A Sketch A Day

[JadeDragon]

Hello,

I have been very impressed with all of the great artists posting their work here in this forum. Great job everyone and thanks for the inspiration!

I thought this would be a neat opportunity to challenge myself to do something I have been planning for a while. I used to work as a penciller in comics, but have found myself working in advertising more and more this last couple of years. Although I miss comic pencilling dearly, it has been great to push into photoshop painting as a part of my new illustrative duties.

The hours are really long and I have not been doing any sketching for fun in my off hours. This was starting to bum me out so I decided to challenge myself to create a sketch a day in photoshop. I thought it would be fun to post them here while I work on my upcoming website.

Hopefully this will help me to experiment, be bold and try new things. I'm sure a lot of this will be unfinished garbage, but it's all in good fun. It's all about learning and growing.

If anyone has any questions or comments regarding my photoshop process or anything else that comes to mind, I would love to hear them. If you have any suggestions, that would be awesome. I'm trying to learn as much as possible.

Thanks!

Here is my very first attempt to do a sketch on my home computer. I'm struggling with a crappy wacom (I'm used to a much nicer set-up at work...I'll have to upgrade when I get some fundage) but I'm gonna force my way around it.

In the past I have scanned in a pencil drawing to start from, but I think for a while I am going to try to paint right on the blank photoshop canvas. Trying to think along the lines of the Craig Mullins method.

Anyways, I'm gonna try to add a sketch a day. Let's see how long it takes me to totally screw that pooch.

Here goes!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/Greenie.jpg

I love creatures. I'll probably be doing a lot of this kind of stuff. But I promise I'll force myself to do some normal people eventually.

~~~JadeDragon (Patrick Blaine)

[JadeDragon]

I actually was so excited about this that I started tomorrow's (Sunday's) sketch tonight before going to bed.

It's a work in progress. I'll post the finished version Sunday night sometime.

http://img2.exs.cx/img2/6718/HulkSketch1.jpg

The Hulk! One of my all time faves!

~~~JadeDragon

[JadeDragon]

I decided to leave Hulk alone for a bit so I could play with the Monkey King.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/MonkeyKing.jpg

Seeya tomorrow!

:)~~~JadeDragon

[howyadoin]

I think the compositions are great. Wouldn't mind seeing a little more definition in the sketches, though.

[JadeDragon]

I think the compositions are great. Wouldn't mind seeing a little more definition in the sketches, though.

Thanks, Howy.

And about the definition, I agree. I'm hoping that is something I can improve on as I get more practice at this. In my pencil work, I tend to be overly anal about linework so I am trying to make myself think about shapes and shadows at this point. They do look a little muddy.

I hope that by the end of my first month, I will look back at these first attempts and just have a good laugh. :)

I wonder if I use the burn tool on some of the details, maybe I could pop them out a little. Hmmmmnnn...

[JadeDragon]

Here's today's.

The SuperSkrull. Still looks a bit too fuzzy for my tastes. I wish I had more time to go in and tighten up the whole thing. Maybe add color. But I just want to get used to the process of sketching on my wacom at this point.

Anyways, I'm having fun playing around.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/SuperSkrull.jpg

~~~JadeDragon

[A D]

you keep posting, i'll keep enjoying.

[howyadoin]

I wonder if I use the burn tool on some of the details, maybe I could pop them out a little. Hmmmmnnn...That might work. Or try messing around with layer options. If you duplicate the layer and set it to multiply, that should add quite a bit more contrast. Then you can just use a layer mask (or the eraser) to get rid of the parts that already have enough contrast.

[JadeDragon]

you keep posting, i'll keep enjoying.

Thanks, AD!

Much appreciated. Later this week when I have had a chance to scan some in, I'll post some of my comic pencils. Just for kicks and giggles. I might try to make a painting out of some of the pin-ups.

Here's a small part of one of the pages (I screwed up the bigger scan).

http://img83.exs.cx/img83/9830/Inferno.jpg

This was part of a two-page pin-up for "Inferno" at Top Cow.

Seeya round!

~~~JadeDragon

[JadeDragon]

That might work. Or try messing around with layer options. If you duplicate the layer and set it to multiply, that should add quite a bit more contrast. Then you can just use a layer mask (or the eraser) to get rid of the parts that already have enough contrast.

Thanks for the great suggestions, Howya! I'll play around with that. I also sometimes add a dark curve layer, fill the mask with black, then use white to add darker curved areas to enhance contrast.

But I think mostly I need to slow down and go in tighter to just paint it nicer.

I'm too impatient!

Now...what should I sketch for tonight? Something fun (It's my birthday gift to myself....playing with my new photoshop toys!)

Be back later with whatever I scribble out. :)

~~~JadeDragon

[JadeDragon]

Welp, it's 4:00 AM now. Need to get to work in 4 hours so I better just call it quits on today's sketch.

This Hell Ogre was an experiment in coloring with gradient maps. I give it a D+. I dont think I had the time to make this work well, and it ended up looking like a mess. I might come back to it later and try to save it. Maybe take the color off.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/Ogre.jpg

Later....JadeDragon

[JadeDragon]

Today I scanned in a two-page Darkness/Pitt pin-up I did in pencil. I'm going to be painting this in photoshop, so I was thinking about posting this in stages if anybody is interested.

This will be a pretty time consuming piece, so I might miss a few days here and there on the sketches.

Not enough hours in the day!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/PittVSDarkness.jpg

Wish me luck! :) ~~~JadeDragon

[the_coldest_sun]

Damn, that is f**kn' awesome!!
WTF am I doing here?

Good luck with your project!!

[JadeDragon]

Damn, that is f**kn' awesome!!
WTF am I doing here?

Good luck with your project!!

LOL!

Thanks, the_coldest_sun!

I wasn't sure if anyone else had noticed all my silly postings and scribbles.

Seeya around! :)~~~Patrick

[howyadoin]

I was thinking about posting this in stages if anybody is interested.Definitely.

Have you considered mixing traditional media in a bit? Like watercolour textures, for example.

[JadeDragon]

Definitely.

Have you considered mixing traditional media in a bit? Like watercolour textures, for example.

Yeah, I love that effect. A colorist friend of mine named Steve Firchow was really good at that. He made it look easy. I might hit you up for some pointers when I start experimenting with it.

Thanks!

~~~JadeDragon

[howyadoin]

Yeah, I love that effect. A colorist friend of mine named Steve Firchow was really good at that. He made it look easy. I might hit you up for some pointers when I start experimenting with it.I take the low-tech approach. I paint the textures on board (or whatever), scan it in, and just mask off the parts of the layer I don't need.

[Roquefort Raider]

Today I scanned in a two-page Darkness/Pitt pin-up I did in pencil. I'm going to be painting this in photoshop, so I was thinking about posting this in stages if anybody is interested.


PLEASE DO !!! :D

- Ben

eager to learn

[A D]

Me too I am lookin to getting into photoshop and I am a total newb to it.

[JadeDragon]

Hey Ben! Great to see ya around!

Since you guys mentioned you might like to see the steps for coloring that Pitt-Darkness piece, I guess I better get crackin' on it! ;)

Today I sketched out a quick lil Elf Girl. Kept it simple because I wanted to play with more coloring in gradients. It's sort of a more traditional comic book style coloring approach (which I have never tried before, so forgive the sloppiness).

I'm not sure yet which approach I will use on the big two-pager. I would like it to appear like a painting, and not just colored comic-book style. Guess I have a bit more practicing to do before I tackle it.

But soon! I promise! Here's that Elf Lass...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/Elf-Lass1.jpg

Seeya tomorrow!~~~JadeDragon

[Roquefort Raider]

Goodness... Just how long do you work on these daily sketches?
Is there any time left to sleep once you're done?

Still, all that work pays off... That is good stuff indeed, Mr. Dragon!

Cheers,

- Ben

[JadeDragon]

"Sleep"? I seem to vaguely remember this thing you call "Sleep". Heh. These days I have been pretty driven to improve my skills in photoshop, burning the candle at both ends. Thanks for the compliments on these quick sketches, Roquefort Raider!

Actually, these have been taking between 1.5 to five hours. I usually get home from my day job in advertising between 9 and 10 PM, so that can make for a rather late night. You can tell by the times I have been posting these. But it's a lot of fun. I'm starting to enjoy the sleep deprivation hallucinations.

Today I decided to start delving into the realm of creature conceptual design. If I dont end up working in comics this next year, I would like to get into the field of character and kritter designwork in movies or video games. It's important to know many computer programs for that stuff these days.

There are many approaches to the creature design format, but for this first one I decided to start out with a scanned pencil drawing, then add some values and highlights. Im way more comfortable starting drawings in pencil because that's what I'm used to. I think I might keep doing this method for a while. Maybe next time I will try actually painting over the top of it, since I will have more free time on the weekend.

Here's my first creature. I call him "Fred the Devouerer".

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/HellBeast1.jpg

Seeya later!~~~JadeDragon

[howyadoin]

Here's my first creature. I call him "Fred the Devouerer".

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/HellBeast1.jpgThat kicks ass.

[Roquefort Raider]

Is Fred the Devourer based on one of your sleep deprivation hallucinations?

If so, I'm glad I get enough Zs every night.

Good work!


- Ben

(Does that mean that Fred is a manifestation of your Id? Brrr!!!

[Roquefort Raider]

Oh,and Patrick... I owe you many thanks. Your example has
finally gotten me to pick up pen and brush again, and get back to
work on my own stuff. I confess that in recent years, I let my job
and other less important stuff interfere with it. Yay! I love having
inkstains on my fingertips!


Cheers,


- Ben

[JadeDragon]

Thanks guys!

Fred represents that part of my id that falls off the diet every now and then. Damn that Fred!

And Roquefort, I'm really glad to hear I was able to help inspire ya to get those fingers dirty again. That's really cool. I'm sure Howya would agree there is nothing more satisfying than sweating over a piece (fighting my natural inclination for TV, video games and general laziness) and finally having a bit of artwork at the end of the night that wasnt there the day before. Welcome to the club! (And when do we get to see some? Nudge nudge.)

Now I'm off to make more scribbles!

Seeya later tonight with whatever other part of my id makes itself manifest on paper. :) ~~~JadeDragon

[howyadoin]

I'm sure Howya would agree there is nothing more satisfying than sweating over a pieceAre we still talkin' about art, now?

[JadeDragon]

Are we still talkin' about art, now?

It CAN be! Hrr! ;)

Here's another. I'm trying to loosen up a bit. All my stuff tends to be a little stiff (stop that Howya). :p

And no jokes about how "Horny" this guy is!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/Batra2.jpg

Seeya l8r!~~~JadeDragon

[howyadoin]

Here's another.How long would it take you to pencil something like that?

[JadeDragon]

How long would it take you to pencil something like that?

Well, that last one was very scribbly. I clocked it at two cd's (I listened to two cd's while drawing it). Not sure how long that actually is. So today I timed myself. I had decided I wasnt real happy with last night's loose drawing so I went a little tighter again.

This lil fellah took me two and a half cd's...about 2 hours 15 mins to pencil. I'm actually drawing these in a sketchbook, so I decided I wanted the drawings in there to look OK without all the photoshoppery.

Here's today's MerDragon...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/MerDragon1.jpg

I promise eventually one of these sketches will have feet. Ha!

Hope you guys are having as much fun drawing as I am!

l8r~~~JadeDragon

[howyadoin]

This lil fellah took me two and a half cd's...about 2 hours 15 mins to pencil.That's goddamn impressive, considering how intensive the rendering and lighting details are.

[JadeDragon]

That's goddamn impressive, considering how intensive the rendering and lighting details are.

Thanks, man!

But actually that was just how long the pencils took me. I usually spend another hour and a half or so doing the photoshop. Depending on what I attempt. I've been chickening out of actually painting the last few days. Must get back to experimenting!

Until then, here's tonight's concoction...A RockMonger!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/RockMonger2.jpg

Later!~~~JadeDragon

[howyadoin]

Until then, here's tonight's concoction...A RockMonger!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/RockMonger2.jpgYou should do a pic with all of these fearsome beasties in it.

[Roquefort Raider]

You know, my old high school technical art teacher would have asked you why you don't draw nakid wimmin instead of monsters.

At least that's what he used to ask me! (The dirty old scoundrel).

Great job, JD! I especially liked the horny fella with the bat face, and would be very curious to know how you achieved the shading effects on his body. Straight with the pencil, or using photoshop?

Cheers,


- Ben

[Anim8r13]

Jade,

These are amazing! Monsters are always something that have given me trouble, now I know where to go for inspiration. Where do these ideas come from, the sleep deprivation? Although I will say that if you add a purse and my credit card to "Fred the Devouerer" its an exact replica of my ex-girlfriend.

Can't wait to see more, keep it up!

[JadeDragon]

You know, my old high school technical art teacher would have asked you why you don't draw nakid wimmin instead of monsters.

Great job, JD! I especially liked the horny fella with the bat face, and would be very curious to know how you achieved the shading effects on his body. Straight with the pencil, or using photoshop?

Thanks Ben! It just so happens tonights sketch is kinda a little of BOTH! Half nekkid chick/half monster! So I covered both bases! Wonder what yer teacher would think about that? :)

And the horny fellow was a really loose sketch. I used the side of the pencil for the shading, instead of the pointy crosshatching I normally do. Photoshop was used to accentuate the highlights and dark tones.

And Anim8er13~ Thanks for the nice words of encouragement! Its nice to see so many other artists around these parts. I'll have to go check out your thread after I post this. :)

And BTW, I can relate to the girlfriend/money black hole. If I gripe about the money issues, she looks more like this:

Dragon Queen!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/DragonQueen.jpg

Ha! Seeya tomorrow. Didnt get off work til after midnight, so tonights sketch is muy muy rapido and sloppy, but I'm glad I forced myself to do it.

Ciao!~~~JadeDragon

[JadeDragon]

Oh and Howya~~~Great idea about the mosh piece. It would be interesting after I do about thirty of these to photoshop together a big jam poster.

