Rob Gale's Sketchbook

[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.

[robgale]

@smceccarelli I feel like one can never do too many composition studies. Thanks for the kind words!

[robgale]

Inktober Week 1, complete!

Poisonous

Tranquil

Roasted

Spell

Chicken

Drooling

Exhausted

[robgale]

Inktober Week 2
Star

Precious

Flowing

Cruel

Whale

Guarded

Clock

[robgale]

All the Rest of Inktober. Can't believe I actually made it through them all!

Day 15: Weak

Day 16: Angular

Day 17: Swollen

Day 18: Bottle

Day 19: Scorched

Day 20: Breakable

Day 21: Drain

Day 22: Expensive

Day 23: Muddy

Day 24: Chop

Day 25: Prickly

Day 26: Stretch

Day 27: Thunder

Day 28: Gift

Day 29: Double

Day 30: Jolt

Day 31: Slice

[robgale]

[robgale]

The above studies are small, quick thumbnail sketches based on images from films or from digital paintings found online. I tried to use one, hard, flat brush for most of the time on each one, using a base of four values (2 darks and 2 lights). My goal is to rely on shape making rather than rendering to create a believable sense of light and composition.

Only at the very end do I add a few gradients and blends, and I try to keep them to a bare minimum, looking for where I can get the most out of the fewest moves.

As someone who has a tendency to noodle endlessly and get lost in rendering, this exercise is helping me with brush discipline and keeping my shapes distinct and clear.

[Justin Moss]

@robgale you've got a very interesting style. Really unique stuff.

I'm particularly drawn to this piece. It has a very "woodcut" feel to it. It's messy and contains a lot of energy, but you are still directing the eye. Plus, it is a great use of negative space!

Keep up the good work!

[burvantill]

@robgale Wow, that is such a good idea. I’m glad I follow you.

[robgale]

@justin-moss Thank you!

[robgale]

@burvantill Right on! I'm learning a lot of good stuff from doing this exercise, and honestly it doesn't take that long.

[Julia]

@robgale wow! this is good stuff! congrats for the Inktober series, it really looks very nice!

[robgale]

@julia Thank you so much! It was such a great thing to do. I've really slacked off in November!

[Chip Valecek]

Your inktober pieces are amazing! Really great collection of work there.