The final postcard from my Summer Card Project set, with previous entries starting here.
The inks, done in G-Pen, which only sometimes smears...for this set, I made sure to let them dry over night...
I've mainly been drawing with a pen since last October, so this project was kind of my first real go at returning to pencils.
I did a couple thumbnails for this shot...I could see it in my head, but it was not as easily translatable. The goal was to be peppy and summery, so she's like giving the viewer sunglasses to be extra cool.
Anyway, here's the "dramatic" version, which was just with more high-brightness layers piled on.
Reuxben
Another summer postcard, this was my fourth one, the only one fully-illustrated. This scan, even after color adjustments doesn't quite pick up the deep blues in pieces,unfortunately.
For reference, here's the camera version, where that richer deep blue of the shirt and ocean really come through.
Inking this was pretty relaxing. I'm still tickled how calm I am inking, when I distinctly remember being so stressed about it in the early days. Maybe I'm not even remembering that correctly.
The background was quite improvised...I just wanted to hit that pose, and I nearly gave up on it because it just wasn't coming together. It's a form of self-hatred I do, when I just brute-force bash my head against a drawing until it gets in the general area I'm looking for.
The thumbnail was fun to do, and it flowed pretty easily, which was upsetting when I found the actual drawing to be so difficult. I wanted to do something with depth via pointing, so I just knew the pose I wanted, but left the background open, which I wasn't even sure I was going to do anything with. I figured I should do at least one full drawing in the set, so I just went with some kind of islandy vibe.
Reuxben
Another summer postcard-a-ma-bopper, this was the last one I did in the 5-card set.
Here are the inks. Can you guess what's next?
Oh, curve ball, it's the thumbnail.
And the pencils. Always wanted to do one of those classic, "Ugh, it's hot, need a fan STAT!" pieces.
Reuxben
More summer postcard action. This was the first one I did, touched up a little in Photoshop.
I forgot to take a picture after cleaning up the inks, so I just have ink on pencils to show, lamentably.
Here are the pencils. By the way, I noticed I have made some association between summer and penguins for some reason...
I did those two pengy pieces earlier, you see...
Anyway, this is what it looks like in real life. Kinda not too into it, but it was our first in the series, so I was just getting into the swing of things.
Reuxben
(Updating to a scanned version...I think I'm getting the hang of manual color adjustments...but the scan still doesn't feel as crisp or quite as true as my camera...the hat for instance looks too aqua in the scan, not as Yale as it really is...)
I'm doing a series of summer postcards for a little give-away situation. Didn't know what to draw for this project since the theme was "summer" and "well wishes" for hospital-bound people, so I just went with summery outfits and general cheeriness.
I've been told it's wisest to focus on digital 100%, but I love traditional so much, so I hope this is not too detrimental...Felt great to bust out the G-Pen again and get some Copic action in, too. I have to say, I love the faint scent of both the G-Pen ink and the Copic aroma (though from a distance), especially when you have a stack of pieces in front of you: they give off that little combo olfactory hug you just can't get digitally. It smells like you've accomplished something, on top of just tangibly feeling so.
Fun Facts: When I was a bit more exasperated during college, I would draw chipper chicas, often Nyao, to keep me afloat, so hopefully this helps people out there, too. I don't know. Sometimes living out here is like living out on a deserted island, you know? Anyway, this color scheme was inspired by the Magic Origins Chandra Nalaar prerelease handout that I use as a hand guard so I don't mess up pieces underhand as I work on them.
Easter Eggs: my Yale hat, which after all these years is finally coming apart...Base Ball Bear, an excellent, if softer, JRock band.
Bonus "dramatic" version. I stumbled across this when I was adjusting the scan's colors and made a new layer with the original, non-brightened scan on top with a mask poking the brightened scan through, so I could isolate the more accurate, darker version of the hat.
Oh, here's the thumbnail, too.
Reuxben
Just getting rid of this hideous thing. One of my least favorite drawings of recent memory, done for Inktober '15.
Not enough black ink in the world.
4/7/16
Reuxben
A bit of an homage to 302 Crown Steet, where I really got a big chunk of EXP.
I did next to no digital anything back then, and still hold on to that prejudice too dearly I fear, but I wanted to see if I could incorporate more digital into traditional pieces, such as this one.
As long as I look good when I'm old.
3/22/16
Reuxben
Wanted to try a faded out, two-tone look with Copics but I can never quite get it...
But I did enjoy going live on this one, that is no pencils, just fudepen inks.
3/22/16
Reuxben
I wanted to draw something more conceptual and interpretive. Also wanted to include a loud pink since it's a color I don't use too often.
It's about being lost and drowning and knowing the answer and whatever.
When you're lost you can never be found. Haha.
3/17/16
Reuxben
Finally! Under 1 year of backlog to go! Only about 150 more posts to go...
About this piece...someone mentioned I have a tendency to draw turtles, and I guess that's kind of true, but by no means intentional.
3/17/16
Reuxben
Drawing random stuff and hating it. Ya know.
I saw the scene unfold.
3/17/16
Reuxben
Something's got to break you down.
3/17/16
Reuxben
Trying out the G-pen and Sakura technical pens, plus a photo from one of the very last places I was at in the US...
I love the rain.
3/17/16
Reuxben
I have always been a fan of the Joker and Harley Quinn. I venture this came from that somewhere.
That Bruce Timm outfit was always so cool.
3/17/16
Reuxben
A pile of postcards I drew starting with Inktober '15, and then carrying over into November.
I dunno.
Y'know?
3/14/16
Reuxben
From that old envelope in the old file I found...these long-lost originals...thought I'd given them away, but I guess it was just the giant posters we made from these.
Ah.
Feeling really down. Nostalgia, man. Bittersweet.
3/10/16
Reuxben
When faced with inferiority, it's complex, but Inktober seeks to simplify in '15.
4/4 measures lightyears less than we are.
By which they mean me.
It's in a book.
So it goes.
æ»
3/8/16
Reuxben
Added some stars to this because I was thinking about Mario for some reason.
It made sense at the crime.
3/8/16
Reuxben
A drawing for Inktober '15.
You can tell I didn't know what to draw because of all the nonsensical swirls at the top from which I stone-water-like extracted this drawing.
Also the character is just fuming angry for no reason and making some rando gesture, tell-tale signs I don't know what I'm doing.
But of course I know what I'm doing. I always do.
I went to Yale.
3/8/16
Reuxben
