Spaceman Dave

I.F. "Sink"

2011-12-17T15:15:00.001-08:00

The gator can just sink below the water and disappear, so watch out ...

Ink, watercolor in a Moleskine pad.

I.F. "Scary"

2011-10-28T13:39:00.001-07:00

Spidery legs, dagger-like teeth, and lots of eyes--pretty scary. This is a scratchboard demo with digital color.

Demibooks Composer

2011-08-04T08:44:00.000-07:00

I was a guest blogger for Demibooks because I am beta-testing their app-authoring software called "Composer." It's been a blast trying out their app and developing "Did the Big Bang Make a Sound? Simple Answers to Cosmic Questions." Here's a link to the post:
http://demibooks.com/demibooks-composer/composing-the-cosmos/

I.F. "Perennial"

2011-07-22T14:36:00.000-07:00

Monster pirates are a perennial favorite of mine to draw. Alright, maybe a bit of a stretch, but here's a study that I just finished. It's a different approach (for me) to digitally color a drawing.
Charcoal drawing with color added in Photoshop.

I.F. "Swept"

2011-06-11T14:30:00.001-07:00

Here's an astronaut being swept out into deep space.
Done in graphite with digital color.

"Guys Read" Event

2011-03-05T15:52:00.001-08:00

In February I led a "Guys Read" event at the Wheaton Public Library. Over 40 boys attended. We discussed graphic novels and comics, I did a demo, and the kids drew their own 4-panel comic. I'll be running a similar program at the Wheaton Library this summer (for boys and girls).

Thank you Andrea Schaal for setting this up and thanks to Janet Dumas for taking the photos.

Lincoln Elementary School Visit

2011-03-05T14:29:00.000-08:00

In February I visited Lincoln Elementary School in Wheaton, IL, as a storyteller for their family reading night. I had two sessions of about 90 people each. My theme was "reading as an illustrator" (paying careful attention to the story's images in order to illustrate it). I read a Chinese folk story, we discussed it, then I created an illustration from the story. The kids (and parents) did a great job identifying the key visuals from the stories.

Thanks to Karen Ringas for inviting me, and thanks to Debbie Bucher for taking these photos.

I.F. "Chicken"

2011-01-16T11:23:00.000-08:00

Different types of chickens. Clockwise from top left: rubber chicken, pre-chicken, chicken chicken, fried chicken. Please click to enlarge.
Pencil in a Moleskine sketchbook with digital color.

I.F. "Resolutions"

2010-12-31T14:04:00.000-08:00

It is one of my New Year's resolutions to stop gambling.
With Space Pirates, that is.
This is a recent illustration done in pencil with digital color.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

2010-12-19T19:25:00.000-08:00

I hope that everyone has a safe and happy holiday season! And watch out for those snowballs!

I.F. "Sneaky"

2010-11-19T13:44:00.001-08:00

"The banana heist was anything but sneaky."

Pencil drawing with digital color.

Photoshop Brush Presets

2010-10-26T07:22:00.000-07:00

When you're using Brushes in Photoshop, there are two different sets of controls that you should be aware of: the Brush Presets and the Brush Panel. The screen shot above is the Brush Presets. You can use this menu to access a bunch of different Brush libraries (like Dry Media Brushes or the Rubber Ducky Brush under Special Effects). You can also access this menu by right-clicking with the Paint Brush as the active tool (then hit the top right hand corner fly-out menu arrow) or through the Brush Panel.

I.F. Transportation

2010-10-08T20:20:00.000-07:00

I scanned a drawing that I had done with a Micron pen and decided to paint it digitally (using Photoshop and Painter) for this week's Illustration Friday. Click on the image for a larger view.

I.F. "Beneath"

2010-10-04T07:53:00.000-07:00

This is a study that I recently did to try out some different effects in Photoshop and tools in Painter (with a scanned ink line).

I.F. "The Slacker Acrobat"

2010-09-18T14:52:00.001-07:00

Ink, watercolor in a Moleskine book

I.F. "Proverb"

2010-09-11T17:01:00.001-07:00

This is based on the proverb "The bird who wiggles his toes like a worm gets the fish." Never heard that one? That's cuz' I just made it up. I did this watercolor in my Moleskine book during a beach trip. Apparently, some egrets do wiggle their toes to attract fish, so feel free to use my proverb (just give me credit).

