Digital Inking Demonstration 02
Written on June 1, 2010 at 6:25 pm, by admin
Here’s a follow up to my follow up on “My Process of Complication“. The final version of this image can be found in “Nocturnal Battle“.
Chapter Five of 7XT
Written on May 27, 2010 at 6:56 am, by admin
The saga continues. A new chapter begins. More complications and unexpected revelations lay ahead…
Frank Frazetta 1928 – 2010
Written on May 18, 2010 at 1:36 pm, by admin
Like many artists of my generation I can divide my early development into two categories; before I saw my first Frank Frazetta painting, and after. I remember the day. I was crossing the floor of the Santa Barbara Public Library near a rack of paperback novels they recently made available for check out, when Frank’s “Death Dealer” stopped me in my tracks. I studied it in amazement. Then it occurred to me there might be other books with covers by the same artist. I searched quickly, fearful that someone else would find them before I did. My second discovery was “The Moon Maid”, which was not only a painting of a naked woman riding on the back of a centaur (more than I could’ve hoped for already) but the story was by Edgar Rice Burroughs (my favorite author, at the time).
I checked both books out, hurried home, took out pencil and paper, and began to copy them. From that moment on I knew I could not be satisfied until I taught myself to draw as well as Frazetta. He had set the bar. In my youthful optimism I sought to match him. Thirty years later I still haven’t succeeded in this ambition, and I doubt I ever will. But this much is certain; however well I can draw today I owe directly to Frazetta.
Frank Frazetta passed away on May 10, 2010. There will never be another like him.
Digital Inking Demonstration 01
Written on May 10, 2010 at 12:17 pm, by admin
As a follow up to “My Process of Complication”, here is a video showing how I ink. Although it was recorded while I was creating a drawing of Ziggy (featured in “Nocturnal Battle“) I used a similar process for Seven Extraordinary Things. It also demonstrates an idea I wrote about in “Rough Sketches and Rehearsals” of leaving some of the drawing to be discovered in the inking stage, so your line retains a sense of spontaneity.
New 7xt Forum!
Written on May 3, 2010 at 7:08 pm, by admin
The 7XT Forum is now live. A place to ponder and discuss all matters pertaining to Seven Extraordinary Things, and maybe a few matters that aren’t.
Everyone is invited to participate!
7XT Forum – Coming Soon
Written on April 28, 2010 at 11:41 am, by admin
In a few days the 7XT Forum will be live. However, if anyone is interested in BETA testing it, here is a direct link: FORUM
(There was no reason to include a picture of a semi-naked model with this post other than a blantant attempt to get people’s attention.)
April 26, 2010
Written on April 26, 2010 at 7:46 am, by admin
This morning I’ll address a few questions and comments.
I’ve had requests to add a forum to the site. It’s in the works now, but I’m installing it with trepidation. When I was single, working at Disney and living in an apartment I was rarely home. I decided to purchase an answering machine so that all of those people who wanted to get in touch with me had a way of doing so (this was the dark ages before mobile phones). After installing the device I looked forward to returning home and seeing the red light flash. It was two weeks before this event occurred, and the message left was for John Musker, who had been my roommate but got married and moved out two years before. I cursed this damn machine. Better to fantasize that people wanted to get in touch with me than know with certainty that no one did. Putting a message board on your site is like installing an answering machine that no one may want to call.
My earlier post Favorite Drawing Books sparked debate on the merits of Burne Hogarth’s Dynamic Figure Drawing. When I first showed this book to my High School art teacher she looked at me sideways and said: “You do realize there are no human beings on the planet who actually look like this?” I replied that the same could be said for the figures in Bridgman’s The Complete Guide to Drawing from Life. Her response was: “Yes, but Bridgman is good!” Still, I learned a lot from Hogarth and refuse to take his book off my shelf.
I got an email asking if there was a reason why Claire (in Seven Extraordinary Things) always wears polka dots. The answer is it started as a visual signature. We first meet Claire when she is eleven, and don’t see her again until she’s all grown up. Polka dots and dark curly hair were my way of creating continuity. As the story progressed I found I had a lot of affection for the character and decided she was worth the extra trouble of drawing a pattern on her clothes.
I’ve received inquiries from people who want to know how to sell their film ideas to Hollywood. My short answer is “don’t”. Develop your idea into a complete story first, with a beginning, middle and end, and characters that have first and last names. But this topic is probably worthy of a separate post, and if there is enough interest I’ll share my thoughts and experiences on the subject.
French 7XT – Page Two
Written on April 22, 2010 at 4:59 am, by admin
Here’s the second page of Seven Extraordinary Things, in it’s original format…
…but not it’s original language.
As before, anyone who finds mistakes in my French, please point them out to me.
French 7XT – Page One
Written on April 15, 2010 at 5:21 am, by admin
Pour mes amis français.
Here you can see how the story was orginally laid out for the printed page.
Since French is not my primary language, I welcome any comments or suggestions on the translations. Praise and encouragement is also welcome.
Merci.
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