What A Doll

And then I'll dream up things like this.
I'm thinking I may have to actually paint one in 3D.

Or should that be 3DD?

Unsure

Sometimes I draw how I'm feeling. Tonight, I seemed to draw an image that reflects how I seem to want to feel, but I guess I'm confused about whether or not I actually feel this way... or for that matter, what exactly 'this way' is. I don't know what it means, really, but this is the drawing in my head, and how it came out. Oddly enough, I had a good day, but with just a few doubts in my mind about otherwise good experiences. I just don't know. It's almost subconscious.

Brushed

I got some favorable responses for the last Japanese brush-style drawing I did a couple of days ago, so I thought I'd try something I was actually more satisfied with. While I liked the form of the woman in the gown, the brushes in Photoshop didn't vary enough for me to be pleased with the strokes. So while downloading an episode of anime online last night, I pulled the first blank sheet of paper I could find and a brush tip sharpie. At first I thought I'd lay something out in pencil and brush it in, but then figured, Eff it, I'll just sketch something out real quickly. It was supposed to be a nude man's back, but because I made the arms too long, I remedied it by putting gloves on him. I really like the way the fade on his hair turned out though.

Child, Too

My friend Jo complained that I drew a rather feral child yesterday, so I thought I'd try something a bit more realistic. So I got a reference (an ethnic girl) and drew her. I'm not sure she's as young looking as the original reference, but it's an okay drawing.

Child

Funny, I've definitely developed my skills in drawing adult faces, but after I decided to draw a child tonight (inspired by some graphic illustrations I saw in a magazine) I realize my drawing looks no different than the way I used to draw kids back over 20 years ago. Methinks I have found another thing I need to practice.

Chickens

I decided I am going to send this 'Flash' envelope to a friend, but I needed to fill in the other side.

Fall Colors

I still wanted to experiment with the wet edge brushes in Photoshop, so I got out one of my recent unfinished sketches and redid the coloring. I'm surprised by how much this looks like how I would paint in watercolor in reality. It's like I react to how the paint lays on the canvas and then add other strokes accordingly. It's a different mindset from when I draw with other Photoshop tools. Interesting. Although I need to fix her eyes - when I colored them in, they began to look a bit too close set...

Anime

I spent yet another night watching anime before going to bed last night. While waiting for the episodes of Bleach to download, I pulled out a sketchbook and doodled an amalgam of several characters from Bleach. I think the hand pose is a bit fey though.

Fashion Sketch test

The Barneys Co op Fall catalog came in and it was all awkward poses and lots of ankle boots. I wasn't too inspired but tried my hand at interpreting one of the looks, but realized the pose worked better when there were two girls (instead of my loner). It's not the worst thing I've done, but can't say I love it. Anyhow, still working CS2's wet brushes. Have to say, I'm getting used to them.

Line

I spent all day getting my taxes in order, so tonight I just wanted to watch tv. But then, I didn't do a drawing. After watching so many samurais battle in Bleach (my current anime fix), I wanted to do a quick ink-style sketch, and a Japanese-y theme popped in. Not bad for just a couple of minutes...

Watered

What a dunce I am! I never even knew the wet media brushes existed in Photoshop! They definitely look like a wet on wet technique to me, although it's certainly nothing more than an experimental sketch. I'll have to practice more with this.

Gym Girl

Saw this girl at the gym wearing this outfit, or some variation thereof. I'm not sure what her shoes were so I put these in instead. She looked cute for the gym... well, cuter than the drawing.

Delirium

I'm so tired I was deliriously woozy, and I'm struggling to stay awake to draw. Is this the drawn equivalent of onomatopeia? Did I even spell that right...?

Hair Color

Inspiration strikes in interesting ways. I was reading this week's New York Times magazine when I saw an illustration using gradients (by Paul Sahre and Loren Flaherty) then turned the page and saw an ad for a Picasso line drawing that was up for sale, and I remembered the conversation I had with a neighbor a few hours ago about the new movie about the Beatles songs strewn together into a lavish fantasy by Julie Taymor (Across The Universe), which reminded me about the play/movie Hair. And this was the result.

