Illustration Friday: Help

Help unlocking her heart. It's been awhile since I've participated. I didn't create this for this exact topic, but thought it might fit somehow. I spent alot more time on this one and I think it shows. I've also included the various stages of this project. Comments are welcome.

Halloween Trick

Here is a project I was working on for the Black & Orange gallery contest illustrator Penelope Dullaghan has created. (here's a link that you can copy and paste since I'm incompetent and can't create a link): http://penelopeillustration.com/projects/halloween2006/index.html

I thought it would be nice to share my process with this one and show the different stages of completion. Plus a glimpse at my workspace.




Here is my computer workspace. I use a Dual Pentium Imac with a Wacom tablet for all of my digitally colored illustrations.


Here's my drafting table with some of the stuff I use when I work on a project like this. I use Canson Smooth bristol board, Derwent pencils, Micron Pens & Generals Tri-Tip erasers.

Illustration Friday: Quiet (Night Powers)

Well although this wasn't created exactly for this topic, I think it kinda fits. Comments welcome!

Illustration Friday: perfect (MATCH) or "Tough Love" PT2

FOOLED YOU!!! Okay so no new illustration just wanted to spend some extra time finishing last weeks. I know it's lame to post under this weeks topic, but I want to know what people think of the color. Here's another look at some of the details...


Well, here is my post for this week. As you can see it's not yet complete, but I wanted to get it posted while I could. Because I feel like I've been rushing through the Illustration Friday entries the last couple of times and I'm not spending enough time on the color. So check back soon to see the full color version soon!

Ok, I just realized I forgot to link to a static page...Penelope is gonna be mad!!!! Sorry!!!

Illustration Friday: Play

Well here is my extremely late Illustration Friday post. Enjoy! Comments are welcomed!

Untitled Woman (Wacom Practice)

Here's a sketch I did that I decided to ad color to and practice with my Wacom Tablet. It's taking a little time to get used to but I'm pretty pleased with how I'm doing so far. Comments welcomed!

Illustration Friday: Sticky (Bubble Gum)

Here's my entry for this week. I spent last night working on this and finished it up a few minutes ago. This was a fun piece and didn't take me a ton of time. I need to get back to doing IF every week. It sure has given me a great portfolio. Comments are welcomed.

Illustration Friday - Portrait (MI:3)

It just so happens that I am working on a fun project that fits with this weeks Illustration Friday topic. I was thinking about how I need to work on likenesses, because if I want to get hired by some of the magazines I want to work with, I'll need to be able to draw a pretty decent likeness of anyone. I also am a huge movie geek, for the last couple summers I put off seeing all the movies that I wanted to see in the theatre for various reasons and later regreted it and wished I'd made more of an effort. So this summer I've made a promise to myself. I am going to see all of the movies that interest me, in the comfort of the Theatre on their opening weekends. To go along with this I am going to do several illustrations of my favorites after I see them. So here is my first entry for MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 3 which I thought was one of the best spy action movies that I've ever seen. Better than both of the previous installments combined (and I really enjoy the first one alot). Even though it didn't make as much money at the box office as the studios would have liked I really thought it was completly genius, and I can't wait to see what first time director J.J. Abrams (creator of the tv series ALIAS, and LOST) turns out next. I've also already seen Xmen 3 and the DaVinci Code and started my DaVinci Code illustration last night (I've opted not to do xmen3 because I felt it was not as good as it should have been). So in case you were wondering here is my list of not to miss Summer Blockbuster Movies.....

- Mission Impossible 3 (Fantastic Movie 5 out of 5 Stars)

- The DaVinci Code ( 5 of 5 stars. Another great movie, I was afraid that it would be the occasional Ron Howard bomb, but it was pleasently great!

- X men 3 ( 3 of 5 stars. I enjoyed this movie but felt it didn't have as much heart as the 2nd installment. This movie was made for general audiences not fans of the Xmen comics. Unfortunatly too many storylines were smooshed together leaving the best parts of all the stories out. And the scene at beginning with the Sentinals...why even put a scene in with the towering Sentinals if your not going to at least show them in there 90 foot tall glory.

