CAVEMAN IN CYBERSPACE!

So I got to thinking about my process after finishing the latest pic of the colored Predator. My process has evolved over the last year in a way that allows me to be able to share my artwork with you. About a year ago I made it a point to get my artwork online. I've wanted to do more with my artwork and I figured being able to float my pics out there in cyberspace was an important step. 

That said, I am not a huge fan of computers and technology in general. But it is a necessary evil. So in order for me to get this stuff out there to you, my process has changed a bit. I started to ink again and I came back around to digital coloring. I used to work primarily in pencil and watercolor so that's a big jump in my world.

What I do is very low tech and a no-brainer. I like to keep it simple. Most all of what I do is through Photoshop. Illustrator frustrates me. Not sure why, and I know you can do fantastic things with it. I do all my coloring with a mouse on a PC. With everything that's out there, that's pretty close to crushing berries and using a stick to paint on a cave wall. I have fumbled my way through most of this with the assist of a long time friend and graphic designer (Roger over @ http://www.heyroger.com/) , watching tutorials online and dumb luck.

So with that, my process goes kinda like this...

I start with a pencil drawing on paper. Yeah, even my pencils are pretty simple. I'm all about the lines! This stage takes maybe about a half hour.

Pencil Drawing

I scan my drawing and print it out. Then I go over in ink again creating the basic line art using pens and markers. Eh, maybe another half hour.

Inked Line Art

 Then I go ahead and ink it some more and I get this swell picture. Um, this is probably one of the more details images I've done, so this was maybe another hour.

Detail Inks

 After I get this puppy scanned into the computer I go ahead and digitize it and clean it up. This takes very little time for the most part depending how much clean up is needed. Maybe fifteen minutes or so.

Digitized Image

 From there it's time to color in Photoshop. This is the time consuming part. Like most pics, I never know how much time it will take until I get to the end. This one was a good six to eight hours.

Again, I'm no Michelangelo of computer coloring but I can get by. Still lots to learn but I'm happy with most of what I've learned. There are a lot of different ways to color on the computer. I'd suggest you check around various tutorials online, go to school, or find someone who knows how and see what works that person. Like any medium there are many approaches and you'll find what works for you.

Digital Coloring

SO, that's that! That's how I do what I do. No rocket engines being built or anything crazy. Maybe some of this is helpful or on some level interesting. While I may not have advanced technology or new techniques on how to use computers to color pictures, it's all been kinda uncharted territory for me. Until the next step in my creative evolution (as long as that doesn't involve growing a flipper or a tail) this is how I roll. Hope you dig.

BLOODY-KILLER-FROG-CRAB-FACED SPACEMAN!

Tried a few times to color this pic. It's one of my favorites. I could never get the right colors. I was up late fooling around with throwing random colors into the piece and came up with this. I had no specific idea of where I was going. I really liked the orange. Was really random. The blood was the best part.

PREDATOR

PREDATOR

Spent the last few hours inking this. Maybe I got carried away. Not sure. I have been staring at this so long. You know how you can spend so much time on a picture, and then you think you are OK, but you are actually on the borderline of screwing it up? I stepped away from it, then came back. I think I lost my mind again at some point here. I think I like it. Won't know for sure until I check it out again in the morning. See it with a fresh set of eyes. If anyone has any thoughts in the meantime, let me know.

PREDATOR

PREVIEW: PREDATOR

Hot off the press is this here Predator. Spent the last hour and half drawing him up.  It's half time, so I am breaking for something to eat. Maybe some more coffee. Maybe had enough of that today. I lost track after four cups. So here's what's cookin. I'll be back inking in the next hour or so, and be able to post later on. If it turns out  OK. I've been posting more stuff over here http://tyrant-1.deviantart.com/ the last few days also. I'll be back. In the meantime, enjoy some Predator!

PREDATOR