HellGirl

Most of the art boards that I frequent have activities that center on a monthly or weekly theme. Artists will paint or draw works based on that subject or theme. One board's theme was to create a female equivalent of the Hellboy character. This was my take on the subject: Lucy Van Pelt, the original Hellgirl!

The Art of Star Wars - The Clone Wars

Another trip to the bookstore yields another visual gem. The Art of Star Wars - The Clone Wars is full of concept art. As I've been noticing, more and more of the concept work is being done with digital painting programs. There is still a fair amount of tradition marker work, but even that is starting to be produced with digital tools.

As for the art itself, its loose and vibrant. There is just something about roughs that really draws me. It may be the telling of a story or the relaying of an idea artistically, without much detail or refinement. It takes a very skilled and imaginative artist to pull it off.

I would have liked to see more storyboards, but that's a minor nit. All in all, its a very enjoyable collection collection of concept art and background studies.

Blue Wizard

I had a little time today and was able to knock out a quick, monochromatic doodle. If I was going to push it further, I would probably have punched up the the highlights to provide more contrast and maybe added some type of embroidery to the hood.

Pinkerton

I came across an old scribble today that I thought was worth sharing. I believe I'd recently watched "Pale Rider," starring Clint Eastwood, when I scratched out this sketch. I always liked those dusters that the "lawmen for hire" wore in that movie.

Art of Guild Wars

While browsing at Half Price Books, I came across a piece of artistic goodness called "Art of Guild Wars." Its just the type of "Art of" books that I like: Lots of sketches, roughs and concept art. Aside from the figures, there is a fair bit of environment work, too.

You can view samples of the concept art on the Guild Wars gaming site.

Blue Mystic

I took an hour or so for myself to do a little painting. I put on some Melody Gardot and Diana Krall, while pushing some color and textures around until I had an interesting background to work from. I decided to work without drawing an initial sketch this time. Using the colors from the background, I blocked out the figure and then, refined it. Since I finished in under two hours, this would qualify as a speed painting.

It was relaxing to do a one sitting painting. I have to find the time to do them more regularly.

Unfinished Works - Elf Portrait

Sharing another abandoned piece. I can't remember why I stopped working on this one. I suspect that it was during one of times when I had several paintings going at the same time. I still like the composition. I was trying out repeating an element in the painting. In this case, it was the angle. You'll notice that the leaves, the top of the tunic, canting of the head (and subsequent angling of the feature, direction of the eyes, angle of the hand and slope of the shoulder (our right).

Repeating an element or color kind of "harmonizes" the painting. If done well, the viewer probably wouldn't recognize why the painting is pleasing, just that it is.

After looking over this one again, I may take a crack at finishing it, but no promises! LOL