Thanks fer the idea! Now I must sleeeeep!

~~~Patrick

[A D]

Your dedication is appreciated.

[Roquefort Raider]

Thanks Ben! It just so happens tonights sketch is kinda a little of BOTH! Half nekkid chick/half monster! So I covered both bases! Wonder what yer teacher would think about that? :)

I fear he'd have said something like "can't you lose the bony bra thingie?"

He was not, as you can guess, the most refined of fellows. But he did teach us how to draw straight lines without a ruler.

Again a great piece, Patrick. And you say you were pooped when you did it? I'm truly impressed.

I'm also a bit annoyed as a customer: I recently bought the third Mark Waid FF trade paperback (authoritative action) and the art was SO inferior, that I don't understand why Marvel and the other big publishers aren't at your door offering obscene amounts of money and the virginity of their firstborn daughters to get you to work for them.

Ah, well. I can be patient.

Cheers and thanks again for your efforts!


- Ben

I finished a new page last weekend. All thanks to the Jade Dragon!

[howyadoin]

Oh and Howya~~~Great idea about the mosh piece. It would be interesting after I do about thirty of these to photoshop together a big jam poster.All I can say is:

DO IT!!!!!

[Smoogis]

Oh my goodness...

THESE ARE AWESOME!:D

[JadeDragon]

Hey there!

Some quick replies:

AD~ Thanks man! That's really cool of you. :)

Roquefort Raider~ "Lose the Bra thingy"!! Ha ha! I would have asked him why he wanted to see her naked! (But I dont think Jonah wants me posting those kinds of drawings here, gooldernit!)~~And thanks again for the kind words. You really do wonders for my ego, muchacho! But what really made me feel good was the last thing you said. YOU DID A PAGE! Yeah! Now when are you gonna stop teasing us and give us a peak at some of your work? HMM?! :D
Way to go man!

Howy~ Will do! What a challenge!

Smoogis~ Nice to see you over here! And thanks a lot for the nice words! Keep checking back and I'll try to keep adding a piece a day.

*******

And here's tonight's: I call it "A Rough Night With My Muse". Kinda gettin wierd!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/Muse.jpg

Seeya all tomorrow for more fun!~~~JadeDragon

[Roquefort Raider]

Rough night indeed! That poor guy, unlike a Timex, doesn't keep on tickin' after a good lickin'.

The feathers on the creature's head are a very nice and creepy touch!


How long can you keep this up, JD?


Take care,


- Ben

[Smoogis]

Love the eyes. great color choice.

[howyadoin]

And here's tonight's: I call it "A Rough Night With My Muse". Kinda gettin wierd!Is that your head in her hand? If it is, that one would make a nice focal point for the group poster.

[JadeDragon]

As always, thanks for the words of encouragement Roquefort, Smoogis and Howya! Really keeps me pumpin into these late nights. Had a cruddy day today, car broke down at the DMV, it rained, blah blah blah. So coming home and hitting the old sketchbook has become good therapy for me. Who really needs sleep anyways?

And Howya, yeah, that's me noggin in her hand, a little artistic liscense of course. But the feeling is accurate. Yikes! ;)

Here's tonight's FisherKing...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/FisherKing.jpg

Ciao baybees!~~~JadeDragon

[A D]

As I have said before I really enjoy your work, and its great to see you knock out these pics day after day. However in your fishking I don't feel the head fits onto the body as well as it could have, instead of a profile I would have like to see a 3/4 face shot on it. I know its just knit picking though.

[JadeDragon]

Hey A D,

Thanks for the honest constructive criticism. Feedback always helps me to look at things in a different way. I might approach that head a little differently next time. Much appreciated. :)

I enjoyed working up tonight's sketch, and I'm looking forward to the weekend. Maybe I'll experiment with painting a little differently.

Have a great weekend, everybody!

Taurus

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/Taurus.jpg

~~~JadeDragon

[howyadoin]

Taurus

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/Taurus.jpgThat's my favourite one yet. Even though it's Taurus, it kinds makes me think of that Ramones tune, "Warthog".

[John Aston]

I think you're getting better with every drawing and you were already great to begin!

I do like that you've dropped the blurring effect from your first posted drawings to the latter. You're too talented to need Photoshop for anything more than a cleaning tool.

For some reason, I keep thinking Twisted He-Man! The Lizard Queen was really good -- not because it's a lady, but because it's a nice contrast between your ultra-detail monster style and a smooth human form.

More, please!

[Roquefort Raider]

By now I should know that JD can do no wrong, but this is also one of my favorite character designs. The beaded eye, especially, is a nice departure from most monsters in comics who tend to have slanted eyes. As round eyes are supposed to be less threatening, to find them on this guy makes them even more effective because of the constrast they create... They reinforce the impression of something we should trust (a good old round-eyed steer) that's gone terribly wrong.

I'm impressed by your amazing productivity, Dragon, that doesn't seem to come at the cost of quality!

(Guess that's why you're a pro!!!)

Cheers,


- Ben

[Smoogis]

Hey A D,

Thanks for the honest constructive criticism. Feedback always helps me to look at things in a different way. I might approach that head a little differently next time. Much appreciated. :)

I enjoyed working up tonight's sketch, and I'm looking forward to the weekend. Maybe I'll experiment with painting a little differently.

Have a great weekend, everybody!

Taurus

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/Taurus.jpg

~~~JadeDragon

Wow...

all your stuff looks like posters...

[JadeDragon]

Hey gang!

Thanks again for all the nice feedback. I'm lucky to have such cool online friends checking out my lil late-night sketching habit.

Howya~ Yeah, this Taurus guy kinda changed a lot while I was drawing him...sorta ended up kinda a pig/bull/minataur type dealy. "Warthog"...always thought that was such a cool name, conjures up such a mental mix of imagery. I'll have to find that Ramone's song! :)

Johnny~ Thanks! What a nice compliment...I'm hoping that by doing these drawings every night I'll get a little better eventually. Every little bit helps! And the photoshop stuff is really still experimental, havent quite gotten the hang of starting from scratch in PS. Now I have sorta found a process I enjoy for the nightly scribbles, so I will have to experiment on the painting end on the weekends. Thanks for the encouragement, and I'll keep my eyes on all your work as well! CBR Artists unite!! :) (I love the "Twisted He-Man" concept...LOL)

Roquefort Raider~ Like I said in the other thread, I was so glad to see you posting your comic work! That's awesome, man! And thanks again for the kind words regarding my efforts here. And yep, I'm sorta going through a "Round eye" phase with my monster designs. Always liked that gorilla type eye action...humanizes the monster for some reason. Now get back to your comic pages so I can see some more! ;)

Smoogis~ "Posters"! Ha, thanks! You have given me an idea for next year's SDCC. Maybe I'll print up a lil monster pin-up ashcan. Hmn...something to think about.

Thanks again all!

*******

Here's another pin-up from my time at Top Cow. It's a copy of a copy so it's a little gritty. Someone stole the original. I'm thinking about painting some of these comic pin-ups when I figure out a good Photoshop process I am happy with.

Seeya later tonight with another sketch!

Aphrodite IX

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/AscensionPinup.jpg

Ciao!~~~JadeDragon

[Roquefort Raider]

Harh! My old teacher would say "now THAT'S more like it!" :)

Very nice, JD!

Do you do a lot of preliminary sketches before a pin-up like that?

Keep up the great work, and we'll be here to admire it!


- Ben

[JadeDragon]

Harh! My old teacher would say "now THAT'S more like it!" :)

Very nice, JD!

Do you do a lot of preliminary sketches before a pin-up like that?

Keep up the great work, and we'll be here to admire it!


Thanks pal! And to answer your question, I usually do a really small thumbnail drawing, really rough, about 4 by 4 inches or smaller. My thumbnails are really sloppy. I'm not one of those guys who likes to blow up his thumbnails for tracing, instead I prefer the "Happy accidents" that occur when you are re-laying it out by hand on the big page. How do you work?

Now for these sketches, no thumbs or thinking involved! Ha ha! The subjects tend to change completely from the time I start to the time I'm done. Can you believe yesterday's sketch actually started out as a rough Godzilla drawing? I erased so much that a whole 'nother character started to evolve! That's what I call fun!

Here's tonight's...Troglodyte!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/Troglodyte.jpg

Seeya tomorrow!~~~JadeDragon

[Roquefort Raider]

Impressive cave monster, Dragon! I especially like the hands. I always liked the way certain artists emphasize the hands in their cartoons or stories; they can convey a lot of dramatic weight. (Just look at the oversized hands that the King put on most characters).

Regarding sketches, I don't do as many as I should. Accordingly, especially with a difficult scene, I often have to use white paint and start over. I'll do a thumbnail version of every page on a 8x11 page with rough figure placement and general scene description, as well as location of word bubbles.

Since the thumbnails are spontaneous and very energetic, they usually flow much more easily than the actual page 14x17 page I draw from them; in fact, this very weekend, I traced a face from my thumbnails because I just could not reproduce the emotion it conveyed.

Man, I can't thank you enough for the inspiration you provide for us all (well, for me, at the very least)! I've just finished the pencils of page 39, a 100% increase in productivity over what I did last year! :D

Cheers,

- Ben

[JadeDragon]

Ben,

That's really cool that you have found some small inspiration from my little thread here. I dont think there's any greater compliment than to be inspired to create art by looking at art. Thanks for that. :)

Interesting process you have. It's got to be quite a chore doing pencils, inks and letters...not to mention WRITING the whole magilla! I'm impressed! See...now you are infecting ME with the thoughts of creating that creator owned book that has been burning in the back of my mind for a couple years now. YEAH! I'm really considering it now...thanks for the return-inspiration boomerang!

For tonight, I almost didnt complete a sketch. I abandoned one 1/3 the way through...just sucked too much. Then it was a struggle after that to come up with a new thing...well, here's what sorta evolved...

Great Horned Polyclops

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/GreatHornedPolyclops.jpg

The photoshopping is quite a mess, but I just wanted to finish this one. Did it! Phew!

Seeya tomorrow night, hopefully will be back in form...

Ciao!~~~JadeDragon

[Roquefort Raider]

Man, I'd love to see you get a crack at a Dr. Strange story... What nightmarish worlds wouldn't we discover!!!

And although that Polyclops might be easier to defeat than we think (poke! poke! poke! hit an eye every time!) I'd hate to meet it in a dark alley.

Great work!

[howyadoin]

Man, I'd love to see you get a crack at a Dr. Strange story...Especially if it took place in Dormammu's realm.

[JadeDragon]

Ha Ha! Thanks guys. "Poke poke" LOL, Ben!

I like that idea of drawing Dr. Strange. I always thought that would be a blast. Or maybe even the Defenders...mix in Hulk and Silver Surfer, how much cooler could you get?!

In this spirit, I give you the Evil Wizard that would like to hand Dr. Strange his gizzards on a platter...he's old and mean and got a hell of a left hook. ;)

Arch Mage...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/ArchMage.jpg

That was a fun one. Seeya tomorrow pals!~~~JadeDragon

[Roquefort Raider]

Strange: "O Ancient One, you look TERRIBLE!"

Ancient One: "Just wait until you've had 500 years of boozing, whoring and smoking, Stephen. THEN you can comment on how bad I look".

Of course, it would have to be a Marvel MAX series!



Very good one, Dragon. There's a lot of story in that one picture: for example, why does the mage have wings? Is he a fallen angel, did he experiment on himself to gain the ability to fly or was he bitten by a radioactive marabou? How did his left hand end up looking that way? Did he do a transdimensional exchange (a la Claw the unconquered) with Hellboy or some big tree elemental? In any case, his gnarled appearance suggests he's seen a lot and would have a lot to tell.

(Unfortunately the arch Mage also looks like the kind to tell me to f**k off and die rather than tell his life story)!

[JadeDragon]

Ben,

Ha ha! I love the story you have given my little wizard man. And you're right, he's definitely been through the wringer. I might actually paint up some of these figures. I've been studying tutorials, so hopefully I can get a decent look going.

Here's another along the lines of a Defenders redesign (that would be fun!)...

Valkyrie...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/Valkyrie.jpg

Seeya tomorrow! And thanks again for checking in and keeping me enthused.

~~~Patrick

[Roquefort Raider]

Mmmh... Although you'd do good on Dr. Strange, it looks as if you could do a pretty interesting Thor too! (Or at least, an interesting Sif)!

Cheers,


- Ben

[howyadoin]

Here's another along the lines of a Defenders redesign (that would be fun!)...

Valkyrie...Very nice. I especially like the Kirby influence in the glove on the right hand.

How 'bout a Nighthawk?

[A D]

I would just like to see you to keep doing a sketch a day...forever.

[Smoogis]

The Valkyrie for some reason makes me want to just print it out and write a detailed description of it. Really really good.

[JadeDragon]

Hey you guys,

Thanks so much for the nice comments! I'm at work right now, just scanned in a two-page Inferno piece, so i thought I would post it real quick before heading home.

Be back later tonight for a new sketch and replies.

Thanks again for all the great encouragement!

Inferno...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/InfernoPencils.jpg

Seeya in a few hours!~~~JadeDragon

[fitzroy]

Absolutely fantastic

[JadeDragon]

OK, it's almost four in the morning now, I got home from work and just finished throwing some color on a sketch. But first...

RR~ Thanks man...I always wanted to draw THOR. That Simonson run just floored me as a kid. Mythology is my favorite pastime outside drawing, so I really dig comics influenced by it. Hope to do some of my own one day soon... ;)

Howya~ Yeah, I think everybody has a little King Kirby in them somewhere. Love that man. "Nighthawk", eh? Sounds like a challenge...let me ponder that one...I would have done it tonight but I had horny toads on the brain...Heh heh! Nighthawk coming soon! :)

A D~ Forever? No problem! Well, at least as long as these old bones will permit me to go with such little sleeeeeep....:) Thanks man! I appreciate the sentiment muchly...

