3.30.2010

Speed

Didn't have much time to draw at all today, but I still got a page done! Working heavier and darker is showing up a lot better in the scanner. I still am not really used to it, and some of my lines are more feathered than I'd like, but practice makes perfect. Also working on my timing and focus. Picked up a little bit of speed!

3.29.2010

New Techniques

I heard and read some new ideas to integrate into my drawings today. Numero uno: Draw with the arm, then the wrist, then the fingers, supposedly it helps free up your drawings and keep you from getting hand cramps. Numero dos: draw further away from the paper, so that you can see the whole image at once to make sure the proportions and perspectives are correct not only to what you are currently working on, but to the image as a whole. Lastly I think I need to draw a bit darker at least for the scanner to pick up my images better.

Miscellaneous Ruffians

Finished a sketchbook yesterday! So, I got to start a new one today. I'm not sure if I like the paper quality in this one as much, but it does seem to scan lighter which is nice. I've been using a Strathmore recycled paper sketchbook, but I'll give the new one a chance.



3.27.2010

Brute and some Goofballs

I had a lot of fun drawing today. Mostly I worked on a bunch of quick drawings just for myself. I'm trying to find a good balance between accuracy and speed. I'm hopeful that it will come in time. Also, I listened to a lot of the Art and Story podcast. Lots of great inspiration and listening helps me to stay focused on what I want to do. Now to register my copy of CS4 (my trial ends in 4 days, Oh No!).

Slapstick

I didn't have hardly any time to draw today, and I can tell. I wasn't as loose and relaxed. I have noticed that I tend to draw harder when I'm in my pocket sketchbook and softer when I'm in my big sketchbook. It's fun trying to find a happy medium, and figuring out which style of pencil I like better. I use 2H in my large sketchbooks ( General Kimberly) and .5 2B (Pentel) mechanical pencils in my travel sketchbook. I find I actually really like them both.

3.26.2010

Little Animals

Today was another busy day. I have to try to stay within a structure so I always have time to draw. Also I'm working on keeping a little sketchbook with me and remembering to draw in it everywhere I go and jot down every idea I have. I find it helps me be more open minded and creative. I still need to find a good exercise that will free myself up to improve the quality of the first drawings I do everyday. Any ideas?



3.24.2010

Squirrel

Looked through some of my old sketchbooks from last year. I may not think that I've improved that much, but oh how those drawings were not up to par. I do like the free form of some of those drawings though, not as restricted as I feel some of my drawing are, but you have to have the support beams before you can put on the wallpaper. I dunno, I guess I'm trying to sound clever, but I just have to master proportions, weight, squash and stretch, etc.. before I can really work on too much style.

Anyways ... Squirrel!

3.23.2010

Build a Rabbit

Had a lovely day today. I got a lot of drawing done. I also took a trip to the library and got a book on Hirschfeld, Winsor McCay, Art of Animation, and a Chuck Jones book as well. I can't wait to delve into them! I'm almost done with my current sketchbook so I picked up a new one made by Pentalic. I wanted to get a Moleskine cause I've heard such good things about them, but the guy at Benny Haha said that he liked these ones better. So I figured I'd give them a chance.

Today's word of inspiration brought to you by Chris Oatley "Perfection is the enemy of done."


Line of Action with a little class

I didn't have much time to draw today, but I like this little duck. Although after looking at it post scan and upload, I of course find more detail I would like to add. I already spent too much time on one drawing for today though. Here's to tomorrow.


3.21.2010

Researching The Cuteness Factor

Still studying Preston Blair. For the past 3 months I've been studying other peoples work, and I find myself not being as unique and creative as I used to be. So I think I'm going to still go through a page or two of other peoples work, but try to get a page or two a day of my own done as well. I've yet to decide if I want to put up drawings from my other sketchbook... We shall see. Oh we shall see.

3.20.2010

Highest of Fives

I forget how many different positions our hands can move in. I find myself really liking drawing hands for the same reason I like drawing different perspectives. That reason being that there are just so many times I don't really look at how things look vs how I think things look.

Expressions and musings


Another day. I spent most of the day in my portable sketchbook. I like having the freedom not only of being able to take it wherever I go, but I honestly feel like it's okay to put whatever I want in there. In my main sketchbook I feel obligated to be exact and know what I'm going to do. I'm working on trying to still draw lightly and "kiss the page" as I've heard it said before. I want to say Eric Goldberg said that on the Animation Podcast. If I remember that correctly. I've just always liked that phrase and wanted to be able to draw that way, but I find that it makes the drawings I scan not very viewable. So I'll try to find a happy medium. Now back to working on some hands and different positions.

3.19.2010

Heads and Expressions

I didn't have as much time to draw today as I would have liked, but I did manage to get one more page in my sketchbook. It ended up turning out better than I thought it would. I really finding myself extra critical of my work these days, but I have to try to remain positive and keep on drawing. Always keeping in mind the 10,000 Hour Rule and Chuck Jones' famous quote, "You birds have a 100,000 bad drawings in you, start getting rid of them now."

3.17.2010

Expressions

Working on expressions from Preston Blair's Cartoon Animation. I find the drawings that I labor over and try to get precise I end up liking less than the ones that just flow out even though, they might not be as accurate. Now if I could just blend the good parts of both of those. Also, I need to get faster.


3.16.2010

first real post

Ideally this blog will chronicle my development as an artist and aspiring animator.


I just finished drawing everything in Jack Hamm's Book Cartooning: The Head & Figure.











Right now I'm working through the Preston Blair Cartoon Animation Book.







I'm really learning a lot lately, and enjoying every bit of it.
Let me know if you have any advice or comments!


3.02.2010

PreLaunch

Working on the finishing touches.
Come back soon!