Scarlet

Tomorrow is the day I get to watch Avengers" Age of Ultron, so in preparation for that, I thought I'd try a few attempts at redesigning the Scarlet Witch's costume, which I kinda hate. Her new one is much nicer, but it's still... lacking somehow.

Lanky Laddie Longneck 2

I love the idea that I can just draw a composition and it works as well as I imagined. But I didn't imagine much beyond this guy's neck and hands, and now filling in the rest of his outfit (I thought I could do wide pants) is proving problematic. That's what happens when you expect a doodle to become a piece.

Lanky Laddie Longneck

My association with male models, as well as actually being around them a lot, has totally influenced my aesthetic. This sketch was the result of hanging out with my friend, fashion illustrator Lamont Oneal, and discussing men's fashion illustration today, and aspiring to (aping, really) Egon Schiele proportions.

Quirk of the Medium

When I try a new tool or brush, I tend to work very differently, or even get inspired to do things I normally don't, which I suppose is a reason I should play with more media. This was the Mr.Natural ink-type brush from Kyle Webster again, so the comic book-like ink line made me go with a caricature.

The New Angle

... is kind of an old angle, but one that seems to be getting more and more attention in Fashion. I'm trying to compose something and draw it without a reference.

Fishing For Fashion 3

I needed a change after being so ineffectual at drawing a reasonable likeness of my nude, so I'm back in Fashion, where I was previously being so ineffectual at drawing a reasonable likeness of my fashion model. Although today I got a bit happier with the likeness than what I had last time, so that helps. IS it a good drawing yet? Not by a longshot. But it's a start!

Instanudity 15

Gad, I suck. I'm still reworking this piece. I can't seem to get the likeness to my liking! Argh. Maybe my standards have gotten higher while my skills have leveled off! Will continue reworking and post the results later, hopefully with better ones than I have at this point in time...

Dry Hair

I was listening to Penguin Prison's eponymous first album, and there was a drawing of a tree with a fun shape in its album cover art. I wanted to see it as a hairdo, so I redrew it with a face using the Webster watercolor brushes.

A Funny Thing

Went to see the New Yorker magazine documentary, "Very Semi Serious" at the Tribeca Grand Hotel today, and it was a swanky event (and even swankier after party). But the movie itself was a joy because it revealed many of the artists behind the New Yorker cartoon, and definitely featured some hilarioous people and work I had never known about. I've dabbled some in cartoons and strips, but not to the level of the New Yorker. So I was inspired to sketch something in that vein, and surprised to do so so effortlessly. Of course, it's about the humor too, almost more than the drawing. So this is one of those, "Caption This" sketches, for lack of an actual punchline.

Yellow Raincoat on Blue Africa

This was a previous sketch from 5 days ago just made a bit more complete. It's funny, these strokes are so quick for me that I don't know if it should qualify as today's sketch, but it actually does. There was a bit of retooling to make these lines look appropriately nonchalant as well, a bit of blending to make the lines look more accidental and naturally blendy and bleed-y, so I think it's a valid entry. And frankly, it's getting a lot of likes on Instagram too.

She's Rough

While I have not yet gotten the hang of this iPhone app, I did start to get used to the interface. Which is great today because I spent all day on a design project and did not want to sit at my desk any further!

Built A Character 2

I thought the highlighting I did in the monochrome version yesterday made him look a bit feminine. I definitely thought he should look like some guy with a quirky face who once appeared in a Prada ad but now it's a decade later. Haha, so much backstory. In any case, the painted version looks much more realized.

Built A Character

I wanted someone who looked like he was drawn by a Russian man, and I wanted it to be in a toothy pencil (I used a digital pastel brush in Painter) and kept thinking about two artists I know, Robert Fontanelli (whose eyes and expression this face remind me of) and Jeff (whose last name escapes me) who does very angular shapes. I rather like it, because it doesn't look like it's necessarily mine.

Blue Africa

I was watching The Amazing Race today and they were racing in Africa, so I suppose that's what inspired this quick sketch for the day.

Surprises

Whenever I don't want to draw, I still try and churn out something quickly for the blog, but sometimes because I don't care at all but am drawing out of obligation, I get pleasant surprises. I picked a brush I never use, and started drawing lines, and as each line filled in the sketch, it started outlining a classic American Sportswear-looking woman. I rather like it... well, except for that left arm. Wish I had fixed that...

Post Taxes Ennui

I can't really muster up any creative energy after dealing with my tax return, because UGH, SO NOT FUN. So have some brushstroke-y croquis.

Feeling Undefined

Still in the throes of tax receipts for tomorrow, and not really feeling creative with this looming.

Sketch In General

I got trapped in an art event and am gonna have to post later. 

Edit: What I didn't realize was I had retooled an old sketch for Instagram posting, but it actually works as today's sketch because I spent a bit of time fixing this guys face. He kept coming up on my screensaver and I thought he could be good to post, with some corrections. I do like his face but I had to fix his mouth from the former version...

Blunt Cut

Another iffy finger painting using Procreate Pocket. Not horrible but it's hard using your index finger. But I just couldn't commit to doing anything more involved since I'm wrestling with tax receipts. 

Brushes Against His Face

I tried out some new watercolor brushes from both Kyle Webster and a new 'challenger,' GrutBrushes. Kyle's new ones are pretty great, and while I didn't bother really concentrating on how to lay out this face since it was such a quickie, I think it came together nicely.

Taxing

Kinda consumed with prepping my taxes and as such, after delaying on my sketch for today, went with Zenaida to channel my particular focus at the moment.

Not-So-ProCreation

Still testing out the Procreation Pocket app and it is not easy to get any fine detail on it. This is as good as I could get it with my stubby index finger on the small iPhone screen. 

Off Hues

I was testing colors for my website but thought of doing a sketch with them instead.  I was trying very hard to achieve an of-shade of gray, which would have an undertone of both brown and lilac. Since this is being shown online, it's color will definitely vary from monitor to monitor. Even the inspiration for the color - a printed field of color in a magazine -  was actually a lighter shade of gray that took on the lilac/brown/light puce color that I felt I was seeing, only when seen under yellow lighting!  So random. Anyhow, I thought pairing it with navy would bring out the undertones more.

Procreation

I finally got to play with the Procreate Pocket app today. It's not easy to paint with your fingers so I might have to look into a stylus. That said, the brush textures are rather natural looking. 

Instanudity 15

I've had to nearly completely retool the face. Again. But majorly this time, as I had to erase an hour's work and scrap all the effort in favor of a near complete reboot of the model's cranium. Dunno why I'm having such a hard time. All I liked of this evening's efforts? His ear.

Another Buneh!

But not quite of the Easter variety. And definitely influenced by LeRoy Neiman's Femlin (who was a big influence, whether I knew it or not!)

Easter BUNEEHHH!!

Happy Easter. Eat chocolate.

When Art Materials Attack

I thought that yesterday's Leatherduck was so much fun that perhaps I should try something more serious. Nope!  This drawing is all kinds of wrong, But hey, I blog about my daily drawings, whether or not I like them.

Leatherduck

...is going undercover, just like Pacino in Cruising.

Because some days you just want to draw something fowl.

Instanudity 14

I had a bit of an epiphany late, late at night last night and into the next day so I think I'm definitely making headway with this piece.

One thing I've learned is walking away from a piece allows you fresh eyes, and every time I think I've nailed it, I come back the next day and feel like I failed it (huh, that just rhymed). But I think I retooled the face enough that a few more tweaks would work, so I decided to busy myself with teh models rather distinctive chest hair, which is why I asked him to pose. His hair is actually getting pretty popular on Instagram...