madaunt

Christmas critters

2011-12-23T22:47:00.003Z

Merry Christmas everyone! x

Heads up #2

2009-08-24T08:47:00.003+01:00

An aging bodybuilder

Heads up #1

2009-08-23T20:33:00.009+01:00

The beefy bodyguard.

I love drawing characters that show extreme expressions - usually someone that's deliriously happy, or haughty, or manically overwraught with angst. But often it's hit and miss whether the emotion comes across the way I've pictured it in my mind. It all comes down to understanding how the muscles contort the facial features and how certain areas can be (over)emphasized. Until now I've relied on a very rudimentary understanding to get me by, but find it frustrating when I can't create what I was aiming for.

So, after much procrastination, I've finally decided to brush up on my understanding of how it all works together. Back to basics with character sketching and neutral expressions. Hopefully my characters will get a little more life, and the process will become a little less like guesswork and a lot more fun.

Brute

2009-07-25T13:53:00.004+01:00

Quick sketch this morning to flex the fingers. Back to blue!
Colerase pencil, photoshop colour.

Art Jumble: Redneck

2009-07-17T18:53:00.005+01:00

Wanted to experiment with adding texture, and lo and behold... I've finally broken away from my blue colour scheme! Who woulda thought??!

Darth Vader

2009-07-04T17:01:00.006+01:00

This is something I put together for a Darth Vader tribute book for Josh Frost.
I've never really drawn a villain before, especially one without any evil facial features to focus in on. I figured Darth Vader is one of the few folk who actually would take candy from a baby.

Art Jumble: Spider-Man

2009-05-10T12:18:00.009+01:00

Spider(gentle)man, at your service, ma'am.

Ode to an Egg

2009-04-12T17:24:00.004+01:00

Happy Easter!

Bunny Collective

2009-04-12T17:07:00.005+01:00

Risen again...

Inspiration: Marta Mayo

2008-10-14T09:50:00.005+01:00

Marta Mayo
blog: http://estoesloquehago.blogspot.com

Inspiration: CreatureBox

2008-10-10T14:08:00.005+01:00

Dave Guertin and Greg Baldwin
blog: http://creaturebox.com/

Greg's Box
Dave's Box

Inspiration: The Gross Uncle

2008-10-08T11:20:00.006+01:00

Grant Gilliland
website: www.seegrantdraw.com
blog: www.thegrossuncle.com

Inspiration

2008-10-08T10:28:00.003+01:00

You know when you see an illustration, and it inspires you so much that you can't wait to get home and draw?
Well, there are so many artists and illustrators whose work makes me do just that, that I figured I'd share them here. You probably already know most of them, but maybe there'll be one or two that have gone under your radar. Sharpen your pencils...!

Alligator

2008-10-07T12:01:00.004+01:00

The red one is in colerase pencil, the other is the same sketch, with added ink, and playing around with colours in Photoshop

Art Jumble: Cute but Deadly

2008-09-21T22:49:00.005+01:00

IF: Island

2008-09-18T14:47:00.008+01:00

See how they run

2008-09-18T14:47:00.004+01:00

Hmmm, now I see why it's called a 'watercolour moleskine'. I was having so much fun drawing with the ultra-fine nib that I've pretty much hacked holes into the paper

Cat 'n Mouse

2008-09-18T00:06:00.004+01:00

Colerase pencil

SFG: Monsters

2008-09-17T09:13:00.003+01:00

A vicious little tyke when cornered.

SFG: Comfortable

2008-09-16T15:20:00.007+01:00

Sometimes the sofa is just too comfortable to resist.

colerase pencil and ink, colour addeded in Photoshop.

IF: Poof!

2008-08-07T20:32:00.004+01:00

I had sketched this rabbit and couldn't think of what to do with him until I saw this week's topic for Illustration Friday ... POOF! Aaah, perfect!! This is the initial rough idea to be be coloured and finessed later.
Don't mess with thems rabbits.