Smoogis~ Neat! I would love to hear what sort of back story you would concoct for that Valkyrie. I think that is quite a compliment to see a story in there somewhere... Thanks!

Fitzroy~ Thanks man! And I really enjoyed your freeantz (freelance?) website! Especially the girl with the bloody mouth and the blindfolded woman. That face up-shot is a tricky one to pull off...nice job! Great work there. I'll keep an eye on that site for updates. :)

And here's tonight's sketch...

"Great Horny Toads!" (Feet at last! LOL!)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/HornyToad.jpg

Seeya tomorrow everyone! And thanks again for all the nice replies!

Ciao!~~~JadeDragon

[Papergirl]

Valkyrie...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/Valkyrie.jpg
This one is my favorite! I am SO tempted to swipe it and use it as my avatar! :p

[fitzroy]

Hey, nice new pic
The blindfolded woman is my wife, cheers
The bloody mouth girl is the girlfriend of the guy that does my website.

The view up the face is difficult, but not as hard as the view down.

Cheers
Fitz

[howyadoin]

And here's tonight's sketch...

"Great Horny Toads!"Y'know, I can almost feel a story developing as these illustrations progress.

[Smoogis]

"Great Horny Toads!" (Feet at last! LOL!)


WOW!

Holy crap, that is one big toe nail.

[meethraa]

I could just take a hammer right now and smash my drawing tablet in a thousand pieces. That's how good these are.

[JadeDragon]

4:17 in the morning...must be time to post a new sketch! But first...

Papergirl~ Bev. BEV!!!!!! Whar ya bin, gal??!! Missed seein ya around these parts! Awesome. You'll have to email me and let me know how things are going for ya, if ya get a spare moment! And thanks for the nice words, I would be FLATTERED if you wanted to use that as one of your avatars...jeeze it's great to see ya. :) Dont be a stranger!

fitzroy~ Thanks! And that's neat that your wife is willing to pose for your art studies. Lucky guy!

Howya~ Story, eh? Hmnnnnnnn....;)

Smoogis~ Yeah atsa big toenail allright, and I dont think frogs even HAVE toenails, do they? Heh!

Meethraa~ Awwww, thanks! I would love to check out some of your work sometime. I love what you do with Lime kitty every week in the avatar wars!

SO here is tonight's lil number...I was feeling a little wizardy again...

Alchemist...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/Alchemist.jpg

Seeya tomorrow!~~~JadeDragon

[Roquefort Raider]

"I wonder if I should get my navel pierced", mused the Alchemist.
(Either that or he wonders how to get into the Walkyrie's pants. Lotsa luck,
old man!!!)

Great piece, JD!

- Ben

[Papergirl]

4:17 in the morning...must be time to post a new sketch! But first...

Papergirl~ Bev. BEV!!!!!! Whar ya bin, gal??!! Missed seein ya around these parts! Awesome. You'll have to email me and let me know how things are going for ya, if ya get a spare moment! And thanks for the nice words, I would be FLATTERED if you wanted to use that as one of your avatars...jeeze it's great to see ya. :) Dont be a stranger!
I have "bin" very, VERY busy lately and mostly offline for the better part of four months. I've been checking in on my board, and not much else, sadly.

More news in the PM you're going to get in about 15 minutes. ;)

AND! Hey! Look! I went and used your picture as my avatar! *grin*

More later! I can't wait to see what you put up here for us all!

*HUGS*

[howyadoin]

AND! Hey! Look! I went and used your picture as my avatar! *grin*Nice of you not to crop the boobs out.

[Papergirl]

Nice of you not to crop the boobs out.
Now, how did I know that you would say that? :p

[howyadoin]

Now, how did I know that you would say that? :pMust be our psychic bond.

[Papergirl]

Must be our psychic bond.
Nah. More likely it's our psycho bond.

[JadeDragon]

Hey hey!

I like that crop choice as well. Excellent cropping skills Miss PaperGirl, must be all that practice with the riding crop of justice. Yeehaw! Watch out Howya or you might be next!

And Ben, LOL...nice commentary. I'm pretty sure that Alchemist was pondering either the secret magic formulas of the universe...OR how it is that the Valkyrie manages to keep her foo-foos from flopping out in battle. Equally mystifying.

Anyways, here's the little scribble I jotted down tonight...

WereJackal!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/WereJackal.jpg

Thanks for stopping by! More fun tomorrow!

Ciao!~~~JadeDragon

[Roquefort Raider]

"Don't make me angry... You wouldn't like me when I'm angry".

[Papergirl]

Hey hey!

I like that crop choice as well. Excellent cropping skills Miss PaperGirl, must be all that practice with the riding crop of justice. Yeehaw! Watch out Howya or you might be next!
Thankya! I was aiming to get as much of the art as possible without sacrificing too much detail. I figure I must have learned *something* after working with all those artistic types for so long! ;)

Anyways, here's the little scribble I jotted down tonight...

WereJackal!
VERY nice work! I can't believe you are doing these so quickly. It looks like you spent DAYS, not hours, on them!

[howyadoin]

These definitely seem to be getting better. I like the way they seem to fit into specific groups, too - my favourite so far being the mutated animals.



Damn, I gotta draw some more shit...

[JadeDragon]

Hey! Seems like old times now with Ben, Bret, and Bev posting with me again! Sniff~~~I miss the old days....

Thanks for the nice words again. And Howy, I think I like the creatures the best too. People are too...uh...peopley.

Here's another one. Did this one real fast cuz I wanted to watch a movie tonight, but now it may be too late anyway. Ergh. Oh well!

Bone Pirate...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/BonePirate.jpg

Is that name too suggestive? Ew!

Seeya tomorrow, friends!~~~JadeDragon

[Papergirl]

Hey! Seems like old times now with Ben, Bret, and Bev posting with me again! Sniff~~~I miss the old days....
Yeah, I miss the old days, too. But! There is one thing that's better now! You and Bret are posting your artwork for all of us to see now! :)

Keep 'em coming, pal! I love seeing your work!

[Roquefort Raider]

Can't disagree with Bev... It's great to be treated to JD's and howy's art.

Regarding that pirate... Harrrrrh!!! Couldn't he be happy with a mere hook, like everyone else?

I shudder to think what beastie you'll come up with to act as his parrot.

Man, I love how each of these pictures seem to reflect an untold story.

Keep 'em coming!


- Ben

[Gumbo Maximillian]

Whats really amazing isn't just how fast you can do these, which is impressive in and of itself but how fast you can come up with these ideas to make them.

[JadeDragon]

Good evening!

Bev~ Thank you, dear! I'm glad you are here to see what sort of mischief I have been up to. Be sure to stick around this time, eh? I cant tell you how glad I was when you popped up here out of nowhere again. :)

Roquefort~ One mutated cyborg parrot zombie, COMING UP! LOL!

Gumbo Maximillian~ Nice to meet ya! Thanks for stopping in with the supportive words, Gumbo. Actually, deciding what to draw is about the longest step in the whole process. I stare at that blank page for almost a whole CD of music sometimes, sketching, erasing, changing my mind then usually going off in a totally accidental direction eventually. The actual drawing part is just fun.

That's pretty much how tonight's lil doodle was brung about. :) I sorta phoned in last nights, so I had extra fun with this one...

Summarian Crocodile God...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/CrocGod.jpg

~~~Mortal enemy of Horny Tool Toad? Heh!

Seeya tomorrow, and thanks again all!~~~JadeDragon

PS: Saw "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" today. Beautiful movie. Highly recommended for people who love beautiful art and comics. Awesome.

[Roquefort Raider]

That one would have given Conan the Cimmerian a hard time, I'm sure. I love the way a croc's natural warty ridges are expanded into spikes on the back of this fellow (and over his eyes to act as eyebrows). Pretty scary!

It's a nice coincidence, too, because right this morning there was a piece on the morning news about what to do with ustralian sea crocodiles, that can't be hunted for leather but seem to eat too many tourists for the taste of certain travel agencies.

A nice and moody piece, JD, with just the right choice of color to evoke the reedy marshes of the fertile crescent.


Cheers!

- Ben

[Papergirl]

Good evening!

Bev~ Thank you, dear! I'm glad you are here to see what sort of mischief I have been up to. Be sure to stick around this time, eh? I cant tell you how glad I was when you popped up here out of nowhere again. :)
Oh, I never really went anywhere, hon. Just wasn't really posting, as I was sneaking on here to check on the Vertigo board and take care of anything that needed to be dealt with. You know, Moderator StuffTM!

Roquefort~ One mutated cyborg parrot zombie, COMING UP! LOL!
You doing requests now? :p

I sorta phoned in last nights, so I had extra fun with this one...

Summarian Crocodile God...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/CrocGod.jpg

~~~Mortal enemy of Horny Tool Toad? Heh!
Ooooh! Gorgeous detail! The armbands are a nice touch, as is the barely visible pendant. (Erm... That IS a pendant, I hope. Otherwise, I need to go get my eyes checked soon! Man, getting old sucks!)

PS: Saw "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" today. Beautiful movie. Highly recommended for people who love beautiful art and comics. Awesome.
I want to see this so badly! Maybe this week I can talk Dad into going with me while Mom is at work one day. Not gonna be easy, though, as Dad hates sitting in movie theaters! Keep your fingers crossed that he'll actually go to the movies with his one and only kid! :D

[Smoogis]

Ahhhh, I haven't commented in awhile because all my 'greats' and "woos!" seem a little broken recordish, but gah!

these are all great. Yes.

[JadeDragon]

Hey Hey!~~~

Roquefort~ Yeah, them crocodiliacs can be quite a downer for tourism. Specially the ones with arms and armbands. Yikes! Thanks man!

Bev~ Tankya! And yeah, drag dad to see that movie, he will love it. Especially if he is old enough to remember the old cliffhanger style flash gordon movies when he was a kid. It's pretty dang fun.

Smoogis~ Aw, thanks for peeping back in with the niceness. Mucho appreciated.

Tonight, I am just beat. Lack of sleep the last week has made me mentally deficient, as proven by tonight's sketch. I have no idea...it just came out. I took a break from creature features with color, and did a little playing with tones. Just a little.

Anyhoo...hopefully tomorrow I will be back up to speed. :)

Denise and Ted's first date...(?)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/DeniseLovesTed.jpg

Yeah. I need sleep. Goodnight!~~~JadeDragon

[Roquefort Raider]

The old ball and chain has never looked so good!

I love the flower. And the fact Ted's wearing jeans. And the whole damn thing, actually!!!

Now go rest, young man; you have indeed earned it in spades. Beautiful artwork, with a touch of humor, that makes us eager for more. (Poor Dragon... will sleep forever remain but a feverish dream)?

Thanks again for the daily treat, Patrick!



- Ben

[JadeDragon]

Thanks Ben!

Your support is so greatly appreciated. How are your pages coming? Update! :)

This lil fellah followed me home tonight. I'nt he cute?

ArchDemon...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/ArchDemon.jpg

Seeya tomorrow!~~~JadeDragon

[Roquefort Raider]

Say, Mr Demon, is that a british "up yours" sign you're flashing at me???

Oh, okay... just checking...


Nice leathery skin on that fellow. With the exposed teeth and the high cheekbones, he looks like a mummy on steroids. With his elbows, I bet he'd deliver a nasty hiji jodan ate, too.
http://www.kyokushinkarate.at/images/net/h_jodan_uchi.jpg

How do you produce the cool papyrus-like effect of the background, particularly in the bottom right corner?


Cheers,

- Ben

[howyadoin]

How do you produce the cool papyrus-like effect of the background, particularly in the bottom right corner? Yeah, I was wonderin' that very same thing.

[JadeDragon]

HIJI JODAN ATE!!!

Roquefort and Howya,

Well, I WAS gonna say that papyrus effect was created by meticulous hand crafting, chiseled painstakingly by the sweat of my fevered brow in a clever and masterly way.

But that aint it. ;)

I draw real hard and that's the indentation from the previous night's drawing looking like a negative when I smeared the pencils on the new page. Mixed with the metal rust texture I put on overlay (for that worn look), it looks like an old scroll type thing. Happy accidents are the best kind!

Speaking of which...theres a little of that on this one too. I think I like sticking to old paper traditional colors...it reads a little easier.

Now every sketchbook isnt complete without a Cthullu type dude with tentacles where his word-hole should be. Here he is!

Cthullu...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/Cthullu.jpg

Seeya tomorrow!~~~JadeDragon

PS...I played with real paints tonight. Made me have all new respect for painters. That stuff is wet and gets all over! Gyeeh! I'll try again soon...

[howyadoin]

Check your PMs, buddy.

[Roquefort Raider]

I draw real hard and that's the indentation from the previous night's drawing looking like a negative when I smeared the pencils on the new page. Mixed with the metal rust texture I put on overlay (for that worn look), it looks like an old scroll type thing. Happy accidents are the best kind!

I remember Berni Wrightson saying that there were no rules in art, as long as the final result looked good. Bring on the happy accidents!


Now every sketchbook isnt complete without a Cthullu type dude with tentacles where his word-hole should be. Here he is!

Cthullu...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/Cthullu.jpg


Toe to toe with Cthullu, John Constantine lit his cigarette and asked "so, how do you wipe your arse, mate?" ;)

Neat looking creature, and its head really evokes the thousand shapes of Lovecraft's creatures. (Wait... That should be Nyarlatothep, right? It's been too long since I read H.P. stuff).

Again with this guy, I think the beady eyes are way more unsettling than slanted ones would be. They look, I dunno... pretty alien. The head has a definite crustacean feel to it, which suits Cthullu to a T.

Very good job, JD!

Good luck with the paint,


- Ben

[JadeDragon]

Thanks, Roquefort Raider!

Now that you point it out, I guess that last guy probably has to get REAL creative when it comes to toilet duties. Maybe he's got special tentacles... ahem...comin out another end of him... (Ew!)

Ya know, I never did read any Lovecraft, strangely enough. I had friends that were into him. But I was always really interested in the drawings of the creatures he created. I should probably get around to reading some of that.

