Georgina and the Dragon WIP 3

Painted a rough background for the piece! Wow am I proud of this. I combined three photos for the reference for this (for of course I am hideous at backgrounds and definitely needed a reference to get what I wanted!) - one for the sky (the view from my hill), one for the middle ground (the view from the top of Simon's Seat over Appletreewick and the Yorkshire Dales), and one for the foreground (the moorland on the top of Pen-Y-Ghent, one of the Three Peaks). I didn't stick exactly to the reference but it really helped guide my hand. I took 2 hours to paint just this. I hope to refine the ground work though especially but I will wait til later to do that.

Hope you like this!

Georgina and the Dragon WIP 2

Spent 2 hours just laying down the base colours on this. Good gosh I can't believe it's taken so long! Next, to shade. But it will have to wait for another day - bedtime now!

Georgina and the Dragon WIP 1

Technically this should probably be WIP 2 - the sketch being WIP one - but oh well! Technicalities, haha. Going to start painting this one now. No idea how long I've spent on this concept so far but lets say about 2 hours for good measure. I took care sketching and inking this out, tweaking here and there. :-)

Brian Cox Digital Portrait WIP 9

Another hour. I'm really enjoying this... :) Rendered the lips - which I find really hard, but I think I've done a decent job?

Brian Cox Digital Portrait WIP 8

Ok I just couldnt stop drawing, so have another WIP! This is the most fun I have had drawing a chin, ever, period lol. Which is amazing given I hate facial hair (incl. stubble!). I feel like I have made a really good go of this. :) I loooove my new custom skin brush :D

PS I'm up to five hours on this so far. :)

Brian Cox Digital Portrait WIP 7

Started painting abit more on this whilst listening to a Brian Cox interview on Youtube that a friend linked me to. Just fancied painting some more on it! Here I experimented with a dual brush incorporating some texture to give the skin a much less plastic feel. :)

Georgina and the Dragon

Sorry I haven't posted in ages! Life has been busy and I've been working crazy hours lately so I dont have any time to draw really. But today I felt the need to re-sketch out a concept I dreamed up absolutely ages ago - Of George and the dragon, only with a female heroine (I mean why can't girls kick ass, right!?). I have two versions to paint up but I'm really not sure which one to paint up!! :S

I really want to do the whole one but I think the top one where its more cropped gives a greater kind of impact. I dunno. Thoughts??

Simplicity - Sketch

A sketch I just did. I just had this image come into my head today of a girl in a simple white dress kneeling very ... elegantly but simply, holding a red rose. I sketched it. I may paint it at some point, but at least its sketched now so I wont forget about it. :)

Brithilca and the Abbot - Background Test

I doodled a quick background for the sketch I did the other day. I say doodled; it actually took about an hours work. I really hate drawing landscapes and architecture; mainly because I'm rubbish at it. But, practice makes perfect so I really need to try harder. I just cannot fathom why some people are just so good at that kind of thing and my every attempt looks dire. I really hope practice will get me there - I honestly hate this background but am going to have to use it as I simply can't seem to do better. What a pain! How on earth do you do GOOD backgrounds!?

Anyway, you can see here the placement of the characters in the scene. :/ I am kind of losing interest in developing this piece further, just because of how crappy I am at backgrounds. Really not sure how to get better at them. I didnt do any work on the floor 'cause I'm not sure what surface to use yet.

Sketch - Brithilca and the Abbot

It would be nice to draw this one up! This was a theraputic neat sketch I did today, about an hours work. This is a scene from my story where Brithilca the dragon takes the crown of the Dragon Kings from where it is kept. ... I wont spoil any more of the story. ;)

It would be lovely to digitally paint this one up (with a background, I imagine this to be in a main hall of the monastery... But I wasnt creative enough to sketch it on!) to practice scenery and to paint all those delicious dragon scales! I've yet to digitally paint Brithilca, I have only ever coloured him traditionally before. :) And also, I have never drawn the abbot before so it would be nice to paint him... :)

The main point of this was really to practice my dragon anatomy. I always wish I could draw them better! I think have pinned down Bri's design / anatomy a bit more realistically here than in past attempts. I have been thinking about his anatomy and scale arrangements... Dragons are hard cause they dont really exist in real life so theres no definitive references to them. So I have been considering the features and functions of his anatomy, how he evolved to require certain muscles, and armous, etc. Haaard lol. I used the Dracopedia by William O'Connor for some assistance. That really is a great book for dragon fans. :)

(PS Bri's tail got cut off by the edge of the page. Whoops!)

