Sketches from Life Drawing this week
13 years ago
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Life Drawing Sketches July 28 2010 Posted on The Pencil Effect Sketchbook
Posted some of my latest sketches from Life Drawing this week over on The Pencil Effect Sketchbook
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Friday, July 2, 2010
Quote: Cennino Cennini
Do not fail, as you go on, to draw something every day, for no matter how little it is, it will be well worth while, and it will do you a world of good.
- Cennino Cennini
- Cennino Cennini
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
On the topic of Talent
If you have a talent, use it in every which way possible. Don't hoard it. Don't dole it out like a miser. Spend it lavishly like a millionaire intent on going broke.
-Brendan Francis
Talent seems to be a pretty divisive topic. People either seem to fervently believe there is no such thing as talent and that people who do believe in talent are just making excuses, or they believe that there is such a thing as being naturally talented and that can give a person a leg up in their endeavors. I am a little unsure what people are making excuses for by believing in talent, it seems to cover both ends of the spectrum from making excuses as to why they will never be good, or making excuses as to why they are great. I think that at the end of the day it may, as many things do, boil down to fear. I think that some people are afraid that since they don't consider themselves to have talent in the thing that really interests them, that means that no matter how hard they work they can never be 'great' at it. That is just silly. There are many paths to the same destination and many starting points, no two people will have the same journey. So one person's 'talent' may mean they start a little closer to the finishing line than you do that by no means invalidates your journey or prevents you from reaching the same finishing line. Talent is really only a head start, everyone still has to put in the hard work to be great. So some people have a natural inclination for a task and some people don't, at the end of the day it doesn't matter, what matters is what you do with what you've got.
-Brendan Francis
Talent seems to be a pretty divisive topic. People either seem to fervently believe there is no such thing as talent and that people who do believe in talent are just making excuses, or they believe that there is such a thing as being naturally talented and that can give a person a leg up in their endeavors. I am a little unsure what people are making excuses for by believing in talent, it seems to cover both ends of the spectrum from making excuses as to why they will never be good, or making excuses as to why they are great. I think that at the end of the day it may, as many things do, boil down to fear. I think that some people are afraid that since they don't consider themselves to have talent in the thing that really interests them, that means that no matter how hard they work they can never be 'great' at it. That is just silly. There are many paths to the same destination and many starting points, no two people will have the same journey. So one person's 'talent' may mean they start a little closer to the finishing line than you do that by no means invalidates your journey or prevents you from reaching the same finishing line. Talent is really only a head start, everyone still has to put in the hard work to be great. So some people have a natural inclination for a task and some people don't, at the end of the day it doesn't matter, what matters is what you do with what you've got.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Interview Spotlight: CHIUSTREAM - Tom Fluharty
Check out this great interview by Bobby Chiu of Tom Fluharty. Interesting and motivational.
CHIUSTREAM - Tom Fluharty
CHIUSTREAM - Tom Fluharty
Friday, June 11, 2010
Quote: Rabindranath Tagore
You can't cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water.
- Rabindranath Tagore.
- Rabindranath Tagore.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Artist Spotlight: Stephen Silver
Artist Spotlight
Stephen Silver
One of the artists who really inspires me is Stephen Silver. I believe I found out about him from his podcast, it wasn't until later that I learned he worked on a pretty great cartoon called Kim Possible. Stephen has really inspired me through his podcasts, which have now become a weekly or sometimes monthly uStream where he talks about the business and answers viewers questions. He has provided an insight into the life of a professional artist which I can't get enough of. Seeing as how I don't personally know any artists in my area it is something that I have really cherished. Stephen also teaches a Character Design class at Schoolism.com that I only wish I were good enough to take and really get my moneys worth from it. Someday soon hopefully I will be there.
Stephen has also put out a number of books of his art his most recent being Passion for Life:
Artist Links:
Blog
Wordpress
uStream
Schoolism
Stephen Silver on Amazon
Stephen Silvers Webstore
Stephen Silver
Artist Links:
Blog
Wordpress
uStream
Schoolism
Stephen Silver on Amazon
Stephen Silvers Webstore
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Companion Blog: The Pencil Effect Sketch Book
I have started a companion blog to The Pencil Effect called imaginatively enough The Pencil Effect Sketch Book. There I will be posting daily sketches and weekly drawing as I work through the resources I post here. Please give it a visit if you are interested in keeping up with my progress.
Tutorial Spotlight: PSG
Tutorial Spotlight
The link above is an interesting mix of pieces of advice on a number of topics including lighting, construction, studies etc. It is worth a read for any beginner. It does not go to far into any one topic but rather provides a light overview of many topics. http://www.itchstudios.com/psg/art_tut.htm.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Inside the Artist's Studio: Alex Ruiz Interview
Inside the Artist's Studio: Alex Ruiz Interview:
"What was the best piece of artistic advice you have received or can offer?
Keep drawing, and keep drawing!! There really is no secret; it's all about consistency and the acquiring of good instruction whether it's through teachers, books, DVDs, or all three if possible. There's an old saying that goes: 'when you're not practicing, someone else is.'"
"What was the best piece of artistic advice you have received or can offer?
Keep drawing, and keep drawing!! There really is no secret; it's all about consistency and the acquiring of good instruction whether it's through teachers, books, DVDs, or all three if possible. There's an old saying that goes: 'when you're not practicing, someone else is.'"
