Feels like October.

The other day, I walked outside and realized that Summer had came and gone. Almost overnight. Like none of us would notice. I barely even got to see her! Oh well, now that she's gone, I'll probably stay in more nights and draw more things and update more often.

So, Summer is gone.

On another note, I've really been enjoying drawing female profiles lately. There's a unique sort of challenge about it.


Also, critters. Nothing's quite as fun as drawing critters...

My favorite animal of all time: The Cone Dog!

And finally here's a peek at what my next painting will be. After I finally get around to finishing my latest space chick.

Hmmm, Scuba Chick...very similar to Space Chick...I should branch out more...

Further along.

Thought I'd post just before bed to show how the space chick is coming. I didn't get as far along today as I would've liked. Some things came up (promising things) and so I had to set this lovely space lady aside to do some real work. Oh well. I'm sort of surprised at how this is turning out. When I drew this girl I remember thinking,

"Wow, this is an ugly chick! What am I doing?"

But I decided not to change her face for the pure comedy of it, and I liked her expression. However, when I began painting her she started to look prettier to me. Go figure. I don't know if I'm happy with that change or not. Of course, maybe I'm crazy and it's all in my head and she's still as ugly as she was in the drawing.

At any rate, this painting still has miles to go.

A bit of process.

I thought I'd demonstrate a bit of process featuring a new piece I've been working on.

The first thing I do, is a tight sketch. I use a lead holder filled with H lead. For erasing I just use one of those Pink Pearl erasers that we all know from elementary school.


Next, I throw a sheet of tracing paper over the sketch and using a ball point pen (very hi-tech) trace a tight outline of the sketch making any necessary changes along the way.

Then if I like that version of the drawing I will transfer the drawing to a sheet of cold press watercolor paper. This is where things get interesting. Inking is by far my favorite part of the process. Inking on cold press paper isn't exactly an easy task and it takes a lot of patience, concentration, and tools. I use FW acrylic ink because it is a good deep black and is absolutely waterproof. When using my bottle ink, a use an array of brushes. A number one round (which is basically, like a nose hair), a number two round, and then I skip up to a number four round which gives great big fat lines but still holds a decent point. If I want to ink something quickly I count on my Pentel Pocketbrush. Which holds a fine little nose hair point but can also make big fat number four lines. It also blessedly, has deep dark black ink that is indistinguishable from the FW Ink. It is by far my most prized tool and I don't know what I used to do with out it. For straight lines I use a Micron number three pen. I firmly believe that one day my hand will be steady enough to ink straight lines with a brush...but today is not that day.

And that's all there is to it. Stay tuned for the finished painting, in a day or two.