Friday, February 15, 2008

Self Portraits 24 and 25 of 100

Hi kids!

Boy, I'm really running behind! Ha-ha! (okay, okay, not funny.) So I have two today. First up is a revisit of the SP from a couple of posts ago. I know it's not really new, but it is new work. Please forgive me.

So... painting in photoshop. I have a few things to say about this.

I'm not much of a painter. There are some nice painterly things about this particular job, but it's really my inkwork that saves it from being a big mess. I'm still learning, and I think getting better (I really am trying to listen to what people have to say about my technique, and I promice that I will try to pay heed to learn control over value in favor over color) but there is still a long road to go. I truly admire those people that can do this without keeping their original drawing intact or without one at all.


This second drawing... I don't know. It's kind of part of a Character concept idea I'm working on, and partly the start of an illustration idea that I had for how I was feeling that day... The idea was abandoned because I was tired. I'm a lot skinnier in this drawing than I actually am right now. The Gym is calling to me... I spend far too much time sitting and drawing (and eating stuff that's not good for me). I did the body out of my head, and the head from a mirror.

Just a sketch, but I think my bodies and hands are getting stronger. I still have to redo a lot of things at work, but I'm getting better. My boss and I have a lot of frustrating days. I hope that in the near future I can be less of a worry to him. I know he has more than enough other stuff to worry about. Speed and accuracy... (sigh)

Okay, that's it for today.
Take care and be good.
Your friend
Jeffrey Johnson

Friday, February 8, 2008

Self portrait 24 of 100

Hey kids!

Got another little graphic gem for you, Ha-ha! I finally got caught up on some of my projects, so hopefully I'll be getting to this more regularly. I looked at my calendar yesterday, and It looks like on friday I'll be 27 portraits behind... Oops! So, I'm getting back to it, and getting caught up... ish. Ha-ha!

So, anyway, I built this whole image in Corel Draw. It took about three hours total. I have another one in the works using the same head, with some small changes. I'll have that one out in the next few days hopefully. I think there're like three pieces I still have to do to it.

I've been talking to Ryan about art, and where I'm going with it and what I want to do with it lately. One of the things he had to say, is that (at least for him) there's been too much working toward trying to impress other people, and not enough just because he enjoys it. To add to that, I was looking through some of my old drawings, and there was a lot more stuff that I just did because I wanted to do it. I think part of my path right now is to find a balance between the two. It's really hard to produce "quality" work, and sometimes the effort gets depressing, but it still has to be done in order to be marketable. I still gots to eat, right?

Thats about it for today. I think my "internet provider" finally password protected his network, so I'll have to update when I can (mostly after work) so I'll see you when I see you.

Take care and be good.
Your friend
Jeffrey Johnson