howy's new artwork thread

[howyadoin]

Very cool portrait, Bret! I really like the "Life" in their personalities and something about them reminds me of the old Johnny Quest characters.

I was wondering what you've been up to. Anything new since then?

Ive been slacking on the nightly drawings.

R U still doing the car portfolio?

Curious Dragons need to know!~~~JadeYouKnowWhatI've got a background done for a quasi-cheesecake pic, but that's about it at the moment. My head's so full of new picture ideas it's about to burst, though, so expect a big flareup any day now.

[howyadoin]

I've got a background done for a quasi-cheesecake pic, but that's about it at the moment.Reworked the aforementioned backdrop just now:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/backdrop.jpg

[howyadoin]

And now that it's raining and this damn heat has finally broken, the work begins:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/goth_step01.jpg

[JadeDragon]

And now that it's raining and this damn heat has finally broken, the work begins:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/goth_step01.jpg

Nice...I love where this is headed, Bret.

Keep going!~~~Patrick

[howyadoin]

Nice...I love where this is headed, Bret.

Keep going!~~~PatrickThanks. I thought you'd never ask:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/goth_step02.jpg

[howyadoin]

Here's a bit of a close-up:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/goth_step02_closeup.jpg

[howyadoin]

So I've decided to draw a torso for the chick, and that oughta finish off the picture. More updates as the picture develops.

[JadeDragon]

Here's a bit of a close-up:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/goth_step02_closeup.jpg


THAT freaking KICKS ASS.

[howyadoin]

THAT freaking KICKS ASS.Thank you, sah. I love doing mixed media, and I tried some new shit this time around.

[howyadoin]

Possibly finished. I'll leave it for a few days and then decide:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/goth_final.jpg

[howyadoin]

OKay, now it's really done:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/Goth_Chick.jpg

[howyadoin]

The beginnings of my next project:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/plane_blueline.jpg

[miss5050]

wow i'd like to have that pencil :)

[howyadoin]

wow i'd like to have that pencilPeople tell me it's all in how you use it.

[miss5050]

People tell me it's all in how you use it.
sure,
but i wanna know what u use...i'm stationery freak :D

[howyadoin]

sure,
but i wanna know what u use...i'm stationery freak :DThat's a Sanford Prismacolor Non-Photo Blue.

[howyadoin]

Step 1:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/planes.jpg

[TroyCarlson]

Wow, I love that! The greens behind those planes works really well!

Not sure there should even BE a step 2! I like it now!

[howyadoin]

Wow, I love that! The greens behind those planes works really well!

Not sure there should even BE a step 2! I like it now!Food for thought. Maybe I'll do two versions - I think it would make a cool Hawaiian shirt.

The plan all along has been to build a 3-dimensional background and photograph it, and paint the planes in acrylic. We'll see.

[howyadoin]

Next step:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/plane_step2.jpg

[Eliseu Gouveia]

Howy, your new project has restored my old aircraft buff ways.

I can definitelly say that I am positivelly VEWY impressed :)

Please-oh-please! :D do a spitfire next, I could NEVER understand the design differences between them and the Hurricanes.

[miss5050]

http://www.cosgan.de/images/smilie/konfus/g010.gif

[howyadoin]

Thanks, folks. I'm havin' fun with this one, for sure.

More planes? Not a bad idea. I'm really enjoying the research.




Further developments:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/plane_step3.jpg

[howyadoin]

So here's basically what I want the finished piece to look like:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/planes_step4.jpg

(The background here is just a photo I found on the net. I'll hopefully be building a detailed set and having it photographed.)

[howyadoin]

This is basically just me screwing around. No idea if I'll actually do anything with this:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/Highboys.jpg

[howyadoin]

I've decided I don't do near enough sketching, so here's the first installment of my automotive sketchbook:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/Auto%20Sketchbook/sketchbook_01.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/sketchbook_01.jpg

[Eliseu Gouveia]

Awesomeness!

The one with the three fighters in particular is cool, nice composition! :)

[Winslow]

Please-oh-please! :D do a spitfire next, I could NEVER understand the design differences between them and the Hurricanes.

Hurricanes are little bulkier (that is . . .not as streamlined), have squared rather then rounded wings at the tips, and have a shorter body.

Sorry - had a "Cliff Clayven" moment.

[Winslow]

So here's basically what I want the finished piece to look like:

Sweeeeeeet! Love it.

If you paint the tails red, like this:

http://www.alexander-photo.com/aircraft/2002/3/8.jpg

Or this:

http://www.celebratefreedomfoundation.org/redtailp51.jpg

Or this

http://tuskegeeairmen.org/images/Escort_To_Berlin.jpg

It would be a squadron of the Tuskegee airmen (http://tuskegeeairmen.org/MainFrameset.htm) . . great history about black Americans paving the way for the civil rights movement.

[howyadoin]

Sweeeeeeet! Love it.

If you paint the tails red, like this:

http://www.alexander-photo.com/aircraft/2002/3/8.jpg

Or this:

http://www.celebratefreedomfoundation.org/redtailp51.jpg

Or this

http://tuskegeeairmen.org/images/Escort_To_Berlin.jpg

It would be a squadron of the Tuskegee airmen (http://tuskegeeairmen.org/MainFrameset.htm) . . great history about black Americans paving the way for the civil rights movement.Huh. I'd seen a couple with red tails when I was doing the research, but I never knew the significance.

That's a good idea. I'll edit the pic soon.

Oh, and thanks for the tip.

[Winslow]

Huh. I'd seen a couple with red tails when I was doing the research, but I never knew the significance.

That's a good idea. I'll edit the pic soon.

Oh, and thanks for the tip.

Your welcome! Thought you'd like that info . . .

I believe the Tuskegee Airmen were the only fighter squadron that never lost a bomber.

[howyadoin]

Your welcome! Thought you'd like that info . . .

I believe the Tuskegee Airmen were the only fighter squadron that never lost a bomber.You are a scholar and a gentleman.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/tuskegee.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/planes_step5.jpg

[Winslow]

You are a scholar and a gentleman.

Why thank you Howy.

PM me a price for a print of that. I really love it. It would look great in my office, and provide me a chance to let other know about the Tuskegee Airmen.

[howyadoin]

Some further fine-tuning. And this is at full size so you can see the detail better:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/planes_step6.jpg

[howyadoin]

Auto sketchbook pages 2 & 3:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/Auto%20Sketchbook/sketchbook_02.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/Auto%20Sketchbook/sketchbook_03.jpg

[howyadoin]

Potential tattoo design for a friend of mine (his initials are J.E.F.C.):

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/Tattoos/JEFC.jpg

[elheffe]

Man, Bret, this latest stuff kicks ass. But it's not like the old stuff sucked.

[howyadoin]

Man, Bret, this latest stuff kicks ass. But it's not like the old stuff sucked.Thanks, buddy. I'm back in the saddle again.

[Jaye]

Hey Bret, I've been away from the computer for a while, but it is so nice to return to all this creative goodness. So glad you found the saddle!

-Jaye

[howyadoin]

So glad you found the saddle!And I'm so glad you've returned to us.

[howyadoin]

One from a couple years ago that I was never happy with. I dug it out last night, tweaked a few details, and here it is:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/BrickintheWall.jpg

[howyadoin]

Something new for me. I've never really tried to do anything abstract before:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/Awakening.jpg

[howyadoin]

I've been digging through the archives here. Just found yet another tattoo design that somebody commissioned and then didn't get.

(This is why I only design them for close friends and family now.)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/Tattoos/Cathedral.jpg

[howyadoin]

More of the same:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/Tattoos/sssnake.jpg

[Azangel]

Ok, I have to ask...
what media is the abstract in?

