Archive for the ‘ sketchbook ’ Category
While studying figure drawing my instructor would have us go to the nearby mall and draw people. Each time we had a challenge to draw people at the food court, draw people walking, draw people on the first floor (fore shortening was the toughest), draw people on the escalators, etc. This is one of the best ways to practice and get some pencil mileage and study figure drawing.
I remembered one important point of websites, especially blogs, and that is to always keep the content fresh. I’d like to say that my lack of fresh material was due to my busy time as a designer but alas, being unemployed and looking for work can lead to many distractions. I did finally planned and went on the vacation that I needed to open my eyes and learn more about places other than California and indeed I have. I spent a week in Texas near Dallas catching up with an old middle school friend and an old high school friend who have been making a pretty decent living there for the past decade. My experience has concluded that home is where I can make the best living for myself. I’ve been couped up in California for so long I was blind to give other places a chance. I am now back on the job hunt, stronger than ever, never holding myself back. I remind myself that I am never bound by a place or by people and that I can embrace other places fitting to my living needs and goals.
yes, the real world can be very demanding of people’s time and alas am left with only the time it takes to boot my laptop at work to indulge in my pen-to-paper craft.
Long before ID I got to work with a few good fellas on a project that didn’t get a chance to take off. We did do a series of comic strips for the initial idea and was about to work on a Flash animated version but then people got full-time jobs, went back to school, or started families. I still keep in touch with these fellas from time to time.
The first character I call, Hoot Sensei, an owl who teaches self-defense using Aikido. The early concepts of Hoot Sensei was a pretty generic old short character that could kick your ass. But that was too generic so after a few more iterations I thought about giving him a Steven Seagal look but still keeping that old wise and humble character.
The second character was a challenge. Puffin’s are hard to draw. After doing many studies and drawing puffins for weeks, I got down to work to create Paco the Puffin who is a, how do you say, pretty flamboyant hair stylist.
Ok. So I’ve been guilty at times for not bringing a sketchbook with me. Sometimes we forget or we’re just plain lazy. Make it more a habit to carry it with you. You mind is always teeming with ideas and when you’re out there, many things will visually impact you and invoke some sort of idea or inspiration.
Today was one of those days where having a sketchbook came in really handy. I was at Borders meeting with a couple of people when I spotted a young gentleman who have been serving in the Army. He was wearing this really kick ass army coat. I never knew that the Army issued such awesome threads.