Pages

Monday, August 19, 2019

What I Drew Saturday, August 17th – Top 3

I slated last Saturday’s What Shall I Draw Today? (a.k.a. WSIDT) as “DC Comics Day.” The suggestions did not disappoint.

Here are the top 3 liked piece of the day.

#1 - Lynda Carter and Gal Gadot suggestion by @mannysmyname

Since it was “DC Comics Day,” of course these two are depicted in their respective Wonder Woman costumes. The art is a bit caricatured, which is a safety net for if I fail to quite capture the likenesses in given the time pressure that I place on myself.

I chose the limited palette of black ink and red pencil, in part, because there was something I found interesting in the initial red pencil drawing. 

Placing the two woman at different levels, doesn’t play as compositionally interesting as I has hoped. Ms. Gadot, unfortunately, just appears short.

This was my first attempt to draw Ms. Carter. This may be the fourth attempt that I’ve tried to draw Ms. Gadot’s likeness, caricatured or not, and I’ll say that I’m getting better.



#2 - Jessica and Roger Rabbit: suggestion by @anthony.helmer

As the singular non-DC Comics piece of the day, this suggestion was a tribute response to the news of the death of animator and director of Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Richard Williams. The suggestion presented the option one of the other, but there is always more story opportunity when you have at least two characters to work with.

To my recollection and at least to recent memory, this is the first time that I’ve drawn the couple, rather than either alone. Regardless of the occasion, I think these are my best drawings of either Jessica and Roger to date. I think I’m more comfortable with their designs enough to stray away from literal copies of movies stills and infuse them with a bit more design refinement – things like balance, line of action and clarity of silhouettes.

Many of my tributes to the more behind-the-scenes talents, focus on the beloved characters and creations rather than portrait drawings or caricatures. It’s pretty much implying, “if you like these (characters), then you’ll care to remember the life and work of this person who helped create and bring them to you.’’


#3 - Supergirl and Harley Quinn: suggestion by @vidarapotor394

As an addendum to the suggestion was “Maybe they can have Starbucks or something?” Not wanting to put more brain power in to it than necessary, the two are at a coffee shop. The logo is, however, inspired by the Starbucks logo, featuring instead a stylized Mera.

Not being a coffee drinker myself, I took the opportunity to have one of them, Supergirl here, enjoy some doughnuts instead. It was a choice of either doughnuts or ice cream. 

Compositionally, once I decide to have Supergirl’s cape blow in the wind in a specific directions, then other things like hair need follow. It was fortunate, then that Harley’s pigtails didn’t have to be drawn across her face to the left. Her pose and position wasn’t planned to allow space for back-swept pigtails.


It’s interesting to try to track which ones receive the most likes. Early on, both “Tom and Jerry” and “Morpheus and Death” were in among the top 3.


Her are the remaining 6 of the 9 sketches:

Tom and Jerry as Batman and Robin
Robotman (Doom Patrol)
Morpheus and Death (take #1)

Morpheus and Death (take # 2) on a Beach (following to the suggestion)
Static (Static Shock)

Amethyst

All original pieces of art to be sold at my next tabled convention appearance - CTN Expo, Burbank in November.

The next WSIDT is scheduled for Sunday, September 29. It will be last WSIDT of the year.

More drawings posted on my Instagram feed, @monstergram7.


All  Black ink and color pencil:
“Wonder Women” on paper. 12.70 cm x 17.78 cm (5.00 in. x 7.00 in.).
“Jessica and Roger” on Bristol Board. 6.35 cm x 8.89 cm (2.50 in. x 3.50 in.).
“Supergirl and Harley Quinn” on watercolor paper. 12.70 cm x 17.78 cm (5.00 in. x 7.00 in.).

Tuesday, August 13, 2019

What Shall I Draw August 17th?

From now through the evening of Saturday, August 17th, I’m accepting new suggestions for things to draw over an hour dedicated to drawing all things DC Comics related.

What Shall I Draw Today?
DC Comics Day
Saturday, August 17th, 2019
Eastern Daylight Time:  12pm noon - 8pm
Pacific Daylight Time:  9am - 5pm

If it feels like I just ran this sort of things, then you’re not wrong. This month’s session was moved a week earlier because it conflicted with the weekend of D23 Expo. Further, this time it’s happening on SATURDAY rather then Sunday to work around other things happening.