Oh yeah, and I *like* it... !

[howyadoin]

Ok, I have to ask...
what media is the abstract in?

Oh yeah, and I *like* it... !Thanks. The base is watercolour, and the lumpy stuff on the sides is acrylic applied with a palette knife. (The red acrylic in particular wasn't very opaque. At first that bothered me, but in the end it was a good thing.)

The stuff in the center is pencil, ink spatters and watercolour paint spatter. All of that stuff was scanned separately and applied in Photoshop.

[howyadoin]

Finalized this one today:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/Automotive/Highboy.jpg

[howyadoin]

Tweaked the Hendrix tattoo design after talkin' to my tattoo guy today. I'm getting this sucker done on November 9:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/Tattoos/little_wing_02.jpg

[howyadoin]

New work in progress:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/PEI_Map_01.jpg

[howyadoin]

Bought myself a digital camera today:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/Bar%20Photos/drunk_cam.jpg

Larger version here (http://photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/Bar%20Photos/?action=view&current=drunk_cam2.jpg).

[howyadoin]

Happy Halloween:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/CyberWolf.jpg

[K'Nort]

Did you actually make the blurry lights in the background by hand somehow or is it a photo overlay?

[howyadoin]

Did you actually make the blurry lights in the background by hand somehow or is it a photo overlay?That's the view out my livingroom window taken with my new digital, then distorted and motion-blurred in Photoshop.

Similarly, the metal plate on the side of his head is a photo of the inside of a stainless steel pot.

[howyadoin]

A little fine-tuning, and this baby will be done:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/PEI_Map_02.jpg

[howyadoin]

Sooner or later this damn tattoo design will be finished:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/Tattoos/little_wing_04.jpg

[YoursTruly]

These are super groovy. Great work, dude. :D If you ever start taking requests, do me up some Illyana Rasputin as Darkchild.

[howyadoin]

These are super groovy. Great work, dude.Thank you very much.
If you ever start taking requests, do me up some Illyana Rasputin as Darkchild.Let's just say it's food for thought...

[howyadoin]

Another Christmas project started. The area within the picture frame will have a picture of Santa Claus in it:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/Santa_01.jpg

[howyadoin]

Initial sketch of Santa Claus:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/santa_blue.jpg

[howyadoin]

Voila:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/Santa_02.jpg

[howyadoin]

Another project underway, for anyone who's still lookin' at this thread:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/jazz_sign.jpg

[Nate C.]

Another project underway, for anyone who's still lookin' at this thread:



I'm still lookin', Bret.

Post away.

(how about going into your techniques?

watercolor/photoshop/pen and ink?)

[Dennis K]

Voila:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/Santa_02.jpg


Damn, that's REALLY good.

[elheffe]

Another project underway, for anyone who's still lookin' at this thread:
I may not get by here as much as I like, but when I do, I look. Great stuff here.

[howyadoin]

Thanks, fellas. It was starting to feel like I was posting in a vacuum.

Anyhow, there'll be a lot more over the next couple weeks as I finish up my Christmas presents.

[howyadoin]

... and, another underway:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/tiger_art_02.jpg

That's inkwash over watercolour, plus a little gouache and china marker. And a couple dabs of white acryic for the highlights in the eyes.

[Jaye]

I'm still reading this, too. I am quite enjoying the variety. The people you give these gifts to are lucky indeed.

Be well.

[howyadoin]

Taking the tiger pic a little further:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/tiger_02.jpg

I'll be reworking the grass later, but it'll be fairly similar to what you see here.

[howyadoin]

Another one finished:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/tiger_03.jpg

The background is watercolour on hot-press illustration board. The paint can't soak into that medium, so it sits on top and beads a little. I got the idea from one of David Mack's Kabuki: Reflections books, where he talks about treating the background of a watercolour piece with gesso so the paint will behave differently there than on the central figure.

(For the uninitiated, Mack doesn't use Photoshop at all; all that wild collage stuff is done by hand, in the real world. His pages are some of the most amazing things I've ever seen, which is probably part of the reason he can charge $1500 a pop for them.)

[howyadoin]

The next one started:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/Piano_01.jpg

I think all my Christmas projects are underway, now.

[Tre Styles]

Love the tiger cub. Great work! :cool:

[miss5050]

got ur tattoo now howy??

[howyadoin]

got ur tattoo now howy??As a matter of fact, I do:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/Tattoos/DSCF0266.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/Tattoos/DSCF0014.jpg

[miss5050]

wow :) so u happy?
very original! i thought that u will make a line, not circle...u know
for example: guitar on forearm

[Nate C.]

hey, Bret, when you get a chance, could you take a little time to explain your process and tools for the following:

your watercolor techniques (my favorites. I love watercolor and pen and ink, myself)

your pen and ink techniques

and your use of photoshop, including the version you use and if there's shareware stuff out there worth using.

(I also like your multimedia stuff.)

[howyadoin]

wow :) so u happy?
very original! i thought that u will make a line, not circle...u know
for example: guitar on forearmYeah, I'm pretty pleased with it. It's taking a long time to heal, though, 'cause one morning last week I scratched the hell out of it when I was still half asleep. Drew blood in a few spots, so those will probably have to be retouched at some point.

[howyadoin]

hey, Bret, when you get a chance, could you take a little time to explain your process and tools for the following:

your watercolor techniques (my favorites. I love watercolor and pen and ink, myself)

your pen and ink techniques

and your use of photoshop, including the version you use and if there's shareware stuff out there worth using.

(I also like your multimedia stuff.)You paint? I'd love to see some of your stuff.

As for me, most of my techniques are fairly basic, because almost anything I don't like, I can fix in Photoshop. I don't have to worry about preserving the colours, or having the paint chip, or anything like that.

I'm using Photoshop CS (AKA version 8), which I'm pretty happy with. I've used CS2 at work, and the differences don't seem that significant to me. Probably the single most useful thing with the program is the layers palette. The number of options - and sub-options - is mind-boggling, and the only way to learn it is to play with it a lot. I was using Photoshop on the job for years before I started playing with it from a creative standpoint, and I probably learned as much in a few months as I had in all the years before that.

I don't do pen-and-ink at all. Never could get the hang of it. Mostly I'm using markers, brush, or drybrush, which is kind of a pain in the ass, but can produce really cool results (like the hair on the goth chick, or the tree in the family protrait I did for my friend Staccie).

The thing that really helps these days is the library of textures I've scanned over the past 5 years. I've got paint and ink spatters, watercolour backgrounds, scratches that I carved into heavy art board, etc. For example, one particular ink spatter I've used in 6 or 7 pieces now, in one form or another. Similarly, I scanned the back cover of an old book of my great-grandafather's because it was covered in a really coarse canvas. I've used that tons of times, including in the background of that Santa Claus piece. In a given picture I could do 10 or 20 scans, and I save them all when I archive the files.

Recently I bought a whole pile of stuff for working with watercolours and acrylics - absorbent ground, gel mediums, molding paste. I barely understand what they do yet, but I'm lookin' forward to figuring it out.

I also like experimenting with different paper stocks and artboards. (That new piano piece is pastel on black Canson paper for instance.) The store (http://www.opusframing.com) where I buy all my stuff has a ton of options, and so far I've barely scratched the surface.




That's just a vague overview, of course. Be happy to talk about things more indepth if there's a specific piece you're curious about.

[Nate C.]

You paint? I'd love to see some of your stuff.

yeah, I've been an artist my whole life. My favorite medias are pen and ink and watercolor. I'm no standout, but I'm a good technitian.

My favorite genre/style is cartooning. Although I love a good realistic watercolor.

