fearless WIP

[Gary Wilkinson]

@andy-gray nice work Andy. i like the sketchyness of the background, but it would be nice to see that incorporate into the rendering of the character a bit more.

I would also say to be careful of your darks and lights as it feels that there is a lot of dodging and burning going on which is causing the lighting to be a bit muddled.

Are you planning on pushing this piece any further? It would be nice to see what he is going to battle or looking at. Is he ready to do battle with a horde of rival pirates, a kraken or his old parrot buddy who double crossed him

[Andy Gray]

@gary-wilkinson
this is just exploring a bit for character. i was off colour...literally and figuratively today so can't blame you for your comments and fully appreciated. I'm looking for a way to do the drawing style which is definately me, but not using watercolours which makes it look just too much like quentin blake style to be useful for agencies. My self publsihing clients love that I can do many styles...but looking at UK agencies it really is a one person one style world. So that's my next development target.
anyway, back to the picture. Whole thing went muddy,. If it had been the final I would have started over, but was more getting a feel for it. and yes, i tried to rescue it with dodge and burn with an airbrush. as for story, he's actually one of a gang of pirates pushing helpless hero on a gangplank (who is the fearless one)
Usually I work in just procreate at 600dpi, or in photoshop/painter, but i am trying to find a better inkpen on ipad. used adobe sketch and when it imported to procreate it didn't show the brush texture properly as for some strange reason it was at 269dpi. Should have worked up a new 300dpi brush but didn't which left me more with chalk than pencil crayon! Really annoying.
this is the texture I was aiming for (a piece I did last week which is done completely with a 'scribble' coloured pencil I've devloped) - what do you think? Recon it will work (if i don't mash the colours next time!) ? I want the line work, but to 'colour' using the texture, as you say.

[Andy Gray]

this one went a bit better in terms of the rendering+ink I was after. just done it in photoshop and painter, leaving the ipad behind

[Andy Gray]

been doing a bit more work on stylisation and things...maybe go for this guy as the key character. not from this angle though.
Actual real world work (shock horror) - watercolour and coloured pencil. oh yeah...and drawn with a ruling pen (that was just a note to remind me how I did it!)
work

[Andy Gray]

i think i've nailed it. Got the evil ink pen working...got watercolour now misbehaving.... yes, its digital. Trying to make things go wrong... anyway, then into photoshop for pencil work over the top. Done...now just to enter the competition....

[Andy Gray]

getting there now. Characters designed...layout done....

note 2 days later....
realised i didn't put the all important composition blobs on...

it will help to see how I got to the composition

[KathrynAdebayo]

@andy-gray Thank you for sharing your process. This looks so well-thought out, and I can't wait to see the final piece. I keep thinking of how funny it might be if the kid on the plank was decked out in scuba gear or something to add to his fearlessness. Will look forward to seeing your entry, as I find your style quite intriguing.

[Andy Gray]

thanks for the encouragement! taking a day off of commissioned work to do this. If anyone who doesn't get paid for this is interested, sometimes I will lay aside paying work on purpose to work on stuff which will get me work in the future. This is one of them (cos i love the idea). then i will decide if it goes portfolio wise or not.

anyways, quick wip as I work up the pencils (corel painter...which i am really starting to enjoy working with again)

[Andy Gray]

[Boris Bayo]

Wow! This is coming along super nice Andy. I'm really looking forward to see how it looks when it's done. I wonder what the expression is like on those pirates!

[Andy Gray]

you mean like this....

take a break for tea...

[Boris Bayo]

Oh, wow! That's scary, I love it!

[Jason Bowen]

This is looking amazing!

[Andy Gray]

drawing done...probably,. ink and paint tomorrow

[KathrynAdebayo]

@andy-gray Wow! Thanks for sharing again. She looks fearless! In case it's helpful, because the sword and the plank seem to follow the same line of perspective, it appears that the sword is very long and reaches all the way to the pirate on the deck. Best wishes on coloring tomorrow. I hope you continue to update us!

[Andy Gray]

@kathrynadebayo good point. I was wondering about that too...and her head is too large for what i wanted as well...
so...

No more adujstments now....time for inks

[Chip Valecek]

@andy-gray its really looking good. I can't wait to see it finished!

[Andy Gray]

[Andy Gray]

colour study....

[Andy Gray]

watercolour complete...one more phase...