How Do I Do It?
Xris | 10/07/2005 @019 | edit post

HOW DO I DO IT? Whilst reading and contributing posts into the fairly recent 'Overdrawing/Overpainting' thread, I've noticed like all threads in any forum that has ever been concieved, the thread spun this way, that way, slipped off topic a few times and so on... A recent 'spin' to that thread which had appeared more or less as I'm writing this, is in the direction of how we actually create our works. How much preparation we have to carry out before we can even start. And it occurs to me how much we all differ in our ideas, attitudes, motives and execution of our works - whether they be inks and pencil (me!), wet mediums, digital or whatever. Personally, I'd really like to hear more of how we actually create our works. What's on our minds when we begin a piece, how we go about our preparation and research, what we're feeling when it's going just right (or wrong! ), how we use our own specific mediums to the best of our abilities, in our own unique styles. And what is our final impression when we look at the finished work. How do we respond to other peoples and artists critiques and general feedback towards our pictures? Heh.... Ever had any TOTAL disasters? As mentioned above, the initial preparation of our work came up in the 'Overdrawing / Overpainting' thread. ---------------------------- STARDREAMER Honestly, if I suddenly become popular someday I am unsure if I wouldnt want helpers. Here is how I prep for oil painting: 1) Stretch Linen, canvas, hemp over stretcher bars 2) Gesso 3) Sand, regesso. Repeat minimum of 7x 4) Color primer (I use a pyrrole red) 5) coal sketching ((Graphite pencils on a oil painting is BAD mmmkay) 6) Value color reprime. Darks get dull value, lights get washes, etc. 7) OMG I start painting! If I dont hate it, it gets varnished 2x min. Those first 4 steps are crucial for oil painting and nearly no one does it anymore. *shrugs* This is why I work on multiple projects at the same time. I usually have 2 or 3 oil paintings going at the same time not including sculpture, water colors, acrylic paintings or random plein airs or drawing. EMARTS My prep: 1) turn on tv -- see what's on 2) pace around the room a bit 3) turn on computer 4) check GFXA 5) attempt to draw something 6) keep trying 7) crap, I gotta get some air! go outside with camera 9) take some pics 10) come back in 11) anything on the tv yet? 12) import images from camera to computer 13) check GFXA 14) nap 15) pick best shots on computer 16) Photoshop for about an hour 17) try to draw something again 16) check GFXA 17) still nothing on tv? Hey, what happened to number 8? DIGITALDUST Every artwork I do spawns at least 10 more ideas in the process of painting. I have more than enough to occupy me for years, but there is no way I can get everything done I want to, even if I was working on it full time. That's why I am always on the look out for faster, less time consuming ways to do things. It's only fair to my artistic vision to expedite where I can. emarts, LOL! That's what they mean when they say that art is 90% in the "mind" – just consider it "creative slumber"! That's where the vast majority of my art happens – and I must say, it is one of the greates rewards of having creative inclinations – all those wonderful things I can see in my minds eye – keeps me sane! XRIS Although I appear to carry out no initial prep at all, disregarding the basic core fineline sketching, I thought about it a short while ago - my 'prepping' is looking at the blank piece of cartridge paper, with the knowledge that over the next few weeks or months, consuming perhaps 25-50 hours, I'm going to be gradually filling and replacing most of the white with millions of 0.18 and 0.25 dots - all in their correct places, clustered at certain densities and pressures to obtain finished details to (in many cases) minute objects, buildings, armour etc. My preparation is in fact ongoing, an integral part of the work itself, as each time I pick it up again to patiently add some more detail, I see that much of the white is yet showing. Love it! Helpers? Gerroff - it's mine!!! ******* But really, I would like to hear from other people; where your ideas come from, what's on your mind when you know you've got hours, weeks months of work ahead of you. How difficult is it to keep a certain pace up. Or is there in fact any hurry at all? How prepared are you to take onboard totally different techniques while your work is evolving? To what lengths are you prepared to got to for your research? I'm not just curious - I'm really interested, after having my appetite whetted in the link thread. Any offerings? Cheers artists, Xris