Hope you are doing well. :) Here's tonight's sketch...

Nocturnus...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/Nocturnus.jpg

Have a good one!~~~JadeDragon

[howyadoin]

I think the last two oughta face off in a cage match.

[JadeDragon]

Cage match, eh Howya? Man, that would be cool. I always imagined what would happen if different animals fought. Like a Lion vs a Tiger, or a Silverback Gorilla vs a Grizzly Bear. I saw a video of a Great White Shark vs a Killer Whale. It was no contest, the killer whale bit that Great White in two and fed it to it's baby. Wow!

Anyway, this weekend I begin my assault on color painting again. SO I called in some helpful mojo with tonight's sketch...

Ganesha...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/Ganesha2.jpg

Ganesha, old friend...god of creativity and remover of obstacles. Please take away my fear of the rainbow. Make Him my friend through the battles to come. Somewhere on the other side lies the promised land of fantastic worlds, mythological beings, and untapped dreams.

Let's play in those fields again~~~JadeDragon :)

Seeya tomorrow!

[Roquefort Raider]

It's always wise to invoke Ganesha before endeavouring anything, particularly the peril-fraught creation of a painting!

I love that god. I think he's my favourite in all the pantheons. I'm happy to see him here, especially drawn by an artist who knows to draw him with a broken tusk! :)

But why is the old guy so serious? He needs a beer!!! A beer for Ganesha!!!

I really, really like the little details on this one: the mystical symbols on his wristband, the earrings, the Indian flower necklaces... Excellent work, Patrick.

Do you think you'll ever try to make a painting of this fellow?

[howyadoin]

Thought the grapes were a nice touch.

[JadeDragon]

It's always wise to invoke Ganesha before endeavouring anything, particularly the peril-fraught creation of a painting!

I love that god. I think he's my favourite in all the pantheons. I'm happy to see him here, especially drawn by an artist who knows to draw him with a broken tusk! :)

But why is the old guy so serious? He needs a beer!!! A beer for Ganesha!!!

I really, really like the little details on this one: the mystical symbols on his wristband, the earrings, the Indian flower necklaces... Excellent work, Patrick.

Do you think you'll ever try to make a painting of this fellow?

WOW! I guess I'm a little surprised you are so familiar with ol' Ganesha! He's one of my all time faves as well. Broken tusk and all. Imagine being so passionate about writing a story that you snap off your own tusk to write it down! Maybe we artists can relate.

Yeah...I shoulda made him partying a little harder. LOL! Maybe next time I'll give him a beer in each hand, he's got the built in trunk-beerbong!

And funny you should mention painting him....maye your psychic powers are coming along nicely...heheh. I'm working on that tonight. I'll post it tomorrow if it turns out OK....hmmmmm...

Howyadoin...yeah, the grapes were kinda last minute...proably should have been a conch shell or something, but he looked hungry... :)

Today I had a hankering for some satyre fun.....

Pan...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/Pan.jpg

Seeya tomorrow!~~~JadeDragon

[howyadoin]

Today I had a hankering for some satyre fun.....

Pan...I like your Pan, but I think - for some fucked up reason - that he oughta look more like Sammy Davis, Jr.

[JadeDragon]

I like your Pan, but I think - for some fucked up reason - that he oughta look more like Sammy Davis, Jr.

Bizarre! Haha! Okay, next time he will have a glass eye and a tuxedo.

Here is Ganesha colored. I want to paint him completely, over the linework...but this is a good first stage. I'm gonna try to color all my nightly drawings like this from now on, if there is time.

Ganesha Colored...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/GaneshaPainted.jpg

Seeya later!~~~JadeDragon

[Solaris]

Jade, dear, let me say it again:

YOU ARE A FRICKIN' AWESOME ARTIST!!!

Sigh. I really admire your talent, and wish I was *half* as good as you are.

Wow.

And I can't believe you're whippin' out the pencil sketch parts of these in around 2 to 2 1/2 hrs... of course, I know you've had tons of practice, but *still*!!

Ever thought about trying to get work with the guys that do creature concept drawings, etc. for movies like "Alien" etc.? Bet they'd love your work.

[Roquefort Raider]

Man, that was a great-looking Pan! Far more representative of Ma Nature's forces than the little man-goat Satyricus we had in Arak, son of thunder in the early '80s. The leather pouch and flask, the grapes, the feathers and the simple jewelry all contribute to a very convincing pagan figure. The slightly arrogant amusement on his face is also quite in character.

As for your colored Ganesha, what's to say? IT'S GREAT!!!

(The grape he just grabbed with his trunk is a nice touch, too!)


Happy trails,


- Ben

[Jaye]

*faints at the sight of Pan*
What a peice! WOW.

Can you describe the process you use a bit? I din't need a full step-by-step, but I'm just curious as to your process (digital parts, by hands parts, and how the heck you do these once a day).

Thanks!
-13th

[JadeDragon]

Hi guys!

Solaris~ Hey, who's that cute chick in your new avatar? Rowr! ;) Glad ya stopped by! I thought that was so neat you shared your sketchbook with me when you were out here visiting, now I get to share mine with you! Are you still designing in your book? Hope so! Would love to see more someday.

And actually, one of my goals is to be a concept designer for movies or video games (Instead of just advertising them). If I dont end up back in comics, that's what I would like to try, so you hit the nail on the head! Heh! Thats pretty much what I am practicing for with these nightly scribbles. Just have to get a coloring system down that I like. Anyways, so glad to see ya here. Hopefully see ya around the boards a lot more!

Roquefort Raider~ Thanks mate! I never saw much Arak son of thunder, but I remember a satyre type dude in Warlock by Jim Starlin. Loved that series. So cosmic! I am really into the mythological stuff too, glad to see a fellow buff. I'll have lots more along those veins. Cheers! :)

13th~ *Applies smelling salts* Heh...Thanks! And I draw these out in a 8 1/2 by 11 inch sketchbook, scan em, hit the levels to bring out clarity. Then I paint it on "Multiply" underneath the linework. After I add darks, then I do lights on "Normal" setting, and apply a texture layer. I use a metallic rust for the BG, it looks kinda like watercolor damage or aged paper. To do this I just drag the texture image over to the art using the move tool then set the layer on "Overlay". I might double that up for more darker contrast, then I hit a curve layer to add even more contrast. Thanks for asking! :) Love your photography!

Welp, its almost 5 in the AM now, I need to get up for work in 2 hours, so heres tonights sketch...

Bubastis...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/Bubastis.jpg

Seeya tomorrow! Thanks all!~~~JadeDragon

[Roquefort Raider]

It's a pity Savage sword of Conan isn't published anymore... It would have been a great venue for your dynamic style, great-looking monsters and control of chiaroscuro.

But then I'm biased... it was my favourite mag for a long while.

Congrats on the great-looking Bubastis. I especially like the nose, for some reason. Maybe I read Cyrano de Bergerac too many times!

Cheers,

- Ben

[Jaye]

Welp, its almost 5 in the AM now, I need to get up for work in 2 hours, so heres tonights sketch...

Bubastis...


Nice armor, and the face is especially expressive. Well done!

Thanks for the notes about your process, it is really inspiring to see what you make in a day!

-13th

[howyadoin]

I draw these out in a 8 1/2 by 11 inch sketchbook, scan em, hit the levels to bring out clarity. Then I paint it on "Multiply" underneath the linework. After I add darks, then I do lights on "Normal" setting, and apply a texture layer. I use a metallic rust for the BG, it looks kinda like watercolor damage or aged paper. To do this I just drag the texture image over to the art using the move tool then set the layer on "Overlay". I might double that up for more darker contrast, then I hit a curve layer to add even more contrast.Sounds like you're learnin' Photoshop just fine, my friend.

[JadeDragon]

Hi again!

Roquey Raider~ Thanks! Man, I would have LOVED to do a Conan comic. I was actually being considered by my editors at Dark Horse for their new Conan comic, but I lost out to Cary Nord. Dang it! But Cary is doing a wonderful job. *Sigh* Thanks for the vote tho! :)

13th~ No prob! Glad you stopped by, man! I think the hardest part of doing these things nightly BY FAR is coming up with the subject matter. Sometimes I sit and doodle and erase for an hour before I get working. Heh! :)

Howya~ Thanks dude! I learn something new in photoshop every day.

Here is tonights lil guy...I am playing around with a re-design of an old 80's cartoon for a little side project...do you recognize him (his outfit is tweaked) and remember what cartoon he is from? (This is just stage one of the redesign)

Panthro...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/Panthro.jpg

Seeya tomorrow!~~~JadeDragon

[Roquefort Raider]

Hey, Dragon, keep pestering Dark Horse about Conan... Cary Nord is bound to need a holiday someday, and a few issues by a guest artist might give us the chance to see your version of the Cimmerian! :cool:

As for today's character... Does he wear a Thundercat belt buckle?


Cheers,

-Ben

[TDX]

hello all,

Jade i've been watching this post for a while now and i'm amazed at your talent, it reminds me of the old marvel graphic novels from years ago. this Panthro is outstanding. I'm old school at heart and it warmed my soul to see my favorite thundercat drawn so well. do you think you'll do any others? Mumraa maybe, i think he'd be perfect for your style.

on another note i admire your tenacity. i'm a writer myself and i find life often getting in the way of my work, you know little things like sleep and such. if i'd been working the way you, have i'd be done with my novel by now. keep up the good work and thanks for sharing. :) -TDX

[howyadoin]

Here is tonights lil guy...I am playing around with a re-design of an old 80's cartoon for a little side project...do you recognize him (his outfit is tweaked) and remember what cartoon he is from? (This is just stage one of the redesign)

Panthro...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/Panthro.jpgI really like the attitude in the pose. Very nice.

[TurboBassist]

your 9-11-04 sketch is very nice. I especially like the robot-like creature on the bottom ;).

[JadeDragon]

Hi again!

Roquefort~ Yeah, I sure wouldnt mind doing a fill in for Conan, thanks for the endorsement! And I was actually considering calling up my old editor there at the Dark Pony to see if they might have any work for me (If I decide to leave my day job....a frightening and exciting prospect at the same time). And yes, that's a thundercat alrighty! Heh...of course who didnt love them?

TDX~ Hi there, welcome to CBR! It's a pleasure ta meet ya, and thanks for the nice words. :) I'm an old school fellah myself, and I am definitely cooking up some MumRaa one of these nights. That should be a blast! And that's cool you are a writer. Its always nice to have more creative types around. I also struggle with life's little annoyances like jobs and sleep and all that BREATHING...In then out all the time...But yeah, ya gotta suffer for your chosen craft, eh? ;) Thanks for stopping by and dont be a stranger! Cheers!

Howya~ Thanks muchacho! I appreciate the constant support, my friend.

TurboBassist~ Hi, nice to meet you as well! Great to see so many new people here. Thanks for the kindness, I enjoyed sketching that troglodite guy on 9-11. Hope to see ya around, TB! Cheers!

Here's tonight's sketch....my first true love...

Dejah Thoris...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/DejahThoris.jpg

Edgar Rice Burroughs kicks @$$!!

Ta ta!~~~JadeDragon

[howyadoin]

Here's tonight's sketch....my first true love...

Dejah Thoris...I like the transparency on the skirt.










I mean from an artistic standpoint, you perverts!

[Roquefort Raider]

I mean from an artistic standpoint, you perverts!

Oh, there never was any doubt in my mind, howy. (Man, the skirt isn't the only thing that's transparent)!

Jade Dragon, that's a stunning picture of Dejah Thoris (who was probably EVERY boy's first love). I'm glad you steered away from the more common Frazetta/Kane vision of the princess of Mars. This one is right up there with Frank Cho's version. (I especially like the feathers... we never heard anything about feathers in Burrough's books, but they fit the barbaric splendor associated with Barsoom and its denizens.

Okay, forget Conan... I want to see you draw a new John Carter series!


(Actually, damn John Carter. A Dejah Thoris series would be fine).

Cheers!


- Ben

[Justin D.]

Hey, other JD, I don't know why I haven't said anything before since I've watched this thread for a while now, but the stuff here is nothing short of amazing. I'd be impressed no matter how long you took to complete these pieces, but the fact that you start and have these up in one day astounds me. I love the look of Bubastis, but lion guys have always looked cool to me. Besides Dejah looking gorgeous, we finally get to see some legs. If there's one real criticism I'd have, it would be that you don't complete enough full body pictures so it looks like your Liefelding out on us. Hey, I just made up a new derogatory art term. Aren't I the comic snob.

And like Roguefort said, I'd rather see you tackle John Carter than Conan. If only because I'd like to see you tackle some science fiction concepts more. Not the same old Star Wars you've done, but something of your own creation.

You can damn well bet I'm going to show this thread to some other people too. Great stuff, man.

[Doug Strange]

And like Roguefort said, I'd rather see you tackle John Carter than Conan. If only because I'd like to see you tackle some science fiction concepts more. Not the same old Star Wars you've done, but something of your own creation.Yes! More science fiction, absoultely! You have a terrific imagination, it's evident...stretch it out some!

And what about a super-hero or two of your own design? That might seem boring, but I think your dramatic flair could bring some excitement to the standard old concepts...some new energy. I'd like to see you try it, anyway.

You can damn well bet I'm going to show this thread to some other people too. Great stuff, man.No doubt!

[Roquefort Raider]

Hey, I just made up a new derogatory art term.


I love the term "Liefelding". I'll add it to my vocabulary.
:cool:

[JadeDragon]

Hi again!

Whelp, most of my image links are now little red x's...meaning my image hoster is down. Hopefully it's a temporary problem (some links are still working) but I may need to re-load all the images onto another site if they are really dead. *SIGH* Oh well! The show must go on...

