Steve Jobs iPad Tribute Sketch

Steve Jobs (1955 - 2011)
Co-Founder & CEO of Apple Inc

Steve Jobs

Sketching On An iPad

Created using the 'Brushes' for iPad app 

Having got my hands on a second hand first generation iPad, I was eager to see how this would become a useful artists tool beyond a library of reference photos or source material. I wanted to see if it would serve me well in terms of sketching out ideas or working out colour compositions before painting.

 There is a lot of exceptional iPad art out there but I only wanted to use it for basic playful sketches, not for finished masterpieces taking many hours or more to produce, but its nice to know it's possible. I like real paint and real materials, but this to me offered convenience.

My first sketch using SketchBook Pro app.

My first sketch on the iPad was with the app SketchBook Pro and my finger. I felt strange using my finger as I've spent forever using a stick, be it a pencil, pen, charcoal or paint brush - but you get used to it with practice. The app is great at mimicking real materials like the texture of a pencil etc.

The main problem with drawing on an ipad is that the tablet is not pressure sensitive... yet. So you have to learn how to play with transparency and opacity levels. The software tries to get around this by the speed of your movement, so the quicker the stroke the thinner it tends to be, not quite natural but you adapt to your tools.

iPad & Wacom's 'Bamboo' Stylus.

I decided to get myself a good stylus despite the fact that the iPad was designed for finger use. After some research I came across Wacom's 'Bamboo' Stylus and being convinced it would suit my requirements I purchased it. It is rather pricey compared to other stylus' out there but with Wacom being the leading industry in digital drawing tablet's, it has to count for something.

Wacom also has an app called Bamboo Paper to accompany their stylus, it's more of a notebook and very basic, like using gel ballpoint pen, but it works great with the stylus, no lag and it's smooth. I drew this character using this app and the stylus.

Sketch using BambooPaper app and stylus.

The stylus doesn't work well with certain apps like inspire pro, a great painting app when using your fingers only, I felt a lot of lag which is annoying. The app in itself is fantastic and worth getting.

I then tried the stylus using the app Brushes, I imported the drawing I did in the Bamboo Paper app as a base. The stylus was great and using this software was a pleasure, I liked it a lot.

So this was my initial experience sketching on an iPad and using a stylus over this weekend. Obviously there is a learning curve when using painting software and adapting to it but I'm pleased with what I've experienced so far.

The video below shows the painting process of my character using the 'Brushes' app.

An Empire Reborn part II

Indio Lyrico

Here's a look at the next aspect involved in the art work for Indio Lyrico. In the layout you can see a large figure looming over the landscape, this is where Indio Lyrico will be portrayed as a lyrical warrior. The sketch only shows the pose and some basic key elements that were discussed, the rest has to be developed.

The warrior will have armour of some sort and other details and be in keeping with an indigenous feel and look and concept.

I came up with a design for the warrior mixing various aspects of North, Central and South American indian culture with a look tailored for Indio Lyrico. Using the decorative aspects of the curved blade in hand and headgear and staff, I incorporated this lyrical aspect of his character into each one.

A page from my sketch book.

These decorative details are very important, such as on the headphones making it feel part of the head dress and the face mouldings on the blade and staff, as well as the type of microphone used to be in keeping with this old world meets new look.

Now the drawing can begin. Starting with a sketch of the warriors pose I began adding the armour and details and making any corrections on the way. It was decided from the start that bold dark outlines were wanted.

I now start adding washes of colour and adding light and shade to the picture. I begin with skin tones and then start rendering the other aspects of the costume.

 
The next step now is to bring these two images of warrior and empires together.

An Empire Reborn part I

I wanted to share a little bit of work I've been doing recently for London based Bolivian rapper Indio Lyrico (myspace page). 

The concept is a mix of civilizations or cultures, London in ruins along side the ancient Aztec/Mayan pyramids. It's not meant to be anthropologically or geographically accurate, just a little bit of fantasy. I'll be showing you the full image very soon.

This is a bit different as its a combination of traditionally hand drawn work with digital painting and rendering. I wanted to show you a little bit of the process involved in the making of this image. The abilities you have for drawing or painting are transferred to the digital canvas using a digital brush as its basically the same. In this case I use a graphics tablet and pressure sensitive pen and software called Corel Painter. This program simulates all types of traditional art mediums and the possibilities are up to you and your ability in using them. A bit of getting used to is the eye-hand co-ordination. I prefer drawing traditionally on paper, so thats where I start.

