The Stump

I'm posting twice today because I dont know if I will be able to post tomorrow. This sketch is one I just started. She is supposed to be slightly more reclined in her pose. I had gotten to far into the drawing before I realized it. As it is, she is a little stiff, but I might throw it on a light box and fix it. Or I might just move on since it isn't a paying job. Well, here she is ladies and gentlemen the "lady on the stump."

Riokin Tolf

I made his chest more narrow, which with all that fuzz on his face makes his head look big. I will have to make his chest a little wider. He is one of the leading characters so I don't want him to look like a puny human. I am not sure about the shoulder strap at this point. I think this is a good start, but incomplete. It just doesn't say "nomadic barbarian warrior" to me at this point. I think you should be able to look at the character a get some sense of background and personality. I will have to keep workin at it.

I am going to be taking some correspondence courses from Joe Kubert's school  of cartooning and animation this year. I am curious to see how it affects my drawing ability. You should be able to look at the first post until now an see some improvement. I am thirty seven years old and it has taken me this long to lay all else aside and pursue what I really want, which is to create and tell stories. It is taking alot of self discipline and determination. Until next time boys and girls.

Riokin Tolf

Still working on the look for Mr. Tolf

Riokin Tolf

First sketch of Riokin Tolf. He needs a lot more rendering, but I was unsatisfied with the pose. It made him look shorter than he should be. I made the arm a little to stiff. I think I will try a simple standing pose to help define the look. You can barely see his fur loin cloth in this pic.

Gesture 3

I sketched this out about a year ago. I was playing around with muscle tone.

Quick Chick Sketch

I did this sketch pretty quick. I actually surprised myself with it. I started to dress her, but could not think of anything to put on her and I have a lot of things to get done today. This will have to do for now.

Never Going To Talk To My Wife That Way Again

I think the title says it all about this gesture drawing.

Jaxil

Here is a character I drew a few years ago. Her legs are not exactly right, but my wife likes her. Maybe she was just trying to make me feel good. Oh, well!

Fireguard Priest

I tried playing around with different types of robes. I am not really sure about  this one but its a start. In the story there is a nomadic tribe called the Fireguard, this is one of the first concept sketches of them. There will of course be more to come.

Hula

This is the first sketch of Hula. Hula is head over heels for Greta. He thinks she is the most beautiful creature to grace the planet. His people are the Nari-Ton and he is from the tribe of Gan. Hula Gan is Greta's faithful sidekick.

Gesture

This is a quick gesture drawing, one of my favorite stages of drawing, frolicking around the page like an elephant in the snow. Ok, bad example, but it’s a lot of fun and takes less than thirty seconds. It beats blind contour drawings any day.

It was very light so all of the line work didn’t show up when I scanned it. But, I think you can see where it all begins to take shape.

I have had a lot of down time the last few weeks, so I’ve had the time to spend on my drawing. Even though it has only been a couple of weeks I can tell my drawing is improving every day. Well, back to the board.

Short Stuff

This wee fellow doesn’t have a name yet. I am still playing around with ideas as I am drafting the story. I have to get back to the drawing board so until next time…

Greta

This is Greta, the beautiful battle maiden,one of my personal favorites. She even has her own side kick. I will post him later.

Another Nameless Figure

Here is another figure that goes into the nameless category. I have a few ideas for her, but nothing set in stone. I’m trying for a particular look right now. I haven’t got there yet, but I will keep working on it. Oh well, back to the drawing board.

Barbarian

Here I was experimenting with various types of weaponry for a barbarian. I don’t know if it will make the final cut, but it is a start. It gives me an idea about the appearance I want the character to have. Of coarse, personality, skill, history, environment, etc. all play a part in shaping the appearance of the character.


At this point, I am compiling characters for a story. These pencils are not even close to being finished. The characters will go through a substantial amount of changes before I generate the finished pencils.

