Tag Archives: sketchbooks

Sketchbook Sunday #3 – Brush pens

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Here’s another page from my sketchbook! I’ve used all sorts of different fineliners and brush pens on this page. It should be possible to read the annotations for which pens I used if you click to view the full size image. The results are visibly different, and I like that I managed to draw each of the characters in a slightly different style.

All of these drawings are from the past few days, so this is all very fresh. My girlfriend had been watching Pride and Prejudice (the 1995 BBC version), so I felt inspired to draw a girl wearing a bonnet (upper left corner). Furthermore, the guy in the upper right was inspired by a guy from Zelda: Skyward Sword, and also slightly by the fact that I watched a bit of the anime movie Trigun: Badlands Rumble. Pompadour hair style for the win!

I should mention that I used photographic references for the bearded guy in the center, and the girl with blonde/orange hair. Here’s a tip; galleries on websites about hairstyles are excellent references (click to see what I used). Mr. Beard is actually a friend of mine, and the purpose of drawing him was because his birthday was yesterday. Sadly, I didn’t finish it in time and ended up not posting the portrait on his Facebook wall. Well, maybe he’ll come visit this blog sometime and see it here…

By the way, I said earlier that I’d probably stop using Promarkers in this sketchbook, due to the color bleeding through the pages. Well, I found a smart solution to that problem. I’ll just use some scrap paper underneath, so that the next page don’t get “tainted”. The color doesn’t turn out great on this paper, but it’s passable for sketching purposes.

I could probably ramble on about the different pens and their style advantages/disadvantages, but it should probably wait for another post. Any thoughts? I would be grateful for any kind of comment.

Sketchbook sunday #1 – Style sample

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So yeah, in an effort to make myself post more often on this blog, I’m going to start doing a weekly “Sketchbook Sunday”. Which means I will be posting one or more pages from one of my various sketcbooks, commenting on the things I’ve drawn.

The first one, which i drew some time ago, was done with a 0.3 mechanical pencil. Quite nifty for small details and drawing small (it’s possible to click the image for a larger view). I wanted to make some unique characters, and tried to make them distinguishable by making their physique different (also their clothing and facial expression of course).  I don’t think I succeeded to degree I would like, much because I tend to draw slender figures, and both female and male characters seem to share the same body type, heh.

So this is a page where I’ve drawn a simple character with a certain head shape and hairdo. To the upper right is a few different expressions, where I’ve tried to keep the facial characteristics the same. There’s even one where he’s donned a mask and a goatee… wait, is that really supposed to be the same character? I’m not sure really, heh. I’m kinda pleased with the two faces at the bottom right (I’ve even inked them, which in most cases is a good sign). Oh yeah, please Ignore the awkward fella holding a phone to his ear (I fail at gestures and people holding props). Lastly, the guy in the fancy green cardigan and blue tie is somewhat of a stylized self-portrait, and was colored with Promarkers. Speaking of Promarkers… They tend to bleed through the paper in this sketcbook (it’s a Daler Rowney Cachet, 178 x 254 mm “Studio Sketch” type), so lately I’ve rarely used them. But, being the paper geek I am, I’ve of course acquired a pair of bleedproff marker pads.

What do you think? If you’ve got a few thoughts on my style and would like to submit them in the comment section, that would be very much appreciated. See you around!

Sketchbook and paper mania

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The above picture shows a selection of my sketchbooks and pads of various paper. This is hard proof that I tend to buy more art supplies than I ever use (a rather uneconomical habit, I might add). You could say that I’m hoarding, but I honestly just enjoy having a lot of possibilities when it comes to different paper qualities and sizes. Also, I’m intrigued by the general idea that a blank page holds an endless amount of potential.

Speaking of blank pages, I’ve actually only used a few pages in most of the different pads of paper and sketchbooks represented above. I’m not sure why, but I haven’t been using the sketchbooks to their full potential. Still, I find that I have to fight the urge to get a new pad of paper or sketchbook whenever I’m in an art store. “Maybe I should try this bleed-proof paper with my Promarkers”, “Perhaps the ink from my nib pen will work great with this heavy paper” or “Here’s a nice, small format sketchbook that will fit perfectly in my bag. I could sketch so many ideas in there…”

So, I’m balancing on a fine line between learning to use the sketchbooks I already own, and wanting to have a lot of possibilities (different paper types, size, format). But I have to ask; If you’re an artist, do you feel the same about sketchbooks or perhaps art supplies in general? Are there things you tend to buy more of than you really need?

Anyway, I’m definitely going to make the most out of the sketchbooks I’ve already got, and frankly, I think I’m good for quite a while.