Re: How Do I Do It?
Xris | 10/07/2005 @023 | edit post

( Another post from STARDREAMER ) Actually physical prep of a canvas is very much an influence on the end product. Not only to the longevity of the piece, but for the overall work as well. The primer color also has a massive factor. I use Pyrrole red which is unusual, however I have learned it has huge benefits for seascapes and underwater scenes. Under drawing and under painting has HUGE benefits in the long run for me as well. Underwater scenes I do with multiple glazes which allow a trippy depth and odd effects to happen. Look at this work in progress. Sorry for the poor scan quality but this is a little larger then my scanner and I had to pc it together, yet I digress. Here there is an obvious jellyfish in the top right, but there is also a very hidden humpbackwhale staring right at you in the bottom left. It is on purpose because I am looking at this as a pelagic deep sea painting...say around 100' deep in open ocean. As I walk around the room now, even in low light, the whole image shimmers as if I was underwater. Without my prep, I won't be able to acheieve this. [Message edited on 10/07 @050]

Re: How Do I Do It?
Juro | 10/07/2005 @052 | edit post

http://juro.gfxartist.com/blog/91146#comments How I work

Re: How Do I Do It?
Stardreamer | 10/07/2005 @082 | edit post

quote: Heh.... Ever had any TOTAL disasters? Yep, lots. Those get set on fire.

Re: How Do I Do It?
DreamTheater | 10/07/2005 @111 | edit post

how I work harder than it looks.

Re: How Do I Do It?
Stardreamer | 10/07/2005 @221 | edit post

Uncalled for.

Re: How Do I Do It?
TJVerhagen | 10/07/2005 @458 | edit post

uncalled for, I agree.

Re: How Do I Do It?
Andy--Jones | 10/07/2005 @493 | edit post

I don't get it! Who is that woman. Anyway I'm just a spur of the moment type of guy and more often than not I decide on impulse to do something after listening to a particular song or tune...even though the result is ussually unrelated to that song. But like most here once you get an idea in your head it's full steam ahead.

Re: How Do I Do It?
Xris | 10/07/2005 @495 | edit post

quote:  DreamTheater wrote on 10/07 @111 harder than it looks. Cool... I'm still trying to find my PS start-icon since I installed it. It's in there somewhere

Re: How Do I Do It?
Wysiwyg | 10/07/2005 @534 | edit post

Just a note...cool thread...will comment later....breakfast first *EDIT This thread inspired me to start a new thread NEW STICKY THREADS [Message edited on 10/07 @597]

Re: How Do I Do It?
Xris | 10/07/2005 @731 | edit post

One of my most radical moves recently iwas trying my hand at pencil-drawing as a break/change from my long-preferred hi-res pen illustrations. I began by applying (what I already know) my pen style method, only using fine 0.5 prop pencils and standard wooden B pencils for contrasting. Although my intial thoughts were 'this aint gonna work, I can't work these kinda resolutions with pencils', it still gave me an unusual finish to my work. I'm still approaching the notion of starting 'traditional' pencil work, but just trying it at first using my own fine-detail technique has offered me still yet another type of illustration style to work with. It's nice when 'accidental' effects appear and work in our favour... WYSIWYG Great idea Brett!

Re: How Do I Do It?
ARTOONATOR | 10/07/2005 @745 | edit post

How do I do it?!? -Being a genius -Being a very bright genius -Adding some coinsidence -loving the coinsidence because coincidentally there are no bad coinsidences made by geniuses -Nodding 'yes' to confirm I created another masterpiece -Being self-content -Publishing it and not getting the recognition a genius diserves. That about sums it up.

Re: How Do I Do It?
DreamTheater | 10/08/2005 @056 | edit post

quote:  ARTOONATOR wrote on 10/07 @745 How do I do it?!? -Being a genius -Being a very bright genius -Adding some coinsidence -loving the coinsidence because coincidentally there are no bad coinsidences made by geniuses -Nodding 'yes' to confirm I created another masterpiece -Being self-content -Publishing it and not getting the recognition a genius diserves. That about sums it up. HOW INAPPROPIATE

Re: How Do I Do It?
ARTOONATOR | 10/08/2005 @494 | edit post

heh...look who's talking

Re: How Do I Do It?
Xris | 10/08/2005 @672 | edit post

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ARTOONATOR wrote on 10/07 @745 How do I do it?!? -Being a genius -Being a very bright genius -Adding some coinsidence -loving the coinsidence because coincidentally there are no bad coinsidences made by geniuses -Nodding 'yes' to confirm I created another masterpiece -Being self-content -Publishing it and not getting the recognition a genius diserves. That about sums it up. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DreamTheater wrote: HOW INAPPROPIATE Xris None of it is inappropriate if it's how you see yourself, even on a light humourous level. If it's not humour, but something else, then it still has some substance in revealing something about you and your personality, if not your art. [Message edited on 10/08 @871]

Re: How Do I Do It?
ARTOONATOR | 10/08/2005 @700 | edit post

???? Why? Does anyone doubt my greatness?