Podcast Spotlight: Big Illustration Party Time
Podcast Spotlight
Big Illustration Party Time
Big Illustration Party Time is a podcast I have only recently discovered but have found it to be very entertaining and informative. The podcast is hosted by Kevin Cross and Joshua Kemble and covers various topics surrounding freelance illustration and cartooning. I have only listened to the first dozen or so episodes so I do not know how deeply they may eventually delve into process but these first episodes have had some very interesting information regarding the business of being a freelance illustrator as well as a couple of great interviews with artists such as Chris Oatley and Roger Langridge. If you are interested in becoming a freelance illustrator or just want to listen to a couple of artists talking about the biz I highly recommend giving Big Illustration Party Time a try.
Big Illustration Party Time
Big Illustration Party Time is a podcast I have only recently discovered but have found it to be very entertaining and informative. The podcast is hosted by Kevin Cross and Joshua Kemble and covers various topics surrounding freelance illustration and cartooning. I have only listened to the first dozen or so episodes so I do not know how deeply they may eventually delve into process but these first episodes have had some very interesting information regarding the business of being a freelance illustrator as well as a couple of great interviews with artists such as Chris Oatley and Roger Langridge. If you are interested in becoming a freelance illustrator or just want to listen to a couple of artists talking about the biz I highly recommend giving Big Illustration Party Time a try.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Quote: Michelangelo
If people knew how hard I worked to get my mastery, it wouldn't seem so wonderful at all.
-Michelangelo
-Michelangelo
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Website Spotlight: ConceptArt.org
Website Spotlight
conceptart.org
"We are a web community of artists who are here for one purpose. We want to help each other learn about art, provide the best place to showcase work, further our art educations, and to meet other artists from around the world. We are a community funded from within, and with the support of our sponsors and professionals on the site."
ConceptArt.org is one of those sites that I find a bit daunting at first, there seems to be so much going on that you don't know where to start. The forums alone are worth frequenting the site for. You can find many many talented artist willing to give a word or two of advice, or you can simply spend hours soaking in other peoples great work. On top of that there are the galleries and links to other learning opportunities such as Massive Black or The Illustration Acadamy and you have one great artists resource. I could go on but I think you would be better served by just heading on over there and checking it out for yourself.
conceptart.org
"We are a web community of artists who are here for one purpose. We want to help each other learn about art, provide the best place to showcase work, further our art educations, and to meet other artists from around the world. We are a community funded from within, and with the support of our sponsors and professionals on the site."
ConceptArt.org is one of those sites that I find a bit daunting at first, there seems to be so much going on that you don't know where to start. The forums alone are worth frequenting the site for. You can find many many talented artist willing to give a word or two of advice, or you can simply spend hours soaking in other peoples great work. On top of that there are the galleries and links to other learning opportunities such as Massive Black or The Illustration Acadamy and you have one great artists resource. I could go on but I think you would be better served by just heading on over there and checking it out for yourself.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Personal Post: A brief history
My history with art goes back to my childhood and it is probably not unique. As a kid I loved to draw and I loved comics. For a time I was certain that I would grow up to be a comic book artist. As I got older though various pressures asserted themselves and the dream was abandoned. I got it into my head that I needed to be a computer programmer so I pursued that route. Now all these years later I am a computer programmer and but an especially happy one. Over the last few years the old dream of being an artist has appeared to remind me of my first passion. I've decided that I need to follow that passion and see where it leads me. It might be that I will be able to work out some sort of programmer / artist hybrid career where programming is my bread and butter and art is a hobby or secondary source of income. It may mean a total career change. In any event I am committing myself to finding out.
So why this blog? The purpose of this blog is two fold. One is to provide the impetus to myself to be in an art mindset everyday and to be sketching every day. Two is to provide others out there who are just starting down their own path resources that I have found and perhaps companionship of a sort. People are afraid to put their mistakes and crappy work out there for others to learn from. I have decided to suck it up and put it out there. If you are just starting out you are not alone. Those mistakes you are making? You are not the only one to make them. Your drawing looks like crap? Well take heart, so does mine :D. Together we might be able to learn more than we could alone.
So why this blog? The purpose of this blog is two fold. One is to provide the impetus to myself to be in an art mindset everyday and to be sketching every day. Two is to provide others out there who are just starting down their own path resources that I have found and perhaps companionship of a sort. People are afraid to put their mistakes and crappy work out there for others to learn from. I have decided to suck it up and put it out there. If you are just starting out you are not alone. Those mistakes you are making? You are not the only one to make them. Your drawing looks like crap? Well take heart, so does mine :D. Together we might be able to learn more than we could alone.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Welcome to The Pencil Effect
Welcome to The Pencil Effect. This blog is intended to be a place for people who are learning to draw or paint to find help, inspiration and resources to see them on their way to becoming the artist they want to be. I will post articles, thoughts, art, and reviews that I have come across that have helped me and will hopefully help you. I am just at the beginning of this journey myself so I guess if you are looking for advice from a successful industry professional this might not be what your are looking for. That is not to say you won't be able to find those people through this blog, just that the voice of this blog is not one of them. If however you are an amateur looking to find what other amateurs are doing and what is helping them and how they are progressing then welcome.
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