Experimentation and Play

It is often difficult to get in enough time to do the art I want to. I usually try to stay up on industry trends by following a couple of blogs and painting when I can. Lately, I had the desire to do some work with Adobe Illustrator largely under the inspiration of a site called VectorTuts+. I remembered how much fun I had creating art with it before my son was born.

With that in mind I decided to see what I could do. I feel a little like I have gone back to school artistically so I thought I'd apply those ideas to a piece I had already created but develop it in Illustrator.


Though I love the piece Hi Gs, I have never been completely satisfied with how it came out. The coloring and how the planet looks always bothered me. After importing it into Illustrator as a template, I began a process of pulling out shapes and defining forms.

Illustrator helped me to slow down and plan better and to that end, I feel like I have been able to accomplish more of my original intent with the art. The image below is a work-in-progress snapshot but the progress has been phenomenal.


It is easy to get into the rut of doing the same thing over and over and I often have to remind myself that I need to try new techniques once in a while. I think my next step with this piece will be to finish off the major elements and then do some subtle rework in painter to build up texture.

I am also doing this to get an idea of how I want to approach my children's book. So far I have the story and rough layouts but I want to have a couple of finished pieces to show publishers.

Michaelangelo's Hidden Knowledge

Science Daily had this interesting article today about hidden imagery in the Sistine Chapel. It seems that that great artist Michaelangelo likely worked in anatomically correct imagery of the human brain stem.

I am always fascinated when artists can include hidden images in their work. Michaelangelo's ability to work in these bits of information are amazing especially when you realize that the church probably would not have condoned the methods used to gain his knowledge.

In the article the author points out that cadavers were used by artists to understand anatomy. It has been said that Michaelangelo studied in a morgue by candlelight which makes the work seem that much more amazing. In fact it was common practice for artists to do so. I don't remember, though if it was still illegal in Michaelangelo's time as it was in Da Vinci's.

It would seem a profound irony if Michaelangelo used illegal methods to create a work of art commissioned and eventually beloved by the church. I also have to wonder if that was going through Michaelangelo's mind as he lay on his back painting the frescoed ceiling.

Digital and Traditional: The Continuing Battle

Recently, during an online exchange about digital vs traditional art I made some comments I liked so I copied them here. I think it is relevant to anyone who is struggling with the problem. Trust me, there are some serious successful artists who are trying to come to grips with the transition.

But is it really a transition? The computer has made life easier for so many graphic artists but does it necessarily have to "replace" traditional art?

Here's what I wrote...

"Creatively there still needs to be the ability to produce an image. There also has to be the ability to problem-solve and know when you're done. Painting on a tablet is still a far cry from the textural feel of the media and the intuitive ability to see the colors you get.

When going to the computer there is a whole host of other issues concerning color reproduction and calibration. Having worked both ways, I have to point out that I enjoy the ability to revisit an earlier thought [through undos] but there is also a certain spontaneity lost. I also find it is harder to make an 'original mark' on the computer.

I still go back to the media for sketching and to get my thoughts down quickly. The computer has made the final product easier to disseminate but I don't think that it has necessarily replaced the creative genius behind true artistic endeavors.

There's a lot to be said for having a final product. The final, unalterable proof of what an artist intended. Prints don't always achieve that."

Artistic Satisfaction

Lately I have been trying new techniques in painter. My aim is to avoid looking like "computer art" so I have been purposely using techniques developed over centuries in traditional media. I have been sketching, underpainting, and layering in the hopes of capturing a more traditional look.

Some might ask, "why not simply paint traditionally?" The biggest reason is that I have had some serious allergic reactions to some of the solvents and ingredients used in traditional media. (Like, can't-breathe-where's-the-emergency-inhaler reactions.) . There's other advantages as well. I don't have to constantly set up and take down the art supplies; the paint tube is infinite; and I don't have to worry about storage space. (It's a plus when you have a toddler around!)

I'm really enjoying the freedom of digital and the ability to combine techniques and media appearances. But it can be very frustrating to try to limit all the possibilities when it comes to saving versions.

It as never been my aim to see the computer as anything more than a tool for getting the imagery in my head out for everyone else to see. That is probably why I strive for a natural media look as opposed to the more photoshopy appearance that is popular in sci-fi art now.

In the end it is more about making art that I'm satisfied with than anything else.