Ganza Watching

Watercolor Impressions

2012-01-17T02:53:00.000-08:00

I went to the Tierpark this Sunday and found myself spoiled from all of the longer drawings I've worked on in the Glyptothek and such. After calming my frustration and watering down my expectations these two very impressionistic paintings came to life.

This was painted outside. The cold air here creeps up on you and suddenly you realize that your body is stiff and shaking. So there's nothing like a hot cup of coffee to warm your insides. Drawn in Col-Erase and painted with watercolor.

Calligraphy style cocks and finches drawing with a Pentel Japanese brush pen and then painted with watercolor.

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Also here's a shout out to Joe Weatherly and Chris Ayer and their up-and-coming Paris show.

If you're in the area and are an animal art connoisseur (or art lover) I highly recommend stopping in to soak up the eye candy!

Until next time.

Sketchbook Studies

2012-01-04T15:00:00.000-08:00

Ducks and a goose drawn at the Jagd- und Fischereimuseum today. I've been looking at William D. Berry's Alaskan Field Sketches and in the preface of the book it quotes "Bill's field sketches were his record of what he saw. They were done in the field, but often finished hours later in the cabin, sometimes by the light of a Coleman lantern. If an animal moved off before Bill completed the sketch, he would mark the drawing "life and memory." Bill never deviated from this way of recording, although he appreciated its imperfections. He once reversed the colors on a bird he was drawing, and from that time on, he always allowed room for human error." I was very stirred by this first paragraph in his book and I hope to embrace the "human error" more and more in my art. In ways it is what makes our art ours. 3B pencil.

Various husky studies drawn from these awesome photos. I used my sexy Tuscan Red Col-Erase.

I started out 2012 with some Rubens... Um-ummm good! 3B pencil.

This is so last year... Glyptothek! 3B pencil.

Until next time!

Moving Right Along...

2011-12-20T05:03:00.002-08:00

I want to share something with you.

I'll begin with a quote from Bobby Chiu; "Measure your success in terms of your personal growth and the growth of your work."

From the amount of work I put into drawing, teaching, and art related things I can say with confidence that I've made some huge improvements this year. I'm not sharing it with you to boast. What I hope is that when you see this it'll prove that hard work and cultivated talent are what REALLY matter.

Here's a story from my youth...
When I was a teenager I was certain that TALENT was what you needed. No one told me (or I didn't listen) that HARD WORK is what'll make you better, is what'll separate you from the rest. I spent a lot of time back then fretting over the idea that "I wasn't talented enough... that so-and-so was better... wahh wahhh wahhhhh." In ways it was giving me an excuse NOT to work.
I want to share that because I don't want you to make the same mistake.

There are a lot of things that get in the way of working. Like our ego and the idea that we don't need to work because we are already awesome or how we would rather have things come quickly to us and are convinced that if it doesn't then we were not "destined" to do it. Frustration is a big one too. We LET it get in way of working.

These are only a few things I've dealt with in my career as an artist (along with many others) and they are in NO WAY easy to overcome. But one thing that has helped me is the AWARENESS of them.

Ask yourself, "What is important?"
For me it is drawing. Now will I LET my TIREDNESS, my FEAR, my EGO, get in the way of drawing? It's a CHOICE. Do you choose to let drawing be important? or those other things?

Though out this year I've worked on film and other various freelance work. I've continued to teach drawing and my Sunday sketch group has grown (which is super cool). With the time I had no work I went to various museums, the Zoo, and worked on personal projects. Piles of paper, lots stubby pencils, ...

..and many a sketchbook. Not to mention the internal struggles like tiredness, super ego battles, and self doubt. Unfortunately that can't be shown in a photograph.

This is...
PENCIL MILEAGE.
This is...
Punching doubt in the FACE!
...

-Growing as an artist and as a person-

I started to study from anatomy books this spring-
My goal is at least one hour a day on things I have questions about - whether it is human or animal anatomy.

This was drawn back in May at the Akthof here in Munich. 3B pencil on A2 Paper - 2 hours.