I think I finally made up my mind to show some stuff. (most of my watercolors are at my in-laws about an hour away, but I think I'll start with some of my cartoons.)


That's just a vague overview, of course. Be happy to talk about things more indepth if there's a specific piece you're curious about.

no, that was perfect. the only question I have left is any freeware options for photoshop (cause I'm not ready to commit to buying the program just yet.)

And of course, I will ask more questions later. (so do you like Mackie and McKean? You do similar stuff with the mixed media. Have you ever done a mixed media superhero painting? If so, I'd love to see it. If not, you should give it a shot.)

[howyadoin]

no, that was perfect. the only question I have left is any freeware options for photoshop (cause I'm not ready to commit to buying the program just yet.)I haven't heard of any that were very good. I'd be tempted to look for a bootleg copy somewhere.
And of course, I will ask more questions later. (so do you like Mackie and McKean?I'd say the biggest influences on my art in that respect are Sienkiewicz, Mack, McKean, and Jose Villarubia. It was a Villarubia how-to in Hellshock years ago that gave me an idea of just what was possible in Photoshop.
You do similar stuff with the mixed media. Have you ever done a mixed media superhero painting? If so, I'd love to see it. If not, you should give it a shot.)Well, there are Galactus, Green Goblin, Ghost Rider and Green Lantern pics further back in this thread. (The "G" thing was just a coincidence.)

Oh, and Darkseid and Red Sonja pics, too.

[Nate C.]

Well, there are Galactus, Green Goblin, Ghost Rider and Green Lantern pics further back in this thread. (The "G" thing was just a coincidence.)

Oh, and Darkseid and Red Sonja pics, too.

color me embarressed.

time to re-read thru the thread.

[Nate C.]

You know, you could have just pointed me towards your sig. lol.

The GL is great, I love the Warholesque Iron Man, but my fave is the Green Goblin.

(But what I'd really like to see is something along the lines of your Santa card in a superhero vein. I think you have the skills and the imagination to do some really cool hybrid pieces.)

[miss5050]

Drew blood in a few spots, so those will probably have to be retouched at some point.
ah dont worry, almost every tattoo needs to be retouched :D
new avatar :)

[howyadoin]

You know, you could have just pointed me towards your sig. lol.

The GL is great, I love the Warholesque Iron Man, but my fave is the Green Goblin.

(But what I'd really like to see is something along the lines of your Santa card in a superhero vein. I think you have the skills and the imagination to do some really cool hybrid pieces.)Thanks. It's food for thought, definitely.

Mind you, my projects folder has 50 pieces either started or at least researched in it right now. Might be awhile. (There is a folder in there for a Deathlok picture, though.)

[howyadoin]

ah dont worry, almost every tattoo needs to be retouched :D
new avatar :)Yeah, it's a portrait of our family dog that I did for my mom a couple years back:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/Tara.jpg

[howyadoin]

And another one finished:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/Piano.jpg

[Sanagi]

Interesting... Sort of a juxtaposition of different kinds of beauty? You can almost hear the piano.

[howyadoin]

Interesting... Sort of a juxtaposition of different kinds of beauty? You can almost hear the piano.I didn't think much about symbolism; I usually don't till after a piece is finished. (I think.)

Mainly it's the visual composition that I'm concerned with. In this case, the piece was most likely just gonna be an overhead shot of the piano with the rose in a vase, but then I had the idea of incorporating sheet music somehow. I tossed around a couple ideas before the concept of tearing a piece out of the main image came to mind. Once that happened, the rest was just details.

[Jaye]

I like how subtle your signature is on the piano piece. Sometimes I get distracted by artists huge signatures, its nicer for me to look at when it works with the composition. Well done.

[howyadoin]

I like how subtle your signature is on the piano piece. Sometimes I get distracted by artists huge signatures, its nicer for me to look at when it works with the composition. Well done.Yeah, I think I'm gonna try to do that more often from here on in. I used to love the way John Byrne and Terry Austin would work their signatures into their X-Men covers. I'm definitely done with just using one signature for everything I do in a given year, the way I was previously. I think I'll keep similar signatures if I do a series with a common theme, though.

[howyadoin]

Last Christmas I was asking my cousin if he wanted a piece for his new house. He said he wanted something that looked like "a fucked-up jazz bar on Mars".

This is the "set" for the piece:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/sketch.jpg

[howyadoin]

Concepts for the jazz musicians:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/robots.jpg

(Yes, the resemblance to appliances is deliberate.)

[Jaye]

Do you watch Samurai Jack? The set designs for that show are really fun, and exactly what I thought of when I read "fucked-up jazz bar on Mars."

[howyadoin]

Do you watch Samurai Jack? The set designs for that show are really fun, and exactly what I thought of when I read "fucked-up jazz bar on Mars."I've only ever seen one episode, actually. Always meant to look for more, though.

And I just googled a few images from it. Might be an interesting visual approach to take...

[JadeDragon]

Dude!

Your new stuff is freaking awesome!! :)

Its so good to see you still posting art and kicking @ss. I really liked the new Tiger piece (Im prone to appreciating renditions of possibly my favorite animal---who can pick just one?).

Great work on the X-Mas gift art. But my fave so far are the designs for the robots for the "f-ed up jazz bar on mars". Who wouldnt want a robot with a blender for a head dispensing blended margarita's? I hope he has a salt dispensing digit somewhere on his body. But my fave is toaster head...he's awesome.

Keep posting, Howie! I definitely make a point to drop by periodically to see what you are up to. Makes me want to dust off my old sketch thread for another round.

Sweet stuff my friend~~~JadeDragon :D :cool:

[Shades0077]

no, that was perfect. the only question I have left is any freeware options for photoshop (cause I'm not ready to commit to buying the program just yet.)
I haven't heard of any that were very good. I'd be tempted to look for a bootleg copy somewhere.
I know a guy who knows a guy who knows a guy, who is definitely not me*, that could help you (or anyone else, really) with this matter.

PM me an address, and I can send you a CD that may or may not** contain Photoshop CS2.




* - Ok, it really is me.
** - It will have it, I promise.

[Shades0077]

Also, for howy.

Dude, everything in this thread is freaking amazing.

[howyadoin]

Its so good to see you still posting art and kicking @ss. I really liked the new Tiger piece (Im prone to appreciating renditions of possibly my favorite animal---who can pick just one?).That's good to hear, 'cause it's a Christmas present for my sister, and she loves tigers, too.
Great work on the X-Mas gift art. But my fave so far are the designs for the robots for the "f-ed up jazz bar on mars". Who wouldnt want a robot with a blender for a head dispensing blended margarita's? I hope he has a salt dispensing digit somewhere on his body. But my fave is toaster head...he's awesome.Y'know, I originally intended the blender one to be a watercooler, but a blender sounds much cooler. I think I'll go with that, instead.
Keep posting, Howie! I definitely make a point to drop by periodically to see what you are up to. Makes me want to dust off my old sketch thread for another round.Doesn't sound like such a bad idea, huh?
Also, for howy.

Dude, everything in this thread is freaking amazing.Thank you, sir.

[howyadoin]

Finally getting back to the Tuskegee Airmen piece. I just painted this backdrop, and tomorrow my budy John and I are gonna go out and gather up some moss and vegetation to make the rows of trees between the individual fields. Then we'll build the set in his studio, and he'll shoot it for me:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/DSCF0035.jpg

[jimmyboy]

howy, you're very talented. Beautiful work!

http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/8183/thumbsup9vd.gif (http://imageshack.us) http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/8183/thumbsup9vd.gif (http://imageshack.us)

[howyadoin]

Well, the photo shoot went well, other than the raft of ridiculous computer problems we ran into.