Howya~ Now why am I not surprised you noticed? Heh! Us artists are all alike...dirty little wankers....cheers! ;)

Roquefort~ Thanks man! Actually, if I had my dream project at Dark Horse (Aside from a creator owned thing) it would DEFINITELY be John Carter: Warlord of Mars. I know they have done some in the past. I grew up with those books. Man, that brings back some memories...Thanks mate! And yesah, the feathers were sorta my own touch, dont recall it, but I guess I imagine she's been taken captive by Venusians and made to look like a pretty feathery slave-girl...rrRRoowr! Forgot the chains!

Justin D~ Hey JD! Great to hear from ya! Glad to see ya stoppin in! "Liefelding out"!! GAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!! NO NOT THAT!!! LOL! Hey, didnt you interview him recently? Yeah, I cant excuse myself...I've been doodling this stuff in an 8 1/2 by 11 inch sketchbook...I love to draw BIG and since these were just for fun I sorta been skrimpin on the ol pediatrics, filling the page from edge to edge with no room at the bottom for leg-ish things. My bad! Im gonna start drawing full figures more often. And I'll try to vary up the content a little more too, I've sorta been milking the fantasy beast stuff quite heavily, good to be challenged to explore more vistas. And that's neat to see other people interested in John Carter...maybe I should draw up a pitch for that....hmnnnnn...Thanks a ton, amigo! And thanks for spreading the word! Hope ta see ya around... :)

Doug Strange~ Hi Doug! Thanks for poppin by! It sure is neat to see some of the other community people stoppin in for a visit. :) I hear ya...I think you and JD are right, I need to mix it up a little. Superheroes, sci-fi, famous chefs...a nice mix. Thanks for challenging me to push the envelope. Never let it be said that mama Blaine's bouncin' brown eyed baby boy ran from a dare.

Lessee here...superhero...sci-fi...feet....OK here's what I got (man, Im rusty on my superhero stuff!)...but just fer fun...

Level 5 Trevor...
http://img78.exs.cx/img78/7155/L5Trevor.jpg

Wait til he reaches level 7!

Thanks everyone!!!~~~JadeDragon

[Roquefort Raider]

Hey, that guy is like the Ultimate Roquefort or something!

Cyclopses rule!!!

[Justin D.]

Hi again!

Justin D~ Hey JD! Great to hear from ya! Glad to see ya stoppin in! "Liefelding out"!! GAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!! NO NOT THAT!!! LOL! Hey, didnt you interview him recently?

That was SimpleJD or whatever he changed his name too. He's not posting here anymore and at least that'll be one less person for people to confuse me with. Believe me, I'd rather be confused for the guy with amazing artistic ability than the smarmy, pretentious guy who attends pornography conventions.

Level 5 Trevor...
http://img78.exs.cx/img78/7155/L5Trevor.jpg

Holy crap, that's what I'm talking about. The kid (is that a kid?) is a little exposed to whatever might attack him IF they could get past that damn big buzzsaw. I'd think there'd be some protective bubble around him, but he probably doesn't need it. Love that some of the wires fall right in place where veins would go, the cyclops' screaming pose, and the kid's smirk. More science fiction stuff! How about an Adam Strange type adventurer?

Seriously, all this stuff better go in your portfolio and you better hit the convention trail again. I want to say I know more comic book pros.

[howyadoin]

Seriously, all this stuff better go in your portfolio and you better hit the convention trail again. I want to say I know more comic book pros.You can already say that; Jade's been published by Dark Horse and Top Cow, among others.

[B. Herren]

JadeDragon: AMAZING WORK!! It's mind-boggling to me that you are cranking this stuff out so fast! I tend to doddle on a piece for days. Great, strong details in every picture. Thanks for sharing it all.

I do have a request though. I've used Photoshop for awhile and do pretty straight forward work in it but really admire the more painterly styles I see pro colorists use. You seem to be capturing a great watercolor effect and doing so quickly. Can you do a brief description of how you approach coloring your artworks? Just quick notes would be great. How do you work up those backgrounds so fast? Is it an effect? Do you flat the characters first before adding light and dark details? I don't want to take up too much of your time as you obviously need the sleep :) but am just curious how you get such great looking work so rapidly!

Thanks.

[JadeDragon]

Long time no see! :D

Roquefort~ Heh thanks! Hey, are ALL Roqueforts cyclopean in nature? What's the story of your cool avatar, I dont think you have ever explained that to me!

Justin Davis~ Whoops! Sorry for the identity mix-up! SimplyJD used to always call me "Other JD" all the time too. Ha ha! So many of us here! Thanks for the nice words regarding Level 5 Trevor. Heh, I like your assesment of his design needing protection for the boy, yet I think it's funnier that he is out there where he could get smooshed, unless he hits those right button combos! And I'll definitely sprinkle in more sci-fi and superhero stuff in the future. The main reason I am doing these is to practice creature design for potential work in Video game/movie creature development. And for fun, of course! But comics will always be my foist love. Domo Arigoto!

Howya~ Thanks dude...could I hire you to do my PR? :)

B. Herren~ Hi! Nice to meet you and thanks for the nice comments. :) Regarding photoshopping these scribbles, I gave a real breif description a few nights ago but here's a little more info on the painting. For me I like to start with a base color, these days Im using yellow because it's light enough to see the art through without it clouding too many details. I paintbucket a new layer with that color, on multiply mode, then adjust the opacity until I like the base color. For the next layer, I click the color and adjust it a little darker. Using multiply mode again, I start adding darker shades of the base color one layer at a time, usually with a pretty low flow brush like 3 to 5 percent. I probably do five or six levels of darker and darker versions of the base color (Until in this instance I am almost getting to a brownish yellow). I throw some darker tones into the BG to vary it up a little. Then it's time for highlights. On another layer on Normal mode, I use about a 4 percent flow of white, hitting the peak points of the forms. I usually duplicate that layer because it just brings out the highlights more. Next is the texture file. Just find any image of a texture ya like on the internet or take your own photographs. Apple + "V" is the drag tool, with it I drag the texture layer over to the artwork and put it on a new layer above all the others. Apple + "T" is Transform, which creates a bounding box around that layer...I grab the edge and expand the layer to cover the whole image, then place that level on "Overlay" mode. You can adjust the opacity of it at that point to your taste and add a mask to mask off the areas you dont want textured. I often will double this layer to exaggerate the effect in places. I've been using a metallic rust texture, because it looks kinda like watercolor splotches when mixed with colors. After that I add a curve layer to contrast the image up a lot...for some reason the artwork I do looks a lot darker on my monitor than when it is put up on the web somewhere, so I have to make it extra dark. Need a new monitor! And wacom tablet! Mine sucks!

Anyways, hope that explains my process a little better. For full color pieces, I do the same exact thing but simply add a color layer over the tone work. I use gradient maps to do mine but there are a few ways you can do this. Next I need to practice painting over the top of the image on Normal mode, which looks a lot more like real painting and not just comic colors underneath the linework.

Anyways, sorry for rambling. Here is tonights sketch. I promised a MumRaa the other day, and here he is. Playing with tonal pencil work for the first time in a while. I need more practice, Im real rusty at it. But it was a lot of fun. I might add colors to this guy this weekend...

MumRaa...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/MumRaa.jpg

Have a great weekend everybody!!~~~JadeDragon :)

[Justin D.]

You can already say that; Jade's been published by Dark Horse and Top Cow, among others.

Oh, yeah, I know. Just want to see him back at it is all.

[JadeDragon]

You and me both, Justin. Thanks mate. :)

Here's todays colored version of last night's sketch...

MumRaa Colored...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/MumRaaColor.jpg

Seeya tomorrow friends!~~~JadeDragon

[ScottDMSimmons]

Jade,

You are UBER talanted! I discovered this thread only yesterday and I am spellbound with your energy and the amount of detail in your sketches. I think Dejah is my favorite so far. I enjoy the sepia images as much as the full-color images. Keep up the great work!

--Scott

[antonio7512]

Jade,Beautiful way to use shadows I always get happy when I see work like that!!
congrats!!

[JadeDragon]

Hey there!

ScottDMSimmons~ Hi Scott! Nice to meet ya. :) Thanks so much for the compliments! Youre too kind! And BTW, I really enjoyed looking through your website. Nice pencils, man! My fave is the Koriand'r playing frisbee colored piece. Rowr! Good luck with AngelWolf studios! Keep us posted on how that is going, OK? Cheers!

antonio7512~ Hey, nice to meet you as well, Antonio! I appreciate the positive feedback, muchacho! Hope to seeya around... :)

Here is a black and white line drawing I did for a friend. He wanted to paint over it, so I'll post a link to what he does with it when he is finished.

Davi...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/Davi.jpg

Thanks you guys! Seeya tomorrow!~~~JadeDragon

[howyadoin]

Here is a black and white line drawing I did for a friend. He wanted to paint over it, so I'll post a link to what he does with it when he is finished.

Davi...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/Davi.jpgOkay, that is cool. Love all the detail in it, especially the little guy on his right shoulder.

Speaking of which, I have a question for you: when you're designing these beasties, do you spend much time figuring out the specific purposes for some of the mechanical pieces? Or figuring out how the specific anatomy works?

[Roquefort Raider]

Oh, oh, what a peculiar vision that was! No more rarebit before bed for me, I say, I have learned my lesson!



...


Nice volumes and details on this dynamic duo! (A comment that could apply to your Dejah Thoris as well, I guess). I like the vaccum-tube thingies that are stuck in the big guy's body... makes one wonder what their function is! (Which kind of brings us back to howy's question regarding the functionality of all these bionic grafts).

[A D]

Great work as usual I especially liked your last 3.

[antonio7512]

Jade amigo nice to meet you too..You have impressed me a lot with your body of work....I really wish you the best and I will drop oftenly to see your drawing work...good indeed!!...
Hasta el rato :) ...JESUS ANTONIO

[JadeDragon]

Hey again!

Okay, that is cool. Love all the detail in it, especially the little guy on his right shoulder.

Speaking of which, I have a question for you: when you're designing these beasties, do you spend much time figuring out the specific purposes for some of the mechanical pieces? Or figuring out how the specific anatomy works?

Howya~ Thanks man! And a lot of those details just sorta evolve as I am cleaning up the layout, and thinking about the details and the functionality of the things a creature is wearing. A lot of times, a story will sorta start forming in my head about the background of a creature I am designing. I like to throw in some strange accessories sometimes and just let the viewers mind decide what it's all for. Thanks for asking!

Roquefort~ RARE BIT FIENDS! I have often wondered what that meant, since Rick Veitch's cool dream comic. Do you know the origin of that term? And thanks for the comments. Actually for that particular guy, after I started adding stuff all over him, I sorta decided he was some sort of alien blind paparazzi (Seeing eye monkey and flashbulbs all over him!) Heh!

A D~ Thanks pal! Appreciate that!

antonio7512~ Thanks, Jesus! I appreciate you stopping by. I look forward to seeing ya around the forums! And thanks for the well wishes, same back to ya! :)

Here is tonight's scribbles...

Slythe...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/Slythe.jpg

Seeya tomorrow!~~~JadeDragon

[Roquefort Raider]

RARE BIT FIENDS! I have often wondered what that meant, since Rick Veitch's cool dream comic. Do you know the origin of that term?

Welsh rarebit is a dish consisting of (let's google up a recipe...)

* 2 to 4 slices of bread
* 1½ cups of grated cheddar cheese
* 2 tablespoons of milk or beer
* 30 grams / 1 oz of butter
* 1 teaspoon of mustard
* Pepper

It's not cooked for too long (hence the "rare") and it just a bit of a snack.

I don't know why artist Windsor McCay (of Nemo's fame) thought that eating rarebit before bed would cause nightmares, but the concept provided him with many hilarious ideas for his famous "dreams of the rarebit fiends" comic strip!

Today's creature would be enough for me to foreswear rarebit forever!!! Nice work! (Any chance of us seeing a Jade Dragon Tars Tarkas one day?)


Cheers and thanks for the continuing delight of seeing your artwork!


- Ben

[TDX]

Jade,

these are outstanding pictures. i could see a Thundercats graphic novel, someting a little darker and brutal than what was tried late last year earlier this year. Mumraa realy looked scary insteard of like a joke. since you're old school have you thought about He-Man. I think Skeletor is calling...Tela...or maybe the big guy himself. Again thanks for sharing.-TDX

[howyadoin]

a lot of those details just sorta evolve as I am cleaning up the layout, and thinking about the details and the functionality of the things a creature is wearing. A lot of times, a story will sorta start forming in my head about the background of a creature I am designing. I like to throw in some strange accessories sometimes and just let the viewers mind decide what it's all for. Thanks for asking!It's something I've always been curious about, because I've loved cyborg-type stuff since I read the first Deathlok comics when I was a kid. Seeing the blunt, obvious interface between the biological and the mechanical is really cool, like all the external hoses and stuff. But when you think about it from a logical standpoint, the mechanical bits would constantly be getting hooked in things, caught in doors, etc.

It's like watching those shows with the battling robots - from a defensive point of view, the ultimate configuration would be a sphere with some sort of internal gyroscope system for movement. Any external stuff would be a real hindrance in a combat situation.

But I digress. Love the piranha head on the new pic.

[Roquefort Raider]

...But when you think about it from a logical standpoint, the mechanical bits would constantly be getting hooked in things, caught in doors, etc.

A bit like Dejah Thoris' skirt, basically.

But I ain't complaining!

[howyadoin]

Can it be? Is JD finally getting some sleep?

[JadeDragon]

Sleep? Heh, yeah a little bit of that combined with a hellish deadline the last few days at the ad agancy. I had to finish up these ads for a game called Half Life 2 and that meant real late nights at the office. Ergh! I tried to draw last night but I kept falling asleep at the easel. SO I opted for sleep. Sweet sweet sleep.

But now the weekend is upon us and I look forward to having some arty fun. I scanned in some older comic book pages I'll post here and there when I need a day off. But first...

Roquefort~ Thanks man! I never heard of that rarebit dish before. Fascinating! And you can bet your sweet bippy a Tars Tarkas will be coming to a sketchthread near you soon. :) I love those ERB characters!

