Film Sketch- The Conversation

Film Sketch- Leon part 2

After posting the last three images, I was called out by fellow board member Matt Strackbein for not having any guns in the paintings based on the film. I'm not sure that this is as over the top as he may have wanted but it was the image that I wanted to do. The tense nature of the mixed morality of the scene leading to a sense of relief after the shot is fired. Only to push the boundry again when Portman's character requests to give it a go with real bullets.

Film sketching- Leon

On the previously mentioned Greg Ruth boards I put foward a challenge to render images based around a favorite action/suspense film. I chose Leon(aka The Professional) because I love this film. I tried to approach them in a figure drawing style manner. Watching the entire film and doing quick gestures first. Then going back and watching the scenes I wanted to depict repeatedly until I finished. I also tried to do them as quickly as possible.

The first image is the depiction of Leon's final words to corrupt DEA agent Stansfield (Gary Oldman). One of the classic last word scenes from film.

What I really love about the film is Leon himself and Reno's portrayal of him. He is a very sympathetic and likable character despite his profession and doesn't exude the cool all the time that other similar amoral characters with a heart of gold often have.The painted image took a little longer than I wanted so I approached the second with ink and brush.

Finally, I tried to pick up the speed a bit more and used a ballpoint and the leftover ink to do a version of one of my favorite scenes- Leon staring like an engrossed child as Singing in the Rain plays on the matinee. Reno really pulls out all stops with his acting in this brief scene and I'm afraid I didn't quite nail the proper expression but ther you have it anyway.

You don't bring me flowers...

All right, so I basically left this blog like a lemon vehicle abandoned on the side of the road. To be perfectly frank I had hoped it would result in more back and forth between like minds and, with any luck, some helpful criticism towards my work. As it turned out, I found many other avenues where I was getting the feedback I wanted more readily (not least of which were Greg Ruth's always helpful boards and emailing friends directly). The blog began to feel like I was merely posting for myself. Which is kind of pointless because I see the work I put on here all the time and I can keep a private journal off the world wide web if I'm going to be the only one reading it.

That said, I don't want to totally neglect this thing since there was a reason I did start it. It's been almost a year since I began it and it's been sitting on idle for six months and change. I'll dust it off and post for the hell of it. I guess I can look on the bright side of things and say that if I put a few eyesores up no one will take notice.

I'll start off with some sillier stuff just because it's a nice balance to some of the other work I put out. Below is a three panel comic I did for Greg Ruth's art challenge. It was based on the notion of one of my fellow poster's, Neil, son's idea of the tooth fairy. His lad's notion was that she took the good teeth and kept them in her mouth and ground the bad ones up into piano keys. Here's my take:



Also on the goofy side, some valentines tags for my son's class last year. He's big into monsters so I tried to do some silly ones that he would like as well.


After making these I realized it just might be a good idea to make one for my son as well so he didn't feel left out. Here it is:

Also, as an added aside I'd like to thank gent and all around talent Joel Trusell for being the only dutiful poster here and to point anyone reading this to Matt Strackbein's own interpretation of the tooth fairy story under the "Homework 1 : Tooth Fairy". Plus look at any of the other art threads on there. Great stuff happening form all the posters in addition to Ruth himself.

SCAD ATL keep it coming

The newly crowned Atlanta branch of SCAD is rapidly becoming a favorite haunt for me. Not only have they had Art Spiegelman give a talk on the 12th of this month but I went to a round table discussion with Andrew Robinson, Eric Canete, Yuko Shimizu and James Jean! All for free! Well, the gas from my tank not withstanding.

All the folks were incredible to hear speak but I was most taken aback by Yuko because I was wholly unfamiliar with her work. A really incredible blend of traditional Japanese art and illustration. Awesome. She is immediately finding herself on the list link to the right.

Squeak another post in for January

As I mentioned in the previous post, I've been working on a new mini. I had been plotting several shorter pieces for sequential excercise and decided on an incidental that I imagined to be in three brief parts. I was (and still am) fairly happy with the story and the preliminary work but I haven't felt like I'm pushing hard enough on the finishes yet. I need to let go of that preposterous notion that it has to be brilliant...because it won't be. It will hopefully be good and worth reading and a move in the right direction. Scrapping it means that I won't have it ready for the Atlanta Comics Expo coming up on the 8th of February but since I'm on no deadlines because the piece is for myself, I'd rather give it another go at getting it right instead.

So, I think I'll post some early ballpoint scratches. I scanned four different ones but think I'll post only the three most tangentally related sketches so as to not give much away.

First, some quick sketches of intimidating faces (boxers Iran Barkley and Sonny Liston).

Then, some vultures.

Confused? Good.

Breaking in the New Year

After bouncing around some ideas and working on sketches I have a new mini underway. I may post early sketches soon or may keep it entirely under wraps until it's all done. Haven't decided.

I did want to share the great idea going on over at Joel Priddy's blog. He's got a little one on the way and is taking black and white (since that is what is supposed to visually stimulate newborns) contributions for flash cards wall hangings, etc.. Below are my two contributions in a little bit better form than what they appear over there. I sent these to him after the first set didn't go through. They must have showed up later because they're the original images. I didn't have the heart to bug hima again as he is busy with baby concerns and other things more important than updating my images so I'll post them here.

The first image is based on our daughter...

and the second embodies our son in many ways.


Both were kind of a fun departure for me. I recommend contributing if you need a small project for a change of pace.

Testing the old adage

Since I missed posting the entirety of November I'm trying to figure out if absence truly does make the heart grow fonder. While I'm sorting, I'll mention a couple of things.

My boy is as tough as nails. He has been poked, prodded and analyzed at the age of four more than I ever had by the age of 11. New challenges keep coming up and he keeps bouncing back with a deeply good nature intact. Not only do I love him but he has my utmost respect. To celebrate this, here's a piece I did for my wife a few years ago that also never made it to the website.

Since the last post, I've been trying to sort out new working methods for upcoming sequential work. I've been doing what I'm going to bill sequential "fractures". Hopefully, I'll have some worth posting soon.

I love doing portraits. When you know (or feel you know an individual) in some way it can inform a portrait more than any close likeness ever could. That said, portraitists from days when you could be beheaded also have a large place in my respect category. There are so many concerns about representation and how the person you are doing it for will perceive the piece. I did this image as a commission for a friend. I have only met his wife very briefly on one occasion. He gave me a basic framework of what he wanted. I hope they're both happy with the image.

Exit and Joan conclusion

Pages 13-16 of exit.





The previously shown page 5 of Joan.

Exit part 4+

Isn't assembling RTA furniture a blast?

Exit pages 10, 11 and 12.




Joan page 4.