Most of the time, my brain is just bouncing around with a million ideas. It’s one of the reasons why I have multiple sketchbooks and digital notes, so that the better ideas don’t get away. Sometimes, one of those really sticks in my head, and I feel the need to Read more…
Being an artist of multiple styles can be a lot of fun. It also allows me to work out ideas with, what I consider anyway, to be the right format. Sometimes an idea might look better as an ink. Sometimes it requires a fully illustrated or painted method. Other times, Read more…
When I was unemployed in 2011 and 2012, I returned to doing a lot of inks. Dozens of new inks, and it was a great return to a medium that I hadn’t worked on since the early 2000’s. In working up to going to my (so far) one and only Read more…
When I’m not working on full illustrations for books covers, interior illustrations, or even inks and paintings, I try to sketch. It can be considered practice, or working out ideas, and sometimes it’s even just for fun. Sketches often come in the form of pencil drawings, the traditional means. Occasionally Read more…
It’s no secret that I’ve had a couple of long years now. In trying to get back into art creation mode, I’ve begun trying to “jump start” the process with some quick digital pieces. Part of my problem is that I sit down with new ideas, especially for covers and Read more…
I just received the new Maelstrom Set III from Thunderstorm Books, and as usual with Thunderstorm they are exceptionally crafted. I’m lucky enough to have created the foil stamp designs for the hardcover, and hopefully they go well with the gorgeous dustjacket art that David Ho created. As with the Read more…
In getting ready for my Spectrum booth this coming May (check out the event here), I’ve been working out which pieces of art to bring with me. One of the ideas that came up, which I’ve had before, is to combine three of my smaller inks into one framed set. Read more…
This week for Alphabeasts, which I’m now caught up on, I decided to try something different. With my computer being backed up and doing some maintenance, I thought I would try a larger piece than the others have been. This week’s letter was “R”, and the first thing that popped Read more…
For my Alphabeasts entry this week, being still in an “experimental” mood after that last painting (here), I went with a different effect than I normally have. Usually, I have quite a lot of crosshatch marks on my inks. I decided this time to try something with far less lines, Read more…
Once again, I’ve created a new ink for the Alphabeasts project (alphabeasts.tumblr.com). This time, I had a bit of a quandary, since there are a few creatures that start with “F” that I thought might be interesting. Of course, there’s the faun from El laberinto del fauno (Pan’s Labyrinth). But Read more…
My second entry into the great Alphabeasts project (visit http://alphabeasts.tumblr.com/ for more info) is based on the race of beings called “The Deep Ones”, from H.P. Lovecraft’s Cthulhu mythos. I’m getting more comfortable working on inks without photo reference, and this one didn’t have any at all (other than a quick google Read more…
My good friend Patrick Douglas has a new book coming soon, and I created a new art piece for him to use as a signature sheet. The book itself is great, and tells the story of an outcast girl who has stumbled into a lost tribe in a cave system. Read more…
In the first part of the article yesterday (here!), I talked about the pens, pencils, and different paper stocks that I use as an artist. Today I’m going to discuss the other things that I do, including acrylic painting, matting, and so on. First off, the easy stuff. Painting with Acrylics Read more…
I’ve been itching to do more ink work lately, and I decided over the weekend that H.P. Lovecraft’s birthday was a great chance to work something in. The trick, of course, in doing art of a recognizable character (or person) is that you just have to get it right. Sure, Read more…
On Thursday, I posted my newest ink/digital artwork, of Peter Cushing’s Grand Moff Tarkin character from Star Wars. I decided today, while taking a break between art pieces (and while my internet is working) to upload this article about how it was created. I like to post these kinds of Read more…
I decided I was getting too comfortable with my new inks, and I thought I’d try a new experiment. I think it’s important as an artist not to get too comfortable with what you are doing, as complacency can often lead to boring art. So, what I would tell all Read more…
Sometimes when I’m thinking of doing some art, I get a good idea going. Some concept, or some particular scene grabs me and I want to get art made of it. Today was no different, as I’d had an idea for another ink work based on some old noir films. Read more…
I decided that it might not be a bad idea to take a step back and look at the inks I’ve been working on. For those that haven’t been following (I know, I know, no one has been), I started doing ink cards and ink works late last year as Read more…
Today has been an experiment in not only a larger format for an ink work, but also in the idea of not letting a problem in the art end the day. When I started doing art today, I just grabbed my 12″ x 18″ watercolor stock and went to work. Read more…
While I’m working on these ink cards, I’m trying a few different ideas out. Of course, one idea is purely commerce driven, I’m unemployed and selling things keeps food on the table. But artistically, there are a few things at play here. First, I’m trying to relearn what I knew Read more…