Luke - Final

Well, this is the first time in ages, maybe ever that I've done one drawing in a sitting - About 5 hours maybe a little more, with appropriate food/drink/toilet breaks! This is a quick character concept for Luke, a character in my novel. He's not the main character but I just fancied drawing him first as he is the clearest in my mind. This is pretty much how he looks in my head but I dont think I have *quite* nailed it yet. Hmm!

I really enjoyed this though! His concept is based on Ashton Kutcher, so I referenced this from photos of him; he's simply the person I found who looks most like Luke does in my mind. But after blocking in the main featured I ditched the reference and hopefully managed to make Luke my own. Enjoy! :)

Luke WIP 5

Hmm isnt it amazing how much of a difference tweaking the colours can make! I have darkened his eyes and lightened his hair. Now this looks more like the character in my head! Yay. :-)

Luke WIPs 3 & 4

Two more wips, and about 2 hours more work. :-) So not doing badly on this. The only problem is it doesnt look as much like the Luke in my head as I'd hoped. Guess I rushed it a bit too much or maybe I'm just not meant to be able to draw him yet! Practice makes perfect (I hope).

Luke WIPs 1 & 2

So at the moment I've gotten back into writing my book. I've come to a bit of a lull with the writing; for now the well of inspiration has run a little dry but I am really inspired to try and draw all the characters.

So here is Luke one of the main few characters. I have gathered reference photos to use for all my characters; I know what they look like in my head but pinning down all that detail isnt easy. So for help with this one... none other than Ashton Kutcher. He looks sort of like the Luke in my head! The best match I found, anyway. I went through a lot of people before I settled on him as the best Luke lookalike. Anyway, I'm not sure how far I will take each of these portraits.

To note on this one, this is I think will be the first time I've painted a beard. I hate facial hair! Its hard!

Here is about 2 hours work on the sketch and basic colour/shade. I might do this on all the characters I've nailed so far and then maybe develop some/all from there. Of I might continue with this one. Who knows. :) I dont intent to spend too long on these if I can help it. :)

Zanthi - Ink

So I decided I liked this sketch enough to ink! Colour may follow lol.

10 minute doodle - Zanthi

Have been meaning to draw my friends character Zanthi for a while now! Was just struck by sudden inspiration. :) I hope my friend likes this,..... I had fun doing it but its only rough. I might draw / paint / neaten this one up. Enjoy. :)

PS. Visit http://thali-n.deviantart.com/ she draws amazingly!

30 Minute Speedpaint

Just what the title says. A 30 minute speed paint based on this beautiful reference. I didnt do any sketch first, I just started slapping down colours. Worked out pretty well but I'm aware it's not so anatomically precise as I would normally make a portrait (still looks human though, so bonus points there methinks) as I was concentrating on the time/speed factor here. Hmm. Hope it still is a nice portrait. :)

Oscar & Marco : Final Piece

Final piece, approved by the client. Got some prints of this done today and they look great! <3 I think I will start to offer prints of my digital work. Theyre actually pretty easy to do.. :) You can see the animated WIPS here: http://imaeko.deviantart.com/art/Marco-and-Oscar-WIPs-Animation-205903500

Oscar & Marco WIP9

About another half hour, so 9 hours in total on this now. I am hoping this is the final draft - currently awaiting client approval on this. Once received I'll post up a larger final version. :-) This has been a really different challenge to normal, but I've definitely enjoyed it! :)

Oscar & Marco WIP8

Another hour working on Marco's ear and eyes - just his chest & general tidying up to do now! :) Up to 8 and a half hours now.

Oscar & Marco WIP7

Another hmm.. I'd say half hour on this, working on Marco's face. Just really got his eyes, upper right quadrant of the face, and chest to do now. :-)

Oscar & Marco WIP6

Another hour on this now. Marco is starting to take shape. :-)

Oscar & Marco WIP5

Another hours work on this - I have started Marco here. I have a feeling he will be pretty hard to draw! We shall see. :-)

Book Illustration - 'Caris'

This is a book illustration I worked on this week, of "Caris" the angel. A few hours in photoshop. Hopefully more illustrations from this book to follow. :-)

(p.s. I know the wings are not anatomically correct - it was the client's wish that they be drawn this way).

Oscar & Marco WIP4

About another hour and a halfs work and Oscar is done! :-) 5 hours so far; roughly on target with where I want to be with this piece.

Oscar & Marco WIP3

About another hmm.. half an hour on this? I'd say 3 and a half hours so far on this piece. Have detailed the middle of Oscar's face and the left side around and including his eye. I really dont want to stop drawing this but I shall have to put it down for tonight..! Can't wait to pick this up tomorrow. :-D

Oscar & Marco WIP2

So, WIP 2 after another session yesterday. Here I've spent time detailing Oscar's left ear and upper face. Another hour and a bit here? I'd probably say 3 hours so far on this now.