Bunny Jar

My Momoyo Torimitsu bunny jar is back in my living room, after having reconstructive surgery (i.e. a post-smashing session with my friend Greg and a tube of ceramic glue). I was looking around the room for something to draw tonight and whoop, there it is.

Black Pearl

My dear friend Rainer made me some fabulous jewelry - a chatelaine, as well as a pin, both inlaid with black pearls, as a birthday present. I love the look of black pearls. I've been staring at them since I got them.

Happy Birthday To Me!

I want some cake!
Now, I think this counts as yesterday's drawing, but will I do a drawing today? Or, will I take the day off? :)

Sweater

Been shopping for sweaters today - Fall on my mind. Want something oversized this season.

Postal

I couldn't figure out how to draw around the Flash's unitard, so the whole outfit just went to hell. The mutant chicken seems to agree. I have to think of who to mail this to.

Saturn Girl

I used to love the Legion of Super heroes comic book. I would draw them endlessly, because the costumes were so damn interesting for the time. Now, the book has been rebooted upteen times, and they're redoing the costumes. I didn't like what I saw in the releases, so I thought I would design my own. Saturn Girl in the 70s had a weird flippy hairdo that I always loved drawing, but updating it nearly 30 years later isn't working. These sketches just aren't cutting it. Ah well...

Pen Sketches, pt.2

It's amazing how much faster I am with a pen - it took no time at all. I guess while I find drawing with a stylus almost like second nature, natural media is obviously just natural for me, despite 12 years of digital drawing. This guy was an effort to do the sort of disheveled street look popular nowadays... I think I need to work on the outfit ideas more...!

Pen Sketches, pt.1

I've gotten into a new (well, for me) anime series, and while I've been waiting for it to download on Veoh, I've been sketching on sheets of paper that I had on my desk. I was trying to do 80s feathered bangs on a youngish face, but as you can se, I didn't put too much effort into it. The face is all warped and distort-y.

Headcase

This doodle started nowhere particular and ended there as well.

Poufed

Fashion Week

Spring Fashion Week has arrived in NYC as of today. Thought I'd do a quick 'watercolor.'

Mask Too

I spent way too much time niggling lines and pixels for my designwork. I needed something without straight lines, and all freeform color. I launched painter with the mask I did yesterday, and I just decided to continue it. And now I'm going to sleep.

Mini Mask

Owners of Double Identity shoes will recognize the little idol mask keychain included with every shoe purchase. I've been procrastinating on a web design all day and decided I wasn't going to draw anything to finish the work, but I picked up the keychain and just started drawing it. Obviously this is a very closeup view of it. It was fun actually, like old still life classes back in high school and college. I really wanted to get into the shading and highlights, but thought I'd just do a perfunctory sketch. I do have work to do...

Kitten-ish?

Actually, she looks kinda cheap to me. I was trying to draw a different facial type based on a model I saw in a music video while doing cardio, but... well, she kinda looks cheesy. And I mean, just facially. Like she's a reality tv version of a model.

John B

I'm a little afraid of this drawing. The model is a famous fashion designer who's a good friend of a friend. I took his photos three years ago and began this portrait around then, but haven't been able to finish. I have such high expectations for the outcome, as well as hoping to please the John himself, so much so that I have avoided finishing this piece out of fear of those expectations. I suppose it's because of many things, but I think ultimately it's because I'm doing this as a piece for someone else, and not for myself, which it should be. I'm trying to let go and trust that I'll do the right thing.

Fortunately, in the past 3/4 of a year since I started this blog, the constant practice has actually affected my skills in a positive way. Shapes and forms I didn't see before are clearer than ever, and I think I can actually do a better job. Yet I still hope that John himself, who came with his own idea of the art direction, would be pleased. After three years, I have much to live up to. I'm still not sure how much longer before I finish this...

Drunk Rat

I used to draw a lot of critters back when I was a kid, and these drunk rats were a recurring
theme, but I can't for the life of me remember why they were drunk and stomping about like zombies. I always had a story... I think they were the foils for my bouncing Siamese cats that boinged around on their butts.