- Cars ( Another Pixar/Disney slam dunk. I'm not worried about this one, it's pretty much guaranteed to be great.

- Nacho Libre ( Comic genius Jack Black plus Napolean Dynamite Director Jared Hess, School of Rock writer Mike White, and genious musician Beck handling the soundtrack...plus the scene in the trailer where Jack Black flexes his but cheeks and it makes the whip cracking sound cracks me up everytime I see it (despite the fact that my girlfriend thinks I'm gay for laughing at it)

- Fast & Furious: Tokyo Drift ( This one almost didn't make my list, I loved, loved, loved the first one....and wished the 2nd one could have even been close, So I'm hoping that a new storyline and direction by Justin Lin will help. Just one thing though, why the hell is Lil Bow Wow in this? Shouldn't he be at the babysitter?

- Superman Returns ( I'm gonna get teary eyed seeing this in the theatre... Superman 1 and 2 are amazing and the fact that this isn't a reimagining but a homage to the original is fantastic)

- Pirates of the Caribbean 2 ( Enjoyed the first one, this one looks even cooler with all the squidy tetacle looking pirates)

- A Scanner Darkly ( Richard Linklater's unique animated movie of Philip K. Dick's futuristic story about paranoia and the governments war on drugs.

- Lady in the water ( Probably my favorite director ever, M. Night Shyamalan. Even though I didn't really like the village, Unbreakable has to be one of my all time favorite movies)

- Miami Vice ( Ever heard of a guy named Micheal Mann? Well he directed HEAT and COLLATERAL and alot of people don't know this, but he also created Miami Vice...I think this movie as cheesy as it sounds could be kick ass!)

- Talladega Nights: The ballad of Ricky Bobby (Okay this looks hilarious....Plus this is Will Farrel where he belongs. this movie is brought to you by the same people who did Anchorman: The legend of Ron Burgundy....I love the fact that these comedies have really long drawn out titles!

- Clerks 2 ( Kevin Smith has apparently come up with something really great here. I love the rest of his "Jersy" films and the first Clerks holds a special place in my fat little heart...From what I hear the movie premiered last month at the Cannes Film festival and received a wonderful honor after the credits rolled...an 8 minute standing ovation from the audience...I saw video of this and the audience surrounded Kevin Smith and wife and the actors and clapped for what seemed like forever...and apparently this hardly ever happens either. )

My Business Cards!

TADA...here are my new business cards. I attempted to make them like little works of art and made them 2 sided. I got them printed on 4over4.com and I have to say they did a fantastic job. I left room on the back of the card to write information like price quotes, phone #'s or anything really. I should have my first set of self promo postcards soon..I can't wait to mail em out!

Illustration Friday - Under The Sea

well I missed a really great topic last week with "robot" but I'm trying to make up for that lost opportunity with what I think is a decent illustration for a semi lame topic (Under The Sea? seriously, enough water themed topics). I wish that I could find the time to participate every week, but I've decided that If I'm going to get more illustration work, I have to start doing alot more self promotion, I'm supposed to get my first set of professional business cards soon and I've ordered my first batch of self-promo post cards. I'm also compiling a mailing list of people, publishers and businesses that I think could use illustration work like mine. Along with this I'm in the process of leaving my current full time newspaper graphic design job for a much better paying job at one of their competitors. So basically things have been crazy & I've been having a hard time finding time for alot of things.

I am making time though to go see Mission Impossible 3 this weekend. If you can put Tom Cruise's crazy personal life aside. I've heard that if you want to go see a really great spy flik with alot of great action and cool stunts that actually has a great story. Go see this movie!!! If you were dissipointed by the first two and want to see it done right...Go see this movie!!! This time of year is a special time for me because it marks the beginning of the summertime big budget blockbuster movie. There are so many movies coming out in the next few months that it's making my head spin. Last year I only saw a couple of the movies that I wanted to see in the theatre, but this year, I swore to myself that I would see all the movies that I'm interested in. It will take focus but I think I can do it. Alright enough of me dorking out! Go see some great movies this summer!!!