TDX~ Appreciate the comments, compadre! Thanks! And yeah, I would love to do an updated version of the T-Cats in a graphic novel format. Hmnnn. Maybe someday! :) Until then Im gonna focus on learning to paint. I got a copy of Corel Painter 8 yesterday, so maybe soon I will scratch out some colored Masters of the Universe. Thanks for the suggestion! That would be a ton of fun too!

howya~ Yeah. I agree, all those tubes and wires would sure get in the way, especially for daily hygeine. Im glad all our tubes and wires are kept neatly on the INSIDE. Usually. :) Thanks for the thumbs up on the pirahna type head on old Slythe.

And yeah, RR...that long skirty thingy on Dejah would always be getting caught in the vaccuum. But that sure would make watching her do housework fun!

Anyhoo...here are some comic pages. These are form a sample set I did while at Top Cow. I made up a story for Aphrodite IX that I was fiddlin with...

Aphrodite IX...
Page 1...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/PatsAIX1.jpg

Page 2...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/PatsAIX2.jpg

Page 3...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/PatsAIX3.jpg

Seeya tomorrow!~~~JadeDragon

[A D]

I envy your dynamic shadows =)

[JadeDragon]

I envy your dynamic shadows =)

Thanks AD!

I appreciate the compliment. :)

Well, here is another T-Cat tweak.

MumRaa (Skinny Version)...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/MumRaa2.jpg

Seeya later~~~JadeDragon

[Papergirl]

Mmmmm... Pretty, pretty Dragon Pictures....

*blissfully drools while staring at her monitor*

Keep 'em coming, Patrick! I may not comment often, but I do check this thread every single day!

:D

[DarkBlade]

Woah.


Are you going to do Cheetara?

*hopes.*

~DarkBlade
Subtle!

[tricksterpup]

ooo nice Mumbraa


Why weren't you drawing Thundercats.. ;)

[tricksterpup]

Jade,
Here is a silly request, Can we see some stuff that isn't fantasy based? How about just normal people in normal clothes.. I would love to some of that type of stuff. :)

[TurboBassist]

Keep 'em coming, Patrick! I may not comment often, but I do check this thread every single day!
:D

How could you resist :D?

[Papergirl]

How could you resist :D?
The ONLY way I could resist is if I was nowhere near a computer with 'net access!

:D

[TurboBassist]

Psssh...Dells are ok...but I'm making one from just parts from newegg.com Anyways, back on topic. I'd probably just start guessing at what he'd do next...Cerberus!

[Roquefort Raider]

Jade,
Here is a silly request, Can we see some stuff that isn't fantasy based? How about just normal people in normal clothes.. I would love to some of that type of stuff. :)


Clothes, clothes... people are obsessed with clothes!

Ha! Just kidding. I think Trick's idea is pretty good. I'd love to see Jade Dragon's version of, say, Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman.



Pretty good mummified cat this time around, JD!


- Ben

[JadeDragon]

Hi again!

Been swamped with work. Gah! Want to setch more! :)

Papergirl~ Awww, thanks Peeg! Makes me feel good to know you are checking up on me. Sorry I been late on the updates! Hope that new job is treating ya well! :)

DarkBlade~ Hmmmm, why do I suddenly feel compelled to draw a certain female Thundercat? HMMMMMMMMM!!! What subtle trickery is this?? Rassum frassum Jedi Mind tricks...always work on us weak minded...

tricksterpup~ Hey! Nice to meetchya! Normal folk, eh? Hmmm, well maybe, but can I at least give em horns or something? LOL! Thanks fer the nice words, I might have some comic pages lying around with normal humans on em...grrrr...humans...

TurboBassist~ Hmmmm, Cerberus, eh....? Three headed hounds of heck! Why didnt I think of that!?! LOL... ;) Thanks fer stoppin by!

Roquefort~ As long as I can give Humphrey some gills and talons...maybe some wings on ol Ingrid...LOL! Have to keep em interesting! Thanks fer the nice words as always, pal!

Shout out to ma home goil DarkBlade! Here ya is...

Cheetara...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/Cheetara2.jpg

Well, my tweaked version of her anyways. ;)

Seeya cats around! Mrow!~~~JadeDragon

[John Aston]

You should've swerved the crowd and drawn six boobs to make her more cat like. :D

[A D]

"exxxxxcellent"

now if I just had a picture of Mr. Burns.

[Anim8r13]

Cheetara...
Well, my tweaked version of her anyways. ;)


Ok, I'm in love. Is she single? Of course I would have to stock up on bandaids and Iodine for those times she decided to give me a back massage. :D and the salon bills would be through the roof. On second thought. . . .

Great job as always Jade! Your thread is one of the highlights of my day.
Take care!
-Wes

[fitzroy]

JD, the MuumRaa is stunning

[Roquefort Raider]

You should've swerved the crowd and drawn six boobs to make her more cat like. :D


Harh!!!

But if she starts cleaning her butt the way cats do, the censors will fall on her like a ton of bricks.

[howyadoin]

You should've swerved the crowd and drawn six boobs to make her more cat like.Y'know, I can't think of a single argument against 6 boobs vs. 2.

[Roquefort Raider]

Y'know, I can't think of a single argument against 6 boobs vs. 2.

Neither can Peter:


http://www.angelfire.com/myband/skacorps/chris/sman2/manspider.jpg

[TurboBassist]

Wow....Cheetara's hair looks so feline-like! Just something about it that gives it a certain cat-like quality. Once again, an astonishing sketch by Jade Dragon :D.

[JadeDragon]

Hi again!

Been a while! Woof! Ive been real busy at work. And today I found out I have to work the weekend. GRRAAAAGH! Oh well, so I stayed up tonigth fiddling with my new Intuos 3 wacom. I will sleep when I am dead I suppose. :)

But first...

Johnny~...HAHA! Yeah, I shoulda done her multi-boobed! Why didnt I think of that???

AD~ Hmmmm...Mr Burns, eh? (Writes note to self....)

Anim8r13~ Aw, thanks. Wes! Glad ya like the ol sketchthread, sorry I been MIA a little lately, hopefully just a temporary situation. Stupid job. And better stock up on them bandaids. If you marry Cheetara you know what you might say on yer wedding night? "Me-OOOOWWWWWW!!!" Gyad Im sleep deprived...

Fitzroy~ Glad ya liked ol Mumraa! I painted up the larger MumRaa tonight a little further....cheers!

Roquefort~ EW! :eek: :D HA HA HAAAA!

Howya~ I can think of one argument regarding 6 boobs v 2. ---Math: Six boobs, only two hands. OK, this might lead to someplace graphic if you start giving me suggestions on how to fix that math.... wooo.... :o

TurboBassist~ Thanks muchacho!

Here is what I did tonight. Just reworking that first colored MumRaa sketch. Trying to find a way to finish these as paintings. My scanner is not responding, so I might have to paint up old drawings for a while till I can get it working again...

MumRaa painted...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/Mumra2.jpg

This is a little dark, but its a start I think...

Cheers all! Have a great weekend! While I work! AAAARGH!~~~JadeDragon

[Papergirl]

*sigh* Someday I will be able to pay you to do a drawing for me!







[Edited because my head is foggy from the wonnerful muscle relaxer pill and I got my words mixed up!]

[antonio7512]

Beautiful !!! Jade is just beautiful!!!...JESUS ANTONIO

[JadeDragon]

Hey hey!

Papergirl~ Pay? Awww....*feels bad for not sending her a sketch*...Im a bad dragon! I'll give you a drawing sometime, I promise. Do you think you will ever make it to the San Diego ComicCon? That would be cool! I need to make a point of visiting more peeps from here next summer. I missed too many of the cool ones!

Antonio 7512~ Awwww! Thanks pal! Yer beautiful too! :)

Well, since I still cant get my scanner working it seems the scanner gods are telling me to put down the pencil and focus on painting right in photoshop for now. Im glad I did this today, with this piece I feel like I am finally starting to turn that corner with painting in PS. I still have a long way to go to get where I want to be as a painter, but Im starting to have fun on the journey!

Viking Prince...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/VikingPrince.jpg

Thanks everyone!~~~JadeDragon

[Papergirl]

Sweetie, I would gladly pay for a sketch from you! It'll just mean waiting until I get a few more paychecks in! :)

[A D]

Very nice was that photoshop or hand painted?

[antonio7512]

Awwww! Thanks pal! Yer beautiful too!

HAHAHA that is what my Mom and the ladies say to me..!!! .:)

hey Jade why not to get to the next step , I mean I see you like thundercats why not a sequential using them...Have a great day!!..JESUS ANTONIO

[howyadoin]

Well, since I still cant get my scanner working it seems the scanner gods are telling me to put down the pencil and focus on painting right in photoshop for now. Im glad I did this today, with this piece I feel like I am finally starting to turn that corner with painting in PS. I still have a long way to go to get where I want to be as a painter, but Im starting to have fun on the journey!

Viking Prince...
Nice job, my friend. You seem to have a pretty good handle on using the Wacom, that's for sure.

EDIT: I think the axe blade could use a little work, though. I don't get the impression of metal when I look at it.

[DarkBlade]

Holy shit. O_O

*saves*

Very cool Patrick. ^_^

[JadeDragon]

Hey!

Papergirl~ Awww...you are such a sweetie! Glad to hear yer job is going well! Paychecks rule! :)

AD~ Thanks man! Thats Photoshop. Still getting used to it. Actually getting used to color in general, Ive always been a pencil only guy.

Antonio~ Hey man! Thanks for the suggestion, I wish I had time to do full sequential pages after work, but lately I only have time for the odd character drawing or so. Maybe someday I'll get to do some more sequentials. Hope so!

Howya~ I appreciate the comments, Howy! And you are right, that ax handle is pretty weak. Its supposed to be wood, but it didnt come across too good. Wish I had time to go in and really finish these things off. For now I am just getting used to the process of painting, maybe soon I will do a finished piece. Cheers!

DarkBlade~ Heh! Glad ya liked him! :D

Here is what I worked on today. Still getting mixed results, but Im feeling more and more comfortable using the Photoshop tools for painting.

Minotaur...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/Minatour.jpg

Have a nice week gang!~~~JadeDragon

[Roquefort Raider]

Holy Frazetta, Batman!

That's amazing work, Patrick. You can really highlight volumes on these figures, whether it be in b&w or in color. In the case of the most recent minotaur, I particularly like the way light plays off the teeth and the feathers of the creature: it gives them a photorealistic quality.

Touches such as fingerbone necklaces are also pretty neat, as is the fact a rutting minotaur is carrying a big phallic symbol around.

"Minotaur smash puny Sigmund!!!" :D


Impressive work, my friend! Huzzah!!!


- Ben

[A D]

Damn gimme a quick run down on how you make it look like that in photoshop I am seriously strugglying on it.

[tricksterpup]

Jade,
Again Great stuff, love the Viking and Minotaur, but where are my regular clothed people? *nudge* *nudge* ;)

[Roquefort Raider]

Jade,
Again Great stuff, love the Viking and Minotaur, but where are my regular clothed people? *nudge* *nudge* ;)

Here,Jade Dragon, let me help a bit!

One plain clothes figure, coming right up!


:D

[tricksterpup]

Here,Jade Dragon, let me help a bit!

One plain clothes figure, coming right up!


:D
Cute.. very cute.. :D

[howyadoin]

For now I am just getting used to the process of painting, maybe soon I will do a finished piece.

Minotaur...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/Minatour.jpgEvidently you're getting used to it pretty damn fast. That one's a pretty big step past the previous one.

[Justin D.]

JD, you scare me with your talentnessosity. Hey, if I can make up a word like liefelding then I can make up a word like talentnessosity. I can also still tease you for liefelding, especially since you're kicking so much ass. I wasn't quite as enthused about the Cheetara drawing as I was about others because it made her a hunter who wore a cheetah's skin instead of a character who is part cheetah.... I can't believe I just disected the merits of Cheetara.

I know a request. Do some characters smiling. I'd like to see a sly, mischievious smile, maybe even a grimace and a truly, "I'm happy" smile without making it look goofy. You've only had a few so far. I'm beginning to think the characters eat too much fiber and are a bit constipated.

Oh, and more science fiction stuff! Where's Adam Strange? There has to be an Adam Strange. Hell, just think of all the freaky deaky things he's fought over the years.

I never realised Minotaurs were without nipples. Learn something new every day. Then again, I wouldn't say anything to him because he'd crush my head with the big hammer thing. He is the scary.

[JadeDragon]

Hey everyone!

Im still in the middle of Hell deadline week here at work, so I havent had much time to do any drawing at home. Ive started some new photoshop stuff, but want to wait to post it till it's a little more finished. Dang I hate deadlines. Grrrgh!

Roquefort~ Ha haaaa! Awesome tweak on the minotaur! That cracked me up! I like your version so much better! Especially since it has been raining like crazy here in LA the last couple days. Thanks for that!

A D~ Welp, it's a long process, I'll try to go into my photoshop techniques sometime down the road...when Ive figured them out myself! HAHA! But seriously, its mostly just laying down layer upon layer of graduating tones of color. I masked the figure out when I was done to see what it looked like against different backdrops (I was tired and didnt have time to paint a true BG). This made it look too disconnected to the BG, so I wasnt real pleased with that...next time I'll try something different. I'll go more into the exact process sometime soon. :) Thanks fer asking!

Tricksterpup~ Heh, thanks man. If Roquefort's plain clothed version of the minotaur wasnt enuf, I have something for ya tonight. Cool? I found something from my portfolio that fits the bill a little.

Howya~ Thanks, Bro! I feel like I am starting to sorta get the hang of it. Its just so time consuming all this color stuff! How do you find the time??

Justin Davis~ Nippleless talentnessosity? Heh! Well thanks fer the comments, JD...you are right, Cheetara kinda sucked. I wasnt real happy with her afterwards. The big hands were all wrong. She shoulda been sleek and sexy and fast looking. Whoops! I was still in monster mode I think. Oh well, better luck next time. And I'll try to do some smiling folks soon. I know I dont do much of that either. Its all that artisty innerangst! Gyah! Welp, hope tonights normal guys can tide ya over fer a bit---I tried to find something different from everything I had been posting.

