Website Update

     So it took nearly forever, but I FINALLY updated my website!  It's not perfect, but it does precisely what I need it to: display my images and have the ability to be updated on the fly.  Hopefully, I'll be able to work with someone to give it the tweaks and adjustments I'd like it to have, but in the meantime it's showing current work and that's exciting!  Special thanks to Dan Dos Santos and the guys at Muddy Colors for posting some great tutorials and information!

Please stop by and visit my new website if you haven't already, and if you've been there before, stop by again!  Follow the link in the sidebar or just click HERE.
EDIT: updated website address.

Amazing New(ish) Blog

     I "discovered" one of the most amazing blogs a few months back.  It can be found at Muddy Colors.  It features comments and insights from some amazing illustrators and artists.  The blog has been up and since August 2009 and since then has gained quite a following.  Ever since I stumbled across it's wonderful entries I have been thankful; gaining an insight into the thought and work processes of successful artists is a exciting thing to be a part of.  To date, there have been entries on thumbnails, using reference, painting techniques, and portfolio tips.  Just a little bit for everyone.  So, if you're interested in art or artists, I highly recommend adding some Muddy Colors to your daily palette of inspiration and information.  Click the link in the ArtFuel section, follow along, and enjoy. TTYL.

Words of Wisdom

Florence from the Boboli Gardens

     "The first two things to study are form and values.  For me, these are the bases of what is serious in art.  Color and finish put charm into one's work."  Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot [ca. 1828]

     I couldn't agree with this more.  Values are how we interpret light on objects as well as their material (texture) and relationship to each other; atmospheric perspective, for example.  Second, form follows function.  This is essential to understanding the shape of whatever is being drawn or painted.  This is the foundation to which most beginning painters often struggle to grasp.  Starting simply, with monochromatic colors and simple geometric shapes, will help to ensure a successful time learning how to manipulate paint.  This is why artists will usually draw a small black and white "thumbnail" version of the image to test whether or not the values and forms (shapes of value) will work with each other.  A gold key to unlocking a great composition. 
     One of my past instructors, George Pratt, summed it up very well by saying, "Color is candy," and like Corot, he's right on.

Dragon Rider

     This is a series of my process work for the "Delusions of Grandeur" image I recently completed.

The first two pages are mainly idea pages. I was originally going to pursue a more typical "fantasy" type image and began trying to envision the dragon as well as the rider. This was ok but I felt it was very cliche. I wanted to do something slightly more original in the concept or idea of the image. So while doodling for ideas I came up with the idea of an actual knight riding a kiddie ride dragon. I got a few laughs from showing it to my wife and kids, so I was confident this was a good direction to go in.

     I took the image I roughed out on the right side of page 2 and began looking at reference pictures of knights and these types of rides. I did the first drawing on tracing paper (the one shown here is tracing number 3). This was done to solidify the line work so I could paint it easier. I made a copy of this sketch and used a set of gray scale markers to work up a set of values (range of white to black with NO color) that would make the shapes read.

From here, the image was taken into Photoshop where the real fun would take place! The final color version was resolved and some adjustments were made to the drawing to make the pose more natural and the to make the knight more awkwardly perched upon his steed. I knew that because of the complexity of his armor that the background needed to be somewhat simplified comparatively. So I chose a simple storefront location and let him ride.

The final image can be seen here. I hope you enjoyed following along with my process of creating this image. I feel it turned out pretty well and it was nice to get back to the basics of illustration. It has been a while since I've applied this fundamental approach to creating an image. This has been the way I've made most of my images but for whatever reason, recently, I've abandoned it until this image. So, now that I've 'found' it again, I need to hold on to it and apply it.

Thanks again,
TTYL

Sketchbook Journal

This is a page from one of my sketchbooks. I don't usually write "journal" entries but every once in a while I grab my pen and put some thoughts down. Mostly I do this when I'm frustrated and need an outlet, so I don't go completely off the deep end.
Anyway, it's too difficult to read so if you want to please click on the "image" and get a larger, more legible, version. I was thinking of typing it all for here, but I thought it would be more interesting to show the actual page as it was written.
Thanks for following along,
TTYL

The Red Umbrella

While I walking out to my car in the rain, I happened to notice this lady trying to find her car while talking on her cell phone. It struck me as an interesting concept for a painting. I don't know how far I'll actually take this but I did get it as far as an initial color concept in watercolor. This actually turned out much darker than I was anticipating but since I was just playing with a quick concept I tried to follow where the watercolor was taking me. So it became this almost nighttime walk home through a torrential downpour in the city. I'm pretty happy with the result because there are some pretty interesting things going on in the background that I like. The umbrella and the ground also turned out pretty nice.
This was started with a loose graphite sketch just placing the main elements using only the thumbnail [above] as reference. Next, I jumped right in with the initial watercolor washes, trying to establish a simple value structure and letting the colors mix and layer upon each other. Before the background was completely dry, I used the end of my brush and some paper towel to remove some of the pigment from the paper. This helped to establish some texture and color tonal variety to the background as well as set the initial tone for the rain. Once the image was dry I added some ink lines to the main figure to help bring her into the foreground, then I went over the entire piece with colored pencil to draw in the rain and rain drops on the ground. I had to also darken some of the area in the sky and right next to the figure to further increase the depth in the picture. A few more rain lines and quick color washes and I called it done.
I hope you enjoyed the process of completing this sketch.

Wet paper.

