Friday, December 10, 2010
Prehistoric Headstone
I was sketching in my sketchbook this week and this just kind of happened...I hadn't painted a pile of rocks before so of course I had to find out what it would look like in color. I say paint but of course I used photoshop - still feels like painting to me. Then the next logical step was to make it into a video. I sent it to my sister Beth who said its boring, "make something move or something cool". So I did. This is my prehistoric headstone - I have no idea what is buried beneath or who the kid is - seriously - weird things happen when you just start drawing.
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holy shit. those are the first two words that come to mind. I feel old, prehistoric even, watching this. WTF? A-MAZING. Jaw is on floor.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all...AMAZING.
ReplyDeleteDoes your paint brush have texture to it? Or are you just getting the texture off your scanned in texture?
Thanks guys! I'm flattered! Jared, I'm getting texture from both the scanned texture and the paint brush texture. The key to getting good results digitally is to know your process traditionally. As far as I know - my favorite digital painters were very competent with paint or pastel or airbrush before they switched to digital. I think the reason for this that when you work traditionally everything you do counts - either for the good or bad. It forces you to take a stand and make a commitment with each mark you make. Each step along the way becomes ingrained in your mind. Like stepping across a stream on rocks you know that one wrong move will cost you - so you're careful.
ReplyDeleteThere is no such commitment working digitally - your always one undo away from starting over. Straight to digital painters never realize the danger of "falling in" and thus never really learn a "recipe" or process. Every approach is different and uncommitted.
A souffle requires following a careful recipe. A sports car must have all the right parts in all the right places. A song - all the right notes in order. Even photoshop wouldn't work if the code were moved around. Your digital painting needs a recipe and you can't get if your always hitting undo, tossing layers, and using the eraser.
My two cents and probably not what a lot of artists want to hear but with hard work and good practice anyone can come up with a recipe of their own that works every time. :) I do think it is possible for someone to learn to paint starting digitally if they forced themselves to fore go undo, eraser, and only painted in one layer.
Thanks Will, that is a good point, "good practice" Each piece I do I'm trying to figure out how to replicate the work I am able to do traditionally. It is great to be able to still see your process, it helps a lot. I study it. Keep em coming. You da man
ReplyDeleteUm, AWESOME! I love how your digital stuff looks so much like the acrylic work you showed us when you were Professor Will Terry. I deliver all my work digitally now, but lately I've been scanning in watercolors to give stuff a more hand-made feel & then adding detail & some "subtle collage". You do a great job of keeping it your digital illustrations loose and textured. (I love that you ended up with about 15 layers. That always happens to me too! I'm such a layer junkie!) (Don't you hate when you're painting or using pastels & try to "undo" your last stroke!)
ReplyDeleteWill, Very cool to see you work. I need to figure out how to make the video thing. I think it would be fun to see my own work progress like this. Plus it's good for a blog post right?
ReplyDeleteAwesome as usual! I need to get better at figuring out the paper texture thing. I need to come watch you paint for a day. (in all my free time of course)
ReplyDeleteWill,Will, Will, you are totally cool! I couldn’t look away for a second! Good thing I didn’t or I would have missed the rock’s eyes opening! That was such a cool surprise.I Like the little frame of you popping in with your “pen”. Your comment after Jared made me realize something about my work. I have been airbrushing for a lot of years. My work tends to have more of a smooth even tone to it. I never realized that I had been transferring my airbrush technique into my digital work. As usual... your video just blew me away! Thanks... Oh and thanks for your comment on my xtranormal clip. And one more thanks for directing me to the xtranormal site. That was fun!!
ReplyDeleteLove how the shadow falls across the stone. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThanks! Besides the spectacular illustration and the generous video, I also appreciated what you said about knowing traditional technique making such a difference when working digitally - the undo stuff, etc. This makes total sense.
ReplyDeleteYou are the whole enchilada, sir!
I think it looks especially detailed because of the sun shining on the rock,the shadows, and the scratches on the rock. Plus the background and the grass, foilage, and rock debris all add too the realistic feeling.
ReplyDeleteAwesome work and ditto for the two cents!!! :)
ReplyDeleteFlippin' awesome!
ReplyDeleteWow is right, I love to watch you paint Will, I think I could sit through an entire session at regular speed and not miss a stroke. Lovin your photoshop brushwork and the not overdone, but perfectly done foliage. And as always, your light and shadow is fabulous.
ReplyDeleteThat's amazing and alot of good advice in your post!
ReplyDeleteWow, you are such a fantastic artist and so gernerous with your time with other artsits, thank you, I love looking at your work and appreciate every video you do. BTW - Im pretty sure it wouldnt have been boring without the "cool" stuff" but it was exceptional to see that too. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteLOVE IT! You are my favorite children's illustrator!
ReplyDeleteThis was awesome! I am so glad you video recorded how you work. It has helped me understand how to work on the computer by 10 fold. I admire how well you understand light and design. Thanks for sharing!
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