Recent Sketchbook Doings

Playing with Vector Art

Some recent art I completed in Adobe Illustrator.

 

The cup of coffee was completely done using a 

digital drawing tablet. 

I was going for a sketchy painting effect without using 

any special Illustrator effects or special brushes. 

 I only had to draw half of the pelican! 

Then copy and reflect bird to the opposite side.

The smoking cigarette has many different effect used to accomplish this illustration. Some 3-D effect, Some Bristle Brush effect, the Swirl tool, vectorized photo of wood grain, plus more! 

Watercolor Demo

I started this painting as a demonstration on watercolor painting. I do my best to explain the various steps suggested towards successful painting, starting from visual inspiration (example: Vincent Van Gogh's painting of Sunflowers,) to a good sketch, to experimenting and planning colors using watercolor to actually painting the finish painting. It is commonly known that watercolor is a rather spontaneous medium. Often time, large puddles of colored water is placed onto paper with the hopes that a pleasing  effect is created. But, an experienced artist will work out a good plan to assure a successful outcome, even with the wildest application of the paint. Bono, of the music band, U2, once said about performing live his well crafted songs, "The challenge is to make it look spontaneous."     

I love doing demonstrations for my students in explaining the foundations in working in various art mediums. One reason is that I really love being creative in many mediums and trying to understand and share how to control the paint to do what you want. The other reason is it give me an opportunity to explore and have fun in a different visual styles. Never wanting to suggest that students have to work in my personal style, I will venture into different design styles such as this graphic interpretation of Vincent Van Gogh's painting of Sunflowers.