Pencil Lines in Photoshop (CS4)

2010-06-01T13:55:00.000-07:00

This tutorial will show you how to draw pencil lines from a scan of your own pencil shading.

Step 1: Evenly shade in a dark rectangle with your usual pencil and paper (a square inch or so), then scan it at 100%. In Photoshop, use the Rectangular Marquee to make a selection within your shaded rectangle. See below.

Step 2: Edit (from the top Menu bar) > Define Pattern, and give it a name (in the example it's "My Pencil").

Step 3: Now choose the Pattern Stamp tool (it's nested with the Clone Stamp) from the Tool Panel. You'll notice that the Menu/Tool Options at the top of the window shows a thumbnail of the current Pattern. Click on the thumbnail and choose the Pattern that you just created.

Above: The Pattern Stamp (it's nested underneath the Clone Stamp) and the thumbnail for the Pattern Library

Now draw in your Photoshop image window, and you're drawing with a scan of your pencil line.

Step 4 (optional): You might try adding a little Scattering from your Brush Panel (F5). Scattering roughs up the edge of the stroke a little bit, which mimics drawing on a slightly textured surface.

Step 5 (optional): You could also set your Brush mode in Menu/Tool options to "Multiply" so that your line gets darker with each stroke (like an actual pencil). See below:

You can also check out the "Artist Surfaces" library (hit the drop-down menu in the Pattern Library; top right hand corner). I've found that some of the options in the "Artists Surfaces" library are just as good as my own scanned samples.

I.F. "Ahead"

2010-04-24T16:45:00.001-07:00

"The elephant ran ahead ..."

Yep, I admit it: I just wanted to paint an elephant.
Done in ink and acrylic.

I.F. "Subterranean"

2010-03-12T15:58:00.001-08:00

Yep, it's a blind mole private eye (with apologies to Humphrey Bogart) to illustrate "subterranean." Ink and acrylic in a moleskine (seriously) sketchbook.

I.F. "Muddy"

2010-02-06T10:23:00.001-08:00

Bulldogs are just fun to draw! Pencil with digital color.

Another Train Illustration

2010-01-26T15:01:00.000-08:00

Here's an illustration that I did for a kids' magazine. It was published last month. Done in gouache on hot-pressed watercolor paper. Love those trains!

I.F. "Unbalanced"

2009-11-13T16:45:00.000-08:00

"Should I tell the teacher that the creature was peeking in the window again, or would she just think that I was unbalanced?"

I just finished this promotional piece. It's a new style: pencil drawing, color blocked in with Photoshop, and finished up in Corel Painter.

I.F. "Blur"

2009-11-06T16:58:00.001-08:00

This seemed like a good excuse to make a space ship going so fast that the background is just a blur. Pencil, digital.

I.F. "Skinny"

2009-11-02T19:25:00.000-08:00

A skinny witch!
Alright, a little late for the Halloween theme. Pencil with digital color.

IF "Strong"

2009-09-05T16:46:00.001-07:00

"It had a strong smell, but he figured he may as well eat it anyway."

I thought it would be fun to illustrate something a little bit abstract, like a strong smell. Done in acrylic.

New Work

2009-08-20T10:32:00.001-07:00

This is a new illustration from a story that I'm developing. I'm also painting more opaquely, which I really like. The colors are richer and it's more detailed and lush than most of my transparent watercolors.

Illustration Friday "Tango"

2009-07-18T13:36:00.001-07:00

This seemed like a good excuse to draw some elephants.
Ink, watercolor in a Moleskine watercolor pad.

I.F. "Shaky"

2009-07-06T08:40:00.001-07:00

Alright, here's a silly one that I did for "Shaky" while I was on vacation. Ink and watercolor in a Moleskine watercolor pad.

IF "Unfold"

2009-06-12T15:13:00.000-07:00

"The captain unfolded the map and looked at it carefully ..."
Mixed media on watercolor paper.

IF "Impossibility"

2009-04-18T20:08:00.000-07:00

"And to think that my teacher told me that it was impossible for my jet pack to ever fly ... now how am I going to land this thing?"

A pretty quick one this week--done with gouache in a Moleskine pad. And I love that in illustration, all things are possible!

