So I’ve mentioned the latest issue of Timbuktu Magazine before, but here are a few spots from the article I illustrated.
There are plenty more if you’re interested to check the app out. If you have an iPad, go and have a download. It’s on me (It’s not really on me. It’s free. I’m cheating.)
Well if this isn’t just the best way to kick off the spring: Chalktrail (here’s their Kickstarter)
Via swissmiss (who got it from design mom)
This is how you internet.
One of the many things in this world that make me happy is an animated GIF. I can’t explain the fascination any better than I can explain why Pluto is no longer a planet
Anyways, a quick bit of history. My parents are the second generation owners/operators of Kolb’s Green Thumb Nursery, a family-run landscape and design business. I fit in as their designer and overall brand developer. We just launched their website this season and it features as many animated GIFs as I could justify! The above image is just one of them.
And because Space is fascinating, here’s why Pluto is no longer a planet (but I still can’t articulate my love for animated GIFs)
Oh hey. So I’ve been getting a bunch of emails and questions regarding my process. While I’m all about the personal replies (and you’ll still get them, don’t worry), I figured I’d prepare this post for easy reference in the future. Time travel was soooooooo tomorrow.
While this is by no means the only method to my madness, it will (hopefully) cover some of the consistencies across much of my work. Today, class, we’ll be going over how I made The Neverland.
I usually start with scribbles on scraps of paper. With this image I had a pretty clear vision in my head so after a couple of sketches I was comfortable moving on to the next stage.
I find working at a VERY small size early on ensures that the purpose of the image is communicating. Without any extra details or distractions I can usually determine if it’s strong enough to move on to the next step. Think big and draw small. I’m sure someone, somewhere, said that before now.
At this point I’m happy with the very rough layout, so I’ve moved on to working at a larger size. Details can now be introduced. For a while I tried working through this stage on the computer but found I was wasting a lot of time. Apparently computers are good for this. I’m not the first (nor will I be the last) to swear by putting pencil to paper, but dang if it isn’t just the best! There’s a sort of alchemy to it that I can’t explain.
If you notice the blue lead, that’s me redrawing the basic forms from the small sketch. My favourite pencils are those mechanical ones (and the cheap ones, they’re just the right size). They never dull and that is awesome. Time for pencil sharpening is a luxury I don’t have.
Computer time! After scanning in the tight sketch I’ll use the dark arts of Photoshop to work with colour. Again, I had a pretty clear idea before getting into it but sometimes hiccups are worked out at this point.
Now that I’m happy with the colours, it’s time to get down to business (and by “business” I mean “draw Captain Hook’s head to look like an island”). Much of my past was spent in Illustrator before I purchased a tablet and I think it’s really shaped my workflow. I tend to work in multiple layers based on the objects. I try not to have overlapping elements on the same layer (and you’ll see why later). For example, the brown rocks and red part of the sun are on one layer. The purple land and the pink part of the sun are on the layer above. I build up my layers until I’ve completed all the basic shapes.
Now that the simple objects have been drawn, it’s time for texture! Since each shape is on its own layer, this allows me to lock the transparent pixels (in Photoshop’s layers palette there is a little checker board beside the word “Lock”). Doing this allows me to paint only where there are already objects. Now I can start using a few brushes I’ve made (in the above image there are two: a scatter brush on the clouds and a gouache brush used on the land) and not worry about keeping inside the lines.
There are times where I don’t want to keep to the solid forms. Sometimes the image calls for texture that just can’t be contained. The “foliage” is on another layer (maybe I’m overly neurotic with my layers, but hey, I do what I want). And again, you can see the rocks as a good example of locking the layer and then painting freely to introduce texture (it’s kind of like using a stencil to contain everything).
And after all the big texture stuff is done I go back in and add the details and small elements (again, another layer…so sue me).
And that’s it! So to recap (because frig this was a long post for me):
That wasn’t so bad, eh? If I’ve skipped over something that you want discussed further, use that hand ask feature.
Oh and there are still a handful of prints of this left over hurrrrrr.
Well thanks and ditto on the general awesomeness.
And a second thank you for helping me solve the mysterious flood of followers!
Case: closed.
ASK
Now that it’s April I might as well share how I wrapped up March!