Re: How Do I Do It?
Xris | 10/08/2005 @712 | edit post

LMAO! Not at all Arne.... can't see how anyone else can

Re: How Do I Do It?
Xris | 10/08/2005 @721 | edit post

It's gotta be said tho... it's weird how it's seemingly so difficult to run a simple art-related thread on a gallery site. Yep - just checked, the house is full of artists... Maybe it was just a stupid topic on my side? Never mind, we all try our best

Re: How Do I Do It?
DreamTheater | 10/08/2005 @776 | edit post

well if the excessive frowns didn't give it away.... edit: added three more periods. [Message edited on 10/08 @778]

Re: How Do I Do It?
ARTOONATOR | 10/08/2005 @819 | edit post

Allright Xris. Seriously. Which technique of mine do you want me to explain here?

Re: How Do I Do It?
Xris | 10/08/2005 @849 | edit post

quote] DreamTheater wrote on 10/08 @776 well if the excessive frowns didn't give it away.... edit: added three more periods. LOL Ashlee! I haven't been frowning, just observing how this thread was running... and seriously thinking I'd made a bad choice of topic. These things happen, no biggy However I am now totally curious as to why you've been hounding me and this thread with so much enthusiasm - begining with your strange digital art post? Have I previously offended you in some way? I don't think I've spoken to you before (have I?), but if I have and have offended you, I'm really, genuinely sorry. * Shrugs - still aint frowning, just a lil confused * [Message edited on 10/09 @099]

Re: How Do I Do It?
Xris | 10/08/2005 @856 | edit post

quote] ARTOONATOR wrote on 10/08 @819 Allright Xris. Seriously. Which technique of mine do you want me to explain here? Thanks Arne I'm glad you of all people asked that, because a while ago (at least from what I had seen of your previous works) you seemed to cut a total right-angle and published Hey Day! p3 by  ARTOONATOR I've previously enjoyed your work anyway, but this one caught me out - outstanding! What I'd like to know is where the idea came from and a basic idea of the processes you went through to produce this piece? Cheers, Xris [Message edited on 10/08 @875]

Re: How Do I Do It?
Xris | 10/09/2005 @073 | edit post

Over my time here on GFX, I've been asked numerous times for hi-detail WIPs on most of my work, both pencil and isograph penwork. I suppose this is as good as place as any to show a WIP, seeing as how we're discussing methods 'n stuff. I've been using isopens for the last *cough* number of years and only recently started pencil drawings (within the last 3 months). Although I've already shown this item 'Warrior' in a WIP just recently, I thought I'd take the chance to show those intersted a lil more detail. Here's the basic early-stage structures: ( the linework you see here is hugely magnified. Smaller figures are actual size.) I don't know where the initial concept came from (no, not Xena ) but I strongly suspect it was a need to 1) try some more pencil detail sketches before I move onto more 'traditional' pencil sketching and 2) to try and veer away from my previous 'soft' fantasy portfolio of 'nice' fairies and 'shroomy type of work - to create something a lil more aggresive. This next frame gives you an idea of the basic detail work. 'Basic', because later I'll be going over the main figures (in this case warrior and unicorn) re-detailing the light/contrast/ambience artefacts (grooooaaaan...) Before I do any B-grade re-detailing, I'll fill in the background details; trees, rocks, shrubbery etc. This particular project is still WIP so I cant show you any more immediately other than a lil more detail work. I would hazard a guess that before this project is finished, I will have spent about 40-50 hours on it... maybe more. Oh yeah... size? Just a fraction larger that A4 (yeah... just so it wont fit on the sodding scanner-plate! ) Thanks for sharing so far [Message edited on 10/09 @110]

Re: How Do I Do It?
Xris | 10/09/2005 @085 | edit post

Oops! For those of you who've not seen the original WIP, here is the overall layout so far. Yep, her face is pending due to technical (among other) issues The figures will look a lil flat until I've added the contrast/light details. Medium-Low grade A4, HB 0.5 prop pencil [Message edited on 10/09 @103]

Re: How Do I Do It?
Andy--Jones | 10/09/2005 @136 | edit post

Gawd you have freaky patience Xris dude! (there I go again, turning into Otto, man!) I am very surprised you have only started using pencils this late! I'd have thought you used them first then progressed to ink. Brave to go straight with the ink as there's not much room for errors I'd imagine. Awsome detail anyway as always.

Re: How Do I Do It?
Xris | 10/09/2005 @153 | edit post

Hey Andy, thanks! I thought I was the only one around here that left my head in a fancy decorated tobocco-tin back somewhere in the 70's? Cheers m'friend