So anyways, here are some normal people. Actually far from normal, these are REAL Heroes in my eyes. I did this piece at the request of an inker friend of mine for inclusion in Dark Horse's 9-11 Benefit book a couple years ago. The editor approved it, but unfortunately my friend couldnt finish the inks in time to make the deadline. At least it was a very cathartic piece for me to do, as I had been very depressed after 9-11 and hadnt drawn in like a month. I was very inspired by the story of this man, Father Judge...who had been a firehouse pastor that rushed to the site to help. He was killed while giving last rights to firemen on the site. This drawing is based off a famous photograph depicting the men that carried his body from the rubble...

With Great Respect...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/Pats9-11.jpg

Looking at this and remembering that day and these stories still brings a tear to my eyes...

~~~JadeDragon

[howyadoin]

Howya~ Thanks, Bro! I feel like I am starting to sorta get the hang of it. Its just so time consuming all this color stuff! How do you find the time??It's hard sometimes. Most of the stuff I do on the job is pure nuts and bolts. No creativity involved at all, really. If I get a stretch where there's a lot of work, it's f*cking hard to switch back to creative mode. Which is why I did nothing at all artwise for about 3 months last winter.

One more reason I'm glad there are so many good art threads on this board lately - it really gives me a push, y'know?

So anyways, here are some normal people. Actually far from normal, these are REAL Heroes in my eyes. I did this piece at the request of an inker friend of mine for inclusion in Dark Horse's 9-11 Benefit book a couple years ago. The editor approved it, but unfortunately my friend couldnt finish the inks in time to make the deadline.I think they shoulda run the pencils without the inks. It's a damn fine piece.

[Papergirl]

I'm seconding Howy. They shoulda run it without the inks! :)

Wonderful piece, hon. As usual!

[Roquefort Raider]

That is magnificent, sir. It has a Tim Bradstreet realistic feel to it, and makes me hope DC would hire you to draw Hellblazer. I haven't seen the inked result, but these pencils are suitable for framing!

Here's to the end of the deadline days, so that you can get a few winks...


Cheers!

- Ben

[JadeDragon]

Hey gang!

Thanks Howya, Peeg and Roquefort! I appreciate your nice comments about that 9-11 piece. It was a very healing piece for me at the time, to remember the heroism that surges through the good portion of humanity in the worst of times.

Well, still going thru hell week at work but decided to stay up all night tonight to practice some more paints. Im gonna be hating life in a couple hours when I need to get out of bed for work. Gyah! Oh well...suffer for yer art and all that...

Here's a different approach to painting, not as finished as the minotaur, but I am just experimenting with different techniques. Thanks all!~~~


Grenlok...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/Grenlok.jpg

Seeya later! I have to work the weekend again, but hopefully can pop in with some new scribbles or to say "Hi". :)

Ta ta!~~~JadeDragon

[tricksterpup]

Jade,
Thank you for my request for "Normal" People. In the land of fantasy art and comics were hardly ever see these types of drawings on a regular basis.
When was the last time you or another artist had a request to draw a fireman or someone sitting across the way from you?
I really enjoy fantasy art, but I like to gauge someone's skills through mundane things, and you are very talented at what you do. I thank you for posting your art here, it is an enjoyment to see a new piece here every other day or every day.

Now if you want to try a real hard request, how about a woman just sitting in a chair reading a book in pencil. ;) Enough of lolly gaggin get back to work. :D

[A D]

I'll go more into the exact process sometime soon.

Hopefully real soon!

[JadeDragon]

Hey all!

Tricksterpup~ Thanks for the nice comments! And if you look really close in the top window of the top tower of today's painting, you will find a very small woman reading a book. I aim to please! :)

A D~ Soon, my friend, soon. Im having too much fun screwing around with my new computer toys! Im loving experimenting with this Photoshop stuff. Thats the key, just try out all the buttons and doohickeys and see what happens! :)

Here's an example of a technique I have been using at work lately to design environmental concept pieces. This is the first time I have done one for fun at home (I cant show any of my work stuff because of Non-Disclosure Agreements...Ive been working on art for advertising Pariah, Half Life 2, KillZone, and Medal Of Honor: Dogs of War).

Anyways, I had a blast staying up all night doing this. Now it's 8:30 Am and I better get a little sleep.

A Wizard's Wrath~
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/JadeDragon%20Conceptual%20Design/AWizardsWrath2_Blaine.jpg

Hope yer having a great weekend!~~~JadeDragon

[Roquefort Raider]

b R E A T H T A K I N G !!!

[Papergirl]

WHOA!

That is GORGEOUS, hon! Words absolutely fail me!

*steals to use as desktop wallpaper!* :p :D

[howyadoin]

Here's an example of a technique I have been using at work lately to design environmental concept pieces.What software are you using for that?

[JadeDragon]

Hey there!

My two weeks of deadline hell at work are almost up, I've been pretty scarce around here during that time. But after the weekend Im gonna try to get my scanner working again and get back to regular sketching and posting.

Bev and Ben~~~ Thanks you guys!

Howya~ That last Wizard piece was all in photoshop. Its a technique Matte Painters and some conceptual design guys use for movie stuff. Consists of some photo manipulation with painting over the top. I wouldnt use this sort of thing to showcase as a "finished painting" but this technique is good for dealing with movie design work and we use it a lot where I work. Took me a long time to become comfortable with this sort of stuff because the natural tendancy is to see it as cheating. But the bottom line is just using any means possible to convey a vision with as much information to a director in the fastest way you can.

Well anyways...since I have been dry on postings for a bit I thought Id throw out some more comic pages. Just so you guys didnt think I had disappeared. These are some Marvel pages I did a while back. They are older than the Aphrodite pages, so Im not quite as enthused about em. Theres a lot of anatomy problems, and a ton of things I would draw differently now (there's a lot more "cartooniness" in the faces than what I would do now), but the Hulk's always been one of my all time fave characters and I hope you guys dont mind the older stuff. (Theres a flashback on page two that doesnt make much sense unless you read the dialogue, in case you are wondering what happened to the storytelling there)

Hulk (Page 1)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/PatsHulk1.jpg

Hulk (Page 2)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/PatsHulk2.jpg

Hulk (Page 3)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/PatsHulk3.jpg

Im headed off to Vegas for Halloween to a surprise party for my brother in law's 50th B-day this weekend. So if I dont talk to you guys until after, have a great Halloween!

Take care!~~~JadeDragon

[tricksterpup]

OOOh.. this is very nice, love the art..

Only comment I would have for this is that there is very little room for any word or thought balloons. But other than that, it is very nice.

[A D]

I like the Hulk pics but you have definately gotten better since them.

[TurboBassist]

I'm still amazed by your work. But what I think would be really cool, is a tutorial :evilsmile. I really like your artistic style.

[howyadoin]

Please, sir? May we have some more?

[JadeDragon]

howyadoin: Please, sir? May we have some more?

I've been pretty scarce lately...thanks fer hanging in there, guys! Nice of you to check back on me...

Tricksterpup~ Thanks fer the crit! Yeah, I need to leave more negative space usually.

A_D~ Thanks for the nice comment! Yer too kind!

Turbobassist~ Thanks, Im still planning a tutorial, just need to get the scanner working. Appreciate the encouragement!

Howya~ Sure thing, pal!

I appreciate the feedback, fellows. :)

Welp, I tried yet again tonight to get my scanner up and working. For some reason it just doesnt want to cooperate. I completely uninstalled it and re-installed, but still nothing. GRR! Im just gonna buy a new one this weekend.

I have a bunch of new sketchbook scribbles waiting for scanning, but I'll have to wait on that till after I get a new scanner. Meanwhile I have a couple leftover pages from my days at Top Cow I can unload if ya dont mind.

These are the first pages they asked me to do when I got in the studio...they are from the script to "Overkill"...the Darkness, Witchblade, Predator, Alien x-over book they did earlier. Lots of problems in these early pages (especially the faces...ergh!), but I was so glad to be in California at the time I have fond memories of the time period I did these...

Overkill (Pg #1)...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/PatsOverkill1.jpg

Overkill (Pg #2)...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/PatsOverkill2.jpg

Thanks for all your support guys, it means a lot to me...

Cheers!~~~JadeDragon (New sketches coming soon!)

[howyadoin]

Welp, I tried yet again tonight to get my scanner up and working. For some reason it just doesnt want to cooperate. I completely uninstalled it and re-installed, but still nothing. GRR! Im just gonna buy a new one this weekend.What kinda scanner are you using?

And what operating system? OSX?

[JadeDragon]

What kinda scanner are you using?

And what operating system? OSX?

Its the cheapest one I could find I think. Epson "Perfection 1260".

Operating with OSX 10.3.5 on a Mac G-4. I cant figure out how half this crap works.

Heh!~~~Patrick
:confused:

[Rob H]

Holy crap man...you're art just blows me away. I love it. Keep up the good work.

[howyadoin]

Its the cheapest one I could find I think. Epson "Perfection 1260".

Operating with OSX 10.3.5 on a Mac G-4. I cant figure out how half this crap works.I've got the 1250, same operating system and platform.

This might sound like an obvious question, but have you tried powering the scanner up and then rebooting the computer?

It might also be your USB connection.

[TurboBassist]

Not to offend anybody, but I just can't stand Mac's. Sorry I can't be of assistance though.

[howyadoin]

Not to offend anybody, but I just can't stand Mac's.Why is that?

[kong]

ive got a mac and the same scanner man... i go back to OS 9 for scanning... for some reason the update i got for os X from epson was complete crap... didnt work nearly as good as in os 9.

[howyadoin]

ive got a mac and the same scanner man... i go back to OS 9 for scanning... for some reason the update i got for os X from epson was complete crap... didnt work nearly as good as in os 9.Mine works fine for scanning.

The downside is, I can't print.

[JadeDragon]

Man, Ive been neglecting my sketchthread duties!

Ive got a million excuses, but none that matter. I need to get crackin!

Dr Flem~ Thanks for the nice words, good Dr!

Howyadoin, TurboBassist and Kong~ Thanks for the advice and assistance with the scanner deally. I still cant get it to work, even after completely deleting all scanner stuff and reinstalling. My Mac opens up OS9 as well when I try to use scanner stuff, so I think I'll try going to the Epson website and download the new updates. Hopefully that will work and I can get back to posting new stuff more regularly.

It's wierd how we all have the same or similar scanner! Heh!

Well, I dont know if anyboy here is a SpongeBob fan, but since the movie opened yesterday my boss at work said I could now show people some of the advertising art I made for it.

Here ya go...I have hundreds more, so maybe I'll post a couple more things when I can locate some of the better stuff. In the beginning (A year and a half ago when we started this project)...they had me painting SpongeBob all realistic looking. I thought it was cool, but didnt reflect the actual look of the movie. I'll see if I can find some of those.

Walking Through the Valley, we MEN! (Calendar art)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/JadeDragon%20Conceptual%20Design/SB_Calender.jpg

Coloring Book (ComicBook Style) Pgs 1-2
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/SBcomic1-2.jpg

Coloring Book Pgs 3-4
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/SBcomic3-4.jpg

Hope yer all doing well!

Have a great Turkey day!~~~JadeDragon

[Solaris]

Have you ever seen Reboot? Would you have an interest in doing the adult "Andrea" character? (Third season, I think.) They not only made her sexy, they gave her a sexy voice, too. Sigh. She was the one that started out as a game sprite whom Enzo rescued, then went with him when he got trapped in a game---he grew up to be Matrix, and she grew up to be a major hottie. Yum.


I am continually impressed by your artwork. And awed. Wow.

PS---thanks for the avatar compliments!

Check your PM's, hon. :)

[JadeDragon]

Thanks Chris!

Yeah, I used to LOVE "REBOOT"! It came on before DragonBall Z back when I was taping that. I thought the writing was excellent...always loved those song parodies they did. I'll have to get some ref for Andrea, but I might be able to whip up a sketch of her in the ol sketchbookeroonie. :)

Speaking of which, I FINALLY got my scanner working again! I downloaded the updated driver from the Epson website, now it works like a charm!

So.....TIME TO GIT AT IT AGAIN! Wheeee!

Here are a few pages from my sketchbook to get the ball rolling...

Pg 1
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/Sketchpage1.jpg

Pg 2
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/Sketchpage2.jpg

Pg 3
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/Sketchpage3.jpg

Pg 4
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/Sketchpage4.jpg

Ah, Im so excited to get back to drawing at night again!

Seeya all soon!~~~JadeDragon

PS: Oh, I'll be sure to check my PM's, Solaris! Thanks!

[Dark Sun]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/Sketchpage4.jpg i absolutely love the guy with his hands and head covered in that metal.

[howyadoin]

Those are great, man. You put more detail into your "sketches" than I do into my finished work.

[Roquefort Raider]

Roll drums! Blow trumpets! THE DRAGON IS BACK! WHEEEEEEEEEE!!!

You're still impressing me with your ability to convey depth in your B&W pictures.

I also really like the concept of that demon with people poking out from under his skin. Creepy!

And what's not to like in the bearded guy's face?

Keep 'em cming, please!!!


Cheers,

- Ben

[Ronald Bryan]

I think it always bears repeating. You are an awesome artist.

[JadeDragon]

Hi Pals!

Dark Sun~ Thanks man! I guess there's a little bit of sado masocism in me somewhere! Heh!

Howyadoin~ Aw, apples and oranges. I wish I could draw cars and guitars like you!

Roquefort Raider~ You are too kind, good sir! Thanks for the welcome back. Hopefully I will be regular for a while again. Hey, How is your magnum opus coming along? I need an update! :)

Ronald Bryan~ Hey, thanks a lot! I'm just glad someone out there enjoys my scribbles now and then. I really appreciate the encouragement!

Well, here is the page of doodles I fiddled out today. No photoshoppery on this one for highlights or anything. Just a little darkening with Levels.