Pandamonium

2008-08-02T19:31:00.005+01:00

a panda or two for work. why o why can't I clear my brain of Kung Fu Panda??!

ooooo a blog award!!

2008-08-02T15:54:00.009+01:00

I'm completely blown away by Raluca nominating me for a blog award! Check out her beautiful blog and be inspired! Thanks, Raluca!

The rules of accepting are as follows:
1) Put the logo on your blog
2) Add a link to the person who awarded you.
3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4) Add links to those blogs on yours
5) Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs.

I've had a really tricky time selecting only 7 nominees for my list - there are so many artists' work I find totally inspiring. But after much brain-wrangling (yep, it's definitely been known to happen) I've honed in on these fair folk who I'd like to pass the much-honoured mantle on to...

The Eel Bog
- Elaine Bogan's insanely quirky creatures always make me laugh. Once you see her pug, you'll be hooked!
Anita Mejia
- Anita's art is so colourful and unique. I love the fact that I can't decide whether her little girls are cute or creepy.
Wilmer Murillo
- Now how's this for an inspired use of texture and colour?? Wilmer's supposedly simple shapes are so cleverly put together. Really wonderful stuff!
Scott Belcastro
- I can't figure out what part of Scott's work I find more intriguing... the composition, or the sharp spiky shapes that contrast against the soft washes of colour. Either way, it works a treat.
Teetering Bulb
- Kurt Huggins' and Zelda Devon's illustrations are so beautifully drawn/composed/coloured (take your pick! :) that they speak for themselves.
De Journey of an Amateur Artist/Illustrator
- How could you not be inspired by the linework and colours of Xiaobaosg's artwork?
JP Vine
- JP's loose style gives his 'slightly' psychotic critters even more of an edge - you've gotta love 'em!

This list could go on forever, but instead I'll stop and just egg you all on to take a look at these blogs - they're phenomenal. Nuff said.

Your Highness

2008-07-31T22:46:00.006+01:00

A couple of sketch ideas playing around with royalty... the queen needs a makeover, she's not exactly what I had in mind, but she might just do as a wiley courtesan living it up in his palacial household.

Skeleton: The Torso

2008-07-20T22:49:00.004+01:00

Skeleton: The Skull

2008-07-13T17:01:00.004+01:00

Proportions

2008-07-13T14:53:00.007+01:00

The Structure of Man

2008-07-06T22:01:00.011+01:00

I've started working through 'The Structure of Man' tutorials by Riven Phoenix that teach you to draw the human body from your mind without needing to continually reference an external source. I've always been frustrated when not being able to sketch a character's posture or expression as accurately as I 'see' it in my mind. These lessons help by teaching a method of constructing the body from the skeleton, through the muscles, to the outer skin. They're incredibly easy to follow and even though it's not intended to replace drawing from observation, I've only just started and have already noticed an improvement in my drawing skills.

I'll post some sketches as I work through them, though the fact that I've been working through them solidly for two weeks and STILL have over 200 lessons to go, is a little daunting to say the least! but well worth it, I reckon...

Now What?

2008-06-30T20:54:00.003+01:00

Another day, another critter...

'Mallow Mayhem

2008-06-18T22:42:00.006+01:00

Poor snowman never seems to catch a break.
Another one for the Winter Series...

Out 'n About

2008-06-12T22:48:00.010+01:00

These illustrations were really fun to work on...All highlighting that quaint old English tradition that leaves most folk cringing if they can remember any of it - the 'stag and hen' weekend before the wedding.

And then there was light

2008-06-12T21:38:00.004+01:00

This is a completely different style from any of my more personal preferences... a little more slick 'n corporate.
The Web 2.0 of lightbulbs :s

IF: Baby

2008-06-02T21:17:00.010+01:00

He has a friend now... albeit not such a cuddly one.

Below is an earlier version sans pet pal, and the original pen and ink wash I painted in my moleskine to get the additional texture.

Poor mite looks a little lonely. I reckon I'll give him a cuddly toy to keep him company.

