Find a Problem- Solve a Problem!

One of the challenging aspects of illustration is finding ways to develop your skills on your down time. As a student I often found myself frustrated. I had a lot of fun ideas of what I wanted to draw, but felt confined to a specific assignment. Eventually, I found joy in solving the problems given to me, and actually found comfort and success working with perimeters and and guidelines that forced me to use critical thinking. As a graduate, I often find a lack of this critical aspect. My ability to draw an illustration improves, but the critical thinking involved in connecting the illustration falls to the wayside. THIS IS A PROBLEM. As an editorial illustrator, my ability to come up with a strong idea is just as important as my ability to craft it. To tackle both problems, my amazing teacher John Hendrix suggested the following: "go to the New York Times Opinion page. There are always two opinions, one illustrated, one not. The one not illustrated is all yours!" And so, with that in mind, I jetted over to the NYT online and found an article to illustrate. 

The article I chose for this illustration was a critique on the overabundance of coin designs in the U.S. The author took issue with the fact that the U.S. mint has been on something of a design spat lately, coming out with various designs for the dollar coin, the famous fifty-state quarter series, and the various redesigns of presidential portraits on our coins. He claimed this had the effect of confusing our national identity. A national identity crisis over coins? Sounded like a fun challenge.

I brainstormed and sketched out several ideas for this- the vast majority were flops (though i was rather fond of the idea of Washington brawling with Adams on the side of a one-dollar coin) but soon enough I remembered that there was one character that screamed National Identity:

From there I had to think of a way to connect that with confusion and coins. Well, stores provide variety, right? And a graphic image like those on a coin would probably be seen hanging on strings just like paintings or posters. Add a touch of my beloved surrealist tendencies and my idea was complete.

From there I produced a number of thumbnails, trying to get down an idea for the composition I wanted to use. This is actually one of my favorite steps in the process, as it is brimming with creative possibilities.

Following this I took photo reference to work off of for my sketch.

After taking quite a few photos I took out parts to draw from and produced a finished sketch. I put this sketch in photoshop to make a quick color study. I do it this way because it gives me alot more time to experiment before I move into the final stage.

For this illustration I decided to go for a traditional approach and experiment with watercolors. My reference in hand, I sat in my studio and started painting. 

After some good ol' fashioned pigment pushing (followed by refining pixel pushing as a last step in Photoshop)I came up with this final image:

Viola! One good exercise with a quick turnaround that allows me to practice all the major components I need to develop to feed my self and put a roof over my head. This, combined with traditional figure drawing, reading alot of news and history, and sketch-booking is  a great way of keeping up your skills. DO IT! 

As for me, I think I owe John a coffee for this advice...

image of Uncle Sam produced by James Montgomery Flagg

Time Abroad- Good Thing I Had my Moleskins

Hi there!

I just got back from a post-graduation trip to Europe- and it was amazing. You can't find some of the great examples of sculpture and painting over here that they have to offer, especially in Paris and Rome. I've fallen in love with the work of Rubens again, as well as Goya and Daumier. I was also fascinated by some the sculpture I saw, which I plan to study from for awhile. ALSO I visited the armory at the Spanish Palace (AMAZING).

I brought two moleskins with me for the trip, the standard size, with a red cover, and a pocket size for quick drawings and experiments. It was great having the resource with me close by for when inspiration hit.

Drawing is something that is definitely therapeutic for me. I'm happy to be pursuing something I can work on at any time. Doug Chayka made a great post on the Illustration Academy blog on sketchbooks. CHECK IT OUT!

Also, check these out

I will make some more posts on these later, and some onsite drawings, but for now some work produced on the plane ride over and in the pocket moleskin. 

They were showing "The Day the Earth Stood Still" on the way over. Keanu Reeves was boring me to tears so I had to stay awake somehow.

ANIMALS IN....HAMLET!

I wanted to do a piece that involved combining historical costume and themes with animals. The result was the previously posted "Otto Pug Bismarck". I guess that didn't quite get it out of my system, though, so I came up with this- and Orangutan performing Hamlet. 

I produced this with graphite on vellum, the method I have been working with for the past few months. It's been great for fixing tonal problems before going into photoshop and trying to fix it there. This way I get a good mix of traditional and digital work together.

Otto Pug Bismarck

I've wanted to draw this for a month now, and I finally forced myself to do it this week.

I would like to note that I am a huge fan of spiky helmets.

Seminar Post!

I was recently reminded that I should post some of my seminar work on the blog. I apologize for goofing in this instance and would like to make up for it now. Enjoy!

Sketching it Out

Made it out to the SLAM today and got sit and sketch for a few hours. I love going out and drawing, so this was a great break for me. Here are some of the highlights.

Iraq War Journals

This is a piece from my last project with John Hendrix. The assignment dealt with illustrating scenes form a series of iraq war journal postings from an issue of the New Yorker. 

This was a somber subject to deal with, and a real departure for me from my typical fare. I enjoyed drawing the car, and the military uniform, as well as working on a subject with more weight behind it. 

I want to take a second to thank my teachers here. John Hendrix and Doug Dowd have been a godsend this year, and a great follow up to the illustration Academy last summer. I'm getting ready for the future, and I'm both terrified and excited in the best way possible. I can't wait to start the next chapter of my life, and look forward to keeping you informed.

Gnarls Barkley

Recently finished up seminar presentations. Examples of that to come soon, but first, here is an illustration done for John's class recently.

The assignment was to do a RollingStone illustration for a certain band. I chose to do Gnarls Barkley, and got to follow two of my passions- caricatures and large groups of items.

Will post more soon! Here comes graduation!

Love Hurts

Hello everyone- and happy April Fools! 

I have been hard at work finishing up the final seminar project, images to come soon! 

In the interim, here is an illustration coming from John's editorial illustration class. The idea was to create an image promoting the phrase "Love Hurts". 

I of course used the opportunity to create a gorilla illustration.

Hope you enjoy.

The Bear Market

So the newest Wash U Political Review just hit stands, and amazingly, there is no Barack Obama on the cover. For this cover we all agreed it was time to move to a different subject. A little brainstorming later, and after several rough comps, we have this:

I really enjoyed mixing up all these metaphors. I got to produce a fun/action image that still retains a point. I really enjoyed this one.