in Italy if I remember.

The best part of this little project was that he asked me to draw it and I thought I was doing it as a commissioned work but he was leaving at the time and there may have been a few other gifts to him and I think he thought it was a gift due to the timing I was giving it to him. I never did get paid on the job but it was a donation with a frame that was not all there and I didn't like the surface I was working on as it didn't take real well to the wet media I used. It was a fun project, I am still learning new things and having a great time doing it.

I can't say I haven't done anything in the past month. I have finally finished with a request to draw a full leg sleeve tattoo. I will add again that drawing tattoos is not my favorite thing to draw in the world but as I make them more artistic and work at applying my own style in ways that make the drawings into works of art they become more to me than a prospective tattoo. I have asked for a few pictures from people that get the tattoos but I have yet to get any photos back.

This image was a midevil inspired one. The individual is from Puerto Rico as can be seen from the flag. He asked me for this one back when we were in Kuwait and I put it off till we returned to the states. I like the way it looks and he sounded super pleased. I was notified that he would be starting the line work to be done the following monday. I haven't received any photos back as I once again asked for some photos of the work in progress and of course the finished ink. I know I won't be getting any tattoos any time soon, but to each their own I suppose. 

 

Indian in the Cupboard

This does not have much to do with the book Indian in the Cupboard but I did read the book and really liked it as a kid. Now as an adult I have enjoyed the illustrations of J C Leyendecker. I grabbed it out of a book a while ago, painted it a few whiles ago and thought now would be a great time to post it on the blog.

It was a fun one to paint. I like to take an older illustrators work and try my hands at a copy. I am trying to copy their composition, get a feel for their style as I practise control of my own tools and skills. It is a great exercise. I hope I did old J C proud or at least not embarrass him.

I should be framing it soon. I have been working on trying to reduce the price of my framing cost by first going to thrift stores and picking up good frames with lots of character there and now at a local hobby store they have a section of frames that were made for a custom job but for some reason the frame was not used. Often there is a defect in the material like a chip or scratch. I get excited cause I do some framing and can easily repair minor defaults. And they are usually selling them as fast as they can to keep product moving off the shelf. I have been pretty lucky here recent and hope to get this one settled into a new home. It just happens that the frame was one that my wife was not sold on, but due to a great price and Abe throwing a fit in the store, I did end up buying it. Now I need to take the frame apart and get it over to the apache art's center on Fort Hood to get it put back together in the right size!

Did I just hear my name?

I have a friend that I thought I knew a little about but I am thinking now we might be more of just associates. He is a great guy and I learned more about how great he is a person. I took advantage of some networking I thought I could do and I encouraged someone I admire to interview him. It took a couple of tries with Dr Paul to get him on the show but he did get on the show:

http://www.liveonpurposeradio.com/radio/2012/02/13/illustrating-success/

It is a great interview. I will have to admit I got a little laugh at hearing my name on the podcast, but the real fun was simply learning more about the man Will Terry. An even more admirable individual now.

 I have enjoyed listening to Dr Paul cause he has some people on the show that have gone through what I think to be more than I would ever want to go through and have all found their success as they have shared what they are passionate about and shared it with the world. They are inspiring me to find my passion and share it with the world. I don't know exactly how to do this but it is an exciting adventure to find how how I can share what I love to do with those that love what I can do.

I wanted to thank Dr Paul for sharing those great people he knows and also Will Terry for all the time he takes to share what he loves with all of us that love it! What a great reminder for me to get busy with what I love!

I should add that I borrowed this picture of Will from his sisters blog, I want to give credit where credit is due: http://myplasticfreelife.com/2010/12/letter-from-will-terry-a-normal-guy-and-not-some-tree-hugging-freak/