But when I put the new photo into the existing Photoshop file, I realize I'd done a piss-poor job of making the set. It didn't look remotely realistic, or have near enough detail. So, I went back to the drawing board and painted - in Photoshop - a backdrop using the old photo as reference. Then I did a bunch of Gaussian blurs and vignette effects, and finally came up with something I'm happy with. I guess this makes me almost as guilty of lightboxing as Greg Land.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/Dawn_Patrol.jpg

[howyadoin]

I was just looking through some old sketchbooks and found an interesting thumbnail of an unspecified superhero-type character. I think it's worth doing a finished picture of, but I have to figure out who it's gonna be.

What I'm looking for is a male X-Men-related character who can fire some sort of energy bursts from his hands. (Could be a hero or a villain, doesn't matter.) I don't want to use Havok, though.

Any suggestions?

[Winslow]

I guess this makes me almost as guilty of lightboxing as Greg Land.

If all the pilots looked like Rebecca Romijn, then we'd know you used your light box a "little too much."

Kind of fits in with the thread I had on using reference by the way. Where should an aritist "draw the line" out of integrity (sorry for the bad pun - not intended).

BTW - I don't think you did anything wrong (it's the background rather than the focal point and centerpiece).

And this piece is still one of my favorites . . . *thumbs up*

[Jaye]

If all the pilots looked like Rebecca Romijn, then we'd know you used your light box a "little too much."



Heh! .

[howyadoin]

If all the pilots looked like Rebecca Romijn, then we'd know you used your light box a "little too much."

Kind of fits in with the thread I had on using reference by the way. Where should an aritist "draw the line" out of integrity (sorry for the bad pun - not intended).

BTW - I don't think you did anything wrong (it's the background rather than the focal point and centerpiece).

And this piece is still one of my favorites . . . *thumbs up*All the same, I just went in and revised a bunch of small details. It wasn't till early Sunday morning that I took a serious look at the effect of the backdrop. I tried putting a motion blur on it, but it completely changed the mood. With the vignette effect I'm using now, the picture has - to me, at least - kind of a dreamlike quality, as if the planes are just floating up there, above the world.

[howyadoin]

Refining the design for the jazz bar pic a little. Drawing the musicians in full fisheye-lens perspective should be fun:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/bar_design.jpg

(And I still have to design instruments, obviously.)

Almost forgot to mention: the picture will be divided into 3 panels. The first will look like a blueprint, the second will be ink and letratone, and the third will most likely be full mixed media: pastel and watercolour, gouache or acrylic, and probably some charcoal.

[howyadoin]

Here's a rough of the robobass player:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/bass_rough.jpg

[Winslow]

Refining the design for the jazz bar pic a little. Drawing the musicians in full fisheye-lens perspective should be fun:

How did you do that? :confused:

It's pretty sweet.

I've yet to create a background in "normal perspective" (2 point or 3 point) that I liked.

[Nate C.]

fisheye = sci-fi feel = good

[howyadoin]

How did you do that? :confused:

It's pretty sweet.

I've yet to create a background in "normal perspective" (2 point or 3 point) that I liked.Pretty much just drew it, to be honest. I don't know if I could explain it, other than to say that there are no straight lines, which, now that I'm typing it, sounds painfully obvious.

Try picking up any basic book on perspective and just practice. The hardest thing I ever had to draw was a 2-point perspective picture of a spiral staircase when I was in college. It was poster-sized, and the vanishing points were about 12 feet apart.

But I digress.

[howyadoin]

Here's the clarinet-playing margarita blender:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/clarinet_rough.jpg

One more musician to go...

[howyadoin]

Revised layout with the latest musicians added:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/bar_design_2.jpg

[howyadoin]

Well, it's lookin' like that one won't be done in time for Christmas. There's just not time to finish it before I fly east on Wednesday, especially since I still have to finish up the shotglass rack for my dad:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/Bar%20Photos/DSCF0043.jpg

[Dark Sun]

hey howy. keep up hte great work. i have been absent for quite a while so u might not remember me but i was always a big fan of ya stuff :)

[howyadoin]

Other than a couple more coats of varnish (and mounting the doors), this baby's done:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/Bar%20Photos/DSCF0060.jpg

[Roquefort Raider]

Other than a couple more coats of varnish (and mounting the doors), this baby's done:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/Bar%20Photos/DSCF0060.jpg


Harh!

I wish I had thought of a cool gift like that for my own dad!



Now Power Girl won't be the only one with a nice rack.

[ScottDMSimmons]

I was just looking through some old sketchbooks and found an interesting thumbnail of an unspecified superhero-type character. I think it's worth doing a finished picture of, but I have to figure out who it's gonna be.

What I'm looking for is a male X-Men-related character who can fire some sort of energy bursts from his hands. (Could be a hero or a villain, doesn't matter.) I don't want to use Havok, though.

Any suggestions?

First one that comes to mind is Bishop (he absorbs and reuses energy for concussive blasts).

Or if you want to get tricky, you could have Iceman firing off ice.... or Colossus reflecting an energy blast. Iceman wouldn't have to look like ice, he could look like he does in the movies.

--Scott

[howyadoin]

Harh!

I wish I had thought of a cool gift like that for my own dad!

Now Power Girl won't be the only one with a nice rack.Hah. Very nice.

It was a collaborative effort between my brother and I - we designed it together, then he built it, shipped it out to me, and I did all the finishing. The gold leaf was kinda cool to work with; never used it before.
First one that comes to mind is Bishop (he absorbs and reuses energy for concussive blasts).

Or if you want to get tricky, you could have Iceman firing off ice.... or Colossus reflecting an energy blast. Iceman wouldn't have to look like ice, he could look like he does in the movies.Yeah, I'd say Bishop is my best bet, too. I thought about Havok, but his costume is kinda boring to draw (even though I like it), and he doesn't suit the pose I have in mind.

[howyadoin]

Been doing some preliminary work on a Deathlok picture tonight (the Luther Manning version). Nothing to show yet, but soon, my children. Soon...

[howyadoin]

Here's the initial work on the Deathlok piece:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/Deathlok_01.jpg

In the red sidebar will be a close-up of the left (cybernetic) side of his face, with the type overlaid. And in the main part of the picture, you'll see Deathlok sitting on or leaning against a tank or an APC, with a gigantic rifle in his right hand.

[Greg Blackman]

I was quite surprised at how much of a sensitive side a lot of this stuff shows. The little sailboats, the gargoyles, the colour schemes you pick. Whodathunk the guy wearing that hat could have such a mellow inner artiste.

Nice stuff Howy :D

[howyadoin]

I was quite surprised at how much of a sensitive side a lot of this stuff shows. The little sailboats, the gargoyles, the colour schemes you pick. Whodathunk the guy wearing that hat could have such a mellow inner artiste.Hey, I'm sensitive!

But seriously, here's the rough lineart for the Deathlok figure:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/deathlok_02.jpg

I made him a little chunkier than usual, and the facial expression is right outta Ranxerox.

[howyadoin]

Here are the pencils:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/deathlok_03.jpg

Note that I haven't drawn the gun or any of the other foreground elements yet.

[howyadoin]

Lineart dropped into the layout and base colours applied:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/Deathlok_04.jpg

[howyadoin]

Next step:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/Deathlok_05.jpg

[Greg Blackman]

It's like Luthor Manning meet Andy Warhol. :cool:

[howyadoin]

Further development:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/Deathlok_06.jpg

(Oh, and props to Greg for knowing it was the original Deathlok.)

[howyadoin]

Tweaked a few details, starting shading on the face:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/Deathlok_07.jpg

[Nikita]

Wow, really cool stuff Bret. (although I'm finding your avatars quite fetching lately)

I've always meant to ask you, what medium do you prefer to use the most?, or do you like mixed mediums best?

