Bits and Pieces

Walt Stanchfield Inspiration

2009-04-15T09:18:00.000-07:00

I recently purchased two books by Walt Stanchfield suggested by a friend of mine. The books offer insight into the art of sketching and drawing. The material mentioned by Walt Stanchfield offer some inspiring thoughts and techniques to any person excited about sketching and drawing. My sketching has fallen by the wayside this past winter season and browsing these books I have found some new motivation and excitement to tackle my next visit to the local studio drawing sessions. Both books "Drawn to Life-20 Golden Years of Disney Master Classes, Vol.1"and "Drawn to Life -20 Golden Years of Disney Master Classes,Vol.2" Each book sells for $24.50 (including shipping) or a total of $49.00 which is a steal considering the wealth of information offered by an exceptional teacher who started his career with Disney Studios in 1937. This collection of reference material offers any illustrator information to improve ones skill and gives inspiring insight for keeping the sketching and drawing process evolving within you. I love reading Walt Stanchfield's humor driven insights and can't wait to apply his ideas at my next visit to the drawing sessions.These books are available at Amazon.com (Volume 1) and (Volume2).

Recent Completed Project

2009-03-18T14:35:00.001-07:00

Some illustration samples created for Pearson Education's reading program. This project was a challenge because I was trying to achieve artwork that was realistic based on reference pictures relating to the American Revolutionary War.

So You Want To Freelance? Some Thoughts To Think About

2009-01-25T09:42:00.000-08:00

Know Yourself Well:
How well do you know yourself because freelancing will require that you can deal with yourself alone for periods of time. This means when no work is coming in or you have a deadline and need to stick with your project and delay your social life.
You Are The Boss:
You will decide when to work or take a break. Decisions are made as you see fit as long as you complete your projects by the deadline. There is a lot of personal freedom to do errands or take a casual walk around the park when everyone else is at work. You are not constrained by working at an office cubicle nine to five. You are able to decide what needs to be accomplished each work day.
Stress And Tension:
There is a price to pay for this freedom and dealing with stress and tension exists as you wonder when the next project will arrive. You learn very quickly how to budget and allocate funds as needed. Do you have enough funds to market and create an effective marketing program?
When working on a project how many late nights or days do you have to work until you complete your project. You wear many hats to accomplish your tasks. You are a skilled psychologist dealing with many professionals(designers, editors, writers, etc.) negotiating to make sure the project runs as smoothly as possible.
There are undefined boundaries between work and personal life that you learn to resolve. Since your home may be your studio, you have to decide with each working hours what to accomplish and when to spend time with family and friends.
Unlimited Growth Potential:
There is a lot of pressure that you face as a freelancer but there is also a lot of opportunity if you create good work, succeed with marketing, work with effective business skills and treat your peers professionally. Your job opportunities should increase as well as your income. You can take on different projects that you feel offer an avenue for personal growth and potential for increased income.

Using Photoshop To Create An Illustration

2009-01-16T09:13:00.000-08:00

When I begin an illustration the sketch is the first step in completing the artwork. I place the sketch and scan it with my Canon Lite within the software Photoshop. I cleanup the black lines and lighten up the white areas. The eye dropper tool selected from the Window menu in Photoshop assists me in this task and tells me if my blacks are to light or the whites are to dark.

Once I am satisfied with my sketch I will create another layer above the sketch layer. The sketch is on the bottom layer and I create another layer above for the color layer and select multiply from the modes dropdown menu in the layers palette. This lets me color on this layer and not affect the sketch below.

There are many tricks and tips in photoshop and I recommend that you go down to your local Barnes & Noble and head to the computer books section and read the many books about streamlining using Photoshop. I color areas using the black outline layer as a guide and continue until the illustration meets my satisfaction. My brush selection varies so I can achieve either a flat color effect or an airbrush effect. I use the mode, opacity, flow, and width features that Photoshop supplies to adjust my brushes to fit my needs. You will find these adjustments when I select my brush menu with either the F6 key, select the Window menu and scroll down to brushes, or select the Window menu and save my work space and bring up my selection menus already arranged to work with.

When my illustration is finished I save the file and print it out with my Epson printer. If I like what I see I save the file and flatten all the layers; otherwise I rework until I am satisfied. There are many ways to create your illustrations with Photoshop and I hope my suggestions offer some new insights.

Some Illustration Sites To Look At

2009-01-14T10:08:00.000-08:00

If you are having a creative mental block, take a look at
these illustrations sites and relax.

http://www.imaginismstudios.com/port-artist-bob-01.html
http://www.frankwu.com/paul1.html
http://www.donatoart.com

Season's Greetings

2008-12-31T09:10:00.000-08:00

Halloween Time!

2008-10-13T12:46:00.000-07:00

Halloween one of the world's oldest holidays is
certainly one of my favorite times. I enjoy going
to Salem, MA on Halloween night to view the
assortment of costumes and take part in some
of the events that the city has to offer for
celebration.
This year I have created several Halloween art
pieces to commemorate the festive spooks and
spirits of the night.

