sketchbook #32

My niece after a swim in the pool.

figure drawing #26

Chacoal on paper 18"x24"
Fridays figure drawing which I am pleased with. I feel like my sketchbook drawings are my artistic strong point and I have been trying to get my figure drawings to catch up with them. This one is close. I like how it is tight and accurate around the face and eyes focusing the center of attention then letting the details go as you move out from there. And its accurate but also expressive.
And here is Sam's version.

Dr.Hyde

*Update- it may not come across clearly but the hand in the black area is some hapless victim obscured by his shadow.
Yet another illustration. The Avalanche blog topic is Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I had this good idea for a composition but I get so bored trying to do full backgrounds so this is as close as I'll probably get. I hope it's not too dark it looks okay on one screen and dark on another.

Lighting practice

A little practice done after Sam's demo on painting different digital lighting enviroments. It's an old drawing used to do this original painting.

figure drawing -Portrait

This weeks figure drawing turned out really well I though. Full disclosure, the eye was misaligned but rendered well so I moved it slightly in Photoshop.

Illusions

A new illustration for the Weekly Standard. I am really pleased with the lighting in this one and owe it all to a class given by Sam Nielson. I haven't really figured out a lighting scheme before getting started until this painting and I think it really improved the lighting on the animals. I stole the Obama face from a earlier painting so the lighting doesn't quite match but it saved time with the quick turnaround.
I really nailed it on the fairy dust, I don't know why but it may have something to do with my week in Disney World.

charcoal mess

A very messy figure drawing from night school. It's been okay and I enjoy the practice but I am ready to move on.

One tip If you are working with pastel or charcoal do your rubbing with the back of your hand and a paper towel. Rubbing with your fingers should be very limited because the oils seal the area making it nearly impossible to erase anywhere near the original paper color.