Oscar & Marco WIP1

So I had to drop my Brian Cox drawing for the moment, to do a commission of two siamese cats, but I don't mind as this should be a fun and interesting challenge! I'll come back to you soon Brian, lol. :)

Lots of work will go into this as I'm not really an animal artist. So lots of practice, here! I've started drawing Oscar here (Marco is currently the big white space... lol). Have blocked in the very rough colours. I'd say an hour and a bit to this stage, perhaps?

Brian Cox Digital Portrait WIP 6

About another hours work. Have defined the right eye (right eye as you look at it, his left eye), and the nose. I'm up to 4 hours on this so far. :)

Brian Cox Digital Portrait WIP 5

Another half an hour. Zoomed in on the face this time - worked on the forehead/nose/right eye area. :)

Brian Cox Digital Portrait WIP 4

Another 20 minute session this lunchtime. Have shaded the jacket and started on the hair! :-)

Brian Cox Portrait WIP 3

Sorry for my recent absence! I've been busy lately. I haven't actually drawn anything since I last uploaded here. :-( So anyway, half an hours more speedpainting work on my Brian Cox portrait this lunchtime. Loving it so far! Really nice to slap lots of colours down roughly, can't wait to start refining now!

Brian Cox Digital Portrait WIP 2

This is after half an hour of slapping on colour in my lunchbreak. Here I am just laying down some colours and very rough shading. :-)

Brian Cox Digital Portrait WIP 1

So I have started a picture of the one and only Dr Brian Cox, the "rock star" physicist.

Here's my sketch - about an hour - an hour and a halfs work. I have gridded the reference picture and my canvas and drawn in the detail that way. I find it less intuitive than freehand sketching, but overall favour it as it gives a more accurate sketch in terms of proportions. :-) Overlaying this on my reference image, it's almost spot on, so I'm happy with that!

The sketch is always the very scary stage where it looks nothing like the person!! Lots of fingers crossed at this stage! :-)

Field of Lilies Redo - FINAL!

This piece has been so so long in the making, I can't quite believe it's done!

The original concept was born in December 2008 when my Grandma passed away as something to remember her by and this is the second reincarnation of the original concept (which was cute but this is heaps better). You may remember the original concept from way back in my gallery?

I'm glad its finished, anyway. Although I realise there are some areas which could be improved, I'm happy to call this piece done. I think any improvement will be made in future pieces, rather than me coming back to this one. I've certainly not drawn so much fabric before, but I think I did ok on that.. I hope, anyway!

So.. countless hours on Photoshop, over countless months, but it's done, so, enjoy.

Does anyone want me to post up any detail shots?

Field of Lilies Redo WIP 13

A good few more hours on this one. Not much progress but, I'm finding the last bits of fabric really heavy going. I hope to finish it soon...

Field of Lilies Redo WIP 12

A little bit more work, done over my work lunchbreaks.. :-)

Field of Lilies Redo WIP 11

I managed to do a teeny tiny bit more work yesterday (Saturday morning).. :-)

Field of Lilies Redo WIP 10

Its been two whole months since I last worked on this piece, but I saw it sat in my art file on my PC the other day and wondered how I could have ever forgotten it or lost the will to work on it. so I have picked it up as something to work on hopefully to fruition this time. This concept has now been over two years in the making, and this is the second incarnation. Its a joy to work on. Theres still work to do but I'm really gettting there with this piece. :-)

Photoshop however has randomly erased all of my custom brushes. I am very unimpressed with this! I was really proud of my new grass brush and my painting brushes were all JUST how I liked them, now I cant seem to find that perfection again. What a pain computers can be!!

Portrait Commission Final

Can't believe I forgot to post this here.. sorry! Enjoy :-) This is a commission I finished a few weeks ago now.

Portrait Commission WIPs

Some WIPs of a commission I just finished. This is the son of a guy I shoot with (competition archery, not archery/guns for hunting. Guns/hunting are bad, kids!).

First two were taken on my phone (hence poor quality), the second two were taken on my camera (hence better quality). Final piece will be posted in my nest blog update.

Had quite a bit of fun on this, this little chappie has a nice cheeky grin which was quite a challenge to capture, but I think I have done well! :-) Fingers crossed my client likes it. :-)

Took roughly the usual amount of time for a portrait this size, though to be honest I wasn't too on the ball about keeping track of my time on it this time so I may have gone over a bit, I'm not sure. Used the usual mechanical pencil for it all, and deepened the shading with some nice soft B pencils, up to 4B this time. :-)

Enjoy! :D

Mistletoe - WIP 8

Have finished the male character now, going to move onto colouring the female character next! :-)