Did you go to school to develope some of your art skills or did you teach yourself over the years?

[howyadoin]

I've always meant to ask you, what medium do you prefer to use the most?, or do you like mixed mediums best?I probably like watercolour the most, but pretty much everything I do is mixed media. I'm planning to experiment a lot more in the coming year. (See my Plans for 2006 (http://forums.comicbookresources.com/showthread.php?t=100704) thread for details.)
Did you go to school to develope some of your art skills or did you teach yourself over the years?Well, I've been drawing my whole life, except for a couple short gaps here and there. Then I took a 2-year graphic design course in college, and the bulk of that course was focused on illustration.

Other than that, a lot of it has been learned as I go. I didn't really get serious about it till 5 years ago, but I already knew most of what I know now about colour and composition before that.

[howyadoin]

Preliminary stages of the closeup:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/Deathlok_08.jpg

This'll be cropped and inset into the sidebar of the main picture.

[howyadoin]

Damn, so much for crashing early tonight.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/Deathlok_09B.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/Deathlok_09.jpg

[Jaye]

Excelent work! On the lineart of him, its hard to tell which leg is closer to the viewer, I'm not sure if line weight would affect that, or if it will all fall into place once he is toting his gun and stuff too. I love love love the image in the sidebar. Well done.

[howyadoin]

Excelent work! On the lineart of him, its hard to tell which leg is closer to the viewer, I'm not sure if line weight would affect that, or if it will all fall into place once he is toting his gun and stuff too. I love love love the image in the sidebar. Well done.Thanks for the input, Jaye. Hopefully these latest tweaks take care of that issue:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/Deathlok_10.jpg

[howyadoin]

Okay, all the major pieces are in place now. Just have to do the shading and highlights on the main figure:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/Deathlok_11.jpg

[howyadoin]

Near as I can tell, this thing is finished:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/Deathlok_12.jpg

[Jaye]

Excellent! The color palette you chose really looks great.

[Lubichev]

That character has a Godland-ish (Tom Scioli) style to it. I'm digging it.

[Winslow]

Excellent! The color palette you chose really looks great.

I agree - awesome work.

The way you blended it all together at the end was impressive. Reminds me of what Snakebite does with Red Star stuff . . .

[jen77green]

What do you use to scan the artwork for use in Photoshop? Do you add the color before or after tweaking in PS? I have someone that wants me to scan their artwork for tweaking in PS, but I am not that experienced.

[howyadoin]

What do you use to scan the artwork for use in Photoshop? Do you add the color before or after tweaking in PS? I have someone that wants me to scan their artwork for tweaking in PS, but I am not that experienced.I'm not using anything special - just a little Epson Perfection 1250. Bought it a few years ago for maybe $150, and I've definitely gotten my money's worth.

And I don't really have any set methodology; it really depends on the specific piece. What specifically do they want done with their artwork? Just cleaning it up a little, or full-blown colouring?

[howyadoin]

Excellent! The color palette you chose really looks great.Thanks. People always comment on the colour, and I rarely even give it much conscious thought.
That character has a Godland-ish (Tom Scioli) style to it. I'm digging it.Haven't really seen much of his stuff, but from what I remember he's got a full-on Kirby thing happening in his art. I did a pic in that style a couple years ago, and I've gotta say, it's a really hard style to draw in. I did put a few little flourishes of it in the linework on the arms and legs, though. The first couple were accidental, but after that it was deliberate.
I agree - awesome work.

The way you blended it all together at the end was impressive. Reminds me of what Snakebite does with Red Star stuff . . .That guy is one of my gods.

[howyadoin]

Beginnings of a new piece. There'll be two girls on these scooters:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/scooters_01.jpg

[Nikita]

I probably like watercolour the most, but pretty much everything I do is mixed media. I'm planning to experiment a lot more in the coming year. (See my Plans for 2006 (http://forums.comicbookresources.com/showthread.php?t=100704) thread for details.)
Well, I've been drawing my whole life, except for a couple short gaps here and there. Then I took a 2-year graphic design course in college, and the bulk of that course was focused on illustration.

Other than that, a lot of it has been learned as I go. I didn't really get serious about it till 5 years ago, but I already knew most of what I know now about colour and composition before that.


Watercolor huh? (I've never learned how to paint properly) Your artwork continues to amaze me. You are good at so many different types of styles.

I've been drawing my whole life too, but I'm hemming and hawing about which art classes to take if I go back to school.

Are you able to make a pretty decent living at what you do, or has it taken a while to get to this point financially for you? How do you find new customers for yourself? (just curious)

[howyadoin]

Are you able to make a pretty decent living at what you do, or has it taken a while to get to this point financially for you? How do you find new customers for yourself? (just curious)At this point I'm hardly making any money as an illustrator. The graphic design work is what pays the rent.

Hopefully that'll change once I'm set up to sell prints of my art, but it'll definitely be a gradual process.

[Nikita]

At this point I'm hardly making any money as an illustrator. The graphic design work is what pays the rent.

Hopefully that'll change once I'm set up to sell prints of my art, but it'll definitely be a gradual process.


I see. Thanks for the info. I hope your printwork takes off for you.

[cable guy]

At this point I'm hardly making any money as an illustrator. The graphic design work is what pays the rent.

Is your graphic design work done on the computer?

[elheffe]

Is your graphic design work done on the computer?
No, I'm sure Howya still uses press type, rubylith, and photo stats.

[howyadoin]

Is your graphic design work done on the computer?Yup. The same way everybody does it.

[cable guy]

No, I'm sure Howya still uses press type, rubylith, and photo stats.

:D

Some people still do it that way.

Well, at least they but the stuff anyway.

[cable guy]

Yup. The same way everybody does it.

I know, dumb question.

I was hoping some was still done the old fashioned way.

[mgs]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/Dawn_Patrol.jpg
oh! I really like this one howy! don' worry about the comparison to land. ;)

and please finish the robot trio before the girls on vespas please!!! :D
(i want to see how they turn out for ya)

[Winslow]

oh! I really like this one howy! don' worry about the comparison to land. ;)

I have a print of this one. :D

[JadeDragon]

Hey Howya!

Really love that Death Machine piece! Way to go, brother! Nice designwork. :)

And Im looking forward to seeing the dames on them Vespas!

Great to see ya keeping up the great work.

Cheers!~~~Patrick

[howyadoin]

I know, dumb question.

I was hoping some was still done the old fashioned way.I guess I don't see what the point of that would be. I remember those days too, and while I'm glad I learned graphic design that way, there's no advantage to those methods whatsoever.

[howyadoin]

and please finish the robot trio before the girls on vespas please!!!
(i want to see how they turn out for ya)Yeah, I should get back to that one. Sometimes it's hard to stay focused when you've got so many projects in the works.

[howyadoin]

Just set up a new Photostream at Flickr:

http://flickr.com/photos/howyadoin

Nothing there to be seen that isn't already in this thread, but I figure a little added exposure couldn't hurt at this point.

[Winslow]

Just set up a new Photostream at Flickr:

http://flickr.com/photos/howyadoin

Nothing there to be seen that isn't already in this thread, but I figure a little added exposure couldn't hurt at this point.

I like your "vehicle" or "mechanical" art the best. The Charger is very cool.

Are you from Newfoundland orginially?

I spent a week in Cape Race back when I was in the Coast Guard in the 80's inspecting the old Loran tower.

[howyadoin]

Are you from Newfoundland orginially?

I spent a week in Cape Race back when I was in the Coast Guard in the 80's inspecting the old Loran tower.Yeah, I lived there till I was 16. The map was a Christmas present for my little sister.

