Today begins the Adventures of Captain Average. But first, lunch. You can't perform feats of mediocrity on an empty stomach.
Never Say Never
'Never Say Never'. Hand lettered then scanned and redrawn in Illustrator, final file prepared in Photoshop.
'Good Morning' Brush Script Video
A quick brush script video using a Prismacolor Premier Brush Tip Marker
Ben Franklin on Writing
“Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.” ― Benjamin Franklin
Take Your Time (Redux)
Mr. Wilkerson's Secret
I've been doing a lot more of these pen and ink drawings lately.
I was raised on R. Crumb, Rick Griffin and The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers and emulated their styles growing up. It stuck with me.
Generally, I just start doodling a face or a feature and a random drawing appears.
Tonight, we expose the dark secret of 'Mr. Wilkerson'.
Tools: Staedtler Pigment Liners
Stop Being Lazy
(I got up extra early this morning to knock this one out...)
Sometimes It's OK to Say No
Saying 'NO' to something could potentially free you up for something bigger or more rewarding. Don't be afraid to say no.
Keep It Simple, Stupid!
Fresh!
After a brief hiatus, I'm back. After a wonderfully relaxing vacation at the end of July in Clearwater Beach, Florida (my new favorite Florida town), I came back to a ton of work. I've been an independent designer for the last 15 years and I could pretty much count on projects thinning out in August, or getting put off until September. Then, right after the kids go back to school, the flood gates open. Not this year. It's been steady and strong almost the entire year. Now that Summer is coming to a close, kids are back in school and the days are shorter, I'll be able to put in more time at the drawing table.
Here's a simple hand-lettered script, scanned and traced with the pen tool in Illustrator. Imported into Photoshop, added shadow and gradient background.
It's All Good
' It's All Good' - a quickie Moleskine drawing with a Micron 03.
Take Your Time
Take Your Time
Tools: Zig Clean Color Real Brush Marker, traced and filled with Micron pens. I just scored the Zig brush marker from ArtSnacks and I'm really liking it. The pointed tip has just enough 'give' and nice ink flow to create natural strokes.
I realize that I've become quite impatient the last few years (I blame the gadgets) and lately I've been making a more conscious effort to be present and to slow down and enjoy the ride. I started this morning's practice writing some phrases and quotes. I try to cram at least 30 minutes of drawing in each morning, even if I don't have an idea of what to draw. I keep a notebook close by with words, phrases and ideas in case I don't have that thunderbolt of inspiration right away. So, I pulled some quotes out of the book and started writing them out with the brush pen. I could see myself trying to letter them faster and faster. My perfectionist streak wants to crank out something perfect each time, (and usually I don't) so I get frustrated. Fast lettering is sloppy lettering, so of course I got more frustrated. I'm also looking at the clock, because as much as I'd like to sit and draw all day, I have paying projects on deck. Then I just found myself saying, "Take your time, take your time.." and then began writing the phrase. I liked how the letterforms came together, so a few iterations later, I was ready to trace and scan. The photo composite includes a photo I shot at Seaside Park, New Jersey last week.
Take Your Time (Tracing)
Procrastinate Now!
Procrastinate Now! (write a post about it later!)
Hand-lettered with Micron 1, scanned/colored in Photoshop. I started with smaller thumbnails until I got the letterforms the way I wanted them. I then scanned the thumbnail and printed it larger and did a clean lightbox tracing from that.
Scanned Thumbnail
Inked Drawing
You Should Know Better
A quickie script outline with a Micron 05. Scanned and colored in Photoshop.
Poor Planning (Measure Twice, Cut Once)
Bad planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part.
A 5-minute quickie. Sakura Pigma Sensei (0.6mm) on Bristol board. Scanned and colored in Photoshop.
The Things You Own End Up Owning You
“The things you own end up owning you.” - Tyler Durden, Fight Club
The full quote from the book Fight Club (by Chuck Palahniuk) goes like this: “The things you own end up owning you. It's only after you lose everything that you're free to do anything.”
I occasionally experience manic states where I suddenly feel the need to shed all the crap that's accumulated around me. This week, I'm in one of those states, so if you're close by, you might find something useful out on the curb.
Drawing: Micron pens on Moleskine notepad.
Fortune Favors the Bold
Take initiative, amplify your inner voice, risk failure, perservere. Inspired by the TEDx talk by Ernie Parizeau.
Lately, I've been leaving my drawings in more of a rough state. I have a folder full of drawings waiting to post, but they're in an unfinished state because I don't have time to get them clean enough to post. I realized that my goal should be to keep pushing out work and not worry so much as to how polished the final outcome is. The purpose is to develop a daily practice and to explore and improve my skills. Not every drawing will get a gold star and hung on the refrigerator door.
Also, I don't have the luxury of being able to sit at the drawing table for hours on end. I have paying projects and obligations to attended to, so I try and carve out an hour or so in the morning for this. I try to get the illustration scanned and colored by 9am. Sometimes I make it, sometimes I don't. There are other days where I'll just do a quick set in my Moleskine.
I'll go into further detail about my process in another post. There's work to be done:)
It's Time to Grow the Fuck Up
Unless you're an artist... A quick Sunday morning hand-lettering exercise. Scanned then colored with the paint bucket tool in Photoshop.
Don't Be Afraid to Succeed
Some of us are just afraid of success. Hand-lettered then scanned/traced in Illustrator. Final image composed in Photoshop. Prints and more available at Society6!
The Quickest Way to Feel Like Shit is to Compare Yourself to Others
Daily drawing. Micron pens on Moleskine Notebook .
The Quickest Way to Feel Like Shit is to Compare Yourself to Others