Traveling is the best education-
I took a trip to Rome in late spring, Warsaw in September, and then a trip to Paris back in October. Those were the big ones, needless to say. There were many small trips taken here and there. Naturally I had my sketchbook ready to go. Being an artist you don't really take holidays... it's a job that is all the time.

Master Copies-

Rubens studies from the Alte Pinkakothek. He's one of my favorites, so I study from him. Be humble and learn from the Masters.

The growth, the improvement is right here. This was drawn during the last week of November. 3B pencil on A2 paper - 2 hours.

And again the first week of December. 3B pencil on A2 paper - 2 hours.

Moving right along...
A lot of people have resolutions for the new year. I think mine are ongoing. I've got my plans and goals and will be working on them into 2012. Why not start now, eh? Best time ever.
So, to end this post here are some drawings from the past two Sketch Days.

I worked in my small Moleskine watercolor sketchbook at Cafe Tambosi. I also sold a small painting to one of the waiters. Cool!

With the coming of the holidays I found myself alone this past Sunday. Even so I take advantage of the time to improve. Glyptothek 3B pencil - 2 hours.

Until next time!

Watercolor Sketches

2011-12-07T05:24:00.000-08:00

This was drawn and painted in a small Moleskine Watercolor Notebook. I usually work on A3 size paper so I wanted to get myself working in a smaller format... cause trying new and different things is GOOD for you! Tierpark.

Again painted in the Moleskine. Pushing myself to draw/paint more plants and environments... surprisingly this was fun to do. Tierpark.

I also want to get myself creating more character designs (animal and human) from life. Drawn and painted in the A3 sketchbook. Tierpark.

As professor John Louder once said in painting class, "GET BETTER." Haha! I have that reeling through my head day in and day out.

Not just in art but also in life. It is only through trying and failing one will succeed.

So is there anything you want to improve on, change, or try?

HASELONIA Workflow

2011-12-02T12:20:00.000-08:00

I wanted to share my workflow of the HASELONIA rabbits, a project I just recently finished.

Do enjoy!

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Right after I got the "okay" I went to the Tierpark and drew these. Why? Drawing inspiration from life! That's how it started and because it was available!

I watched the animal.. how they moved, personality, ...I drew them with the idea of DESIGN in my head. The shapes of a rabbit.. what are they? Where can I exaggerate? Drawing is more than just drawing... It's observation, thinking, and visualizing.

Then at home...

Studies! from photographs and videos.

From "Der Liebeskampf der Feldhasen".

Drawing from the photographs was not about making a Xerox copy.. it was about learning! Action, finding the shapes and construction, and! Anatomy. I also watched videos (over and over again) and drew without pausing. Super helpful! (also, I'm only sharing a handful of the studies in this post... there are pages of hares and rabbits in the soon-to-be-retired sketchbook.. PENCIL MILEAGE!)

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After the studies I watched Space Jam with Lola Bunny and ol' Bugs. How did they create a successful rabbit design? and for the extra sexy I watched Jessica Rabbit. Yeah, I know .. she's not a rabbit but I wanted those round, juicy shapes.

So on to the character!

The pose sketches sent to the client for approval. As you can see I had a lot of fun with the doe.

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After the approval of the poses I worked on more studies...

This was the most helpful study when I was working on the final drawings and into the inking stage.

(Don't draw bad hands and feet. It's annoying. Take the time to study them! It really pays off in the end.)

And on to...

..the final drawings done in Photoshop on an Intuos 3 Wacom Tablet. You can see the Orden (club symbol) was changed in the final and the grass was added.

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Inking...

I'm thinking in terms of line weight. What parts come towards the viewer, what parts move into space? How can I DESIGN the line? In the grass? How can I be ECONOMIC with the line?

Technique work... As you can see the Orden and sunglasses are not in these pictures ... why? They were drawn on different layers. Working with the layers helped separate different areas like those, the character, and the grass. Wacom in Photoshop.

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Color! AH YEAH!

I started with this watercolor study and some color scheme ideas...

..then onto these small and quick color sketches.