Per usual, the hopper of suggestions will be emptied of all previously pitched suggestions. I will be choosing from new suggestions made from now until the end of Saturday’s WSIDT. Start posting your suggestions at any of the following social media spots where you see the above prompting image.

What’s more, I will only be choosing DC Comics related suggestions: Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, Swamp Thing, etc. In fact, as I’m still engaged in a big project otherwise, the chances that non-DC themed suggestions popping up on my Instagram in the weeks following are unlikely. So you may as well use your time and creativity on DC stuff.

Blog:  monotonae.blogspot.com (here in the comments)

Instagram:  @monstergram7

Facebook:  /Monster Enterprises


Click on the WSIDT tab above for FAQ’s.

Bob’s Burgers
Black ink and color pencil on paper.
12.70 cm x 17.78 cm (5.00 in. x 7.00 in.)

And What does “Bob’s Burgers” have to do with DC? Nothing. I just traditionally use the fourth-top liked piece from the previous WSIDT as the background image of the prompting image.


Friday, August 9, 2019

Haunted Mansion at 50


 Today, Disneyland’s famous spook house attraction, Haunted Mansion, celebrates the 50th anniversary of welcoming the public to visit its 999 happy haunts.

Pencil draft stage, carmine red pencil on paper.
21.6 cm x 27.9 cm (8.50 in. x 11.00 in.)
The attraction features a pair of opera singers, although I chose to only depict the female member. In the original vignette, conceived by Disney Imagineer Marc Davis, her male companion stands on her left side and is thin, wearing a stage costume version of nordic/viking armor. Her long, left braid is draped over her companion’s chest and over his far shoulder.

Ink stage, black ink and carmine red pencil on paper.
21.6 cm x 27.9 cm (8.50 in. x 11.00 in.)
The classic attraction has many vignettes and characters that are well-known even to casual Disney fans who have yet to make their first visits to a Disney Park. The trio of hitchhiking ghosts may be the most well-known. I choose for this anniversary tribute something a bit less well-known and then for simplicity to only depict half of the couple. To make her appear more ghostly, I drew her lower body transition to wispy, smoky trials. This is a departure from the look of the Mansion’s ghosts both from the audio-animatronic versions of the attraction and from the Marc Davis concepts.

Sunday, August 4, 2019

Next WSIDT update


Due to conflicting schedules, the next session of What Shall I Draw Today? will be moved up:

Saturday, 
August 17, 2019

Tuesday, July 30, 2019

What I Drew Sunday, July 28th - Top 3

Quickly, what are the top 3 liked sketches that I drew for last Sunday’s “What Shall I Draw Today?
A lot of powerful women.

#1 - Xena: suggestion by @alfredofrangella.

I like to kick off “What Shall I Draw Today?” with one of the single character suggestions. Frankly, of the nine singles character suggestions, “Xena” was the simplest one, only requiring that I find a good piece of visual reference, and that suited me just fine for the first piece.

I watched the series, Xena: Warrior Princess (1995-2001) starring Lucy Lawless when it had originally been syndicated. I remember the Sam Raimi co-created series to be entertaining and engaging. So much so, that in 2017 to brace myself should the Gal Gadot lead movie disappoint, I had thought, “Well, you had Xena.” 

The character had several costume variations since having been introduced in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (1995-1999) through its own final season, but I wanted to draw what could be considered the most iconic, “standard” costume. 


#2 - “The Squad”: suggestion combo by @alexandrabowmanart & @ourladylourdes.

One suggestion requested a “caricaturable political figure” further suggesting President Trump. A second suggestion requested “any of the female members of Congress recently called out to go back to their country.” The combining of suggestions was for plain expediency, since a majority of the suggestions involved multiple characters, and taking those one would surely minimize the number of sketches I could complete in the allotted eight-hours.

I felt that depicting the four Congress women, sometimes referred to by the nickname “The Squad,” was more deserved than selecting a representative individual. Featured from left to right are Ilhan Omar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib and Ayanna Pressley. 

I attempted a caricature style inspired by the work of Al Hirschfeld. The results aren’t 100% Hirschfeld. I’d probably need another two passes to better hit that high mark. In the way that Hirschfeld hides his daughter’s name, “Nina” in his drawings, I inserted these four words, “faith,” “freedom,” “representation” and “opportunity.” They’re not exactly the “Four Freedoms” described by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, but along the same thoughts. I also drew five-pointed stars on all four as another shared, patriotic motif.