[Winslow]

Yeah, I lived there till I was 16. The map was a Christmas present for my little sister.

Saint Davids? I had the most awesome fish and chips in Saint Davids . . . .

And I saw the biggest frickin' Bull Moose EVER in Cape Race. Unbelievable how big those things can get.

[howyadoin]

Saint Davids? I had the most awesome fish and chips in Saint Davids . . . .

And I saw the biggest frickin' Bull Moose EVER in Cape Race. Unbelievable how big those things can get.Never been to Saint David's that I can recall. We lived - in sequence - in Springdale, St. John's, Stephenville, and Corner Brook.

[cable guy]

Nice set-up. Now I see why everyone wants to go to your house.

I love the wheel of Doom.

That could be dangerously fun.

[Winslow]

Never been to Saint David's that I can recall. We lived - in sequence - in Springdale, St. John's, Stephenville, and Corner Brook.

Got the wrong "Saint."

Just looked at a map.

I flew into Saint Johns, and then drove down the coast to Cape Race.

[howyadoin]

Nice set-up. Now I see why everyone wants to go to your house.

I love the wheel of Doom.

That could be dangerously fun.Thanks. It's definitely knocked a few people on their asses.
Got the wrong "Saint."

Just looked at a map.

I flew into Saint Johns, and then drove down the coast to Cape Race.Ah, okay. St. John's, I know.

Oldest city in North America, y'know.

[howyadoin]

Beginnings of a new project. The idea hit me a couple hours ago, and I had to run with it.

(There's a bunch more done, but I can't scan it till the paint dries.)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/Bullgod_01.jpg

[howyadoin]

The finished piece (till I give in to the urge to tweak it again, at least):

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/Second_Coming.jpg

[cable guy]

Really cool.

Looks like a vision of sorts.

[howyadoin]

Really cool.

Looks like a vision of sorts.Thanks. The idea kinda mutated as I drew it (it was originally gonna be a gargoyle sitting in a position like Rodin's Thinker), but it was definitely meant to have some mystical aspects.

I'm thinking about a series based on this one, but that remains to be seen, with so many other projects on the backburner right now.

[howyadoin]

Another piece underway:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/tiles_01.jpg

[JadeDragon]

Very cool Minotaur!!! I love the pose and the attitude. Makes me wonder what he's up to, and what his story is. Any insights?

And interesting start on the new one. I love seeing your pieces being built like this. Seeing an artists process is always fascinating to me.

I'll keep my eye on that!

Cheers, mate!~~~JadeDragon

[Jaye]

Love the minotaurs boots and stance... and the blue squares are rockin already. Very pretty.

[howyadoin]

Very cool Minotaur!!! I love the pose and the attitude. Makes me wonder what he's up to, and what his story is. Any insights?I've got a few ideas in mind, but I like to keep it open to interpretation. The quote, though, is from "The Second Coming", by W.B. Yeats.

And interesting start on the new one. I love seeing your pieces being built like this. Seeing an artists process is always fascinating to me.

I'll keep my eye on that!I think I'll do a series of objects against that background.

Maybe. The first one's definitely gonna be an old, rusty key, though.
Love the minotaurs boots and stance... and the blue squares are rockin already. Very pretty.You shoulda seen me tryin' to figure out that stance without putting too much weight on the sprained ankle. Lucky I didn't fall on my ass.

[howyadoin]

As promised, here's the new piece finished:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/KeyToItAll.jpg

[howyadoin]

Rough layout for the next piece:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/Shrine_Rough.jpg

I'll actually be drawing all that stuff, but I may keep the photos behind the lineart (think Ben Templesmith or Ashley Wood, if that helps).


Alternative title: Ties That Bind.

[howyadoin]

Revised the layout today - added a whole pile of personal stuff. (Basically, every item has some connection to a friend or family member, or symbolizes something specific in my life.)

I'll probably start the actual drawing tomorrow.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/Shrine_Rough_02.jpg

[elheffe]

Revised the layout today - added a whole pile of personal stuff. (Basically, every item has some connection to a friend or family member, or symbolizes something specific in my life.)

I'll probably start the actual drawing tomorrow.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/Shrine_Rough_02.jpg
I like the revised layout better. Looking forward to seeing this complete!

[cable guy]

As promised, here's the new piece finished:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/KeyToItAll.jpg

Another really, really good piece.

Good job.

[howyadoin]

Next phase of this piece:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/Shrine_Rough_03.jpg

Now that the line art is in place, next comes adding colour, blurring, shading, and all that fun stuff.

This is kinda the look I'm going for:

http://www.ginabinkley.com/images/collageimages/02guitarresize.jpg http://www.ginabinkley.com/images/constructionimages/14brainl.jpg

[howyadoin]

OKay, I've been workin' on the lighting on this thing for about 8 hours now. Not sure if I've got what I want, or whether the colours look like brown soup.

Think I'll wait till tomorrow to look at it again.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/Shrine_04.jpg

Now I need to look at some blue and green stuff to give my eyes a rest.


EDIT: Part of the problem is that Photobucket seems to be muting the colour spectrum when I upload.

[elheffe]

OKay, I've been workin' on the lighting on this thing for about 8 hours now. Not sure if I've got what I want, or whether the colours look like brown soup.

Think I'll wait till tomorrow to look at it again.

Now I need to look at some blue and green stuff to give my eyes a rest.


EDIT: Part of the problem is that Photobucket seems to be muting the colour spectrum when I upload.
I like it so far. And I just noticed a SDCC badge in the background. It's really coming together.

[howyadoin]

I like it so far. And I just noticed a SDCC badge in the background. It's really coming together.Thanks. Now that I've finally looked at it again, I think I'll make the contrast a bit more intense and see where that takes me.

Oh, and I banged this out tonight:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/Automotive/Streamliner.jpg

[howyadoin]

Published!

Online, at least: http://www.phirebrush.com/issues.php?id=24&cat=digital_art

[howyadoin]

Well, kids, I need your help. Faithful readers may remember this piece from before Christmas:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/bar_design_2.jpg

I'm getting back onto this project, and it occurs to me that I don't have a name for the band. Which, potentially, is where you come in. If you come up with a name I end up using, you'll get a copy of the picture when I'm done.

How's that grab you?


P.S. You have to post the suggestions in this thread.

[Dan Apodaca]

You have to post the suggestions in this thread.

Rhythm & Screws

Lights/Sounds

The Instruments

Frequent Frequencies

Engine & Tonic

The Sim-phonics

Even Robots Get The Blues

Musicological

[howyadoin]

Nice ideas, Dan.

Here's the revised layout for the picture:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/bar_design_3.jpg

[Justin D.]

I only have one so far, but I'll come up with more later.

Plug and Play

[Tadhg]

The Tin-can Cantina.

[Jaye]

Published!

Online, at least: http://www.phirebrush.com/issues.php?id=24&cat=digital_art


Awesome!

And how did I totaly miss this one:
http://photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/?action=view&current=DUNE.jpg

Love it!

[Winslow]

Published!

Online, at least: http://www.phirebrush.com/issues.php?id=24&cat=digital_art

Congratulations!

[Winslow]

Well, kids, I need your help. Faithful readers may remember this piece from before Christmas:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/bar_design_2.jpg

I'm getting back onto this project, and it occurs to me that I don't have a name for the band. Which, potentially, is where you come in. If you come up with a name I end up using, you'll get a copy of the picture when I'm done.

How's that grab you?


P.S. You have to post the suggestions in this thread.

I'm not real creative with names, but the name I came up with is a pun in music genre:

Metal Jazz

[Winslow]

Thanks. Now that I've finally looked at it again, I think I'll make the contrast a bit more intense and see where that takes me.