This is the initial composition sketch to use as a guide to start from.

After thinking about perspective and proportions etc, the idea and layout develops a bit further, but its basically the same still.

Spatially it continues to take shape and become more defined... Also good visual references are a must. This is now the base for the entire picture.

I continue to draw and then add a bit of tone and scan it.

Once scanned I open it on my computer and continue to build it up and make adjustments by painting digitally. Adding light and shade and continuing to render the image with the digital brush. 

There you have it, a very quick and brief overlook at some of the process involved.

more to come soon. 

Fit as a Lemon

Keith Lemon & Deanne Berry

Just wanted to share with you all some work I did a few months back. I was asked to do some quick concept art for Keith Lemon's new fitness DVD "Keith Lemon's Fit", featuring the lovely Deanne Berry from the hit music video 'Call on me' by Eric Prydz. Very satisfying to see they followed the outfit I gave him in the sketch and polished off the titles I designed for it as specified in the brief. Had a good chat with the Director Paul Angunawela developing and discussing ideas, it also helps when your old friends. It was a pleasure working with him again and some of you may know that he contributed some writing to my Art Book last year.

I was pleasantly surprised to get the thumbs up from the man himself via a phone call. "Fanks alot Keif, nice one!".
Released on DVD through Lionsgate on November 22nd 2010.
Watch a brief video from your lifestyle guru... Mr Keith Lemon courtesy of Play.com.

Original video link here

Alternative Treatment... "THE PILL I NEED"

"THE PILL I NEED" version II

"THE PILL I NEED"

The Pill I Need

"THE PILL I NEED" is the title of this sketch.  Things, people or moments that give us that high or extra bounce in our step. Without it would bring us on a downer... real or not.

Well... that's one explanation anyway. (^_^)

Little Drawings

The Pill I Need (variation)

"MY INNER CHILD" is getting impatient.

Developing the Concept...

Here's a quick update on "MY INNER CHILD" T-Shirt concept.

Seriously looking in to ways of getting these printed once the design has been completed to make it available to all who want one at a good price and good quality. Been looking around and in some places the cost is too high, especially as it's printed on both sides.

Due to time not being as abundant as I would like, I'm still playing with the design and colours etc, I can be a tad obsessive with certain things as I know what I want. Anyway, I will be concentrating on getting the design done and dusted the next couple of weeks. I don't see this as a simple T-shirt idea, it has many other options as I mentioned in a previous post. A choice for Girl or Boy as well as other details and personalization options, but all in good time.

See the full concept here

The T-Shirt

INNER CHILD - front

INNER CHILD - back

 And here's the initial concept for the T-Shirt I've named "MY INNER CHILD"... well, at least one of them anyway.

YOUR inner child sits in a compartment driving/controlling/guiding you via joystick and levers, he peers out through a door with an opening. I'm liking this concept and have a few variations I'm still playing with, you never know, I might go with all of them and you get to pick which one you like (^_^)

I want to put a few toys behind the childs chair so any suggestions are welcome and I'll consider maybe putting them in.

Also there's still time to join in on the print giveaway i'm having over on Facebook, just follow the link below.
 FACEBOOK GIVEAWAY

OZONE -The final sketch

OZONE - colour

Two days late but I have managed to finalize my idea despite a week of distractions, obligations and flu. I went with this pose and decided to give her a bottle of sun lotion, probably factor 5000!

I scanned this drawing from my sketch book and opened it in Photoshop on my laptop, roughly adding and playing with colours until I was satisfied. Doing this can sometimes save a lot of time and effort and is very convenient as it allows me to rehearse, plan, play and try out many possibilities and variations without having to re-draw the whole image again and again.

This is pretty much the blueprint for the painting including the colour scheme. During the process of painting I'll continue to develop little details as I go along, making any adjustments I think necessary.

OZONE - final sketch

Sketches & considerations

Through the distractions of daily living and what not,  the idea for my "Ozone" painting is taking shape.

I have been playing with poses and angles for the main figure. This usually drives me a bit mad as there can be so many alternatives and there's a tendency to over think things (at least for me anyway) and I get rather impatient. I find that usually my first imagining of the image is best but there are exceptions. It just has to feel right to me.

These are some of the considerations I have been exploring. I want something simple but also dynamic maybe, so I'm also playing with low angle views, adding perspective to the figure and drawing attention towards the sky. However, I also like the simple straight forward eye level view...