Sketchbook pg 5
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/Sketchpage5.jpg

I'll probably post updates every few days. So check back and hopefully there will be a few pages of new stuff.

Seeya folks!~~~JadeDragon

[howyadoin]

Well, here is the page of doodles I fiddled out today. No photoshoppery on this one for highlights or anything. Just a little darkening with Levels.I really dig that guy with the smoking hand. How much time do you spend working out the lighting on something like that?

[atoningunifex]

Okay, gotta say it- LOVE that you've got Spongebob mirroring smoking hand guy. Love it.

[Roquefort Raider]

Light and shadows everywhere... And you call these mere doodles? I think I'm gonna go break my pencil and cry in a corner.

In this batch, on top of the two smoking-hand guys (both the human and the sponge), I really like the way the light plays off the two heads on the top and right of the picture. Such a control of lighting is a rare talent, and one of the reasons I like the work of, say, Sean Philips so much.

And I can't wait for the day you get to draw a Conan book!


Cheers,

- Ben

[Solaris]

I hope you don't mind, Patrick, but I got itchy fingers... been rather depressed over the last two days, and needed something creative to work on... Anyway, I copied one of your sketches, and colored it, and thought you might like it, so here it is:

[Dark Sun]

I hope you don't mind, Patrick, but I got itchy fingers... been rather depressed over the last two days, and needed something creative to work on... Anyway, I copied one of your sketches, and colored it, and thought you might like it, so here it is:
thats awesome! you 2 should collaberate on something. id love to see jadedragon draw something and have solaris colour it.

[Solaris]

Thank you! But really, my coloring doesn't hold a candle to Patrick's... he gets his stuff to look so lifelike!

Anyway, I've been playing with it a bit more---wasn't happy with the definition of the neck compared to the head---so here's the latest version:

[Dark Sun]

bah, you are all too modest.

[Jaye]

I had no idea you did such wonderful color work, flamey.
It looks great!

[howyadoin]

Thank you! But really, my coloring doesn't hold a candle to Patrick's...Look at it this way - not being able to drive as fast as Mario Andretti doesn't necessarily mean you're slow.

[Roquefort Raider]

Anyway, I've been playing with it a bit more---wasn't happy with the definition of the neck compared to the head---so here's the latest version:

Wow!!! So you're an artist TOO???

I'm impressed! Good job!

[Solaris]

Thank you, guys! Heh---didn't mean to hijack Patrick's thread here... ooops.

That's why I want to go back to art school. I learned a lot with the one drawing class I took, but there's so much more to learn. And, the need to complete assignments forces me to draw and to practice, when otherwise I don't do it as often as I should.

The page layout portion of my PR classes helped too... we worked with everything from cropping news photos (the NY Times was a great example---they're notorious for bad cropping and poor page layout) to creating newsletters and flyers. It made me very aware of how elements look on a page, color harmony and contrast, etc.

I've done a little art that I'm genuinely proud of (drawing- and painting-wise), but more often that not I'm struggling to get it the way I see it, and it just doesn't come out right. But my classes taught me that learning techniques for rendering different things (3D you see into a 2D format), angle, composition, color, contrast, shading, etc... even the width and hardness of line, are all important tools that can make a difference in your work. Maybe by the time Finn gets into school, we'll be able to afford for me to go back as well, so I can learn more techniques and improve.

I also want to take art history, because I don't know enough of it, and there's so much you can learn from the old masters.

Anyway, that's one of my ambitions.

And the things I've learned so far really help me appreciate the quality of work that Patrick and so many of the rest of you have posted here. It's... awesome, and also inspiring.

Thanks!

[Solaris]

Look at it this way - not being able to drive as fast as Mario Andretti doesn't necessarily mean you're slow.


Good point---and I am suitably chastened. ;)

I shall take the compliments graciously.

And have I mentioned that you do fine work? I love that bottles picture---but posted my reply about it on the Comm Board. It's got such...feeling to it. It definitely has a mood.

[JadeDragon]

Thank you! But really, my coloring doesn't hold a candle to Patrick's... he gets his stuff to look so lifelike!

Anyway, I've been playing with it a bit more---wasn't happy with the definition of the neck compared to the head---so here's the latest version:


WOW!

That looks absolutely GREAT, Chris! First of all, Im flattered you would take the time to color one of my sketches. Second of all...YOU ROCK!

I didnt know you had gotten so good at photoshop! You really brought that dragon to life, and I loved the color choice (Of course!). ;)

Thanks for such a nice Thanksgiving treat!

I'll reply to the rest of you nice folks soon too, when I have some new stuff to post up.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!~~~JadeDragon (Yay Chris!)

[JadeDragon]

Hi Guys!

Howyadoin~ Thanks man! I spent maybe 2 and a half hours doing that whole page in the sketchbook. Give or take.

atoningunfx~ Haha! Yep, SpongeBob is gonna kick that bald dudes BUTT! Thanks, aton! BTW...I love your name.,..for some reason it just sticks in my head and makes me wonder what the backstory is.

Roquefort Raider~ Thanks Ben! Jeeze, dont break anything! HAHA! I LOVE your work! And boy, I sure would have liked to do Conan, but these things happen for a reason...since Im not drawing that I have a chance to learn to paint! Yay! :)

Dark Sun~ I agree! Isnt Solaris awesome?

Solaris~ Again I say YAY! That overpaint was really great. And thats really cool you are going to go back to school to learn more about art. I really enjoyed my art history classes in college. Probably my favorite part in fact! I wish I would have taken it more seriously and stayed with it longer. I think college would be SO MUCH more rewarding now that Im older. The chance to just spend my days LEARNING and practicing art would be such a treat now! Hope you are able to do that! And BTW...you can hijack my train ANYDAY! LOL! :p

I want to do a finished painting over the Thanksgiving break...so today I did a practice run. Just a quick unfinished head painting all in photoshop (no reference). Hopefully I can finish a whole painting by monday.

Rishi Accolyte~~~
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/Face1.jpg

Seeya all later! Have a great weekend!~~~JadeDragon

[Dark Sun]

now that is art! i love the shadows. keep up the great work dude.

[howyadoin]

I want to do a finished painting over the Thanksgiving break...so today I did a practice run. Just a quick unfinished head painting all in photoshop (no reference). Hopefully I can finish a whole painting by monday.

Rishi AccolyteGoddamn, that's amazing. Love the way you've layered the colour on.

[Solaris]

Patrick,

Unless he got the name from somewhere else, AtoningUnifex is the name of the Lylmyk (sp?), that heads the Quincunx, the five Lylmyk representatives to the alliance that rules in the universe Julian May created. The Lylmyk are non-corporeal beings, that usually manifest as floating heads with benign expressions and intense eyes. They guide the main Concillium of aliens and Earth people toward Mental Unity.

If you haven't read the series, you ought to---you'll love it.

I advise you start with "Many Coloured Land," and work your way through the four Pleistocene books, then go on to Intervention (our times forward) and the following books. It's a complete set---she wrapped it up with the last book.

So as not to give away too many spoilers, AtoningUnifex's name literally refers to it's need to Atone, and need to Unify.

I love the name too. :)

PS---this is before coffee for me, and I'm still half asleep, which is why there's some misspellings, etc.

[howyadoin]

Unless he got the name from somewhere else, AtoningUnifex is the name of the Lylmyk (sp?), that heads the Quincunx, the five Lylmyk representatives to the alliance that rules in the universe Julian May created. The Lylmyk are non-corporeal beings, that usually manifest as floating heads with benign expressions and intense eyes. They guide the main Concillium of aliens and Earth people toward Mental Unity.Oh, now it all makes sense.

[Jaye]

Oh, now it all makes sense.

*dies laughing*

[JadeDragon]

Heya,

Dark Sun & Howya~ Thanks for the nice comments, fellows!

Yep, I actually thought "Atoningunfx" was read as A TON IN GUN F-X. Ha ha! I had the notion that he was a former movie producer who went over budget on his dream project because of a scene using "A ton of gun' special effects! Going over budget meant financial ruination and the project collapsed, now he has resigned himself to posting on comic messageboards, but always with the reminder of what went so horribly wrong with his life. "A ton in gun fx..."

Welp, I had so much fun with yesterday's head painting that I decided to do a woman this time. Here ya go...

WitchBlade (No Reference)...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/WitchBlade1.jpg

Seeya later, compadres!~~~JadeDragon

[atoningunifex]

Patrick,

Unless he got the name from somewhere else, AtoningUnifex is the name of the Lylmyk (sp?), that heads the Quincunx, the five Lylmyk representatives to the alliance that rules in the universe Julian May created. The Lylmyk are non-corporeal beings, that usually manifest as floating heads with benign expressions and intense eyes. They guide the main Concillium of aliens and Earth people toward Mental Unity.

If you haven't read the series, you ought to---you'll love it.

I advise you start with "Many Coloured Land," and work your way through the four Pleistocene books, then go on to Intervention (our times forward) and the following books. It's a complete set---she wrapped it up with the last book.

So as not to give away too many spoilers, AtoningUnifex's name literally refers to it's need to Atone, and need to Unify.

I love the name too. :)

PS---this is before coffee for me, and I'm still half asleep, which is why there's some misspellings, etc.


Solaris is good, Solaris is wise.

[atoningunifex]

Heya,

Dark Sun & Howya~ Thanks for the nice comments, fellows!

Yep, I actually thought "Atoningunfx" was read as A TON IN GUN F-X. Ha ha! I had the notion that he was a former movie producer who went over budget on his dream project because of a scene using "A ton of gun' special effects! Going over budget meant financial ruination and the project collapsed, now he has resigned himself to posting on comic messageboards, but always with the reminder of what went so horribly wrong with his life. "A ton in gun fx..."


LOL! I love it!


Those damn guns!

[Roquefort Raider]

WitchBlade (No Reference)...



I really don't have a thing for girls (barely) dressed in barbed wire and razor blades, but I must honestly say that I've NEVER seen Witchblade so well drawn!!! Holy frijoles!!!

Patrick, your skills develop so fast that it's scary! Wow!!! That headshot is amazing! And her eyes... liquid jewels of cerulean depths!

Take a bow, sir, for you have done good indeed! (Again!) Your standards seem rise every week, only for you to surpass them. Wow again!!!

Cheers and thanks for the chance to admire your art!


- Ben

[JadeDragon]

Hey!

Roquefort...thanks so much man. You always make me feel so good about my efforts. I have a long ways to go before I am happy, especially with my paints...but getting there is half the fun I reckon. THANKS!!

Here are some sketches I did a while ago for American McGee. He was making a follow up to his Twisted Tales "Alice" (In Wonderland) PC game. I had to scan them in tonight so I figured I might as well post em up if anyone is interested.

Thanks fer lookin!

Pg 1...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/OzDesigns1.jpg

Pg 2...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/OzDesigns2.jpg

Pg 3...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/OzDesigns3.jpg

Seeya guys later!~~~JadeDragon

Oh and Chris...thanks for the info on those books. I forgot to thank you for that, they sound really cool. I'll have to check into those. :)

[tricksterpup]

Hey!

Here are some sketches I did a while ago for American McGee. He was making a follow up to his Twisted Tales "Alice" (In Wonderland) PC game. I had to scan them in tonight so I figured I might as well post em up if anyone is interested.


Hey Jade, I love this stuff.. :) it is fantastic. For some reason, I just personally like the pen and ink/pencil drawn stuff over colored. maybe it is due to my color blindness but I just like the look of Black and white art. Keep up the good work..

[atoningunifex]

Wowo, that's really excellent stuff.

I bow before your mad wicked skillz...

[howyadoin]

maybe it is due to my color blindness but I just like the look of Black and white art.I know I shouldn't find that funny...

[cosmic cat]

I am in awe.

[Vegetarian Goat]

WOW! your OZ drawings are great! I'd love to see your take on Ozma, or the Gump, or Tik Tok... or even something REALLY obscure like the Scoodlers! Wonderful!

[ScottDMSimmons]

Your Oz work is fantastic looking stuff!!!!
Love the Witch, tree.... and liontigerbear (OHMY!)!!!!!

--Scott

[Dark Sun]

i love oz and the many interpretations that we have seen over the years. that twisted land of oz toy series was funky and reminds me of that. do you have a version of dorothy? id love to see your version.

[JadeDragon]

Howdy!

Tricksterpup~ Thanks, man! Yeah, I agee I am still pretty sucky at the coloring. But I guess that's why I have to practice it a lot more. I have to be prepared to suck for a while at it if Im ever gonna get any good at it.

atoningunifex~ Im not worthy! :) Thanks.

Howya~ Go ahead and laugh. Ha! My colors have the magical effect of making people cherish their color blindness! LOL!

cosmic cat~ Awwww..thanks so much! I appreciate such nice comments. :)

Vegetarian Goat~ Thanks muchacho! Yeah, there are a lot of sweet concepts in those original Oz books that never made it to the big screen. I remember American telling me about some critter that was made up of 4 seperate creatures that each had one leg and one arm. Together they completed a whole organism! What the heck was that thing called? Stupid lack of memory!

ScottDMSimmons~ Thanks man! I was told that they used some of it in Wired magazine a couple years ago in an interview with American McGee, but I never saw it. November of '01 I think.

Dark Sun~ Thanks, yeah those McFarlane twisted toys sorta stole the thunder from American's idea, so I dont know if it will still happen. I never got around to doing a Dorothy. I loved Todd's version tho...Bondage Dorothy! Yeeps!

Here is a drawing I did today. Sorta based on a twisted version of "Billy Goats Gruff" the nursery rhyme. I wanted the Big Billy Goat that killed the Troll under the bridge to be really barbaric and heroic. I was gonna do a whole scene with the troll standing over the slain corpses of the littler Gruff brothers...but alas no time.

"Last Stand of the Billy Goat's Gruff"
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/BillyGoatsGruff.jpg

Colored Version...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/JadeDragonDreams/BillyGoatsGruffPainted2.jpg

Seeya later!~~~JadeDragon