The two rabbits were colored in Photoshop zoomed out (50% to 100%) and in a New Window (Arrange - New Window for *FLIE NAME*). I have the New Window up so I can look at the image from a distance and also to work in large areas. I paint with costume brushes and treat the colors like traditional paint for example; mixing paint on the canvas. I also MOVE THE COLOR AROUND the composition to help create harmony in the picture.

So..

Here's the Doe process...

..and the buck.

I started the pictures with the flat color scheme then worked in the shadows and light. Put in, pull out... touch up then add a new layer. I painted with the form of the character to create the illusion that it looks 3D.
Then hours later with enough coffee, tea, trance music, and the Erik's help...

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Fertig!

Here's the doe..

.. and the buck all finished! We'll be seeing you both soon!

"The Sketch Hunter"

2011-11-14T13:05:00.000-08:00

Buzzard Skeleton - 3B pencil. Deutsches Museum.

Würgfalke (Saker Falcon) - 3B pencil. Jagd- und Fischereimuseum.

"Bound Slave" study - Col-Erase and white charcoal. Louvre.

Classical Antiquity, baby - 3B pencil. Glyptothek.

Northern Sketches, Monkeys and Fish

2011-10-17T08:15:00.000-07:00

Milo, Edward, and Nuka the husky dreaming of a sausage. Col-Erase - October

NE Comic panel stuff... uh, blobbed with value.

There's lots of work to do. Photoshop and Col-Erase - August

Sketchday, October 16. Really fun and relaxing Sketch Jam yesterday... can't beat the fish and monkey combo.

Sketchday, October 16. Giant Gourami in Watercolor.

"Out of a gunnysack fall..

2011-10-03T02:11:00.001-07:00

Red Rabbits,.." Tierpark, October. Col-Erase.

Tierpark, September. Col-Erase and watercolor.

I really am fond of these ibis birds. Tierpark, October. Col-Erase!

Khiup!

More Animals and Handouts

2011-09-26T05:21:00.001-07:00

Fish and reptile studies. The reptiles were refreshing to draw... not so much movement.

Col-Erase.

A tapir drawn in ink. I find the shapes of this animal very intriguing.

Young ibis's in watercolor.

A page from my sketchbook. I use it at the zoo to talk about action lines. I thought it might help someone so I uploaded it.

This page I use to talk about shapes and character. Begin finding the shapes of the animals from life then exaggerate features that tell the characters story. So, there's a big full of himself buck at the bottom right and to his left is a young button buck. I gave him very awkward adolescent features.

.. and it's again time for a new sketchbook.
Ciao for now!

Just Keep Drawing...

2011-09-04T13:15:00.000-07:00

Damhirsch drawn in Col-Erase.

Various watercolor birds.

Ravens. Col-Erase on Pastel Paper.

w.i.p. of Gumby the Bear... ahh.

Bears and a Pot Belly Pig

2011-08-29T01:33:00.000-07:00

Braunbär und Hängebauchschwein.

Eisbär.

And remains of a Höhlenbär.

Animal Sketches

2011-08-24T04:01:00.000-07:00

Here are some recent animal sketches. Do enjoy!

Qantm Cockatoo

2011-07-29T12:15:00.000-07:00

Uh yeah, the Cockatoo drawn at Qantm today! Col-Erase and ball point pen.

Long week...

2011-07-24T12:56:00.000-07:00

..jup. But at least I could go to the zoo today. That is always a super thing.

This one is for Stephanie. These guys are pretty darn cute. Ball point pen and watercolors.

Ball point pen.

Gorilla arm studies. Col-Erase.

Watercolor, gouache, Col-Erase, China marker, and ball point pen.

This is Bananas the Toucan. He's drawn in Photoshop.

Until next time.

Today at the Tierpark...

2011-07-10T12:29:00.000-07:00

The baby giraffe drawn in Col-Erase.

Col-Erase and Watercolor birds.

Thanks for looking!

