Rob Gale's Sketchbook

[robgale]

Here's another sketch of an invented landscape using simple shapes, trying to capture a sense of light and composition with clean, straight edges a little texture, and decisive choices.

[robgale]

Continuing to play with black and white compositions of environments and characters. Trying to keep it simple without being simplistic or plain using textures and distinct value shapes.

[chrisaakins]

@robgale I love this. I like how the shape of the trees is mirrored in her/his pack. Was that intentional? If not you have good instincts.

[robgale]

@chrisaakins The mirroring wasn't specifically intentional / conscious thought, but I do try and keep a sense of gesture and elements flowing together. Thanks for pointing that out!

[TessaW]

You make me want to paint rocks now! Loving the work in your sketch book. Thanks for sharing.

[robgale]

@tessaw Thanks! I'm starting to get obsessed with rocks, sometimes I am amazed at how much art can lead you to fall in love with such seemingly banal things.

[robgale]

Playing around with textured brushes and creepy dude faces.

[robgale]

The Journey North

[Eli]

@robgale This is cool. Love the brush strokes!

[robgale]

@eli Thanks!

[robgale]

Mountains and Rivers

[aska]

@robgale This is creepy and very interesting.

[robgale]

@aska Thanks! I get that alot, "creepy"... I'm learning to embrace it

[demotlj]

I think your landscapes are fascinating. What is your process? Do you do a line drawing first — do you have an idea of the scene you are trying to create — and then fill it in with planes and shapes or are you building with shapes first to see what landscape emerges from those shapes which you then define? (I hope that question is clear.)

[aska]

@robgale you said that you were going for creepy so i just confirmed it was i like that portrait a lot

[KathrynAdebayo]

I'm really learning from your landscapes - the value of values! So beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

[robgale]

Diner Scene. This one started as a sketch of the old guy in front and I expanded out from there. I wasn't so much thinking about lighting so it's a bit more "flat", but I was happy with the shape of the guys.

[robgale]

@kathrynadebayo Thanks! Yes, that's one thing I am trying to learn is how to get my values "right" as quickly as possible. I have a habit of creeping up on everything and noodling, so these are really helping me jump right in and try to nail it faster.

[robgale]

@demotlj My process is pretty haphazard to be honest. Mostly with these I've been just throwing down some big shapes, kind of starting from the background and moving forward from light to dark. I'm trying to work out a better process with these quick "studies". I've been using reference a lot, not so much to copy exactly, but to use to see how the values are working and how other artists lay down their shapes. So I've been looking a lot at Ian McQue in particular, but there are other concept art guys out there who really inspire me and I try to always have someone's work open for something to learn from.

[smceccarelli]

These are wonderful - great shapes and design sense! You inspire me to start doing composition sketches again: I definitely would need to get back to shape and value control.