Don’t Worry ‘Bout a Thing, ink wash, 5/28/08

Let’s see. I’ve been meaning to experiment with some kids book illustrations. This ink wash style is what I’ve been using on my freelance work lately. Illustration Friday’s topic of “worry” brought Bob Marley’s classic tune “Three Little Birds” to my head. It all adds up to this weird drawing.

Rise up this mornin’,
Smiled with the risin’ sun,
Three little birds
Pitch by my doorstep
Singin’ sweet songs
Of melodies pure and true,
Sayin’, this is my message to you.

Lately, the things that have been influencing me artistically and otherwise piquing my interest have been all over the place. Pulp, The Old West, Greek Mythology, Arabian Nights, Chronicles of Narnia. Too much! Need to focus! Brain Aneurysm!

Simmer down, now. Every little thing gonna be alright.

Here’s the sketch. What a large head this kid has!

Treat yourself to a happy song:

Story Gaming in Boston, 5-21-08

Sheesh, it’s been a little while since I’ve written anything here. I’ve been traveling a bit (I’ll post photos soon!) and working (I can’t post the stuff right now.)

Last night I attended my first gaming session with the “Story Games Boston” group. You ask, what’s a story game? The definition is somewhat sketchy, but Story-Games.com says:

A Story Game is a type of role-playing game or gaming experience with a lesser focus on My Character and a greater focus on Our Story.

It was a fun and memorable evening with lots of laughs, dice explosions and bottle-tipping. It will be awhile before I get the hang of this style of play. Playing is heavy improvisation and whenever I try to improv, a big “Loading, Please Wait…” message scrolls across my brain.

Great group of folks and I’m looking forward to seeing them again next week.

A Wizard of the Mythos
pen/brush and ink, 4/10/08

Here’s a side by side comparison of the two different techniques I used on this illustration. The one on the right reads better at a smaller size.

Placing the ink drawing on the left on top of the wash drawing on the right gives it an interesting look, kind of like a dollar bill engraving. It goes to crap when it’s reduced down, though.

Which version do you like better?

Two renderings of that Evil Magician
pen/brush and ink, 4/11/08

Curses to the sinister Tax Man, that diabolical prestidigitator who makes money vanish into thin air, particularly when you’re self-employed.

This one was supposed to be dramatic and over the top, so I thought an ink wash might serve it better. A true master of the pen could probably achieve the required moodiness with just line, but I’m still working on it. Then again, the brush is a LOT faster.

May April 15, (tax day in the States,) pass you by without financial harm or frustration.

I Saw Fulham Win Away
ink wash & Photoshop, 4/12/08

Fulham defeated Reading today. What great joy to see Brian McBride put the ball in the back of the net for Fulham, and then to watch them hold the lead, later increase the lead, to go on to earn their first away win in thirty-some games.

This poster was inspired by a comment from one of the commentators during the game who said he’d like to have this statement printed on a t-shirt.

Strength of Twenty Men
ink wash on watercolor paper, 4/11/08

When I reduced the pen and ink version of this drawing in size, the linework became difficult to read. I admit, I’m still trying to figure out the optimal rendering technique with pen and ink when working at smaller sizes, say 3″ x 5″. Obviously the 19th and early 20th century illustrators mastered this, so I probably just need to study up on them some more.

Here’s an ink wash instead. I really like the way the inks look as a color scan, so, even though they’ll be printed in grayscale, I’m going to post them here in color.

I haven’t done this in awhile, so let me know what you think. Thanks!

Strength of Twenty Men
pen and ink, 4/2/08

More from the RPG project.