#3 - Sailor Moon Meets Captain Marvel: suggestion by @japchrissy.

With “meet-up” suggestions, there is an inherent expectancy to illustrate a clash of personalities.  Such story telling is difficult when I’m not familiar with either of the listed characters. I was/am opening title (i.e. surface) familiar with Sailor Moon. My impression of Captain Marvel in the 2019 movie and the MCU is a flat bravado.


Based on that little information, a bubbly Sailor Moon excitedly greets famed galactic hero, Captain Marvel, who while surprised, still chooses, for unknown reasons, not to instantly blast the young woman.

Here are the remaining 4 of the 7 sketches:

Severus Snape

Elizabeth & Mr. Darcy in a Haunted Mansion stretching portrait

King Louie

Bob’s Burgers in the style of Eric Goldberg.

All original art to be available for sale at my next convention - CTN Expo in November.

The next WSIDT is re-scheduled for Sunday, August 18.

More drawings posted on my Instagram feed @monstergram7.

All: Black ink and color pencil:
“Xena” on paper. 12.70 cm x 17.78 cm (5.00 in. x 7.00 in.).
“The Squad” on Bristol Board.  17.78 cm x 12.70 cm (7.00 in. x 5.00 in.).
“Sailor Moon & Capt. Marvel” on Bristol Board. 8.89 cm x 6.35 cm (3.50 in. x 2.50 in.).

Wednesday, July 24, 2019

What Shall I Draw July 28th?

Starting now and through Sunday, July 28th, I’m accepting suggestions for things to draw in a dedicated 8-hour session that I call What Shall I Draw Today? a.k.a. WSIDT.

What Shall I Draw Today?
Sunday, July 28th, 2019
Eastern Daylight Time:  12pm noon - 8pm
Pacific Daylight Time:  9am - 5pm

The hopper of past suggestions will be emptied, so that new ones will be exclusively viable for the Sunday session. However, if you’ve pitched an idea before, you can simply do so again. Post your suggestions at any of the following social media spots where you find the above prompting image.

 Blog:  monotonae.blogspot.com (here in the comments)

Instagram:  @monstergram7

Facebook:  /Monster Enterprises

Click the above WSIDT tab for FAQ’s.


Wheezy (Toy Story 2)
Black ink and color pencil on Bristol Board.
8.89 cm x 6.35 cm (3.50 in. x 2.50 in.).
The session will be followed up as late as Tuesday here with the top 3 liked drawn pieces with some Behind-the-Sketch tales.

Sunday, July 21, 2019

monstergram7 Hits 5,000 Followers on Instagram


The apparent math here is that the more I draw and share on Instagram, then the more followers I get. I’m sure that there are other factors involved, but other than my winter, spring and summer sessions of What Shall I Draw Today?, that’s all I do.

About two-weeks ago, my Instagram feed, @monstergram7, surpassed the 5,000 followers milestone. In honor of the event, and it being a nice round number, I video recorded a three-part drawing demonstration of the above Supergirl art. If you’re curious of my process and have 36-minutes, then you can watch the magic happen at normal speed.

I recommend that you turn off the audio. I don’t speak during the videos and I’m probably breathing too close to the microphone.

Enjoy.

Watch me SKETCH!




Watch me INK!



Watch me COLOR!


Saturday, July 20, 2019

Moon Landing


Marking the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11,
the first manned landing on the Moon.
July 20th, 1969

Black India Ink and graphite on watercolor paper.

Graphite on watercolor paper.
30.48 cm x 22.86 cm (12.00 in. x 9.00 in.)

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

Ev’rybody’s Got a Laughing Place

Today, the long flume ride, Splash Mountain, celebrates the 30th anniversary of premiering in Disneyland Park, California.


Inking stage.
Black ink and crimson red pencil on paper.
21.6 cm x 27.9 cm (8.50 in. x 11.00 in.)

Draft stage.
Crimson red pencil on paper.
21.6 cm x 27.9 cm (8.50 in. x 11.00 in.)

Fancy That

The Disney Channel Junior series, Fancy Nancy celebrated its first anniversary!




Black ink and crimson red pencil on paper.
21.6 cm x 27.9 cm (8.50 in. x 11.00 in.)