It’s a pretty inexpensive hobby and it is fun. I can create the people I don’t like in the image that I see them. Then slaughter them in whatever grotesque manner I deem worthy of their inconsequential existence. It’s therapeutic.

Under The Tree

This sketch was a little frustrating. I could not think of anything to do with it. I tried several diferent types of clothing. I thought everything I tried just looked stupid. I will try again when I have a little more creativity flowing. Until then, here is the lady under the tree.

Man In A Mask

This sketch is a little old, but I have been deathly sick, nigh unto death. I didnt feel like doing alot of drawing. I am feeling better now and should be my usual cheery self in a couple of years.

Urik

This is Urick. He has no personality right now, but he hopes to one day be a mean mama jama.

Brinzu

I sketched this one out some time ago. I was playing around with different races. I dont have a name for his race yet, but I named him Brinzu.

He still needs alot of work. I thought it was a good start though.

The Ulcer 2

I tilted his head back and grimaced his face more. He now looks to be more in a problematic situation. His forehead is out of proportion, which makes the face lok out of proportion.

I also took artistic liberties with the tongue. The human tongue does not hang out of the mouth like that, unless you are Gene Simons.

It needs more rendering, but I didn't want take up a lot of time finishing it. I did it kinda as a joke.

The Ulcer

This sketch is all about feeling that ulcer. I should have put more expression in his face, but I did it in a hurry.

Gesture Drawing

I was playing around with some gesture drawings, turning the body in different directions. I decided to add a little meat to this one.




I was trying to see how far I could turn the waist and make it look natural, a fairly successful exercise.

Michael Alexander

I named this character "Michael Alexander" after a friend of mine, mainly because I think he has a cool name. He is also a little different. I think I will name his little robot buddy Brian.

Brian is always doing something to cause trouble for Micheal. They have a unique relationship.

The Old Fighter

This is a sketch of an older fighter. He’s not nearly beat up enough. I should’ve made his armor more ragged and aged. He definitely needs to be covered with scars. I'll probably redraw him a little more the worse for ware. Until then this is the Old Fighter.

Chick With Sword

I don’t have a name for this one so, "Chick With Sword," will have to do for now. Most of my sketches are done on 8 1/2 x 11 paper. That size doesn’t leave a lot of room for detail work, but I can get a rough idea of how I want the character to look.



There are a couple of places that the anatomy isn't exactly right. I didn't really try to fix them. I don’t like to erase when I'm just sketching out ideas. I would actually rather start a new drawing than do a lot of erasing.


The hardest part of creating characters, at least for me, is the clothing. I've always had a hard time with creating the types of clothes they wear, making the accessories dangle just right, and I dont even want to talk about drapery. It makes me wish I had payed more attention in art class.



Still, drawing has always been fun for me and I want to continually improve. I welcome honest critiques and try to learn something from every drawing. Until next time.

Efriam The Sodomite

Here's a first sketch of Efriam the Sodomite. I started to name him something more sinister. Maybe something like Obama Bin Laden, but that might upset someone and I would never do anything to upset someone. Far be it from me to start trouble. Besides, I hope to write him into a story that is enjoyable and entertaining without throwing purpose filled political agendas at you with every turn of the page.

I love the fro though. The armor needs some attention. In fact, my drawing needs some attention. I should probable shut up and get back to it. Till next time.

New Character

Here I was playing around with a new character design. Proportions are a little off. He's kinda flat around the chest area, hand and arm need a little work. I could have spent more time on him to get it right, but hes not suppose to be a finished product. I hopefully learned from some of my mistakes, at least some of them.

Finding time to draw consistently every day would probably help. Draw, Draw, Draw, If you want to get better you have to do it. (I have to do it!) That's what all the professionals will tell you. I just keep running into this one obstacle called making a living. If that what you want to call what I do. Anyway hopefully I'm headed in the right direction, see ya later.

Space Suit

I sketched this out one day after work. I was playing around with space suit designs. Some of the line work is kinda rough and no shading. I didn't have time for much else. Gotta go! busy, busy, busy.