I'm still playing around with inks and Photoshop. I've always loved images with a lot of texture but my own illustrations tend to be more flat colours than anything else. So now I'm playing around with incorporating both and hyping up the contrast.

IF: Worry

2008-05-29T15:27:00.007+01:00

New pen and inks to play around with AND a new moleskine! how could I resist?
I finished the colouring and composition off in Photoshop.

IF: Stitch

2008-01-12T23:43:00.000Z

A daisy... for ME??!

2008-01-09T18:32:00.000Z

Pugletta, enjoying the simple things in life.

Pugletta

2008-01-08T23:20:00.000Z

Meet Pugletta. She's my first attempt in tapping into that silly grin that spreads when you see something odd but strangely appealing.
Pugs make me smile. So do psychotically happy people. I'm trying to find a hybrid.

IF: Trick or Treat

2007-11-01T23:21:00.001Z

This is something I'm working on - still needs tightening up but I'm happy with where it's heading.

Pugnacious

2007-10-31T20:35:00.002Z

This was an experiment with Painter. It's a daunting package, but the variety and texture of the brushes is mindboggling. Will keep at it and see where I get...

SFG: Li'l Monster

2007-10-29T22:59:00.003Z

Mind the li'l monsters that come knocking at your door.

Check out more weird and wonderful critters at Penelope Dullaghan's Monster Mash 2007 Creative Halloween Contest.

Monday Blues

2007-10-22T21:37:00.001+01:00

Ever felt that Monday-morning-first-day-back-from-holiday feeling?

Before the Smoking Ban

2007-09-22T15:27:00.002+01:00

Sometimes having your head in the clouds is not the best thing. Small mercies for being short!

A Fish Out of Water

2007-09-22T15:25:00.002+01:00

Looking on the bright side... it's got to be better than being squeezed in like sardines in a can! (sorry, terrible joke, I know)

Another Day in the Office

2007-09-22T15:21:00.002+01:00

I've been working on a series of 'work' related images. Sometimes you've just got to see the funny side :s

Run Rabbit Run!

2007-09-22T12:51:00.002+01:00

I was playing around drawing in Flash and this li'l guy emerged. Playing around with unexpected shapes really helps me break away from my usual way of seeing things when I draw.

The Glum

2007-09-22T11:31:00.002+01:00

Adding a little colour to The Glum.

Mushrooms in the Forest

2007-09-22T11:23:00.000+01:00

Why is it that the the first sketch is the one I often seem to go back to after multiple other tries? This is my first idea for The Glum. Alas, we didn't use his mushroom pants in the final.

The Glum is a beautifully written short story of a maudlin, shy little creature who lives alone in a forest playing his mandolin.

Mabel's Monsters

2007-09-22T10:48:00.001+01:00

I designed this flyer for a children's interactive playgroup based around the monster of the moment, Mabel, and her friends.

Let your little monsters run wild!!

Hmmpf!

2007-09-22T10:34:00.001+01:00

Rat is not the most patient of critters

Ratted Out

2007-09-22T10:32:00.001+01:00

Experimenting with painting fur in Painter

Dance like you've never danced before

2007-09-22T10:29:00.002+01:00

The wee character is finally getting some colour in Don Seegmiller's 'Monster Character Painting' course.

Ratty

2007-09-22T10:25:00.000+01:00

Rat is the sidekick for Sonny the Sunflower, a children's story written by a friend.

Sunnier Climes

2007-09-21T23:53:00.002+01:00

Take a Break

2007-09-21T23:51:00.002+01:00

Hang on... he was here just a minute ago!

Divide and Conquer

2007-09-21T23:50:00.003+01:00

The perils of the accident prone Snowman and his little friend.

Leave Your Mark

2007-09-21T23:41:00.002+01:00

Blissfully unaware...
Part of a winter series of vector illustrations.

The Juggler

2007-09-21T23:18:00.002+01:00

I've succumbed to the lure of Illustration Friday!
This was one of a series of Winter illustrations I drew a little while back.