Charon Continuum

It's been a bit of manic day again today. Been doing a fair bit of design work for the Charon Continuum Project, which I'm part off.

Generally, I've taken a bit of an Admin/Organisational role for the project, but the website needed a bit of work to look nicer and we're in need of some posters and postcards to hand out for recruitment.

First, I sorted out the Wordpress site; it looked a bit of a mess. A little bit confusing, and not very user friendly. I changed the theme sorted out some settings, then I made a new header (below) for it.

I tried to make the header a bit Sci-Fi but also kind of 'trendy' and simple. I think it came out nicely considering I only done it all quickly this morning.

Now I'm working on the postcards/flyers to hand out at conventions and events this year. I'm trying to get at least one design completely finished before the start of May, so we can get them printed to hand out at the Bristol Comic Expo on the 11th-12th of May.

I've worked about 10 thumbnails so far, still need to do a few more, but I'm happy enough with one of the designs to carry on with for now.

It's a fairly simple design, copying the format of a newspaper, displaying both the subject of the first short story of the project and also all the needed information for new recruits and readers. Here's a screenshot of it in progress.

Ctrl + Shameful

It's been a while since my last update, completely shameful on my part. Life has been pretty hectic recently. But hey, even the unemployed have errands to run.

Been thinking about improving my digital painting skills recently, as they are relatively nonexistent. I can colour flat comic-book styled works to an extent but actual digital painting is another thing.

I didn't just start painting on Photoshop, because frankly, it's such a massive subject, I didn't know where to start.

Thankfully, through searching for tutorials on Google, I came across Ctrl+Paint.

Ctrl+Paint is run by Matt Kohl, an experience concept artist. The site is a free resource for digital painting with extensive video library.

After only discovering it 3 days ago, I've already watched quite a few of the videos and I've found each video to be both in depth and easy to understand.

Along side some of the videos, exercise worksheets are given to help work through topics such as Brush Control and Blending, which is a fantastic idea and really helps with the learning process.

Below, I've worked through one of the Brush Control exercises, this is the first exercise I've completed from Ctrl+Paint, and the first time I've used the painterly technique in Photoshop. So bearing that in mind, I don't think my efforts have been too bad.

 

Brush Control Exercise.
The right of each pair is my practice of each given shape. 

Chuffed.

I've had this lineart saved my computer for ages meaning to use it as colouring practice.  Finally got round to colouring it today, pretty chuffed with the result actually. 

I think the original lineart (Above) was by Ed Benes, if I'm wrong could someone let me know please. 

NOPE.

Pencil and Photoshop.

My continuing disagreement with inking using brushes.

Quick 10min drawing in my sketchbook, coloured on Photoshop.

New Draft pages.

Inked most of pages up, now just for adding colour. Decided to use a limited colour palette so you don't get too bogged down with colour and detail when you read it.

Here's two pages, when the comic is in printed form, they will read as a double page spread.

These are still only drafts, so they could end up changing and getting redone by the time I colour the rest of the pages.

Page 2 Teaser!

...also known as HALF THE FRIGGING PAGE, because I couldn't pick between which panel to use.

First Original Comic.

Taken some time recently and sat drawing and finalizing my Domestic Abuse comic from University  (Title still to be decided....any ideas?) 

Gotten a few pages drawn up, colouring them inbetween my searches for employment.  Two pages basically done.

Hope you enjoy the teaser above. 

Taking Chances

So I've recently just completed the commission for Inez Meerema's Book, Taking Chances, which you can read here.

I actually learnt a lot doing this commission, especially digital painting-wise; which I've never completely mastered. But I think you can tell by the background of this piece, I've come a long way.  Below I've included some of my work up to the final.

Hand inked and scanned in.

Digitally coloured on CS6 Photoshop. (Cleaned up left hand and knee later on in process)

Final image with digitally painted background, without text.

Chloe Noonan Fan Art

Here's some Chloe Noonan  fan art I drew this afternoon.

For some reason I found it hilarious if at some point Chloe lost her staff and had to steal a Lollipop Lady's sign to fight off monsters. I forget why now, but it amused me.

Chloe Noonan is a series of small press comics by Marc Ellerby. You can find his tumblr here. You should read them. 

Armour

Hand drawn, scanned in and then coloured using Photoshop.

Drawn using stock imagery from Grinmir Stock. 

Aqualetes

Just moved back in with my parents after finishing University; found I needed to have a clear out of a some of my old Graphic Design A-level work to free up some space. Came across my Aqualetes Swimming club branding work and I decided to update them all, in order to add some more work to my portfolio and build it up some more. The results above are my new versions. I think they came out a lot nicer than the originals, thankfully.

End of Assessment, Start of show.

Assessment is over and done with now, so now it's the organisation of the end of year show. Walls are painted and everyones' work from my course is hung up. 

My work to be shown at the exhibition is not the final work I had for assessment but a stronger piece of work I had from before. The dull ache 'poster' I had before was really scrappy, however after cleaning it up and recolouring it on CS4 Photoshop, it has come out quite nicely, and really makes an impact on the viewer.  

I'll take some photographs of my work hung up in the exhibition and post them soon.

Typography

University work has been pretty slow since Christmas, for personal reasons; but here's what my work progressed to following my presentation with my tutors.

 

I've seemingly moved back into my safety zone of 'Typography' which last week I was NOT happy with. However, after having a seminar Tuesday with my tutor, I've now started mixing images back with the type, which I am finding much more interesting to both look at and do. Not only that, but I am now also incorporating memories of my Gramps into new posters, rather than my original idea of Domestic Abuse; I'm finding these changes a lot more inspiring and motivating than my previous pathway of work. So YAY!  

Drowning - Re-coloured.

So I printed out 'Drowning' the other day and I wasn't happy with the colours. I felt the blue of the water was too bright, so I've re-coloured it. Hopefully this works a bit better, I've changed the blue into a more sea-green colour and got rid of the white around the edges because I felt the were distracting the eye away from the woman. 

Before

After

Business Card ideas.

For the past two days I've been designing business cards. On them I want to display or at least list the things I can be commissioned to do. I've come up with the idea of using a comic strip.

Evetually, I will display the postcard/business card as they are supposed to be seen; but these are the panels I've come up with so far. For the 'typography ninja' panel, I stuck as to whether to include the blackoutline or take it out completely. Suggestions?

(Right click and select 'open in new tab/window' to view big)

With Black outline.

Without Black outline.

Drown

Right I've managed to get a butt load of work done in the last week and a bit for University, hurray! I will update with that as soon as I manage to get the photos off of my tablet. In the mean time, have an illustration I drew earlier in the week and coloured today. Tried out some new techniques in colouring, I think it works, but I need a bit more practise.
(To view in original size, right click and select open in new window/tab)

Panels.

Finally thought of an idea for a few panels to go towards a comic/fanzine. I done a quick test of colours/style of colouring on the two panels below.