Illustration Fri. "Talisman"

2009-04-05T12:48:00.000-07:00

"Gilrond was starting to wish that he had a bigger talisman ..."
I got a little carried away this week. I'm really enjoying working on hot press watercolor paper with a mix of watercolors, gouache, and pastels.
PS: I'd like to think that someone saves him at the last minute.

Illustration Fri. "Poise"

2009-03-28T20:23:00.001-07:00

"Her legendary poise was about to be put to the test ..."
I'm still experimenting with media. This one's a blend of watercolor, gouache, and pastel on hot-pressed watercolor paper. I like this mixture a lot.

Illustration Friday "Time"

2009-02-08T19:06:00.001-08:00

For this study, I was trying to do a few things: First, I was experimenting with gouache and pastels on illustration board instead of the usual watercolors on watercolor paper. I also wanted to suggest the presence of the Moon without directly showing it. And I wanted to create depth and a slightly ominous mood.

Illustration Friday "Pale"

2009-01-17T13:30:00.000-08:00

Have you ever been to an opening where the art pales in comparison to the colorful characters at the gallery?
Done in ink and watercolor in a Moleskine watercolor pad.

Illustration Friday "Contained"

2009-01-10T10:55:00.000-08:00

"She decided that she could no longer be contained ..."
This seems like a continuation of a theme from last week ...
Ink and watercolor in a Moleskine book.

Illustration Friday "Resolve"

2009-01-02T19:58:00.001-08:00

Have you ever seen a fly repeatedly slamming full-tilt into a window, trying to get outside? That takes resolve ... or is it ignorance?
Ink, watercolor, and gouache in a Moleskine pad.

Illustration Friday "Clandestine"

2008-12-26T19:53:00.000-08:00

Clandestine location drawing.
The people you're drawing will move as soon as they notice that you're drawing them. Oh well, they'll move anyway! Done in ballpoint pen and watercolors.

Illustration Friday "Voices"

2008-12-20T15:23:00.000-08:00

Voices caroling.
Have a safe and happy holiday season!

Illustration Friday "Rambunctious"

2008-12-13T18:01:00.000-08:00

Since "rambunctious" usually refers to kids, I thought it would be a good idea to turn the tables. This also reminded me of a childhood experience: One time my parents had some of their friends over and they put my brother and me to bed. After several rounds of drinks, one of their guests started telling dirty jokes. My brother I and cracked open the door and listened. Later, my mom caught me telling embellished versions of the dirty jokes!

"Make Me an Offer" Show

2008-12-04T15:55:00.001-08:00

This painting, "Lost Robot," is part of a show at the Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago. The show, called "Make Me an Offer," is an exploration of the gray zone that exists between "fine" and "commercial" art. The opening is Thursday, December 11th, 5 to 7:30 P.M. at Gallery 350, Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago, Mart Campus, 350 North Orleans Street, Chicago, IL. Check this website for more details.

Illustration Friday "Balloon"

2008-11-29T16:39:00.000-08:00

The balloon is floating off of the edge of the earth. I also managed to work in a speech balloon.

Done in ink, watercolor, and gouache in a Moleskine watercolor pad.

Illustration Friday "Opinion"

2008-11-22T09:44:00.001-08:00

An opinion--everyone has one.
Done in ink and watercolor.

Illustration Friday "Pretend"

2008-11-16T15:12:00.000-08:00

"Maybe if he pretended to be asleep, then Finkley would just go away ..."

I wanted to do another monster illustration this week. This is a little different technique than usual: mostly gouache over an ink drawing on Strathmore illustration board.

Illustration Friday "Wise"

2008-11-08T17:22:00.000-08:00

I thought a wise bull could be funny, although he also just looks kinda' bored. Oh well, I really just like drawing cows. Done in ink, watercolor, and gouache.

Illustration Friday "Vacant"

2008-11-02T15:50:00.000-08:00

"I'll just land on this vacant asteroid and stretch my legs ..."

I got a little carried away this week. Done in ink, watercolor, and gouache.

Illustration Friday "Repair"

2008-10-25T19:59:00.000-07:00

Here's my post for "Repair." I guess that he's upgrading at the same time. Done in ink, watercolor, and acrylic gouache.

Illustration Friday "Late"

2008-10-23T08:29:00.001-07:00

I did this watercolor for Illustration Friday's topic "Late." I was thinking about two things: the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland and working late into the night on deadline (and I worked late on Friday night to finish it).