Watercolors and Horse Studies

2011-07-02T09:16:00.001-07:00

A playground by our flat.. drawn/painted back in April. I would have loved to work on it more but getting skin cancer wasn't an option (wear your sunscreen kids). 2B pencil and Watercolors

Anatomy practice! 2B pencil

Struggle and Improvement

2011-06-28T03:37:00.000-07:00

I don't particularly like writing reflections about my journey as an artist but I've come across this more and more. Maybe it's because I teach drawing or maybe it's because I've become more sensitive to myself.. more than likely both.. but to share this struggle of being is necessary for the growth of others and of oneself.
To begin here are two pictures of Milo. The very first drawing of him EVER drawn back in June 2009 after my graduation from University and a recent drawing of him I did like, this past week.

Improvement?

I felt that while I was in University I needed to DO MY BEST WORK EVER. If that was so then why would I want to continue drawing? A part of this thing I do is about IMPROVING every step of the way. I forgot that because of my perfectionism, the impossible to fulfill expectation I placed upon myself. FEAR OF A BAD DRAWING. FEAR OF FUCKING UP. WHAT WILL PEOPLE THINK?! HOLY SHIT!
It doesn't matter.
I still get that feeling when I'm at the Tierpark here in Munich but to overcome that I KNOW that drawing there is my element and it'll be fun and I will LEARN. That super ego part, that inner judge as it's called, can go eat shit.

Slay the dragon. Draw. Get better.

Ziegen

2011-06-28T02:21:00.000-07:00

... or goats!

I drew these goats in Weinheim, Germany. Beautiful landscapes, goats, and cherry trees. Life's hard.

And goats at Munich's Tierpark. It's always an adventure!

Textures used from Bashcorpo.

Animal Anatomy: Part I

2011-06-20T03:45:00.001-07:00

Various animal anatomy drawings I've been working on for the past month. Getting warmed up to the (duh duh!) Creature Design courses.

Foot of a hawk and leg of a cave bear (femur and all!). 2B and 3B pencil - Jagd und Fischereimuseum

Wing jib jab. 2B and 3B pencil - Deutsches Museum

Ancient house cat skeleton. 2B and 3B pencil - Paläontologisches Museum

*You may use these drawings for personal use. Just be sure to give the appropriate credit! Thanks!
Shannon B

Animal Life Drawing

2011-04-20T22:50:00.001-07:00

Always going back to the basics. Always.
2B pencil on A3 paper. Jagd und Fischereimuseum.

And various drawings from the Munich Tierpark. It's a blast!

Col-Erase and Watercolor.

Copic BS pen.

Col-Erase.

Drawings!

2011-03-13T09:53:00.000-07:00

Crazy awesome drawing week!

Giraffe at the zoo today. Col-Erase on Pastel Paper.

Milo playing his DS ... What do you think he's playing?
Left 4 Dead? DOOM III? Dead Space II?! Hello Kitty Adventure Island?!!
Col-Erase.

Until next time.

Sketch Day Stuff and More!

2011-03-09T14:47:00.000-08:00

Mary Mare is a vegetarian. Although right now she's a little speechless.

And more from the Hunting and Fishing Museum.
Metal Deer Solid and a Gangster Badger. And yes Gangster Badgers are abundant all over Germany... and they'll steal your wallet if you ain't watchin'.

Zebra of the Window

2011-02-25T10:44:00.000-08:00

Speed painting of my zebra figure.

Painted in the morning in Photoshop!

Mr. Alberts..

2011-02-18T07:24:00.000-08:00

... would like to be left alone.

Col-Erase and Photoshop.

.. "Wha'd ya still doin' here? Go away!"

FLIGHT-Less und der Steinbock

2011-01-10T05:57:00.001-08:00

Hoy again,

Sharing is Caring! At least that's what they told me in Kindergarten..

A page of FLIGHT-Less bird characters.

Alpensteinbock from Munich's Jagd und Fishereimusem (Sketchbook-Life Drawing).

Gerenuk (wip) for 2011

2011-01-10T02:35:00.000-08:00

Hallo ya'll,

I've come to terms that this blog might need a little more attention. Poor Ganza Watching..
So for now I give you a WIP of a Gerenuk.

Happy 2011 to all and to all bis später!
-Shannon