Despite my best intentions, I didn’t manage to do much work.  Instead, I spent the better part of the evening napping and then struggling with some scan tests.

Apparently, the internets is rife with how to scan line art tutorials, but has almost nothing when it comes to completed colour work. I suspect that is because illustrators do a lot of their colouring in Photoshop or Illustrator. So scanning line work is probably more common.

Still, its a bit frustrating.  I don’t want my illustrations to look like ass when I try making prints. I’d like them to look like the original.  It might seem like a simple request, but it isn’t.  Most of the time, when I scan coloured illustrations in, my scanner lightens them – a lot. Black lines look like medium gray and a lot of the lighter colours get washed out. Grr.  And when I try to adjust them in Photoshop, I usually end up going too dark.

It’s a tenuous balance at best.

I did find a couple of suggestions at an art forum that mostly involves tweaking Photoshop settings.  But I guess the most important things I learned is that I should actually look at my original when tweaking and tweak the blacks with an on-screen reference.

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Hah! I coloured her last night! Wait. It would appear that I forgot to colour the flagpole. Oops. How embarassing!

Anyway, she cracks my shit up.  I am so in love with her.   To be truthful, I am in love with all of these pin-up-ie type sketches that I have been creating lately.  They are just so amusing to draw.  I don’t even care if no one else likes them or if someone prefers my “very serious” portrait work to these wacky drawings. The fact is that they bring me happiness and that’s all that matters!

Though, admittedly, I am not loving the scan of the original. It really looks like ass on my work computer. :(  Too dark. Too muddy.  The colours and blending look waaaaaaay better on the original. They aren’t this dark. You must take my word for it!    I really wish I didn’t struggle with scanning as much as I do.  It’s ok for black/white/grey, but the second I add colour, it goes to shit. Boo.

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I’m looking for a few fine folks to be models for my next project. Nothing crazy, nothing invasive, nothing nude. Basically just a headshot – it is a portrait project. It will be in a similar style as my self-portrait.  I’m looking to create my first series as well as expand my portfolio.  Interested?  Pretty please?

If you’d like to help a girl out, please leave a comment or contact me.  I’ll fill you in all of the specifics at that time.

Title: Untitled
Size: 8½ x 11″
Medium: Prismacolor Marker on Aquabee Manga Artist Paper
Time: 5.0 hours
Status: Work In Progress

I finally snuck in some time to work on my self-portrait.  I am pretty pleased with how the mouth is shaping up.  Especially the teeth.  Though, I might look at softening some of the lip creases.  They feel a bit… harsh right now.  Too line-y!?  That said, with any luck, I should have this baby done by the weekend. Then it’s off to New York!

I also finally used some of my DAZ reference images.  I was just messing around on my lunch break. Overall, I think its going to be very, very helpful.

I might go back and do some more inking of this particular drawing during my lunch. Her hands and feet (as usual) need a lot of work.

In other news, I signed up for the intro class at Burlesquercise. It runs from March 10th to April 12th (I think!?) and I might have an opportunity to perform. In public.  Scary! It should be fun though!

I need to buy a boa.

I wish I had better news to report. But I was a slack-ass this weekend. Och. Well, that’s not entirely true. There was art and art-related good ness.  I did muck around in DAZ, but all of the head way that I planned to make on my self-portrait went out the window. I plan on rectifying that this evening.

Speaking of which – well, kinda – I made a trip to Mona Lisa’s on Thursday.  I finally picked up the Cool Gray set, some additional flesh tones, and some more paper. I also discovered that Strathmore is now offering ATC related goods!  I’ve always wanted to give art cards a go. I’ve even talked about it here. So I scooped up several packages (they were very cheap!) and have put ATCs on my ever-growing To-Do list. Trading some ATCs might be a hoot.

Yes, I said hoot.

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Downloaded a new model base last night, The Girl 4. She cracks me up. I love her big head, big boobs, big bum and teeny, tiny waist.  Gorgeous!  I suspect I will have a lot of fun with her when it comes to creating pin-up references. Hee!

Admittedly, I am still in the middle of a learning curve though.  And mostly I have been experimenting with the interface, materials, and that type of thing. I have been researching materials and how to apply them and increasing my database of usable morphs/materials. So, I don’t think I am 100% ready to start using DAZ for my original purpose (reference images for portraits).   I’d to get a better handle on basics.

But tonight, my plan is to work solely on creating a few pin-up references that I can use when I am messing around in my sketchbook.  Kinda like what I use from PoseManiacs, but more attuned to my sensibilities.  Figure. Textures. Lights. Props. You name it.  And I figure once I finish the self-portrait for the show, I’ll seriously look at creating portrait reference images.  That might be my March project.

Title: Untitled
Size: 8½ x 11″
Medium: Prismacolor Marker on Aquabee Manga Artist Paper
Time: 4.0 hours
Status: Work In Progress

I’ve been playing so much in DAZ that I have been woefully neglecting my self-portrait. As hard as it was, I put the shiny new toy on the back burner and drove into some really-real art making last night.  I only did an hour – mostly because I was having dog issues – but I am happy with the progress.  I’m still in love with the markers. Most so, in fact. I think my adoration grows exponentially each time I use them.

I also found out that I probably won’t be able to mat my drawing for the show.  Understandably, Art House Coop is restricting the size of each piece to 8×10″. This includes any framing you wish to do.  I’m a bit disappointed because I have a specific way that I like to frame my work. Seriously. I might not have an art style, but I have framing style!  Just look at any work I have done in the last five years.  They are always matted the same and in the same type of frame.  But, I guess its not a huge deal. I’ll be able to use my standard frame, just not mat.  I can re-mat it when I get it back.

Oh speaking of which, if you are planning on participating in the Self-Portrait project and haven’t signed up, this is the last week to sign up to participate!