Sketchbook: Robots

Here was a quick attempt at having some fun creating cheesy robots. I really admire concept artists that can do this the "right" way, and I thought it'd be nice to warm up today by using a brush pen and a Prismacolor French Gray 30% marker on a small pad.

Daily Sketchbook

I've decided to post my sketchbook drawings or whatever I'm working on, as frequently as daily. I'm sure I won't keep this schedule perfectly, but I'll try my best.

Here are some new animal sketches. I'm playing with style and weight. Still (always) a long ways to go. And if you like these, then you should clickety-click over to get my new book. It's still warm from the oven.

Spotlight: Arkady Roytman

Howdy, y'all. This is a drawing of my good friend Arkady Roytman. This is a quick sketch (no more than 5 minutes) done at a session of the New York Society of Illustrators bi-weekly "Jazz and Sketch Night". Twice per week, this great organization hosts a night of nude or semi-nude figure drawing, complete with a bar and live music. It's an incredibly fun time where you can practice honing your life-drawing skills (and I love to occasionally cheat and draw the other artists!)

Anyway, the live sketch night is usually moderated by Arkady. He's only hosting a part-time now, but he still attends at least once per week and is a big part of helping the Society run from week-to-week. Arkady is a great guy, and watching him paint is sweeter than the jazz in the air. His watercolors are both subtle and entergetic, capturing the pose with a loose and wonderful palette.

Arkady has two blogs: One is for personal work, including illustration, commissions, concept art, fantasy art, figure drawing and more. He is an amazingly rounded artist and inspires me with his life drawings like no one else.

His other blog is just that: nude figure drawings. It's called "Nude of the Day." Arkady paints plenty of nude figures, and he offers these paintings fresh, daily. You can dig through hundreds of amazing paintings. Trust me, I've seen him create them... they are more beautiful in person, and you should consider investing in a nice original.

Lastly, Arkady has compiled a "best-of" book for his first year of daily nude sketches, which you can pick up pretty cheap! Why not swing over to his blog and get Arkady's book. I have one here at my house and I look at it frequently. Check it out and let Arkady know what you think of his work --

I think it's great.

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SKETCH INFECTUS has arrived!

So the bulk shipment of the books has arrived! I am quickly printing, packing, and preparing the books for you, so hopefully I can get the books out by Friday, Saturday or Monday.

FINAL NOTICE: The "pre-order" stage is over as of midnight tonight (okay, if you read this by 1:00 am, I'll let it slide), so tell your friends and get the last orders in, because with a pre-order you get a free sketch clipped from one of my sketchbooks, as well as another small gift from me. But remember, that's over TONIGHT, March 18th at midnight.

Lastly, I want to thank everyone who has already ordered the book and been very patient. You are all so amazing to support the arts and an artist like me, as well as being into sharing inspiration and method. It's so cool, and this is why I do it-- I'm happy to say there has been nearly 300 books sold, already! This is the one I'm most proud of, and I am so blessed to have so many amazing artists and supporters notice what I do, as well as sharing it with others and supporting the arts. So again, thank you.

Sketching again

EDIT: Extended Sketchbook Giveaway offer at the Art Squared Blog!
CLICK!

Sketching is so important. I feel like I have no clue what I'm doing sometimes. But after a few warmup doodles or sketches, it hits me and it feels natural again. Here are a few recent drawings from my sketchbook.

These are just quick observational sketches from photos, just to pass time and keep 'limber.' They are done with Prismacolor markers, fine-liner pens and Faber-Castell PITT brush pens on a simple white sketchbook from Barnes & Noble (good prices on sketchbooks).

Please excuse the lack of posts here, recently. I have been traveling a lot, and it's been quite hectic, however both New York Comic Con and Orlando MegaCon went far better than I had hoped. Thanks to everyone who dropped by, I'll have more photos and stories very soon.

detail

A comic drawn in Orlando

I'm at my buddy's desk in Orlando, FL in the middle of the night because I've been toiling away at this top-secret comic, while MegaCon approaches quickly in the morning (Friday through Sunday - drop by!) and I am getting closer and closer to being finished. The good news is, I was just given enough time to make sure it turns out how I want it. I can't share the work here, but I'll present this half-finished glimpse:

CARICATURE on the brain

There's a great two-minute video and short analysis posted over at Tom Richmond's blog. I hope Tom doesn't mind three more people reading his drivel (hyuk hyuk!), so check it out. VERY cool take on caricature and the human face...

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PS: I still have a couple weeks 'til the warehouse receives the bulk shipment of my new book, so preorder while you still can.

(click!)

MegaCon - Orlando, FL

I'll be in Orlando, FL next weekend (Feb 27 - Mar 1) for MegaCon at the Orlando County Convention Center. This is a photo from my table last year-- this year I'll have several more (NEW) books for you to peruse and purchase, and I'll be drawing caricatures of YOU! So drop in and say hi, I'll be at the Joe Bluhm/ Art Squared Publishing table, in the Indy Press section -- Blue 16.

Sorry for the lack of art here - I'm doing a LOT, I promise... I'll post some new art soon.
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'09 Prismacolor Art Competiton

Once again, Prismacolor is hosting an art competition. The prizes are kind of big, so head over to the website for details!

Last day for book special...

Today is the LAST day for the special offer on pre-orders for my new book, SKETCH INFECTUS. See the Art Squared Publishing blog for details, and get your copy today... the pre-order period will extend for a couple more weeks, but this special offer is only available until the end of TODAY!

Check it out, and I'll see you at booth 2341 at the Javitz center here in New York this weekend, at New York Comic Con. :)