Oh, and I banged this out tonight:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/Automotive/Streamliner.jpg

That's sweet . . .

My only critique is from a nerdy engineering standpoint - how do you steer that thing with wheel covers on the front?

[Jaye]

Those wheel covers bulge out though, like there is room for turning under cover.

[howyadoin]

That's sweet . . .

My only critique is from a nerdy engineering standpoint - how do you steer that thing with wheel covers on the front?Keep in mind this is a car meant to race for miles at a time in a straight line. And you don't want much turning radius when you're travelling at 300 mph. (And the wheels are tucked fairly far inside the body.)

Bonneville racing is a weird thing; a lot of the conventional rules don't apply. For example, most of the cars use fairly skinny tires, and adding weight is a good thing.

[Jaye]

Keep in mind this is a car meant to race for miles at a time in a straight line. And you don't want much turning radius when you're travelling at 300 mph. (And the wheels are tucked fairly far inside the body.)

Bonneville racing is a weird thing; a lot of the conventional rules don't apply. For example, most of the cars use fairly skinny tires, and adding weight is a good thing.

Cute bulge though.










And no, I couldn't resist.

[Solaris]

Nice ideas, Dan.

Here's the revised layout for the picture:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/bar_design_3.jpg

Okay, here's what I managed, wracking my brain:

Wired For Sound

Bot Bop

Blue Screen Blues

Electric Vibrosa (unless it means something in Spanish etc., I made up vibrosa)

Jazzy Jake and his Band for Wire

Bandwidth

The Bluenotes

Synchronous Complicity

Notes and Bytes

Bytten by the Jazz Bug

Soundbyte

Swingin' Silicone

The Zip-Philes

Motherboard Muthas

R.A.M. (Random Access Melody)

Gigajazz

Clefnote Wattage

I, Jazz

Plug and Play

Speakers Not Included

Powered Up

Electronic Frequency

Compact Distance (CD)

Hard Drive

The Jazz Routers

Base Unit

Base Unit Blues

Random Pulse

Algorhythm



***

Any of that tweak an interest?

[howyadoin]

Recently finished a tattoo design for my cousin. He already has a scorpion on his shoulder, and he wants some tribal added to it. He's also studying neurology, and wants that worked into it as well. When he first told me all that, I kinda shook my head, but here's what I managed to come up with:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/Tattoos/Neuron_Tattoo.jpg

[howyadoin]

Okay, here's what I managed, wracking my brain:

Wired For Sound

Bot Bop

Blue Screen Blues

Electric Vibrosa (unless it means something in Spanish etc., I made up vibrosa)

Jazzy Jake and his Band for Wire

Bandwidth

The Bluenotes

Synchronous Complicity

Notes and Bytes

Bytten by the Jazz Bug

Soundbyte

Swingin' Silicone

The Zip-Philes

Motherboard Muthas

R.A.M. (Random Access Melody)

Gigajazz

Clefnote Wattage

I, Jazz

Plug and Play

Speakers Not Included

Powered Up

Electronic Frequency

Compact Distance (CD)

Hard Drive

The Jazz Routers

Base Unit

Base Unit Blues

Random Pulse

Algorhythm



***

Any of that tweak an interest?A lot of food for thought there, Chris. I'm thinking the algorhythm one in particular has a lot of potential.

[Solaris]

Thanks, hope it helps, Bret. :)

And that tattoo design is awesome. I think that'd look great around his scorpion.

[cable guy]

Here's the revised layout for the picture:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/bar_design_3.jpg

Tin Knockers

Hot ta Bot

Tin Can Band

Metal Masters

Twisted Metal

Screw Loose

Recycled Damage

[howyadoin]

The (very) rough beginnings of a new piece:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/car_blueline.jpg

[Solaris]

Cool! Nurse? Waitress? I was wondering, with the hat outline. I look forward to seeing this one progress.:)

BTW, I notice you've got a flip sketchbook. What size is it? Grade paper? Is it what you usually use, for your pics?

You're gonna laugh... but for mine, I've been using printer paper and those Bic MatiC grip #2 pencils they sell in a bunch at Sam's Club. I like the pencils and erasers (some people don't), and I like the fine quality/less texture of the paper. Besides, it fits on our scanner! Heh. (For one thing, I erase a lot right now... and the finer texture holds up better to that, than many drawing papers). Once I get my drawing skills better, I'll go back to doing more with various other textures of paper, and/or using things under the paper to apply drawn textures.

I did invest in a pretty nice drawing "desk" from Staples ($50 US). It's basically a 3-wheeled rolling table, with a large section on the left and small one on the right that can tilt and lock independently. The locks are large handled screw-in type, so they don't lock as tight as they should... but it works much better than propping a notebook in my lap. :D They also have a lip at top and bottom. I think *one* of my problems before was in not having a tiltable drawing surface... so sometimes I'd get "The Slant." :D I love this thing---I can wheel it right in front of my desk chair, and later push it out of the way.

I'll check back from time to time to see how this pic is coming. Oh, and I'm probably going to put in an updated scan of that sketch in my thread---I've gotten it a lot cleaner, and made some alterations. I like seeing some things in progress, because it's fascinating watching how the pictures change.

[Nikita]

I notice you get your pieces done pretty quickly. I'm amazed at how fast you put out new stuff. I like the robotic band. Very cute pic.

[howyadoin]

Cool! Nurse? Waitress? I was wondering, with the hat outline. I look forward to seeing this one progress.Nope, just a chick with a funky hat.

BTW, I notice you've got a flip sketchbook. What size is it? Grade paper? Is it what you usually use, for your pics?That one's a 10" x 8" Cachet Select Sketchbook. Medium weight, I guess. I've got another pad the same size (i pick them to fit my scanning bed) of heavy (140 lb) watercolour paper, and a Letraset one of bleedproof marker paper.

You're gonna laugh... but for mine, I've been using printer paper and those Bic MatiC grip #2 pencils they sell in a bunch at Sam's Club. I like the pencils and erasers (some people don't), and I like the fine quality/less texture of the paper. Besides, it fits on our scanner! Heh. (For one thing, I erase a lot right now... and the finer texture holds up better to that, than many drawing papers). Once I get my drawing skills better, I'll go back to doing more with various other textures of paper, and/or using things under the paper to apply drawn textures.
Yikes. Even if you want a smooth surface, you should be using something more duarble than printer paper. Bristol board, for instance.

And if you're erasing a lot, try working out more of the details in the rough stage, and then transferring the picture to a new sheet of paper.
I notice you get your pieces done pretty quickly. I'm amazed at how fast you put out new stuff. I like the robotic band. Very cute pic.Thanks, but it's not always as quick as you think. I've got pieces still in the works that date back more than a year.

The other thing to keep in mind is, most of my pices have minimal backgrounds.

[Nikita]

Thanks, but it's not always as quick as you think. I've got pieces still in the works that date back more than a year.

The other thing to keep in mind is, most of my pices have minimal backgrounds.


Ah, that's true. I forget that you can have several pieces going at once and you work on some of them a little at a time. There's that patience thing again. How do I get that? :D

Good stuff Howy. I have to say, all your car pics have been my favorites so far. (I have a thing for cars, among my dragon and chocolate fetishes) If you draw a dragon eating a Dove Bar while driving a car, I will be in artwork heaven. ;)

[cleofus1]

dude you have to start a new thread! this one is way too big... :rolleyes:

[howyadoin]

dude you have to start a new thread! this one is way too big...What can I say? I like having all my shit in one place.

I do have a few separate threads over at Drawing Board (http://drawingboard.org), though.