Photoshop Technique

2008-09-20T09:53:00.000-07:00

Here are some illustrations that I will explain how I was able to show a
transition from color to pencil sketch using Adobe Photoshop. First, I took
my finish pencil sketch and created a layer on top to color using the sketch
on the bottom layer as a guide. I switch back and forth with the multiply
mode to give me an idea as to how the work is shaping up. I don't color the
whole sketch, just enough so I can created a smooth transition with the mask feature using Photoshop.
Secondly, I created a third layer and color the whole background with a tint color. At this point I have three layers. A background flat colored layer, a sketch layer and a colored layer with a partial area of color. Thirdly, I go into the mask mode I select from my tools palette. Once in the mask layer I drag the mask tool on top of my sketch and created a mask. I return to the standard mode and hit the delete key to eliminate the portion of the sketch I desire so color from the top layer or color layer shows through. I exit and return to my third layer or partially colored layer and go through the same process as described with the sketch layer. I should have at this point three layers, two of which have been masked as well as my background tint color. I finish my work by merging all the layers and viola a completed piece of art.

Constellation Viewing

2008-08-03T09:00:00.000-07:00

With all the news coming out of NASA about the discoveries on Mars, I
motivated myself and finished an illustration referring to the night sky.
We are beginning to enter the fall season in which it's usually a good time for me
to visit some of the local observatories in the Boston area.

From Sketch To Finished Art

2008-03-27T09:58:00.000-07:00

When I start an art piece I begin with the sketch. I go through several drafts before I am satisfied with the drawing and scan my sketch on my Canon scanner. I usually scan at about 300 d.p.i. for a four color process; otherwise 72 d.p.i is fine for the web.

I save my scanned sketch either as a tiff or eps and place the scan from the file menu into Illustrator CS2. I select the window menu and go to the color menu and adjust the image and change it to blue. I lock this layer so I don't alter it. I name this layer template. I create a separate layer above and start to draw with my customized brushes.

Once the drawing is finished I will print it out with my Epson printer. My next step is to bring the artwork into Photoshop. I place the image on a separate layer and lock it. I name my line art layer template.

I create a layer below the template layer and make sure the background is white. I place a layer above the template layer and select the mode menu and select multiply. I select multiply so I can color on this layer and not affect the template layer below.

I continue to color the artwork until I am pleased with the results. My brush selection varies so I can achieve either a flat color effect or an airbrush effect. I use the mode, opacity, flow, and width features that Photoshop supplies to taylor my brushes to fit my needs. You will find these adjustments at the top menu when you select the brush tool.

Sometimes I create a separate layer above the multiply layer so I can experiment with either the brush and the color selected. When my artwork is finished I save the file and print it out with my Epson printer. If I like what I see it's a keeper; otherwise I rework until I am satisfied. Well, there you have it with some insight, and how I sketch to finished art.

Periodic Sketches

2008-02-22T15:45:00.001-08:00

Sketching is one of those essential things that I try to do everyday but time doesn't always permit or I become distracted for one reason or another. I usually start the day with a cup of java and listen to NPR news events to get the body warmed up and the brain functioning. As I enter the studio, I inspect my surroundings as I left it the previous evening. The computers are all warmed up, so I check my e-mail for possible messages or unanswered e-mails to send. After about five minutes on the internet I look for whatever sketchbook, pencil and kneaded eraser are within easy reach. I sit down and stare at the blank page and wonder what I will conjure up today. On some days this is easier than others. If I need to, I will start with some simple doodles and this gradually leads to more complex sketches. I really enjoy the tactile feel of the pencil on the paper because so much of my finished work ends up on the computer. When I do have a day or reach a point when the muse is speaking to me, I stick with my drawing until it is completed or I just become tired because it isn't always easy to return to this ideal state of drawing. If I am distracted or just not in the mood for drawing I will concentrate on another aspect of my illustration career.

New Project Completed

2008-02-16T09:15:00.000-08:00

I just completed some full colored electronic artwork for Houghton & Mifflin and Pearson Scott Foresman. These projects were exciting and required a colorful style for the publishers. I usually start each project with contacting the client and establishing a way to communicate such as e-mail and telephone. I will send the client two to three roughs before going to finish. I always send an invoice or contract to prevent any future problems. Both of these projects went smoothly except for the rush required for the completed work.

Holiday Time Again!

2007-12-14T11:14:00.000-08:00

The annual holiday for us to celebrate the rebirth or rejuvenation
of ones inner spirit and common respect for those around us. Let
us give thanks and hope that our common regards for others
and energy level last until 2008.

Thanksgiving Session

2007-11-14T10:27:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving Day is a day we give thanks for what we have
received or about to receive. I look upon what I have harvested
and give thanks for what my efforts have brought forth. This is
expressed as an expression of gratitude and what I consider to
be an important issue; therefore my personal illustration below.

Anatomy Drawing Session

2007-10-31T22:35:00.001-07:00

Figure drawing requires discipline and practice
when drawing the human figure in a variety of
poses. This has to be one of the most difficult
subjects that an artist can encounter because
of the subtlety with individual body shapes
that combine to form the human figure.
This past week I decided to visit a local artist
studio and challenge my anatomy sketching
abilities. I found this to be quite a task since it
has been a number of years since my last
drawing sessions. I find that as an illustrator,
it is very important to understand the
construction of the human figure and maintain
a looseness when drawing. So much of what
illustrators draw involves depicting the figure
somewhere in their work to assist in conveying
their message. Here are a few of my attempted
results. I hope you enjoy them.

Halloween Time!

2007-10-14T20:25:00.000-07:00

Halloween or All Saints Day is celebrated on the
night of October 31. This holiday gives me a
chance to dress up and pretend to be something
else or dare to be. I really enjoy a chance to invent
a costume and wear it at one of my favorite parties.

CyberArts 2007

2007-05-21T20:55:00.001-07:00

The excitment of viewing the art exhibits at
CyberArts 2007 is at a point just like photography
at the turn of the century. Here is a bold new
expression ready to be explored and justified.