Ten Paces and Draw’s monthly mixtape (art inspired by a fantastic music) featured a heaping amount of awesome. March was the month of Nancy Sinatra and Queen! So the above image is my take on Killer Queen.
You can see all of the other great interpretations here.
pokemonbattleroyale.blogspot.com
This is going to be…the very best. Like no show ever was. Not only am I honoured to be a part of this show, but I miiiiiiiiiiight just be featured on this promo! Use your Silph Scope and check out all that is about to come from this show!
So this is my offering to the Fables & Fairytales show being put on by Acidfree Gallery!
The show features heaps of amazing illustrators putting their own spin on classic stories. I was fortunate to snag one of my favourite tales: Button Soup (or stone soup…or nail soup).
The gist of the tale is basically “sharing is caring”, a personal motto of mine. The Wizard of Wikipedia explains it so much better.
Anyways, I wanted to work in a few new brushes, as well as scan some ink work as they gallery is printing it and daaaaaaaaaaaaaang do they do a good job with the finer textural stuff! I’m super excited.
Much of the work goes on sale at the shop today so be sure to watch their twitter and facebook feeds if you want to snag up some awesome stuff.
First off I’d like to say we’re doing great with our Light Grey Art Lab Kickstarter Project, and appreciate everyone who’s contributed thus far, but we’ve still got a long way to go, and we need a big boost!
So we’re going to have a series of limited, exclusive prizes to get some new people to contribute ASAP!
I’m pleased to announce our very special ‘Daily Pattern’ reward tier! For the next week, anyone who donates $40* dollars or more to our Light Grey Art Lab Kickstarter Project will get to choose a Daily Pattern topic and have a Daily Pattern made just for them!
All of us at Paper Bicycle and Light Grey Art Lab really want to hit our goal of $10,000 (remember, if we don’t hit the goal, we get nothing!!), so we wanted to do something super special to get you to contribute! In addition to your own, personalized pattern, you get a special ‘thank you’ shout-out when it’s posted on the blog! And you get a high-res file to use as you’d like!**
Print it out and frame it! Use it to make wedding invites! Print out fabric and make a quilt! Make it a background on your blog or twitter page! Print out wrapping paper to wrap presents for your mom! It’s totally up to you!
This is a very limited offer, both in quantity and time! We’re only doing 50 custom patterns and when they’re gone, they’re gone! Starting as of right this second, you have until Sunday, April 2nd to reserve your pattern!
Please hurry over to our Kickstarter page and contribute now!
Then you can have your own special Daily Pattern to impress your friends with!
*If you’d like to donate more than $40 and still receive the custom Daily Pattern, please email chris(at)paperbicycle.com to arrange it. We’d be more than happy to oblige!
**These Daily Patterns are for non-commercial use only. Once the Kickstarter campaign wraps up, we will contact you about what pattern topic you’d like. We will begin making the patterns at the close of our Kickstarter campaign, doing at least one per day, so please be patient until we get to yours.
***Please note this is a Limited Time Offer to entice new contributors. This reward does not apply to previous contributors.
So here’s why I want to spread the word and help Light Grey Art Lab get their needed funding.
ONE:
Alyssa Nassner is part of the LGAL crew and she’s the coolest.
TWO:
Patterns are awesome and this is a steal. A STEAL!
THREE:
LGAL is putting on the Pokemon Battle Royal Event! We need more awesome things like this (I know I’m a part of that show but even if I wasn’t I still think that it’s a great event. I mean look at the work from it! Exhibit A. Exhibit B. Exhibit C. I could go on.)
Happy Tuesday!
I’ve only just started checking out the website REASONS FOR OPTIMISM but I’m already picking up what they’re throwing down. The site’s crew is doing a great thing by curating the best of what’s happening in the world.
I know there are those who say that negative news is the news that gets known (well, maybe they don’t say it exactly like that) but I think if you eventually find what you’re looking for. So look for the good, mes amies.
Thanks to Swiss Miss for the tip.
Andrew here. This is the most up to date news on all my happenings. Be sure to check the other bits of internet I've claimed! Shop: The Neat Shop Permafolio: kolbisneat.com Brief Rambles: Twitter Personal Letters: E-Mail