I've been messing around with watercolors a lot lately. I've been just trying to experiment with some new styles and get deeper with some different media than I normally use. So, watercolor is a great place to start. Watercolor has been a part of my repertoire of artistic weapons for about 6 years of so. I have done very little "serious" work with it but mainly use it for studies and quick sketches. Though, the pieces I have done with it I thought have turned out pretty good [click here to see one]. So, bring out the water, brushes, and sketchbook and see what happens.
For those that have never used watercolor don't be afraid of it. It's pretty quick and it can do some amazing things, from simple 3 wash images to near photo-realistic results (which takes lots of patience and a very well thought-out image). I'm far from photo real but that has never really been my intent with images. I am an impressionistic realist; which I guess means it should look like a real painting of something with light and color. The following paintings were executed rather quickly over the course of about 2 weeks and I don't know if anything will ever come of them, but they were pretty fun to do.
Thanks for following along. More to come soon.

Please click on the images for a larger version.
[Above] Untitled. Abstract watercolor design.
[Right] Lazy Eye. Character design/study.

UPdate . . .

Wow! Does time fly by or what? Here I thought I was going to have more than 1 post this month and here it is - post #2 for the month on the last day!!!
Anyway, I've recently completed 2 images for 2 different competitions and here's hoping they place (even if they don't, I've at least got 2 pretty good images from them). So I'll be posting the sketches and finals from these here pretty soon.
Currently working on updating and fleshing out my portfolio. This is one of my blessings and curses as an artist - I'm not exceptionally great at any one thing or "style" yet. I'm pretty good at almost anything I try and I have the ability to roughly mimic most styles. This is not an opportunity to brag or gloat (oh wee, look at me!) but I am just noting some differences between types of artists. Some artists almost exclusively work in one medium (oil, ink, watercolor, etc.) and then in mainly one way, this to me seems very restricting (but of course hundreds of artists have been doing well for hundreds of years doing that very thing). Of course, do what you do and do it well. But, on the other hand there are so many great things that each medium brings to the table that it's fun to mix it up and do something different. Secondly, it's amazing to see the results of what each medium can do in the right hands. Chris Payne, for example, uses almost everything in a single image. It's incredible to watch him work and even more so to see the finished results. [If you're not familiar with him or his work please click on his name to view his site.] So I forge ahead in search of my "style" and preferred method of working. The only way to truly find it is by doing. And doing, and doing. Eventually, I WILL develop a certain look to my work and the next step is finding the ever elusive market for it. But everything in God's time, He has a plan and it will come together in His time. I can do nothing but continue to prepare for whatever lies ahead.
Onward and upward! I am looking forward to doing some more en plein aire landscape paintings and that should help. Also about to start working towards getting my CIW (Certified Internet Webmaster) certificate, which should begin this fall. So, I continue to grow and develop my skills as an artist and soon it will all come together.
Keep an eye back here for more sketches coming soon!

Illustration Academy

This is from a post I made to the Illustration Academy blog, just wanted to share it here also:
{you can read the original post and responses here}
I just saw this post so brace yourself, here it goes:

From my experience, there is NOTHING like the Illustration Academy. I went to a good art school for 4 years and I feel I've learned at least as much from the Academy during the brief seven week program as I did during my tenure in college. It pretty much changed my artistic life. I was floored by the amazing talent of not only the instructors but my fellow students as well. The sense of community at the Academy is so real and engaging that, even though it was hard work (and it is VERY hard work) I was very sad when the seven weeks were up. Second, the way the information is broken down and taught has a lasting effect. You'll remember things you learned at the Academy years later, and then it will just click - "Oh that's what Brent was talking about, I get it now!"
I have been very blessed to have been a part of the Academy and haven't been able to completely pull myself away from it. I look forward to it every year and if I could quit my job and be a bigger part of it, I'd do it in a second. Sterling said something during the initial introduction of the Academy to Sarasota that has always stuck with me - "I would come to clean the floors at night, just to be near these guys and the Academy." It is one thing to hear about it, another to read about it, but to experience it is a whole different ballgame.
Sorry to have gone on for so long, but to anyone who might read this and be considering taking the Academy, I would highly recommend this amazing program. It will be one of the greatest investments you'll ever make (especially in yourself).

In closing, go to the Academy if it's even remotely possible. Take advantage of the instructors AND the students. Become a better artist and picture maker. Continue learning and keep making art. Finally, work smart and have fun (that's really what it's all about anyway, right?).

Thanks to all you guys and gals, you really have had a huge impact on my life (especially Brent, John, Sterling, George, Mark, and "Lucky" Jon).

Tom

Been a while . . .

I know it's been a while since I've posted anything but it's been an incredibly busy last couple of weeks. I have been dropping in on the Illustration Academy which is hosted near me and if you've never heard of it you should definitely check them out. Simply put one it's one of the best programs I have ever had the privilege to be a part of (and this is technically my fourth year!). I am also on vacation this week and away from home as well as my scanner. I have been trying some new things and should have quite a bit to post when I return.
It's definitely great to get away and see some new things. I really enjoy traveling and would eventually like to travel more. I feel it would strongly help my work and broaden my artistic horizons; though some artists have a made quite a prolific career from staying relatively close to home. Andrew Wyeth comes immediately to mind and he stayed pretty much in one (regional) spot his whole career and did amazingly well! But each artist is (thankfully) different and I enjoy visiting places and looking at pictures of other places too much to not ever want to visit them. One day . . .
Well, time to get back to the drawing board (or sketchbooks). To my (possibly) 2 loyal readers, I hope you're doing well and thanks for following along.