I'll post some pics of my new business cards and postcards as soon as I get em. Hope everyone has a great week. Comments are more than welcome!

Finished Farmer Zombie

Here is the finished full color version of my "Monster" Entry from a couple of weeks ago. Comments welcome!

Illustration Friday - Speed (rocket man)

Well here is my rediculously late submission for Illustration Friday. I did the entire digital coloring on my new Imac with a scanner, Wacom tablet and my rediculously expensive copy of Adobe CS2. Now all I have to do is make enough money doing freelance this year to cover the cost of it. Anyone want to sponsor an underfunded freelance illustrator? Let me know if you want to donate money to the "please help me pay for my computer fund". Or even better hire me to do an illustration! Then I won't have to be a bum and beg for money. Anyhow enjoy. Comments welcome!

Illustration Friday - Monster

Inked Version


Here is my half finished entry for "Monster". Nothin more scary than a redneck zombie! I'll have the finished piece up very soon! Comments are welcome! Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Illustration Friday - Feet

These are my Hobbit like feet....enjoy! (Ink & digital)

Well, it's been several weeks since I've participated in Illustration Friday, Many things have happened since my last post. I've moved from a giant apartment to a tiny apartment (and managed somehow to get all of my stuff into it), done some freelance work (thanks to my website), ruined 2 computers (that I've been nursing along for awile), and managed to be generally stressed out for like a month straight. Now that things have slowed down & I can for the most part think straight. I plan on trying to participate alot more, but I'm also trying desperatly to find the money for self promotion, so I can get some self promo post cards printed that will hopefully bring me a couple of freelance illustration jobs.

Illustration Friday - Simple

I'm not sure how exactly to relate this to the topic "simple" but I think it fits somehow. I didn't have any ideas for several days until the image of a small leafy plant at the center of a frame came to mind.

On a side note, I may be taking a break from blogging for a couple of weeks because I'm in the process of packing and moving to a new apartment. So until I get reconnected to the interweb I'll see ya around.

Illustration Friday - Chair

This is one of the dining room STEFAN chairs from IKEA that we have. I love them because they are sturdy, lightweight, and believe it or not pretty comfy to sit on. Plus they were well priced at $20 each, which was surprising because nice chairs are usually really expensive. I used to live pretty close to an IKEA when I lived in Pittsburgh, and it was nice because you could get half decent looking furniture for your college apartment and still have money for beer & art supplies.

Illustration Friday - Glamour

Original Inked art

I felt like drawing some flowy blowing hair. Just so happens to fit the topic very well. Enjoy!

E is for Electricity 2 (COLOR REDONE)

I wasn't particularly happy with the results on the coloring for this piece for Illustration Friday a couple weeks ago, so i messed around with the colors till I thought it was an improvement. I'm happier with this one.

Illustration Friday - Cats (or in this case CAT)

This is my Cat Chloe. The topic of Illustration Friday was a perfect excuse to try something different and draw my favorite four legged friend. I did this using Prismacolor pencils on green paper. Comments are welcome!

On a side note I'm amazed at how many people are participating in Illustration Friday now. I actually remember when I could check out almost everyones work and when I'd post I could acutally be in the first 200 or 300. Now I'm in the 700's. Penelope Dullaghan has really created something everyone can enjoy. Check it out www.illustrationfriday.com

Illustration Friday- E is For (Electricity)

I'm not really sure why this came to mind when I found out the topic. It represents the idea that there are other resources for energy in the world, and we need to persue them before we run out of natural resources like oil. I'm not sure if the idea fits the illustration exactly but I gave it a shot. Let me know what you think!