[howyadoin]

New work in progress:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/QueenOfHearts_01.jpg

[howyadoin]

Further developments:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/QueenOfHearts_02.jpg

[Nikita]

Further developments:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/QueenOfHearts_02.jpg


Ok, now it's my turn to say, that is just fucking cool. You have to tell me what mediums you used for this.

[howyadoin]

Ok, now it's my turn to say, that is just fucking cool. You have to tell me what mediums you used for this.Thank you very much. It's pretty low-tech - the background is a photo of the top of my bar, the red in the queen's collar is a scan of some red velvet, the crown and the axe are made from a scan of some aluminum foil, and the face is a bunch of chopped-up photos overlapping one another.

The linework is just pencil, but I'm redoing it in ink as we speak.

[Nikita]

Thank you very much. It's pretty low-tech - the background is a photo of the top of my bar, the red in the queen's collar is a scan of some red velvet, the crown and the axe are made from a scan of some aluminum foil, and the face is a bunch of chopped-up photos overlapping one another.

The linework is just pencil, but I'm redoing it in ink as we speak.


Dude, scanners are the best. :D I am quickly becoming addicted to mine. How long did this piece take you overall? She looks like she could be a cool logo for something. Or she'd even be cool as an airbrush version on a chopper or a tricked out car or something.

[howyadoin]

Dude, scanners are the best. :D I am quickly becoming addicted to mine. How long did this piece take you overall? She looks like she could be a cool logo for something. Or she'd even be cool as an airbrush version on a chopper or a tricked out car or something.Not sure. I might have 15 or 20 hours in it so far, but it's hard to say for sure.

And yeah, even a cheap scanner can do amazing shit.

[howyadoin]

Finished, I think:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/QueenOfHearts.jpg

[TroyCarlson]

Wow, I TOTALLY dig your crazy mad queen!

Really love the textures you chose. Making that all fit into the design is really impressive. Love it!

[howyadoin]

A previous piece revisited:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/TiesThatBind.jpg

[howyadoin]

Wow, I TOTALLY dig your crazy mad queen!

Really love the textures you chose. Making that all fit into the design is really impressive. Love it!Thanks, that one was a lotta fun. I actually tweaked a bunch of details today:


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/QueenOfHearts_Rev.jpg

[cable guy]

Thank you very much. It's pretty low-tech - the background is a photo of the top of my bar, the red in the queen's collar is a scan of some red velvet, the crown and the axe are made from a scan of some aluminum foil, and the face is a bunch of chopped-up photos overlapping one another.

Fascinating.

That makes it even more amazing.

Your other stuff... Are they done the same way.

[howyadoin]

Fascinating.

That makes it even more amazing.

Your other stuff... Are they done the same way.I dunno, I don't really have a set method. I do whatever's necessary for a specific piece.

I am making an effort to encorporate more photography into my work lately, though.

[howyadoin]

Starting on something new (brainstorm from laaaaate last night):

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/honeycomb.jpg

[Nikita]

Starting on something new (brainstorm from laaaaate last night):

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/honeycomb.jpg


A futuristic glowing honey bee hive? ;) Cool.

[howyadoin]

A futuristic glowing honey bee hive?Yup. It's gonna have a mechanical bee hovering in front of it.

[howyadoin]

A little photography, just for the hell of it:

http://static.flickr.com/36/123543972_986a716d28_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/38/123543892_84b01d81c8_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/34/123543871_3a9f3d92b9_o.jpg

[TroyCarlson]

http://static.flickr.com/34/123543871_3a9f3d92b9_o.jpg

This one is super sweet. It would make a fantastic reference for that "era" of car. It's a very "classic" look to it, and the perspective gives it a feeling of movement. Cool!

[Nikita]

Yup. It's gonna have a mechanical bee hovering in front of it.


AWESOME. I cannot wait to see it finished. (I totally dig mechanical/robotic stuff in art)

[howyadoin]

Back to the scooter motif:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/scootergirl_02.jpg

[howyadoin]

This one is super sweet. It would make a fantastic reference for that "era" of car. It's a very "classic" look to it, and the perspective gives it a feeling of movement. Cool!Thanks, that one was fun. I'm still pretty much useless with a camera, but I know what I like.

And this is one of those areas where digital comes in handy - I don't have to develop roll after roll of film till I get a picture I'm happy with.

[howyadoin]

Further development of the first scooter girl:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/scootergirl_03.jpg

And still more:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/Scootergirl_04.jpg

[Jaye]

F*ck, that's hot. I love it!



.

[howyadoin]

F*ck, that's hot. I love it!Thanks. How 'bout now?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/Scootergirl_05.jpg

[howyadoin]

Pretty much finished:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/Scootergirl.jpg

[howyadoin]

The start of a major new project:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/ElijahCraig_Ink.jpg

[howyadoin]

Coming along nicely, I think:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/ElijahCraig_02.jpg

[spazzy mcghee]

makes me thirsty . . .

[cable guy]

I'll take a shot.

[howyadoin]

So the Elijah Craig bottle is pretty much finished:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/ElijahCraig_03.jpg

[Ray R.]

So the Elijah Craig bottle is pretty much finished:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/ElijahCraig_03.jpg


All I can say is: AWESOME.......

[howyadoin]

All I can say is: AWESOME.......Glad to hear you like it, buddy. Here's the start of the next bottle:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/WildTurkey_01.jpg

[howyadoin]

Goddamn, this is starting to get addictive:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/WildTurkey_02.jpg

[cable guy]

Goddamn, this is starting to get addictive:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/WildTurkey_02.jpg

Yo, gimme another.

[howyadoin]

Another one pretty much finished except for the background:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/WildTurkey_03.jpg

[howyadoin]

And... on to number three:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/MakersMark_01.jpg

[howyadoin]

Another one wrapped up:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/MakersMark_02.jpg

[howyadoin]

Man, what a productive day this has been:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/Ridgemont_01.jpg

[Greg Blackman]

The man likes his booze. Nice stuff Howy, haven't checked in here for a while but it's all looking mighty fine. I'm starting to be able to recognise your style (or styles) on sight.

[Solaris]

I should've known that you'd start drawing booze, sooner or later! ;)

Very nice work, Bret! I particularly like the Maker's Mark bottle. I think it's the label. (They ought to buy the pic from you, for ad use.) :D

[howyadoin]

Bottle number 5:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/KnobCreek_01.jpg

[Nikita]

A bottle of alcohol!?.....from Howy?.....shocking.....(just teasing) ;)


Very nice, very nice indeed. I like the 1792 bottle the best. (I like the shape of the bottle)

[howyadoin]

The sixth and final bottle:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/Woodford_01.jpg

Now to get started on the backdrop...

[Jaye]

Excellent all around, can't wait to see the outcome.



.

[howyadoin]

First one with the new background:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/ElijahCraig_04.jpg

[Solaris]

First one with the new background:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/howyadoin/In%20Progress/ElijahCraig_04.jpg


Ooo, I like that background! But to me it almost looks a little *too* clean... the lines and stuff before gave it a feel of "old film"---have you thought of adding in "filmspots"---the little scratches and burned spots a movie gets after it's been played umpteen times? And I love the color on it, but you might also consider doing a series of bottles that have very different colors, and very different colored liquors, doing the "filmspots," and then converting it to grayscale, like it's from some 40's movie. I think a wide variety of colors in the bottles & liquor would help, if you're gonna take one grayscale---more variance in shades.

This is a cool series; I really like this one. I also think you could do another as mentioned above, if you're interested.

Don't know if I've mentioned it before, but one of the things I like about your work is that it has it's own *feel*. It always evokes a mood of somekind, or makes me think of the kind of atmosphere that would be just right for it to hang in. I enjoy seeing what you do, and am glad you post 'em. :)