How I Create

I have always enjoyed drawing things out first then adding the basic colours to it. Taking it then into photoshop and adding more details or even just cleaning the the image up.

Hero

Well here you have one drawing that i did just that to. Started off drawing the basic shapes then added form to it. After I was happy with the way it looked I outlined it and added colour. The pens I used to do this are the Pro Marker pens and they are some of the best pen I have ever used for colouring stuff in. You add the first layer of colour on it and let that dry then you just add another and it is the best way to create depth and shadows on something that you create. That is really all I did with this drawing even after I scaned it in, I didn't have to do that much to it. All that is needed to be done is create the effect of a energy ball behind him and thats it really.

Remember when I said that bit about painting?

My second attempt at 'digital painting'. (currently a work in progress)

Up until this last week I've taken a similar approach to all my drawings. I draw lines, then flat colors, then shadows and finally highlights. It works, and I know I'll never have a problem colouring something I can draw. But I felt like a change, I wanted to look at my images a different way instead of just ink and some colour I felt like building it up from scratch.

It feels like a very different approach almost like sculpting, slowly adding more colour and tones until it resembles the shape, curve, texture that you want. It's a nice change from drawing I think I probably get more out of it. It really helps me to understand what I'm dealing with but it just takes so damn long, I can throw out a drawing in a few hours probably less and yet with painting I find myself working on the image long after that, days, weeks maybe longer.

Something else I got to do last week was to start using new brushes, and creating some custom ones for painting. I'm always surprised at how well you can emulate the different types of media by using a different brush that's something I'd like to do a proper discussion on though so I'll save that for another week.

So happy reading, and look out for next weeks post!

Sue Is Snap-Happy

A week comes round so fast when you have things to do. I thought I would show some photography that I have been doing recently, mostly because I do consider photography to be included as 'art'. I like the idea of capturing a moment, and for that moment to be shared, to allow people to share. Much like my standard art, I try to be a little bit unusual with photography, and get genuinely excited to try techniques I haven't tried before.



Photography is the one branch of art, where I feel comfortable editing on Photoshop. I like that I can enhance the colours and make the picture seem more 'alive'. The image above, is of a path near my house. I had the thought in my head a few days prior to taking the photo, of shooting with the camera placed on the ground, rather than me holding it. I like the way that it changes the perspective, of what a person would normally see.


The image above shows how colours can be edited to make the image 'stand out'. Again, just a few minutes tinkering with colour balance and brightness levels, and it makes an impact. And as much as editing can clean a photo up, a good photographer can create a beautiful image without an expensive camera or software. This is something I am still working on, but with practice my skills will improve. Which is all everyone should wish to do, improve their own skills, to be better at what they want to do. Both these photographs were taken over the last few days, as I wanted to do something, that shows a bit of variety. :)

Hope you all have a good week, and I'll speak to you soon.

Doodling in the margins : Dragkon

Yea Hi there.


This is my Day for Posting so Keep an eye for what gets posted.
Part of the first challenge we gave to each other was create image showing ourselves in what style we want so now we have two that I did.

 

Well what can I say I have always had creative side to me and that is mainly from some of the youth activities I did when I was kid. It is really my mum's doing that this creativity side of me kept on going form the church things that she was part of. So I thought during my time at high school to take art and graphic design, well cut a long story short I sucked really badly in those two class's, got a low mark for art and dropped out of graphic design (and some how I have a HND qualification in it now). moving on from that it didn't stop me from doodling in the margins of note books and that is how I improved what I could create. I am still a vary harsh critic on my own work, the habit of looking at it and then going that is wrong, this is wrong, that is out of proportion but then again any one who creates stuff can always be harsh on their own work because it in a way it show that they know where they went wrong and they learn to improve those areas.

So a bit more info about what type of software I use when I create my work, it's really a mixture from tradition methods to digital ones. Most of the time I just use a pencils and inks to create much of my art work just because it is much easier to go some where with a pad of paper and draw what you want to draw. Normally after I have drawn a something depending if I want to do more work to I would scan it into the PC and use software like Photoshop and muck about with the layers and filters to enhance the drawing. But lately I have been using Corel Painter and seeing how much better it is than PS, it's what i used for the image I created for today's post. I was using a Graphic Tablet and created it from scratch using the different tools that you have on there, like I said before I just started using it so hopefully I will get better at using it also I am getting more of a urge to back and draw things again.

Introduction: Darren Stewart

So here goes, my first blog post, on a blog, in the blogosphere(thingy) and hopefully every Wednesday after this. I'll be posting a piece of art and probably a quick blogpost on various subjects like how-to's and random thoughts I have about the process. There's a good chance I'll be discussing what I think are good habits and bad habits, what I think should count as regular practice that sort of thing but I usually just draw mini comics, and little random drawings. The plan is to direct that into themes, or challenges each week. I never real picked up much from school or college when it comes to drawing so it's a learning experience all the time, feel free to offer any hints, tips or ask questions in the comments.

As far as how the art is produced, I tend to use a Wacom Bamboo tablet, and Photoshop for the majority of it, but it's not unheard of for me to draw something on paper and scan it in or paint over it later on. Painting is probably something I do the least though, it's a scary business... and there's no undo!

This was our first challenge, to draw ourself in our own preferred style, I hope you enjoy it!

Introduction: Sue

Welcome to the first of many posts on Splitting Ink. As you can gather from the title, I am Sue, and I shall be your entertainment every Monday.



My love affair with Art, is the longest lasting relationship in my life. The romance started when I was really young. Between drawing on my own, and doing crafts with my mum, to keep me and my brother busy, it became a major passion in my life. Studying it Higher level at school, and eventually studying it a college, where I was lead down the path of graphic design.

My style tends to be a mix of traditional art with more digital methods. Painting and drawing is where I feel settled, but I find myself using Photoshop, to help enhance what I create. I am messy, emotive and like to show myself through my creations. I do not have a long list of technological tools to help me, because I a) have broken what I did have, or b) I like my paintbrushes better. But I do think I steer toward traditional art because using a computer to create art is quite new to me still, as I have only been incorporating into what I do for a few years.

I blog as I would converse, very open and honest. Blogging is something I do a lot, and is another passion for me. For some odd reason putting blogging and art together, didn't really come into my head. I am looking forward to see what this blog brings, and I am sure it is going to be a great journey.

Welcome to Splitting Ink

Hi welcome to Splitting Ink, the collaborative art blog consisting of:

Darren Stewart (Pyr0manic) “Although a programmer at heart, I love to draw. I did art in school, and started an art course at college. The thing is though, it never really caught my attention. I wasn’t a fan of  “art”, I just liked drawing pictures and it wasn’t until recently that I stopped doodling and started looking at it a bit more seriously. That's why I’m here... I’m looking for new things to draw and some challenges I’d not normally try.”

Paul Laurie (Dragkon) “A strange person who enjoys drawing things and painting. I started to do a lot drawing a few years back during classes doodling in the margin of my note books that lead me to take graphic design course where I learned a great deal and met these two. So now we are doing this and I am looking forward to expand on what i have learned and the skills that I developed over the years.”

Sue Buckle (Sue Riot Graphics) “A serial blogger who talks about herself in a third person perspective most of the time. She studied Art and Design in school and college, eventually leading to classes in graphic design, which has helped create an experimental style. Looking for this project to open her eyes to the art community beyond her sketchbook and laptop.“

You can follow our progress each week as we upload images of work that we create accompanied by a blog, and any challenges that we set.